“Dazai!
Luffy!
What are you two doing here?” Nami and Zoro arrived at the rocky shore with the three children trailing behind them.
They had gone looking for Dazai after he disappeared during his “walk,” only to find him standing beside Luffy.
“Dazai-san, I found the most wonderful tree and happily tried to hang myself from it,” Dazai lamented dramatically as he drifted toward Nami.
“But someone completely ruined the mood by saving me.
I’m heartbroken~ If you’d be willing to die with me, Nami-san, I might feel a little better.” “Really?” Nami replied flatly.
“Then go die by yourself.” Having watched Dazai attempt suicide at every opportunity, she was far too exhausted to humor him anymore.
Rejected without mercy, Dazai shuffled into a corner with lifeless eyes, pretending to grow imaginary mushrooms out of sheer despair.
Without Dazai’s interruption, Luffy explained everything.
“Kuro is actually the captain of the Black Cat Pirates.” “Three years ago, he faked his death in front of the Marines using a stand-in, then hid here under a new identity.” “He spent three years earning everyone’s trust.” “Tomorrow is the final step of his plan.” “Jango is going to hypnotize Kaya so Kuro can inherit all her money.” “The village is really going to be attacked?” the three children cried in unison.
“Yeah.” Luffy nodded confidently.
“That’s what they said.” “It has to be true.” The three children immediately huddled together.
“So Kuro really is evil!” “No wonder Nami looked so scary!” “So that’s why Captain Usopp ran back to the village with such a serious face!” Nami smiled gently.
“Isn’t that a good thing?” “Since you know in advance, you can just leave the village before the pirates arrive.” “You’re right!” the purple-haired boy exclaimed.
“We should run too!” “And then…” Dazai suddenly spoke.
“…You’ll come back to find your village burned to the ground.” “Everyone you know will be dead.” “You’ll have no one left except yourselves.” “And all you’ll be able to do…” “…is cry over the bodies of your family.” THUD!
“Owww!!” Nami punched Dazai squarely on the head.
Clutching the enormous lump forming there, he glared at her resentfully.
“Don’t scare children like that, Dazai.” She withdrew her fist with satisfaction.
The three children looked at Nami with admiration before bowing slightly.
“We’re going to tell everyone!” They immediately sprinted back toward the village.
Watching them disappear, Luffy suddenly gasped.
“We need to buy meat before the butcher runs away!” “That’s right!” Dazai instantly revived.
“We should stock up on crab too!” “And bandages!” Zoro sighed helplessly as he watched the two idiots.
The golden glow of sunset slowly faded, and night approached.
Usopp walked slowly along the familiar path back to the village.
The wound left by Jango’s projectile still throbbed, but he barely noticed.
His thoughts remained fixed on one thing.
No one had believed him.
Not even Kaya.
No matter how desperately he told the truth…
Everyone assumed he was lying.
“…Captain!” The three children rushed toward him.
“Captain!” “We know Kuro’s a bad guy now!” “Hurry and tell everyone!” the purple-haired boy urged anxiously.
Usopp lowered his head.
After a long silence…
He burst into laughter.
“Hahahaha!” “I made the whole thing up!” “That butler annoyed me so much that I called him a pirate!” “Hahaha!” The children stared.
Then they laughed too.
“So the Straw Hat guy was helping you tell a lie!” As they turned to leave, Usopp called after them stiffly.
“…What’s wrong?” The purple-haired boy folded his arms.
“I think less of you now.” “Me too.” “So do I.” The blond boy looked genuinely disappointed.
“No matter how much we disliked that butler…” “I always believed Captain Usopp would never tell a lie just to slander someone.” “We always respected you.” “…Captain.” “I was wrong about you.” The three children quietly walked away.
Usopp stood there in silence, watching them leave.
Luffy and the others said nothing.
They simply gave him the space he needed.
A short while later…
“Ow!” Usopp winced as Nami finished bandaging his wound.
“Why did you tell them that?” Luffy asked, frowning.
“I’m a liar.” Usopp lowered his head.
“No one would believe me anyway.” “I was naive.” “Even if you were…” Zoro stepped forward.
“The truth is still the truth.” Nami tilted her head.
“The pirates are really coming.” “Aren’t they?” “They are.” Usopp clenched his fists tightly.
“But everyone thinks I’m lying.” “They all believe tomorrow will be just another peaceful day.” Standing at the edge of the cliff with the wind tugging at his coat, Dazai spoke quietly without turning around.
“…Aren’t you a liar?” “…Yeah.” Usopp slowly stood.
“So I’ll fight the pirates myself.” “I’ll make sure my lie becomes the truth.” “That’s the conviction of the greatest liar, Captain Usopp!” So what if nobody believes me?
Captain Usopp commands eight thousand followers!
I won’t lose to something like this!
“What if someone shoots you?” Dazai asked calmly.
“Then I’ll be shot.” “What if people chase you with brooms?” “Then they’ll chase me with brooms.” As he answered, tears suddenly poured down Usopp’s face.
His nose ran uncontrollably.
His voice gradually broke.
“But…” “This is my village.” “I love this village.” Zoro quietly tightened his grip on his swords.
“You’re way too kind for your own good.” “You even sent your own followers away so they’d stay safe.” Nami rubbed her fingers together with a meaningful smile.
“Just so we’re clear…” “Any pirate treasure belongs to me.” Luffy rolled his shoulders.
“Then we’ll help you.” Dazai shrugged helplessly.
“If the captain says so…” “Then let’s do it.” Usopp wiped away his tears with the back of his hand.
He stared at the group, almost at a loss for words.
“…Why?” “Why would you help me?” “Because there are a lot of them.” Luffy casually flexed his fingers.
Zoro smirked.
“Because your face is practically screaming that you’re terrified.” “I’m not scared!” Usopp shot back immediately, giving a thumbs-up.
“I don’t care how many enemies there are…” “Or how strong they are…” His face twisted.
His entire body trembled.
“Because I’m the brave warrior of the sea…” “Captain Usopp!” The declaration sounded impressive.
Unfortunately…
His shaking legs betrayed him completely.
“Damn it!” “Damn it!” He angrily slapped his own trembling legs.
“This isn’t the time to freeze up!” His knees continued wobbling uncontrollably.
“The enemy is the Black Cat Pirates!” “So what if I’m scared?!” “I don’t need your pity!” “Just go!” “Go already!” “We’re not helping because we pity you.” Zoro walked forward.
“We’re helping because we think you’re admirable.” “And we don’t risk our lives out of sympathy.” Luffy said firmly.
Usopp froze.
“Y-You guys…” The tears he’d finally stopped burst forth all over again.
Today…
Captain Usopp was a complete crybaby.
Because…
He had met a group of truly good people.