Kai's Cottage - Late Afternoon
Ren grunted as he hit the ground for the fifth time, sweat pouring down his brow. Across from him, Kai stood with his arms crossed, a stern expression on his face. Ryu was off to the side, breathing heavily as he tried to sharpen his senses, focusing on the subtle shifts in the air and Kai's movements.
"Again," Kai barked.
Ren pushed himself up, frustration bubbling beneath the surface. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't grasp the feeling Kai described. His fists felt the same, his strikes no heavier than before.
"Stop thinking," Kai said, his eyes sharp. "Armament Haki isn't about forcing it. It's about focusing your will. Feel the pressure in your fists. Imagine striking through the surface."
Ren clenched his fists, closing his eyes. He steadied his breathing, but the harder he tried to concentrate, the more the world seemed to blur around him. Yet, just for a split second, he felt a faint surge of strength in his fists, a strange pressure he couldn't explain. "I can't... It's not working."
Kai shook his head, looking at Ren. "That's because you're forcing it. Armament Haki is already within you. Let it come naturally."
Ryu stepped forward, his eyes narrowed. "I can feel it now. It's like I can sense things more clearly, but it's exhausting." There was no darkened sheen on his fists, only the intensity in his gaze as he focused on Observation Haki.
Ren watched Ryu's focused stance as he tried to sense Kai's movements. Ren clenched his own hands, frustration simmering beneath his skin. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't grasp what Kai was trying to teach him.
Kai smirked. "Observation Haki will do that until you get the hang of it. Keep pushing your senses."
"What about me?" Ren asked, eyes burning. "How do I make it come naturally?"
Kai's gaze softened. "You already have the basics down. Now, you have to learn how to focus your spirit — without trying so hard."
---
Outside Kai's Cottage - Dusk
Ren stepped outside, the cool breeze washing over him. Nadia was sitting on a small wooden bench, her face turned toward the setting sun. The orange glow framed her delicate features, highlighting the sharpness of her jawline and the intense green of her eyes.
Ren walked over, collapsing onto the bench beside her. "You okay?"
Nadia glanced at him, a slight smirk on her lips. "Shouldn't I be asking you that? You look like you got trampled by a Sea King."
Ren chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. "Training's... rough."
A comfortable silence fell between them. Ren watched as Nadia's eyes drifted toward the horizon, a faraway look darkening her gaze. "You miss it?" he asked softly. "Your old life?"
Nadia's jaw tightened. "Not really. My grandfather's all I have left now. And he wasn't always a fisherman."
Ren's brow furrowed. "What do you mean?"
Nadia sighed, pulling her knees to her chest. "Before he settled here, he was a pirate in the New World. A strong one. But something happened. He won't tell me what, but... he gave it all up. Changed his name. Started over."
Ren's eyes widened. "And you... you stayed here with him?"
"Yeah. For years, I tried to get him to teach me how to fight, how to navigate the sea. He refused every time. Said he didn't want me to walk the same path he did." Her fists clenched. "But now, he's training you and Ryu."
Ren swallowed, guilt pooling in his gut. "Nadia, I didn't know —"
"It's fine," Nadia said, her expression hardening. "I've been charting the seas for years. Even if he never taught me how to fight, I know how to navigate better than anyone in this port."
Ren leaned forward, his expression serious. "Then come with me. Be my navigator."
Nadia blinked, surprise flashing across her face. "What?"
"You said it yourself," Ren said, his eyes intense. "You're the best navigator around. And I need someone like you. I can't cross Reverse Mountain without a navigator."
Nadia bit her lip, her eyes drifting toward the darkening sea. "And what about my grandfather?"
Ren hesitated. "We both know he's not going to stay here forever. He's training us for a reason. Maybe he's preparing you too."
Nadia's gaze dropped to her hands, fingers tightening. "I'll think about it."
Ren smiled, a genuine, hopeful grin. "Take your time. But I meant what I said. I want you on my crew."
As the last rays of sunlight dipped below the horizon, Nadia's eyes shone with a new determination. Unseen by either of them, Kai watched from the doorway, a shadowed look in his eyes.
---
Inside the Cottage - Night
Later that night, Kai sat alone at the wooden table, a half-empty bottle of sake in front of him. His eyes were fixed on a tattered, yellowed piece of parchment — a wanted poster bearing his old pirate name and a bounty that still held weight even now.
"If they're going to follow you, kid," Kai muttered to himself, fingers tracing the outline of his old face, "then they better be ready for what's coming."
Outside, the wind howled, carrying with it the promise of rough seas and an uncertain future.