And so, Kaito learned the ways of etiquette from Makino. After Luffy's recovery, the three of them returned to their usual lives. They continued their mischief in town, politely bowing to the owners after enjoying a free meal. Their sparring sessions were as lively as ever.
They encountered the bear that had injured Luffy once more. On that day, they invited the Dadan family to share a feast of bear meat hot pot. They battled thugs, survived in the forest, fought wild beasts, and clashed with the "strongest boss," Garp.
Time, unceasing and relentless, left its marks on the three of them. In the blink of an eye, like a galloping horse, it raced past. Seven years flew by, and it was finally time for Kaito to set sail.
On the first day of the new year, January 1, 1517, which also happened to be Kaito's birthday. This guy was eager, setting off on the day he turned seventeen. The night before, Kaito had been taken by Bai Yun to buy supplies for his journey. Although the process was challenging—shopkeepers recoiled at the sight of them as if they were ghosts, and upon seeing them pay, they looked even more astonished.
"Is there really anything worth buying? Bai Yun, there's no need to make such a fuss," Kaito complained, trailing behind Bai Yun.
Bai Yun shot him a glance. "Well, maybe if you set down the dagger."
If he wasn't going to buy anything, he might as well save some money. After all, he was just there to kill time.
"Let's go! We need to buy you some clothes. Tomorrow's your birthday, and you're setting sail. You need to at least look presentable," Bai Yun insisted, dragging Kaito into a clothing store.
Kaito hadn't even had a chance to retort, questioning what she meant by "looking presentable." Wasn't he presentable already?
The shopkeeper blinked in surprise—hadn't they already paid for that dagger?
Once they arrived at the clothing store, Kaito felt a bit uneasy. He had never bought clothes before; over the years, the three of them had relied on Makino to make their outfits. Not having purchased clothes was one thing, but he didn't even know what it meant to pay.
Noticing Kaito's hesitation, Bai Yun handed him a denim outfit: a black vest paired with black denim shorts, complete with wristbands and a belt. She then pushed him toward the fitting room.
The shopkeeper was a plump middle-aged woman, her eyes wide with panic as she watched them. Given Bai Yun and her friends' notorious reputation, especially among the small-town shopkeepers, it was no surprise.
As Kaito changed, Bai Yun began to browse the store. Suddenly, she spotted a striking cowboy hat. It was an orange hat adorned with two badges: one displaying a "smile" and the other a "frown."
With a grin, Bai Yun picked it up just as Kaito emerged from the fitting room, the curtain swishing aside.
Bai Yun walked over, chuckling, "Wow, this is what they mean when they say 'clothes make the man.' You look pretty good, Kaito."
"Really?"
"What do you mean by 'clothes make the man'? Are you complimenting me or mocking me?"
Kaito smiled, nodding. He suddenly felt a bit puzzled, realizing the comment could go either way.
Bai Yun didn't answer, urging him to check himself in the mirror. Then, she stealthily placed the hat on his head from behind. Looking in the mirror, Kaito realized he resembled the image he had in his mind of himself.
"How do I look with this hat on?"
"You said Luffy is all smiles, while I'm more stoic. Although, I'm not quite crying, am I?"
"The two badges on the hat represent our two little brothers guarding you on your journey."
"Kaito, big brother."
Kaito smiled as he adjusted the hat, "It does look good."
"But Bai Yun, as the older brother, it's my job to protect my little brothers. If I'm the one being guarded, I'll just be ridiculed."
Bai Yun returned his smile, "Say whatever you want; I'll say whatever I want too."
Her eyes flicked toward the door. After living together for seven years, they knew each other well enough to recognize every little quirk.
Kaito nodded slightly, and the next moment, the two of them bolted out of the store, remembering to shout politely, "Thank you for your gift!"
As they ran, Bai Yun kept searching for things to delay their return, ensuring Kaito wouldn't go home just yet. When the clock struck midnight, marking the arrival of his birthday, Bai Yun finally allowed Kaito to go home.
As Kaito pushed open the Dadan family's door, he called, "Happy Birthday!!!"
Luffy stood there holding a large cake, flanked by the other mountain bandits to greet Kaito upon his arrival. The house was transformed, filled with lively energy, thanks to Makino's decorations and the food and drinks she provided.
A banner hung on the wall, reading, "Happy 17th Birthday, Kaito!" Kaito fought back tears, determined not to let them spill. In the past, he had hated birthdays, particularly his own.
It was much like Dadan now—although he enjoyed the festive atmosphere, he still pretended it was all a hassle.
"I can't believe you went through all this trouble, Bai Yun," Kaito complained.
"It's worth it for you!"
"It's unnecessary, but since you've gone to all this effort, let's celebrate…"
"Luffy! You drooled all over the cake!!"
As Kaito spoke, he spotted Luffy's saliva dripping onto the cake and burst into laughter. Bai Yun, watching from behind, sighed in exasperation—handing the cake to Luffy had clearly been a mistake.
Separation always comes. Happy moments will eventually pass, but they will return again.
The next day, on the coast of Coral Mountain, Kaito was about to take his first step toward adventure. A small sailboat gently glided away from the shore. Kaito turned to face those who had come to see him off: Luffy, Bai Yun, Makino, and the other members of Dadan's crew. Unexpectedly, the mayor of Windmill Village had also arrived.
"Give it your all, Kaito!!" Luffy shouted.
"Just wait! I'll soon be famous across the seas!!" Kaito replied confidently.
And so, Kaito began his sailing journey, wearing the hat Bai Yun had gifted him. Attached to the hat was a skull badge Luffy had made himself, taking a month to craft. With the "protection" of his two younger brothers, he sailed toward his future.