During the long, quiet journey across the desert, Vivi guided the group toward the ruins of the old city. What once had been a vibrant settlement was now nothing more than collapsed stone and sand-scoured skeletons of buildings. Only a single elderly man still lived there, clinging to the memories of what had been.
From him, Vivi learned that Kōsha was gathering the rebel forces—preparing to confront the kingdom's army head-on.To be honest, no one could blame them. When people had no food and no water, what else could they do? Just sit and wait for death?
So the group decided to rest for the night before heading out to stop the rebellion.
But the next morning, Luffy and Vivi clashed. Luffy wanted to head straight for Rainbase, while Vivi insisted they needed to stop the rebel army first. Their argument escalated until it seemed like they might actually start fighting.
"Hey, calm down!"Ha Shiro stepped forward and wrapped his arms around Vivi, holding her back.
"Vivi, don't panic. Whatever you decide in the end, I'll help you."
He gave her a gentle smile.
"But Luffy's idea isn't wrong either. If we take down the real culprit, the whole disaster ends at the source, right? And if the rebellion loses its reason to fight, that resolves itself too."
Ha Shiro lightly tapped her forehead."Besides, we're companions. If something's wrong, we deal with it together. Don't shoulder everything alone. Leave some of it to us."
Luffy, hearing that, added simply, "Yeah! We're all companions!"
As expected of Luffy—a single sentence from him carried more weight than all of Ha Shiro's explanations combined.
Seeing Vivi cry into Ha Shiro's chest, he could only hold her quietly and guide her back onto the giant camel.
And so, with Luffy shouting for everyone to move out, the group set off toward Rainbase.
"Damn it, I'm exhausted… I wanna ride the camel too."Usopp and the others stared at Ha Shiro with envy. No wonder—they were trudging through the heat, while he was sprawled comfortably on the camel's broad back, fed drinks and snacks by two women. It was practically luxury travel.
Ha Shiro simply lay there in total comfort, basking in the glares of envy until they finally reached Rainbase.
"Water! Water!"The group staggered forward, desperate. Nami nearly handed over the juice she'd saved, but Ha Shiro stopped her; their supplies were limited, and the camel's cooling pads consumed water just like ice did. Replenishing water was urgent.
But Luffy and Usopp immediately ran straight into the artificial rain.
"…Headache."Ha Shiro rubbed his temples, lifted up the camel's reins, and waited with the others.
What they got instead was the arrival of Marine forces.
"Tashigi… she really came. Heh."Ha Shiro spotted Tashigi among the Marines the moment they approached.
"Zoro! I finally found you!"Tashigi's pursuit of Zoro clearly hadn't slowed down at all.
"Damn it—Ha Shiro, she's yours!"Zoro yelled, then immediately ran for his life.
"Ha Shiro!?"Tashigi's eyes locked onto him with a strangely suspicious expression.
"Why are you here? Are you part of the Straw Hats too now?"Realizing it, she pointed her sword at him.
"Tashigi, long time no see. Why the sword? Shouldn't you be welcoming me with a hug?"Ha Shiro opened his arms wide as if expecting one.
"D-Don't come any closer! If you move, I'll—"
She pressed her blade against his chest to stop him from getting closer.
"Tashigi, are you serious?"Ha Shiro blinked innocently—but the moment he looked down at the blade touching his chest, something mischievous flickered across his face.
An experience-boosting sweetheart should behave like an experience-boosting sweetheart. Time to carve myself into her heart.
With that thought, Ha Shiro did something that shocked everyone.
—He leaned forward.
Puuk.
Tashigi's sword pierced cleanly into him.
"Finally… I can hold you again."Ha Shiro's voice trembled as he wrapped his arms weakly around her.
"I'm sorry, Tashigi… I just… I like you so much… If this is what you wish for… then dying in your arms… isn't so bad… Ah… ngh—"
Reaching up with a shaking hand, he touched her cheek.
"Ha Shiro!? Y-You—!! No! I didn't—! I didn't mean to—don't—please don't die—!!"Tashigi dropped to her knees, hugging him tightly as tears spilled uncontrollably.Memories of their encounters—every argument, every moment, even their accidental kiss—flashed through her mind.
"Don't cry, silly girl… it doesn't suit you…"Ha Shiro whispered faintly."I'm just… drifting off to sleep. I'll always be alive… here."He tapped her chest lightly."And I'll always be by your side… watching over you, just like this."
A strand of her black hair suddenly rose, forming the shape of a small heart.
"With you… forever…"
Using the last of his strength, he brushed his lips against hers—then went limp.
"No! I don't want this! Ha Shiro, wake up! Ha Shiro!!"Tashigi sobbed desperately, clutching his "lifeless" body.
Perfect, Ha Shiro thought from the inside, suppressing a smirk.
Countless strands of his black hair transformed into blooming black roses that unfurled around Tashigi, enveloping her completely. Then, using his power, Ha Shiro slipped out of sight—leaving only the illusion of a corpse in her arms.
The roses dissolved into black strands that gently wrapped around Tashigi, merging into her hair.
"Ha Shiro…"Tashigi stared blankly at the remains of the scene, her tears silently falling.
A small lock of her hair rose and gently wiped her tears away.
"Beautiful," Ha Shiro murmured from afar. "Despair mixed with hope. Now she won't do anything reckless. And I'm looking forward to our next reunion."
The strand of hair he left inside her was a part of his own body—allowing him to sense her condition instantly.
"This Hair-Hair Fruit really can mimic elementalization… Very nice. Though shedding all that blood for realism was a pain."Ha Shiro glanced at the self-inflicted wound on his arm and sighed.
"Crap—Nami and Vivi are in danger."
He almost forgot the important part. Ha Shiro immediately sprinted toward Crocodile's casino.
Inside the casino, Luffy, Nami, and the others were locked in a giant cage, leaving Vivi alone to face the banana gators. Seawater from the surrounding channels was already flooding toward them.
"Sorry I'm late."Ha Shiro appeared behind Vivi, pulling her into his arms before kicking a banana gator across the room with casual ease.
"Ha Shiro! You're finally here! Quick, we need the keys—the banana gators swallowed them! We have to defeat all of them!"Vivi pleaded urgently.
"Alright, leave it to me. Nami—I'll get you all out."Ha Shiro cracked his knuckles.
"Blade Storm!"
His hair burst outward in a furious storm of black strands, slicing straight through the banana gators and cutting them cleanly in half. One of the pieces rolled aside—and from inside the waxy sphere, Mr. 3 popped out.
Ha Shiro ignored him completely and dug through the remains for the key. But there was no trace—not even fragments.
He had only one option left.
The hair at his fingertips twisted and reshaped into the form of a key. He slid it into the lock—
—and it crumbled instantly.
"Figures."Ha Shiro turned toward Mr. 3. One look from him made the man break into a cold sweat; after all, Ha Shiro had already traumatized him more than enough.
Tap.
"Unlock the cage. Now."
"Y-Yes!! Right away!!"
"Lady Nami! Princess Vivi! I'm here to save you… huh?"Sanji burst into the room dramatically—only to freeze when he saw the already open door.
"Nami-swaaan—why is the cage open!? Ha Shiro!? Why are you here!?"