Shanks looked at the adorable little girl in front of him, wondering how best to explain why her idea was misguided. Luffy, meanwhile, was enjoying the show from the sidelines.
"Shanks, what do you think of my plan?" Uta asked, snuggling into his chest like a playful kitten, rubbing her soft cheek against him.
"Uta, that kind of thinking isn't right," Shanks said gently, patting her on the head. "No one can just abandon the real world to live in a virtual one."
"But Shanks," Uta asked, tilting her head, "if the real world is empty, doesn't that make it no different from a virtual one?"
That was already a question steeped in philosophy, but Shanks simply stroked her hair, not taking her words too seriously. After all, it would take a great deal of time and effort to draw the entire world into listening to her song.
Plus, children's ideas tend to change quickly, and there wasn't enough time for Uta to achieve such a flawed vision.
"You'll understand when you're older," Shanks said with a warm smile.
As Uta's singing stopped, the dream world began to crumble. She had overextended herself, pulling too many people into her world and reconstructing the music hall from Elegia, not to mention creating the feast.
Her stamina drained rapidly, and maintaining the dream world was now a matter of minutes.
Shanks took this as further evidence of his belief—Uta's dream of bringing eternal happiness was limited by her physical constraints.
Uta tilted her head up to Shanks and asked, "Why do I have to grow up to understand?"
"That's a secret," he replied, placing his straw hat on her head. "But once you've traveled the world, you'll know."
With a pout, Uta clung to his arm, burying her head in his chest.
...
Luffy, gnawing on a piece of roasted meat, noticed the surroundings shifting. He suddenly felt as if he'd slipped into a deeper layer of the dream. Uta was now sitting in a garden.
"Luffy, Shanks says my idea is wrong," Uta said, her tone glum as she sat on a swing, wearing Shanks's hat.
"Well, that's pretty much a given," Luffy replied between bites of meat.
As an adult, Shanks would, of course, correct any outlandish ideas kids might have, though he wouldn't go into detail—just a simple "you'll understand when you're older."
"Luffy, do you think growing up really is that magical? That all of a sudden, you just understand everything?" Uta asked, genuinely curious.
"Dunno. Don't ask me about stuff that far off," Luffy said with a smile. "I don't even know where the universe ends, let alone stuff like that."
"Stupid Luffy!" Uta said, rolling her eyes, but Luffy's carefree smile only deepened.
"I want to grow up quickly," Uta said, lifting Shanks's hat. "If Shanks says it's wrong, then I guess I'll wait until I grow up to see what's right."
Children don't tend to overthink things. If adults tell them something's wrong, they often accept it, even if they're curious about the reason.
Though a bit reluctant, Uta accepted that her plan might be flawed—simply because Shanks said so.
And that was why Luffy preferred leaving Uta's guidance to Shanks. Adults held a certain authority over children that peers couldn't quite match.
"Well, I don't want to grow up fast. Being a kid is way more fun," Luffy said, embracing his second chance at youth.
"Stupid Luffy, there are things only grown-ups know!" Uta retorted, hands on her hips.
"Then it's fine not knowing," Luffy replied with a shrug.
"You just don't get how amazing grown-ups are," she said, feeling like he was simply arguing for the sake of it.
"Adults make mistakes and act foolishly too," Luffy countered, smiling as he bit into his meat.
"But grown-ups know a lot of things! Shanks didn't even tell me why my idea was wrong," she muttered, still feeling her plan was perfect.
"That's because your understanding of happiness is too shallow, Uta," Luffy replied, his expression turning serious.
"Happiness from just listening to music is limited. The joy you're offering only covers things like food, drinks, and fun."
He turned his back to her, making a fist. "But people's desires go way beyond that!"
"The happiness Uta offers is far too shallow to meet people's needs, and that's why it's wrong."
In her view, the black, burning sun design flickered in Luffy's eyes.
"Like what?" She tilted her head, staring curiously at him.
For instance… sex? Is that something you can even discuss with a kid? And is it something Uta could provide?
All of Luffy's cool demeanor evaporated as he scratched his head. "I'm not telling you! Especially since you called me an idiot."
"See? You don't know anything either!" she huffed, frustrated that he wouldn't satisfy her curiosity. "Stupid! Mean!"
She yawned, stretching. "I'm sleepy. Remember to carry me back to my room later…"
"And wash my feet too. You don't have to change my clothes, though."
"What? No way!" Luffy's eyes widened at her shameless request.
"What's the big deal? I helped wash you before!" she retorted.
"When?" he demanded, just as wide-eyed.
"I don't care! I'm not going to bed like this!" Embarrassment creeping up on her, Uta raised her voice.
And just like that, the plan of the "Evil Uchiha Uta" for an eternal Tsukuyomi was shelved for the time being.
Everyone returned to reality, stretching as they sat up.
They laughed, watching the little girl peacefully asleep. "Uta's voice really is something else…"
"Luffy, could you carry Uta back to her room?" Shanks asked.
Luffy nodded, gazing at the sleeping princess. He reached out to gently support her neck and knees, lifting her with ease.
After laying her on her bed, he took off her sandals, admiring the warmth radiating from her tiny feet. Perhaps he should wash them for her, after all.
With a sigh, he fetched some warm water and a clean towel, soaking her feet and watching as the water covered her delicate ankles.
Carefully, he cleaned between her toes and under her nails, appreciating the graceful curves and perfect shape of each foot. Then, as a final touch, he couldn't resist tickling her sole lightly.
In an instant, her foot jerked away, and a second later, the other one kicked him square in the face, knocking hi
m back.
Her violet eyes fluttered open, her face and neck tinged pink with embarrassment.
"Stupid… Luffy!"
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