Shimotsuki Village, Isshin Dojo.
"Ah, ah, ah~"
"What? It's Marine Calendar 1519 now? This is the world 9 years later!"
"I, I, I… I already died 9 years ago, falling down the stairs!"
"This… this, this, this… this kind of thing…"
The girl's startled cries were incessant.
This was only natural.
Anyone who hears of their own death, learning that they had already died long ago, would be unable to remain calm.
At this moment.
When she learned the entire truth from her father, Koushirou.
Kuina was completely stunned, her entire being plunged into extreme shock and disbelief, unable to extricate herself.
She only felt that what was happening to her was too dreamlike, without any real sensation.
A long while.
A long while.
Feeling her old father's large hand tightly clutching hers.
Kuina finally recovered from her extreme disbelief.
She pursed her small lips and looked at Roland, who was dining served by the maid Tohru.
"Dad, if I'm already dead, then how am I here now?"
Kuina asked this crucial question.
"This…"
Koushirou showed hesitation.
He, too, was completely unaware of the reasons behind it.
Sensing the gazes of Koushirou and his daughter, Roland wiped his mouth and put down his chopsticks.
"You can just consider it my ability!"
"Ability? A Devil Fruit ability?"
Koushirou asked subconsciously.
Roland smiled without speaking.
Koushirou did not press further.
After all, this involved Roland's secret, and pressing further would be impolite.
Regardless of the reason, Roland, who 'resurrected' Kuina, was a great benefactor to the father and daughter.
"Dad, can you take me to see… my grave!"
Kuina spoke, changing the subject, and also no longer fixated on the reason.
"Of course!"
Koushirou nodded.
"Mr. Roland, the guest room is ready…"
"I know, you go about your business!"
Roland waved his hand to interrupt him.
"Yes!"
Koushirou took Kuina and bowed as they left.
Only Roland and Tohru remained in the large dojo.
"Roland~"
Tohru looked at Roland with bright, sparkling eyes, full of anticipation.
Dragons, by nature, are...
Ever since experiencing the joys of that aspect, Tohru had already developed a taste for it.
Whenever there was an opportunity, she would want to…
However, ever since arriving at Shimotsuki Village, Roland had been engrossed in fishing, aiming to maximize the use of his Lucky Card time, and had not had time to respond.
Until now…
Roland naturally understood Tohru's longing gaze.
With a sweep of his arm, Roland directly princess-carried Tohru and walked towards the guest room.
After three days of rest and recuperation, Roland felt that this time he could definitely do it.
Dragon Knight 2.0, activate!!!
...
(Tedious process omitted~)
...
Shimotsuki Village, back mountain.
Koushirou led Kuina to a gravestone and stopped.
Gently sweeping away the dust from the gravestone and pulling out the weeds, the father and daughter knelt together.
"Father, Kuina… has returned!"
Koushirou suppressed his tears and kowtowed heavily.
"Grandpa"
Kuina also knelt and kowtowed before her grandfather Kousaburo's gravestone.
After successively paying respects to her grandfather and mother.
Koushirou and Kuina came to another adjacent grave.
—Grave of Beloved Daughter Kuina!
Looking at her own grave, Kuina couldn't help but feel a strange sensation in her heart.
A long while.
"Kuina, what are your plans for the future?"
Koushirou suddenly asked.
"Ah… I, I, I…"
Kuina shook her head awkwardly.
In fact, her mind was still a mess, and she was at a loss.
"Then, would you like to go see your old friends next?"
Koushirou said.
Upon hearing this.
Kuina's eyes immediately lit up.
"Zoro… Where is Zoro now? If that guy sees me, he'll definitely be surprised!"
"As for Zoro, he set sail half a year ago, and has now made a name for himself in the East Blue…"
Koushirou immediately told Kuina everything about Zoro over the years.
In fact, this was precisely why Koushirou brought up her friends.
For Kuina, the most important friend was naturally Zoro.
"To work hard for my sake and become the World's Greatest Swordsman? He's just a kid, he can't even beat me, yet he talks so big… Three-Sword Style Pirate Hunter? What an exaggerated title…"
Kuina's lips unconsciously curved upwards slightly, genuinely happy for Zoro's growth.
The father and daughter's conversation, after nine years apart, continued until sunset.
Koushirou went to the village to buy ingredients for dinner and to inform the villagers that the dojo would be closed for three days.
Kuina returned to the dojo first, preparing to thank Roland again.
As soon as she walked into the courtyard, hearing the sounds from the guest room.
Kuina was first startled, then her small face suddenly flushed red.
Although she was only eleven, Kuina was not completely ignorant.
She naturally knew what was happening in the room.
Even when Koushirou had prepared dinner, Roland still hadn't appeared.
Kuina had no choice but to bite the bullet and knock on the door to disturb them.
It was also thanks to Kuina that Roland finally avoided being taken over by Tohru.
Another three days passed in a blink, and it had been a week since Roland and Tohru arrived at Shimotsuki Village.
"Dad, I've decided, I want to go to sea with Big Brother Roland!"
Kuina spoke firmly.
Koushirou suddenly tightened his grip on his chopsticks.
To be honest, having just reunited with his daughter, he naturally didn't want to be separated again.
"Zoro is like my younger brother. Now that my brother is out exploring the sea for my sake, as his older sister, I certainly can't fall behind him. I've decided, I want to meet Zoro at the pinnacle of the sea!"
...