Rei Kunieda was often seen as a cheerful, carefree girl—a blockhead to those who didn't know her well. But to her captain, Imai, Rei was an open book, her thoughts and feelings transparent despite the smiles she wore.
Late that night, Rei found herself unable to sleep. The group had found shelter in an abandoned room, but the hard wooden floor made rest impossible. Frustrated, she decided to take a walk to clear her mind.
To her surprise, she found her captain sitting on the edge of a crumbling balcony, legs dangling over the side as she gazed out at the moonlit sea.
"Captain?" Rei called softly. "What are you doing up this late?"
Imai turned, a faint smile playing on her lips. "I could ask you the same thing. Couldn't sleep either, huh?"
Rei paused, momentarily struck by her captain's appearance. The moonlight caught Imai's dark blue hair as it danced gently in the breeze, her crimson eyes shimmering like rubies in the night. For a moment, she seemed almost otherworldly.
"Come here," Imai said, patting the spot beside her. "Sit with me. Tonight feels endless, so let's take our time."
Rei hesitated but eventually sat down, her gaze drawn to the sea. The moon's reflection rippled across the water, mesmerizing in its beauty.
"Is something troubling you, Rei?" Imai asked, her tone gentle.
Rei stiffened, surprised by the question. She glanced down, her expression turning somber.
"Yes," she admitted after a moment. "There's something on my mind. I want to talk about it, but... I'm scared."
"Then talk it out with me," Imai said, her voice warm and inviting. "You don't have to share everything. Right now, I'm not your captain—just your friend."
Rei's eyes widened. The word friend carried a weight she hadn't expected. It wasn't something she heard often, let alone felt deeply.
She took a deep breath and began, "I've been wondering if... if this is really what I should be doing. Being a pirate, I mean."
"And why do you think that?" Imai asked, her tone calm and encouraging.
"My parents," Rei said, her voice faltering. "They hated pirates. Every time the topic came up, they'd talk about how awful they were. And it wasn't just them—my so-called friends turned on me too. They mocked me, bullied me when I told them my dream was to become a pirate. My parents... the way they looked at me, like I was some kind of disappointment. I wonder if I met them now, would they still look at me that way?"
Imai listened quietly, her expression softening. She had always believed that the happiest people often carried the heaviest burdens, and Rei was no exception.
"Dreaming of being a pirate—or dreaming of anything—is never wrong," Imai said after a moment. "Dreams are what make us strive to become better versions of ourselves."
Rei looked at her captain, her tears threatening to spill. Imai met her gaze steadily, her voice unwavering.
"As for your parents," Imai continued, "I believe they'd accept you, no matter what. Parents just want what's best for their kids. Even if they don't understand at first, deep down, they care."
"But... how can you be so sure?" Rei whispered, tears sliding down her cheeks.
"That's the thing," Imai said with a soft laugh. "I'm not."
Rei blinked in confusion. "What do you mean?"
"I don't have parents," Imai admitted, her voice light but tinged with melancholy. "I never met them. I was raised by warriors—elite fighters who taught me everything I know."
Rei lowered her head, guilt washing over her. "To think I thought my story was sad..."
"Don't worry about me," Imai said with a grin. "I've made peace with it. And that's the thing about dreaming—it's like believing in something. Who gets to tell you it's wrong? No one but yourself."
Imai leaned closer, poking Rei lightly in the chest, right where her heart was.
"Always follow this," Imai said. "Your heart will guide you. Your mind might play tricks, but your heart always knows what's true."
Rei tilted her head back, gazing at the stars as her tears began to subside. The weight she had been carrying lifted, leaving her with a strange but comforting sense of clarity. The night sky suddenly seemed even more beautiful.
"Thank you," Rei said softly, wiping her tears away.
"Of course. Anything for someone who looks up to me," Imai said with a playful smirk. "Oh, and don't think I've forgotten what you did."
"Huh? What did I do?" Rei asked, puzzled.
Imai leaned back with a teasing grin. "Late one night, I woke up to some strange noises. Out of curiosity, I looked out the window and saw you holding two swords, pretending to be me."
Her voice dropped an octave as she mimicked Rei's dramatic pose. "One True Cleaving!"
Rei's face turned as red as a tomato, her cheeks puffing up in embarrassment. "Y-you saw that?! Forget it! That never happened!"
"Too late," Imai said, laughing. "It's burned into my memory forever. I'm going to bring it up whenever I need a laugh."
"You can't do that! I don't give you permission!" Rei exclaimed, lunging at her captain in mock indignation.
The two wrestled playfully, laughter echoing into the quiet night. Imai couldn't help but smile as Rei's cheerful demeanor returned, her eyes sparkling even brighter than before.
Eventually, Rei wore herself out and returned to the makeshift bed she shared with Uta, the two of them huddled under a single blanket. Imai watched them for a while, her expression soft. If it weren't for their unique appearances, she might have mistaken them for sisters.
She glanced back at the balcony, where the moonlight bathed the vacant spot beside her. For a fleeting moment, she thought she saw Yamato's figure sitting there, smiling and chatting animatedly. But no sound reached her ears.
Shaking her head, Imai chuckled. "I must be more tired than I thought. Time to sleep before I start hallucinating more."
With one last glance at her crew, Imai leaned back, letting the peaceful night wrap around her like a blanket.