Watching Sanji get flattened by Nami's punch, everyone burst out laughing.
As expected, he really never changed.
"Hmph, typical perverted kappa," Zoro said disdainfully.
"What do you know, moss-head?!" Sanji snapped back.
"At least I'm better than a perverted kappa like you."
"You bastard, wanna fight?!"
Fully revived in an instant, Sanji sprang up and smashed his forehead straight against Zoro's.
The two immediately locked horns like raging bulls.
"Yohohoho~ You all get along so well," Brook laughed cheerfully.
"WHO GETS ALONG WITH HIM?!" ×2
"DON'T COPY ME!" ×2
"HMPH!" ×2
"Don't mind those two," Jin said with a grin.
"This is just their daily routine. You'll get used to it."
Ever since joining the Straw Hat crew, he'd realized one thing clearly—
If those two didn't fight for a day, they'd feel uncomfortable all over.
The reasons changed every time, but the ending was always the same.
"Yohohoho~ That's truly amusing."
"Devil Fruits really are incredible," Franky said, rubbing his chin.
"They can revive the dead… and even let a skeleton grow hair."
"Oh, this hair actually has nothing to do with my Devil Fruit," Brook said, grabbing his afro.
"This was my original hairstyle."
"So your body turned into bones, but your hair survived?"
"It is strange, but that's the truth," Brook said with a laugh.
"Perhaps my hair roots are exceptionally resilient."
"Yohohoho~"
"That's not something hair roots can explain…" Nami muttered.
Normally, even if some hair remained, there was no way it'd be this intact.
This guy was clearly abnormal.
"Still, I'm grateful it remained," Brook said softly.
Now that he was nothing but bones, if even his signature afro had vanished…
He might not be able to reunite with Laboon.
So being reborn with his hair was something he genuinely treasured.
"Your hairstyle's pretty unique."
"Yohohoho~ Like it got blasted by a bomb—an afro!"
Brook jumped up and raised his hands dramatically.
"Oh!"
"Afro!"
Watching Luffy join in instantly, Nami pressed a hand to her forehead.
Why were they all like children…
"Brook's really fun," Merry said, sitting on a chair and swinging her legs, chin resting in her hands.
"Yohohoho~ You're very adorable yourself, young lady."
Merry flushed slightly.
"Hmm?"
Leaning against the wall, Jin suddenly noticed something strange.
…Why didn't Brook have a reflection in the special glass aquarium?
"Hey, Brook."
"Yes?"
"Why don't you have a reflection?"
The moment those words fell, everyone froze.
They followed Jin's finger—and instantly went pale.
"He really doesn't have one!"
The glass reflected every member of the Straw Hat crew…
Except Brook.
As if he didn't exist at all.
That discovery sent Usopp leaping into the air.
"Hey—don't tell me you're a vampire?!" he shrieked.
"Look closely—this guy doesn't even have a shadow!"
"What?!"
"So it's not the Revive-Revive Fruit—
you turned into a vampire?!"
Usopp and Chopper immediately huddled together, trembling as they pointed exorcism tools at Brook.
"He doesn't have a shadow—so cool!" Luffy exclaimed.
"That's the part you're impressed by?!" someone snapped.
"Everyone, please calm down," Brook said, calmly pulling out his chair and sitting again.
"This is a long story."
As he spoke, he picked up a cup of water and took a sip—
and somehow looked… relaxed.
"How are you this calm?!" Sanji roared.
"Explain properly, damn it!"
If this skeleton dared to lie, they wouldn't hesitate to beat him again.
"Yohohoho~ How strict."
Brook smiled, then turned serious.
"Becoming a skeleton and losing my shadow are actually two separate matters…"
Usopp stared at him nervously, terrified he'd suddenly admit to being a vampire.
"If you wish to know what happens next—please wait for the next chapter."
"TELL US NOW, YOU IDIOT!"
Smash!
Nami hurled a wine cup straight at Brook's head, producing another huge bump.
"Yohohoho~ Such ferocity."
"Wait—why can he even get bumps?!" Usopp screamed.
"He really grew one!"
Chopper stared in horror.
A skeleton… growing lumps?!
The doctor's worldview cracked loudly.
"Forget that part—explain the shadow!" Sanji snapped.
"Yes, yes," Brook said.
"It was because of a man."
"A few years ago, my shadow was stolen."
"WHAT?!"
"That's even possible?!"
"At this point, nothing about him surprises me," Zoro muttered.
"Devil Fruit power," Robin said calmly.
"That's the only explanation."
"You're correct," Brook said gravely.
"He used a powerful devil ability to strip away my shadow."
"Because of that, I lost the ability to live under sunlight."
"But you're still alive," someone said.
"Only because I haven't been exposed to the sun," Brook replied seriously.
"If sunlight touches me—I will die."
"Sunlight…"
Jin thought for a moment.
"…I think I understand."
He'd encountered several shadow-based techniques before, and from his knowledge—
he was starting to piece things together.
