Raphael: <>
System: []
******
The next day, as soon as Luffy woke up, the first thing he did was check his status screen, half-hoping that everything from last night had been a strange dream. However, much to his dismay, the new titles, [The One Who Met the Sovereign] and [The One Who Made The Sovereign Pact], were displayed clearly under the title tab.
Luffy let out a deep sigh and rubbed his face, trying to shake off the unsettling memory of the encounter with Imu. "So it wasn't just a nightmare..." he muttered, feeling a lingering weight in his chest. There was no denying it now. He had made a Binding Vow with the most powerful being in the world, and there was no going back.
After finishing his morning routine, Luffy stepped out of his room and immediately saw Uta darting around the house, buzzing with excitement. Rouge sat nearby, watching Uta's frantic movements with an exasperated yet amused expression on her face.
"Uta, please calm down before you knock something over," Rouge said, her voice a perfect mix of affection and exhaustion.
"I can't help it! I'm too excited!" Uta squealed, barely containing her excitement as she dashed from one side of the room to the other, trying to find her personal stuff which had mysteriously - only for her- scattered throughout the house.
Luffy couldn't help but smile, the gloomy thoughts of last night fading away in the face of Uta's infectious energy. "Looks like someone's ready to set sail," he teased, joining them.
Uta skidded to a halt, her eyes lighting up even more at the sight of Luffy. "Of course, I'm ready! We're finally setting off today, Luffy! Our adventure is about to begin!" she exclaimed, practically bouncing on her heels. "I've been waiting for this for so long!"
"Yeah, I can see that," Luffy chuckled, her enthusiasm starting to lift his spirits. "Just don't forget anything in your whirlwind of excitement."
"That's why you're here, isn't it?" Uta grinned mischievously. "I'll check on the boat, and you handle my luggage, okay? It'll be safer in your storage space than bouncing around on the boat."
Luffy raised an eyebrow but shrugged, knowing there was no point in arguing. "Sure, I'll get your stuff."
With that, Uta practically skipped out of the house, leaving Luffy and Rouge behind.
"I swear, I could build a generator powered by Uta's energy," Luffy joked, watching her dash out the door.
"If you did, it would power all of Foosha Village with her enthusiasm," Rouge giggled.
But soon, the playful atmosphere shifted. Rouge's gaze softened, and she looked at Luffy with a mixture of pride and concern. "Time flies, doesn't it?" she said gently, her voice tinged with nostalgia. "I still remember the day Garp dropped you here. You were such a loud brat... and now look at you, turning into a fine young man."
"Hey, I can still be a brat when I want to be." Luffy chuckled, trying to lighten the mood.
Rouge smiled warmly, reaching out to gently caress his face. "Good. I'd hate to see the child inside you disappear completely." She paused, her tone becoming serious. "Luffy, I know I can't stop you and Uta from chasing your dreams out on the sea, just like I couldn't stop Ace. But promise me you'll be careful. The world out there... it's more dangerous than you can imagine," she said as images of atrocities she saw during her pregnancy flashed before her eyes.
Luffy could see the worry in her eyes, and it tugged at his heart. "Hey, what's with the waterworks?" he said gently, wiping a tear from her cheek. "You don't need to worry so much. We'll be fine."
"I'm serious, Luffy," Rouge's voice trembled as she spoke. "Please… be careful," she pleaded. "You and Uta, you've become my children, just like Ace. After I lost Roger… I don't think I could bear losing any more of my family," her voice broke as fresh tears welled in her eyes.
Without hesitation, Luffy stood and pulled Rouge into a tight hug. "You're such a worrywart, Rouge," he said softly, trying to ease her concerns. "I promise you, I'll come back. I'll finish this journey, and I'll return with all the treasures and riches of the world," he added playfully, earning a small chuckle from her. "And don't worry, I've changed a lot. I'm not as reckless as I used to be. I'll make sure we get through whatever comes our way safely."
Rouge leaned into his embrace, her tears subsiding. "I've seen how much you've grown this past year," she whispered. "And I won't lie, I'm glad to see these changes in you. It puts my heart at ease, knowing that you're going to be there with her. Just... take care of each other out there. Keep Uta out of trouble."
"That's the plan," Luffy said, smiling warmly. "I'll live up to those expectations, I promise."
Rouge finally pulled away, her eyes still glistening with unshed tears but now filled with pride. "Good. Now, go on and get ready before Uta comes back and drags you out by the collar."
Luffy chuckled. "Yeah, I should. Thanks, Rouge," he said, turning to head to his room.
As he walked away, Rouge called after him, "I'll pack you and Uta some food for your journey. At least enough to last for a few days."
