Chapter 325: Yoshino (Part 2)
Eric clasped his hands together. "Sorry, did I scare you?"
Yoshino moved her left hand, and Yoshino tilted her head in response to her actions. "Well, since big brother apologized, it would be wrong for me to keep being aggressive."
Because the girl in front of him was so small, Eric bent down to get a closer look at Yoshino's face, but the rabbit doll suddenly intruded between them, blocking his view.
"So, where is this place?" The doll's mouth kept opening and closing. "Yoshino's head suddenly has some new memories..."
The rabbit doll's short arms were placed on its head, swaying its body back and forth as if trying to show it was thinking.
"The skyscrapers in the city are gone, the people who used to bully Yoshino aren't here, but you guys showed up..."
"Ah, my name is Darren Eric , and these two are Kurumi Tokisaki and Miku . You should have some common topics with them."
Eric then added, "That big sister over there is Esdeath. Though she looks scary, she is very kind to her companions."
Eric added in his mind: 'Though it seems your real age might be older than Esdeath's…'
"Ah, ahhh..." Yoshino carefully looked back and forth at the three people, while the doll's head nodded up and down, giving the impression that it was observing them carefully.
Kurumi, who was holding Miku back from rushing forward and shouting "So cute, so cute," smiled gently and introduced herself: "We are also elves."
"Eh?" The doll let out a small surprised sound as the hood slightly moved, and the girl seemed to want to take a closer look at the two of them.
Kurumi's white top and black skirt were soon covered by a thick shadow, and her slender figure was now wrapped in a red and black gothic dress.
Miku also summoned her spiritual outfit, and her originally light purple coat and pink dress disappeared, replaced by a magnificent outfit resembling a light-based gown.
[Divine Might Spiritual Outfit · Third Version]
[Divine Might Spiritual Outfit · Ninth Version]
"I see, you're also elves, that makes Yoshino feel more at ease!" Yoshino nodded with her arms crossed. "Looks like I've found kindred spirits and no longer have to worry about being attacked by those people."
Yoshino silently nodded, her animal-like eyes secretly glancing at the two.
"How terrible." Miku , filled with righteous indignation, clenched her small fists. "What kind of person would bully such a cute child?!"
"I don't know~? They wear strange equipment, and as soon as they find Yoshino, they attack with so much pain," Yoshino's voice was full of distress, then she laughed out loud.
"You don't have to fear those magicians anymore." Eric comforted her. "They won't be able to find you here."
"Really?" Yoshino clapped her hands with joy. "Yoshino and Yoshino are so cute, but no one seems to like us..."
"By the way, where is this place?" Yoshino asked again.
"This is an island in the New World, a volcanic island," Kurumi answered for Eric . "Though there are no magicians here as you said, there are many other bad people."
"Eh?" The rabbit doll made its high-pitched sound. "Are we going from the frying pan into the fire? This really is a terrible experience."
"Don't worry, with big brother and big sister protecting you, no one can hurt you." Kurumi took care of Yoshino as if she were a child.
"Mm-mm!" Miku nodded enthusiastically.
"Yoh~!" The rabbit doll spoke cheerfully. "That's reliable, big brother and big sister!"
The rabbit doll asked, "So, who are these bad people here?"
"Pirates."
"Hah?"
"There are lots of pirates here."
"..." The doll opened its mouth in a daze, remaining silent.
It wasn't a mistake—Yoshino's small body quivered slightly.
"Ahhahaha, big sis~ sis, you sure know how to joke." The doll shook its head and laughed. "This isn't the 15th to 17th century, how could there be so many pirates?"
The rabbit doll moved closer to Kurumi's face and raised a hand in protest. "You can't scare Yoshino on purpose!"
"Hah~" Kurumi rubbed her forehead, and Miku scratched the back of her head, feeling troubled. "I didn't believe it at first either, but once you set sail, you'll see those pirates."
"..." After a brief silence, the rabbit doll asked for confirmation, "Is this true?"
"..." Kurumi and Miku nodded silently.
The rabbit doll held its head. "Yoshino thought all those memories were lies..."
