Invitation

Holding Shirahoshi's soft little hand, Rune led her out of the Hard-Shell Tower and strolled along at an unhurried pace. Of course, for Shirahoshi, she was swimming through the water.

Perhaps because her body had shrunk, Shirahoshi's weight had also become appropriate for her current size. Rune tested it a little and found that Shirahoshi in this state was quite light.

As she followed Rune outside, Shirahoshi looked curiously at everything around her. It made sense. Having lived in the Hard-Shell Tower for so many years, she naturally longed for the outside world.

"Lord Rune, won't this waste your time...?"

"How could it?"

Rune smiled. To be honest, Shirahoshi was truly beautiful. Even with her previous size, anyone who saw her would feel fondness toward her. Now that Shirahoshi was the size of an ordinary person, she looked even cuter.

Besides, Rune intended to take Shirahoshi out to sea, so accompanying her on a walk could hardly be considered a waste of time. On this trip to Fish-Man Island, he intended to take at least one of Jinbe and Shirahoshi with him.

After wandering around with Shirahoshi for a while, Rune noticed that she seemed a little tired. Naturally, she would not be exhausted after such a short time. She was simply very nervous walking with Rune.

That left her feeling somewhat weary.

"Would you like to rest for a while?"

Rune looked at Shirahoshi with a faint smile. Shirahoshi looked back at him and nodded gently.

"Sorry to trouble you, Lord Rune..."

The residence Prince Shark Star had arranged for Rune had passages convenient for merfolk to use as well. Rune let Shirahoshi rest in the water, then left the room so she could have some time alone.

After stepping outside, Rune turned his head and looked in the direction where Prince Shark Star was.

That guy was really terrible at tailing people.

But it did not matter.

Rune did not care. He sat by the door and waited quietly.

A long while passed.

Shirahoshi emerged from the room and followed the waterway to sit beside Rune. She looked at this lord from the outside world, her beautiful eyes full of curiosity.

"You really want to see the outside world, don't you?"

Rune suddenly spoke, startling Shirahoshi. Hearing him say that, she nodded softly.

"But I..."

"There are no buts. If you want to go outside, you can join my crew. I'll talk it over with your father and brothers. I believe they'll respect what you want."

Rune smiled faintly and reached out to rub Shirahoshi's head. Her pink hair was soft and fluffy, and it felt rather nice.

"Actually, I'm curious about something."

Rune looked at Shirahoshi. "If you were in your original form, would you be able to feel me rubbing your head like this?"

"Lord Rune, you... you don't think my original form is frightening?"

Shirahoshi looked at Rune, and he smiled again.

"How could a cute girl like you be frightening, no matter how large you are?"

Shirahoshi lowered her head. Hearing Rune say that made her happy, but when she thought of how the other fish-men and merfolk viewed her, she became a little uncertain again.

Although her father and brothers did not want her to know, Shirahoshi still knew that many people on Fish-Man Island associated her with the embodiment of disaster.

"But..."

"Do you not believe me?"

Rune smiled, then suddenly rose to his feet while holding Shirahoshi's hand. He found Bonney again and brought the two of them back near the Hard-Shell Tower.

"Bonney, please undo your ability."

Bonney rolled her eyes, but she still removed the Devil Fruit ability affecting Shirahoshi. As Shirahoshi returned to her original size, Rune looked up and found that even the light had been blocked out.

Rune had a coating around him. He activated the Dark-Dark Fruit's power and wriggled up Shirahoshi's body until he reached her shoulder.

"Lord Rune, where are you?"

Shirahoshi could not find Rune, and she grew nervous at once. She worried that Rune might see what she looked like now, decide he no longer wanted to speak to her, and simply leave.

But very soon, Shirahoshi spotted Rune.

"I'm here. Don't move."

Rune climbed over Shirahoshi's body with some difficulty. After all, they were underwater, so many abilities were inconvenient to use. Moreover, Shirahoshi's skin was very smooth, making it hard to find purchase.

If not for the Dark-Dark Fruit's suction, Rune would have fallen off Shirahoshi long ago.

After spending some time, Rune finally reached Shirahoshi's head. He crouched down and gently touched her pink hair, which was as vast as a field of seaweed.

"Shirahoshi, can you feel me touching your hair?"

"It feels a little strange..."

Shirahoshi's pretty face turned slightly red, and she did not dare move. She was afraid of knocking her benefactor off, but Rune had already used the Dark-Dark Fruit's power to cling to her.

"Shirahoshi, don't move, okay? I'm going to jump down."

Rune leaped, then let his body fall freely. His nimble figure streaked past Shirahoshi's eyes before dropping with a splash into the space between her enormous breasts.

Then Rune discovered in astonishment that, without using the Dark-Dark Fruit's power, he could not climb out from there without hurting Shirahoshi...

Fortunately, Rune had the Dark-Dark Fruit.

The darkness's suction allowed Rune to press his palms directly against Shirahoshi's smooth skin and climb upward through the cramped gap. This somewhat strange action left Shirahoshi frozen in place, not daring to make the slightest movement.

Only after Rune climbed out and jumped down again did Shirahoshi finally let out a sigh of relief.

She had truly been afraid that one careless move might crush her benefactor to death.

"Bonney, please."

Bonney rolled her eyes again and returned Shirahoshi to the size of an ordinary person. Rune looked at Shirahoshi at her normal size and smiled faintly.

"If I were as big as you originally were, I'd definitely like you. Otherwise, our difference in size is just a little too troublesome."

Shirahoshi's eyes dimmed somewhat. She pressed her lips together, looking a little sad.

"All right, cheer up. No matter what you look like, I like you quite a lot."

Rune held out his hand and looked at Shirahoshi before him. "Do you want to join my crew? I can take you to see the sea beyond Fish-Man Island and show you the outside world."

"I... can I really?"

Shirahoshi looked at Rune, anticipation glimmering in her eyes. She truly wanted to see the outside world, but she also felt that she could not casually leave Fish-Man Island, and she worried that her father and brothers would not allow her to go.

Besides, if she joined Rune's crew, would she be causing him too much trouble...?

"Of course you can."

Rune smiled faintly. "You may not believe this, but I already knew about you before I came to Fish-Man Island. The two people I wanted to meet most on this trip were Jinbe and you."