Anime Girls are Moist

Chapter 1167 1,166: Reviving the Dead

Rei Ao reached out and ruffled that white hair.

It was absurdly soft, fluffy like a newborn rabbit.

It was impossible to connect that texture with Yamato's usual bold, reckless personality, the kind that looked like she wanted to punch a hole in the sky.

The thought had only just crossed his mind when he saw the tips of Yamato's ears turn red in an instant.

Bright red, almost glowing.

Even the way she fumbled with the wine jar in her hands became clumsy.

Her fingers seemed to stop obeying her, picking at the clay seal for ages without managing to pry it open.

With a flick of his fingertip, Rei Ao easily broke the seal.

A crisp, mellow fragrance of wine immediately spread out, carrying the rich scent unique to fermented grain and drifting into everyone's noses.

"Your hands are shaking. Scared?"

"W-Who's shaking?!"

Yamato stiffened her neck in protest, her face turning even redder, as red as a crab freshly pulled out of boiling water.

She snatched the wine jar from him so abruptly she nearly spilled it, then hurriedly poured two bowls and shoved one toward Rei Ao.

"I-I'm just excited! This is good stuff, so hurry up and try it!"

As soon as she said that, she picked up her own bowl and downed it in one gulp.

She drank too fast and immediately choked, coughing hard enough that tears sprang to her eyes. Her eye rims turned red, making her look exactly like a little puppy that had gotten its tail stepped on.

Nami was laughing so hard beside her that she could barely straighten up, clutching her stomach with tears nearly coming out of her eyes.

"Yamato, you're way too funny! You managed to choke just drinking wine? Aren't you usually a heavy drinker?"

Yamato glared at Nami and was just about to argue back when a warm touch suddenly landed on her back.

Rei Ao's hand gently patted her there, not too light, not too heavy, once, then again, helping her catch her breath.

At that instant, Yamato's whole body froze.

As if she'd been struck by lightning, she even forgot to cough.

Her cheeks burned so hot she started to wonder if she was about to cook through.

That heat spread from her face all the way down her neck, even tinting the tips of her ears a soft pink.

Her heartbeat thundered like a drum, pounding so loudly that her mind went completely blank.

And yet inside, it also felt like fireworks were exploding one after another, crackling in a chaotic, dizzying mess that was somehow unbearably sweet.

She had fought people before and kept charging forward even with broken bones, without so much as frowning.

But now?

Just two gentle pats on the back had made her entire body feel awkward and out of place.

She didn't know where to put her hands, or where to stand.

She was like someone under a freezing spell, too afraid to move at all.

Only now did she understand—

There really could be a person who only needed a single small gesture to make you drop your armor and surrender willingly.

Just as Yamato was flustered out of her mind, with all kinds of inappropriate thoughts running wild in her head—

Several pale arms suddenly sprouted from the other side of the cushioned couch.

One arm lightly picked up the fruit platter from the low table, while another picked up a fruit knife.

It peeled the fruit skin with practiced ease, shaving it off in one long, thin strip that dangled in the air.

Yet another arm held out a cup of warm water and slowly offered it to Yamato.

Nico Robin's voice came from behind the bead curtain, carrying a faint smile.

"Don't tease Yamato too much. She's thin-skinned. Keep it up and she really will want to crawl into a crack in the ground."

The bead curtain rustled softly as Robin stepped out.

Her dark blue hair fell loosely over her shoulders, and she wore an elegant long dress patterned with subtle dark motifs, the hem swaying gently with her steps.

There was an intellectual warmth in her brows and eyes, and a faint smile at the corner of her lips. In her hand was a thick ancient book, with a few maple leaves tucked between the pages as bookmarks.

She walked over to the couch and sat down gracefully.

The arms from before withdrew, leaving only one resting gently on Rei Ao's shoulder.

Her fingertips pressed softly into his shoulders and neck with perfect pressure, neither too light nor too heavy, as if she had done it countless times before.

Rei Ao turned his head and leaned against her shoulder, breathing in the faint scent of ink clinging to her.

It was the scent unique to old books, mixed with her warmth, and for some reason it made people feel at ease.

"Robin really is the most thoughtful."

