Shortly after Shirakawa left, the Roger Pirates successfully reached the Sea Clouds through the treacherous Reverse Mountain. However, the usual excitement was muted. Their beloved crewmate was no longer with them, and wouldn't be part of their future adventures.
Unlike Bullet, who had always been somewhat of an outsider, Shirakawa had formed strong bonds with everyone on the ship. His departure left a lingering sadness.
"It's such a beautiful and strange sight. It's a shame Shirakawa isn't here to see it," one of the crew members remarked.
"Don't worry. With his powers, he could easily catch up if he wanted to," another replied.
"But he won't," Shanks said quietly. While they missed Shirakawa, they knew he had his own path to follow.
Shirakawa, meanwhile, was experiencing a newfound sense of freedom. Leaving the Roger Pirates was like a child leaving the nest. He felt both exhilarated and a little lost.
After the Oro Jackson sailed away, Shirakawa prepared to leave Jaya Island. It was just a small island, a stepping stone to Skypiea, and not particularly prosperous.
He bought a small fishing boat, similar to the one Luffy had built when he first set sail. It could only fit two people, but with Shirakawa's ability to survive without food, it was perfect for him.
Unfortunately, Shirakawa's luck seemed to be running low. As soon as he set sail, a massive storm struck. The sunny sky turned dark, and the wind howled, whipping up towering waves. His tiny boat was tossed about like a leaf.
'I'm such an idiot,' Shirakawa thought, realizing his mistake. Such a small boat was no match for a storm like this, and he wasn't a navigator. Even the best navigators in the world couldn't guarantee safety in such conditions on a flimsy vessel.
Seeing a massive wave approaching, Shirakawa abandoned the boat and took flight. He watched sadly as the waves swallowed his boat, along with the considerable sum of money he had spent on it.
He flew through the storm, his shield constantly active to protect him from lightning strikes.
'This must be one of those once-in-a-century storms,' he thought, marveling at its intensity. He suddenly had newfound respect for Mihawk, who sailed the Grand Line alone on a tiny coffin boat. 'Maybe Mihawk's just lucky and never encounters bad weather.'
Shirakawa couldn't help but feel a bit resentful. Why was his luck so terrible? Storms, tsunamis... it seemed like every time he ventured out, something went wrong.
"What's that?" he exclaimed, finally spotting an island in the distance. It was floating in the sky.
'Is that a Sky Island? Could I run into Roger and the others there?'
But the island seemed too small to be the one the Roger Pirates were heading for.
'What is this place?'
As he flew closer, he saw houses and other structures. It was inhabited.
The weather on the Sky Island was also stormy, but as Shirakawa landed and approached a house, the storm abruptly cleared.
'What's going on?' he wondered. The weather was changing too quickly.
Suddenly, the door of the house flew open, and a scream pierced the air.
An old man in a blue wizard's robe stood in the doorway, staring at Shirakawa in terror.
Shirakawa looked around, but there was nothing else there.
"What's wrong?" he asked, offering a friendly smile.
"Who are you?" the old man stammered, backing into the house and closing the door, leaving only a crack through which his fearful eyes peered out.
"My name is Adolf K. Shirakawa. I'm from the Blue Sea."
"How did you get up here?"
"I flew. Where is this? It's a Sky Island, right?"
"This is Weatheria, a small Sky Island."
Shirakawa looked around curiously. There were windmills and hot air balloons everywhere, a large cloud in the distance, and a rainbow arching across the sky.
'I think I remember this place,' he thought. 'Isn't this where Nami trained for two years?'
Weatheria was a mobile island, its movement controlled by the wind. It drifted wherever the wind blew, its speed determined by the wind's strength.
"What's your name?" Shirakawa asked the old man.
"Haredas."
"Okay." Shirakawa pushed the door open and entered. Haredas was no threat to him.
"What are you doing?" Haredas squeaked, but his voice trailed off when he saw Shirakawa's stern expression.
"Coward," Shirakawa muttered.
"What do you want?"
"Just looking around."
Shirakawa walked over to the bed and sat down. It was surprisingly soft. "It's made of clouds? That's interesting."
"Can you leave now?" Haredas asked timidly.
"Not yet. I like it here. I think I'll stay. Maybe I'll build a house next to yours."
"No!"
"Don't worry, I'll build it myself."
Shirakawa imagined having his own little home on a floating island. It would be the perfect secret hideaway.
"No, you can't. It's not my decision."
"Then call someone who can make the decision. I'll convince them."
"So you're staying here? You're not leaving?"
"Of course not. I have to return to the Blue Sea eventually."
Haredas seemed relieved. If Shirakawa was just passing through, the chances of them meeting again were slim.
Shirakawa noticed his reaction but didn't say anything. He knew about Vivre Cards. If he had someone create a Vivre Card for Haredas, he could find this island again anytime he wanted.