"Yoshino isn't going to sail." The doll immediately responded. "That's too dangerous, it's not like the Great Pirate Era!"
"This island is uninhabited," Kurumi explained. "It's often erupting with volcanoes, and you wouldn't survive on your own!"
"Yoshino is two people!" The rabbit doll initially protested but then crossed its arms, thinking, "Hmm..."
How do you make the doll act so realistically with just one hand? I really wish those 'cool' actors would learn how to do this.
"These pirates may be fierce, but they aren't our opponents~" Kurumi said with confidence.
"Are you not some big shots?" The doll's mood lifted.
"Eh? Us? We're pirates too!" Miku blurted out without thinking.
"..."
The heated atmosphere immediately fell silent, and Yoshino seemed to want to turn and run away.
With her teammate's awkward comment, Kurumi groaned in frustration. She immediately called out to Yoshino: "We won't do anything to you."
"Just trust us this time?"
"..." Seeing that the others didn't intend to do anything, the rabbit doll spoke again. "In that case, please take good care of Yoshino, please~"
Eric finally relaxed and began looking at Yoshino's profile:
[Name: Yoshino]
[Age: ??]
[Physique: 1.5 stars]
[Armament Haki: 0]
[Observation Haki: 0]
[Devil Fruit: Seven Stars]
[Carried Angel: Ice Puppet, capable of freezing a large surrounding area with rain and cold air, can create defensive barriers that freeze everything within its range.]
[Bond Level: 1 (Normal Friend)]
[Comprehensive Battle Power: 5.5 stars]
[Note: Recognized as 'Hermit,' lives a hospital-like life due to her frail body, cared for by her mother, Kiyomoto Nagisa. She was healed and lost her memories after receiving a spiritual crystal from Mio Kurumomi, becoming an elf.]
As Eric examined the panel, Miku , with her white-gloved hand, tapped her lip and asked, "By the way, what's up with this doll? Is Yoshino always using ventriloquism?"
"..."
The lively rabbit doll suddenly went silent.
Kurumi facepalmed. "No... Why are you suddenly asking about this?"
"Eh...? I was just curious why she doesn't speak unless she uses ventriloquism." Miku looked innocent. "She hardly speaks with her mouth..."
After Miku voiced her question, the doll slowly leaned its face closer.
"I don't understand, Miku . What does ventriloquism mean?"
The rabbit doll's tone was calm, and its expression was completely unchanged, unlike the previously emotional one.
For some reason, Miku felt a pressure and took a step back.
"No, this is..." Although Miku appeared older, she had a childlike personality.
"Sorry... Yoshino is just Yoshino... ahaha..." Miku laughed awkwardly from the doll's cold presence.
"Really, Miku , you love to joke~"
The tense atmosphere dispersed like smoke, and the doll let out another sharp high-pitched sound.
Eric gently flicked Miku on the head, and Miku "Kuye" covered her forehead, her tear-filled eyes looking at Eric .
Eric 's gaze held a tenderness, implying she hadn't done anything wrong, and Miku relaxed.
Eric invited, "So, Yoshino. Want to come aboard our ship and embark on an incredible and thrilling journey?"
Yoshino's mood immediately lifted, and the doll clapped its tiny hands:
"Yes~! I've always wanted to take a cruise~ By the way, I've never been on a sailing ship or sailed on the ocean before, please take good care of me..."
The doll laughed happily.
...
"Yoha~" Upon seeing the steel warship, the doll let out a gasp, and the girl looked up, revealing her exquisitely doll-like face hidden beneath the large green hood.
"Yoshino thought the first time sailing would be on a sailing ship or a cruise, but it turned out to be a battleship from the WWII era... Captain, you're really something!"
"Thank you for the compliment." Eric responded like a gentleman, performing a noble gesture. "Due to the abundance of pirates, I had to build such a battleship. I hope it makes Yoshino feel safe."
"That's really dependable." The doll raised its hand high. "Yoshino's safety is now in Eric 's hands!"
