Before Departure

"Since you're reluctant to part with us two, how about you leave with us for the next month and go on an adventure elsewhere?"

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

Uta looked up upon hearing this, her purple eyes meeting the earnest gaze half-hidden by his dazzling blonde hair.

Louis's smooth skin and well-defined facial features forcefully intruded into Uta's line of sight.

The moment their gazes met, Uta felt her heart race, just like when she was startled by Yelena's transformation. She instinctively turned her head away, unable to continue making eye contact.

Her head felt a little dizzy, and for a moment, she forgot her sadness and Louis's words.

"..."

The air fell silent, and the somber atmosphere of parting lessened slightly. Everyone's expressions were strange, except for the green-haired proprietress behind the bar, who was secretly chuckling.

Louis looked at Uta's reaction and fell silent again.

Because of his potent charm in this regard, he was very familiar with this situation from his time in Bal.

However, during their two years on the Red Force, neither Yelena nor Uta had shown any abnormality, causing Louis to forget about this possibility.

After a moment of hesitation, Louis silently took a step back and called out to the dazed Uta.

"Uta?"

"!!" Uta snapped awake.

"I asked, do you want to leave with us for a while?" Louis repeated the question.

Upon hearing this, Uta's face, which had just returned to normal, showed a hesitant expression.

After a long while, she turned to look at Shanks, Beckman, and the others, her eyes filled with a hint of hope. "Shanks? Is that okay?"

Everyone's expressions varied. They opened their mouths as if to say something, but in the end, they said nothing. Instead, they quietly looked at Shanks, awaiting his decision.

However, to everyone's surprise, Shanks turned sideways, rested one hand on his chair, and gave Uta a doting smile. "Uta, you need to have your own opinions."

"We will support all your reasonable decisions!"

Shanks looked at Uta's hopeful eyes, feeling a pang of sadness in his heart. "Uta, it's time for you to try living without us..."

"The New World is dangerous, and it will be difficult for us to protect you there..."

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

But Uta had never left the Red-Haired Pirates since he'd taken her from a treasure chest. It would be difficult for her to live alone in an unfamiliar place.

Moreover, Shanks felt that if he had proposed this idea, as soon as Uta started crying, he would have abandoned the thought and grudgingly taken her to the New World.

Now, Louis proposing to temporarily take Uta away gave Shanks a glimmer of hope.

Two years was enough time for Shanks to understand Louis's character; he was kind to everyone except those from the World Government.

His talent was nearly unparalleled, and he had already begun to convert that talent into strength. Two years ago, he was a powerhouse who could gain an absolute advantage even when facing CP0.

Now, his strength had grown considerably. Protecting Uta in the East Sea, or even in Paradise, would be no problem.

In short, this was Shanks's attempt to let Uta try experiencing life away from the Red-Haired Pirates.

Whether Uta chose to leave the East Sea with Louis in the future or was settled by him in the East Sea, it was a good trial run.

Although it was somewhat unfair to Uta...

"..."

Uta heard this and lowered her head, falling into thought.

"Don't rush, you can give us your answer tomorrow," Yelena said, seeing this. She didn't urge Uta but gently gave her enough time to think.

The next day, at a small port near the sea in Foosha Village.

Yelena carried a large backpack, with a heavy, long-handled war hammer and some dehydrated vegetables she had bought placed at her feet. Her eyes were fixed on the sea, letting the sea breeze that blew against her lift her white hair.

Most of the backpack contained clothes and daily necessities for herself and Louis, along with some medicine.

Yelena hadn't prepared any meat for the two of them. Whether it was the frost of the Wendigo or the creations of the Life-Life Fruit, they possessed sea combat abilities and wouldn't need to worry about meat.

This sea was very dangerous, but likewise, it contained countless resources.

"Yelena, where are we going first?" Uta's somewhat joyful voice sounded beside Yelena.

Yelena looked down at Uta, who was also carrying a backpack, and a smile appeared on her face.

In the end, Uta followed with her luggage. She felt that adventuring with them was more interesting than resting on this island.

After spending so long with Shanks and the others, it was nice to have an adventure without them once in a while.

"That depends on Louis's decision when he returns. He's our captain now."

Uta was taken aback for a moment, then realized it was true. She turned and looked around, searching for Louis's trace.

In the end, she found nothing.

Her face then fell again.

Just then, Shanks and his crew walked over from not far away. "Uta, you brought a lot of clothes, but not any accessories!"

Uta turned to look at Shanks at the words, her eyes showing a bit of speechlessness.

"Why bring so many dresses and accessories for an adventure?"

For this trip, Uta had only brought a few low-key outfits and essential daily necessities.

She believed that when following Louis and Yelena, she couldn't be treated like a treasure by the Red-Haired Pirates.

She considered herself to be playing the role of a qualified crewmate, and being too delicate wouldn't do.

"That would just be a burden!" Uta's clear voice echoed through the port, causing the members of the Red-Haired Pirates to freeze.

Afterward, they all burst into laughter.

"Boss, you've underestimated Uta's resolve!"

"Uta has grown up too!"

"That's right, you've grown to the point where you can consider your crewmates..."

Shanks pulled down his straw hat, covering half his face, but the slight upward curve of his lips betrayed his relieved feelings.

Then, under everyone's gaze, he pulled out a treasure chest from behind him and handed it to Uta.

"What is this?" Uta asked, a little curious.

"The Song-Song Fruit you wanted two years ago." Shanks crouched down, as if wanting to engrave his daughter's appearance in his heart.

"You've grown a lot, and now we feel at ease letting you eat this fruit..."

However, Uta made a move that completely surprised Shanks.

With a brilliant smile, she pushed the treasure chest containing the fruit back.

"I don't want it!"

"Why?" Shanks put on an exaggerated expression.

Uta tilted her head, closed her eyes, and waved her hand, feigning a proud posture as she said, "Louis and Yelena are both Devil Fruit users."

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