"What do you mean?" Luffy asked blankly.
"Shadow exists because objects block light," Jin explained.
"When you lose your shadow, light no longer recognizes you as something solid."
"In simple terms—
it's as if you don't exist."
"And that kind of rule can cause your body to be erased."
"…Am I right?" he asked, looking straight at Brook.
"You are remarkably perceptive," Brook smiled.
"That is exactly correct."
"Just as I cannot appear in reflections, light cannot be obstructed by my body."
"When exposed to sunlight, I am burned away—reduced to ash."
"That… is the price of being rejected by the sun."
"So now I've lost my companions—
and even the sunlight itself has abandoned me."
"…That's awful."
"Even so, I've continued living! Yohohoho~"
Brook laughed loudly.
Yet somehow, everyone could feel it—
he was forcing that laughter.
Merry's eyes reddened slightly.
"Poor skeleton…"
"Yohohoho~ What a kind-hearted young lady," Brook said with a gentleman's bow.
"But don't worry—I'm truly happy today!"
"Yohohoho~"
No one could laugh along.
"Drifting alone for decades…" Brook lowered his head.
"No sails. No rudder. Just drifting with the currents."
"I… was truly lonely."
"If not for my lingering resolve, I might have perished long ago."
"But living this long was worth it—
meeting all of you was worth it!"
"Yohohoho~"
"If I could still cry…
I think I'd be weeping tears of joy right now."
He laughed—
but everyone knew he was crying inside.
"Please don't feel sad," Brook said gently.
"Meeting you has already made me very happy."
Then he turned to Luffy.
"Luffy-san, earlier… you invited me to join your crew, didn't you?"
"Yeah!"
"Thank you. Truly—thank you."
But precisely because of that kindness—
"I must… decline."
"WHAT?!"
"Why?!"
Luffy was completely stunned.
Didn't he already agree earlier?!
"I told you," Brook said softly.
"My shadow has been stolen."
"Even if I leave with you, one day the sun will kill me."
"So I intend to remain here—
until the day I meet that man again and reclaim my shadow."
"If that day comes…
and you are still willing to accept me—
then I will join you."
"What are you talking about?!"
Luffy slammed the table and stood up.
"Why are you acting like strangers?!
Aren't we already friends?!"
"You said someone stole your shadow, right?
Tell me where he is—I'll get it back for you!!"
Brook froze.
They had only just met—
yet this man was already willing to challenge such a terrifying enemy for him.
In that moment, Brook felt Luffy's unique charisma in full force.
"Luffy-san… you are truly a good man," Brook said, pressing a hand to his chest.
"If I still had a heart, it would be pounding right now."
"But please forgive me.
I cannot drag you into the abyss with me."
"This burden… is mine alone."
"Is the enemy strong?" Jin asked calmly.
He already knew—
once Luffy decided something, he would never back down.
So information mattered.
"I can't say."
"Not even a name?"
"I know you are kind people," Brook said gently.
"Please don't risk yourselves for me."
"And I don't even know where he is.
Whether I'll ever meet him again is uncertain."
"…Sigh."
Jin exhaled and glanced at Robin.
"Another awkward one."
Robin merely smiled.
Their crew had never lacked stubborn people.
"Yohohoho~ Let's not dwell on that," Brook said, forcing a smile.
"Since today is such a happy day, let me sing for everyone."
"You can sing?"
"I'm a musician, after all."
"What?! A musician?!"
Luffy's eyes exploded with excitement.
"THEN YOU HAVE TO JOIN US, YOU IDIOT!!"
He'd wanted a musician for ages—there was no way he was letting this go.
"Yohohoho~ Please, at least let me play fir—"
Brook suddenly froze.
His body began to tremble violently.
"…G-ghost!!"
A pale spirit emerged straight from the wall.
Brook nearly collapsed on the spot.
Under Perona's control, the ghost floated in midair, grinning down at them.
The Thousand Sunny had already been swallowed by Thriller Bark—
there was no need to hide anymore.
Scaring people was one of her favorite hobbies.
"AHHH!!"
"G-GHOST!!"
"Amazing!" Luffy shouted excitedly.
"Is it a ship spirit?!"
"That doesn't look like one…" Jin said cautiously, staring upward.
"Does this world actually have ghosts?"
"…Or is this another Devil Fruit ability?"
After everything Brook had explained, that idea suddenly seemed very plausible.
The ghost glanced at Jin in surprise—
then silently drifted away.
That reaction made Jin narrow his eyes.
"…That was a very human look."
Could it really be a Devil Fruit user?
"RUMBLE—!!"
The Thousand Sunny suddenly shook violently.
"What—what now?!"
"Did we hit something?!"
"We're on the sea—how could it be an earthquake?!"
"Damn… don't tell me…"
Brook's face changed completely.
He rushed outside—and the moment he saw the surroundings, he froze.
That familiar scenery…
He understood instantly.
They had returned—
to Gecko Moria's territory.
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