◇
"This new girl is really too timid, huh?" Esdeath was very displeased with Yoshino's weak character. "Leave her to me, I'll train her for a while."
"Oh, you'll probably kill her, right?" Kurumi disagreed, consulting Eric . "Eric -, do you know why she's like this?"
Miku 's silver-purple eyes also turned to Eric , wanting to know more about their new companion.
"Her name is Yoshino, and she lost her memories after becoming an elf," Eric thought back to his incomplete memories. "When she put on the doll, there was another personality inside her, existing alongside her."
"Eh?" Everyone was stunned.
"In the conversation earlier, Yoshino handed all the responses to Yoshino, intending to enter a closed-off state within her mind."
"So when the doll was lost, she became so timid?" Kurumi nodded as if she understood. "Creating another personality is often to escape from extreme pain, like abuse. Was she abused before?"
"Oh?" Esdeath seemed interested. "Do you need my expertise?"
"No need." Eric rolled his eyes. "Yoshino didn't create the other personality for herself, but to suppress her own powers and prevent harming others."
"..." Eric 's room fell into a deep silence.
"So, who is she afraid of hurting?"
"AST—the Elf Suppression Team, the magicians who attack elves. Miku , you know about them, right?"
"Yes..." Miku nodded. "We need to be careful to avoid them."
"If it were me, I'd kill anyone attacking me." Esdeath didn't understand Yoshino's mindset. "She actually split her mind just to avoid hurting others?"
"So you're a psychopath." Kurumi coldly stared at Esdeath. "Don't try to corrupt such a kind girl."
"AST isn't entirely wrong. When elves show up, they destroy everything around them. For humanity, they have to clear the threat." Eric couldn't deny their approach, though he believed it was a matter of perspective.
Kurumi lowered her eyes. "A girl this kind, I don't want her... she should stay on the ship. At least it'll protect her safety."
"But to make her true personality brave, this won't do." Eric shared his viewpoint.
"Let me train her, it'll be quick."
Everyone muttered, "That'll probably create four or five other personalities!"
"I have a plan," Eric recalled the steps for strategies. "We..."
...
The group left the room and entered the lounge, where several girls around Yoshino's age were together.
Kuina, Wendy, Porche, and Perona were with Yoshino, who hid her face and conversed through her doll.
The four, who had already been warned by Eric , didn't question her actions.
"I didn't expect there to be so many kind people on the Fearless." The doll's big mouth opened and closed. "Now I feel at ease."
"What are you talking about?" Eric joined them.
"No, no~" Yoshino used her strange high voice to refuse. "This is a topic for girls only, Eric -kun can't eavesdrop on our secrets~"
"Ahahaha..."
Eric awkwardly laughed, then noticed Kuina's slightly upset expression. Kuina, with her boyish temper, was starting to lose patience.
"Kuina, it's fine." Eric 's voice made her feel relieved.
"Excuse me." Kuina got up and left with her black sword, Shusui.
Eric followed Kuina out, leaving the four girls behind.
"Yo?" The doll's face showed a worried expression. "Did I say something wrong? Did I upset her?"
"No, no." Wendy waved her hands in denial, explaining to Kuina. "It's her training time."
"Sorry about that~ I'll apologize to her next time." Yoshino was very polite.
"It's fine." Wendy laughed. "She won't hold a grudge."
"What's she training for? Why the rush?"
"Swordsmanship. Kuina wants to become the world's greatest swordsman."
The doll tilted its head. "Oh, what an impressive goal. Could it be... that you're forced to fight?"
"No, Eric -kun would never force us to fight. I volunteered!"
Perona mumbled so only they could hear: "But I was forced to fight, with Marine Admirals Akainu and Marine Hero Garp !"
"Why?"
"Because I want to protect the Dawn Pirates!" Wendy seemed to be surrounded by holy light.
"Oh...!" The doll clapped enthusiastically.
The girls' conversation continued until late at night...
...
Yoshino spent the first few days on the ship happily and peacefully until one morning when she looked at the floor in panic, searching. Her left hand was empty.
(END CHAPTER)
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