ONE PIECE: WORTHLESS PROGRESSION

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As Toshi dove into a ocean a splash came up. Laboon immediately took notice of the splash and turned his massive head toward Toshi. The whale let out a loud, deep bellow, one that seemed more like a challenge than anything else.

" WOOOO. " Laboon roared.

"Oh, you're ready for this, huh?" Toshi smirked, treading water for a brief second before swimming straight at Laboon. As he neared, he reared back and threw a punch directly at Laboon's face. His fist connected with a dull thud against Laboon's snout, sending a small ripple through the water.

Why?

Why'd he dive into the water to fight a whale he'd just met minutes ago? If asked, Toshi himself wouldn't have an answer. It wasn't logic—it was a pull, a feeling he couldn't shake, like staring into a mirror of his younger self.

And if he could? He'd beat the hell out of that reflection. Knock some sense into him before it was too late. Maybe, just maybe, if someone had done that for him, he wouldn't be here now...lost in a hellish world, and wondering if things could've been different.

Laboon blinked, momentarily stunned, before charging back. With a quick flick of his tail, the whale created a wave that slammed into Toshi, launching him out of the water and back toward the ship.

Toshi crashed onto the deck with a grunt, rolling to a stop against the railing. "Okay," he muttered, coughing up a bit of seawater. "That hurted like a bitch."

He scrambled to his feet, climbed the railing again, and hurled himself back into the water. "Bring it on, you big lug!"

Laboon seemed to accept the challenge, letting out another loud bellow as he charged toward Toshi. The two collided in the water, Toshi landing a few quick punches on the whale's head before Laboon thrashed, sending him flying through the water.

Laboon's tail came down hard, creating a surge of water that flung Toshi deeper into the water. But Toshi didn't give up. He kicked off the water and rocketed upward, coming up to the surface with a gasp for air.

"Not bad, Laboon," Toshi said, wiping water from his face. "But I'm just getting started!"

He swam toward the whale again, dodging Laboon's attempts to knock him away with his tail. With every punch Toshi landed, Laboon responded with a swipe or a charge, sending waves crashing against the ship.

On the cliff above, Crocus leaned forward in his beach chair, watching the scene unfold. "Is this kid for real?" he muttered, raising a brow as he saw Toshi take yet another hit, this time flying several feet across the water before splashing back down.

The fight went on for what felt like hours, neither side willing to back down. Toshi's punches began to lose their strength as exhaustion set in. Laboon, seemed like he could've kept going for years at this rate.

Finally, as Toshi landed another punch on Laboon's snout, the whale paused. He didn't retaliate this time; instead, he tilted his head and let out a low, almost thoughtful sound.

Toshi floated in the water, breathing heavily. "You... done now?" he asked, his tone half-teasing, half-serious.

Laboon stared at him for a moment before letting out a quieter bellow, almost as if conceding the fight.

On the cliff, Crocus let out a hearty laugh, slapping his knee. "That's one way to handle things, I guess!" he called out, his voice echoing down to the water.

Toshi grinned, despite his aching body. "Yeah, well... he listens better with his head than his heart, I guess."

Laboon let out a low, rumbling sound, almost like a chuckle, as he nudged Toshi one more time with his snout. The massive whale's eyes glimmering as he stared at Toshi.

Toshi floated in the water, his grin widening. He rubbed Laboon's head again, his hand moving in small circles over the rough, scarred surface. "Yeah, you got that, big guy? When I come back, it's gonna be a real fight. So, no slacking off. You better train hard, or I'll wipe the floor with you!"

He gave Laboon a thumbs-up, his arm wobbling slightly from the effort of staying afloat after the exhausting fight. Laboon responded with a playful spray of water from his blowhole, soaking Toshi even more.

"Oi! That's what I get for being nice, huh?!" Toshi spluttered, shaking water from his face but laughing all the same.

High on the cliff, Crocus leaned back in his chair, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "That kid's got some spirit," he muttered to himself, adjusting his glasses.

Toshi sighed, tapping Laboon on the head one last time. "Alright, Laboon, I gotta go. Don't start ramming walls again, alright? It's not worth it."

Laboon let out a softer bellow, as if agreeing.

"Good," Toshi said with a firm nod. "I'll see you again someday. And when I do, you better be ready!"

Laboon tilted his massive head for a moment, as if pondering Toshi's words. Then, without warning, the whale dove beneath the surface, creating a surge of water that made Toshi bob up and down like a cork. Before he could react, Laboon resurfaced, carefully lifting Toshi onto his head.

