Arc 2 - Chapter 5 — Here There Be Good Times

It was a rare day, after all, that Ruby Rose had to think about what she would wear. She rummaged through her drawers, there in her pajamas, making selections, holding them up to the mirror under incredible scrutiny, then setting aside the ones that passed, while tossing away the failures. Totally out of her character. Her go-to was a plain hoodie and jeans. Comfortable, simple, and didn't draw any attention. Perfect for a shut-in like herself. Today, however, was a very special kind of day. Ruby wanted to look good. Like, good enough that someone would compliment her, or do that weird cat-calling whistle.

Had to be careful not to look too good, though. Didn't want to look like she was trying too hard. So she opted for no makeup—which was fortunate because she'd never worn it before, at least not seriously. And the few cosmetics her dad had gotten her once were so old that they were beyond use. Jaune didn't seem like the kind of person who cared about makeup anyway. No, she needed to be casual. Casual but cute. Something to draw the eye. It had been a long time since she'd dressed for such a purpose.

Eventually she settled on a good bottom. A denim skirt that she'd bought last year, but then had no use for. Times were a' changin. Not so short as to be risque, but not long enough to be overly modest. It'd show some leg, which was both embarrassing and kind of exciting. Then she dragged up a dark tank top with a wide collar, held it up to her chest and realized it was too wide. One of her sister's old shirts. Ruby tossed it away. She found another that was more her style, a round collar with thin straps. Comfy, and would let her arms breathe. Would let her show a little more.

Ruby might have settled on that, but then she caught a glimpse of her arms. Saw the things there that would not be hidden well without a long sleeve. Such things which, if people saw, would make them ask questions. Such questions that Ruby did not want to have to answer. Sadly, she put the tank top away and pulled out a long sleeve shirt. It had a design of her favorite anime on it—bought for her by uncle Qrow last year for her birthday. She remembered being so happy that she'd hugged him constantly throughout the day. She hadn't had a party, but it had still been a good day. Well, until her uncle left for the night and came back drunk. That night had been one of the worst arguments between him and her dad. The memory of it still made her want to cry.

Ruby patted her cheeks. No, not this time. She would not let those thoughts ruin her day. Ruby tossed the shirt aside. She didn't think Jaune would like anime anyway. He'd probably think it was lame. Best not to bring up the topic either.

Eventually she picked a simple long sleeve red shirt with a floral design, some socks and red shoes she hadn't yet worn. She looked in the mirror and was happy with it for a moment, only to stare longer and lose some confidence. Ruby didn't hate her body, but she didn't much love it, either. It wasn't worth being upset about, and usually she didn't care, but today was different. A body with more curves might be more impressive. Again Ruby patted her cheeks. No negative thoughts. Good vibes only. Good vibes.

Ruby glanced at her red scarf lying on the table. Old thing. Losing some of its stitching and color and very clearly worn out beyond further use. Still, there was no scarf like it. Not in the whole entire world. There was a time when Ruby wore it a lot. Every day. Not so much anymore, and when she did it was for very different reasons. Ruby wiped a bit of wet out of her eyes. No sadness. Today she will have fun. Or, at least, she hoped she would.

Ruby was out of her room and down the stairs in a flash. Unsurprisingly, Uncle Qrow was passed out on the couch. But alternatively, Yang was in the kitchen and cooking. It was impossible to get to the door without her seeing, so Ruby simply chose to greet this strangely rare occasion. "Yang, you're home."

Yang turned to her with a smile, a bit of pancake batter on her cheek. "I live here, don't I? I decided to make strawberry pancakes." Yang said it temptingly. "Come on, little sister, cop a squat. It'll be ready in a little bit."

Ruby had to admit that pancakes, especially of the strawberry variety, were very difficult to resist. She almost sat down. Almost. "I'm okay. I'll eat later."

Yang blinked. "But you just got up. And these are your favorites."

"Save me some. I'm gonna be gone all day anyway." Ruby headed for the door.

"Oh yeah? Where at?"

Ruby was glad she hadn't turned around first, because she was quite certain a frown had formed on her face. She put up the best smile she could before turning around. "My friend's house. We're gonna play some games."

For some reason, Yang swallowed. "Who is this friend?"

This was a predicament and no mistake. On one hand, Ruby didn't want to lie. On the other, telling Yang the truth would incite her anger, which might then make her tell their dad, and he had historically given Yang more freedom than Ruby. "Just my friend, Yang. Why?"

