Up in the sky, the bandage man flew while carrying Kaya.
Kaya was afraid of heights, but she slowly opened her eyes. Below her stretched a vast, cloud-like sea and a wide view of the island. Sunlight brushed her face, and the scenery before her was something she would never forget. Her arms tightened around the man's neck.
She stared at the beautiful sky she had never seen from this angle before. Then, in a gentle voice, while gazing toward the horizon, she spoke.
"Thank you for your help. And like I said… I'll do anything you ask."
The man replied quietly,
"T-then p-please… c-cherish y-your l-life… a-and l-live w-well."
Kaya didn't answer right away. She continued looking at the sky before saying softly, "You don't need to say that. I'm doing it by my own desire… and for my dream."
"O-okay," he said simply.
Then Kaya turned her gaze to him. Her eyes did not waver as she spoke again.
"If ever I fall for someone like you… would you be willing to love me back?"
The man did not flinch at the question.
He answered calmly,
"D-do y-you b-believe i-in f-fate?"
"Yes," Kaya replied without hesitation. "That's why I met you, right? Isn't that fate?"
"T-then… i-if s-so," he said, "l-let f-fate d-decide. I-if y-you s-still h-haven't f-found y-your t-true o-one… t-then i-ill a-accept y-your k-kindness. A-and n-not b-because y-you j-just w-want t-to p-pay m-me b-back f-for w-what i-i d-did."
Kaya didn't respond. She turned her attention back to the view as they began descending toward her mansion.
Fwoooooosh.
The man gently landed near the entrance of the mansion.
"W-we're h-here," he said. "P-please t-take c-care o-of y-your h-health."
But Kaya didn't let go immediately. She remained holding onto his neck and said softly, "Then I'll wait… and let fate decide."
She slowly released her arms and stepped back.
As she turned to leave, she paused and spoke again, her voice vibrant and full of life.
"And remember—if what you said wasn't just about paying you back, then you'll have to take responsibility if I end up single."
The bandage man heard her clearly.
"A-as y-you w-wish… m-my l-lady…"
Swoooosh.
Kaya didn't look back. She knew she wouldn't see him—there wouldn't be a single trace left. She smiled faintly.
"Let fate decide for us," she whispered.
Then she hurried back inside. She had a future to prepare for—her studies, her dream, her life.
Merry stood near the entrance, opening the door for Miss Kaya. He had heard everything and smiled at the new atmosphere surrounding the household.
Kaya entered quietly.
Merry bowed toward the outside. Kaya didn't notice—but the bandage man hadn't left yet. He hovered above, wings gently flapping.
Merry bowed again, this time toward him.
"Thank you for your help."
"N-no n-need," the bandage man replied softly. "I-i n-needed i-it t-too."
Then he whispered into the air,
"G-goodb-bye, K-Kay— I-i m-mean… m-my l-lady."
Kaya heard the words. She hurriedly turned around—
But he was no longer there.
Kaya looked at the empty sky and whispered,
"Thank you."
On their new ship, they waited for the bandage man to return.
"Why is he taking so long?" Nami muttered, irritation creeping into her voice.
Usopp and Luffy were busy doing something behind her.
Nami glanced up at the sky in the direction he had gone, but there was still no trace of the gold man. Then she felt it again—a sudden gust of wind from behind. Instinctively, she turned around.
In the crow's nest, the bandage man was staring down at them.
Nami didn't bother saying anything. She simply walked to the helm and turned it sharply.
The sudden force made the ship lurch. Usopp, Luffy, and even Zoro—who hadn't been holding onto anything—rolled across the deck and slammed their heads against the railing.
"Oy… watch it," Zoro said groggily, waking up as his head bumped against the deck.
Luffy didn't feel any pain, but Usopp was a different story.
"Itaaaai!" he screamed, smacking his face against the railing again. "Hey, at least give us a warning!"
Nami ignored them. She didn't know why, but she felt irritated for some reason.
Usopp wanted to argue more, but Luffy interrupted him.
"Usopp, let's just finish it already. Oh—I got distracted."
Zoro finally sat up and noticed a black cloth lying on the deck.
"Are you doing the flag?" he asked.
"Shishishishi… well—" Luffy said. "Zoro, why don't you look at this?"
He pulled out a black cloth from his pants and spread it out. On it was a mosaic-like skull wearing a straw hat.
"What is this?" Zoro said flatly. "This is our flag? It looks like a ghost."
"What are you saying?" Luffy protested. "I'm one of the best artists ever."
"Are you blind?" Zoro snapped. "There's no way we're putting that up."
"That's what I told him," Usopp said. "So we're making something new—and more artistic."