Before Departure

"Since you don't really want to part with us, how about coming with us for the next month? We could head somewhere else and go on adventures together."

At the tavern, Louis leaned down and stroked Uta's head, his expression utterly serious.

Uta looked up at his words. Her violet eyes met his earnest gaze, half-hidden behind dazzling golden hair.

Louis's smooth skin and sharply defined features suddenly filled Uta's view.

The instant their eyes met, Uta felt just as she had when Yelena transformed and startled her: her heart raced, and she turned her head away on instinct, unable to keep looking at him.

Her head felt a little fuzzy. For a moment, she forgot her sadness—and even forgot what Louis had just said.

"..."

The air fell silent. The sorrowful mood of parting faded somewhat, and everyone exchanged strange looks. Only the green-haired landlady behind the bar was secretly grinning.

Louis watched Uta's reaction and fell silent again.

Because of how devastatingly effective he was in this regard, he often saw this happen to Bar.

But in the two years aboard the Red Force, neither Yelena nor Uta had ever acted strangely around him, so Louis had forgotten about it.

After a moment's hesitation, Louis silently stepped back and called out to the dazed Uta.

"Uta?"

"!!" Uta snapped back to her senses.

"I asked if you wanted to leave with us for a while." Louis asked again.

At his words, hesitation appeared on Uta's face, which had only just returned to normal.

After a long pause, she turned to look at Shanks, Beckman, and the others. Hope flickered in her eyes. "Shanks? Is that okay?"

The others looked conflicted. They opened their mouths as if to say something, but ultimately stayed quiet. Instead, they watched Shanks, waiting for his decision.

But to everyone's surprise, Shanks turned sideways, rested one hand on the back of his chair, and gave Uta a fond smile. "Uta, you should make up your own mind."

"We'll support any reasonable decision you make!"

Looking at the hopeful expression in Uta's eyes, Shanks felt a little heavyhearted. "Uta, it's time you tried living apart from us..."

"The New World is dangerous. It'll be hard for us to protect you there..."

Shanks planned to find Uta a suitable place where she could grow up safely before they entered the latter half of the Grand Line.

But ever since he'd lifted Uta out of that treasure chest, she had never left the Red-Haired Pirates. It would be difficult for her to live alone somewhere unfamiliar.

Besides, Shanks suspected that if he brought up the idea himself, Uta would only have to shed a few tears for him to abandon it and take her along to the New World, however unwise that might be.

Now that Louis had offered to take Uta away for a while, Shanks saw a glimmer of hope.

Two years had been enough for Shanks to judge Louis's character. He was kind to just about everyone outside the World Government.

Louis's talent was nearly unmatched, and he had already begun turning that talent into strength. Two years ago, he'd been strong enough to gain an absolute advantage against even CP0.

Now he was stronger still. He could protect Uta in the East Sea—or even Paradise—without any trouble.

All in all, this was Shanks's chance to let Uta try living away from the Red-Haired Pirates.

Whether Uta chose to leave the East Sea with Louis someday, or Shanks arranged for her to stay in the East Sea, either way, this was a good first step.

Even if it was a little unfair to Uta...

"..."

At Shanks's words, Uta lowered her head and fell into thought.

"Don't rush. You can give us your answer tomorrow," Yelena said gently, giving Uta plenty of time to think instead of pressing her.

The next day, at a small seaside harbor in Foosha Village.

Yelena carried a huge pack, with a heavy Long-Handled Warhammer and the dehydrated vegetables she'd bought resting at her feet. Her gaze was fixed on the sea as the oncoming breeze tossed her white hair.

The pack held mostly clothes and daily necessities for her and Louis, as well as some medicine.

Yelena hadn't packed any meat for the two of them. The frost created by Wendigo and the constructs made by the Life-Life Fruit could both handle battles at sea, so they had no need to worry about meat.

The sea was dangerous, but it was also rich in countless resources.

"Yelena, where are we going first?" Uta asked beside her, her voice bright with excitement.

At the sound of Uta's question, Yelena looked down at her, smiling faintly. Uta had a pack on her back too.

In the end, Uta had decided to bring her things and join them. She thought going on an adventure with them would be more fun than resting on the island.

After spending so much time with Shanks and the others, she thought an adventure without them for once might be nice.

"That depends on what Louis decides when he gets back. For now, he's the captain of the three of us."

Uta blinked, then realized that did seem to be the case. She looked around, searching for Louis.

In the end, she couldn't find him anywhere.

Her face fell again.

Just then, Shanks and his crewmates came over from nearby. "Uta, you didn't bring any of your clothes or accessories!"

Uta turned to look at Shanks, exasperation in her eyes.

"Why would I bring so many dresses and accessories on an adventure?"

For this trip, Uta had brought only a few simple outfits and the daily necessities she needed.

She thought that when she was with Louis and Yelena, she couldn't be treated like a treasure the way she was aboard the Red-Haired Pirates.

She wanted to be a reliable companion. She couldn't afford to act too spoiled.

"Then I'd just be a burden!" Uta's clear voice rang out across the harbor, leaving the Red-Haired Pirates stunned.

Then they all laughed.

"Boss, you're underestimating Uta's determination!"

"Uta's all grown up now!"

"Yeah, she's grown to the point where she thinks about her companions..."

Shanks pressed down on the Straw hat, hiding half his face, but the slight upward curve of his lips betrayed his pride.

Then, under everyone's watchful eyes, he pulled a treasure chest from behind his back and handed it to Uta.

"What's this?" Uta asked curiously.

"The Song-Song Fruit you wanted two years ago." Shanks crouched down, as if he wanted to commit his daughter's face to memory.

"You've grown a lot. We're ready to let you eat this fruit now..."

But Uta did something Shanks hadn't expected.

With a bright, carefree smile, she pushed the chest containing the fruit back toward him.

"I don't want it!"

"Why?" Shanks put on an exaggerated look of surprise.

Uta turned her head aside, shut her eyes, and waved a hand, striking an overly proud pose. "Louis and Yelena are both Devil Fruit users."

"If I eat a Devil Fruit and they fall into the sea, I won't be able to save them!"