...
Seeing the future Katakuri display such composure and responsibility, Big Mom Charlotte Linlin finally showed a relieved smile on her face.
Her huge eyes narrowed into slits, her laughter carrying a mother's unique pride: "Mam-ma-ma-ma! I don't know how strong he is yet, but that aura sure has style!"
She temporarily forgot her breakdown over her future appearance and immersed herself in the joy of seeing her child grow up successfully.
The light curtain screen switched back to the concert venue!
During the intermission, Uta floated down from the stage riding musical notes and arrived beside Luffy.
The two seemed to return to their childhood days in Windmill Village, starting all sorts of childish competitions: who could jump higher, who could run faster, who could eat faster.
"Hehe! This time I'm definitely gonna win!"
Luffy stretched his rubber arm, grabbed a distant musical note step, and launched himself forward.
Uta's lips curved into a sly arc. With a gentle wave of her hand, several musical notes turned into chicken legs, and behind them, a rampaging mad cow appeared!
Just as Luffy was about to finish the chicken legs, Uta suddenly conjured a cup of drink with musical notes. Luffy, being rather simple-minded, took it without thinking.
After Luffy grabbed the drink, the mad cow directly rammed him into the seawater below, but in the end, Uta saved him and pulled him back up.
At this moment, Uta elegantly rode musical notes to arrive in front of Luffy.
"I win again, Luffy~"
After spitting out a few mouthfuls of water, Luffy struggled to stand up, then scratched his head gloomily: "Uta, you're cheating…"
"This is called wisdom." Uta stuck out her tongue.
Childhood memories filled the air between them with a warm atmosphere.
But the powerhouses at God Valley could all sense that beneath this warmth, undercurrents were surging.
On the other side, Sanji was rummaging through the ingredient baskets for gourmet materials.
As the cook of the Straw Hat Pirates, he had an almost obsessive fixation on ingredients. But when he picked up an unremarkable mushroom, his expression changed drastically.
"This is…" Sanji furrowed his brows tightly, holding the mushroom up to his eyes for close inspection.
The mushroom was red, with spiral patterns on its surface, emitting a faintly sweet yet dangerous aura.
"Wake-shroom…"
Sanji muttered to himself, his face darkening: "Why would this be mixed in here?"
As a chef proficient in all kinds of ingredients, Sanji knew the properties of the Wake-shroom all too well.
A chronic poison that, when consumed, keeps a person awake for a long time, but at the cost of rapidly draining their life force.
Taking it is equivalent to suicide…
"Who would mix something like this into the ingredients?"
Sanji looked around sharply. Finally, his gaze landed on Uta, who was not far away chatting and laughing with Luffy.
Sanji silently threw the Wake-shroom into the trash, but the doubt had already taken root in his heart.
"That hat…"
At this moment, Uta pointed at the straw hat on Luffy's head. Her expression seemed casual, but deep in her eyes hid a certain anticipation.
Luffy touched the hat and grinned: "Yeah! Shanks gave it to me! He said to give it back to him once I become a great pirate!"
Mentioning Shanks opened the floodgates for Luffy: "By the way, Uta! Back then you suddenly got off the ship. When I asked Shanks where you went, he only said you got off… I was sad for a really long time!"
He began chattering endlessly about childhood memories—the adventures in Windmill Village, the days the Red Hair Pirates spent in the village, and…
"Shanks lost an arm to the Lord of the Coast to save me."
When Luffy said this, his expression was incredibly serious: "So this hat—I have to become the Pirate King before I give it back to him!"
Uta listened quietly, but when Luffy mentioned the words "Pirate King," her expression subtly changed.
"Hey, Luffy."
Uta suddenly interrupted him, her tone turning serious, even carrying a hint of insistence: "Could you… not be a pirate anymore?"
Luffy was stunned.
Uta looked at Luffy, then at the Straw Hat crew not far away, her voice sincere: "You and everyone like me, right? Let's all live here together!
Forever together, happily singing, playing, eating delicious food!"
She spread her arms wide, her eyes sparkling with yearning: "We can create a world without fighting, without pain! As long as everyone stays together!"
The Straw Hat crew exchanged glances.
Nami spoke first, her tone gentle: "Uta, we like you too, and this place is really fun… but we have our own dreams."
Zoro held his swords, his expression serious: "I can't just stay here forever."
Chopper said softly: "Even though it's really happy, I still want to become a doctor who can cure any illness…"
Seeing the others shake their heads as well, Uta's expression gradually froze…
She turned to Luffy, her voice carrying a trace of urgency: "Luffy! Did you hear me? I'm talking to you!"
Luffy was gnawing on a huge piece of meat. Hearing Uta's words, he lifted his head, mouth stuffed full, mumbling unclearly: "Hm? What'd you say, Uta?"
"I said…"
Uta raised her volume, this time with a pleading tone: "Could you not be a pirate anymore! And live here with me!"
Luffy swallowed the meat in his mouth, wiped his lips, and showed a bright yet resolute smile: "Thanks, Uta! Thanks for the meat—it was really great seeing you!"
"But I gotta go sleep now. After sleeping, we might have to head out… The adventure's still waiting for us!"
Though he didn't refuse outright, everyone understood—Luffy wasn't going to stop!
Hearing Luffy's reply, Uta's face completely changed in that moment.
Though it was still that cute face, something deep in her eyes shattered.
...