One Piece: From Picking Up Red Hair's Broken Arm

Chapter 377 Finale, Extra Chapter 3: First Kiss and the Future
Guina buried her face deeply in his chest, and could hear his steady, powerful heartbeat—thump, thump, thump, like a war drum, yet it gave her a sense of peace far more than the sound of a drum.

Xia Nuo wrapped his arms around her shoulders, his movements initially a little stiff, but he quickly relaxed.

He lowered his head, his chin gently resting on the top of her head.

The cool touch of the cherry blossom hairpin reached me.

This reminded Xia Nuo of the little trick she had used to sneakily insert it back in when she felt guilty, and she couldn't help but chuckle.

"What are you laughing at?" Guina asked sullenly, her voice coming from his chest.

"It's nothing." Xia Nuo tightened her arms around him. "I just feel... it's really nice like this."

Yeah, that's great.

Guina hugged him tighter and didn't ask any more questions.

No more words are needed, nor are any grand promises required.

A single hug is enough to bring two hearts so close.

Time seemed to slow down and stretch out at that moment.

The sea breeze, music, and distant noise all became blurred backgrounds.

The world shrinks to this terrace, to the space between two people embracing.

After an unknown amount of time, Guina stirred slightly and lifted her head from Shano's embrace.

Her eyes were still a little red and swollen, but they had stopped tearing. Instead, they shone with a bright light, like the most dazzling star in the night sky.

"Xia Nuo." She called his name for the fourth time.

"Ok?"

"I……"

Kuina bit her lower lip, her cheeks flushing again, but her gaze remained firm, without the slightest hesitation. "I want to kiss you, I really, really want to."

Xia Nuo quietly looked at Guina.

Looking at the shy yet determined light in her eyes, at her slightly trembling eyelashes and blushing cheeks.

The moonlight shone on her, making her skin appear as white as snow against her pale purple yukata, and the cherry blossom hairpin gleamed softly in the night.

This usually valiant girl is his swordsman, his partner, and one of the people he trusts most.

And now, she is also his favorite person.

"it is good."

Xia Nuo's voice was a little hoarse when she heard herself say this.

He released his arms from hers, but instead of pulling away, he lowered his head slightly to close the distance between them.

Guina held her breath.

She could smell a faint scent of alcohol on Xia Nuo, mixed with a unique aroma that belonged to him. It was the scent of sea breeze, sunshine, and the lingering aftermath of countless battles, so familiar that it made her heart race.

Their noses almost touched.

Guina closed her eyes.

She could feel Xia Nuo's breath brushing against her cheek, warm and gentle.

Followed by.

Something soft gently touched her lips.

Because she had just drunk a glass of wine, Xia Nuo's lips were still quite moist, and they carried a slightly sweet aroma of sparkling wine.

He clearly had no experience; his movements were clumsy. After touching her, one second, two seconds, three seconds passed... and he remained pressed against her without making any further moves.

But that was enough for Guina.

Her heart was pounding wildly in her chest, blood rushed to her head, and her ears were ringing.

This was her first kiss, which she had treasured for so many years. Finally, on this night, she gave it to the person she loved most. Just thinking about it made her weak all over and almost unable to stand.

Xia Nuo clearly noticed her trembling and reached out his other hand to support her waist.

This action brought their bodies even closer together, making the touch on their lips feel even more real.

“Xia Nuo…”

"Ok?"

"I love you, I love you the most, the most, the most."

"..."

A soft chuckle escaped her lips. "Me too."

Unable to contain their emotions, and without knowing who it was, they finally opened their lips and took it a step further.

Their teeth occasionally clashed, and their breathing wasn't smooth, but it was precisely this tension and clumsiness that made the kiss and the night even more unforgettable.

The moonlight, like water, poured down on the two people who were tightly embracing each other.

……

"Crench!"

Nami tossed a handful of cheese tortilla chips into her mouth, put down her monoculars, and leaned back with a grin, half-reclining on the backrest.

Waited for so long.

That big idiot brother of mine is finally no longer a virgin... cough.

Anyway, after following this drama for years, it's finally over! Hehe!

"What are you looking at?"

Luo, who was on the other side, noticed this and couldn't help but ask, puzzled.

"Don't meddle in things that have nothing to do with you, Traman!"

Nami chewed away, then noticed the Den Den Mushi on Law's shoulder. She hesitated for a moment, but finally couldn't resist:
"Hey, when did you and your Den Den Mushi get so close? You even bring them to banquets?"

Luo didn't retaliate. After all, the young lady in front of him was famous for her chart-drawing skills, but she was also known for her bad temper. Arguing with a child who was not yet an adult would only be pointless.

"This little guy."

