Cherry Blossom Rain

Thump! Thump! Thump!

Lina and the other person knocked on Chopper's door, waiting for a response.

Inside the room, besides a bed in the corner and a wooden bookshelf filled with books, the walls were lined with tables covered in all sorts of medical supplies.

Hearing the knock, Chopper, who was standing on a chair, hesitated for a moment before jumping down to open the door.

Creak~

Chopper's eyes widened. "Do you need something else?"

"Hee hee hee."

Luffy grabbed Chopper by his two antlers and lifted him up, grinning. "Chopper, come with us! Don't you want to be a pirate and go on adventures?"

"I can't. Although I really want to go out to sea..."

Chopper didn't resist, but spoke with a dejected expression. "I appreciate your invitation, but, but..."

His voice trailed off, and memories flashed through Chopper's mind – repeated rejections, cold stares.

But Luffy said:

"There are no 'buts.' Pirates are free."

"What do you know, human!"

Chopper yelled, swatting Luffy's hand away, his expression turning grim.

"You haven't experienced what I have! How can you say it so easily!

"I clearly... I clearly did nothing wrong! Why was I abandoned by my own kind!

"Why was I hurt by humans!

"I'm a monster! Look, I have a blue nose, I can talk and walk like a human, but I have hooves!"

He spread his hands, tears welling up in his round eyes and sliding down his fur. He pulled down the brim of his hat, lowered his head, and sobbed softly:

"I'm not like a reindeer, nor am I like a human.

"I'm not even like a pirate.

"A monster like me! How can I be a nakama with humans..."

Silence filled the room. Luffy's grin faded, and he stepped forward, his expression serious.

"I'm sorry, Chopper...

"I really haven't been through what you have, so it's hard for me to empathize.

"But look! I'm a monster too, Chopper."

"Monsters can be pirates. You don't need to care what others say. That's how free pirates are, right, Lina?"

Luffy grinned as he said this, stretching his cheeks.

Lina also cooperated, transforming into his human-beast form, and said with a smile:

"Yeah, we welcome monsters the most on our ship."

To their surprise, Chopper, who had been weeping, was now wide-eyed with shock.

"Monster!!!"

Looking at the two in front of him, Chopper's eyes bulged, his jaw dropped to the floor with a thud, and he let out a scream. His short legs spun like pinwheels as he tried to bolt.

"Help me, Doctor Kureha!!!"

Lina: "..."

Are you serious?

"Hee hee hee."

The two grabbed Chopper by his antlers, lifting him up as he tried to flee.

"So, come be our nakama, Chopper," they said in unison.

Chopper struggled for a while before giving up. He turned to look at them and realized their serious expressions were exactly like Dr. Hiriluk's from back then.

As if seeking confirmation, or perhaps craving acceptance, Chopper whispered:

"You really... you really are willing to accept me?"

"Of course! Don't ask that again, Chopper."

Lina reverted to his human form and picked Chopper up, letting him sit on his shoulders, his hands resting on Chopper's golden hair.

"Let's go. We'll go talk to Doctor Kureha."

Outside the castle, the three sat in the snow. Lina, with a cigarette in his mouth, listlessly stared at the sky.

Chopper needed to say a proper goodbye to Dr. Kureha and pack his things. The two of them had come out after picking up Zoro.

We're heading to Alabasta next. I've got about ten Seastone bullets, two pairs of Seastone handcuffs, and the Blue Ogre and Red Ogre who know Armament Haki.

I shouldn't flip the boat, right? Lina thought.

"So, while I was unconscious, this tanuki became our crewmate?" Zoro asked, turning his head and pointing at a small figure emerging from the castle.

"I'm a reindeer, you idiot!" Chopper snarled, baring his teeth.

"Well, it doesn't matter. You're a doctor, right?"

Picking up the three swords from the ground, Zoro stood up and bent down to examine Chopper. "It's true, having a ship doctor would make things much more reliable."

Upon hearing this, Chopper's expression immediately changed. He wiggled his backside, looking bashful.

