"The yard in front of Montblanc Cricket's house was filled with laughter, clinking glasses, and the lingering smell of Yuuto's cooking in the air.
The little celebration was warm—bathed in moonlight.
In one spot, Luffy was sitting beside Yuuto and Yamato.
"Ooh! So you guys are Ace's friends?" Luffy asked while stuffing some random food into his mouth.
Yuuto pointed at Yamato.
"More accurately, Yamato is Ace's friend."
Yamato nodded enthusiastically.
"Yeah! He once stopped by my country. We became friends."
Luffy laughed wide.
"Shishishishi! Then that means you're my friends too!"
"You're really stupid for trusting people that fast," Yuuto said flatly.
But Yuuto's fae eyes saw something only a fae could see—the absolute truth inside Luffy's heart.
Luffy shrugged.
"Shishishi! People say I'm stupid all the time!"
The three of them kept talking, as if they'd been friends for years.
Is there something wrong with my fae eyes? Why is this guy so honest? Yuuto thought after talking so much with Luffy.
Nami was sitting with Kuroneko and Miku. Usopp and Chopper sat a bit farther away, watching them.
"Look, Kuroneko," Miku said, pointing at Chopper. "He looks like a raccoon."
"I'm not a raccoon!! I'm a reindeer!!" Chopper yelled.
"Ah~ cute raccoon. Want some candy?"
Miku pulled out cotton candy like a magic trick.
"Cotton candy!!" Chopper grabbed it immediately.
Nami tilted her head, examining their clothes.
"…I didn't expect you guys to be pirates."
Kuroneko looked at her.
"Oh? Why don't you believe we're pirates, Nami?"
"You all look like nobles. We once traveled with a princess, so I kinda know the signs."
Miku giggled.
"Maybe you're right."
"By the way, where did you buy those outfits? They're really nice," Nami asked, staring at Miku's and Kuroneko's clothes.
"Well, we bought them in Mock Town," Miku replied.
More like… they were forced to give them to us because they were terrified, Kuroneko muttered in her mind.
They kept chatting while Usopp and Chopper whispered to each other.
"Usopp-san… what are they talking about…?"
"Girl talk. Let's not get in the way."
So they crawled off toward Luffy.
Zoro watched Yuuto from a distance. His gaze never left the overly-strong foreign captain.
Sanji arrived carrying drinks.
"Avalon-chan~ here's your drink," he said suavely.
"Oh, thank you. I was just getting thirsty," Lady Avalon replied with a small smile.
"You're welcome, Avalon-chan~"
Zoro snorted in disgust.
"Attack."
Sanji turned instantly. "What did you say, marimo?"
"Your ears not working, curly-brow?"
They were about to start arguing again—but Lady Avalon's light voice cut in.
"Ohh… so this sword's curse brings death to its wielder, huh?"
Zoro snapped his head toward her.
"Since when—?!"
He touched his waist and realized one of his swords was gone.
"Give it back."
Zoro lunged—
Lady Avalon merely shifted half a step.
THUMP!
Zoro hit the ground like a sack of rice.
Luffy burst into laughter.
"HAHAHAHA! Zoro, you're such an idiot!"
Zoro struggled, trying to get up, but—
tok
Merlin's staff pinned his head to the ground.
"That's far enough. I just wanted to check out your sword," Lady Avalon said casually.
Pfft—
Sanji tried not to laugh, then lost it.
"Hahahaha! You're being toyed with, marimo!"
I… can't move?! Zoro thought, shocked.
Yuuto sighed.
"Sensei, stop messing with him."
"Oh come now, my student. I just wanted to study this sword."
"If you don't stop, I won't cook for you anymore."
Lady Avalon went quiet for five seconds.
Then—like a cat that just got sprayed with water—
"…Hmph. Fine."
She returned Zoro's sword.
Yuuto let out a satisfied breath while Zoro lay there, questioning his life.
---
The campfire flickered gently in front of Robin and Irene. They sat side by side on a fallen log, the flames casting soft shadows across their faces.
Robin started the conversation in a calm but analytical tone.
"What is your goal?"
Irene didn't answer immediately. She looked up at the night sky for a moment, then spoke lightly.
"Our goal? You could say we're hunting someone, and doing a few other things along the way."
Robin leaned in a little.
"Who are you hunting?"
Irene gave a thin smile—cold, elegant, so very her.
"Secret."
Robin didn't push further. Her eyes returned to watching Yuuto's group, trying to read their dynamics.
"You all seem strong… but I've never heard of your crew. With a ship that big, you should already be famous."
Irene actually chuckled quietly.
Before she could answer, Montblanc, Masira, and Shoujou walked up behind them.
"Who are you people really? Did you also come to go after the gold on this island?" Montblanc asked, slightly wary.
Irene turned and gave a faintly mocking smile.
"Gold? I'm not tempted. We…"
Her gaze drifted toward Yuuto, who was casually chatting with Luffy.
"We're just looking for some fun on this adventure. So relax—we're not going to hurt you."
Robin watched Irene again.
"…Adventure, huh," Robin murmured.
Montblanc let out a relieved sigh.
"Good to hear that."
He then walked away.
Belfast came over carrying a tray.
"Sir, your food."
