TO THE SEA

This page is a full-color version of the previous title page illustration. The vibrant colors bring the Red Hair Pirates to life. Shanks is seated on the barrel in the center, his red hair prominent under the straw hat. His black cloak contrasts with his white shirt and brown pants. Young Luffy jumps joyfully beside him, his "ANCHOR" shirt clearly visible. Lucky Roux's shirt is green and white striped, and he happily munches on his meat. Yasopp sits on the ground in a purple shirt and green pants, holding his rifle. Benn Beckman stands on the right in a black shirt, smoking. The rest of the crew fills the background, with a large Jolly Roger flag waving behind them against a blue sky with white clouds.

Inside a restaurant, Luffy is sitting at a table, leaning back and letting out a massive burp. A large sound effect "DO-N" accompanies his satisfied expression. On the table in front of him is a plate with a few scattered fish bones. In the next panel, Nami holds up a perfectly intact, clean fish skeleton by the tail. She looks at Luffy and says, "IF YOU EAT A FISH, THIS IS WHAT USUALLY REMAINS". Zoro, sitting next to Luffy, looks over with an annoyed expression and adds, "IDIOT... IT'S BECAUSE YOUR THROAT ISN'T TRAINED ENOUGH TO HANDLE FISH BONES". Luffy, picking his teeth with a toothpick, simply replies, "PHEW... I GOT IT!" The scene shifts as the restaurant door opens with a "GACHYA..." sound. Nami stands up, saying, "WELL, WE HAD OUR MEAL". Zoro agrees, "WE SHOULD GET GOING". Luffy, still picking his teeth, says, "YOU'RE RIGHT". The three of them prepare to leave the establishment.

The restaurant door swings open fully, and Usopp's three young crew members--Ninjin, Piiman, and Tamanegi--rush in, calling out, "HEY OJOU-SAMA!" Nami turns around in surprise, saying, "OH, SO THIS IS WHERE YOU GUYS ARE..." The perspective shifts to reveal Kaya sitting at the table with Luffy, Zoro, and Nami. Kaya smiles warmly and explains, "USOPP-SAN ENCOURAGED ME". She continues, looking a bit reflective, "I'VE BEEN SICK LIKE THIS FOR A YEAR. EVER SINCE I LOST MY PARENTS THAT DAY..." Nami looks concerned and asks, "DON'T YOU NEED TO STAY IN BED?" Kaya shakes her head gently, "NO". Standing up with a renewed sense of determination and a bright smile, Kaya declares, "THAT'S WHY I CAN'T BE SO WEAK NOW". She then changes the subject, "ANYWAY, I HEARD THAT YOU GUYS NEEDED A SHIP!" Luffy's face lights up with a massive, excited grin as he leans forward, "A SHIP! YOU'RE GONNA GIVE US ONE?"

The page opens with an exterior view of Kaya's large mansion situated on a grassy hill, surrounded by trees. A winding path leads up to the house, and chopped wood sits on a stump in the foreground. Inside the house, Usopp is in the middle of packing. He is shown pulling tightly on the ropes of a massive, overstuffed spherical bag, securing it with a "GYU GYU" sound effect. He pants heavily, "GAH GAH GAH...!" Having finally tied the knot, he steps back, wiping sweat from his brow. The giant bag sits heavily on the floor with a "ZUN" sound. Usopp exhales, "FINISHED!" and "PHEW!" In the final panel, Usopp leans back against the enormous bag, resting his arms behind his head. He wears a satisfied, slightly nostalgic smile as he looks around the room. "IT'S TIME TO SAY GOOD BYE TO THIS HOUSE...!" he says, ready to embark on his journey.

Usopp attempts to leave the house, but his massive, overstuffed bag is completely wedged in the doorway. He pulls with all his might, his feet planted on the doorframe, but the bag won't budge. Sound effects "GISHI GISHI" indicate the strain. "WHY CAN'T I GET OUT?!" he wonders. Realizing the predicament, his face contorts into a comical expression of pure shock and frustration. "NOOOO!!" he screams, accompanied by a dramatic "GABOON!!" sound effect. "DAMN!" He redoubles his efforts, pushing against the bag from the inside with a strained, angry face, sweat flying off him. "WHEN I FINALLY MANAGED TO STUFF EVERYTHING IN!!" he yells, gritting his teeth. "GAH!!!" Suddenly, the pressure is too much. With a loud "BAKI!!", the wooden doorframe splinters and breaks. The giant bag bursts through the doorway, sending Usopp tumbling out uncontrollably. He yells "WOAH!!" as he and the spherical bag begin to roll down the steep hill away from the mansion.

