This Buggy Is Pretty Good And Manageable

"You're absolutely right; that pirate ship is truly unsightly."

Kaizen looked out to the sea and then at Fujitora-san, his expression filled with confusion.

Compared to the pirate ship that had suddenly appeared on the coast, he was more intrigued by Fujitora-san's extraordinary sensory abilities, capable of detecting movements at such a distance.

"Why are you staring at me?" Fujitora-san asked, noticing Kaizen's gaze.

"It's amazing how you can perceive things so clearly without sight, just by sensing. Truly remarkable!" Kaizen said with curiosity and admiration.

"It's not sensing, it's the 'breath.' The breath of the surroundings reflects everything," Fujitora-san corrected him strictly.

Is this what a true swordsman believes? Such insight!

At that moment, a man leaped down from the pirate ship docked on the coast.

Crunch!

Kaizen couldn't tell what kind of shoes the man wore, but they made a crisp sound with each step, strangely pleasant to the ear.

Squinting against the sun, Kaizen tried to make out the man's face, but the sunlight made it difficult to see clearly.

"I'll only say this once..." the man began, his sharp voice suddenly interrupted.

"Ah! Buggy!" Kaizen exclaimed, pointing at the figure approaching them. Now that the light no longer obscured his view, he could finally see the man's face clearly.

"Huh? You actually know me!" Buggy said, initially surprised, but then quickly adopting an expressionless face. "Of course, my name has long been legendary across the seas. Staying low-key is a luxury for someone like me. Come, my adoring fans! Whether you want an autograph or a hug, I'll grant your wishes today."

Looking at Buggy's grinning face, Kaizen and Fujitora-san simultaneously shook their heads and raised their hands in unison to stop him:

"No need."

"Damn it! Your rejection wounds me deeply," Buggy said, feigning a sentimental expression and stroking his chin.

At this moment, Buggy seemed less sinister and almost... endearing.

"You can skip the autographs, but just leave the treasures behind. Keep your lives, too—I'm quite a reasonable person," Buggy declared with a sudden shift in tone.

His face transformed faster than a stormy sky. One moment he seemed honest and adorable, and the next, he tried to appear ferocious. However, his attempt at ferocity lacked conviction, coming across more comical than scary.

"It's like he lacks mastery. His mood changes faster than your sword skills," Kaizen whispered to Fujitora-san, his voice dripping with mischief.

"Indeed," Fujitora-san replied, nodding as though he were contemplating something serious.

"Hey! I'm serious here! Don't treat this lightly!" Buggy growled, pulling out a few daggers from within his coat. "Otherwise, my knives will show you just how sharp they are."

Ignoring the threat, Kaizen abruptly changed the topic. "Your ship is impressive—especially that pirate flag flying so boldly. Did you design it yourself? It's… intriguing."

Caught off guard, Buggy almost tripped at the sudden compliment. The pirate flag on his ship was indeed painted by him, but his lack of artistic talent and aesthetic sense had resulted in a flag so terrible that the pattern resembled something akin to a dog's mess. It was, in short, a disaster.

This level of artistic talent is comparable to Luffy's, no... perhaps even worse!

"Hahaha! You're talking about that flag? Of course, I painted it myself! If you're scared of how fierce it looks, just admit it. I won't laugh at you!" Buggy exclaimed, putting his hands on his hips and puffing out his chest with pride.

Kaizen smirked. "Such a handsome ship! How about giving us a ride?"

"No problem, no problem at all!" Buggy replied carelessly, then suddenly froze, his expression turning serious. "Wait, are you trying to join my pirate crew? Do you want to sail with me to find the One Piece and become the richest people in the world?"

"Hahahaha! You've seen right through us, Buggy-dono!" Kaizen said, deliberately imitating Buggy's tone and mannerisms.

"Oi! Baka! Don't imitate me like that! You'll ruin my reputation!" Buggy shouted, clenching his fists in frustration.

"My mistake, hahaha!" Kaizen said, scratching the back of his head with a sheepish smile.

"Listen here! If you want to join the Buggy Pirates, you need to have your own ambition! I don't want you losing yourselves and becoming mere shadows of me," Buggy said, his tone suddenly righteous. He tried to strike a cool pose, but the attempt was undermined by his bright red nose, which made even his most serious expressions utterly ridiculous.

Kaizen struggled to suppress his laughter, while Fujitora-san remained stoic, watching silently.

"You're interesting, but let's leave that decision for another time," Fujitora-san finally said calmly.

Unable to hold it in any longer, Kaizen burst into laughter, clutching his sides.

"What's wrong with this guy?" Buggy muttered, confused by Kaizen's reaction.

"Perhaps he's overcome with joy," Fujitora-san remarked without changing his expression.

Buggy looked at the two of them—one laughing uncontrollably, the other perfectly composed—and burst into laughter himself.

"Hahaha! You two are hilarious! You're perfect for my crew!"

---

That day, Kaizen, Buggy, and Fujitora-san spent time fishing together. Using their combined skills, they almost turned the entire coast upside down, catching an absurd amount of fish, lobsters, and crabs.

As the sun set, they lit a fire on the beach, drinking sake and feasting on grilled fish. They even danced—albeit in bizarre and clumsy ways.

Despite the absurdity, the taste of freedom was intoxicating.

"Kanpai!" Kaizen shouted, raising his sake cup high.

"Woohoo! I'm so happy being with you guys!" Buggy exclaimed, putting down his bottle and wiping his mouth with a satisfied grin.

"It's only been one day. We'll see how things go in the future," Fujitora-san said, as composed as ever, sipping his sake like a refined poet.

"Your words sound so deep, but they're oddly comforting. Why is that?" Buggy asked, leaning toward Fujitora-san like a mischievous schoolboy.

Kaizen chuckled. "Let me explain. The reason you feel that way is simple…"

Buggy stared at Kaizen expectantly. "What is it?! Tell me!"

Kaizen smirked and shouted one word: "Cheap!"

The word echoed in the air, lingering for what felt like forever.

"You're dead, Kaizen!" Buggy roared, lunging at him with a sake bottle in hand.