"Nothing. Just wondered if I knew them, is all."

Not wanting to lie was not the same as not being able to lie though. "I have more friends than just yours, you know."

"We can still have breakfast first, right? I'll give you a lift on my bike. It's been a while since we rode together, huh?"

It had been. Ruby used to ask Yang to take her on rides all the time. Not so much lately. "I'm good. I'll take the bus and eat on the way." Ruby took hold of the door, only to feel a spike of anger when Yang called her again. She turned and said with a bit of heat, "What?"

Yang looked hurt. Like she was sorry about so much but had no idea how to say it. "I love you."

Ruby felt a sudden wave of crushing guilt, but managed to push it down until it was but a knot in her throat. No sadness today. Only good times ahead. "I gotta go. See you later."

It was only after she'd been on the bus for a good ten minutes that Ruby realized she hadn't said "I love you" back.

Ruby hadn't been nervous in the slightest while getting ready this morning, but ever since getting off the bus, she had regularly gone back and forth between relative uncertainty to heart pounding anxiety.

She was in Jaune's neighborhood now and no calmer for it. Quite the opposite, really. Ruby clutched her hands together in front of her and stared at the ground as she walked. She might have wondered where she was going, but she was on the right side of the street, so all she had to do was go forward. Forward until she happened upon the only house with a dinky old pink car, as Jaune's message the day before had said. He'd said she could drop by at eleven and the last she'd checked the time it was a quarter passed—couldn't be sure if that was fashionably late or just late, but it wasn't as if Jaune had asked if she had arrived yet. Maybe he'd forgotten she was coming? Maybe it was for the best that Ruby called the hangout off and went home? Gods, why was she like this? A chicken down to her very core.

It was too late now though, for Ruby looked up and saw the dinky pink car parked badly in the driveway. Didn't really make sense to call a spot you park your car a driveway, now that she thought about it. Darn it Ruby, focus. Ruby headed through the gate and up the stairs, looking around at the neatly mowed lawn and trimmed hedges. Up the steps, she paused at the door and pulled her phone. Was it better to knock or message him saying she'd arrived? It was such a dumb question and yet it felt like the most important one she'd ever have to make in the moment. Eventually, Ruby settled on pressing the doorbell.

She'd hardly had the time to gather her thoughts, for the door swung open before the bell had done the second ring. It was strange seeing Miss Peach outside of school, but she imagined that was the case for most teachers. You didn't really think about the fact that they were people with normal lives outside of their jobs, and not the spawned NPCs that they sometimes felt like.

Miss Peach greeted her with a smile and a wave, dressed in a robe and her hair a frazzled mess. "Ruby! I'd say this is a surprise, but my nephew said you were coming today."

"Um, yeah." said Ruby, unsure of what else to say.

"Come in, come in!" Peach took her by the arm and pulled her inside, and without any regard for personal space, grabbed her by the upper arms and looked her up and down, like some trophy she was proud of. "My my, you are stunning. Do you only dress up so nicely outside of school? You're usually so covered up."

She noticed how she dressed? That was a little unnerving. "Yeah."

"Absolutely stunning. You've got that natural beauty to you. I don't blame any boy or girl who can't resist you."

Ruby lowered her head and smiled a little. It wasn't true at all, about her being a beauty or getting all that attention, but it felt nice to get the compliment anyway. It wasn't one she got often. Sure, her sister, uncle, and dad would say she was beautiful, but that wasn't the same as hearing from someone outside who didn't feel obligated to cater to your feelings. She wondered if Jaune might think the same. If he might even say it.

"Oh, but I'm rambling. I need to get ready for an appointment. You're here for my nephew anyway!" Peach scurried on over to the couch, which since the back faced the door, Ruby hadn't seen that someone was sleeping there. Peach's slippers skidded to a stop and she began to shake him awake.

Ruby noticed then that the TV had been on, currently on pause in the middle of a show. With that being the case, she surmised that Jaune had probably been up late watching and fallen asleep in the middle of it. But it was the show he was watching that surprised her. Pirate King, her favorite anime. That somehow made her want to squeal. She wouldn't though, not while Jaune was rising up off the couch, bedraggled and… shirtless.

