POWAAAA...
DOMAIN EXPANSION: UNHINGED MEME REALM<----------
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Attendance Please:
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Usopp walked down the dirt path to Mia's house. Kaya had been staying there for five days following the incident.
The path felt longer than he remembered. Each step kicked up small clouds of dust that clung to his sandals. The wind carried the faint scent of wild mint from the garden Mia tended with stubborn care.
He heard from Taro that Kaya was afraid to return to her mansion. There was no one left now—no maids, no servants, not even old Merry, who had worked for her family since before she was born. Now, they were all gone. That mansion was a constant reminder of everything she had lost.
Old man Taro and Luffy's group walked a few steps behind him. They didn't want to interrupt his conversation with Kaya; they were there simply for support. Nami stood with her arms crossed, watching the back of Usopp's head with a look softer than pity. Zoro walked silently, his hand resting on one of his swords out of habit.
When Usopp finally reached Mia's house, he stopped and stared at the building for a while. The wooden beams of the veranda featured small carvings along the edges—tiny birds in flight, their wings frozen mid-flap.
He clenched and unclenched his fists, feeling nervous and uncertain. His palms were sweaty, and his throat felt dry. He didn't know what to say or how to begin.
Just then, Mia walked out. She stood in the doorway with her arms crossed, her gray hair pulled back into a tight bun, and looked at Usopp, who was standing there, fidgeting like a boy caught stealing plums.
She already knew why he was here. She had talked with Taro about it, and they both agreed: if Kaya was going to get better, she had to face Usopp, and Usopp had to face her.
"Are you just going to stand there all day?" Mia asked sharply. Her voice was stern, but her eyes were not unkind. "If you really want to do this, then go face her like a true warrior!" She pointed to the back of the house. "She's sitting on the back veranda. I already told her you were coming. Go. Talk to her."
Usopp took a deep breath and tried to calm himself down.
Then he walked around the house and went into the backyard.
And there, under the back veranda near the window, sat Kaya. She was on a wooden chair with her hands folded in her lap, her eyes distant—as if she were looking at something no one else could see. A small cup of tea sat beside her, untouched for so long that a thin skin had formed on its surface. A single plum petal rested on her shoulder, and she hadn't brushed it off.
He stood there, simply looking at her. She appeared different from how he remembered—more fragile, more distant, more tired. The sunlight fell on her face in a way that made her seem older, as if the past five days had etched something into her that time would not easily erase.
Silence settled between them, louder than any words.
Finally, Usopp spoke. "Hey Kaya, it's me, Usopp. I—" He paused, thinking. "—I don't know what to say. I won't claim to understand your pain or your suffering… because the truth is, I don't. I don't know what you're going through. I don't know the pain you feel or what it's like to be betrayed by someone you trusted."
He paused, and his lips began to quiver.
"But that doesn't mean you have to suffer alone. There are people who still care about you—the villagers, Aunt Mia, old man Taro… and me. I care about you, Kaya. After my mom died, I felt alone. Even with Aunt Mia and old man Taro looking after me, that loneliness never went away. So I started lying to get attention with my made-up stories. Even if everyone yelled at me and chased me off, at least it made me feel noticed. But then I met you… someone who didn't chase me away. Someone who listened to my lies without making fun of me. Someone who liked having me around. Someone I could truly call my best friend, my family. I like this village, Kaya. I care about its people, even if they ignore me. But the one I care about the most is you. You have a special place in my heart that only one other person holds—my mom. I care about your friendship. I care about the way you always smile at me when I tell my lies. I care about the way you wait for me every day. These memories mean more to me than any treasure or dream."
He clenched his fist.
"That's why I did what I had to do. Even if I let my anger take over, I don't regret killing Kuro. I would go down to hell and fight the gods themselves if it meant protecting you. Even if you hate me, despise me, or see me as some kind of monster—I can live with that, as long as you're safe. Because you matter to me." He paused, then continued. "There's one more thing… I'm going to leave soon with Luffy and the others. After everything that's happened, I don't think I can stay here anymore. All my life, I've felt like I've been living in my dad's shadow, like I've been lying to myself." He looked up at the sky. The clouds drifted slowly in the wind, indifferent to the troubles below. "Something out there, at sea—something is calling to me, Kaya… something I don't understand yet. I want to feel what it's like to go looking for that thing. I want to see the world—the good and the bad, the light and the dark. I want to see all of it. Not for the adventure or the dream, but because I want to experience it before I die."
