2: 2.
If This Is Real… Then I Refuse to Regret It 2: 2.
If This Is Real… Then I Refuse to Regret It =Usopp’s POV= I lay there on the beach, long after the waves had stopped sounding like noise and started sounding like… reality.
The sky was still blue.
The wind still blew.
The sea still moved like nothing had happened.
But everything had changed.
“…I am Usopp.” The words felt strange in my mouth.
My chest felt heavy.
“I died… and I was reborn here.” No matter how many times I repeated it, it didn’t feel real.
And yet, everything around me insisted that it was.
At first, I thought I had taken over someone else’s body.
Like those reincarnation stories where the protagonist kicks out the original owner and goes, “Sorry bro, I’m the main character now.” But… “…That’s not it.” I clenched my small hand.
Because everything I did— Walking, talking, eating, even calling her “Mom” felt natural.
Too natural.
It wasn’t like I was controlling a foreign body.
It felt like… I had always been this person.
“…Then what am I?” A chill ran down my spine.
The memories I saw earlier… At first, I thought they belonged to someone else.
To Usopp.
But now— “…They’re mine.” And my previous life?
“…It feels like a dream.” I laughed weakly.
“…That’s insane.” Which one was real?
The life where I worked myself to death?
Or this one where I ran around barefoot on a beach with a ridiculously long nose?
“…Wait!” I frowned.
“…Right.
What was my name on Earth?” I couldn’t remember it.
“…Huh?” I blinked.
Trying to remember even harder.
“My name is—” Nothing.
Blank.
“…I forgot?” No.
That wasn’t right.
I remembered everything else.
My childhood.
My job.
My miserable adult life.
Even the brand of instant noodles I used to eat at 2 AM.
But my name?
Gone.
“…This is strange.” Really strange.
Like my identity had been… erased.
Or replaced.
“…Then maybe…” A thought formed in my mind.
It was a crazy scenario.
“I’m not someone who became Usopp.” My voice trembled.
“I’m Usopp… who remembered another life.” Silence.
“…That makes more sense.” And somehow, that terrified me more.
Because if that was true, then this wasn’t a second life.
This was my real life.
And the “other one”?
Just… something extra.
“…Then that means…” My breath caught.
“I know what’s going to happen.” A heavy weight dropped onto my chest.
This world, it was a fiction story on Earth.
A story I had watched.
A story I knew.
Which meant- “…Mom…” My fingers trembled.
“She’s going to…” I couldn’t finish the sentence.
Because I already knew.
She would die.
Soon.
“…No.” My vision blurred.
“No, no, no—” If I wasn’t really Usopp… If I was just some outsider… Then maybe— Maybe it wouldn’t hurt this much.
At most, I’d feel guilty and sad that someone I knew died.
But this?
This felt like my chest was being torn apart.
“…Why does it hurt this much?” Because she wasn’t a stranger.
She was my mother.
“…Mom…” In my previous life… I never had one.
I never knew my mother.
She died giving birth to me.
My father?
Unknown.
I grew up in an orphanage.
Watching other kids get picked up by their parents.
Listening to stories about “home.” I didn’t even know what that felt like.
And now, now I finally had it.
A home.
A mother.
Warm meals.
Warm touches.
And they were going to be taken away.
“…That’s not fair.” Tears streamed down my face.
“That’s not fair!!” I clenched my fists.
My small, useless fists.
“I just got her!” Why?
Why give me this?
Why let me know?
“…If I didn’t remember…” Then at least, I wouldn’t feel this miserable.
But now?
I know what would happen, and I couldn’t do anything.
That was the worst part.
“…I can’t do anything.” I wasn’t a doctor.
Didn’t have medical knowledge.
Didn’t have powers.
Didn’t have some cheat ability like those overpowered protagonists.
I was just a six-year-old kid.
“…God.” My voice cracked.
“Buddha… Jesus… Zeus… Odin… whoever’s in charge up there!” I looked up at the sky, desperately, pathetically.
“If you’re real… then listen to me!” “I’ll do anything!
ANYTHING!” “Just… please…Save my mom.” The words came out broken.
“…Please…” My voice faded.
Silence answered me.
No divine light.
No miracle.
No response.
“…Figures.” I laughed weakly.
“…Guess I’m not the chosen one.” Tears kept falling.
No matter how much I tried to stop them.
“…This sucks.” People always talked about how great it would be to know the future.
To have knowledge.
To be prepared.
But no one talked about this part.
Knowing something terrible would happen, and being completely powerless to stop it.
“…I hate this.” The sun climbed higher.
Time passed.
“…Lunch.” My eyes widened.
“Lunch?!” Oh no.
OH NO.
“I told Mom I’d be back before lunch!!” I jumped to my feet.
“…Crap!” My face was a mess.
Tears and snot covered my face.
“She’ll definitely notice that I cry and get worried!” Think!
Think, Usopp, think!
“…I have to hide it!” I rushed to the sea.
Splashed water on my face.
Then, I rolled in the sand.
“Perfect.” If I looked messy, she’d focus on that instead of my crying.