A lifetime of learning basic decency would have convinced her to look away, but just like when Pirate King released a new chapter in the manga, she was glued to the scene like her life depended on it. His shoulders were broad enough that she could probably use it as a chair, skin creasing as he rose to his feet, hunched over and half asleep. For being half-naked, Ruby did not doubt that he was probably warm as a furnace. And by the gods did she want to stick her hand in that flame, consequences be damned. Ruby's thoughts went places, and those places made her feel things that felt both wrong and right at the same time. She managed to find some control—which involved looking away—as Peach sent her nephew off to his room to clean up and change.

"Sorry about that," said Peach. "That boy is a handful, I tell you. Anyway, I should get ready to go. I'm going to be in my room most of the day, so the house is all yours." Peach smiled at that for some reason.

Ruby had no idea what to say, so she nodded and kept quiet. Thankfully, Miss Peach had moved on to a room down the way, and Ruby let go a breath. She took a seat on the couch, now content to wait and hopefully settle her thoughts.

It seemed there'd be no mercy for her today, as Jaune reappeared a moment later, thankfully and disappointingly fully dressed. If he had put any thought into what he'd wear, it wasn't much. Just some sweats and a t-shirt, barefoot and still looking pretty tired. Hadn't bothered fixing his hurricane of hair, while Ruby had spent at least thirty minutes on hers. Ruby suddenly felt like she was being called out. Jaune pointed at her. "Shoes off at the door."

"Oh!" Ruby hopped up and did so. "Sorry."

He shrugged. "Hungry?"

"Uh no, I'm…"

"Of course she is!" Miss Peach came darting back into the room like she had heard Ruby's empty stomach. "Jaune, what's wrong with you? Always make guests a meal, even if they're not hungry. That's a law."

"A law where?" Jaune questioned.

"In this household!" Peach gently pushed him into the kitchen. "I'll take pancakes please nephew. You're a doll. Can you start my coffee while you're at it? Ruby honey, you just relax. My nephew's cooking is pure witchcraft. I'm telling you, it's a lucky girl who gets him for a husband."

"Luckier still if she doesn't marry me at all," grumbled Jaune.

"His winning personality is a bonus."

Ruby smiled at their back and forth. It seemed Jaune didn't act too differently at home than school, though around his aunt, that frown didn't seem so omnipresent. Jaune pointed a pan at Ruby. "What kind of pancakes do you want?"

Ruby was feeling a little bit playful now, so she said, "I never said I liked pancakes."

"Burnt, got it."

"No, no! I'm sorry!" Ruby giggled. "Can you do strawberry?"

"He sure can. He's a wizard with food, you'll see." said Peach. "And nephew, make them with love, will you?"

Jaune turned the stove on and raised an eyebrow at his aunt. "Don't I always?"

Ruby Rose had never fallen in love so fast as she had with that first bite into Jaune's Arcs strawberry pancakes. It was hardly a struggle to savor every forkfull like it might be her last. Bits of her favorite fruit chopped and cooked into the batter, cooked to a soft golden brown with just the slightest crunch on the ends, and lathered in melted butter, powdered sugar, and maple syrup. So good as to be sinful. The gods were seeing fit to punish her with diabetes and she did not care at all.

It wasn't just her, either. Miss Peach was more acclimated to the food and so wasn't moaning with joy every moment, but occasionally her eyes would close with the accompanying bite, like she might be transported to another world full of rainbows and unicorns. The chef seemed to be ignorant of his creation's magic, taking to his plate with the same calm disinterest as anything else. It was almost insulting to see.

"Jaune, this…" Ruby covered her mouth, remembering to swallow first. "I can't believe it. This is amazing."

Jaune held up a forkful of pancake, eyeing it with scrutiny. "I shouldn't have cooked them too long. Could've been better."

"Better than this?" It was better than when her dad made it and that was high praise from Ruby.

Peach patted her nephew's shoulder. "Don't listen to this one. He couldn't take a compliment even if it might save the world. Well, Jaune? Go on and thank her!"

Ruby wondered if she was imagining it, but she was sure that Jaune was blushing. "Thanks."

"How'd you learn to cook like this?"

"My dad."

"He taught you everything?"

"Pretty much. We're the only ones who cook in the house. My sisters are good for everything but."

Ruby grinned. "My dad taught me to make some stuff before, but I learned the most from Yang. She used to make dinner all the time after school. You said you have sisters, too?"

"Yeah. Seven."