Usopp plummets down the steep, tree-lined hill, rolling uncontrollably alongside his massive packed bag. He screams in terror, "GYAAAAAAAAA!!!" as a loud "DOSUUN!!" sound effect marks his chaotic descent. The bag bounces heavily, creating "GOGO GOGO" rumbling sounds. At the bottom of the hill, Usopp lies face-down in the dirt, completely flattened next to his giant bag. His body twitches slightly with a "PIKU PIKU" sound. A small groan of "OUCH..." escapes him. Despite the brutal fall, Usopp slowly pushes himself up off the ground. He looks battered but wears a determined, confident grin. "FUH FUH FUH..." he chuckles, "THIS WON'T STOP ME..." He grabs the ropes of his heavy bag and begins to drag it along the path, panting "ZESSE ZESSE" with the effort. "IT'S JUST A PRELUDE TO THE UPCOMING GREAT ADVENTURES," he declares proudly, adding, "A GOOD ONE TO BOOT".

A magnificent sailing ship is revealed, docked at the rocky shore. The ship features a distinctive figurehead shaped like a sheep's head, a single mainmast with a crow's nest, and a striped sail rolled up on the yard. A large "DO-N" sound effect emphasizes the grand reveal of the vessel. Standing proudly on the shore in front of the ship is Merry, Kaya's butler, dressed in his dark suit. In the foreground, Luffy, Nami, and Zoro are staring at the ship in absolute awe. Zoro smiles broadly and says, "HEY... A CARAVEL!" Nami has her hands clasped together, her eyes sparkling with excitement. Luffy's jaw is completely dropped in a comical expression of pure amazement, a large "WOW" escaping his mouth. Kaya stands beside them, smiling gently at their enthusiastic reaction to the gift.

Merry stands before the impressive ship, gesturing towards it as he explains its features to the group. "IT'S A CARAVEL AND IT USES A STAYSAIL... THE CONTROLS ARE IN THE BACK," he says. "IT'S CALLED 'GOING-MERI'!" He continues, "I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR YOU... IT'S SLIGHTLY OLD STYLE BUT I DESIGNED IT MYSELF". He looks at the crew and adds, "SO IT IS YOU WHO DEFEATED THE KURO-NEKO PIRATES WITH USOPP-KUN. I THOUGHT YOU'D BE A LITTLE BIGGER..." Luffy, practically vibrating with excitement, pumps his fists in the air and yells, "WE CAN REALLY TAKE THIS!?" Kaya, smiling warmly, replies, "YES, I INSIST". Merry then begins a detailed technical explanation, "I WILL EXPLAIN THE STEERING SYSTEM... FIRST OF ALL, IN ORDER TO ADJUST THE YARDS IN RELATION TO THE CREW GARNET..." Zoro quickly interrupts him, pointing a thumb at Luffy, "DON'T EXPLAIN IT TO HIM, I'LL LISTEN TO THE EXPLANATION". Luffy is completely ignoring the technical talk, staring at the ship with stars in his eyes, exclaiming, "THIS IS A COOL SHIP!!"

Kaya smiles at the crew and says, "I HAD EVERYTHING YOU WOULD NEED FOR A VOYAGE LOADED ON TO THE SHIP". Luffy grins widely and says, "THANKS FOR CAUSING ALL THIS TROUBLE!" Zoro, standing behind him with his arms crossed, corrects him, "THAT'S 'FOR GOING THROUGH ALL THIS TROUBLE'...". Luffy ignores the correction and just cheers loudly, "WAAAAAHH!!" Suddenly, a loud rumbling sound, "GOGO GOGO...!!", interrupts them. Everyone turns to look down the rocky path leading to the shore. A massive cloud of dust is rapidly approaching them. From within the dust cloud, a voice screams, "STOP ME PLEASE!!!" The source of the commotion is revealed to be Usopp, who is rolling uncontrollably down the path on top of his giant, spherical bag, screaming "GYAAAAAAAAA!!!" Kaya looks alarmed and cries out, "USOPP-SAN!" Zoro watches the approaching chaos and asks, "WHAT'S HE DOING?" Nami, looking concerned, points out, "I THINK WE SHOULD STOP HIM... IF HE KEEPS ON GOING LIKE THAT, HE'LL HIT THE SHIP".