He raised his hand to touch the Den Den Mushi on his shoulder and sighed:

"I went to Mary Geoise for a battle a while ago and left it at home without looking after it. As a result, it ate one of my treasured Devil Fruits."

"Devil Fruit?"

Nami raised an eyebrow and continued chewing.

"Yes, it is a very meaningful fruit, which Lord Shano personally gave to me."

Luo smiled wryly, "It's a real pity that it was eaten. But the good news is that it seems to have been developed into something amazing by accident. I think it will be very useful for Lord Shano's world-transformation plan, so I brought it with me to the banquet at headquarters this time, hoping to give it to Lord Shano and let him take a look."

"My brother? He's too busy right now, but I can help you take a look!"

Nami's eyes lit up as if she had discovered a new toy. She suddenly jumped up from the backrest and reached out to grab the Den Den Mushi on Ra's shoulder.

"Hey!"

Luo instinctively shrank back, protecting the Den Den Mushi. "Don't touch it. This isn't an ordinary Den Den Mushi anymore."

"Stingy!"

Nami pouted, but didn't reach out again. Instead, she curiously leaned closer to examine the Den Den Mushi.

The Den Den Mushi seemed to sense her gaze, lazily opening its eyes and revealing... well, Nami felt there was something strange about that look. It wasn't as dull as a normal Den Den Mushi; instead, it carried a hint of cunning and disdain.

Become smarter?

"What kind of fruit does it eat?" Nami asked.

"Thread Fruit".

Luo explained, "You should have seen its previous owner, who was a Shichibukai named Doflamingo who was killed by Lord Shano."

Doflamingo?
Who is it?

Nami racked her brains, but still couldn't remember.

"The one who wears loafers, puts his hands in his pockets, and walks with a particularly arrogant gait."

Nochiko, on the other side, finally put down her binoculars with reluctance and reminded him through gritted teeth.

"Oh! That guy!"

Nami suddenly realized that the blond guy who had been kicked to death by her older brother as soon as he came out of seclusion was the one she remembered.

Luo's lips twitched. The difference between people was just too great. No wonder she was Lord Xia Nuo's sister.

Despite being a terrifying shadow that had haunted her for over a decade, and a notorious pirate whose fame had spread far and wide, he hadn't left any impression on the young lady in front of her at all.

"Anyway."

"After eating the Devil Fruit, this guy somehow managed to use the power of the String-String Fruit to connect the biological signals of different Den Den Mushi (snail communication devices) to form a... well, how should I put it, a 'network' that we can also use."

"network?"

Nami tilted her head, completely failing to understand the word.

"This is the name I've come up with for now. You can think of it as something similar to a spider web."

Luo tried to find an explanation that Nami could understand: "In the past, aside from those special varieties, Den Den Mushi almost only had the function of making phone calls. But now, all Den Den Mushi can log into this network internally and use the network to transmit, spread, and store all kinds of information at high speed."

"In this way, it has immeasurable value for managing the world, responding to emergencies, and promoting exchanges and knowledge dissemination."

Luo's expression turned serious. "That's why I said this could be of great help to Lord Shano's plan to build a new order. However, to what extent it can be achieved and how it can be applied on a large scale still requires Lord Shano to take the helm personally and to convene Dr. Vegapunk and the others for in-depth research."

Mid-level managers like Luo only recently learned about it.

It turns out that Dr. Vegapunk, who is said to be 500 years ahead of the world, had already secretly made contact with Lord Shano after the North Sea Incident.

Not only did they secretly provide the scientific departments of the Fallen with blueprints for various civilian engineering machines, but they also deliberately delayed the research and development process of the Motherfire energy for the World Government.

Now, with the changing times, Dr. Vegapunk, barring any unforeseen circumstances, will become the chief scientist of the new regime that is being planned and established.

"Oh... um..."

Nami became more and more confused as she listened.

God is always fair. As a super-beautiful girl, she has plenty of talent as a navigator, but she is terrible at many other things.

For example, she has virtually no concept of money and is too extravagant to be in charge of accounts.

This is especially true for scientific matters.

As soon as Luo started talking about scientific research and development, she got a headache. "Okay, okay, stop talking!"

Nami covered her ears, looking like she had a splitting headache. "What information dissemination, communication promotion, all that gibberish, it's so annoying! Anyway, this Den Den Mushi has become really powerful, right? It can help my brother, right? That's enough!"

She had no interest in the intricacies of the situation, and since she wasn't allowed to touch the Den Den Mushi, Nami didn't bother with it anymore.

"Yes, that's roughly the idea."

Luo nodded helplessly, watching Nami pick up the binoculars again and look towards the terrace with great interest, clearly her mind was no longer on the place.

at this time.

