"Huh? Koby, when did you get back?" Helmeppo finally snapped out of his daze. When he saw Koby and smelled the food, his stomach growled uncontrollably. "Huh… when did it get dark?!"
He glanced at Koby and grinned mysteriously. "Never mind, let me introduce you to some good stuff. Come on, let's eat first."
He jumped off the bed, dragged two stools to the table, pulled out a sleek, gift-wrapped box, and handed it to Koby with a grin. "Here, Koby. This phone's for you."
"A phone?"
Koby took the square box and stared at it blankly, not quite sure what to make of it.
He carefully unwrapped the packaging, revealing the sleek and exquisite phone inside.
Helmeppo urged him on. "Come on, open it! It's amazing. I'll teach you how to use it."
"Today was half off. Might be more expensive tomorrow," he added with a hint of smugness.
Koby, seeing Helmeppo's excitement, couldn't bring himself to refuse. After all, it was a gift from a friend.
Even a small gift carried big meaning.
He held the phone. It felt cool to the touch, perfectly sized, and surprisingly comfortable in his hand.
"You've been playing with this thing all day?" Koby asked, curious.
"What do you mean 'this thing'? This is a phone, and starting today, it's my best friend," Helmeppo replied seriously. Then he started walking Koby through the manual, showing him how to use it.
Koby's eyes widened with every explanation. "Wait... this thing can take pictures? And you don't need film? You mean I don't need to lug around a visual Den Den Mushi anymore?"
He could barely believe what he was hearing.
Such a tiny device, yet packed with so many functions. It could even fit in his pocket without weighing him down.
"Hahaha! Told you you'd like it!" Helmeppo laughed proudly and continued. "You can also record videos and store them. Play them back whenever you want. No need to connect to anything."
"Amazing… this is way too high-tech!" Koby marveled as he casually took a few photos. "The image quality is insane. It looks just like real life!"
Helmeppo beamed. "Try spreading your fingers on the screen."
Koby did, and his jaw dropped. "You can zoom in! Incredible!"
Suddenly, Koby stood up and bowed to Helmeppo. "I'm sorry, Helmeppo. I seriously owe you an apology."
"When I saw you watching all those videos of half-naked women, I thought you were that kind of guy. Turns out I judged you unfairly," Koby said awkwardly. "Thanks for the amazing gift. It must've been expensive, right? Let me pay you back."
Helmeppo got a bit sentimental. "Hmph! I may have been a punk before, but I've turned over a new leaf. I'm not some guy obsessed with cheap thrills."
"I didn't go out all day because I was watching videos. I was studying how to use the phone."
"And it wasn't even expensive. Grand opening promo. Just 200 Berries. Don't worry about it."
Koby's eyes softened. Helmeppo was a truly good person.
"Besides, the phone also has incredible entertainment value," Helmeppo added. "We work ourselves to death every day. We need to unwind too. Balance body and mind. That's how you train efficiently."
Koby nodded.
Helmeppo might act lazy most of the time, but he had a point.
Grinding nonstop just builds pressure. Some proper relaxation was necessary.
"Alright, turn it on. I'll help you register a TikTok account," Helmeppo said, pointing at the side button. "That's the power button."
Koby nodded. He already remembered how to power it on. He pressed the button, and the screen lit up.
"What's TikTok? Why do I need an account?" Koby asked, confused.
"Don't worry. I'll guide you. Tap the app, go to 'My'..." Under Helmeppo's instructions, Koby had his account set up in under three minutes.
"Heh heh, I've got a list of recommended beauties. Want to follow them?" Helmeppo asked with a smirk.
"Ah?! N-No thanks…" Koby waved his hands nervously. After being stuck on Alvida's ship, the word "beauty" gave him PTSD.
"I'd rather watch the news. That's more interesting," Koby replied.
"Tch, boring. Oh right, tap the '+' icon to upload videos. Just don't leak any personal info," Helmeppo reminded him.
"Oh, okay, got it," Koby nodded.
"Alright, I'm heading out for a walk. Haven't left the room all day. I'm getting cabin fever," Helmeppo said, already pushing the door open.
Koby gave a half-hearted reply, then waited until he was sure Helmeppo had left.
Only then did he quietly close the door and start scrolling through TikTok.
At first, every time a beauty showed up, he would swipe away immediately.
But then... he paused.
Why am I even scared?
I'm not that cowardly kid anymore.
He lifted his chin and swiped to the next video, with the account name DeadeyeKikyo.
This time, it was a woman dressed in white, veiled, sitting in a pavilion practicing archery.
She bent the bow, drew the string, released—bullseye.
One smooth motion. Perfect form.
"Thank you, gentlemen, for watching. Next time, I will perform a triple-shot. If you liked it, please follow. Thank you, gentlemen~"
The video ended.
"Amazing!" Koby's jaw dropped. "That was at least 200 meters! And she still hit the target!"
He had thought she was just a beauty doing shallow stunts.
He didn't expect real skill!
"Whatever, it's just a follow!" Koby muttered, tapping the button.
And just like that, his feed flooded with women showcasing real abilities.
Taming beasts. Hunting monsters. Spear dancing with the force of a cannonball.
"Whoa! That's Armament Haki!" Koby gasped. "These girls… they've mastered Haki?!"
One after another, he followed dozens of them. Each one a specialist in something unique.
"This is amazing! This one's great too. Follow!"
"Wait, is that Observation Haki?"
Just as he tapped another follow,
BANG!
Helmeppo burst through the door. "Koby, guess wha—"
He stopped mid-sentence.
He saw the beauty dancing on Koby's phone screen.
They stared at each other, wide-eyed.
Koby looked at Helmeppo. Then at the screen. His face turned crimson.
"No, wait! Helmeppo, listen—it's not what you think!" he stammered.
"HAHAHA!" Helmeppo burst out laughing. He walked over, patted Koby's shoulder, and gave him a knowing look.
"No need to explain, Koby. I get it."
Then he gave him a thumbs-up. "Men are just boys, no matter how old they get. But still, be moderate, Koby."
Koby: "…."
(To be continued.)