Ruby gawked. "Seriously?"

"Seriously."

"I can barely handle the one I have. I don't know how you do it."

"Don't be too impressed. I'm the middle brat so I didn't do that much."

"Being modest again." said Peach, who was now scrubbing the dishes. "The family calls all the time begging him to come home so he can make dinner for the week. Without him there, they're all practically starving."

"My sisters are dramatic." Jaune said, and he kind of smiled a bit. "But it's not as hard as it sounds. You get used to it. You can't imagine having more than one. I can't imagine having less than seven."

"Wow…" Ruby couldn't help but feel a little envious of him. A big family was a hassle, no doubt, but it sounded like Jaune was well loved. His sisters very clearly relied on and had a need for him. You could never be lonely with that much family at home. "That's so many. Do you think I can meet them one day?"

There was a crashing sound. A plate shattered as it hit the floor at Peach's feet, and the woman stared at Ruby with wide, glistening eyes and a hand to her mouth. Her mouth which had stretched into the most thrilled smile imaginable. "Why Ruby, you want to be introduced to the family already?"

Sensibly, Ruby found herself confused. "I mean, if it's not a problem. Yeah, I guess."

Peach squealed like a little girl who'd been given that specific new doll for she'd been begging for Christmas. She began to pace around the kitchen, fanning her face like she had just run a marathon and needed to cool off. "Oh dear, this is all so sudden. It's not even noon! You are a forward young lady, Ruby Rose." The woman then darted off to her room in a desperate haste, like there was bomb in need of disarming. "Oh this is so exciting! I'd better call your father, Jaune! He's going to lose it!"

With a smack of her bedroom door, she was gone. Leaving behind the broken plate and not a moment later did they hear her giggling and babbling like no tomorrow. Jaune took this in apparent stride, collecting Ruby's plate before taking care of his aunt's mess.

"Your aunt is funny," said Ruby.

"You mean crazy." corrected Jaune.

"People can be funny and crazy. My uncle's like that." Or he had been. Now he was just drunk and miserable most of the time.

Jaune gave her an inquisitive look. "Your uncle?"

Crap, why had she brought him up? She hadn't been thinking that Jaune might ask her to elaborate. "Yeah, he's… a police officer. Or actually, he's a detective now. Well not now. He became one a few years ago before my mom—" Ruby realized her mistake and made for a quick recovery. "He became a detective before my mom. They were both on the force together."

Thankfully Jaune did not seem like he'd caught her hesitation. "Hm."

"What about your dad? What does he do?"

Jaune leaned on the counter, eyes glancing upward. "Carpentry. He likes building things. Always did. When I was six, he built a treehouse in the backyard for all of us."

"A treehouse? That's so cool."

"It was. Until my sister, Opal fell out of it and hurt her leg. Now no one else goes up there. Except for me, I guess."

From what Ruby knew, Jaune had been dropped off here to live with his aunt for a while. It didn't sound like he'd had a choice in the matter, either. "Do you miss it? Home? Your family?"

"Sometimes."

Ruby liked to think she understood how he felt, at least to a degree. Feeling separated from your family, living in a place that's supposed to feel like home but doesn't. Ruby's home, the one her mom and dad had bought together after their marriage, had been the only home she'd known her whole life. And yet it felt as empty as a graveyard after the corpses were all withered to dust. A home that was more like a prison. It may have a roof, food, and a place to sleep, but the cells were cold and dark and hopeless. Or maybe she was being dramatic.

"You have your aunt though. She's nice," said Ruby.

"I'm never bored around her, that's for sure," said Jaune, then he looked at her. "I guess we're supposed to hang out now."

"We don't have to if you're tired."

"I'm good. What do you wanna do?"

Ruby looked at the TV. "You watch anime?"

"How'd you guess? I just started Pirate King. I only planned to watch a few episodes yesterday but…"

"You couldn't stop, huh?" Ruby nodded knowingly. "It's awesome, right?"

"Surprisingly."

It was on from there. It was the most she'd seen Jaune talk in a single sitting, but then Ruby had not talked to him very often before. What a stupid choice that seemed getting out of school yesterday, Jaune had apparently binged straight through the beginning of the show up to the Chef of the Sea arc, which to Ruby's genuine delight, gave them more than enough to talk about. By the time she realized they were on the couch together, just talking and nothing else, they'd only gotten through half the story he'd watched so far.