"Mr. Brooke!"

"Mr. Brooke!"

A burst of enthusiastic applause and cheers suddenly rang out.

Luo recognized the name and turned to look. Sure enough, the musician, who could be considered the best in the new world, was waving to the crowd as he strode onto the center stage.

"Ahem, thank you all for your support. I'm so touched I almost cried. Ah, even though I don't have any tear ducts."

It was a very lame joke.

But because he was a very popular musician, he still received a round of polite laughter.

Luo also temporarily put aside the Den Den Mushi matter, smiled, leaned back, and quietly watched.

"It's a great honor to be the lead performer in such an important occasion, yo ho ho ho!"

Brooke bowed gracefully with her hand on her chest, then took a fine violin from the inside pocket of her dress and slung it over her shoulder.

Speaking of which, the last time he attended a banquet, he accidentally lost his musical instrument.

Somehow, the news reached Lord Shano. Upon learning of this, Lord Shano personally retrieved a collection of rare musical instruments from the Fallen Ones' spoils warehouse for him to choose from, and this violin was one of them.

Back then, he wasn't as famous as he is now, and he was just about to grit his teeth and use all his savings to buy a good violin.

This timely act of kindness moved him to tears on the spot.

This small incident reveals a larger truth: the dignified master of the Fallen Emperor treats a common musician like him with such meticulous care... Lord Shano is truly remarkable!

"So, to celebrate the arrival of a new era, to our shared victory, and to this beautiful night..."

Brook paused slightly at this point, then smiled and said in a tone of sincere admiration:

"Let me offer a song that I recently wrote. I want to dedicate it to Lord Shano, and also to all the followers present here, and to all those who fight for freedom and dreams!"

The bow falls.

The first note flowed out.

Clear and soothing, like a stream flowing quietly under the moonlight, it also evokes images of a cool summer night in the countryside.

The square gradually quieted down, and everyone stopped talking and looked at the elegant skull in the center of the stage.

Brooke closed her eyes, her body swaying gently to the melody, completely immersed in the world of music.

The music began as a gentle narrative, as if telling a long story, filled with loneliness, confusion, and unwavering support for one another in the darkness.

Gradually, the melody began to become more intense and violent, like a storm rising on the sea, full of resistance and indomitable power.

after that.

Nature, high above, was thoroughly enraged, growing increasingly ferocious, and unleashing increasingly terrifying attacks, wave after wave, each higher than the last.

But those who refuse to yield remain unyielding!

Until all storms are broken and all powerful enemies are defeated, the dawn will finally break!

The musical notes leaped, collided, and converged, eventually transforming into a mighty torrent that swept across the entire square.

Many people closed their eyes, and images of war, the figures of their comrades, the scenes of those who fought to the death, and the cheers and tears of victory appeared in their minds.

Music has magic.

It can transcend racial and cultural barriers and reach the deepest parts of people's hearts.

When Brook reached the climax of his performance, many people's eyes were already wet with tears. Out of the corner of his eye, Law noticed that Nami and Nojiko, the sisters opposite him, had red eyes and tears streaming down their faces.

Is it because you're thinking about Lord Xia Nuo's experiences back then?

Luo wondered to himself, and couldn't help but feel curious.

He had heard that rumor before.

Back then, Lord Xia Nuo had no grand ambitions at all; he simply wanted to quietly stay with his family and tend to the orange grove in his hometown.

So what exactly was the reason, or rather, who played the role of the first wave of trouble in this piece, putting immense pressure on Lord Xia Nuo?

This ultimately led him to the path of overthrowing the world government and bringing an end to the old era.

Tsk.

Perhaps we'll have to wait decades, until Lord Xia Nuo grows old, to find out the truth in his own memoirs.

I will definitely buy a copy as soon as the time comes.

……

On the terrace.

The two, who were embracing each other, were also drawn by the distant sound of a piano.

Guina stepped slightly away from Shano's embrace, listened intently, her face still flushed.

"It's Brooke playing."

"Xia Nuo said softly."

"Ah."

Kuina nodded, pressed her face back against his chest, listening to his heartbeat and the distant piano music. "No wonder that guy's been getting more and more popular lately, it's really beautiful."

"Yes."

Xia Nuo held her close, his chin still gently resting on the top of her head. "Music with soul, music from the heart, can always touch people's hearts just right."

The two smiled at each other, leaned against each other, their shadows overlapping as if they could never be separated again.

At this moment, the music reached its most glorious peak, like thousands of stars blooming at the same time, before slowly receding and returning to tranquility.

The lingering sound drifted away on the night breeze.

Thunderous applause and cheers erupted in the square, lasting for a long time...

(End of this chapter)