Kuwajima woke up the next morning with a heavy feeling in his body. As he slowly blinked his eyes open, he saw Koushirou and Kouzaburou sitting beside him. Neither of them showed even a hint of worry. Instead, both were smiling at him as if they had expected this outcome all along. Kuwajima gave them an awkward smile in return, unsure if he should feel relieved or embarrassed.
"See where your stupidity brings you? You are fortunate that man knows how to hold back," Kouzaburou said. His words were blunt, yet he laughed loudly afterward, amused by his son's misfortune. Koushirou followed him with a quiet chuckle, shaking his head at Kuwajima.
"What kind of father are you? Your son got hurt and that is the first thing you say?" Kuwajima tried to fire back, attempting to guilt him, but Kouzaburou only laughed harder. Kuwajima had no choice but to smile awkwardly again, knowing the tactic failed completely.
Koushirou leaned closer. "So, what do you plan to do now? Will you honor the result of the duel, or will you pack your things and leave on your own terms?" His tone was calm, but the question hit Kuwajima with full force. Kouzaburou gave him a sideways glance, then quietly stepped back and left the room, giving his sons space to talk.
Kuwajima remained silent for a long while. He lay on the futon with his arms resting on his sides, staring at the wooden ceiling as different thoughts and emotions circled inside him. The duel had been decisive. Jack had not only beaten him but shown strength on a level Kuwajima had never experienced. Yet the defeat itself was not what weighed on him. It was the decision he needed to make now.
After thinking deeply, he sat up slowly. Koushirou watched him with a strange but knowing look, then sighed softly. He already understood what choice Kuwajima had reached, even before hearing it.
"I will honor the result," Kuwajima said clearly. "I am a man and a warrior. If I made a promise, then I must follow it. That is how it should be." He spoke louder than necessary, and the words carried through the walls. Kouzaburou, who was in the next room, heard it and smiled in quiet satisfaction.
Kouzaburou then returned and said, "You should hurry. Jack told me yesterday that he does not want to force anyone. He has been preparing to leave since then. He said that the duel does not matter if your heart is elsewhere. He told me to tell you that you are no longer bound by the terms of the duel."
Kuwajima froze for a moment. The air around him seemed to stop moving entirely. Then the fire in his eyes reignited. Without another word, he grabbed his swords and sprinted out of the house, heading straight for the shore where the Wicked Wench was anchored.
Before disappearing into the forest, Kuwajima suddenly stopped. He turned back toward Kouzaburou and Koushirou, who had stepped outside to watch him go.
"Thank you for everything, Father," Kuwajima shouted. "I promise that my name will one day resound across the sea as a great warrior. And I will never forget the values you taught me."
Kuwajima then sank to his knees and bowed deeply in a full dogeza posture. Kouzaburou watched quietly, a lasting smile on his face. He did not stop him or call out to him. Neither did Koushirou. Both understood this was not a goodbye that needed words.
Kuwajima stood again and began running with renewed determination. The village he had lived in his whole life slowly disappeared behind him, and he did not look back.
-----
While Kuwajima dashed toward the Wicked Wench, the atmosphere on the ship was unusually quiet. Jack and his crew remained on deck, not yet lifting the anchors. They waited with a subtle but shared hope, even though Jack had already released Kuwajima from his obligation.
Laffitte approached Jack. "Why did you absolve him of the duel results? It would have been easier to bring him aboard if we simply honored the agreement."
Jack shrugged lightly. "I left it to fate. Kuwajima was the only one who resisted joining, even when I kept inviting him. I do not want to force someone who hesitates. If this is the wrong choice, then it is something I cannot change."
Laffitte gave him a long stare. Before he could respond, Aramaki joined in with a frustrated voice. "That is incredibly foolish. We could have had a real chef by now. The food he cooks is unlike anything I have eaten in my life."
Several other crewmembers nodded in agreement. Their reactions were understandable, as everyone had become addicted to Kuwajima's cooking during their stay. Even Jack felt a bit of regret the closer it got to noon.
When the sun reached its peak in the sky, Jack looked up at it and sighed. "It is noon. Let us move on."
The crew reluctantly raised the anchors. The Wicked Wench began to drift away from the island, and disappointment filled the deck. Even Jack looked back toward the shore with a slight frown.
But before they sailed far, a small figure came rushing into view along the coastline. Laffitte, who was on lookout duty, spotted the running man instantly. He narrowed his eyes, then smiled.
"Captain," Laffitte said, "it seems I misjudged the outcome. I suppose I should question your decisions less often."
Jack glanced at him, then laughed. "No, you should question them, so that I may enjoy proving you wrong."
Jack then turned toward his crew, raising his voice. "Everyone, prepare to welcome our chef."
At that moment, Kuwajima reached the shore and leaped toward the ship with all the strength he could muster. He landed on the railing of the deck, catching his balance quickly before stepping down.
The entire crew turned to face him. Kuwajima straightened his back, held both swords at his side, and spoke clearly.
"My name is Shimotsuki Kuwajima, and I will be your chef."
The crew erupted into cheers. Jack grinned widely while Laffitte clapped slowly, amused and pleased. The Wicked Wench then continued its voyage into the open sea, leaving the shores of Shimotsuki Island behind.
From a cliff overlooking the ocean, Kouzaburou and Koushirou stood side by side, watching the ship disappear into the distance. They shared a quiet smile, knowing that Kuwajima had chosen his path with his own resolve.