"Oh, thank you, Belfast," Yuuto said as he accepted it with a small smile. "Please, have a seat and enjoy the party."
"Yes, sir," Belfast replied, then sat next to him—graceful as always.
Yuuto had just taken a sip of his drink when Luffy shouted,
"Yuuto, I wanna go aboard your ship!"
Yuuto laughed softly.
"Sure, but later. Enjoy the party first."
"Shishishi~ okay!"
Suddenly Luffy tilted his head.
"But why do you always wear that hood? I haven't seen your face yet."
Yuuto flinched a little.
"Ah… that. I have my reasons. I don't want to cause trouble."
Luffy clicked his tongue in his usual carefree way.
"Oh! Is it because your face is ugly?"
"It's not that!" Yuuto sighed deeply.
He glanced around, checking if anyone was paying attention, but no one was; everyone was busy with their own things.
That's when Yuuto muttered,
"…All right. I'll take it off. But don't be shocked."
He raised his hand…
Pulled back his hood—
And pop.
Total silence.
The entire yard went dead quiet.
Usopp and Chopper, who were closest, gaped—
their cups and food dropped to the ground at the exact same time.
Zoro, who'd been about to drink, froze with his glass halfway up.
Sanji—the one who would normally scream "WOMAAAAAN!!"—
just opened and closed his mouth like a fish out of water.
Robin stayed silent, but her eyes widened a fraction—a very rare reaction.
Nami covered her mouth with her hand.
Lady Avalon lifted an eyebrow as if to say, See?
Yuuto froze for a heartbeat.
"…Damn."
He hurriedly pulled his hood back up, hiding his face again.
But it was too late.
All the Straw Hats stared at him—speechless, unblinking.
Silence still wrapped the yard in Montblanc's place even after Yuuto covered his face again.
Only after a few seconds did Luffy's innocent voice break the air.
"Why is everyone so quiet?"
Usopp instantly pointed at Luffy with a frustrated face.
"L-Luffy! You're not stunned by Yuuto's face just now!?"
Luffy tilted his head.
"Eh? What do you mean? I thought he looked… pretty normal."
The entire Straw Hat crew facepalmed at the same time.
Lady Avalon chuckled, cupping her cheek.
"Oh~ even fae charm doesn't work on him. Is he too stupid, or… something else?"
Yuuto folded his arms.
"I forgot he's the guy who stayed completely normal even when he saw Boa Hancock naked."
Luffy laughed again, completely unfazed.
"Shishishi! Forget that, let's keep partying!"
But then someone stepped forward.
Heavy footsteps, sharp aura—Zoro.
Yuuto turned, and their eyes met.
Zoro asked bluntly,
"Are you a swordsman?"
Yuuto smiled from beneath his hood.
"Yeah. Why? Want to fight?"
Zoro shook his head.
"No. I just… want to see your sword."
Yuuto pretended to think, then nodded.
"You wanna inspect it?"
"May I?"
Yuuto smiled slyly—though no one noticed. He set his sword down, driving it into the ground.
"Go ahead."
Zoro grabbed the hilt and pulled—
"NGH!"
The veins on his neck bulged.
The sword didn't move even a millimeter.
"What is this… why is it so heavy!?"
Behind him, Luffy laughed.
"Zoro, you're so weak!"
Zoro glared.
"Then you try it!"
Luffy stepped up and grabbed the sword.
"…EH? It won't move!"
Sanji, Usopp, and Chopper all came closer.
"Oi, oi, bunch of amateurs. Let me handle this,"
Sanji said, taking the hilt with cool elegance.
"NGH—!"
It didn't budge.
Yuuto laughed loudly at the sight of them.
"Hahahaha~ so? Giving up yet?"
"Not yet!"
Luffy, Zoro, Sanji, Usopp, and Chopper all grabbed the sword together and pulled.
Nothing changed.
The sword didn't move at all.
Usopp screamed in panic,
"Is this thing buried all the way to the core of the island!?"
Then soft footsteps approached.
"Yuuto… you did it again."
Kuroneko walked up, clutching the sleeve of Yuuto's clothes.
"Oh? Kuroneko, want to try too?"
Yuuto tried not to laugh.
Kuroneko stared at the sword, lifting her chin with peak chuunibyou energy.
"Hehe~ watch closely."
She stepped forward, fixed her hair, then declared,
"You guys will never be able to pull this sword out. Because I've cursed it.
Only someone acknowledged by the sword can draw it."
Chopper trembled.
"Y-you can… curse swords…!?"
Kuroneko turned toward him with a devilish smile.
"Yes. And I can curse you too."
"HIIIIHHHH!!"
Chopper bolted like a rabbit being chased by a predator.
With a smooth motion, Kuroneko took the sword—
—and pulled it out effortlessly.
"See? Only those it acknowledges can lift it."
Luffy was dazzled.
"WHOOOAAA that's so cool!"
Zoro stared at the sword with a mix of admiration and jealousy.
"…Another cursed blade. And the one who cursed it."
Usopp screamed while running away.
"HIIII this girl is scarier than a monster!!"
Yuuto just chuckled softly.
"Kuroneko, you play your role a little too well."
Kuroneko puffed her chest out proudly.
"Of course. This is my hobby."