The Going Haru gently bobbed on the calm waters as the crew neared the quiet shores of Syrup Village. The village's charm was simple—rolling hills, white picket fences, and cobblestone roads that curved through fields of wildflowers. It felt peaceful, like the kind of place untouched by war or pirates. Haru stood near the mast, eyes steady on the distant docks. His pink hair fluttered in the breeze, tied tightly into his signature ponytail. The scar over his left eye throbbed faintly, but he paid it no mind.
"I'm gonna go find something to eat!" Luffy yelled enthusiastically as the ship touched shore.
"Sounds like a plan," Zoro grunted, stepping off behind him with his swords clanking at his side.
"I'll stick with you guys," Nami said, adjusting her orange hair with a slight glance back at Haru. Her eyes lingered for a second longer than usual. Something about him intrigued her—his silence, the weight he carried, and how he moved with a predator's grace.
"I'll catch up," Haru said calmly, turning away from the group.
"Where are you going?" Nami asked, her voice casual but edged with curiosity.
"Just exploring the village ," he replied, and with that, he vanished down the path like a breeze weaving through trees.
At the Seaside Cliff…
Haru knelt beside a lone transponder snail nestled in the shade near the rocky cliffside. He opened the shell housing and dialed a secure frequency.
The snail blinked, then yawned. "Buru…buru…buru… click."
"Haru?" came the gravelly voice of Vice admiral
Meanwhile at the Restaurant…
Luffy and the others were seated inside a cozy little eatery. The walls were lined with hand-carved wood and the smell of fresh bread filled the air.
Across from them sat Usopp, his long nose twitching as he exaggerated yet another wild tale.
"…and then the giant goldfish swallowed our ship whole!" Usopp declared, arms wide.
"No way," Zoro deadpanned.
"Really!" Usopp insisted. "But I escaped using only my shoelaces and sheer willpower!"
Luffy laughed. "That's so cool!"
"He's obviously lying," Nami said, sipping her tea with a smirk.
Just then, the doors swung open, and three small kids burst in—Tamanegi, Ninjin, and Piiman, the self-declared Usopp Pirates. They screeched when they saw the gang.
"Pirates!" Piiman shouted.
"Don't eat us!" Ninjin cried.
Zoro grinned. "Should we?"
The kids screamed in terror, and Luffy burst into laughter. Nami rolled her eyes, but even she smiled at their antics.
"Where'd Usopp go?" Luffy asked after the laughter died down.
"He went to the mansion," Piiman said. "To see Kaya!"
"Oh yeah," Luffy said. "The rich girl who always listens to his stories, right?"
"Maybe she'll give us a boat!" he added with a grin.
"I doubt it'll be that easy," Nami said dryly.
At the Mansion…
Luffy, Zoro, and Nami decided to take a shortcut to Kaya's estate—by launching themselves over the walls using a slingshot contraption Usopp had left behind. Predictably, the plan went horribly wrong.
"Whoa—!" Luffy yelled as they tumbled mid-air.
They crashed into the garden, flattening a few rose bushes.
"Nice landing," Zoro muttered as he stood and dusted himself off.
From the porch, a frail-looking girl gasped. Kaya, with her soft blonde hair and elegant dress, looked surprised but not afraid.
"Kaya!" Usopp shouted, having arrived just before them.
Behind her stood Klahadore, the butler with perfectly combed black hair and glasses perched low on his nose. He stepped forward, his posture stiff and eyes cold.
"What is the meaning of this intrusion?" he demanded.
"We just came to ask for a boat!" Luffy said cheerfully.
"Pirates. Trespassing. How very predictable," Klahadore sneered.
Usopp stood protectively in front of Kaya. "Don't talk to them like that!"
"And you," Klahadore turned to Usopp, "still peddling fairy tales? Just like your disgrace of a father—Yasopp, wasn't it? A pirate who abandoned his son."
Usopp's eyes flared with anger. He reached for his slingshot and, without hesitation, fired. A small stone zipped through the air and grazed Klahadore's cheek.
A thin line of blood appeared.
Everyone froze.
Kaya gasped. "Usopp!"
"I'm not ashamed of my father," Usopp growled. "And I won't let you insult him!"
"You've outstayed your welcome," Klahadore snapped. "Leave this estate immediately."
Kaya, still shocked, nodded. "I'm sorry… Please go."
Usopp turned and ran. The crew followed him back to the tree line, where Haru stood waiting, eyes calm but alert.
"You're back," Haru said, glancing at Luffy.
"Things got a little wild," Luffy said, scratching his head.
"What's new?" Haru said with a rare smile.
Later That Night…
As the stars began to pepper the sky, the crew sat around a small campfire near the cliff. Zoro sharpened his swords, Nami examined a map, and Usopp sat nearby, still a little shaken.
Luffy looked at Haru and suddenly asked, "So… where'd you get your scar?"
Zoro looked up. "And what's your sword style? I saw you fight without even drawing your blades."
Haru looked into the fire for a moment, then spoke softly. "I only use my blades when I have to. I didn't draw them earlier because those soldiers were just doing their jobs. Innocents don't deserve blood."
Zoro's eyes gleamed with respect. "Strong, and principled. You're good."
"I try to be," Haru said.
Luffy chuckled. "I like you even more now!"
Nami looked at Haru with a curious warmth. She admired that kind of strength—a quiet, controlled fire.
Zoro smirked. "Think you'd ever spar with me?"
Haru nodded. "Name the place
CONVERSATION BETWEEN GARP AND HARU
The snail blinked, then yawned. "Buru…buru…buru… click."
"Haru?" came the gravelly voice of Vice Admiral Garp.
"It's me," Haru said, his voice low and firm.
Garp sighed through the line. "So, you've decided?"
"I've joined Luffy."
Silence stretched for a few moments.
"Monkey D. Luffy, huh?" Garp finally muttered, half amused, half annoyed. "Of all people, you join my reckless grandson."
"He's not like other pirates," Haru said. "He's different… Free, kind, loyal. Naomi would've liked him."
Garp was quiet again, his tone softer when he finally replied. "Watch over him. That idiot's going to bring a storm wherever he goes."
"I will," Haru promised.
"Good. And Haru…" Garp's voice hardened. "Don't lose yourself. Naomi wouldn't want that either."
The call clicked dead, and Haru sat quietly for a few moments, watching the sea stretch to the horizon. Then, slowly, he stood and walked toward the village center, letting the wind guide him through the sleepy roads.
He found a massive tree near the outskirts, its roots gnarled and stretched across a grassy hill. Haru sat cross-legged under its shade, closed his eyes, and began to meditate, letting his mind wander briefly—memories of Naomi's laughter echoing like whispers.