"Wha—Hey!" Toshi blinked, then smirked through the pain. "I'll take that as a yes... hehe."

Laboon swam gently toward the shore, carrying Toshi on it's head. Toshi lay sprawled on Laboon's head, his body a patchwork of bruises, his clothes torn, and a sharp ache throbbing in his right arm. He flexed his fingers experimentally and winced. "Yup, that's broken... Great."

Meanwhile, Laboon seemed perfectly fine...barely a scratch on him matter a fact. As if Toshi's punches had been nothing more than a light massage.

"Of course, you're fine," Toshi muttered, slapping Laboon atop of it's head.

Laboon let out a low, rumbling bellow that almost sounded like laughter, spraying a fine mist from his blowhole.

"Yeah, yeah, laugh it up, big guy," Toshi grumbled, though he couldn't help the grin tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Just wait till next time. You won't get off so easy."

As Laboon nudged close to the shore and gently lowered his head, allowing Toshi to slide off, the black-haired boy groaned as his feet hit solid ground. As Toshi stumbled onto the shore, dripping wet and cradling his injured arm, Crocus stood up from his beach chair, watching him with an unreadable expression. "You need help with that?" he asked, nodding toward Toshi's arm.

Toshi glanced at it, his lips twitching into a small grin despite the pain. "I've had worse... but yeah, I wouldn't say no."

Crocus stretched his arms, then pointed toward the house. "Supplies are inside. Come up, and I'll fix you up."

Toshi blinked in surprise, shifting his weight onto his good side. "Seriously? Just like that?"

"You gave Laboon a reason to stop hurting himself. So that's good enough for me," Crocus said simply, turning toward his house. "Now stop standing there like an idiot and get moving. I'm not carrying you."

"Right," Toshi muttered, limping after him. By the time he reached the top, Crocus was already at the doorway of his house, holding it open with a casual lean. "Come on. Sit down and don't break anything."

Toshi stepped inside, glancing around at the cluttered space. Shelves filled with jars of herbs, stacks of medical books, and tools lined the walls.

"You're pretty well-stocked," Toshi said as he lowered himself into the chair Crocus pointed to, wincing slightly.

"Been at this a long time," Crocus said, already pulling supplies from a cabinet. "Now hold still. If you start squirming, I'll tie you to the chair and deal with it my way."

Toshi chuckled lightly, though it hurt his ribs to do so. "Got it, doc."

Crocus glanced at him briefly, his expression softening for the briefest moment before returning to its usual calm. "You did good, kid. Not many would've done what you did...and for that I can't thank you enough. "

 "I didn't know you were the type to give compliments... but thanks." His tone softened, and his gaze drifted to the floor. "It's nothing. I guess... I only helped Laboon to make myself feel better. Maybe it was a lesson to a younger me."

Crocus's eyebrows twitched as he glanced up briefly. "You've been through it, huh?"

Toshi gave a subtle smile. "I guess."

The room went quiet for a moment, only the soft clinking of medical tools breaking the silence. Then Toshi turned his head toward Crocus, his curiosity breaking through. "Not trying to be rude, but... just who exactly are you, old man?"

Crocus snorted softly at the "old man" comment. "Old man? Watch it, kid. I'm not that old...I'm just a humble doctor, that's all," he said as he threaded a needle and prepared to stitch Toshi's arm.

Toshi snorted, crossing his uninjured arm over his chest. "Yeah, right. Someone living alone in a lighthouse on the Grand Line? You expect me to believe you're just a regular doctor? That's gotta be the biggest load of crap I've heard."

Crocus paused, then chuckled, the sound low and dry. "You've got a sharp tongue, kid. But, you're not exactly wrong. I used to be part of a crew. Sailed the seas, made my share of memories." He leaned back slightly, his expression softening. "But that life ended when the crew disbanded a while back. I put that behind me and came back here."

Toshi nodded, resting his uninjured arm on his knee as he looked at Crocus. After a moment, curiosity got the better of him. "Hey, old man—uh, I mean, 'humble doctor,'" Toshi smirked, "what's a place like the Grand Line really like?"

Crocus paused mid-motion, his hand hovering over a roll of bandages. He stayed quiet for a moment, his gaze drifting toward the horizon outside the small window. "The Grand Line," he said slowly, almost reverently, "is the most beautiful world I've ever seen. You wouldn't believe the things out there...the islands, the people, the creatures. Things you could never imagine, no matter how wild your dreams get."

Toshi's eyes widened slightly. "Sounds... incredible," he muttered.