Zoro steps forward and casually extends his leg, stopping Usopp's out-of-control roll by planting his foot directly into Usopp's face. A loud "DOSUUN!!" sound effect marks the impact as the giant bag comes to a halt with a cracking "MERI..." sound. Usopp, still pressed against Zoro's foot, groans weakly, "...... TH... THANK... YOU..." Zoro replies nonchalantly, "NO PROBLEM". Kaya approaches and looks down at Usopp. "SO YOU ARE GOING TO THE SEA..." she says softly, then calls to him, "USOPP-SAN...?" Usopp stands up, dusting himself off, and looks at Kaya with a serious expression. "YEAH," he confirms. "I HAVE TO GO BEFORE I CHANGE MY MIND. PLEASE DON'T STOP ME". Kaya smiles gently, her eyes showing a mix of understanding and sadness. "I WON'T... I'VE FIGURED THAT YOU MIGHT DO THIS," she says. She adds, looking slightly downcast, "IT REALLY MAKES ME SAD THOUGH".

Usopp flashes a wide, confident grin at Kaya. "NEXT TIME I COME TO THIS VILLAGE, I'LL TELL YOU ADVENTURE STORIES THAT ARE MORE UNBELIEVABLE THAN LIES," he promises. Kaya smiles warmly, her eyes closed in appreciation. "THANK YOU. I LOOK FORWARD TO IT," she replies. Usopp then turns his attention to Luffy and Zoro, who are already standing on the deck of the Going Merry. He waves to them, "WELL, SAFE VOYAGE GUYS! HOPE TO SEE YOU AGAIN SOMEWHERE!" Luffy looks down at him, confused, and asks, "WHY?" Usopp is taken aback by the question. "HUH, WHY?" he repeats, then sighs, "SHEESH... YOU'RE SUCH A COLD HEARTED MAN... WE'RE BOTH GOING TO BE PIRATES NOW, SO WE MIGHT MEET AGAIN ON THE HIGH SEAS..." Zoro leans over the railing, looking exasperated. "WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT... HURRY UP AND GET ON BOARD!" he shouts. Usopp's eyes widen in utter shock. "WHAT?" he exclaims, completely surprised by the invitation.

Luffy leans casually on the wooden railing of the Going Merry, resting his chin on his arms. He looks down at Usopp with a simple, friendly smile and says, "YOU'RE ALREADY OUR COMPANION, AREN'T YOU...?" Usopp stands on the shore, completely stunned. His eyes are wide dots, and a bead of sweat rolls down his face as he processes Luffy's words. He stammers, "WHA...." Suddenly, Usopp's shock transforms into overwhelming excitement. He points a thumb at his own chest, a huge grin spreading across his face, and yells up at the ship, "I... I'M THE CAPTAIN RIGHT!?" From the deck, Luffy immediately yells back, his mouth wide open in protest, "NO WAY! I'M THE CAPTAIN!!" The Going Merry is fully visible in the background, its sail unfurled and ready to depart, as Merry and Kaya watch the comedic exchange from the shore.

The Going Merry sails away into the distance, becoming a small silhouette on the horizon. On the shore, Usopp's three young crew members--Ninjin, Piiman, and Tamanegi--are sitting on a large fallen log, watching the ship depart. Tamanegi, looking slightly downcast, says, "THERE GOES THE CAPTAIN..." Piiman adds, "BUT IF HE'S WITH THOSE PEOPLE..." Ninjin finishes the thought, "I FEEL SAFER". Tamanegi agrees, "YEAH, I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYONE SO STRONG". Ninjin sighs, "WE CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT... HE ALWAYS WANTED TO BE A PIRATE". Piiman looks worried, "THE VILLAGERS WILL BE SAD WHEN WE TELL THEM THE NEWS". Tamanegi says, "IT'S SO SUDDEN..." Ninjin reflects, "AND IT'S BECAUSE CAPTAIN... HE WAS PRETTY NOISY JUST BY HIMSELF". Suddenly, Ninjin's expression changes to one of determination. He stands up slightly and declares, "I HAVE AN IDEA!" Piiman and Tamanegi look at him in surprise, asking in unison, "WHAT?"

Kaya sits quietly on the grassy shore, her knees pulled up to her chest, watching the sea where the Going Merry disappeared. Merry stands a few paces behind her, his hands clasped behind his back. "MERI..." Kaya says softly. Merry responds, "WHAT IS IT OJOU-SAMA?" Kaya looks down, a sad expression on her face. "IT HURTS TO LIE DOESN'T IT..." she murmurs. Merry looks slightly confused and asks, "YOU MEAN ABOUT CLAHADOR?" Kaya turns her head slightly, a gentle, melancholic smile on her lips. "NO..." she replies. Merry realizes what she means. "IS IT THAT... YOU ACTUALLY WANTED TO STOP USOPP-KUN...?" he asks gently. Kaya doesn't answer, simply looking away. "OJOUSAMA..." Merry says sympathetically. He then looks out towards the sea and begins to share a story. "I HEARD A STORY ABOUT HIM WHEN HE WAS YOUNGER, FROM THE VILLAGERS".

