harleyscars Chapter 86 My Sister's Confidence
Chapter 86 My Sister's Confidence
Every day at home, Moko dresses Uta up to be incredibly cute. Today, Uta is wearing an orange-red cross-collar jacket embroidered with white gardenias, paired with a white red jacket skirt with gardenia stitching. She has her hair in two buns and two small red flowers with hanging gold tassels. She looks like a glutinous rice ball bringing good news, so festive and adorable.
How could anyone not like such an adorable Uta? Within two days, Garp was completely smitten with his new granddaughter. Whenever he returned from Windmill Village, he would always bring back some delicious food and fun toys for Moko and Uta. As for Ace and Luffy, they remained the same, being chased by Garp from the yard to the forest every day. The difference in treatment was quite obvious. Garp's behavior perfectly illustrated that granddaughters are treasures and grandsons are worthless. Thinking about this, Moko found it particularly amusing.
On the seventh day after the New Year, Moko and Garp decided to return to Marineford. Since the selection of the Navy Admiral had been finalized, there were bound to be many initial tasks to be done. Also, since Garp had skipped work to come back, he didn't know how angry Sengoku was. Garp had to go back and appease his old brother, otherwise what if he didn't get a vacation next time?
"Is my sister going back now?"
Luffy clung to Moko's arm, looking at her with teary eyes. Moko couldn't come back anytime she wanted like before. Since Moko entered the Grand Line, she had more and more work at sea, and the amount of work that Moko needed to handle personally was increasing. Moko often had to spend a large part of her free time dealing with the affairs of Moko's affiliated islands, so she could come back even less often. This made Luffy, who had been raised by Moko since he was a child, extremely reluctant to leave her.
Although Ace was also reluctant to part with Moko, he was now a big kid and had to take care of himself and his younger siblings. Therefore, he couldn't act like Luffy and act spoiled, making his sister worry. There were only five years left. After he set sail, he would definitely build his own pirate crew as quickly as possible to bring his sister out of the Navy.
"You brat, if you can't bear to part with your sister, then train hard and join the navy someday."
"No way! I'm going to be the Pirate King! I want to be as strong as Shanks!"
"boom!"
"it hurts!"
Garp was so angry that veins were popping out on his forehead. He raised his huge fist and glared fiercely at Luffy, who was as stubborn as a mule. Luffy covered the bump on his head and quickly hid behind Moko, staring at Garp with stubborn eyes, not showing any weakness. He was determined to become a pirate and a man as strong as Shanks, strong enough to protect his sister.
Moko sighed and shook her head at Garp. Garp looked at Moko for a while, and finally sighed deeply. He didn't understand why his grandson was so obsessed with being a pirate. What was so good about being a pirate?
Moko noticed Garp's dejected state and didn't know how to persuade him. She understood Garp's thoughts, but she wouldn't interfere with the children's future choices. Whether they were marines, pirates, or ordinary people, the children should just move forward and pursue what they wanted. She would always be there for them; she would always be their safety net.
The children don't need to know these things, and Moko won't tell them either. What's more important now is to help the children understand that separation is inevitable.
"Luffy, there are still many things on the high seas that your sister needs to handle. If your sister doesn't go there, Yubi and the others will have to do all the work themselves, which is very pitiful."
Moko tried to explain to Luffy in a straightforward way that he could understand. As Luffy listened to Moko, he thought about how Moko used to have to deal with a lot of documents every day, with papers filled with dense text that would give him a headache just by looking at them. Yubi and the others were very good to him, and he couldn't be so selfish as to monopolize his sister.
"Then you should come back to see me, Ace, and Uta more often, and call me every day."
Luffy clung tightly to Moko's clothes, his voice barely audible. Moko smiled and nodded, affectionately flicking Luffy's nose.
"Okay, I promise I'll come back to see Luffy, Ace, and Uta-chan often, and I'll call Luffy every day."
"Then let's make a pinky promise."
Moko hooked Luffy's outstretched little finger and shook it, "Pinky promise, no take-backs, liars don't get any meat."
"No, no, sister can't go without meat. I'll share my meat with sister."
Luffy is actually very smart. He knows that his sister is busy every day to earn Berries to buy meat for him and Ace. But even though she is busy, she has never neglected them. Now that his sister has gone to a more distant place to earn Berries, she definitely can't come back often. His sister works so hard, he can eat less meat, but he can't live without his sister, after all, he loves his sister the most.
Luffy looked so cute and adorable that Moko couldn't resist hugging him and rubbing her face against his forehead. Actually, Moko could have completely ignored the affairs at sea and returned to Mount Gorbo. She could have brought her work back with her. Although it wasn't very convenient, she could at least be there to watch the children grow up. However, this wasn't the best way for the little ones to grow up.
Moko's love for her children makes them crave the protection of home. Without a father figure, the children can only grow up by relying on Moko, who is no longer their mother. Uta, who has been with Shanks since childhood, is much more independent than Ace and Luffy. This is not to say that the two kids are not good at living independently, but rather that they are more psychologically dependent on each other. In this respect, Ace and Luffy are far weaker than Uta.
