Kaito Sakamoto looked at the tearful Kaya in front of him and handed her a handkerchief.
Kaya took it and muttered a soft "thank you."
Kaito sat down but said nothing, quietly allowing Kaya to calm herself.
After a while, when Kaya finally managed to stabilize her emotions, she forced a weak smile and was about to ask Kaito what he wanted. But before she could speak, Kaito broke the silence, startling her.
"Miss Kaya, I'm actually a pirate."
Kaya froze, gripping the blanket tightly. She didn't have prejudice against pirates, but why were there so many of them showing up all of a sudden today?
"But don't worry," Kaito continued, his tone slightly reassuring. "Even though I'm a pirate, I'm not the kind to senselessly kill... Ahem!"
Suddenly, Kaito coughed twice, interrupting himself.
"Sorry. I'm not someone who kills innocents."
He paused, looking at Kaya. "As for Usopp, Miss Kaya, you've known him longer than I have. You know what kind of person he is—he likes to tell tall tales, those wild adventure stories. But have you ever heard him lie to slander others?"
His words made Kaya think back. It was true—Usopp did lie, but he never used lies to harm others.
"Maybe it's because of what Kuroharter said about Usopp's father that Usopp..." Kaya muttered quietly.
Kaito shook his head. "But didn't Usopp, even before Kuroharter mentioned his father, already say Kuroharter was a pirate?"
"Why did he wait until he went back to come running all the way here again?"
Kaya was at a loss, her mind in turmoil.
"Words alone can't prove anything, Miss Kaya. Seeing is believing."
Kaito stood up, his expression serious.
"So, if you want to know the whole truth, just look outside the hall's door when the moon rises tonight."
"You can choose whether to believe me or not."
With that, Kaito left the room. Kaya stood there, staring at his retreating back, speechless until the door clicked shut behind him.
Kaito returned to his room and took out the transponder snail that Dragon had given him. He tried to contact Nami.
The call connected, but no one answered.
Sighing, Kaito gave up. It seemed they had gotten the direction wrong.
Zoro was used as a stepping stone, and Luffy's getting lost—well, that was fate.
Soon, night fell. The moon climbed slowly into the sky, casting a silvery glow that sparkled against the backdrop of the starry night.
It was the night of the new moon, the crescent moon hanging beautifully in the heavens.
Kaya gazed at the moon for a long time, uncertain. After hesitating, she finally decided to get out of bed.
Inside the hall, Meri and Kuro were there.
Meri had just started telling Kuro about how Usopp had broken into the mansion earlier that day.
"Really? I didn't expect something like that to happen while I was in the neighboring town," Kuro responded calmly, his words smooth as ever, a master of his acting.
"Hm, what's this?"
He suddenly glanced at a gift on the table—glasses, a three-year anniversary gift from Kaya.
Meri, wiping away tears with a handkerchief, explained that Kaya was truly kind and thoughtful.
But unbeknownst to Meri, as Kuro turned his back, dragging the glasses under his palm, his expression darkened, a smirk creeping across his face as he stared at the moon.
"Speaking of anniversaries, tomorrow truly is a special day."
"Tonight is the new moon. This kind of night always gets the blood pumping, doesn't it?"
As he spoke, Kuro tossed the glasses onto the ground, then crushed them underfoot.
Meri gasped, his mouth falling open. "You—You—Kuroharter! What are you doing? Why are you destroying the gift the lady gave you?"
"Gift?" Kuro interrupted, turning his head slightly to address Meri, his voice colder.
"I'll accept the gift, alright," he said. "But not this thing. I'll take the entire mansion instead!"
"W-What?" Meri was utterly confused.
Kuro slowly turned around, extending his arms behind his back, pulling out his signature weapons, the "Cat Claws."
"At this point, I don't need to pretend anymore. In just a few hours, everything will unfold."
"Three years... It's been far too long!"
With that, he swung the blades, their sharp edge gleaming.
"Ah!"
A shriek rang out from outside the hall, Kaya's voice filled with alarm.
Clang!
Two sounds rang out at once.
One was Kaya's scream from outside.
The other came as Kaito appeared, swinging a long staff and blocking Kuro's "Cat Claws." The collision of blade and staff echoed loudly.
"It's you!" Kuro's gaze locked onto Kaito's face, rage flaring within him.
"Yep, it's me. What's wrong? Did you think you could just lock up the elephant in the fridge, Mr. Kuro?" Kaito quipped, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
Kuro's gaze flickered toward the outside where Kaya stood. When their eyes met, Kaya recoiled, covering her mouth and stepping back. The chilling look in Kuro's eyes was nothing like the Kuroharter she knew!
"Did the lady call you here?" Kuro demanded.
"Didn't you say you wouldn't interfere before my plan started?"
Kuro's voice was sharp, his anger barely contained.
"You're already trying to kill Meri ahead of schedule? Isn't that your plan, then?"
"Meri is my savior. I won't let him die."
Kaito's expression was resolute as he spoke.
"Meri, get outside and protect Miss Kaya," Kaito ordered.
Meri immediately complied.
Kaito swung his staff to the right with great force, blocking Kuro's next strike.
Clang!
"Silent Step... It's truly terrifying," Kuro remarked, his voice full of disdain.
"But at this close range, escaping a sniper's watch won't be so easy."
Kaito smiled faintly, almost mocking Kuro.