Merry continues his story to Kaya. "RIGHT AFTER USOPP-KUN'S FATHER LEFT THIS VILLAGE... HE ALSO LOST HIS MOTHER..." Kaya looks up, surprised by this revelation. "WHAT..." she says. Merry explains, "I HEARD THAT THE DAY BEFORE HIS MOTHER DIED... SHE WAS WEAK FROM AN ILLNESS, AND THE WORDS THAT CAME OUT OF HIM WERE..." The scene transitions into a flashback. A young Usopp bursts through a wooden door with a loud "BAN!" sound. He runs into a bedroom where his mother, Banchina, is lying in bed, looking frail. "THE PIRATES ARE HERE! THE PIRATES ARE COMING!" young Usopp yells. Banchina weakly scolds him, "HEY USOPP! YOU SHOULDN'T SCREAM!" But Usopp is undeterred, his face lit up with a massive, tearful smile. "DAD'S PIRATE SHIP CAME!!" he cries out joyfully. "DAD CAME TO GET US!! HE SAID HE'LL TAKE US ALONG AS SOON AS YOU FEEL BETTER, MOM!!"

In the flashback, Banchina looks at her young son with a sad, gentle smile. "DON'T SAY SOMETHING STUPID USOPP... DAD ISN'T GOING TO COME HOME," she says softly. "BUT I'M PROUD THAT I MARRIED HIM. I WISH I COULD SEE YOU WHEN YOU BECOME AS BRAVE AS HIM..." Usopp, tears streaming down his face, yells desperately, "DON'T SPEAK LIKE YOU'RE GONNA DIE..." He tries to offer hope, "DO... DO YOU KNOW THE STORY ABOUT THE MEDICINE!? IT'S A LEGENDARY MEDICINE THAT CURES ANY KIND OF DISEASE, IT'S JUST ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE SEA...!" Banchina smiles at his imagination. "OH SILLY CHILD... THAT'S JUST A DREAM..." She begins, "NOW, IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO ME, I WANT YOU TO LISTEN TO THE VILLAGERS AND..." but Usopp interrupts her tearfully, "I DON'T MIND BEING SILLY! I DON'T WANT TO HEAR YOU TALKING AS IF IT WERE YOUR LAST WORDS!" Usopp, crying heavily but smiling fiercely, declares, "OF COURSE I HAVE DREAMS... I'M THE SON OF A PIRATE!!!"

The narrative returns to the present. Merry continues explaining Usopp's past to Kaya. "OUT OF SADNESS, HE CONTINUED TO LIE AFTER HER DEATH," Merry says. "HOPING THAT SOMEDAY... HIS FATHER'S PIRATE SHIP MIGHT APPEAR IN THE BAY, THAT HE WOULD COME TO PICK UP HIS SON... THE VILLAGERS SAID THAT WAS THE REASON BEHIND HIS LIES". Kaya listens intently, her expression softening with understanding. Merry adds, "HE PROBABLY COULDN'T LEAVE YOU ALONE AFTER YOU LOST YOUR PARENTS, FOR HE TOO EXPERIENCED THAT LOSS IN THIS VILLAGE". Kaya looks down, deeply moved by the revelation of Usopp's true motivations. Merry smiles encouragingly at her. "YOU WILL NEED TO BECOME STRONGER NOW... AS A GRATITUDE OF EVERYTHING HE HAS DONE FOR YOU..." Kaya looks out at the ocean, a serene and determined smile on her face. She hugs her knees tighter and simply replies, "YES...".

On the deck of the Going Merry, Zoro, Luffy, Nami, and Usopp are celebrating their departure, clinking large wooden mugs together with a loud "GASHAAAN" sound effect. They cheer joyfully, "CHEERS! TO A NEW SHIP AND A NEW CREW MEMBER!!" Meanwhile, back in Syrup Village, the three young boys--Ninjin, Piiman, and Tamanegi--are running determinedly. Ninjin yells, "LET'S GO!!" Piiman asks nervously, "ARE WE REALLY GOING TO DO IT?" Ninjin replies confidently, "OF COURSE!! WE HAVE TO SUCCEED THE CAPTAIN!" Back on the shore, Kaya speaks to Merry, starting with "MERI... I..." Merry answers, "YES OJOUSAMA?" Kaya declares, "I'M GOING TO BECOME A DOCTOR..." The scene cuts to the three boys running through the village streets, shouting at the top of their lungs, "THE PIRATES ARE HERE!!" taking up Usopp's daily routine. Merry smiles warmly at Kaya's declaration and says, "OH, THAT IS A GOOD GOAL!"

No description for this page.