After purchasing their tickets for the concert Luffy, Zoro, Nami, Usopp and Chopper all stood outside in the crowd until the doors open. It's an open pit tonight so whoever is the fastest gets stage view. Luffy, Usopp and Chopper all stretch preparing to sprint their way to the front. Zoro dozed off while standing...while Nami makes another short video this time with the peace sign and showing off the boys and outside the venue.
"Alright everyone, listen up!" A man standing on a box above the crowd with a megaphone catches everyone's attention. "We're about to let you in, in under three minutes. Hold onto your belongings and try not to get hurt while running to claim a spot. In the case you do get hurt, its not our responsibility. There's even proof written on the back of your tickets." The announcer steps off of his box and everyone resumes their conversation.
Nami flicks her finger onto Zoro's forehead and he wakes up. Pissed.
"Oi, what the hell!" He furrows his brows at her.
Nami looks at him with a smug look "We're about to head in. Make sure you're right next to us so you won't get lost."
"Oi, oi, oi, I-" he starts.
"Just run forward. Pretend as if your chasing those three." She points her thumb at the first years.
Zoro let out a yawn, "yeah, okay."
There's a timer for sixty seconds on the wall outside. Everyone gets into position. Nami puts her phone in her cross body bag and ties her hair back into one. She wasn't a fast runner because of her heavy chest but, she wasn't exactly slow either. Luffy rejoins Nami and Zoro.
"Hey Nami, are you fast?" Luffy asks.
"Yeah, you're worried about me getting lost when you should be worried about getting trampled." Zoro teases.
"I didn't win those medals at field day in first year for nothing." She smirks.
The countdown began...
5...
4...
3...
2...
1...
The doors were open and everyone sprints to the pit. Usopp, Chopper and Luffy leading with Nami closely behind. Zoro...is running forward, but somehow ended on another side of the pit. Nami wasn't as fast as she'd hope, unfortunately one foot of her sandal popped and she almost fell when a hand grabs her by the arm. She shoe is left behind and trampled by the stampede of people.
Luckily, the crew secured their spots at the front thanks to Usopp and Chopper. Luffy and Nami both made their way over to the two who excitedly gave each other double high fives despite being out of breath.
"COME ON BABY!!!" the musician with a huge healthy black afro and glasses yell into the mic. The stage lights immediately turns on and the crowd goes wild. The fog machines turn on and the band starts playing.
"SOUL KING! SOUL KING! SOUL KING!" the crowd chants.
Nami chants, but does so softly. Unsure whether to rest her barefoot on the dirty ground. Luffy notices her being uncomfortable and suggests she sit on his shoulders. Nami quickly grew flustered dismissing the idea. She's never been on anyone's shoulders, not even Sanji's.
"Are you scared I'm going to drop you? I won't. I promise." He smiles at her reassuringly.
"She looks at him smiling then sighs, "If you do, you owe me big time."
Luffy crouches so she can step her barefoot on his quad and swing her leg over onto his shoulder. Once she was positioned Luffy stands up. Nami grips onto his face, scared. Luffy let's out a laugh. Luffy places his hands onto her knees to keep her sturdy.
Nami looks around to see a few other women on men shoulders because they were short. She also spotted a certain green haired classmate of hers on the other side of the pit.
"LET'S ROCK BABY!!!!" soul king screams into the mic, and the bass plays. The crowd goes crazy.
Mid-way through the concert everyone's having a good time. Zoro rejoins the group accidentally by wandering around trying to find the bathroom. They crowd's energy matched extremely well with soul king. He was feeding them music and they were giving him energy. The concert went on for another hour then ended with an encore for his most popular song "New World".
Walking out of the concert letting the cool air touch their skins. Everyone was still buzzed from how hyped they were. Nami now riding on Luffy's back, Usopp and Chopper feeding off of each other's energy while Zoro yawns and stretches. The night was still young and there was a McDonald's nearby. All that singing really drained them.
With Luffy's luck there was a shoe store right across from the McDonald's. While, Usopp, Zoro and Chopper went to get their tables in McDonald's. Luffy takes Nami to the store.
"Ah no, we're closed." An employee who can be seen sweeping outside the store informs the two teens.
"Come on, please? I lost my shoe in the soul king concert earlier...and I already feel bad for this guy." Nami pouts, giving the employee puppy eyes.
