6: 6.
Usopp’s Ultimate Training Regimen (100% Totally Not Playing Around!) 6: 6.
Usopp’s Ultimate Training Regimen (100% Totally Not Playing Around!) = Usopp’s POV = Although my mom had gotten much better, she hadn’t fully healed yet.
That meant one thing.
The herbs still had to be consumed, every day, no exceptions.
Even if she said she was fine already.
Even if she smiled and told me not to worry.
Even if she tried to sneak out without telling me— —which she definitely still tried to do sometimes.
I narrowed my eyes at her as she watered the plants in our field.
“…Mom.” I called as I creeped behind her.
She flinched slightly.
“Kyaa!
That scared me.
Yes?
What is it, honey?” “You’re not thinking of skipping the herbs, right?” “Of course not,” she said with a gentle smile.
“I know how important they are.” I stared at her for a few more seconds.
Then nodded.
“…Good.” I couldn’t afford to be careless.
Not when it came to her.
Today, the doctor came to our house.
Not because my mom was sick again.
But because of the plants.
The moment he stepped into our field, he stopped walking.
“…These are the ones?” His tone had changed.
Less casual.
More serious.
My mom nodded.
“Yes, doctor.” He slowly crouched down, examining the plants one by one.
His fingers carefully brushed over the leaves, his eyes scanning every detail like he was afraid to miss something important.
“…Impossible,” he muttered.
Ah, there it was.
The reaction of someone whose understanding of the world had just been challenged.
I crossed my arms and puffed my chest slightly.
“Well, of course,” I said proudly.
“These are extremely rare herbs that only someone as great as me could—” “How did you know these plants had medicinal properties?” …And there it was.
The interruption.
Always the interruption.
No respect for a man’s moment.
My mom looked at me.
“I don’t know,” she said honestly.
“My son collected them.” The doctor’s gaze shifted toward me.
Sharp.
Focused.
A little intimidating.
But I had faced worse.
Like when my mom caught me lying.
That was true fear.
“I don’t know either,” I said, scratching my cheek.
“I just knew they were edible.” Which was true because I only knew them from my dreams.
I’ve seen them before when I walked on the forest’s outskirts, but never thought of eating them.
“I’ve never even read a medical book.” The doctor frowned slightly.
“…Then how—” “Do you think it’s strange?” I cut in.
“If my mom knew, she’d already be a doctor.
If I knew… how could I know if she doesn’t?” He paused, thought, and nodded.
No way to counter that logic.
“I only heard from the villagers that they were edible,” I added casually.
“They’ve known that for a while.” That part was slightly true.
Villagers knew some of these plants.
They just never bothered to eat these “weeds” because they had decent food.
“…So it was a coincidence?” he asked slowly.
“Obviously,” I replied without hesitation.
He studied my face.
Probably looking for cracks, for hesitation, for signs that I was hiding something.
Too bad for him.
I had more than 20 years of experience— Okay, maybe not 20 years in this life.
But still, talent is talent.
“…I see.” He finally gave up.
“…That makes sense.” Victory!
Clean and simple.
Still, he didn’t leave immediately.
Instead, he carefully picked samples of each plant, placing them into a small bag he brought.
“I’ll study these,” he said.
“If they truly have medicinal properties, this could be very important.” I nodded.
“Yeah.
They’re amazing.” I meant that.
Everyone could see it.
My mom was the living proof.
He paid us for the samples.
Not a lot, but enough.
If these plants were confirmed to be valuable, then things might change.
Not just for us, but for the whole village.
After he left, the field felt quieter.
The wind rustled the leaves gently.
I stared at the plants for a while.
“…You guys better keep working,” I muttered.
Because I wasn’t taking any chances.
That night, something changed.
The same repeating dreams stopped.
I opened my eyes in the darkness.
No familiar scene.
No quiet moments.
No shared meals.
Just silence.
“…Huh?” I blinked and waited.
I closed my eyes again.
Nothing.
A strange feeling settled in my chest.
Not fear.
But something close to it.
“Did I mess something up?” I whispered.
My mom wasn’t fully healed yet.
So why stop now?
For a moment, I lay there, staring into the darkness.
Then, sleep took me again, and a new dream began.
This one was different.
Completely different.
I was running, jumping, climbing, moving through obstacles.
Trees, bushes, rocks, ponds, cliffs, uneven ground.
It was like a playground.
But not the kind kids usually played in.
This one was… wild, natural, unpredictable.
I moved without stopping.
My body was reacting, adjusting, learning.
There were also tools.
Ropes tied between trees, wooden platforms, swings, even things that bounced under my feet.
And somehow, I understood.
Not just how to use them.
