At the top of the castle…
Chopper sat alone, hugging his knees, deep in thought.
"It's so quiet now… I guess they've stopped chasing me."
He looked up at the cherry blossom skull flag fluttering in the moonlight, recalling a conversation from long ago with his foster father, Dr. Hiriluk.
"Doctor, what exactly is a pirate?"
"A pirate? A pirate is someone powerful out on the sea! They've got strong bodies, sharp eyes like mine, and voices that boom like thunder!"
"Doctor, you've got some sleep in your eye…"
"Hey! Chopper! Why didn't you tell me that sooner?! You did that on purpose, didn't you?!"
"Hehehe…"
Chopper blinked his large round eyes, his mind wandering back to what happened earlier that day.
Shirogai had crouched down, handing him a carefully prepared dose of medicine and gently patting his cheek.
"Chopper, how about becoming the Straw Hat Pirates' doctor?"
"Huh? But Shirogai San, don't you already have a doctor on board? Why ask me to join?"
"Maybe it's just for the gesture. Honestly, I'm not a real doctor. I've never had any lofty ideals about saving lives. Even if someone collapsed right in front of me, I'd probably just step over them if I wasn't in the mood."
"Shirogai San! That's terrible!"
"Hmph, maybe. But I've never considered myself a doctor—just someone who knows medicine. What if someone gets sick one day and I don't feel like treating them?
That's why this ship needs someone like you. Someone with Dr. Hiriluk's spirit and Dr. Kureha's skill."
"You're so… willful."
Chopper recalled Shirogai's expression as he spoke and muttered softly to himself:
"Shirogai San is really so willful… Shouldn't great medical skills always be used to help people?"
"Reindeer! Join us! Come sail the seas!"
Chopper then thought of the two weird guys who had been chasing him all day.
They called themselves pirates and couldn't stop smiling.
"Hey Reindeer! Being a pirate is awesome! You get to sing! Dance! Go on wild adventures!"
"Do pirates really go on adventures like that? Just like the Doctor used to talk about?"
"Doctor? Who's that? Anyway, of course they do! Pirates risk everything for adventure! And you'll meet loads of strong people too!"
"…That's what the Doctor used to say…"
"…"
But now, after a long silence, Chopper didn't hear them anymore. The voices had faded away.
He hung his head slightly, whispering to himself:
"Guess they gave up…"
Rustle.
The flag fluttered in the wind.
Chopper looked up and, in the moonlight, imagined Dr. Hiriluk smiling down at him:
"You should sail too, Chopper! Out on the sea, you'll realize how small your troubles really are!"
Chopper shook his head, trying to scatter the lingering thoughts.
"Doctor… it's peaceful now. No one's bothering me. I'm just a monster, and yet… I still dream of going to sea."
"Monster? That's a word I know well."
A voice rang out suddenly behind him.
"Wha!!"
Chopper flailed in a panic, nearly tumbling off the roof. He managed to latch onto a groove just in time.
"Who's there?!"
He turned around cautiously and saw Shirogai standing there calmly, smiling.
"Shirogai San…"
Shirogai walked over and sat beside him.
"Just taking a walk, Chopper. Pretend I'm not here."
"…Okay."
Chopper blinked and slowly scooted to the side, widening the distance between them.
Shirogai didn't speak further. He simply gazed up at the full moon.
"…"
When Chopper noticed the silence dragging on, he also looked up at the moon, growing confused.
Was Shirogai trying to convince him to join the crew?
He remembered how Shirogai had defeated Wapol and Mushuru earlier in the day. That scene still lingered in his mind—how the two combined forces couldn't even touch him.
Chopper had fought Dalton once—who had the power of the Ox-Ox Fruit: Bison Form—and even then, he was no match.
Yet Shirogai had taken down both Wapol and Mushuru without breaking a sweat.
"Shirogai San is… incredibly strong."
Still, Chopper found it strange. He couldn't sense the aura of a powerful fighter from that ever-smiling face.
Back in the wild, powerful animals could be judged by their looks. Chopper was still influenced by that instinct.
"Hey, Reindeer! Come be a pirate with us! I'm not giving up!"
Suddenly, a voice echoed from below, breaking the silence.
"Huh?"
Chopper peeked down from the castle rooftop. A small dot below was hopping up and down.
"He's lying… he's still searching for me!"
Chopper panicked and bounced in place.
"Luffy doesn't give up. He's… persistent."
Shirogai smiled, still looking upward.
Chopper turned to him.
"Go give Luffy your answer—whether it's yes or no."
"…Alright."
Chopper hesitated, then stood and prepared to climb down.
But just before he moved, Shirogai said one more thing:
"Chopper… I've been called a monster too—by people who feared me.
So, here's my advice. If enemies call you a monster, that's a sign of fear. That's a badge of honor.
If your friends call you a monster, that means they admire your strength.
And if random strangers call you a monster… who cares what they think?"
Chopper paused, stunned. He turned and looked at Shirogai, then nodded gratefully.
"…Thank you, Monster Doctor."
…
As Chopper began hopping down level by level, Shirogai looked back up at the moon, his smile growing.
"Another crewmate."
…
Down below.
When Chopper finally appeared, Luffy raised his hand and called out joyfully:
"Hey, Chopper! You coming to be a pirate?!"
Chopper lowered his head, his voice trembling:
"I'm really thankful that you invited me… but I'm a reindeer. I've got hooves, antlers… and a blue nose!"
Luffy said nothing, just watched him calmly.
Chopper suddenly raised his head and shouted:
"I want to join you! But I'm not human—I'm a monster! Monsters like me can't be your crew, right?!"
Nami stood silently at the castle entrance, watching him tremble.
"…"
Sanji stood quietly, cigarette in hand, nursing a sore waist.
"…"
Usopp clenched his fists, teeth gritted, not saying a word.
Seeing their reactions, Chopper's voice grew more unsteady:
"Thank you… all of you. But I'll stay here. If fate lets us meet again, I'll come running.
If you ever miss me… just come back here…"
"SO ANNOYING!!!"
Luffy's voice roared out, cutting him off.
"Come with us!!"
Nami, Sanji, and Usopp shouted together:
"That's right—come with us!"
"…"
Chopper froze. Tears filled his eyes, and he bit his lip hard.
Then, a hand rested warmly on his hat, and a familiar voice spoke:
"Chopper… look. They don't care what you are.
So come with us."
"Shirogai San…!"
Chopper looked up at him. The dam broke.
He leapt into Shirogai's arms, crying loudly.
"Waaahh—waaahh—waaahhh!!!"
He sobbed uncontrollably, all his past grief and loneliness pouring out at once.
Tears soaked into Shirogai's coat—the same coat untouched by enemy blood.
And in that moment, Chopper finally understood…
This is what it feels like… to have a family.
To have crewmates.
To have nakama.
---
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