One Piece: It's always been you

Chapter 71: Has He Become More Childish or More Stupid?

"Mom, let me go."

Like a ray of light, illuminating Montor's world. A familiar and reassuring voice rang out in the meeting hall. But everyone was quickly shocked; it was Katakuri speaking.

“Mondor’s words make sense. Let Praline come with me; she’s more agile than I am underwater.” Katakuri was always calm. But in reality, he had been struggling with this decision for a long time.

"Mommommom~ then we'll do as you say." The older woman was in a good mood. At least her son knew what to do and when, and he could distinguish between what was important and what was urgent. It wasn't for nothing that she didn't fuss over You's matter.

Yu's desire to go to the Western Sea wasn't a spur-of-the-moment decision; she knew that going out to sea like this was extremely unsafe. Since that was the case, Yu still asked him, and he didn't want to disappoint her.

He can protect her!

“Break, go tell Praline to prepare to go to sea.”

"Brother, you're going out to sea?" It seems he hasn't refused his mother's request. "What about You now?"

Katakuri knew what she was going to say. "Do as I say. Where's Yuu?"

"I've been guarding your room the whole time. I just had the chess infantry take him out. I guess he's planning to sneak out of your ship." For some reason, Brulee felt that Yu's body had shrunk, and his mind had become more childish as well.

Her brother didn't want her to go, so it didn't matter where she hid. Could she hide on the boat without being discovered? What if her brother deliberately ignored her and she ended up starving for a few days?

Simply put, he's stupid.

"Achoo!"

"Lord Yu, why don't we go back?" The little soldier stood by a treasure chest, looking around. "No one has come yet. Lord Katakuri probably isn't going to sea and has refused Mother."

"Impossible." Yu sniffled, curled up inside the treasure chest. She had to admit that her little body was really weak. In just a short while, she was both sleepy and cold. "Alright, hurry up and go away. Don't expose me when people come."

"Understood. Take good care of yourself, Lord Yu."

As the sun set, the boat anchored at the shore of Xiaomai Island. The moon had not yet fully risen, and the temperature at sea was becoming unbearable for You.

Why isn't anyone here yet? There's not even a hint of them packing supplies. Could it be that he really refused Big Mom's request to go to sea? That shouldn't be the case. He cares so much about his pirate crew; he wouldn't refuse.

And Katakuri will definitely ask Brulee where she went; he must know she's hiding on the ship. Is he really that worried about taking her along, that he's hiding from her like this?

Although Katakuri was concerned for her and wanted to comfort her, she also had her reasons. Why not ask again? Why did she just close the door and leave without a word?

"You abandoned me like this last time, and you're doing it again this time, you stinky Kakashi! I'll never trust you again!" Yu thought to herself, feeling a little aggrieved. She was so pathetic; tears welled up in her eyes on their own.

"Ah~"

After wiping away her tears, Yu imagined hearing a sigh from outside. She couldn't help but wonder who was on Katakuri's ship, tiptoeing and pushing the treasure chest lid open just a little.

As soon as a sliver of light shone in, the lid was opened completely.

"You cried?"

"No, I'm just too cold and sleepy." Desperate to save face, Youqi stood up, her mouth as hard as iron.

"Not telling the truth? Then I won't take you with me on my next sea voyage." Katakuri tried to pull her into his arms, but Yu slapped him away.

"You're going to take me out to sea?!" Yu grasped the key phrase, a little excited.

Katakuri remained silent, staring at Yu anxiously, wanting an answer. "Is that right? You didn't refuse, did you?" Katakuri reached out to hug Yu again.

This time, Yuu obediently let Katakuri hold her in his arms. Her cold hands and feet were wrapped in his arms, and her body warmed up instantly.

"Answer me now!"

Tell me why you absolutely must go.

We will definitely go to sea, but we must know the reason.

“The person who buried me under the earthen pillar was called Shamo Jiu. He told me before he ran away that I should go to Shanie Huanxue Island in the West Sea to find him.” You blinked her big, bright eyes. This was her most sincere statement, and she was definitely not making things up. “I think that I became like this because of him.”

"Aren't you afraid it's a trap?"

"Of course I've thought about it. I know I'm a burden to everyone right now, but I have to go." At this moment, Yu didn't forget to give Katakuri a piece of candy. "I know you will definitely be with me, and you will definitely not let anything happen to me."

He could easily see through You's little tricks. Now she knows she needs to be sweet-talking. Why didn't she just tell the truth yesterday? "Are you still cold? Let's rest for a while."

"It's not cold, it's warm in your arms, not cold at all." Yu clutched the fluffy scarf and nestled against Katakuri's shoulder. He was overjoyed, hehehe, he agreed to go to sea!

Katakuri took out a world map at night, searching for the island of Saneheon Cave that Yu had mentioned. He looked at it again and again, examining every island, large and small, on the map, but he couldn't find it. A bad feeling suddenly rose in his heart.

Could it be that beneath the whirlpool lies an island, specifically the Saneheon Cave Island that Yu is heading to? Samuki will surely be waiting for Yu on that island; he harmed Yu in Totto Land, and at least Katakuri now considers him an enemy.

This voyage will definitely be more difficult than usual. You absolutely cannot leave his sight for even a moment.

Unbeknownst to him, Katakuri clenched his fists, and the aura emanating from his body woke up Yu, who was fast asleep nearby.

"Katakuri~ What's wrong? Did something upset you?" Yu rubbed her eyes, saw that Katakuri looked a little unwell, got out of bed and hugged him. "It's okay, it's okay, I'm here."

Katakuri was both amused and exasperated. Did he really seem so fragile? But Yu's concern for him was always comforting. "I'm fine, you can go back to sleep."

"Hmm~ Are you really okay? If you're unhappy, you should definitely say so..."

Before she could say anything more, Yu fell into a deep sleep again.

Katakuri's expression darkened after confirming that Yu was asleep. Her symptoms had worsened. At first, he only thought it was a change in appearance; later, some of her behaviors also became abnormal, and she was sleeping for more than two-thirds of the day; and the time she spent talking just now was less like a deep sleep, but Katakuri felt it was more like she had fainted.

Yu's body seemed to be struggling to hold on. What exactly did Samojiu do to Yu? Even the doctors in Tottoland were at a loss.

A bunch of useless trash!

This was the first time Katakuri had ever felt that the people of Tottoran were so useless.

He needed to get to the West Sea as soon as possible to find out exactly what was wrong with You's body. He had to be extremely careful and couldn't afford to make any mistakes.

Praline was excited about her first time at sea, spending most of the time either floating around on the boat or swimming in the waters around it. Yu, on the other hand, slept most of the way, nestled in Katakuri's arms.

Praline couldn't even play with her. Was she on a mission with her brother or being "abused" by the two of them? They didn't need to be so clingy; it just seemed abnormal.