Almost the instant Chopper agreed, a burst of enthusiastic cheers erupted in the room! Sanji and Vivi both cried out happily, and even Zoro cracked a satisfied smile.
The lines on Tomioka's face, unnoticed by anyone, softened imperceptibly for a moment.
Before the cheers in the room had completely subsided, Zoro began to remind them, "Alright, alright, let's start packing. If that old hag makes us stay until we're fully recovered, we won't be able to leave so easily!"
Nami had already gotten out of bed. As she tried to move around, she said with a smile, "Her... I don't think she'll stop us."
Tomioka watched the others quickly move to pack their belongings. He silently helped put away Nami's water cup, his movements swift.
The group quickly finished packing. Vivi helped Nami, and with a slight sense of mischief, they quietly left the room and entered the castle's empty corridor.
However, after only a few steps, a tall figure stood in the shadow beside a pillar ahead, arms crossed, as if she had been waiting there for a long time.
She slowly walked out. It was Dr. Kureha. Her sunglasses reflected the light, obscuring her gaze.
"Chopper," her voice was steady, "Where are you going?"
Chopper's small body stiffened, and he instinctively flinched, then bravely stepped forward again, lowering his head and saying, "Dr. Kureha... I was just about to look for you... I... I'm going to be a pirate!"
Dr. Kureha snorted, her arms still crossed, but her tone took on an inexplicable sternness: "Who said you could be a pirate? You're my only apprentice, are you going to abandon me?"
She looked Chopper up and down, her words as sharp as knives: "Besides, with your foolish demeanor, can you really be a pirate?"
"I..."
Chopper was speechless, his head hanging even lower. He didn't know how to refute his master; it was true that he had learned a lot of knowledge here.
But it was also true that he wanted to see the sea now.
Tomioka stood quietly at the back of the group, observing the master and apprentice, now frozen in place and silent. The familiar words reappeared before his eyes.
[Interpersonal Communication Manual (Trial Version)]
[Subject: Kureha]
[Status: Worried, Reluctant]
[Hobbies: Chopper, promoting the secret of youth]
[Suggestion: Don't let her be so sharp-tongued anymore!]
The harsh words uttered by Dr. Kureha, and the conflict with the text, made Tomioka pause. Before he could react, Chopper spoke.
"I... Dr. Kureha, I want to see the sea, yes!"
Hearing Chopper still speaking hesitantly, a flicker of hesitation crossed Dr. Kureha's eyes, but she immediately pulled out a scalpel from who knows where. "If you're so capable, then run away!!!"
Tomioka still spoke, "Why say such things?"
With that simple sentence, Dr. Kureha was frozen in place. She looked at Tomioka and simply said, "What did you say? You..."
Sanji lit a cigarette, exhaling a puff of smoke that blurred his expression at the moment. He didn't look at Dr. Kureha, his gaze fixed on the window, his thoughts seemingly drifting to some distant place.
It was a special restaurant in the East Blue, sailing on the sea like a ship, attracting different customers every day.
There was a one-legged owner there, whose voice was usually very stern, but on that last day...
His voice was exceptionally gentle.
"Hey."
Sanji's voice interrupted Dr. Kureha, unlike his usual playful demeanor or gallantry towards ladies, carrying a rare sense of maturity.
"If we meet again next time, who knows when that will be. At a time like this, is it really good to say such things?"
The air solidified, and no one spoke a word.
After a brief silence, Dr. Kureha suddenly moved.
She ran two steps forward and tightly embraced the small figure.
Her arms were wrapped tightly, and those lips that always spoke harsh words trembled slightly, her voice filled with an uncontrollable sob, ringing in Chopper's ear:
"You must take care... Chopper..."
"You are my... most outstanding disciple!"
"You will... you will definitely become a panacea! Definitely!! My... silly son..."
Chopper, held tightly, first stiffened, then buried his furry face in her arms and burst into tears, crying like a child:
"Mm! Dr. Kureha! I definitely will! Waaahhh..."
"Honestly..." Nami turned her face away, secretly wiping the corner of her eye with her finger, "Why get so emotional..."
Zoro, arms crossed, watched the scene and muttered in a low voice, his tone lacking some of its usual sharpness: "Someone with such a venomous tongue can be like this too, huh."
Dr. Kureha took a deep breath, released Chopper, and almost simultaneously turned around.
With her back to everyone, she waved her hand forcefully, her voice carrying a deliberately feigned impatience: "Go! Hurry up and go! If you don't go now... I really won't be able to let you!"
The group no longer delayed. Supporting Nami and taking the still-sobbing Chopper, they quickly passed through the corridor.
At the castle's heavy main gate, they met Dalton and Usopp waiting there. He was excitedly boasting to Dalton about his past bravery, stopping only when he saw the group arrive.
"Oh! Luffy! You're here! Are you leaving?" Usopp looked at the large group, appearing to be packed and with a small reindeer added.
Luffy just smiled and said, "Yes! Let's go! It's time for Alabasta!"
Dalton stepped forward, his face filled with genuine gratitude. He bowed deeply to the Straw Hat: "Thank you! Thank you for everything you've done for this country!"
Just as everyone was saying goodbye to Dalton and preparing to descend the mountain, Dr. Kureha's voice came again from the castle corridor, clearly reaching their ears:
"Oh! You guys! Don't go so fast!"
Everyone stopped and looked back.
"I'll give you a big gift in the sky!"
Tomioka looked up at the top of the castle, hearing Usopp's curiosity beside him, "In the sky? What could it be?" Tomioka was also a bit puzzled, but he didn't pay much attention, after all, as long as it was in the sky, they would eventually see it... With this doubt, the group boarded the Going Merry.
The sails were raised, the anchor pulled up, and the Merry was ready to leave Drum Island's icy port. Everyone gathered on the deck, looking up at the castle, waiting for the so-called big gift in the sky.
Night had already fallen, and a bright full Moon hung in the night sky.
Suddenly—!
Boom!
A dull cannon sound came from the direction of the castle!
Immediately after, under everyone's gaze, a huge pink cloud of smoke shot up from the castle, bursting open in the night sky!
The smoke cloud encircled the snow-capped peak, finally forming the shape of a giant cherry blossom tree!
Pink petals slowly drifted down in the Moonlight, intertwining with real snowflakes, covering the entire Winter Island and illuminating every upward-gazing face on the Merry.
Tomioka looked at the night sky, at the peak that so resembled a cherry blossom tree, and also thought of his hometown, quietly appreciating this beauty.
"Is that... cherry blossoms?" Usopp's mouth hung open, looking at the exaggerated scene before him.
"The gift... so it was this..." Nami's eyes reflected the splendid colors.
Chopper stood at the bow, gazing at the cherry blossoms. The tears he had just stopped once again gushed out. The others said nothing more, simply walked over and sat beside Chopper, accompanying him through this moment of farewell.