"It is," Crocus said, his voice steadying. "But don't let the beauty fool you. The Grand Line's also dangerous...more dangerous than anywhere else you'll ever go. It's unpredictable and crazy."

Toshi frowned, leaning forward. "Dangerous how?"

Crocus met his gaze, his expression serious. "Everything. The weather, the sea itself, the creatures, the people who call it home. One moment it's paradise, the next, it's a nightmare. "

Toshi nodded slowly, his mind racing. "But if it's so dangerous, why would anyone stay here?"

Crocus gave a small chuckle, the kind that spoke of someone who'd lived through more than he let on. "Because for those brave, or foolish enough to sail it, the Grand Line holds something no other sea can offer: adventure. The kind that changes you, whether you want it to or not."

Toshi sat back, his expression unreadable. "Sounds like the kind of place I want to see for myself," he said finally, a hint of a grin tugging at his lips.

Crocus tied off the last bandage with a sharp tug, stepping back to admire his handiwork. "There." Crocus said simply.

Toshi, slumped in the chair, gave him a weak thumbs-up. "Appreciate it, Doc. You've got a real gift," he said, voice dripping with sarcasm.

Crocus snorted, grabbing a rag to wipe his hands. "Smartass." He leaned against the counter, arms crossed, and eyed Toshi thoughtfully. "So, what's the deal with you, kid? You out here chasing the One Piece? Planning to conquer the Grand Line or something?"

Toshi glanced up, blinking at the question. Then, without hesitation, he let out a short laugh. "Hell no," he said flatly.

Crocus raised an eyebrow. "No? Those are the kinds of dreams that get people out here risking their necks."

"Yeah, well, not me," Toshi said, shifting in his seat and wincing as the movement pulled at his bandages. "Goals like that? They're simple. Basic. I don't need treasure or some grand title to know what I want."

Crocus tilted his head, intrigued. "Alright then, hotshot. What's your big, non-basic goal?"

Toshi stared out the window for a moment, watching the waves crash against the Red Line's cliffs. His expression softened, his voice quieter but firm when he spoke. "I just want to live without regrets," he said. "To be strong enough to protect what's mine... and to protect myself. That's it."

Crocus studied Toshi for a brief moment. "Huh," he grunted. "Living without regrets, huh? That's a tall order."

"Yeah," Toshi admitted, cracking a small smile. "But it's the only thing worth aiming for, as far as I'm concerned."

Crocus shook his head, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "You're an odd one, kid. Most people would call that naïve."

"Maybe," Toshi said with a shrug. "But it's my life, so I'll live it my way."

The old doctor chuckled, grabbing a bottle of water and tossing it to Toshi. "Well, good luck with that. The Grand Line's not exactly the kind of place that lets you have things your way."

Catching the bottle, Toshi gave a lopsided grin. "Yeah, I've noticed." He twisted off the cap and took a sip. "Guess I'll just have to be stubborn about it."

Crocus let out a chuckle, shaking his head. "Well, kid, I've never heard someone put it quite like that before. But... I hope you get there. I really do. You've got the right fire in you." His voice was calm, almost distant, as if he were speaking from years of experience, but his eyes held a quiet approval.

Before anyone could get another word off, a sharp knock echoed through the quiet room. With a sigh, Crocus pushed off the counter and shuffled to the door. Pulling it open, he found himself face-to-face with Troy, who looked like he'd just sprinted up the cliffs.

"We're about to leave, Toshi," he said, before his eyes landed on the bandages wrapped around Toshi's body. "Wait... what happened to you?"

Toshi scratched the back of his head, his grin slightly sheepish. "Oh, just a little fight... with a giant whale." He raised his hands in mock defense. "It wasn't that bad."

Troy blinked a few times, then let out a small chuckle. "So, that's why there was so much noise earlier."

Toshi nodded, stepping toward the door. "Yep. It was a good time though." He looked back at Crocus, who was leaning against the doorframe with a slight shake of his head.

"Alright, kid," Crocus muttered, his tone shifting slightly, becoming more serious. "Take care out there." He paused for a moment before continuing, his gaze firm. "And be careful. Over the past few weeks, I've been seeing more ships pass through these waters than I ever have in all my years out here."

Toshi tilted his head, his smile fading a little as he heard what Crocus said.

 "Just saying... you guys be careful," Crocus said warning the both of them.

Toshi turned and, with a final wave, made his way back toward the ship. "I'll keep that in mind," he called back over his shoulder, before joining Troy, who was already heading toward the dock.

TO BE CONTINUED.

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