On the first day after Sabo left, Mount Colubo grew much quieter.
The wind still blew.
The birds still sang.
Beasts occasionally poked their heads out from deep within the woods, only to be shouted back by Garp. It seemed as though nothing had changed.
But Ace and Luffy had both grown much quieter.
At the entrance of the treehouse, Luffy held a piece of meat. Normally, he could swallow it in two or three bites, but this time, he only took two bites before stopping.
He looked down at the meat in his hand, his voice muffled.
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"Ace."
"Where do you think Sabo is now?"
Ace leaned against the tree trunk, his hands behind his head as he stared at the sky.
"Don't know."
"Will he eat properly?"
"Don't know."
"Will he get beaten up by someone like Grandpa?"
Ace fell silent for a moment.
"Probably not."
Hearing that, Luffy became even more dejected.
"Then he'll definitely become really strong, won't he?"
Ace did not answer.
Of course he knew Sabo. That guy had been smart since they were kids and learned everything quickly.
Hiding money, setting traps, telling directions, judging an enemy's weaknesses—Sabo had always been the first among the three of them to figure things out.
Now, he had left Mount Colubo with the man named Dragon to see a bigger world.
And they were still here, still being chased around and beaten by Grandpa. It felt awful.
It was like three people running together, only for one of them to suddenly turn onto another path first.
It was neither betrayal nor separation, yet it left an empty space in their chests.
"Hey."
A rough voice suddenly rang out below the treehouse.
Garp stood beneath it, looking up at