Pirate's Freedom

It was already afternoon when we arrived here.

In the excitement of playing and playing, time passed unknowingly.

It got dark for a while.

"It's so dark!"

Standing on the edge of the paddy field, Ila squinted her eyes and stared at the dark water.

"Nami, I can't see clearly."

"what!"

The three of them were all shocked.

"Oops!"

"It's already so late!"

Carrying a cage of loaches and shrimps, the three little girls hurried to the beach.

"Ira, remember-"

Nokigao and Nami looked at Ira seriously.

"Tonight, we will have dinner at your house."

"Ah."

Ira was not to be outdone.

"Then I'll have dinner at Nami and Nokigao's house!"

After unifying the caliber, it didn't take a while.

"what?"

Ira suddenly tugged on Nami's sleeve.

"Isn't that Kuina?"

There are neatly divided paddy fields in front, back and left.

They were walking on a dirt road in the fields, and there was a branch road leading to the dojo not far away.

The three of them looked over. By the paddy field near the dojo, Guina lowered her head and sat on the field ridge with her knees in her arms.

"Didn't she come home either?"

"wrong……"

Nami looked at the door of the dojo and then at Kuina.

"He must have run away from home!"

"Could it be that……"

Ila was horrified and said.

"runaway!"

"Idiot Ira!"

Nami didn't believe it at all.

"How can anyone run away from home and just walk to the door of their house?"

"but……"

Nuo Qigao's voice hesitated.

"She looked so sad."

"..."

Gradually slowing down her pace, and after a moment of silence, Nami suddenly spoke up.

"Stay a little longer."

"Is it okay?"

Although the confession has been reconciled, Ila is worried that if the time is later, Bellmere will come directly to her door.

"No...it's okay!"

Nami's voice paused.

"Because there is something important."

"Then, it doesn't matter to me."

The three little girls turned a corner and got closer and closer to Guina.

"..."

After looking up at them, Kuina lowered her head again.

"Hey!"

Ila jogged a few steps and sat on the ridge opposite Guina.

"Hey!"

Nami sat to the right of Ira.

"Hey!"

Noki sat high on Nami's right side.

stare--

The three of them held their cheeks and stared at Kuina silently.

After a moment.

"Hey! You guys! Aren't you going home yet?"

Kuina couldn't help it anymore.

"We'll talk about it later."

Nami waved her hand nonchalantly.

"..."

Kuina slowly frowned.

"How long will you stay?"

"Um……"

Nami thought for a while and said with a smile.

"How about waiting until you're not sad anymore?"

"...!!"

After sniffing, Kuina shouted fiercely.

"Don't mind your own business! Go home!"

"Eh? Are we meddling in other people's business?"

Ila was a little confused.

"Well……"

Nuo Qigao rubbed her chin.

"I don't think so."

"Hey!"

Guina was a little crazy.

"You guys...!!"

In the quiet night, the sound of running came from far away.

"Ah! You guys are kicking the gym!"

Seeing the three people on the side, the boy was stunned and slowed down.

"certainly not!"

As Ila yelled loudly, Guina turned to look at him.

"It's so late, what are you doing here?"

"Forget it, I'm here to have the 2001st duel with you."

Holding the scabbard with his hand to prevent the two samurai swords from dragging on the ground, Zoro said very seriously.

"This is the last duel between me and you, and I want to end it."

The blade and scabbard made a metallic clang sound, and Zoro raised the katana in front of him to signal.

"You have a real sword! Let's fight with me with a real sword!"

"...!!"

"Real sword..."

Nokigao and Nami looked very surprised.

Ila's head shook and her eyes looked left and right.

"And me……"

Kuina looked at the katana in his hand.

Zoro remained motionless, clenching his teeth and staring at her.

"..."

After looking at him for a while, Guina smiled slightly.

"All right!"

……

Isshin Dojo welcomes guests during the day, but at night, the courtyard appears deep.

As he walked, the man reached back and untied his apron.

At this time, Shihan had already said goodbye and left, and Koushiro knelt down in front of the desk in silence.

Almost silently, the paper door was gently opened.

"—"

The moment he turned to look at the person coming, a bright light flashed under Koushiro's glasses, and then disappeared immediately.

"excuse me."

Tata Tote took off his sleeves, rolled them up with his apron and put them to one side, then sat cross-legged opposite Koushiro.

"I'm really sorry for disturbing your dojo. I apologize for what happened during the day."

"We have guests coming from afar."

Koushiro poured a cup of tea and gently pushed it in front of him.

"What's the point of being rude?"

The tea, which was as clear as the blue sky, was illuminated clearly by the lights, and a tea leaf standing like a sword in the middle floated slightly.

"My idiot daughters, thank you for taking care of them."

"Just like you—"

Tata Tot's smile is warm.

"I'm just an... ordinary father."

"No, that's too much praise, I..."

Slowly opening his eyes, Koushiro's eyes were as lonely as frost and snow.

"You must be an idiot father."

Ten years ago, the era of great pirates had just begun.

A couple cuddled together in the corridor of the ashram, looking at the infant sleeping soundly in their arms.

[I originally wanted this child to inherit the dojo...]

The scornful swordsman restrained his sharp edge, his eyes as gentle as a stream of spring water.

[If it’s not a girl...]

[Ah la ah la~ It doesn’t matter!You will become stronger, right——】

Narrowly pinching the baby's slightly twitching nose, the evil-minded mother revealed a wicked smile.

[Gu~yi~na——]

【Wow wow wow wow...】

As time goes by, this person has passed away.

"Kuina...is a child who refuses to admit defeat. In order not to lose to her companions who are getting stronger, the child also practices harder...and begins to gradually break down the barriers of female swordsmen..."

"I feel bad for causing my own daughter to grieve."

"But……"

Koushiro lowered his eyes and murmured softly.

"Why are people so fragile?"

"yes……"

Tata Tote raised his glass and looked at the moonlight in the distance.

"Why...why are people so fragile..."

With a creaking sound, the door of the warehouse was pushed open forcefully, and the moonlight shone in, illuminating the katana that was solemnly placed on the knife stand in the deepest part of the warehouse.

"..."

Stepping forward and picking up the knife, Kuina took it out of its sheath, and the bright mirror-like blade reflected a pair of bright eyes.

Straight blade, thick sword, scabbard and handle are all white, simple and plain [big knife]——

"[Wado Yimonji]."

The clouds were thin, the moon was bright, and the wind blew through the grass, causing waves.

Kuina slowly formed the familiar sword structure.

Viewed from the opposite side, the upright blade divided her face into two extremely symmetrical halves.

"Nami, your palms are sweating a lot."

Ila suddenly whispered.

"is it?"

Nami stared straight ahead without blinking.

"Yes."

Nuo Qigao replied in a low voice.

The hands of the three little girls were clasped together.