Funeral

Kuina did not answer Locke's question. Instead, she curiously asked him, "Why are you here?"

"Isn't it because of you?"

"Me?" Hearing that, Kuina's originally cold cheeks grew hot.

"Of course! You disappeared all day yesterday, and when you showed up today, you kept looking at us strangely. How could I not come see what was going on?"

"Oh, and?"

"And? Of course I'm worried about you!"

"Worried about me!" Kuina's face reddened even more upon hearing Locke's words. Fortunately, it was nighttime, and the lantern in her hand was not very bright, so Locke, walking beside her, did not notice at all.

"Also, you still haven't told me. What are you doing?" Seeing Kuina suddenly fall silent, Locke asked again.

"I'm going out to sea! To search for the Devil Fruit you mentioned that can change my constitution!" Once Kuina gradually recovered from her blushing state, she softly explained to Locke.

When Locke heard that Kuina was going to sea now, and with the Revolutionary Army no less, he was greatly surprised. He completely failed to notice the subtle change in the way she spoke to him. The faint coldness that had always been in her voice had been replaced by a trace of tenderness.

"Isn't this a little too soon?" Locke asked hesitantly.

"My body has already begun developing. If I don't solve this problem as soon as possible, it will cost me a lot of time!" Kuina replied, lowering her head to glance at her chest, which had already begun developing.

"..."

The two chatted as they walked, and before long, they arrived at the docks. The ship was already waiting there.

As they drew closer, the plump figure of John appeared aboard the ship, waving at him.

When they reached the side of the ship, everyone stopped.

"All right, this is far enough! I'll take good care of your daughter, so don't worry!" Dragon said to Koushirou.

Then he said to Locke, "Kid, I'll be waiting for the day you change the world! Hahahaha!" With a loud laugh, he led the two aboard the ship.

Kuina remained behind, her face streaked with tears as she looked at her father.

"Father, don't worry. I will become the greatest swordsman on the seas." With that, she bowed to Koushirou.

Koushirou said nothing. He merely waved his hand calmly.

"Locke, I'll wait for you on the seas!" Without waiting for him to say anything else, she ran straight onto the ship.

When Locke heard her say she would wait for him, he thought she meant she was waiting for him to challenge her! So he called out to Kuina, whose back was all he could see, "I'll come find you!"

After everyone boarded, a shout came from the ship. "Raise anchor!"

Then Locke watched as the large ship slowly sailed away from the docks. He told himself that they would meet again, and when that time came, he would never lose to her again.

"We should head back too." Koushirou, who had stood beside Locke without saying a word, suddenly spoke.

Locke nodded. He looked once more at the ship, whose silhouette was already nearly impossible to make out, then turned and followed Koushirou back toward the dojo.

The master and disciple did not speak much along the way. Only when they reached the entrance to the dojo did Koushirou say, "Don't tell anyone about what happened tonight."

"I understand, Master!" After receiving Locke's firm reply, Koushirou nodded and headed straight for his room.

Standing behind him, Locke did not know whether it was an illusion, but Koushirou's back seemed somewhat lonely.

Locke did not dwell on it. He shook his head and walked toward his own room.

Upon returning to his room, he found Zoro sleeping soundly in his bed, drool running onto the pillow.

It really was nice to be so carefree.

When Locke opened his eyes again, a new day had arrived.

As usual, he got up and washed. Suddenly, a commotion erupted outside. Then the door flew open, and a junior disciple with snot running from his nose appeared before him, crying.

"Senior Brother Locke, Senior Sister Kuina fell down the stairs and died... Waaah..." He only cried harder as he spoke.

That wasn't right. He had personally seen Kuina off last night. How could she have fallen to her death? Was this some kind of joke?

But after thinking it over carefully, he understood. The ones who had taken Kuina away were the Revolutionary Army. Faking her death would save the island a great deal of trouble.

At that thought, Locke breathed a sigh of relief. Still, he had to put on a grieving expression, or it would be bad if anyone saw through him.

By the time Locke and his junior disciple arrived at the training grounds, the place was already packed with people, every one of them wearing a sorrowful expression.

A coffin stood in the center of the training grounds, surrounded by flower petals. Zoro stood before it, clutching a white sword and wailing loudly, while Carmen, standing nearby, wiped away her tears.

When Carmen saw Locke arrive, she threw herself into his arms and began sobbing.

"Why did it turn out like this? Why?" she questioned between tears.

"This was her own choice," Locke murmured softly.

"What?"

Looking at the tear-streaked little face raised within his arms, Locke truly wanted to tell her the truth. But after thinking it over, he ultimately gave up.

He could only say helplessly, "It's nothing."

Looking at Koushirou standing in front of him with sorrow written all over his face, Locke felt that his grief was probably not an act. He must have been saddened by his daughter's departure.

After all, no one knew how long it would be before they met again.

Kuina's funeral lasted only one day. When Locke watched the earth cover the empty coffin, an inexplicable daze washed over him.

It felt as though this funeral were being held for his past life. In his haze, he saw that young man in his twenties buried within it, and his own past was buried with him in that moment.

His past self had also died that day. From then on, there would only be one Locke in this world.

For some reason, the moment the earth covered the coffin, rain began to fall from the previously clear sky, as if heralding a new beginning.

When the new day arrived in a daze, Locke got up as usual and went out for morning training.

As though nothing had happened yesterday, Locke continued diligently practicing his swordsmanship, preparing himself to change the world one day. Zoro trained even harder, tirelessly working toward becoming the world's greatest swordsman.

As for Carmen, ever since returning from the funeral yesterday, she had locked herself in the kitchen the dojo had specially prepared for her and refused to see anyone.

Locke could feel that after yesterday's events, everyone seemed to have grown up overnight.

He continued swinging his sword. Locke no longer knew how long he had trained; he only felt his swordsmanship steadily improving through his endless practice.

Wait for me, Kuina! I will come find you.