"Rayleigh, Gaban, why the long faces? What's wrong?"
Roger noticed his two closest companions had been unusually quiet, heads bowed, ever since they set sail.
They had just recruited Kozuki Oden and his family from the Whitebeard Pirates.
Roger was in a great mood. He originally thought Rayleigh and Gabban would understand, but seeing their somber expressions, he couldn't figure out what they were thinking.
"It's nothing."
"Yeah, nothing."
The two of them shook their heads in response.
"I know you two might not fully accept Oden yet, but he's a good man," Roger said with a grin.
"Roger…"
"What is it, Rayleigh?"
"No...never mind."
"Are you sure?"
"We'll tell you a year from now."
"Alright then."
Roger, much like Whitebeard, trusted his crewmates. Since Rayleigh and Gabban didn't want to say anything, he decided to wait a year.
Rayleigh and Gabban exchanged glances and saw the fear in each other's eyes.
The future.
A man from the future had told them what was to come.
No matter how strong one's will, such knowledge was unsettling. Who wouldn't want to know their own fate?
The power to foresee the future.
Someone who had come from the future.
Seeing Roy's eyes that seemed to disregard everything, and how Whitebeard immediately agreed to let Oden sail with them just because of one sentence from Roy, it showed how much Whitebeard trusted him.
They had already found out almost everything: Roy was Whitebeard's first companion. He wasn't strong in battle, but he managed the crew's finances and operations perfectly.
In their eyes, Roy wasn't weak.
He was terrifying.
Never had they encountered Observation Haki so overwhelming it could suppress their own and cut off their senses.
Gabban had experienced it himself. Being used to fighting with Observation Haki, he felt completely lost without it, like being blind.
"If a year from now, things really happen like he said, then we'll tell Roger," Rayleigh said.
"Yeah."
They kept their secret from Roger. Roger, after a brief moment of contemplation, threw Oden a party on the deck of the ship.
"Can't let go, huh?"
Watching Roger's ship sail away, Whitebeard sat with Roy beside him.
"Just like you said, fate can't be changed, huh? Even if I hadn't agreed, I think Oden would have snuck away, just like when he left Wano," Whitebeard said.
"Yes. A grander adventure lured him. He'd leave the Whitebeard Pirates without hesitation. Like you said, he's not the kind of man who stays beneath others, he only joined us to sail the seas," Roy replied.
"That kind of hurts," Whitebeard scowled, the ache in his chest deepening.
"What's there to feel bad about? Aren't we all just passing through? Like you asked, I'm not changing anything, I'm letting things happen as they should," Roy said.
"Until I die?" Whitebeard asked.
"Yeah."
"Thanks, Roy."
"No need to thank me. Between the two of us, there's no need for 'thank you'."
"Gurararara… I really don't like the current you."
"Why not?"
"Your existence makes me feel like I'm just waiting to die."
"Can anyone live without dying?"
"Nope."
"Exactly. So ignore my existence. Live every day well, and enjoy life. Look at your many sons and daughters, just enjoy it all."
"Seriously… it's not a good feeling," Whitebeard said gloomily.
"Oh, and... this is the last time you'll see him," Roy said as he stood up.
"You mean…"
"You know what I mean."
Whitebeard felt deeply hurt. The knowledge weighed heavily. Ignorance had been kinder.
The position of 2nd Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates was now empty. As the most formidable blade of the crew, losing that sword made the ship feel much quieter.
Back when Oden was around, the ship was always lively, especially whenever they reached a new island, where Oden would always do something reckless and cause all kinds of trouble.
Now that Oden was gone, the liveliness vanished, and everyone's spirits dimmed.
"Have you seen Inuarashi and Nekomamushi?" Izo searched the ship but couldn't find the dog and cat.
"They snuck aboard Roger's ship," Roy said.
"What?!!"
"Even the dog and cat left?"
"Those two bastards didn't even say goodbye."
"Just like before, they ran off without a word."
Whitebeard sighed. Sure enough, some people just can't be held back.
The adventures continued. The Whitebeard Pirates traveled the world, with more and more enemies, but they defeated them all.
Many people voluntarily joined them and became part of the crew.
Whitebeard accepted almost everyone, especially orphans.
A year later, shocking news spread around the world:
The Roger Pirates had reached the final destination and found the legendary treasure.
Gol D. Roger had become the Pirate King. His middle initial "D" was quietly removed by the World Government, and he became known as "Gold Roger."
On an island covered in cherry blossoms, Roger met Whitebeard again.
"Newgate, I've been waiting for you." Roger wasn't wearing his hat, holding a bottle of wine, standing on the island, waiting for Whitebeard.
"Roger, are you alone?" Whitebeard asked.
"Yes. I disbanded the crew," Roger said.
"Why?"
"Because it's not the right time. You have a crewmate named Roy, right? Can I meet him?"
Under the cherry blossom tree, the three sat on the ground. Roy looked like a normal person, just a bit over 180 cm tall, and only 22 years old.
"Rayleigh and Gabban told me. So… is everything truly destined?" Roger asked Roy.
"Do you want to change it?" Roy replied calmly.
"I want to know, will the future really be born?"
"You're talking about the prophecy from Fish-Man Island, right?"
"You even know about the prophecy?"
"Yes."
"Then… do you know if I'll have a child in the future?"
"Yes."
"That's great! Hahahaha! That's all I need."
"Newgate, do you want the One Piece? I can tell you what it is."
"I'm not interested. That's not my dream."
"The future is fascinating, Newgate. It's a shame we appeared in the wrong era. If only… forget it, I won't live to see it. Crocus told me I have a few months left. I just want to know was what I did… the right thing?"
"I don't know. That's for you to decide. You don't have much time left."
"Alright then. Such a pity, not being able to see what comes next. Your existence really makes people feel uneasy. No wonder Rayleigh and Gabban were always worried. Newgate, being crewmates with someone like him must be exhausting."
Whitebeard looked at Roy and nodded: "It is. But it's also... very reassuring."
"I'll let you two catch up, I won't spoil the mood." Roy stood, vanishing into the falling petals.