Although Uta impulsively agreed to help cover for Luffy, she regretted it almost instantly. Shanks had made it very clear last night that he didn't want Luffy on the ship.
By agreeing to this, she was going against Shanks' wishes.
Even if she trusted Shanks to protect Luffy, this felt wrong.
Grrr…
Luffy's stomach started growling—he was hungry, and it was already time for breakfast.
"I'll go get us some food. You stay here and don't wander out," Uta said, realizing she was also starving.
She prepared to change her clothes, but when she looked over and saw Luffy's oblivious expression, her hand froze mid-reach for the straps of her dress.
"Luffy, no matter what happens, you have to stay under that blanket, got it?"
She wrapped him snugly in the blanket, covering his head except for a small gap for breathing.
"Got it," Luffy mumbled from beneath the blanket.
Taking a deep breath, Uta glanced at him one last time, feeling a strange thrill, before she began to change.
"All done! I'll go get breakfast. Be good and stay here."
"Bring me some milk!" Luffy called out as he peeked from under the covers.
"Got it…" Uta replied, tying her hair into a simple ponytail as she left.
"Uta, did you make up with Luffy last night?" one of the pirates asked with a grin.
Most of the pirates were late risers, but a few disciplined ones were up early.
Shanks' crew was full of elites, after all.
"Yeah, we're all good now!" Uta answered as she poured milk into a cup. She started eating her own breakfast at the table, sneaking a few pieces of bread into her clothes.
"By the way, did Luffy go back?" another pirate asked.
"Oh, he went back last night," Uta answered, her heart racing. Lying to her pirate family for the first time, she felt her cheeks flush as a fine layer of sweat appeared on her forehead.
"He did, huh? That kid's something else, especially since he's Garp's grandson…"
The pirates discussed Luffy with curiosity.
"Yeah, though he sure doesn't look like the grandson of that monster."
Hearing this, Uta was a bit confused. Is Garp really that strong? she wondered.
"Doesn't seem like he's as strong as Big Mom…"
She wanted to keep listening, but then remembered that Luffy was still hungry. Taking another bite of bread, she topped off the milk and left the dining area.
"I'm all full!"
"Uta's eating a lot today, huh? Two glasses of milk!" remarked the cook, noticing the unusual amount of food she'd taken.
Uta jogged back to the room, putting the bread and milk on the table.
"Luffy, I brought food!"
Luffy's head popped up, and his eyes lit up with joy as he leaped from the bed and dug into the breakfast.
"This meat tastes so weird!" he exclaimed, biting into a sandwich with a curious meat filling. The flavor was incredibly fresh and tender, with a bit of chew.
"It's from a sea creature, probably one of the strange catches they made while sailing," Uta explained.
"Haha! Pretty tasty, right? You country folks rarely get to eat stuff like this!" Uta teased, covering her mouth in a playful display.
"It's delicious!" Luffy's eyes sparkled as he ate. With little to do on Windmill Island, food was one of the few things that could captivate him. But the island's limited supplies didn't allow for such treats.
Yup, going out to sea is definitely the way to improve my life!
"See? Told you!" Uta's face beamed with satisfaction as Luffy praised the food. She felt the joy of successfully impressing a friend.
Once they finished eating, Luffy started his morning workout, while Uta tidied up, taking the empty cup back to the kitchen for washing.
"Uta, soon it'll be time to say goodbye to this place." Beckman stood at the bow of the ship, stretching as he looked out at the tranquil little village.
"Do you think Luffy will come to say goodbye to you?"
"Probably… not. We already said our goodbyes last night," Uta replied, a little awkwardly.
"I see… Well, our course is set for the music kingdom, Elegia. There, you'll have an amazing music teacher."
"When we come back, Luffy will be blown away by your singing!"
"Elegia!" Uta's eyes widened with excitement. "We're really going there?"
Just like Drum Island, Elegia was known for its music, but it was even more famous. Artists from all over the world visited Elegia for inspiration, and its rich history was comparable to the ancient kingdom of Alabasta.
"Oh, by the way, Beckman, is Luffy's grandpa really that strong? I overheard the others talking about it…" Uta asked curiously.
"Indeed. He's one of the world's most renowned powerhouses. Anyone who's witnessed Garp's strength would never question his abilities," Beckman explained. "East Blue is considered the weakest of the seas by pirates, but it's the strongest to the Marines, and that's because of Garp, who periodically comes back to clean up."
"Only a Vice Admiral?" Uta blurted out in surprise.
"Well… I'm not too familiar with the Marines' promotion system," Beckman shrugged, amused. Garp had single-handedly raised the standards for Vice Admirals.
Time passed, and soon the once-quiet pirate ship was bustling with activity. Pirates climbed up and down, the Jolly Roger was unfurled, and the massive ship began to turn.
…
"Luffy didn't come for breakfast."
Miss Makino looked at the untouched plate she'd set aside for Luffy. She thought back to the question Luffy had asked Shanks last night, and a hunch formed in her mind.
"Is this really okay?"
Luffy was incredibly disciplined; his routine was practically set in stone.
So when he didn't show up at his usual time and place, everyone suspected something was amiss.
The only variable on the island was Shanks' pirate ship.
"Luffy must have… spoken with Garp. He's always been such a considerate child…" Makino thought to herself, debating whether she should contact Garp.
"I haven't seen that rascal Luffy. He's not here to see us off? I'm almost hurt," Shanks teased, standing at the bow, glancing at the shore and finding it empty.
"Maybe he feels some obligation as a Marine's grandson. Should we wait a bit?" Beckman suggested, glancing subtly at Uta.
Pirates didn't usually care much about send-offs, but since Uta had befriended
Luffy, he wondered if she might feel a bit sad.
…Or was it his imagination? Uta actually looked thrilled to be leaving!