Arton looked down at Uta squatting there and, a little helplessly, rubbed his forehead.
Then he turned to Raki and Conis—and sure enough, their expressions were completely different from what he'd expect in a normal situation.
Honestly, he didn't even know how to describe the emotions leaking out of the two of them.
What did make him feel relieved was that neither Raki nor Conis seemed overly worked up.
Especially Conis.
That made Arton genuinely happy.
Because if something went sideways with her… how the hell was he supposed to invite Conis into the Flame Blade Pirates?
"Looks like you can't really get up right now, Arton-san," Raki said calmly. "So I'll feed you the noodles instead. You said you wanted broth first, right? I'll ladle it for you."
She pulled out a spoon, scooped up some pumpkin-noodle broth, and brought it right to Arton's lips.
Arton's mouth twitched. "I… appreciate it, but is this really the right moment for that?"
"It's fine. I don't mind," Raki said, shaking her head.
"But I mind," Arton shot back.
He stared at them—Raki, then Conis—his expression slowly turning serious. "Raki. Conis. Don't you two think your reactions are… kind of weird?"
"Normally, if a girl walked in on this, she'd either get mad or at least back out," Arton said. "But you two? You're acting like nothing's happening. What's going on?"
Even with Uta's aggressive encouragement throwing his nerves off, he could still sense something was off about the two of them.
And he needed to figure it out now.
Otherwise he wouldn't be able to focus on Uta at all—and that would be wasting all her… hard work.
"T-This…" Conis bit her lip and looked at Raki like she was begging her to take over.
Raki let out a small sigh. "Fine. I'll tell you the truth."
She looked straight at Arton. "Arton-san, I know you and your crew are strong."
"Not just because Ain-san proved her strength to us," Raki continued, voice steady, "but because I also heard what you've done down in the Blue Sea—from Ain-san and the others."
"And I know what you like," she said, swallowing once. "So I want to ask you for a favor."
"As long as you can save us… help us fulfill the Shandians' long-held wish, I'll do anything."
"I can join your pirate crew and sail with you."
Then her cheeks heated, but she forced the words out anyway—stumbling a little at the end.
"And since I know you like beautiful girls… I—I can also… like Uta does… do that… and please you."
"That's why?!" Arton's eyes widened in shock.
He could believe Ain, Nami, and the others might've bragged about what the Flame Blade Pirates had done in the Blue Sea.
There were absolutely a few loudmouths on his ship.
Carina. Uta. Yeah.
But Raki choosing—because of that—to join the crew… and even saying she could become his woman?
That part genuinely blindsided him.
"You're not afraid they were lying?" Arton asked. "What if I don't actually have the power to help you fulfill that wish?"
As he spoke, he pressed Uta's head down a little, then looked back at Raki, still confused.
"No," Raki said firmly. "I've already seen the strange power Ain-san and the others used."
"So I can't think of anyone else—besides you—who could possibly have the strength to help us achieve our dream."
The conviction in her voice was so absolute that Arton couldn't help believing she meant every word.
Chapter 548: Even the Captain Can Only Sigh at Uta's Antics
"I get what you're saying," Arton said, rubbing his chin, then lowering his head with a conflicted look. "But the way you're springing this on me so suddenly… it's still hard to believe."
Raki caring about the Shandians wasn't something Arton doubted.
If she didn't, then in the original story she never would've bravely followed Wyper to challenge Enel.
But to so casually believe he could deal with Enel—and then to say she'd "do anything" and all that…
It was so abrupt it made Arton feel suspicious.
"If you don't believe me, Arton-san… then I can prove it. Right now," Raki said, dead serious.
"Huh?" Arton lifted his head, confused.
At the same time, Uta also raised her head, putting a bit of distance between herself and Arton. She stood up with a bright smile and looked at Raki.
"I heard what you said earlier, and I think Raki's right," Uta chirped. "Whether she means it or not—she can just prove it, can't she?"
"Even though I already cleaned up and all…" Uta grinned, then added sweetly, "Raki can still help you maintain your weapon, Captain."
"Huh—?" Arton snapped his head around.
Because Raki was already pointing at his lips… and before Arton could even process what Uta had just encouraged—Raki dropped down fast and opened her mouth.
"…Oh. Wow." Arton slapped a palm over his face, equal parts stunned and embarrassed. "This is—this is on me for letting my guard down."
Then he turned and hissed at Uta under his breath, "Uta. You do understand I don't want to force anyone into doing stuff like this, right?"
Even as he said it, he flicked a glance at Conis.
When he saw Conis standing there with nothing more than flushed cheeks—no anger, no outrage—Arton finally let out a quiet breath of relief.
"Of course I know you don't like forcing people," Uta said, smiling like the sun. "But it's obvious Raki isn't being forced. Right?"
"…That part isn't wrong," Arton admitted, still sweating a little. "It's just—honestly, I prefer it when it's someone who actually likes me doing this."
"With other people, I can't help worrying they'll… y'know… snap my sword in half."
"Pfft. It's just weapon maintenance, not sending it home broken," Uta teased. "Besides—Raki already took your sword. You can't just yank it back now."
"So let her polish it properly."
As she spoke, Uta walked over, took the plate of pumpkin noodles from Conis, and—like it was the most natural thing in the world—started spooning broth and noodles into Arton's mouth while continuing her lecture.
"Well?" Uta asked brightly. "Conis and Raki's cooking is pretty good, right?"
"Mhm." Arton nodded approvingly. "It is good."
Then he coughed, cheeks twitching. "Feels… really nice— I mean, it's really sweet."
"You like it, then," Uta said, satisfied.
Raki mumbled, "Good," in a muffled voice, and went right back to focusing on "polishing the blade."
Her movements were a little clumsy, but if Arton had to rate her?
She was taking it seriously.
At the very least, her attitude was correct.
Technique could be refined later.
"…Wait. How did I accept this so naturally?" Arton groaned, tapping his forehead like he'd just realized he'd fallen into a trap.
Still…
One thing Uta said was true.
Raki had already taken the "sword."
If he tried to pull it back now, that would be… kind of cruel.
And it would be disrespecting the resolve she'd shown.