Devil Fruit Users

From now on, she could be the little princess of their Cocoyasi Village again.

She could be happy when she wanted to be, sad when she needed to be, and never have to pretend to be strong again.

At that thought, Genzo gave Kuina an even more grateful look.

"I really don't know how to thank them!"

Genzo shook his head, set his thoughts aside, and turned to Kuta.

"Oh, right. I haven't asked what you wanted this pinwheel for!"

Kuta looked at the pinwheel on his head and smiled.

"I was just curious about why you always had a pinwheel on your head. Besides, I've been thinking about our pirate flag. I thought I might as well use a pinwheel as the design!"

Seeing the pinwheel had reminded him that Foosha Village, where this world's protagonist, King Luffy, came from, also had windmills, so he figured he might as well use one.

What else was he supposed to use, a hammer and sickle or five stars?

He was certainly familiar with those two designs, but they were liable to get censored.

Besides, a pinwheel represented courage, diligence, ambition, loyalty, happiness, vitality, and love.

It also symbolized people's love of the sky and fairy-tale happiness.

To him, that was exactly what he was pursuing.

He hoped that he and the people he cherished could always be like a pinwheel.

Forever free of worries, pain, and disaster.

Always living happy, healthy lives.

"So that's it!"

Genzo hesitated briefly, then took off the pinwheel and held it out to Kuta.

"Here, take it!"

But Kuta didn't take it. Instead, he smiled at Genzo. "Never mind, Uncle Genzo! I only wanted to borrow it as a reference for drawing a flag."

"To you, though, it's a keepsake full of happy memories with Nami!"

He paused, then continued, "I can't exactly go stealing a little girl's childhood toy, can I?"

Seeing the sincerity on Kuta's face, Genzo took the pinwheel back and stuck it into his hat again.

It wasn't quite that he couldn't bear to part with it. It was only an ordinary pinwheel.

Besides, Nami had grown up. She no longer smiled at the sight of his pinwheel the way she had as a child.

Now, the pinwheel was simply something he held on to for its memories.

He hoped that whenever Nami came back, it could spin away all her unhappiness, just as it had when she was little, so she could keep smiling.

"How about this, then? I'll find some cloth later and draw a pinwheel flag for you myself. What do you think?"

"Oh, you really shouldn't!"

Kuta stared at Genzo, looking delighted.

"Then sorry for the trouble, Uncle Genzo."

Hearing that Genzo was willing to help draw the flag had made him instinctively happy.

Yep! It definitely wasn't because his own drawing skills were terrible.

"There's no need to feel bad. It's an honor to draw a pirate flag for the people who saved our entire Cocoyasi Village."

"If there's nothing else, I'll go and

draw your pirate flag."

He was clearly even more eager than Kuta, probably because he was happy to be able to do something for them!

Kuta hurriedly thanked him again.

Watching Genzo walk away, he happily raised his Wine Gourd and took a drink.

"Ah, that hits the spot."

Then he lay back like a leisurely old man and basked in the sun.

He had to admit, the spring sunshine felt wonderful, even at noon.

The setting sun spread its warm light through the dusk.

Several large bonfires had been built along the main road through Cocoyasi Village.

Roast meat, fruit, and all kinds of seafood were laid out around them.

After being oppressed for so long, the villagers dropped every pretense.

Some sobbed, some laughed, and others shouted and screamed as though they had gone mad.

They desperately needed to let it all out.

The village's young people pulled the Ahua Trio into the crowd.

Together with the villagers, they danced simple, rustic dances around the bonfires.

Beside one bonfire, Kuta sat cross-legged on the ground, taking sip after sip from his Wine Gourd.

Kuina leaned against his shoulder, her pretty face slightly flushed as she watched the crowd around the fire.

She liked this kind of banquet.

Although she had been busy from noon until dusk, she didn't feel tired at all. Instead, she felt a deep sense of fulfillment.

It had even prompted her to make an exception and have a few drinks today, though she normally never drank.

Kuina looked up at Kuta with hazy eyes.

"Hey, Kuta."

Kuta turned toward her adorable face and asked with a smile, "What is it?"

"Do you think I should come up with an epithet?"

"What kind of epithet?"

Kuina tilted her head and thought.

"Hmm...!"

She frowned in frustration, turning it over and over in her mind without coming up with anything.

Then she looked up at Kuta, a pitiful expression in her beautiful, wide eyes.

She grabbed his arm and kept shaking it.

"I can't think of anything, Kuta. Why don't you come up with one for me?"

"All right, all right, stop shaking me. Any more and I'll fall apart."

Kuta looked at Kuina with amusement. "The Adventure Crew we founded is called the Freedom Pirates, and our flag has a pinwheel."

"Hmm..."

He rubbed his chin thoughtfully, then his eyes lit up.

"Then we'll call you the Statue of Liberty!"

The moment he said it, he couldn't help bursting into laughter.

"Hahaha...!"

Kuina had no idea why Kuta had suddenly started laughing.

But seeing him laugh, she giggled foolishly along with him.

"The Statue of Liberty? That sounds pretty good. Ahh!"

Devil Fruit User

East Blue.

The Gollome Islands.

A ship with a sheep's head figurehead lay moored at the simple dock outside Cocoyasi Village.

A red flag fluttered at the top of its mast, with a yellow pinwheel painted on it.

From a distance, the yellow pinwheel looked as though it were constantly spinning.

It gave off a sense of warmth and joy.

Aboard the Fake Merry.

No.

It should now be called the Freedom. Kuta and the other four had woken early and were standing at the ship's rail, looking toward Cocoyasi Village.

The villagers had been so excited last night that they had all drunk themselves unconscious.

By the look of things, no one would wake up before noon.

Although Kuta and his companions had also drunk quite a bit last night, their regular training meant they hadn't gotten as drunk as the villagers, so they had woken early in the morning.

"Aren't we going to say goodbye?"

Kuina stared toward the village, a trace of reluctance in her eyes.

It was here that she had felt this kind of happiness for the first time.

Unlike the joy of growing stronger, this was a happiness that brought immense fulfillment to both her heart and spirit.

Kuta ruffled Kuina's hair and looked toward the village with a broad smile.

"There's no real need for goodbyes. This place is simply one wonderful memory in our lives."

"And our journey has only just begun. We're heading toward more unknowns and more adventures."

"Believe me, we're sure to find even more fulfillment and happiness on our adventures ahead."

At that, a hint of regret flashed through Kuta's eyes.

If he had any regrets, there was one: he hadn't met Nami.

She was probably aboard some pirate ship right now, locked in a thrilling struggle with its pirates!

"Mm! I've always believed in you, Kuta."

After hearing that, Kuina's eyes filled with anticipation.

The Ahua Trio hurriedly nodded too.

They all believed that their adventures ahead would bring them even more wonderful people and scenery.

Kuta drew his gaze away and turned toward the sea.

His voice rang out, full of excitement and anticipation.

"All right, everyone! The Freedom is setting sail! Our adventure begins now!"

One day after leaving the Gollome Islands, their excitement faded, and they settled back into their usual routine.

Kuta continued his grand undertaking of sunbathing at the bow.

He hardly trained anymore.

Because ordinary

training equipment was now completely useless to him.

All he could do now was expend his Armament Haki without restraint, hoping to improve its quality and strengthen Zankū as soon as possible.

Kuina spent most of her time training, much as Zoro did aboard the Merry.

The rest of the time, she drank tea and read the newspaper at the bow, chatting and basking in the sun with Kuta.