Under the trees, the delighted boy held up his sword.
The straw-hat boy relaxed his body, his gaze towards the silver-haired youth filled with curiosity.
The girl behind them, however, looked at the boy with much more complex emotions.
There was joy, apprehension, fervor, faith, and gratitude.
"Hello! I believe you know who I am, and I know you from Uncle Ajian."
Facing the girl, Kouta stepped forward proactively, extended his hand, and smiled, "You're Nami, right! I heard your dream is to draw a map of the entire world. It's a difficult dream, but I believe you'll achieve it."
"K-K-K-Kouta-san, h-hello!"
Nami was no longer her usual wild self. At this moment, she was merely overcome with the excitement of meeting her idol.
She tremulously extended her hand, firmly grasping Kouta's right hand. As she shook it, her cheeks flushed, and she exclaimed loudly, "Thank you~ Thank you~"
This thank you was something she had wanted to say for a long time.
After all, Arlong had been her inner demon for many years, a colossal weight on her destiny.
And the boy who killed Arlong was, naturally, her idol, her belief.
"Haha! Actually, you don't need to be like this. If you're Zoro's friend, you're my friend. In front of friends, there are no benefactors, no 'world's strongest,' only friends."
Withdrawing his hand, Kouta spoke.
"Yes, only friends."
Zoro sheathed the Shuusui, hung it at his waist, and then turned, patting Luffy's shoulder again.
He could tell that since Kouta's appearance, Luffy had been in a state of tension. He didn't know what Luffy felt from Kouta, but the entire person seemed like a rabbit thrown into a lion's cage. Even though the lion did nothing, the rabbit remained tense.
"I know."
Luffy shook his head, suppressing his feelings. When he looked up again, a smile graced his face.
"Since we're friends, let's have a feast together!"
He thought a feast was the best way to forget everything and find his usual joy.
"Haha! Alright."
Kouta burst into laughter and made a sweeping motion behind him.
A void gate appeared rapidly in the forest, and the other side was familiar to the three of them.
Was it not the only bar in Foosha Village?
And at the bar's entrance, they saw Kuina and the others, the two-masted ship moored on the sea in front of the door, and the enormous Morro, as large as a small mountain.
The three of them were full of curiosity about Morro.
It was their first time seeing such a colossal human.
"Let's go!"
Outside the void gate, Kouta nodded to the three and stepped through.
After observing the void gate for a moment, the three, led by Zoro, entered the portal and vanished into the forest.
Kouta and his crew didn't linger in Foosha Village for long before continuing their journey towards the Isshin Dojo.
As the sunset's afterglow illuminated the familiar coast and harbor, the Going Merry, bathed in golden waves like shattered gold, slowly sailed into the harbor of Shimotsuki Village and docked at the deep-water pier.
"Haha! Little Kouta, what makes you decide to come back now?"
Although Shimotsuki Village was remote, it wasn't isolated. Long ago, the villagers had learned from newspapers that Kouta and his crew had gone to the Grand Line.
Following the news that had spread worldwide and Kouta's live broadcasts, Shimotsuki Village had even cleared a space in the village and played Kouta's songs and Uta's live streams whenever possible. That area had become the square where villagers rested after work each day.
Before the Going Merry even entered the harbor, news of Kouta's return had spread throughout the village.
Consequently, the port was now packed.
Shimotsuki Village, though small, had a considerable population, as it was the only port on this island connecting to the sea.
After the Going Merry docked, the silver-haired youth and others appeared at the ship's side.
The elder at the forefront couldn't hold back and loudly asked, "You are the pride of our village now. We've all come to welcome you."
"Heh heh! Uncle Kura, this is not proper. You're of age, we should be the ones visiting you!"
Kouta took a step and instantly appeared beside the old man, holding his arm.
"That's right! Uncle Kura, have the fruit trees behind your house ripened yet?"
Awa and the other two leaned over the ship's side and shouted to Uncle Kura.
"Haha! You three rascals."
Uncle Kura chuckled and shook his head, then his gaze fell upon Kuina, who had disembarked. "Little Kuina, you've grown into a young lady!"
He then glanced at Kouta, his eyes filled with satisfaction and affection.
"Brother Kouta, Brother Kouta, Brother Kouta, tell us, tell us stories of the sea and your heroic deeds."
Just then, a group of little rascals rushed out from the crowd, surrounding Kouta, their large eyes filled with longing and curiosity.
"Want to hear stories?"
"Yes!"
Not only the children nodded, but the surrounding villagers also collectively nodded.
"Haha! I won't tell you."
With that, Kouta burst into laughter and vanished. "Go ask your Brother Tao and the others!"
"Hmph! So stingy."
The villagers had long grown accustomed to Kouta's abilities, so his disappearance didn't surprise them.
Seeing they couldn't get stories from Kouta, the little rascals immediately swarmed forward, grabbing Awa and the other two, refusing to let go until they told stories.
Of course, they dared not grab Kuina, as she was the undisputed "great demon king" of the village. Even as children, she had spanked them with a bamboo sword.
"Uncle Kura, I'm taking my friends back to the dojo to see my father. If you have anything, ask Brother Tao and the others!"
After Kouta disappeared, Kuina took his place. She then raised her head and shouted to the surrounding villagers, "We're having a feast at the Isshin Dojo tomorrow! Everyone must come!"
"Haha! Understood, Little Kuina."
"No, not Little Kuina, you're a young lady now, Kuina."
"Right, right!!"
Hearing the teasing, familiar laughter from around her, Kuina's face broke into a gentle smile.
Shimotsuki Village was their home, and the people here were like family.
Returning to their hometown, though with a hint of apprehension, was filled with warmth.
Shaking her head, Kuina gave instructions to Awa and the other two, then, with Robin and the others, walked through the parted crowd and entered the village, heading towards the dojo built on the mountainside at the village's far end.
With Awa and the others present, the dock wasn't empty after Kouta and his crew left. The three of them were completely different now, reveling in the joy of showing off their achievements to their loved ones.
Especially the adoring gazes of the children, which gave them a greater sense of accomplishment than defeating powerful pirates at sea.
After all, family and outsiders were different, weren't they?