Chapter 10: Quiet Days, Blushing Nights
The Waifu Maru bobbed gently in the water just off Coral Cove Island. Ayman had decided they would take a short break before the next mission. After all the squid-smashing and wall-destroying chaos with Koba and the Coral Fangs, a day of peace sounded like heaven.
At least, that's what he told himself.
In truth, he needed time… to get used to the newest addition.
Android 18.
She sat at the bow of the ship, staring into the sea with her usual cool expression. Legs crossed, arms folded, she looked like she belonged on the cover of some sci-fi fashion magazine. The breeze fluttered her blonde hair, but her eyes remained distant — calculating.
Ayman peeked from behind the mast, chewing his lip.
"She's been quiet since the summon…"
"She's scanning your intelligence level," Yoruichi whispered in his ear suddenly.
"Gah!" he jumped. "Don't sneak up on me like that!"
Yoruichi smirked. "She's a machine. You're a dork. She's probably trying to figure out how you became her master."
"That's not helping."
Tsunade marched past with a crate of booze. "Make a move already or I'll do it for you."
"NO!"
Even Esdeath raised an eyebrow as she walked by sharpening her blade. "She's cute. I might steal her."
Ayman nearly choked. "Can I please have one moment where my waifus *don't* threaten each other?"
That night, after a dinner of grilled fish and rice balls, Android 18 finally spoke.
"You summoned me. What exactly do you expect from me?"
Ayman blinked, caught off guard. "Well… um, I guess I hoped we could work together. Get to know each other?"
She tilted her head. "Get to know me?"
"I mean, yeah. I can't unlock your full power unless we… bond. That's how the system works."
She narrowed her eyes. "You want to bond."
Yoruichi snorted.
"W-Wait, not like *that!*" Ayman panicked, waving his hands. "I mean— I'm not trying anything weird— okay maybe a little weird but not pervy weird— just companion weird!"
Android 18 stared at him. Then stood.
Then walked right up to him, face inches from his own.
He went rigid.
She raised a single eyebrow. "You're cute when you panic."
Ayman's brain stopped working.
"Wh-wh—huh—?"
She smirked and poked his forehead. "Let's see if you're worth bonding with."
The next morning, Ayman woke up lying in a hammock on the deck. His back hurt. His face was sunburnt. And Android 18 was sitting beside him with two mugs of tea.
"You overslept. Again," she said coolly.
He rubbed his face. "Did we… do anything last night?"
"No."
"Oh thank god."
"But you snored."
He groaned.
The day passed slowly. 18 began joining the crew activities — quietly, at first. She sparred with Esdeath and didn't break a sweat. Tsunade challenged her to a drinking contest and lost *horribly*. Yoruichi tried to prank her and got shocked by static energy.
Every night, Ayman would find her staring at the stars alone.
Eventually, he joined her.
"Do you miss your world?" he asked one night.
"No," she said without hesitation. "I wasn't attached to it. I was built to follow orders. But… here, I get to choose."
Ayman nodded slowly. "You're free."
She glanced at him. "And you?"
"I was just a salaryman. Then this happened. Now I have a crew of beautiful lunatics and a ship I barely know how to steer."
She smirked. "You're doing better than most captains."
That flattered him more than it should've.
He reached into his pocket and offered her a small trinket — a charm he'd bought from a stall in Coral Cove. A tiny seashell bound with silver string.
She looked at it.
"What is this?"
"A gift. It's not much… but it reminded me of your colors."
She stared at it.
Then took it.
"Bond level: increased," the system whispered in his head.
[System Notification: Android 18 – Bond Level 1 Achieved]
[Passive Skill Unlocked: Static Shield – Automatically blocks one ranged attack per battle]
He nearly cheered.
She smiled softly. "You're still an idiot. But you're my idiot now."
Ayman flushed red.
"Stop saying things like that with a straight face!"
From the shadows, Yoruichi whispered to Tsunade, "He's doomed."
Tsunade swigged from her flask. "He deserves it."
Esdeath sharpened her blade with a grin. "I approve of her. Let's see who breaks him first."
As the ship rocked gently under the starlight, Ayman smiled to himself.
He didn't know what tomorrow's mission would be.
But tonight, he'd earned something rare in the Grand Line.
A moment of peace.