After talking with Shanks, Uta ran excitedly over to Luffy's table.
"Luffy, starting tomorrow, the king himself is going to teach me music! He says my voice sounds like a heavenly tune from another world!"
Her hair, styled like bunny ears, perked up proudly.
"Really? Congrats! I managed to unlock Armament Haki too!" Luffy said, raising his right fist, where a faint, invisible flow of energy was condensed.
"It doesn't look that different," Uta said, curiously touching his fist.
"It's still weak," Luffy explained. "When it gets stronger, it'll turn visibly black, and anyone will be able to see it." One of the older pirates nearby rolled up his sleeve, revealing a fist covered in hardened black Haki, radiating an intimidating aura.
"Wow, that's amazing!" Uta admired the darkened fist, a power even Shanks hadn't shown her.
"Pretty strong, huh, kid?" the pirate chuckled, holding up his massive fist next to Luffy's much smaller one. Luffy could feel the clash of their Haki, a tangible force pushing back against his own.
"You're still a long way off!" the pirate laughed, his Haki effortlessly overpowering Luffy's. "Not even close to the warriors of Kuja. Keep growing!"
The night continued with Uta's singing. Luffy tapped along to the rhythm, nodding to the beat as he listened. Her musical powers seemed to grow visibly stronger. Watching her, Shanks leaned against the window, lighting a cigarette. Benn Beckman, chewing on his cigar, joined him, looking out over the calm sea.
"When we first found her in that treasure chest, she was only as big as my hand. Now, look at her." Shanks watched as his daughter sang, starting to add small dance moves and expressions to her performance.
"She's already nine," Beckman noted.
"Gordon wants her to stay here in Elegia to develop her musical talent, but I refused," Shanks said.
"Honestly, it's not a bad idea," Beckman replied. "We're strong here in the East Blue, but when we return to the New World, things will be different. It's a brutal place of blood and fire. We can't give her the same kind of peace."
Uta had been shielded from that harsh reality. She didn't know about the Sea Emperors or the Warlords. The dangers of the New World were beyond her sheltered world.
"Captain, it might be best to decide soon. This place is ideal for her. The East Blue would be a safe place to leave her until we can return for her."
"I know, but Elegia's defenses are weak. Just a single pirate crew could tear through this art-loving kingdom." Shanks shook his head. "I was thinking of leaving her in Windmill Village. There's a troublesome officer there who can protect her."
"Oh, that place. Odd they haven't cleared out the mountain bandits." Beckman recalled the rough crowd lurking near the village.
"Who knows? The officer has his reasons. That's the guy who used to hunt down Captain Roger, after all," Shanks said, recalling the legendary clashes between Garp and Roger. For a human to reach such heights...
"Uta! Uta!" Luffy and the pirates cheered, tapping their chopsticks against bowls in rhythm.
The lively atmosphere was infectious, the kind of scene only a party could create—a bit like a low-key karaoke night at a bar. Even Luffy, immersed in the moment, had to admit it was enjoyable. Uta's singing brought joy to the otherwise mundane world that lacked modern entertainment.
As the night wore on, Luffy felt the day's exhaustion creeping in. Reaching for a cup of milk, he downed it in a few gulps. "Maybe I'll skip my evening workout. Just too tired…"
When Uta finished her two songs, the party started winding down, and the pirates began tidying up. Uta, still full of energy, noticed that Luffy had been cheering for her, giving her an unexpected thrill.
The two young friends strolled through the corridors of the kingdom's palace, Uta bubbling with joy.
"Are you sleepy yet, Uta?" Luffy asked, trying to keep his eyes open.
"Yep, very sleepy…" Her violet eyes gleamed with a mischievous glint as her lips curled into a sly smile.
"Goodnight, Uta." Luffy straightened up, ready to unleash his Conqueror's Haki as a sort of farewell, only to realize at the last moment that he couldn't use it here in the palace—he wasn't on the ship where he could let loose. The overwhelming aura of Haki faded before it even surfaced.
"Do-re-mi~" Uta sang sweetly into Luffy's ear. The gentle lullaby wrapped around him like a spell, and Luffy collapsed into her waiting arms.
"Serves you right for knocking me out all the time!" Uta huffed. "Now it's my turn to get back at you!"
In her dream world, Luffy's spirit—or perhaps his consciousness—appeared alongside her in the grand setting of Elegia's castle. Unless she changed the setting or summoned creatures, maintaining the dream didn't consume much of her stamina. Using her new powers, she could keep him here with ease.
Back in the real world, Uta dragged Luffy to his room, hauling his weight onto the bed with some effort. She flopped onto the bed beside him, catching her breath.
"Luffy's so heavy!" she grumbled, staring at his sleeping face before pulling off his shoes.
"Maybe I overdid it. I should have waited until he was in bed before casting the spell…" she muttered, conflicted but determined.
Reluctantly, Uta fetched a cloth and bowl of water. "If I'm supposed to be the big sister here, it's only natural to take care of him, right?"
She carefully unbuttoned his shirt, revealing his toned, youthful body underneath. She ran the cloth over him, wiping away the sweat. Her hands traced over the outline of his muscles, her face turning slightly pink.
"Hmph… still nowhere near as stro
ng as Shanks," she muttered, turning away to hide her embarrassment.
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