One Piece (Love Story) [Part One]

Chapter One Hundred and Sixty [Rewritten]

-Chapter One Hundred and Sixty-

"Looks like we'll be doing this whether we want to or not" I said, not too torn up about the game we were suddenly being thrust into against our will thanks to our captain's rash decision-making. Luffy wasn't the type to think about what the rest of us wanted—if he wanted to do something, he was going to do it.

"Should be interesting at least" Robin remarked, attempting to think positively.

"Hopefully..." I sighed.

"He's agreed to the game!" one of the men shouted, causing the rest to cheer. 

-Later-

"Sausage on a stick! Get your sausage on a stick!"

"Did they have to turn this whole place into a fair just for some game?" I questioned, looking around at the various stands that had been set up. It felt more like a festival or celebration was taking place instead of the preparations for a fight against two opposing pirates.

"Seems kind of ridiculous" Zoro hummed, crossing his arms as he looked around. Neither of us felt comfortable wandering around, instead choosing to keep somewhat close to one another as we watched how the other crew mingled with one another. There was something oddly normal about their behavior, the way that they talked to each other while giving food and merchandise to one another as if they weren't on the same pirate crew.

"It's time for the opening ceremony, everybody! Simmer down, simmer down!" a man suddenly proclaimed over the intercom.

"You simmer down!" one of the men sneered.

"Shut up!" another snapped.

"Let's calm down, boys—we're about to start" a young woman with blue hair piped up from atop the stage that had been set up. Instantly, the sound of her voice settled the riled-up men as they fell silent. Curiously, we watched as our captain stood up on stage alongside the Foxy Pirate's captain who appeared to be nothing more than a very stout man with a long pinkish-red nose and strange hairstyle that reminded me of ears.

"I love you, Porche!" one of the men suddenly shouted up at the woman on stage.

"Since our challengers have never played this game before, let's go over the rules, okay?" Porche smiled. "First, whenever you lose one of the matches—whether it's your crew or your Jolly Roger or anything else—the only way you can take it back is with another Davy Back Fight" she explained. "Second, any crewmembers taken by the winner must swear undying loyalty to their new captain on the spot—no exceptions. Third, if your Jolly Roger is taken, you can't ever fly it again—never ever" she shook her head.

"Nami, I got you some cotton candy!" Sanji shouted as he came rushing back over to us, carrying three flossy sweets in his hands.

"I don't know how everyone can be so calm at a time like this!" Nami scowled, irritated by how calm everyone was compared to her.

"It's already settled, so you might as well stop complaining" Zoro huffed as he gave my hand a tight squeeze, making it clear to me that despite how calm he looked on the outside, there was a part of him on the inside that was still bothered by all of this—bothered by the consequences of this game. I said nothing and only responded back with a squeeze of my own, slowly and soothingly rubbing my thumb against the back of his hand in a comforting manner.

"There's nothing more we can do—everything's already been decided and we're just going have to roll with it" I shrugged, not really seeing any way out of this that didn't involve us being labeled as disgraceful cowards in the eyes of others.