Robin let out a soft laugh, her fingers never pausing.

With her other hand, she opened the ancient text, glanced over the page, and said softly,

"Your Majesty was training Stussy and the others yesterday. Aren't you at all tired?"

A quiet sigh of admiration stirred in her heart.

Rei Ao's strength was beyond question.

And as for her Hana Hana Fruit, in the past she had only used it to fight, to escape, to struggle for survival in desperate situations.

But now?

She could use it to knead his shoulders, peel fruit for him, turn pages for him, and pour him a cup of warm water whenever he was tired.

And Rei Ao had even developed all sorts of strange, embarrassingly intimate uses for it.

At that thought, her fingertips paused slightly, then continued massaging him.

At the same time, two more arms bloomed beside the couch.

One picked up the freshly cut fruit and brought it to Rei Ao's lips.

The fruit had been sliced neatly, pale and tender, with glistening juice still clinging to it.

The other picked up the teapot and refilled Rei Ao's cup with warm tea, stopping at just the right level—seven-tenths full, neither too hot to drink nor too cool.

"Your Majesty, try this honey orange," Robin said softly. "It was shipped over from Orange Town in the East Blue. Nojiko said they used to grow these in their village. They're very sweet."

"Yeah, yeah, exactly!"

Nami's eyes lit up and she hurried over, her face full of unconcealed pride.

"My sister and I grew these back in Orange Town. We've been growing them for over ten years now, and every year they produce tons of fruit. They're super sweet!"

"I specifically had a whole shipload brought over, enough for us to eat for a long time!"

Nojiko stood nearby, smiling and nodding, her expression gentle.

"That's right. Bell-mère is very happy about it too."

Bell-mère, Nami and Nojiko's adoptive mother, had now been revived by Rei Ao.

Rei Ao bit into the orange Robin held to his lips.

Sweet juice spread across his mouth, carrying the taste of sunshine.

He nodded. "It really is sweet."

At that moment—a figure suddenly leaped in through the window.

With a loud thud, she nearly tripped and fell flat.

Her pink hair was a total mess, like it had just been blown apart by a storm.

In her arms she carried a huge slab of roasted meat, glistening with oil, its skin golden-brown and still sizzling.

Her mouth was stuffed full too, bulging like a hamster's.

It was Jewelry Bonney.

The moment she landed, she nearly tripped over one of the wine jars on the floor, stumbling twice before managing to steady herself.

Before she had even swallowed the meat in her mouth, she shouted unclearly, "Rei Ao! Try this! The kitchen just roasted some Sea King meat—it's crispy outside, tender inside, and smells amazing!"

Hancock frowned in disgust. "Bonney! Could you have at least a little decorum?"

"Jumping in through the window—what kind of behavior is that? And talking with your mouth full, how rude can you be?!"

Bonney forced down the mouthful of meat, shot Hancock a glare, and snapped back without the slightest concern,

"What's it to you? I'll come in however I want!"

"Besides, Rei Ao didn't say anything, so why are you making such a fuss?"

With that, she completely ignored Hancock's murderous glare, bounced over to Rei Ao, and held out the roasted meat to him.

Her eyes sparkled, full of naked anticipation that practically said, Hurry up and praise me.

Rei Ao took the meat and bit into it.

The skin was roasted crisp, while the meat inside was so tender it practically burst with juices. It carried a faint flavor of sea salt and smoky charcoal, and it really was delicious.

"Tastes good. It's roasted very well."

Bonney instantly beamed.

Her smile was as bright as the seaside sun. She lifted her chin smugly and made a face at Hancock, sticking out her tongue and rolling her eyes, looking as punchable as possible.

Then she sat down right next to Rei Ao, grabbed another piece of roasted meat, and started devouring it in huge bites, grease getting all over her mouth.

As she ate, her body suddenly changed.

Her height, which had been about the same as a normal adult's, shrank in an instant.

As if some force had compressed her, she transformed in the blink of an eye into the appearance of a little girl around seven or eight years old.

With chubby pink cheeks, round bright eyes, and tiny hands clutching a slab of roasted meat bigger than her face, she looked both ridiculous and adorable.