"Thanks, Rouge! You're the best!" Luffy grinned, flashing her a thumbs-up before disappearing into his room.
******
Later that day, the residents of Foosha Village gathered at the port, their faces filled with a mixture of pride, excitement, and bittersweet farewells as they came to see off two of the village's most beloved teenagers. Luffy and Uta, who had grown up in the village and were known by everyone, were finally setting out on their long-awaited journey.
Docked at the pier was a modest fishing boat with a single cabin. It wasn't much, but it was enough for their starting voyage. The boat belonged to Uta and Luffy, a simple vessel that reflected their current circumstances. It was all they could afford, but they had already decided they would replace it with a better ship later, whether through purchasing or possibly "borrowing" one from pirates or Marines along the way.
"It's not much, but it'll do for now," Luffy said with a proud smile as he stood beside the boat.
"Not everyone starts with a grand pirate ship," Uta replied with a grin, giving him a playful nudge. "Besides, it's the adventure that counts, not the boat."
"Yeah, yeah, I know, Miss Mini Shanks," Luffy laughed. "But a better boat would definitely be nice."
As the pair bantered, the villagers approached one by one, offering advice and farewells.
Makino, the local tavern owner who had watched them grow up and was almost like an elder sister to them came over with a warm smile and handed Uta a neatly wrapped package of food.
"Here, something for your journey," Makino said kindly, ruffling Luffy's hair as she handed the package to Uta. "You'll both need your strength out there."
"Thanks, Makino!" Uta beamed, accepting the package. "You're the best!"
Luffy gave her a grateful nod, though he quickly tried to fix his hair, looking slightly embarrassed. "I thought you'd bring drinks or something, but this will do."
"Just remember, even though you've grown taller than me, I can still do this," she said, pinching his cheek. "And remember what I told you—I'll never serve alcohol to my younger brother no matter how old you are."
"Yeah, yeah, I get it," Luffy said, rubbing his cheek. A soft smile spread across his face as he continued, "Thanks, Makino. We'll come back with stories to tell and lots of treasure!" he said, grinning wide.
Makino smiled warmly. "I'll be waiting. Just make sure you come back safely. That's all I ask."
The rest of the villagers echoed similar sentiments, cheering them on and reminding them to stay safe. There was an undeniable sense of pride in the air, as if the entire village was sending a piece of itself out to sea with the two adventurers. Even the old mayor, who had been vocal about his disapproval, presented them with pocket knives and urged them to be safe out there.
Finally, Rouge approached, her eyes soft yet proud as she looked at Luffy and Uta. She had packed them a few days' worth of food earlier, but now that the moment had come, she found herself holding back tears once more.
"Take care of each other," she said softly, hugging both Luffy and Uta. "And remember, no matter how far you go, you'll always have a home here."
"Don't worry, we'll be back before you know it," Uta said cheerfully, though her eyes shimmered with unshed tears. "And we'll bring back tons of cool stuff!"
"Yeah, we'll make you and the entire village proud, Rouge," Luffy added, his voice more serious as he returned the hug. "Thanks for everything."
As the final goodbyes were exchanged, Luffy and Uta climbed aboard their fishing boat. The villagers waved and called out their well-wishes from the docks. The boat rocked gently on the water as Luffy untied the ropes, his heart pounding with excitement.
"Hey, what about Dadan? Is she not coming?" Uta asked, scanning the crowd.
"Well, you know how she is," Luffy said, pointing to an alley where three figures were peeking out, trying to hide. When they noticed Luffy pointing at them they quickly made a poor attempt at hiding their presence getting a chuckle out of Luffy and Uta. "Don't worry, I left a letter with Rough, with our thanks and goodbyes."
"That was very thoughtful of you," Uta said, smiling at him.
"Anyway, ready to set sail, Uta?" Luffy asked, turning to his sister with a wide grin.
"You bet I am!" Uta grinned back, her eyes gleaming with excitement as she took the helm. "Let's get this adventure started!"
With one last wave to the villagers, Luffy and Uta set off from the dock. The fishing boat slowly drifted away from the shore, gaining speed as it ventured into the open sea.
"So it's finally begun," Uta said, watching the village shrink in the distance. "Hey, what's that?" she asked as she noticed Luffy pulling a bottle from his inventory.
"Wait a moment," Luffy said, pouring two glasses. "This is sake to celebrate the start of our journey," he said, handing her one of the glasses. "What do you say? Want to toast?"
"You bet I do!" Uta replied. "On the count of three—3... 2... 1!"
"To our dreams!" they both shouted, clinking their glasses together.
[Congratulations! New Achievement, [ And the Journey Begins! ] unlocked!]
To be continued...