"Soppu's your favorite?" Jaune rolled his eyes like he'd expected better of her.

"What?" Ruby chuckled. "Come on! He's awesome."

"Is he? He just acts like a coward all the time. He is a coward. I don't see how anyone could like him."

Oh how badly Ruby wanted to tell him he was wrong. Soppu was a fan favorite up to the story's most current arc. To the point that the hot take now was hating the character. Ah but Jaune's Pirate King cherry had not yet popped. He'd see the magic soon enough. "Just keep watching. I promise you'll love him eventually. But come on, that fight with the Don? And the Dark Swordsman?"

Jaune pursed his lips to the side in that way like he was trying to withhold a smile. "Fine. Yeah, those were pretty good."

"I know!"

It was so weird. The contrast between the moody guy who'd frown in the face of world peace had now adopted the barest traces of a grin. Scientific proof beyond doubt that he was capable of such a thing. There was the tiniest amount of excitement in his voice, however much he tried to play it off. Ruby thought such a thing to be impossible, yet now seeing it herself felt like finding gold in a mountain of coal. And all because of this silly show she loved so much. Others in the group watched anime like Nora and Blake, but neither of them watched Pirate King, or at least hadn't gotten far. Finally, she had someone to be a dweeb about it with and not feel like some childish loser. It was a feeling like nothing else. One she wasn't sure if she'd felt before.

Then, Jaune said something she never would have thought to hear. "Please tell me there are some Pirate King games."

Ruby grinned. "Lots! You can't play one of the new ones without getting spoiled, but you can still get the first one to play since the story mode ends where you left off. It's cheap online. And it's multiplayer."

The pleasant surprises were abound today, for Jaune had rushed into his aunt's room without even knocking. "Aunt Peach! I need your credit card!"

Peach would have gladly paid a thousand lien if it got her this scene. As it stood, fifteen was a complete robbery.

While she made herself an afternoon cup of coffee, her nephew and his definite future girlfriend sat on the couch, stuck together shoulder to shoulder, playing through one of those anime games. And while she had no idea what said game was about, it was not at all what she was focused on. They'd cranked the volume up loud, but they somehow managed to be even louder themselves Talking strategies and reacting to scenes, shrieking at deaths, cheering and high-fiving at victories. Well, mostly Ruby. Jaune was still rather tame in that regard, but he was certainly enjoying himself. And there was no mistaking it—they'd been playing for four hours straight.

"The checkpoint is over here, Jaune! Over here!"

"I'm kind of dying over here. I need help."

"Alright, I'm coming. Don't die!"

"How?"

"Heal!"

"You used all of our heals!"

"I did? Oh."

"What? That killed me? Ruby!"

"What'd I do?"

"You abandoned me! I was fighting like a hundred guys."

"If you'd used your super instead of being stingy with it, you wouldn't get rushed so hard."

"I'm stingy for wanting to save my strongest move for the boss? You never have a super whenever we actually need it. On top of abusing all of our heals."

Ruby stuck her tongue out at Jaune, and perhaps it was the adrenaline of the moment, because Jaune actually decided to return fire, sticking his tongue out in revenge. Certainly, her nephew was not very mature himself yet, this was still not the type of thing Peach thought she'd see him do. It wasn't a bad thing at all in this case. It was what she'd wanted to see ever since he'd come to stay with her. To just see that he was capable of forgetting his problems for a few hours and be happy. His face was still mostly cold and stony, but the only one who could deny that he was enjoying himself was, well, himself.

With a proud smile, she decided to let the kids be and get back to work. She shut the door of her office behind her. The muffled sound of the two of them in the background kept the smile on her face.

Wave was on her knees, shoulder bloody from stabbing herself, trying to withhold her tears, pure desperation in her weak voice. "Loofy, help me."

Ruby had watched this scene a dozen times by now. Both through series rewatches and isolated clips. And there had never been a single instance in which she did not tear up or just outright cry. She was used to that though, but the experience was only enhanced with company. Jaune, for all his staunch emotionlessness, was not immune to the emotion of the scene. He didn't cry like she did, but he watched with uncompromised attention, his hands together and held under his bottom lip as if it was the final ten seconds of a ball game and the score was even. After they'd both gamed enough, Jaune had wanted to continue the show, which was more than fine by Ruby. There was nothing like seeing the reaction of someone new getting into a thing you loved. It seemed he was loving it as much as she was, if not more.

