Fathers and Fathers, Responsibility and Freedom! (Two-in-One)
Not long after Tsugikuni Yoriichi boarded the ship, Shanks and Ben Beckman returned to the Red Force early.
They were worried that their crew, unaware of the truth, might clash with Tsugikuni Yoriichi.
Fortunately, by the time Shanks and Ben Beckman returned, Hongo and the other crew members had yet to come back aboard.
Seeing Tsugikuni Yoriichi helping Jesus Burgess look after the children on the bow deck, Shanks walked over. When he saw Yoriichi chatting with young Uta in his arms, smiling warmly, the tension in his face eased. "You seem to like children, Mr. Tsugikuni."
Hearing the voice behind her, Uta abruptly turned around. Then she struggled out of Yoriichi's arms and ran toward Shanks, calling out happily, "Shanks! You're back!"
With a cheer, Uta wrapped both arms around Shanks's leg.
"Yes, children are the future of the world."
"I hope every child in this world can grow up healthy in a peaceful environment."
Yoriichi picked up his cloak from the ground. Looking at Shanks slowly lifting Uta into his arms, he smiled as he spoke.
Hearing that, Shanks could not help nodding. "The future..." he murmured wistfully.
Shanks began recalling his days aboard Pirate King Roger's ship. Traveling freely across the seas with his companions, without a care in the world—those days were incomparably precious to him.
"Who would have thought that in the blink of an eye, I'd become the one in Captain Roger's role?"
Shanks gazed out at the azure sea, his thoughts in turmoil.
There was not actually much for Tsugikuni Yoriichi and Shanks to talk about. They had met a few times, but they could hardly be considered familiar. Yoriichi knew a little about Shanks, but Shanks knew very, very little about Yoriichi.
As for Yoriichi's