Goodbye, Friend

Sirius got up very early the next day, dressed early, then went to the dining hall for something to eat.

By the time he arrived, someone was already there: King and Queen.

"Yo, Uncle King, Uncle Queen."

Sirius greeted them, sat down beside them without ceremony, and casually picked up the food in front of them to eat.

"Muhahahaha! You brat's up pretty early today."

Queen laughed. "What, can't wait to attend Kozuki Oden's execution?"

"Not interested."

Sirius's cheeks were stuffed full as he mumbled, "I promised Yamato we'd go out and play."

"Fine by me. You two have been getting too close to Kozuki Oden these past few days."

As King ate, he said coldly, "Mr. Kaido may not care, but get your identities straight."

After learning that Yamato had gone to Kaido to plead for Kozuki Oden, King had been furious. That little girl was supposed to shoulder the future of the Beasts Pirates, yet she had actually sympathized with an enemy!

"Mm-hmm, mm-hmm."

Sirius nodded repeatedly in the most perfunctory manner possible.

Looking down at Sirius wolfing down his food, King thought to himself that the children had still received too little tempering. Though they possessed extraordinary strength, they were ultimately just ordinary brats.

If they were to become capable of standing on their own, they would need much more training.

Sirius suddenly shivered.

That ominous feeling had returned.

"Since you're not going to the execution, cherish the last of your carefree time, brat."

After finishing breakfast, King left those words behind and stood up. He looked at Queen, who was still hugging his bucket of oshiruko. "How long are you going to keep eating, you idiot?"

"Quit rushing me! How am I supposed to have the energy for work if I'm not full?" Queen immediately snapped back.

Though he said that, Queen still lifted the bucket decisively and poured all the oshiruko straight into his mouth.

Then he and King left while cursing at each other. It was impossible to tell whether their relationship was good or bad.

It was already getting late. They had no time to waste.

After stuffing himself full, Sirius had the cooks pack some food. It was time to find a certain ostrich.

He went up the stairs, passed his own room, and walked a few more steps before arriving outside another door.

This was Yamato's room.

But the door was tightly shut. Yamato, who would normally have long since risen and come energetically to wake Sirius, seemed to still be asleep today.

Sirius had no intention of knocking. He merely called out, "Yamato, I'm coming in."

As he spoke, a layer of fur covered his right leg as he partially underwent Beast Transformation, then he kicked the paper door in front of him, blasting a large hole through it.

Sirius strolled inside.

Yamato had already gotten up. She was leaning against the window, gazing into the distance at something unknown.

"Breakfast."

Sirius walked behind Yamato and shook the food in his hand.

"Sirius—"

Hearing Sirius's voice, Yamato finally turned around.

The little girl looked somewhat haggard today. Her hair was unbound and hung messily around her shoulders, while faint dark circles rimmed her eyes.

She hadn't slept all night.

"Hey, hey, little girl, you can't skip sleep like this."

Sirius said helplessly, "If you don't get enough sleep, you won't be able to grow properly."

Yamato pursed her lips miserably and whispered, "But I just can't fall asleep."

Of course Sirius knew why she could not sleep. After all, today was the day of Oden's execution.

It had really been hard on her. Though she was hurting inside, she had kept a bright smile on her face these past few days.

She was an idiot, but not entirely.

"Come with me."

Sirius directly grabbed Yamato's hand and pulled her out of the room.

"Huh? Sirius, where are we going?"

Yamato stumbled after him and asked in confusion.

"To find somewhere to eat breakfast."

Without turning around, Sirius pulled Yamato straight to the top floor of the Tenshukaku, where the banquet had been held before.

Outside the banquet hall was a terrace. From there, the entire Flower Capital spread out in full view.

To the left of the terrace, a massive, winding tree trunk curved upward.

The entire Tenshukaku had been built atop an enormous tree. Aside from the portion at the bottom that served as its foundation, the rest of the trunk twisted upward until it stretched across above the Tenshukaku.

"We're going up there!"

Sirius turned back and pointed upward.

As he spoke, his body began to grow taller. His nose pushed forward, his mouth elongated, and sharp fangs lengthened.

Fine black fur spread across his face. His hair lengthened into glossy black fur, and a pair of pointed ears formed atop his head.

His arms grew longer and were likewise covered in lustrous black fur, while his nails sharpened into claws.

His legs became reverse-jointed, and a tail wreathed in strange black mist extended from his tailbone.

Sirius turned into a werewolf. The short, stocky child he had been vanished in an instant. He was now about as tall as Yamato, with a remarkably agile-looking build.

"Y-you transformed!"

Yamato stared blankly at Sirius's new appearance and exclaimed in amazement, "You look... so cool!"

This was the first time Sirius had taken on his Beastman Form in front of Yamato.

"Alright, hold this, Yamato."

Sirius handed Yamato the breakfast he was carrying, then grabbed her hand and leaped from the edge of the terrace.

Sirius's jumping ability was incredible. He easily crossed the vast distance and landed directly on the trunk of the great tree beside the Tenshukaku.

The sharp claws on his hands and feet dug directly into the trunk, anchoring Sirius in place.

"Whoa!"

Sirius's sudden movement startled Yamato. Hugging the food to her chest, she shouted, "Sirius, what are you doing?!"

Sirius did not answer at all and simply climbed upward with ease.

He even withdrew the hands embedded in the trunk, ascending along it as though walking on level ground with his legs alone.

Before long, he had brought Yamato to the top of the trunk.

The trunk was almost horizontal here, and its great thickness formed a small platform.

"This is the place."

Sirius returned to human form, placed his hands on his hips, and looked into the distance. "Look, Yamato."

"Look at what?"

Yamato set the food down and followed Sirius's gaze.

The moment she looked, she froze, then could not help gasping, "S-so beautiful."

This was the highest point in the Flower Capital, far higher even than the Tenshukaku. With no high mountains ahead to block the view, an incomparably vast landscape stretched before them, almost all the way to the horizon.

"Beautiful, right?"

Sirius said, "This is what Oden hoped we would do."

"..."

Yamato suddenly turned her head and stared unblinkingly at Sirius.

"Do you remember the promise we made with Oden?" Sirius turned back to look at her.

A mist suddenly welled up in Yamato's beautiful eyes. She wrinkled her little nose, pursed her lips, and said in a tearful voice,

"Of course I remember!"

"Was it just a lie to comfort Oden and let him rest easy?" Sirius asked.

"N-no!"

Yamato shouted, "It wasn't! I'll grow up properly, then set sail and go out to sea! That's our promise!"

As she spoke, she sat down, opened the breakfast Sirius had brought her, and began devouring it with both hands. Her voice was muffled as she said, "I'll definitely grow up properly!"

Sirius raised his head and continued gazing into the distance. Noisy voices drifted from the streets far behind them as he said calmly, "It's only natural to grieve over a friend's departure. Remember this feeling of helplessness, Yamato. One day, we'll grow up and set sail for the sea."

"We'll become stronger than anyone, freer than anyone, and make sure our lives never leave behind another regret."

Yamato's mouth was crammed full of food. Tears filled her eyes as she nodded heavily. "Mm, no regrets!"

The commotion behind them had grown even more intense.

Had something happened?

Had the execution begun? Was it underway? Or had it already ended?

But Sirius still did not turn around. He merely gazed quietly into the distance.

All he could hear was Yamato eating and softly sobbing.

Sirius slowly let out a breath, his nose stinging slightly.

Farewell, my friend.