As the three pirates surrounded Nami, they shouted up at Alex, who was still standing on the rooftop.

Alex, already seething with rage after Buggy's cannonball incident, had no outlet for his fury—until these Buggy goons practically walked up and volunteered as punching bags.

Your damn captain just fired a cannon at me, and I'm supposed to just walk it off? Hell no—I'm about to beat the clown out of you fools!

With a cold scowl, Alex leapt down from the two-meter-high rooftop, cracking his knuckles. A dangerous grin spread across his face as he approached the three snarling pirates.

"You brought this on yourselves."

Nami opened her mouth several times as she watched Alex approach, but the words wouldn't come. Her throat felt like it was stuck with thorns.

If she hadn't run into Alex here by sheer coincidence, she might've been caught by those pirates. If that had happened, she'd be dragged back to the Buggy Pirates—and her fate would be sealed.

When those thugs called Alex her boss, Nami wanted to deny it—but seeing him bloodied and burned, something inside her softened. She said nothing.

In fact, a thought popped into her mind:

Teaming up with Alex... might not be so bad.

Last time they parted ways, she was worried she'd get him into trouble. But now, seeing him again—especially in this state—she didn't want to leave him anymore.

At least if I stay by his side… I'll know how he dies.

She watched as Alex threw hands at the three pirates, beating them senseless with powerful, relentless punches. As they cried out and stumbled, Nami touched the nunchucks tied to her ankle and remembered how brutally Alex had dealt with the Marines back in Shells Town.

She couldn't help but giggle softly.

"We're members of the Buggy Pirates! You'll regret messing with us—our captain won't let you off easy!"

Within moments, Alex had beaten the trio black and blue. They tried to flee, but he cut off their escape, forcing them to take more punishment. They were hopelessly outmatched.

They couldn't fight back, so they resorted to threats.

"Buggy?" Alex chuckled darkly.

"If your captain shows up, I'll make that stupid red nose of his even redder—and rounder!"

Pow! Crack! Wham!

Just hearing Buggy's name reignited his rage, and he rained down another flurry of blows.

The pirates were horrified. Alex wasn't even the least bit afraid of their terrifying captain. This guy wasn't just fearless—he was a damn lunatic. What rotten luck to cross paths with this demon today.

Nami stood silently, watching.

He's so strong. Good thing he's not the killing type like other pirates.

Stealing stuff with him… doesn't sound that bad.

He can be the leader. I'll just take all the money, hehe.

As she thought this, her gaze softened without her realizing. Even the smile on her lips held a gentle warmth.

Too bad she hadn't heard Luffy and Zoro talking at the Marine base in Shells Town—if she had, she'd know Alex was a pirate himself. And not just any pirate—the very thing she hated most in the world.

After thoroughly thrashing the three pirates into unconsciousness, Alex finally felt a bit of that rage ease from his chest.

But just then, he glanced at Nami—and froze.

She was looking at him with a soft, warm expression. Her eyes practically sparkled with tenderness.

He got chills.

It reminded him way too much of that time she'd hugged him out of nowhere and looked at him with that same softness—right before smashing him with a devastating, iron punch that left him in agony for days.

Now she was smiling like that again? Was she about to hit him again?!

As he debated whether to back away, an ear-splitting explosion rang out overhead—followed by Luffy's startled cry:

"Wahhh! Who hit me with a cannonball?! I'm falling!!"

Alex's head snapped up just in time to see Luffy flying toward him at an angle.

"YOU IDIOT! DON'T CRASH INTO ME!"

He shouted and immediately leapt to Nami's side.

Meanwhile, Nami looked up and groaned internally.

Ugh, that troublemaker again… and once again, he's falling from the sky.

She couldn't help but think back to their very first meeting—how Luffy's nonsense had led to Alex accidentally groping her. Just thinking about it made her both embarrassed and furious.

Well, at least this time, Luffy can't drag me into anything.

Alex landed beside Nami and relaxed—Luffy wouldn't hit him now. His boosted reflexes had definitely paid off.

He smirked—dodging Luffy's chaos was finally getting easier.

But… he celebrated too soon.

Just as Luffy was about to hit the ground, he stretched his arms and grabbed onto the rooftop Alex had just been standing on. With a swift flip, he landed cleanly on his feet.

Everyone was surprised by the clean landing—but what no one expected was the massive shadow that followed.

Turns out Luffy's grab had torn the entire rooftop off. The whole thing came crashing down—straight toward Alex and Nami.

Alex looked up, stunned.

You've got to be kidding me, Luffy!

He was about to grab Nami and leap away—but she beat him to it. She tackled him to the ground, shielding him with her body.

What the hell—was she crazy?!

That giant roof was going to crush her!

Alex was stunned. If she hadn't pushed him down, he could've easily grabbed her and escaped—even in his injured state.

Nami, however, genuinely thought Alex couldn't dodge in time.

She had no idea that in the week since they last met, Alex's strength had nearly doubled. He was a monster now.

As the roof plummeted toward them, Alex saw the fear in Nami's eyes—and flipped her beneath him, shielding her with his body.

He really… protected me?

Nami's heart fluttered. She felt warm and worried all at once.

But she misunderstood—Alex wasn't acting out of romance. He was just a guy protecting a woman who had just tried to protect him. Anything less, and he wouldn't feel like a man.

"Gum-Gum Pistol!"

Luffy's voice rang out, and—

BOOM!

With a massive crash, he smashed the falling roof into pieces.

Alex sighed in relief.

Thank God for Luffy… even if he is a walking disaster.

Just as he was about to get up, pain exploded in the back of his head.

A chunk of debris smacked him hard—his head snapped forward—

And slammed directly into Nami's lips.

Their eyes widened in shock. Both froze, completely dazed.

They just… kissed.

Mouth to mouth.

In that exact instant.

As the last pieces of the roof crumbled around them, they stared into each other's eyes, stunned beyond words.

Turns out when Luffy punched the roof, a few big fragments rained down—one of which hit Alex square on the back of the head. Hard.

So just as he was rising to his feet, the force slammed him right back down…

Right onto Nami's lips.

Five rocks. Five solid smacks to the skull.

And one very unfortunate (or fortunate?) accident.

A kiss neither of them would forget.

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