By the sea, beneath the setting sun, the waves shimmered with fading light.
On the Going Merry, the Straw Hat crew stood silently, watching two figures face each other on the shore below.
"Seriously," Sanji muttered, shielding his cigarette from the breeze as he lit it. A faint trail of smoke drifted upward as he sighed. "How did things get this bad over something like this?"
"They both meant well for the crew," he continued, his tone quiet. "But it turned into something unpleasant… a bunch of idiots."
"There's no right or wrong here," Zoro replied calmly, leaning against the Merry's mast. The pirate flag above him fluttered proudly in the golden wind. "Usopp probably already knew what this would lead to. Out of all of us, he's the one who cares the most about this ship. The new one might carry the Merry's shadow, but for him… the Merry is already gone."
"Then we should just keep sailing with the Going Merry!" Nami protested, her voice trembling. She clenched her fists, her brows drawn tight. "The Merry might be worn out, but I can use my navigation skills to keep her afloat!"
"Nami, don't say any more."
Luffy, wearing his straw hat low over his eyes, stared quietly at Shirogai and Usopp standing below. His tone was calm but heavy.
"We all know the truth. The Going Merry can't handle normal sailing anymore. Usopp knows it too. He just doesn't want to abandon her… and he doesn't want us to move on to a new ship either. Since he challenged me and Shirogai, all we can do is accept. That's how we show him respect — and how we honor our crew."
(Captain & Vice Captain)
Nami fell silent, biting her lip.
"But Usopp's wounds haven't even healed yet!" Chopper cried, panic filling his voice as he looked between his friends. "Please, don't let him fight Shirogai! He's no match for him!"
"He knows that," Zoro said quietly, stepping forward and watching the resolute Usopp below. "But he still chose to fight."
Chopper's eyes glistened as he shouted, "Then I'll watch too! I want to be brave, just like Usopp!"
Sanji exhaled a cloud of smoke and shook his head. "What a farce… Usopp can't possibly beat Shirogai."
"He's not trying to beat him," Zoro replied evenly. "He just wants to know where he stands in Shirogai's heart… whether he can be replaced, just like the Merry."
"What do you mean?" Nami asked, her brows furrowed.
"When Shirogai said he was the one who suggested replacing the Merry," Zoro explained, "Usopp's anger vanished. What was left was only despair. He actually wanted Shirogai's approval — just like me and Sanji."
Sanji nodded with a rueful smile. "Yeah… he's always been envious that Shirogai trained us. If that's how he felt, he could've just joined in instead of pretending not to care."
"Maybe he couldn't bring himself to," Zoro said softly. "Usopp's more sensitive than he looks. He's always hoped Shirogai would guide him — teach him Haki the way he taught us. I've seen him on night watch, secretly practicing the methods Shirogai showed us. When I caught him, he'd just whistle and pretend to be watching the stars."
Zoro smiled faintly, his eyes narrowing. "Ever since Shirogai joined, our crew has had two souls. Luffy, our captain — the will that never bows, the spirit that never fears. And Shirogai Yamikuro, our vice-captain — the absolute sense of safety, the man who handles what we can't. Usopp's always sought his praise. Even a simple 'Well done, Usopp' would've been enough. But now, seeing the Merry being replaced… he sees himself in her."
The crew fell into quiet reflection.
---
Far away, hidden among the cliffs, a lone figure observed through a scope.
"One is the Fifth Emperor, Shirogai Yamikuro," he whispered. "The other, an unknown pirate. Has the Straw Hat Crew turned on itself?"
The man — Inbi Hebi, a CP-0 agent — adjusted his mask, his tone grave. "To challenge the Fifth Emperor… is this man insane or extraordinary? Either way, the World Government must be informed."
---
"You've done well, Usopp," Shirogai said with a calm smile, his voice carrying easily over the sea breeze. "To stand for what you believe in, to face a comrade without flinching — that takes courage."
He paused, his gaze steady. "I didn't misjudge you."
"Enough of your talk, Shirogai!" Usopp shouted, anger burning in his eyes. "I misjudged you! You could've fixed the Going Merry, but instead you chose to let her go! And worse — you want to merge her into another ship! Do you even see the Merry as a companion at all?!"
His voice broke. His eyes watered, but he refused to cry. Because when he looked at the Going Merry, he saw himself — fragile, replaceable.
If the ship could no longer carry the crew, what about him? When would his turn come to be left behind?
He bit his lip hard enough to bleed, forcing himself to stand tall. "Shirogai! You've always been powerful. You've never known what it feels like to be weak — to fight a battle you can't win! That's your flaw!"
He aimed his slingshot with trembling hands. "If you were in my place, would you have the will to keep fighting?!"
Shirogai smiled faintly. "You may be right, Usopp. Ever since I came into this world i've never had that kind of experience. So tell me — how do you plan to put me at a disadvantage?"
Usopp narrowed his eyes. "You'll see soon enough." He drew back his slingshot. "Get ready to lose, Shirogai!"
Shirogai's eyes glimmered with amusement. "I'm ready."
Whoosh!
Before he finished speaking, three blazing shots streaked toward him.
"Hissatsu: Triple Exploding Star!"
Without moving his feet, Shirogai raised one hand. His fingers closed around all three projectiles midair. The bombs fizzled uselessly in his grasp before falling to the ground with a soft clink.
He dusted off his palm and smiled faintly. "Is that all, Usopp? Don't disappoint me."
Usopp gritted his teeth, his voice cracking with emotion. "Don't underestimate me, Shirogai! I'm fighting with everything I've got!"
_______
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