"Goodbye, Uncle Squirrel! Thanks for helping us build our ship!"
Luffy stood on the Going Merry's figurehead, waving and calling out cheerfully to everyone on the shore.
"And you too, Granny! Chimney! Rabbit! Rope Guy! Everybody! Anyway, goodbye!"
"I have a name, you bastard!"
Pauly shouted angrily, then pointed at Nami with a flushed face and scolded her loudly:
"Walking around dressed like that without a shred of shame! You shameless woman, cover up those legs!"
"Then just don't look, Pauly."
Iceberg patted him on the shoulder. "We should be heading back. It wouldn't look good if World Government officials saw us seeing off pirates."
"Mind your own business, old fossil!" Nami replied with a mischievous face.
"Heeheehee."
As the Going Merry slowly pulled away from shore, Luffy held down his straw hat and looked back. "Franky, it looks like your men didn't come."
"Ah, it's fine."
Franky stood by the railing, straightened his sunglasses with one finger, and grinned.
"They're probably afraid I'll miss them and change my mind. What a bunch of idiots."
He crossed his arms, struck a cool pose with his back to them, and said:
"Parting doesn't need to be so sad. We'll meet again someday."
"You're taking this pretty well," Zoro said with a slight smile, looking at him with newfound respect.
"Of course I am!"
Franky turned around. Beneath his sunglasses, his face was utterly serious, but tears streamed uncontrollably down his cheeks.
Everyone: "..."
"An old friend once told me that tears weren't fitting for a farewell."
Lina walked over to him, patted his shoulder, and smiled. "Otherwise, when you meet again someday, everyone will feel awkward."
"Waaah—!" Franky completely lost it.
Few people knew that this burly blacksmith was, in fact, so sentimental.
"That's so cool. If I ever get the