Some time later, on the pirate ship's deck…
"You look pretty down, Raki. Did something happen?"
Robin looked at the dejected Raki, who had just come back down to the deck, and asked in confusion.
"After I went up to the lookout, all I did was stand by the window the whole time."
Pouting, Raki shot a resentful glance toward Arton, who was standing not too far away with one hand on his hip as he stretched, and Ain, who was smiling while massaging his back for him.
A light laugh escaped Robin.
"There's no need to be that disappointed. You already got a 'gift' from Captain Arton before, didn't you? There are a lot of us on this ship—there's no way it'll be your turn every single time. Look at me. I didn't get one from Captain earlier either."
As she spoke, Robin patted Raki on the shoulder.
"You're right. If I'm going to sail with Captain Arton, I should probably get used to that side of him sooner rather than later."
Raki nodded.
"Exactly. We've got a long time ahead of us. Come on, let's go keep Captain Arton, Ain, and Aisa company."
With that, Robin started walking toward Arton.
Raki hurried after her.
…
"…So, did you remember everything I taught you about Observation Haki, Aisa?"
Sitting cross-legged on the deck, Arton looked at the girl in front of him and asked.
"I remembered it all, Captain Arton."
Aisa raised her hand as she answered.
"You don't have to call me Captain. If you really want to use an honorific because you respect me, then just call me Arton-sensei."
Arton shook his head.
"Okay, Arton-sensei."
After thinking about it for a moment, Aisa finally nodded.
But then, almost immediately, she asked curiously, "Arton-sensei, when are you planning to leave Skypiea?"
At that question, Raki, Ain, and Robin all turned to look at Arton with interest.
They had all been curious about the same thing. They just hadn't found the chance to ask yet.
Theoretically, Robin and the others wanted Arton to stay on Skypiea a little longer.
This place seemed safe, with no real dangers around.
The only thing that had qualified as a threat—Enel—had already been dealt with.
But it only took one bad turn for things to change.
Before coming to Skypiea, Arton had fought an Admiral.
There was no guarantee the Marines wouldn't send someone capable of free flight up ten thousand meters into the sky to check things out.
And if that turned into a full-scale clash between the Flameblade Pirates and the Marines on Skypiea, that would be a situation neither Arton's side nor the sky island itself would want.
Arton had clearly already thought about that too.
"Once Nami and the others get back, I think it'll be about time for us to leave."
"That sucks. If you leave, there won't be anyone left to teach me Mantra—no, I mean Observation Haki."
Aisa puffed out her cheeks, looking openly disappointed.
Under Arton's guidance just now, she had genuinely felt herself improving a lot.
If possible, of course she wanted him to teach her more.
A gentle smile crossed Arton's face.
"There's no need to be so disappointed, little Aisa. I've already taught you everything I needed to teach you. As long as you practice the way I told you to, your Observation Haki will naturally grow stronger."
Chapter 627: Raki Was Already Standing by My Side
"Thanks, big brother Arton. I hope I can come play with you again sometime."
Aisa waved at Arton with a bright smile on her face.
"Yeah, I'll come back to Skypiea someday. When I do, I'll check how well you've mastered Observation Haki, so don't go slacking off, little Aisa."
Smiling, Arton reached out and ruffled her hair.
"Mhm, I definitely won't slack off."
Aisa nodded hard.
Until now, she had always been figuring out Observation Haki on her own.
But at the end of the day, she had never had a good method.
All she could do was train by instinct.
Now she finally had someone like Arton—someone who could actually explain a proper, systematic way to train Observation Haki, and who was even willing to guide her.
There was no way Aisa would reject an offer like that.
If anything, she wished Arton would pay her even more attention.
That way, she could grow even more.
If she had been stronger before, maybe she could have helped when they fought Enel.
"Good."
Arton nodded and stood up.
"Aisa, you've stayed here long enough. I'll walk you back now," Raki said as she came over.
"No need." Aisa shook her head.
"Huh? Why not?" Raki looked confused.
In the past, Aisa had never refused her in situations like this.
So why was she acting differently today?
"Because you probably have a lot you want to say to Arton, right? I can go back by myself."
Aisa smiled at Raki as she said it.
Even though she was still very young, Aisa had Observation Haki.
That made her especially sensitive to things like the way Raki looked at Arton.
And there was clearly something unusual in that gaze.
Aisa had only ever seen that kind of look among married couples in the Shandian tribe.
Because of that, she had every reason to believe Raki liked Arton—maybe even wanted to become husband and wife with him.
So Aisa felt it was better to give Raki and Arton more time together.
"I do have a lot I want to say to Captain Arton, but that doesn't mean I can't walk you back too," Raki said with a smile.
"What's the problem? Enel's gone already, so there's nothing dangerous about me heading back alone," Aisa said, still shaking her head. She really did want Raki to stay by Arton's side.
"That may be true, but there's no telling whether some of Enel's leftover followers might still try something. So let Raki take you back, Aisa. That way, I can relax too."
Arton paused, then continued, "And just like Raki said, once she sails out with me, she'll be by my side most of the time anyway. So you don't need to worry about cutting into the time I spend with her."
Arton looked at little Aisa with amused eyes.
Raki might not have noticed, but for someone like Arton—someone whose Observation Haki had already reached an advanced level—it wasn't hard to pick up on what was odd about Aisa.
Little Aisa was very obviously trying to play matchmaker between him and Raki.
What she didn't know, though, was that in a certain sense, Raki was already standing right there by his side.