“…Genius!” I nodded proudly.
“Sometimes my genius, it’s almost frightening.” Future great captain material.
No doubt about it.
I ran home.
“Mom, I’m home!” I shouted with forced cheer.
“Welcome ho—Kyaa!
Usopp!
You’re covered in sand!” Yes!
That was a great response!
“Hehehe,” I grinned smugly.
“The sandcastle war was intense.” “…Sandcastle war?” “Yes!
The enemy was strong.
But Captain Usopp led his troops to victory!” “…You were alone, weren’t you?” “…It was a solo mission.” She sighed.
But she smiled.
“Go wash yourself.
Cleaning the floor will be another war.” “Yes, ma’am!” I dashed to the well.
“…Haah…” The moment I was out of her sight, my smile dropped.
“…This is hard.” Every time I looked at her, my chest hurt, but I couldn’t show it.
I washed myself and took my time.
“…Calm down.” By the time I returned, I had my usual expression back.
Lunch passed.
Then afternoon.
Then evening.
I laughed, talked, acted normal.
Like nothing was wrong.
I’m amazing.
Honestly, I deserved an award.
“Best Actor in a Tragic Childhood Role.” Yeah.
I’d win that.
But at night, everything fell apart.
I lay in bed, pretending to sleep.
Then, the door creaked open.
“…Mom?” She sat beside me, gently.
Her hand patted my head.
Soft, warm.
“…Usopp.” My chest tightened.
“You cried a lot today.” “…!” Busted.
“You must’ve missed your dad.” “…Yeah.” That wasn’t it, but I couldn’t say the truth.
“I know you go to the coast often.” Her voice was gentle.
But there was something else.
Regret.
“I’m sorry.” “…!” “I was the one who told him to go.” My heart clenched.
“It was his dream… to sail freely.” “…Mom…” “I didn’t want to hold him back.” Her hand paused for a moment, then continued.
“You might not understand now.” “…I understand.” Although I was still pissed at him.
“But one day, you will.” “…Yeah.” “So don’t hate your dad.” “…I won’t.” That wasn’t a promise.
“Even if people say bad things about him…” “…I won’t.” As they should.
“He’s a kind man.” “…I know.” Is he now?
“He’s brave.” “…I know.” Well, that’s true.
“And I hope…” Her voice softened.
“You’ll become someone kind and brave too.” “…I will.” Not like him though.
Silence.
“I-I’m asleep, so I can’t hear you.” … … … “…Hahaha.” She laughed softly.
“Of course you can’t.” Her hand rested on my cheek.
It’s warm.
Then, she gave me a kiss on the cheek.
“…Good night, Usopp.” The door closed.
Silence returned.
“…This is cruel.” Tears slid down my face.
“…This is too cruel.” If someone gave me these memories, then why now?
Why not later?
After she was gone?
“…Why make me go through this?” I bit my lip.
“…If I can’t change anything…” Then this was just torture.
“…I hate this.” At some point, I fell asleep, and I dreamed.
I was in the forest, picking plants, and cooking them into soup.
Mom was there, smiling.
She was healthy.
“…Eat more.” She laughed.
She got better, stronger, healthier.
“…This is nice.” This was what I wanted.
A normal life.
A happy family.
“…Please stay like this.” It won’t, it was just a dream.
When I woke up, reality returned.
Of course.
But the dream stayed clear in my mind.
“…Maybe…” For a second, I had hope.
“…No.” I shook my head.
“I’m not some chosen saint with prophetic dreams.” I was just— “Usopp.” A liar.
I stared at the ceiling.
“…Then what can I do?” Think!
Think!
Think!
“…Nothing.” The answer came easily.
Too easily.
“…I can’t save her.” My fists clenched.
“…But…” A thought formed.
“…I can make her happy.” If I couldn’t change the ending, then at least, “I’ll change the journey.” I sat up.
“…Yeah.” I nodded.
“I’ll make sure she has no regrets.” The next morning, I smiled.
“Good morning, Mom!” “Good morning.” We ate together, like always.
But this time, I didn’t leave her behind.
“Let’s go play!” “…Play?” “Yeah!
Together!” She hesitated.
“…Is that okay?” “It’s more than okay!” I grabbed her hand.
“Come on!” “…Wait, let me lock the door!” We went to the beach, feeling the warm sunlight and the cool sea breeze.
“…This is nice.” We built sandcastles.
“Behold!
The great fortress of Captain Usopp!” “…It’s leaning.” “It’s strategically angled!” “…It collapsed.” “…It’s designed as a decoy.” She laughed.
And for a moment, I forgot about my worries as we played.
“Watch this!” I threw rocks.
I hit the target.
“…Amazing!” “Heh.
Of course.
I’m a legendary sniper, you know.” “At six years old?” “Bow in the presence of this prodigy.” She laughed again.
That’s good.
That happy laugh, that’s what I wanted to hear.
The day passed quickly.
She was smiling a lot today That was enough.
For now.
That night, Dinner tasted better.
This is nice.
But when I slept, the dream returned.
It was even clearer now, and more detailed.
Furthermore, it felt even more real.