He looked back at her.
"I hope you can understand me, Kaya. And I truly hope that someday you can forgive me."
He turned around. "Thank you for listening."
He started to walk away, but just as he was about to leave the backyard, he heard something that made him stop.
"So… you're leaving me too?" came Kaya's small, soft voice.
Usopp turned quickly and saw her looking at him with empty, hollow eyes. However, there was something stirring beneath the surface now—something that hadn't been there before.
"Just like my mom and dad, Merry, and all the others… you're abandoning me too!"
Usopp didn't say anything; he just listened.
Slowly, Kaya stood up from the chair and began walking toward him. Her body trembled—a reflex, a lingering trace of fear trying to keep her away from any man again, but she pushed through it. Her bare feet made soft sounds on the wooden floor, then on the grass. Step by step, each one a small act of defiance against the darkness that had tried to consume her.
She approached Usopp and stood directly in front of him.
He looked at her and waited.
Then she slapped him hard on the cheek. The sound cracked through the quiet backyard like a breaking branch.
But Usopp didn't look away; he didn't flinch.
Then another slap—followed by yet another.
He didn't resist. He simply allowed her to release all her anger, pain, and fear, everything, onto him. Each strike felt less like punishment and more like a prayer, a desperate attempt to feel something other than coldness.
Soon, Kaya's hands trembled from all the slaps, and she stopped.
Tears filled her eyes and rolled down her cheeks as she looked at him with emotions he couldn't name.
Then she threw herself toward him.
She buried her face in his chest, even as her mind screamed at her to run. She didn't listen; she simply held onto Usopp and cried.
Usopp stood frozen as Kaya hugged him, crying against his chest. He wanted to comfort her and wrap his arms around her, but he feared it might frighten her away.
So he just stood there, letting her cry out her pain, sadness, and hurt—all of it. He took it all without saying a word.
After a long time, Kaya remained there, still holding him tightly, unwilling to let go—as if she feared that releasing him would make him disappear.
Then she pulled her head back and looked up at him with red, swollen eyes.
"D-do you really mean it?" Her voice broke. "The things you said to me… all of that?"
Usopp looked down at her. "Every word. You mean something to me that I can't even understand. This feeling inside me—whenever I'm near you and you smile at me, my heart starts beating really fast. I don't even know what to call this feeling."
Kaya looked into his eyes, searching for something—a lie, a doubt, or a flaw in his honesty. But she found only truth, only care, and only something that resembled love.
She hadn't understood it before, but now she did—the way her heart fluttered when Usopp was near, the way she listened to his lies and made him feel seen, the way he made her smile even though he lived alone. Yes, she understood now. She liked him. She had fallen for him.
Slowly, she took his hands and wrapped them around herself. Then, she hugged him back and buried her face in his chest once more.
After everything that had happened, the fear and pain she had endured, she knew her life would never be the same. Whether for better or worse, she didn't know. None of that mattered right now.
She stood there in the arms of someone who truly cared for her—someone she truly cared for. Pressed against his chest, feeling his warmth, she was reminded of her late parents and their love for her. In that moment, she knew: this boy who lied, who told tall tales, the boy she had fallen for—he would always keep her safe. Because that's who he is. That's who Usopp really is.
They stayed like that for a long time, wrapped in each other. Nothing outside that moment mattered.
Then a light cough broke the silence.
They both jumped and saw Old Man Taro standing at the yard's entrance with a gentle smile. Aunt Mia stood beside him, looking proud. Behind them were Luffy, Yuji, Zoro, and Nami—all smiling.
Usopp and Kaya both blushed, as if caught doing something wrong. Kaya buried her face in Usopp's chest, her cheeks burning, but a relieved smile played on her lips.
"Looks like things went well," Taro said, looking at them like a father would.
"That they did," Mia replied.
Usopp rubbed the back of his head, too embarrassed to look at them. "Old man, Aunt Mia… wh-what are you doing here? I thought this was private."
"Well, we gave you some space to talk. But when we heard little Kaya crying, we thought something had gone wrong and hurried over. It seems you two worked it out on your own," Taro said.
"Kids really grow up fast, don't they, Taro?" Mia said with a distant look in her eyes.
"Yeah, they do," Taro replied.