Loofy strode manfully up to Wave's side, slipped off his straw hat, then stuffed it onto her head without a word. Wave looked up at him with disbelief as he continued on past her, sandals scuffing the ground, as if she couldn't fathom what she was seeing. Why would he help her when she had used him and his crew? She had lied and tricked and stolen from them. To save her village, yes, but for her own ends still. How could she ever deserve their help?

It did not occur to her that Loofy did not care about any of that. It was why he was Ruby's favorite character. A friend was in trouble, and Loofy would never say no to a friend in need. He was the kind of friend anyone would want. The kind of friend Ruby hoped to have.

"Got it." said Loofy simply. Wordlessly, his makeshift crew of four made off toward the home base of the Fishman Bandit, the very cause of Wave's suffering and the enslavement of her hometown. Jaune had leaned even closer to the screen, eyes wide with captivation, in silent demand to know what would happen next.

The scene ended with the Straw Man Pirates walking on ahead before the screen shifted to a sudden: To Be Continued.

This, of course, was not to Jaune's liking. "It ends there? You're kidding me!"

Ruby jumped, a surge of electricity running up her back and Jaune's sudden outburst. The cry of a man who was done a most brutal injustice. Hit with the cliffhanger. Classic.

"It's just the end of the episode. Wanna watch the next one?" asked Ruby, not at all ready to stop.

"Can you? It's getting late now."

Ruby blinked. There was no way that was true. Ruby looked out the far window and saw that there was no sunlight peeking through, just darkness. That didn't mean it was late though, so she checked her phone. A quarter past ten and no mistake. It was incredible how just a few numbers could make her heart sink. Her phone was broken. That had to be it. Ruby had only just gotten here. They hadn't even been watching the show for very long. The day couldn't be over yet.

"Yeah, I guess it is, um…" Ruby then looked through her missed messages and found that she'd gotten some from Yang and her dad, both asking where she was and when she'd be back. "Sorry. I guess I'd better go now so I don't miss the last bus."

"Don't worry about it. My aunt can take you. I'll go get her."

And just like that, it felt like the fun had all drained out of her. It was the first time, perhaps ever, that Ruby did not want to go home. Which was impressive considering that whenever she was anywhere else for very long she was eager to get back to her room and shut herself away from the world. Now, she dreaded even the comfort of her own bed. Back to that sad little house with a bunch of sad people, locked up in her room with no one to talk to. Maybe she was being dramatic, since she could probably hang out with Jaune another time, but today had been like having a sample of the greatest ice cream in the world, only to be told that she could have no more even if she could pay for it. Why did she have to go home?

"Ready to go, Ruby?" said Miss Peach as she came out, keys in hand.

Ruby wanted to beg her not to. To drop her off somewhere else for the night. A park bench or whatever. In the end, all she did was nod.

"Or, you could stay the night if you'd like."

Ruby was sure her heart would have jumped out of her throat.. "I can? I mean, can I?"

"Of course, honey. I wish I'd thought of it sooner and I would have told you to bring some spare clothes. Well, we could just go by your house and pick some up. How does that sound? Will your father be alright with that?"

"He will!" Or Ruby hoped he would. She texted him immediately, throwing in as many please's as possible, caps on and all. She waited for the longest minute of her life for his response. "He says yes!" Ruby couldn't contain her joy.

Peach turned to her nephew. "Jaune, are you alright with Ruby staying over?"

Jaune shrugged. "I'm not complaining."

Ruby swore she would have hugged him right then. She didn't, but she wanted to.

Peach was already headed for the door, dragging her coat over her nightclothes and jangling the keys in the air. "Well, come on then you two. We might as well get some food on the way. What do you say to pizza?"

Jaune helped his aunt put her coat on. "You always want pizza."

"I've yet to hear you come up with anything even remotely superior, my darling nephew."

Jaune cast Ruby a knowing and tired glance, mouthing. "Here we go." Sure enough, Peach was already babbling away about why pizza was the best form of takeout.

Ruby did not care in the slightest what they had for dinner. She was happy enough to listen to their byplay as they headed out into the adventurous night, laughing the whole way. It might have been hyperbolic to say that this was the greatest day of her life. It wasn't, in truth.

But it was pretty freaking close.

Yup. This whole chapter was an excuse for me to fanboy over One Piece. Deal with it.