Uta was like a bird flying back to its nest.
She ran from the castle to the harbor, where six pirate ships docked could already be seen from a distance.
The Straw Hat pirate flag fluttered in the wind.
"Luffy!!"
Uta shouted loudly.
When he ran to the harbor, breathless, he saw his childhood playmate.
"Uta."
Luffy smiled and opened his arms.
The two embraced warmly.
"Hahahaha, it's been ten years since I last saw you. You've grown so much!"
Uta was full of joy.
She could only reach Luffy's chest. As a child, Luffy had been slightly shorter than her.
She stared at Luffy for a moment.
He wore a burgundy shirt, a black vest, and a straw hat—he was an extraordinary man.
Hmmm, just like Shanks!
While she looked at Luffy, Luffy also looked at her.
He wasn't very different from the Uta in her memories.
Uta in that movie had been 21 years old; now she was 19.
She wore a sleeveless white dress and a pair of fashionable short pink-and-white boots.
Of course, even that dress couldn't hide her striking figure.
"Uta, it's been a long time."
Uta hugged Luffy excitedly again, afraid he might disappear in the next second.
"I was just wondering if you would come to this island. But I never expected you would!"
"It just so happens I have an Eternal Pose for Elegia. I came to see you as soon as I arrived in the New World."
"How did you know I was here?"
Uta stepped out of his arms and looked at Luffy with a smile.
This was a serious matter. Better not mention Shanks' name for now.
Thinking that, Luffy said without thinking:
"I came because I wanted to see you."
The real answer didn't matter; what mattered most was saying something that pleased her emotionally.
Sure enough, Uta smiled even more brightly.
Only then did she notice that there were many people nearby.
"Luffy, are these all your companions?" She waved at everyone. "I'm Uta, nice to meet you!"
Such an enthusiastic girl.
Nami thought to herself and also greeted her:
"I'm Nami."
"I'm Vivi."
"My name is Robin…"
Everyone introduced themselves to Uta enthusiastically.
On the way here, they had all learned about her existence and her relationship with Luffy in advance.
A childhood friend.
A childhood friend he hadn't seen in ten years.
Ten years living on this nearly uninhabited island.
Uta carefully remembered everyone's names.
"Uta."
From behind, Gordon ran, out of breath.
"Gordon!" Uta immediately introduced him to everyone: "His name is Gordon. He used to be the king of Elegia, but now it's just the two of us on the island."
Gordon was tall and looked like a thug, but he was actually a good man.
He was about forty or fifty years old.
If Shanks was the number one adoptive father, he was number two.
"Mr. Gordon, Uta has been under your care all these years."
Luffy politely thanked him.
"Hello, it's the first time we've met. I'm Gordon."
Gordon's voice was gentle, neither particularly warm nor cold.
As he spoke, he was still a bit out of breath.
Unlike Uta, an energetic girl, he was an older man and had grown tired from running from the castle to the harbor.
Uta said with a smile:
"Luffy and your companions, come to the castle. I want to hear all your adventure stories along the way!"
Soon after, at the castle:
Sanji and Gordon ran to the kitchen to prepare a feast.
The others stayed in the banquet hall, and under Uta's questions, everyone shared their adventure stories from East Blue along the way.
On Alvida's ship, Luffy met Nami.
In Shells Town, he recruited Zoro.
He then defeated Buggy the Clown.
He rescued Kaya, who had been coveted by the Black Cat Pirates.
On the way to the sea, Johnny and Yosaku were saved.
The bombardment by the Fish-Man Pirates.
Meeting Sanji at the Baratie.
He met Bartolomeo in Logue Town.
Uta's eyes shone, and her face filled with longing after hearing one adventure after another.
"I'm so jealous Luffy! I want to have an adventure with you too"
"Then come with me."
"Great~!"
Uta raised her hands joyfully and agreed without hesitation.
After that, she quickly stood and bowed to everyone:
"I'm Uta, a singer. Please take care of me."
Everyone welcomed the lively and adorable Uta.
Brook said, "Yohohohoho, Uta, I'm also a musician. Today is a special day for you and Luffy, so let's sing a song together."
"Sing? Yes! I love singing!"
The two looked at Luffy simultaneously.
Luffy suggested, "Everyone can sing the Pirate Song."
Usopp's first response: "I'll go first, I'll go first!"
After some simple humming at the start, everyone began singing one line at a time, and it became a chorus when it reached the teasing part.
The cheerful singing filled the banquet hall with a happy atmosphere.
"To health~"
Food and wine were continuously brought to the table.
The feast lasted late into the night, and everyone drank a lot.
Luffy stayed fairly sober.
He picked up a drunk Uta and asked Gordon:
"Where is her room?"
"Let me show you the way."
Led by Gordon, Luffy went to the top of the castle and sent Uta back to her room.
When he wanted to leave, he was held firmly.
After finally freeing himself, Luffy covered her with a quilt and left the room safely.
"Luffy."
Gordon waited outside.
Although he was an adoptive father, he had never entered Uta's room since she was ten years old.
Uta also took care of herself during the week.
Cooking, cleaning—she did everything.
It wasn't he who took care of Uta, but Uta who took care of him.
"What do you want to ask, Mr. Gordon?"
"Since you know Uta is on this island, you should have met Shanks."
Gordon was obviously not as easy to fool as Uta.
In other words, Uta wasn't easily deceived, she simply didn't care.
She was just very happy to see Luffy.
(End of Chapter)
"Hmph. If you really want to be useful, then entertain me, try to throw those pathetic power stones at me. Let's see if even your insolence can amuse a king."