The employee looks back and forth at the two, then gives in with a sigh.
"Be quick."
She lets them in and Nami looks around while on Luffy's back then picks a pair of cute sandals. She also spotted a pair of cute heels, but only could've afford sandals at the moment. She bought her sandals in a size six and steps out in them comfortably.
Luffy stretches his back and shoulders. He's been carrying one hundred and seven pounds on his back and shoulders for at least two hours. He then follows Nami across the street and met with his friends inside.
They sat at this circular table after ordering their meals on behalf of Nami. "You all owe me." Unfortunately, they didn't knkwnwhat they got themselves into.
"He looked at me! He looked me in the eye! He made my night. I can now rest in peace." Chopper exclaims.
"No, Chopper he looked my way, you're way too short to notice." Usopp shrugs his shoulders like Chopper have to face the facts.
"Acfually he loothked at me, themn he winthked." (Actually he looked at me, then winked) Luffy adds on.
The three bicker about who had soul king attention for those three seconds. In reality it was Luffy who soul king had notice because of Nami.
Nami rolls her eyes and has her cheek in thr palm of her hand and sips her soda. Zoro just continues to eat it burger, then he remembered something.
"Hey, when is your boyfriend coming back?" Zoro asks after he swallows the chewed up food.
"Why? You miss him?", Nami sarcastically answers, "Don't know and don't care. I broke up with him so it's not any of my concern."
"He cheated didn't he?"
"Yeah, how'd you know?"
Luffy, Usopp and Chopper overhead their conversation and stops bickering to listen in.
"For being top three of our graduating class, you're pretty dumb." Zoro starts off.
"Why I oughta-" Usopp hold her back.
"He's a huge flirt, swoons at every girl he lays his eyes on. You really thought you were special? There's literally a nickname people used to talk about you behind your back."
"I...I believe you. I don't know why I haven't noticed it before." Nami sighs. She slouched in her seat and plays with her fries.
Usopp and Chopper noticed her mood change and tried to cheer her up. "If I ever see him, I'll make sure give him a good beating!" Usopp flexes his arm strength.
"He's missing out! Nami you're the friendliest and nicest person ever! You're so smart too!" Chopper compliments her.
Nami smiles at the two first years. She genuinely had a really good time today...with the guys. Sometimes it's nice to have male friends you can hang out with and escape from all the drama.
It got late and the crew disbanded. Usopp taking Zoro home to make sure he doesn't get lost and Chopper leaving to head in a different direction. Luffy accompanies Nami on her way home due to it being late in the night. They walk side by side not saying much. Pretty much Luffy kicking stray rocks out of their way and Nami watching him kick the rocks.
With her arms behind her back, "Hey, back there...in the restaurant. I lied." She says softly so only Luffy can hear.
It was quiet, the street light light up the dirt road to Nami's and Nokijo's farm was the only sound they heard. The constant buzzing like bees. Luffy looks at her. "I know." He says softly.
"I actually knew, he was cheating. I...I knew since the second week we started dating in middle school. Truth be told, he gave me comfort and security after my mother passed."
Luffy's ears perked at hearing about her mother. She's opening up.
"I just felt empty. I wanted to feel something to try cover up the grief when I'm actually still grieving." She looks at the road not lifting her eyes once.
"Then why'd you breakdown in the bathroom?"
"I'm greedy person. He was a distraction for me. Then my distraction wasn't giving me all of his attention. I couldn't take it anymore...so I flipped out and called it quits. I got tired of pretending. I'm...not fine. It's traumatizing to reply the bullet going through her skull and her smile dating away." Nami silently starts to sob which broke Luffy's heart because he too. Knew how she felt.
"I went to the wrong person...for comfort." She covers her mouth trying to suppress her sobs.
Luffy turns to her and hugs her. Embracing her in his hug, he rests his chin on her forehead. Nami felt water running along her forehead and looks up to see Luffy's eyes closed sobbing with her.
"W-why are you crying?" She sniffles her red nose and asks him.
"Because...I...I went to the wrong person for comfort to."
Nami didn't say anything, she looks at him with pity and hugs him back.
Two teens under a streetlight sharing a hug of comfort and assurance. Their hearts slowly beating in unison. They stood there holding each other feeling each other's pain. Embracing it all.
You can only do so much to try mend what is broken.