Six months had passed. Shirakawa had been in the One-Piece world for over a year, and with the Roger Pirates for just as long.
During that time, they had visited Fish-Man Island, meeting Neptune, the newly crowned king. They had received a warm welcome; Roger and Neptune seemed to have a good relationship.
Shirakawa had been a bit nervous about going to Fish-Man Island, being deep underwater. Even he, with his newfound powers, couldn't help but feel a primal fear of the depths. Shanks and Buggy had teased him mercilessly about it, finally finding a weakness in the seemingly invincible Shirakawa.
After their visit, they coated the Oro Jackson and set sail again, eventually reaching the Sabaody Archipelago, the gateway to the New World.
Upon arrival, Rayleigh disappeared, likely to visit Shakky's bar. Those who didn't know his secret assumed he was off gambling again.
In Sabaody, they encountered the Celestial Dragons but avoided any confrontation. They weren't there to cause trouble.
The Marines kept a close eye on them, but didn't take any further action. The Roger Pirates remained vigilant, but didn't let it affect their stay.
Their presence, however, caused a stir among other pirate crews. A Yonko crew suddenly appearing in Paradise was alarming, and the increased Marine presence led to the capture of several pirates who weren't prepared.
After a brief stay, the Roger Pirates left Sabaody. It was too close to Marineford, and the Navy wouldn't tolerate such a dangerous crew lingering in the area.
Rayleigh seemed reluctant to leave. Those familiar with his secret knew why. The Rayleigh of 20 years later would be a carefree wanderer, spending his days in casinos, bars, and attending auctions. It was hard to imagine the current, ambitious Rayleigh settling down to coat ships.
'Maybe Shakky's bar is more profitable than I thought,' Shirakawa mused. 'Otherwise, why would Rayleigh, with his skills, resort to coating ships to make a living?'
After leaving Sabaody, three Marine warships followed them, presumably to monitor their movements. The Roger Pirates promptly sank them. They weren't looking for trouble, but they wouldn't tolerate being followed.
Unexpectedly, Shirakawa's bounty increased to 150 million berries, even though he hadn't done anything noteworthy. It was as if someone had used his identity to commit some heinous crime.
The high bounty drew envy and jealousy from the other crew members, though the resentment some had felt towards him had faded, as they could no longer challenge him in strength.
After a few more months of sailing, they reached Jaya Island. Shirakawa had decided this was where he would part ways with the Roger Pirates. He had learned all he could from them.
While he wasn't the strongest in the world yet, he was confident he could escape from anyone except Kizaru or Shiki. And he didn't believe he was unlucky enough to encounter either of them. Besides, even if he did, he wasn't afraid to fight.
"Are you really leaving?" Roger asked him seriously.
"Yes, Captain. I'm ready to start my own journey."
"Alright. But remember, you're a Roger Pirate. Don't tarnish our name."
"I won't, Captain."
"And remember, the Roger Pirates will always have your back."
"I will."
Roger left, giving the others a chance to say their goodbyes.
"Aren't you going to say goodbye to him?" Roger asked Rayleigh.
"No need. We'll meet again someday."
"Yeah, but who knows if I'll still be around then?" Roger said with a sad smile.
"Shirakawa, I'll miss you!" Buggy cried, hugging Shirakawa tightly.
Shirakawa was one of Buggy's closest friends on the crew, besides Shanks.
"Don't worry. As long as you don't get yourself killed, we'll meet again," Shirakawa reassured him.
The world might seem vast, but it was also surprisingly small. You might never find the person you were looking for, or you might bump into them unexpectedly.
Shirakawa had faith in Buggy. He knew that Buggy, before meeting Luffy, would become a notorious pirate in the East Blue. And even later, he'd become a Warlord of the Sea, though through sheer luck.
"Shirakawa, we'll definitely meet again," Shanks said.
"Of course. Just stay out of trouble."
Shirakawa was more worried about Shanks. His current personality was too similar to Luffy's. He was curious about everything and wouldn't hesitate to wander off and explore.
"Don't worry," Shanks said with a reassuring smile.
But Shirakawa couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness, knowing Shanks would eventually lose his arm.
"Well then, I'm off."
Shirakawa waved goodbye and walked away without looking back.
"Goodbye, Shirakawa!" Shanks and Buggy shouted.
Shirakawa raised a hand in farewell.
'Good luck, Roger Pirates,' he thought. 'Goodbye, Shanks, Buggy, Rayleigh. I look forward to seeing you all again.'