"Oh, stop it~ Even if you say I'm a doctor, I won't be happy~"

"Such a quick change, he's a strange guy."

To Zoro, the strange thing wasn't that a reindeer could talk, but his rapid mood swings, Lina chuckled inwardly.

"Alright, it's about time we left."

"Follow me, I'll take you down."

Lina and Luffy patted their butts and stood up, following Chopper to a cable car station. Chopper didn't go inside but transformed into his reindeer form and pulled out a sled.

"Wahaha, I'm transforming!"

Luffy exclaimed with shining eyes. Seeing the setup, Chopper was preparing to pull them down using the cable. "You can even pull a sled, you're so cool, Chopper!"

"It's great that we don't have to jump directly."

Stepping onto the sled, Zoro's lips curled into a slight smile. "I thought I'd have to bet my life on whether I was tough enough."

Lina gasped at his words. So you didn't even think about how to get down, you just climbed on without a second thought!?

Chopper looked at Zoro in surprise. This green-haired guy's words are so cool! Is this what a pirate is like?

He hadn't expected that on their first day meeting, Zoro would gain a little fanboy.

The sky was gradually darkening; it was already dusk. There was no snow, and the setting sun cast a brilliant orange-red glow on this ice-covered Winter Island.

"Hey, you guys look! What is that?"

"Something's flying in the sky!"

In the distant Great Horn Village, a few villagers looked towards the sunset. The light was still a bit blinding, forcing them to shield their eyes with their hands. After a long while, their eyes slowly adjusted.

Under the fiery red sunset, several dark silhouettes could be vaguely seen soaring down from the mountain.

"Whoosh~~, liftoff~~"

The villagers looked at each other, their bewildered expressions seeming to confirm their sights.

"I must be seeing things."

"I think I heard someone shouting from up there."

On the coast of Drum Island, the Merry was anchored on the cold sea. In the afternoon sunlight, a small amount of floating ice had melted.

Smoke wafted from the second-floor living room, carrying an enticing aroma. Sanji was already cooking.

"We're back, everyone!"

"Come quickly, everyone, look! Our new crewmate!"

Hearing the voices, everyone gathered outside. Besides the three familiar figures, there was also a small, cute pet.

It wore a red hat with a cross on it, had brown fur standing on end, and a small blue backpack.

"A tanuki is a crewmate?"

"Luffy, keeping pets on the ship is troublesome."

"I don't know how to make cat food, hey."

"I'm not a tanuki, you idiot!" Chopper immediately bristled, pointing at the horn on his head and roaring, "I'm a reindeer! See, I have horns!"

"The tanuki is talking!!!"

"I told you I'm not a tanuki!!!"

"He's a reindeer who ate a Devil Fruit."

Jumping onto the ship, Lina said with a laugh, "Don't underestimate him. Chopper has excellent medical skills, and he'll be our ship doctor from now on."

"Eh! That's amazing!"

"And he's so cute."

Chopper blushed, putting on a defiant act again. "Oh, stop it~ Even if you praise me, I won't be happy~"

Classic, too classic, Lina couldn't help but sigh.

After returning to the ship, Lina entered the first-floor warehouse to take stock and categorize the supplies. He summoned the undead to sort and arrange everything, then raised the anchor, preparing to depart.

The sun had already half-submerged below the horizon, and snow began to fall again, the dancing flakes quickly covering the entire island.

It was at this moment that a tremendous sound echoed from Drum Island.

BOOM!!!

The deafening noise drew everyone's attention, and they all looked toward the island.

Above the central cylindrical mountain peak, a cloud of smoke suddenly exploded and rapidly spread, instantly dyeing the surrounding falling snow a shade of pink.

With the towering mountain peak as its trunk, cherry blossoms bloomed in full, vibrant glory. The thin evening sun slanted through, casting its rays upon the gracefully beautiful romance of pink and pure white.

Chopper stood on the railing, looking up blankly at the cherry blossom rain blooming on this winter island. He pursed his lips, unable to hold back silent tears.

"Doctor Hiriluk, "I will definitely become a doctor who can cure all illnesses...

"I will definitely become your panacea!"