Besides, she couldn't stay with the children forever. The children had to walk their own path in the future. All she could do was make that path smoother so that the children wouldn't be constantly trapped in a hopeless situation.
This world is different from the world Moko could have imagined. The harsh reality makes the children mature too early. The educational philosophy of Moko's world is not suitable for the children of this world. Moko has also discussed the education of several children with Shanks. Shanks believes more in letting the children grow on their own.
"Moko-chan, they need to grow up on their own and make a name for themselves. You can't protect them all the time. Only by letting them experience real storms and separations can they truly become adults who can stand on their own. Didn't we all go through that process?"
Shanks' tone was calm and serious, showing no mercy regarding the children's growth. If Moko had played the role of a mother, then Shanks had now taken on the role of a father.
You see, no matter how young the children on the ship are, they have to start learning to fight the moment they learn to walk, because only in this way can they protect themselves and their companions. That's exactly how she and Shanks got through it.
Moreover, at the age when the children were already young, she and Shanks already possessed the strength and ability to be captains on their own. Compared to them back then, these children were far too naive, which explains why the children always seemed to have a sense of disappointment in Shanks' eyes when they looked at them.
Most importantly, Shanks knows Moko too well. Moko is a gentle person who values her family very much, especially since she is a child he has watched grow up. Although Moko is very decisive in important matters, she will hesitate when it comes to her family. Therefore, Shanks will play the villain who helps Moko make decisions. If these children were just ordinary people, it would not be difficult for Shanks to protect them. However, these children are obviously not idle little guys. What they expect and want can only be earned by themselves.
"Moko-chan, don't worry, they're going to be pirates. If they cry just because you're not here, they'll never grow up..."
A casual yet earnest voice brushed past her ear. Moko pursed her lips and finally spoke slowly, "Didn't Luffy say he wanted to become the strongest person? Then Luffy can't keep crying. A real man doesn't shed tears easily, you know."
"I'm not crying! I'm going to become the Pirate King, and then I'll take my sister away from the Navy!"
Luffy's words seemed utterly unbelievable; his red eyes were streaked with tears, and a snot bubble even popped out as he spoke.
Moko carefully wiped away Luffy's tears and snot bubbles, speaking softly, "Okay, then I'll wait for Luffy to come and pick me up."
Hearing Luffy's childish words, Garp was both touched and angry. It was a good thing that the child valued his family, but what did he mean by saying that he wanted to become a pirate and bring Moko along to be a pirate too? What kind of nonsense was that? What an unfilial son! Just like his father, he was a worry!
(The dragon, far away on the other side of the ocean: Achoo! Hiss, who's insulting me?)
Garp: Your dad! (?o?o))
"I'll definitely pick up my sister first, since I set sail before you, Luffy."
Hearing Luffy's words, Ace was furious. This was his sister, for crying out loud! Why was everyone trying to take her away from him? Especially since his sister had been snatched away by that red-haired big-tailed wolf! Damn it, he had to get his sister back before that cheap brother-in-law. He wouldn't let that guy take his sister away so easily!
"Oh, I don't care, my sister wants to come to my ship. My ship is definitely a hundred times more fun than Ace's ship."
"Ha, Luffy, you've never beaten me even once, how are you going to protect your sister?"
"I will become stronger!"
The two little ones started bickering, neither willing to back down. Moko shook her head helplessly and looked at Uta, who was acting like a little adult.
"If Uta-chan wants to go back, just tell Yubi and the others to come pick you up."
Moko went directly back to Marineford with Garp this time, so Uta naturally couldn't go with her. Uta had lived at sea since he was a child, and his background wasn't as complicated as Ace's and Luffy's, so Moko wouldn't restrict him. As for Ace and Luffy, even if they went to sea now, Moko wouldn't restrict them either. However, the two boys had an agreement with Sabo that they had to set sail at the age of 17, so Moko let them do as they pleased.
"Yes, I know, sister."
Uta's obedient response made her seem much more mature than the two little ones bickering beside her. Moko pinched Uta's cheek, looking at the two little ones still arguing with a helpless expression.
"Ace, Luffy, I'm leaving now."
Upon hearing Moko's voice, the two bickering children stiffened, pursing their lips and daring not to look directly at Moko, as if this would allow Moko to stay a little longer. Moko chuckled and approached the two children, hugging them and placing a kiss on their foreheads.
"Take good care of yourself at home. Your sister will come back often."
Ace suppressed his urge to ask Moko to stay, turned around, and hugged Moko tightly.
"...Sister, you must take good care of yourself too."
He knew that if he asked his sister to stay, she would definitely not refuse, but that was not an option.
"I will."
Watching the warship gradually disappear at the horizon, Ace wiped his eyes hard. He couldn't ask his sister to stay. From the moment he persuaded her to go to sea, he understood that his sister no longer belonged to him alone. His sister had her own future, a future that included him, but not just him. He would grow up and become very strong. He would never be a burden to his sister; he would become her strongest support in her pursuit of freedom.