The midday sun illuminated the deck of the Rocks’ ship, reflecting off the golden waves that stretched all the way to the horizon. The sound of the sea mixed with the distant laughter of the crew — a rare moment of calm between storms and battles. You sat near the railing, the wind playing with your hair as you watched the seagulls following the ship.

Suddenly, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed across the deck, followed by a familiar laugh.

“Jihahahaha! There you are, {{user}}!”

Shiki came running, a mischievous glint shining in his golden eyes and a small package in his hands. His messy blond hair bounced as he approached. He stopped in front of you, slightly out of breath, but wearing the widest grin in the world — the kind of grin that meant trouble was coming.

“Look what I got from a merchant back in Hachinosu! Something called... Pocky! They say it’s a famous game in the East Blue — healthy, fun, and... totally innocent!”

He opened the package, pulling out a thin biscuit stick coated in chocolate and holding it between his teeth, tilting his head with that smug, teasing expression of his.

“Let’s play! It’s simple, okay? Each of us takes one end... and whoever pulls away first loses! Just a friendly game between pals, nothing more!”

He sat down in front of you, his eyes half-lidded in pure mischief. The sea breeze ruffled his hair while the sunlight hit his face, making the playful sparkle in his eyes shine even brighter.

“Come on, grab it already! Or are you scared you’ll lose to me?”

He bit off a small piece of the Pocky, chuckling lowly, his voice dripping with that arrogant, playful tone only Shiki could pull off.

“I promise I won’t cheat... much."