Kaya pulled back and looked at them with grateful eyes. "Thank you all for everything you've done for me… and for Usopp." She then turned to Luffy and the others. "Thank you for accepting Usopp as he is and for standing by his side. And for protecting the village and me from the pirates and… Kuro." She said the last name quietly.
Usopp heard it and held her a little tighter.
Nami wiped her eyes. "No, Kaya, you don't have to thank us. We just did what was right. You're our friend too. Even though our start was a little rocky, I think we can move past it."
"Yeah, what Nami said!" Luffy said with a big smile. "I'm really glad to see you smiling again. Being sad isn't good. Smile and laugh more. We only have one life—who knows when it will end."
Everyone fell silent.
They all stared at Luffy.
Luffy looked around, confused. "Huh? What's wrong? Is there something on my face?"
A soft laugh escaped Kaya's lips. "No, Luffy-san, there's nothing wrong with your face. I'll try to follow your advice."
She paused, biting her lip. "Are you really taking Usopp with you?"
Luffy frowned. "No, I'm not taking anyone away. I asked him to join my crew, and he's coming on his own. But if you don't want him to go, I'll just beat him up so he stays."
"H-hey, don't throw me under the ship like that!" Usopp yelled.
But Kaya held his hand tightly and looked at him. "Usopp, the truth is… I want to be selfish right now. I really don't want you to leave."
"If that's what you want, then I won't."
Kaya cut him off. "No. Don't force yourself for me. I know how much you want to go—how much your heart longs for the sea, for the freedom to chase something impossible. So I won't hold you back."
Usopp hesitated. "Are you sure?"
Kaya nodded. "Yes. But I want you to remember something: I want you to come back to me after your journey. After you've done what you want to do, you will come back to me, so we can live the rest of our lives together."
Usopp blushed but nodded. "I promise you, Kaya, that after my journey, I will come back to you and live the rest of my life with you."
"No," Kaya said softly. "I don't want a promise. Promises can be broken. I want something that will be just ours—something that will always remind you of me."
"I—I don't know anything about that—"
But she abruptly cut him off by kissing him on the lips.
Usopp's eyes widened. He felt her soft lips against his, and the world seemed to stop.
Taro and Mia both raised their eyebrows.
Zoro looked away, scratching his head. He wasn't accustomed to dealing with all this emotional stuff.
Nami made a soft sound as she watched the heartfelt scene.
Yuji smiled warmly, relieved to see them finally leave their pain behind.
And Luffy? Well, he—
"WAAAH… SHE'S EATING HIM!"
That immediately ruined the mood.
Nami punched him on the head, knocking him flat onto the ground.
"YOU IDIOT! YOU RUINED EVERYTHING!"
Taro and Mia looked down at Luffy with expressions of deep disappointment.
Kaya buried her face in Usopp's chest, her ears flushed red.
Usopp, meanwhile, was in a daze from his first kiss. A goofy, silly smile spread across his lips, and his eyes were slightly unfocused.
Then Kaya pulled back just enough to look at Luffy and the others. "If you don't mind me asking, when you first came to see me, were you looking to buy a ship?"
Everyone looked at her. "Huh?"
Yuji stepped forward. "Well… yeah, that's why we wanted to meet you. But you don't have to give us anything."
Kaya shook her head. "No, please. You all have done so much for us. This is the least I can do."
Luffy shot up from the ground. "Huh? Really?"
Kaya nodded. "Yes, and I think I have something just right for you."
Luffy's smile grew wide. "Yosh! Thanks, you're a lifesaver!"
Taro's eye twitched. "As if I weren't ready to give you my own ship! You broke my heart, Straw Hat brat!"
"Huh? What did I do?" Luffy asked, genuinely confused.
Mia started laughing, a deep, wheezy, joyful sound, at Luffy's utterly genuine expression.
"Hey, stop laughing, you old witch! You're making it worse!" Taro said, but Mia only laughed harder.
Zoro and Yuji started chuckling as well. Nami rubbed her forehead at Luffy's foolishness but couldn't hide her smile.
Kaya looked at them all and smiled softly. Then she hugged Usopp again—not out of fear this time, but out of certainty.
Usopp hugged her back and looked up at the sky.
The clouds continued to drift, and the wind kept blowing. Yet, something felt different now, lighter.
'I'm not just going to be a brave warrior,' he thought. 'I'm going to be a better person.'
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