Uta

The Red-Haired Pirates wanted to say something, but when they thought of the harsh conditions on the Highland, they decided it made perfect sense.

In the end, Louis sighed. "A song is a sound that can lift people's spirits. A musician is someone who shares that wonderful joy with others."

Yelena listened, pondering his words, then nodded softly and waited in silence for Uta to sing.

The Red-Haired Pirates quickly assembled a makeshift stage with practiced ease.

Then, egged on by the others, Uta showed no shyness at all. She stepped forward confidently and spread her arms on the deck.

After clearing her throat, she closed her eyes.

In the crowd, Shanks and Yasopp understood Uta's signal. Smiles of affection appeared on both their faces as they stepped forward and took one of her hands each.

They lifted her step by step, helping her onto the stage.

A moment later, Uta slowly opened her eyes and smiled brightly at Louis and Yelena.

A warm sea breeze blew past, lifting the two-colored hair that fell in front of her and the hem of her yellow dress.

With all eyes on her, Uta swayed gently in the breeze. She raised a hand to shield her eyes from the sun, while shafts of sunlight streamed through her fingers and fell across her face.

♫: "Though I keep asking the sky"

♫: "Where this wind comes from, I'll never get an answer"

Her clear singing voice filled everyone's ears, making them instinctively tune out the noise of the sea and lose themselves in the song.

On deck, every member of the Red-Haired Pirates wore a smile. Even Lucky Roo, who always had food in his hands, stopped eating, afraid he might interrupt Uta's performance.

Louis leaned against the railing and listened quietly to Uta sing. He had to admit that even without the Song-Song Fruit, Uta's voice had the potential to be world-class.

Even someone like Louis, who had loved electronic and rock music in his previous life, gradually became immersed in it.

Listening to the song blending with the sea breeze, Yelena first froze, then the corners of her lips rose into a nostalgic smile.

"So the sound I often heard as a child was singing..."

As the song surrounded her, the world in Yelena's eyes began to change. She saw her younger self falling asleep as a gentle figure soothed her.

"Yelena, be a good girl!"

"Once Mama sneaks into the prison ship and frees him, everything in the Kingdom of Jacob will disappear..."

Yelena watched as the gentle figure stroked her horns, her face full of guilt and regret.

The familiar figure watched Yelena sleep and whispered, "This should all have ended long ago, but in the end, I failed to seize my chance."

"I am a sinner..."

"..."

♫: "Set sail in your heart and follow the course your wish points to"

The world shifted again, and the figure singing onstage appeared before Yelena once more.

Yelena looked up at the bright, blue sky and whispered in her heart, It's all over...

♫: "May we meet again"

♫: "At the end of the journey we believe in..."

"..."

The song swept along with the sea breeze, bringing a smile to Beckman's face as he steered another ship.

Behind him, the Ganan Remnants, who had been trying hard to learn how to sail, looked up in confusion, then soon became immersed in the song.

Beckman turned around and looked helplessly at the entranced group, speechless.

In the end, he shook his head with a smile. "Fine. For Uta's singing, I'll let you relax for a while."

♫: "No matter where I am, I'll keep on singing"

♫: "And send my feelings into your heart"

♫: "Sailing the seas, becoming a brand-new breeze..."

When the song ended, Uta's quiet demeanor gave way to a bright, radiant smile.

"Welcome to the Red-Haired Pirates, Louis and Yelena!"

"..."

But the air remained completely silent.

Louis: "..."

Yelena: "..."

Everyone looked at her strangely.

Uta's face drooped in embarrassment, and the butterfly-shaped hair tie sticking up at the back of her head sagged along with it.

"Huh?"

"Why isn't anyone playing along?"

Yasopp scratched his head, looking awkward. "But Louis and the others aren't joining us..."

"?" Uta was confused.

Just then, Shanks gave an awkward laugh, came over, and patted Uta on the head. "Little Louis and Yelena are only staying on our ship for a few years while they get treated. They aren't joining us."

Uta looked at Shanks, then at Louis and Yelena, her expression doubtful.

"But isn't it the same thing?"

"Aren't pirates just people who go adventuring at sea with their friends?"

"If they stay here for two years, living and adventuring with us, doesn't that mean they're our friends?"

"..."

Everyone was taken aback. They exchanged glances, unsure how to answer.

Louis's eyes widened. For a moment, he couldn't find a way to refute Uta.

She really did have a remarkable way of thinking, just like Madara Uchiha in his later years.

In the end, Louis shook his head. "That's not the same. We're only passing through. Our beliefs and goals are different, and sooner or later, we'll have to part ways."

Shanks lifted Uta off the deck and smiled helplessly. "You'll understand when you're a little older."

At that, Uta crossed her arms and turned her head away. "Hmph..."

The Red-Haired Pirates all laughed.

Uta soon forgot all about what had just happened. She clapped her hands to get everyone's attention and called out, "In that case, let's have a banquet!"

"Yeah!" The Red-Haired Pirates immediately cheered her on, giving her the response she wanted.

Louis fell silent. As expected, the people on this ship were too rowdy. He wasn't used to it.

Yelena looked puzzled. "Didn't we just have a banquet last night?"

Truthfully, she thought holding banquets every day seemed a bit wasteful.

Shanks seemed to notice Yelena's concern and smiled as he replied, "It's fine. The sea is so bountiful. As long as we don't waste food..."

Just then, Louis frowned and looked toward the distant sea. At the same time, Shanks noticed a ship approaching in the distance.

But soon, he turned to look thoughtfully at Louis.

The pirates on that ship might be formidable in the East Sea, but they were nothing in front of him.

Still, he hadn't expected Louis, despite his young age, to be almost his equal in Observation Haki.

Before long, Yasopp and Beckman, aboard the other ship, also noticed the vessel approaching in the distance.

After thinking it over, Beckman turned to the Ganan Remnants behind him. "Call your people back from the deck. Don't go out again for now."

Yasopp immediately pulled out his telescope and looked toward the distant sea.