But how to make them.
“…This…” This wasn’t just exercise.
This was training.
Real training.
Not for strength alone.
But for control, balance, awareness, for survival.
When I woke up, my body felt… the same.
I didn’t get stronger in the slightest.
That was just a dream, after all.
To get stronger, I had to train in real life.
Those training regimes, had to try them.
“…Let’s try it.” I couldn’t do everything at once.
So I started with something simple.
Jumping on one foot from my house to the edge of the village.
Easy.
Too easy.
I hopped forward steadily, keeping balance, controlling my breathing, matching rhythm.
“…What are you doing?” I glanced sideways.
Some kids were watching me with curiosity and confusement.
“I’m testing something,” I said.
“Seeing if I can reach the village border like this.” One of them snorted.
“Heh.
That’s easy.
I can do it faster.” Ah.
There it was.
I stopped, turned, and looked at him.
“Oh?” A small grin crept onto my face.
“Then let’s race.” “…Huh?” “To the village border.” The others perked up immediately.
“A race?” “Sounds fun!” “I’m in!” And just like that, it turned into a competition.
We lined up.
One leg raised.
Faces serious.
“Ready?” “Go!” We hopped as fast as we could.
Some had clumsy and unsteady start.
Someone fell immediately.
Others lasted a bit longer.
I focused on my balance and rhythm, trying to not waste any movements.
The dream.
I remembered the dream.
Gradually, the group thinned until only two remained.
Me and the boy who challenged me.
“…You’re still going?” he muttered.
“You too.” Our pace matched.
Our breathing grew heavy.
My leg muscles started to burn, but I didn’t stop.
The finish line came into view.
Just a little more.
Then, he slowed.
I pushed forward, ignoring the pain, and crossed first.
Victory for the great Captain Usopp!
“…Damn it!” he groaned.
“I won’t lose next time!” I grinned.
“You were good.” His name was Bucky.
The others were Ghimli, Plats, and Sven.
We knew each other, but never really played together before because I didn’t really play with anyone.
“…You have more challenges?” Bucky asked, still catching his breath.
“Yeah,” I said, then paused.
“…But tomorrow.” Because my leg felt like it was about to fall off.
He nodded.
“…Agreed.” When I got home, I walked like a newborn goat.
My mom laughed.
When I told her I played with others, she smiled softly.
That smile stayed with me longer than I expected.
The next day, we continued.
We had a tree climbing competition.
And this time, I lost.
Not to Bucky, but to Sven.
He climbed like he was born in the trees.
Fast, smooth, effortless.
Even after multiple tries, he still won.
“…You’re a monkey,” I muttered.
“SHUT IT!” We laughed.
Then we made a course.
We drew lines on the ground, placed rocks, branches, and random obstacles.
We ran on the course, jumped through the obstacles, fell, got back up, and ran again.
It was simple, but fun.
And as we played, I realized something.
Maybe the dream wasn’t just about training.
Maybe, it was also helping me connect with others.
“…Not bad.” Days passed.
My body changed.
Not in size, but in feeling.
Stronger, faster, more responsive.
And they noticed.
“We’re doing the same things,” Bucky said.
“So why are you getting stronger than us?” “Yeah, that’s weird,” Plats added.
Sven narrowed his eyes.
“Are you training secretly?” I smirked.
Perfect timing.
“Heh.
That’s because,” I said dramatically, “I eat good things.” “…What?” “Good things?” They stared at me.
“…You didn’t share?” “Traitor!” “We never made any vows,” I said calmly.
“…Oh.” Silence.
Then “WHAT KIND OF FOOD?!” they shouted.
I leaned closer.
Lowered my voice.
“…Vegetables.” They recoiled.
“…No way.” “…That’s disgusting.” “…You eat those?” “Ew..” I sighed.
“Pathetic,” I smirked.
“I heard from your moms that you cry when eating vegetables.” “WHAT?!” “I DON’T CRY!” “Oh?” I said, looking down at them.
“Then prove it.” Bucky stepped forward, determined.
“Fine!
Tomorrow—I’ll eat the same vegetables as you!” The others hesitated.
Then— “…Me too.” “…I’ll try.” “…I won’t lose.” I turned away dramatically.
“Heh.
I’ll be waiting.” As I walked home, I could almost hear epic music playing behind me.
Mission complete.
If they ate those herbs, they’d get stronger, and their families would have it a little easier.
I glanced back once, at my new friends before looking forward again.
“…Not bad.” A small grin formed on my face.
“Captain Usopp…” I muttered.
“…saving the village’s future generation with vegetables.” CREATORS’ THOUGHTS HolyRice_kun Thank you for your support.