Chapter 34
We got off the ship and, taking in the strangely quiet island, headed toward the square.
After walking a few more steps down a narrow alley, an old sign came into view.
“Welcome, customers!”
Contrary to the sunken atmosphere of the island, a bright and cheerful voice greeted us. The warm scent of coffee brushed my nose. It was a cozy little café.
“Ah…!”
I widened my eyes slightly when I saw the café owner standing at the counter.
It was the very same person who had delivered a mango iced tea to me a few days ago. So this was the café Lloyd had said was delicious?
“You seem familiar somehow. Are you perhaps a regular here?”
This time, the café owner tilted her head as she looked at us. Ian and Lucas seemed to have realized what this place was.
“Oh my, Nana. How have you been?”
With a smile that wrinkled the corners of his mouth, Ansel approached the counter.
“Dad? Where have you been…!”
That one sentence explained the situation in an instant.
Ansel opened his arms and warmly embraced her. Both of their eyes grew red.
“This is my daughter’s shop.”
* * *
So we ended up having an unexpected tea time.
“Ah, so that’s why you were in disguise! I totally misunderstood for nothing.”
Ansel’s daughter, Nana, handed us cool drinks with a smile. She said it was a newly developed menu. Something like peach soda… I couldn’t remember the exact name.
I quietly lifted my glass and took a sip. As we explained the whole story, we had ended up following them to the café’s second floor, where the father and daughter lived.
“Ugh. This is why I hate being stuck in a younger form. It’s so uncomfortable.”
Of course, we had long since given up on acting like one big happy family.
Lucas, feeling stifled by the lower line of sight, immediately returned to his original appearance. I also tossed aside my sunglasses and hat, sitting down more comfortably.
“You wouldn’t believe how shocked I was! Seeing you walk into the shop with Dad—I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me.”
Nana was bright and sociable. Perhaps because she dealt with customers daily, her chatter was endless. Listening to her talk, I thought to myself:
I’ll listen just until I finish this drink.
That much courtesy, at least, I could show in exchange for the free beverage.
“Just a little while ago, a reporter from Veritas came to my shop. He was looking for someone who had met the Master of Storms!”
She darted a glance at us, rolling her eyes mischievously, then quickly waved her hands.
“You know, that time when Mr. Ian suddenly stopped by my café looking for Mr. Kanoe!”
“That did happen.”
“Really?”
This was the first I’d heard of it. At my question, Ian merely gave a short nod.
“And then I told him that a man had come into the café carrying Mr. Kanoe’s wanted poster.”
“….”
This time Lucas flinched, his expression betraying him. Nana tilted her head at him.
“Oh, you do look kind of similar…”
“They say there are always three people in the world who look alike, sis.”
“Is that so?”
Taking Lucas’s words at face value, she continued chatting.
“Anyway, that’s all! To the reporter I only said that Ian seemed desperately searching for Mr. Kanoe.”
I understood what she was referring to. After that, it seemed the reporter had come and done an interview.
I was half-resigned, wondering what nonsense might have been printed this time, when—clink—a clear sound came from the glass of ice in Ian’s hand.
The melting ice dripped onto the back of his hand. He gripped the glass tightly, gaze averted slightly.
What’s this?
He looked uncomfortable. The more Nana spoke, the faster the ice seemed to melt. Narrowing my eyes, I watched him.
Could it be… he’s embarrassed?
A smirk tugged at my lips. The time had come to get a little payback for the scare he’d given me at sea. Leaning toward Nana, I set down my cup.
“So? How was Ian at that time?”
“He looked terribly urgent. Almost like someone who’d lost the love of his life—so desperate.”
Ian coughed awkwardly, turning his head. The tips of his ears had reddened.
“It was really something!”
With every word Nana spoke, Ian’s expression twisted further. He pressed his fingers to his temple as though holding his head.
“It looked like he might smash the island to pieces at any moment!”
“…”
Alright, maybe that was enough teasing.
I lifted my glass and took another sip. The peach flavor had faded, leaving only the diluted taste of melted ice in my mouth.
There was no longer any reason—or excuse—to linger. From the start, our purpose had been only to bring Ansel here.
We were still fugitives. And with the island’s situation having changed, it was better to leave as soon as we secured a ship.
“To think that you two were the ones who saved my father—it really feels like fate, doesn’t it?”
Nana dabbed at her eyes with the back of her hand. After a soft breath, she bowed her head.
“My mother passed away early… If I’d lost my father too, I…”
“Nana…”
Ansel gently took her hand in his.
I merely watched quietly. I didn’t offer any clumsy words of comfort. Giving her time to calm down—that was, I thought, the greatest kindness I could show.
Still, we needed information.
Taking advantage of a natural pause, I opened my mouth.
“The island feels different than before. Did something happen?”
Nana nodded slightly. Staring at her empty glass, she began to speak slowly.
“You know Muia Island belongs to pirates, right?”
“Yes.”
“When the pirate who ruled this place was injured, other pirates invaded. In the end, he was killed, and the crew disbanded.”
…As I thought, this was our fault.
Scratching my cheek, I glanced at Nana.
“So what about now?”
“There’s no owner anymore. Muia Island has become a lawless place, ruled by whoever is strongest.”
That was confirmation.
The once-popular tourist island of Muia had become this because of us…!
I buried my head in my hand. From my pocket, the jelly creature peeked out with only its eyes.
Master, let’s scram.
It whispered. Lifting my head again, I looked at Ian. His lips moved.
Captain.
No further explanation was needed. His voice from that time overlapped in my mind.
“You’re the captain of this ship, Kanoe.”
So in the end, he was leaving the decision to me!
After some hesitation, I made up my mind. Better to leave quickly before something worse happened.
“Then, sorry to trouble you, but could we get a ship as soon as possible?”
“Of course! I heard your last one was damaged while rescuing my father, so I’ll find you a good replacement.”
Nana nodded firmly, then turned to Ansel. He rose slowly, saying we could leave it to him.
“Then I’ll go with you.”
Ian also quietly stood up. His gaze lingered on me for a moment, and a soft voice brushed my ear.
“I’ll check on the situation around the island.”
I answered with a small nod.
The door closed, footsteps faded. The room quickly grew quiet. I leaned back in my chair and fixed my eyes on Lucas.
“…Luca?”
“Mm?”
He turned his head slowly from the window, though his gaze still seemed fixed somewhere outside. His uncharacteristically serious face felt strange.
“Is something wrong? Did you suddenly grow up or something?”
“Me? No. Nothing’s wrong.”
Normally, he’d have retorted with some nonsense like, Then should I check if you’ve grown up, sis? But now he was oddly quiet.
“…Lucas.”
Come to think of it, he’d seemed off ever since the mention of the Raging Waves Pirate Crew.
“Our deal was for three days, right? As temporary crewmates.”
A silence lingered. His jade-green eyes met mine. Still, he seemed unwilling to say what was on his mind.
“I think the three days are already up, don’t you?”
I twisted my lips, forcing the words out. If he didn’t want to talk, that was fine. From the beginning, our relationship was only ever that tenuous.
“You’re free to do as you like now. If you want to get off the ship, you can.”
This was my way of showing consideration—as the captain who had shared a ship with him.
“Sis.”
Lucas looked up at me, lips pressed tightly together.
“…There’s somewhere I need to go.”
He lowered his head briefly, then lifted it with his usual bright grin.
“When I come back, will you accept me as a real crewmate then?”
I chuckled softly in reply.
“Save that talk for after you return.”
