Chapter 37
Although Ace's attitude towards you on the second day was not noticeably different from usual, that was only in front of the other crew members. Once it was just the two of you alone, Ace would find another excuse to leave first.
Despite his seemingly cheerful and lively personality, Ace is the type to temporarily withdraw from conflicts with friends when he can't find a solution. In contrast, Izou and Sachi seem to want to get closer to you.
You weren't the only one who noticed the changes in the three; some others on the ship also noticed the subtle shifts in your relationship with them. Whitebeard, the father of the three, said nothing, only letting out a hearty laugh to reassure you to stay on the ship. The others, led by Marco, would occasionally give you a thumbs-up as they passed by.
Whether their thumbs-up was referring to your previous expressions or your relationship with Ace, as one of the parties involved, you could only respond with a polite smile. Meanwhile, Harta, who had recently been playing pranks on you with Ace, surprisingly changed her usual attitude and started showing concern for your friendship with Ace.
"Did you and Ace have a fight?"
Thinking back to what you and Ace talked about that night, from your perspective, it didn't really count as an argument.
"It wasn't really an argument, we just talked about some unpleasant topics."
Your words caught Harta's attention, and his sapphire blue eyes lit up with interest.
"Hmm? Now that you mention it, I'm curious what you two talked about."
Under Harta's intrigued gaze, you smiled and declined his invitation to chat about the matter.
"Let's forget about it. I'll be really upset if Harta stops talking to me because of this."
Upon hearing this, Harta's smile faltered slightly, and then a blush appeared on her youthful face that belied her age. Before you could clearly see Harta's expression, Harta, having deduced another meaning from your words, raised an eyebrow and asked you in an awkward tone.
Do I seem like the type who will stop talking to you if we start a conversation about a topic I don't like?
Clearly, Harta didn't like your way of putting it. Realizing this, you changed your approach.
"Of course not. Our relationship has only just started to improve, and I would be very upset if it deteriorated because of the topics we talk about."
Upon hearing the key words, Harta's eyes widened, filled with disbelief at what you had said.
"Ha, you're saying—"
Before Harta, whose face had turned red, could finish speaking, you changed the subject with a laugh.
"So let's change the subject? Like what Harta likes or dislikes."
Your conversation revolved around Harta, and Harta, who had been standing there stunned for a while before coming to his senses, first uttered a single sound that meant he was happy.
"Since you want to know... no! Why should I tell you just because you want to know?"
Harta realized something was wrong halfway through her sentence and quickly changed her tune, then took two steps back to create distance between herself and you.
"If you want to know these things, just guess for yourself."
What's clearly an act of feigned arrogance actually seems exceptionally endearing on Harta. Of course, you can keep these thoughts to yourself; if you actually say them out loud, Harta will probably be unhappy.
-
You were quite surprised to learn from Izang that Harta had temporarily lost his sight. Perhaps your expression betrayed your thoughts, because Izang, who told you the news, explained the reason for it with a smile.
"It wasn't caused by the enemy. It was caused by the expert on the ship who invented the weapon. He asked Harta to test his new invention. It will be fine in a couple of days."
Your understated attitude gives you a new understanding of "blindness." As far as you know, blindness isn't like a cold, a symptom that gets better in a couple of days.
That's how you found out why you hadn't seen Harta today—it was because of her eyes. The thought of those eyes, more beautiful than sapphires, temporarily losing their luster made you feel down, so much so that even the delicious lunch in front of you seemed to lose its appeal.
Noticing your change in mood, Izo suggested, "If you're really worried, I'll take you to see him after lunch. But Harta's condition shouldn't be as bad as you think."
When he said the second half of the sentence, the smile in Izang's words puzzled you, but Izang's suggestion was in line with what you were thinking, so you naturally wouldn't refuse.
"Then I'll have to trouble you, Izang."
Your gaze shifts from the plate to Izang's face, where his handsome brows furrow slightly at your answer, only to return to their original curve in the blink of an eye.
"You're welcome. But before you go to see Harta, I hope you can have lunch first."
Clearly, Izo is somewhat displeased that you haven't finished your lunch yet, which subtly aligns with your reluctance to waste food.
"I will, after all, Sachi's cooking is delicious."
Upon hearing this, Izo's smile faltered slightly, then he chuckled as if he had heard a funny joke and echoed what you had said.
“You’re right, Sachi’s cooking is indeed very delicious.”
With that, Izang picked up the cream of mushroom soup from his plate and drank it all in one gulp. Seeing this, your thoughts shifted from your plans to visit Harta after lunch to the unresolved lunch issue.
While this might not be the case in this world, according to the social etiquette you've learned, it's generally customary to bring something when visiting a sick friend or colleague. On the Moby Dick, the only thing you could bring for Harta would probably be the chest of treasure hidden under her bed.
Do you want to take something from inside?
-
Harta's room design, like his clothing style, is extremely elegant and European.
Just as Izo said, Harta, who was temporarily blind and staying in the room, accepted his blindness well. Even though he couldn't see, he could tell who was standing outside his door when neither you nor Izo made a sound.
"Didn't you just come this morning? Why are you here again?"
Harta, whose eyes were open but unfocused, spoke to Izou's location. Izou, seemingly disliked by Harta, smiled and answered Harta's question in the same tone.
"I was here this morning, so I'm just here this afternoon to show you the way."
Seeing this, you then use the pause in your speech to explain your purpose.
"I'm sorry, it was after I heard about what happened that I bothered Yizang to show me the way. Are you alright?"
After determining your location based on your voice, Harta "looked" at you with the smug smile you were all too familiar with.
"Of course I'm fine. It's such a small matter, it's not even a problem."
"It's more accurate to say that it's rare to have two quiet days in a room like this. It's just that the guys in the team make a big fuss about it and are always running around."
As Harta spoke, he walked to his bedside table and showed you the gifts he had received.
"Look, these were all brought by my team. Some of them I don't even need, but they were still piled up here."
When talking about the gifts his teammates had given him, Harta's smile held a childlike pride as he showed off his beloved possessions. Accustomed to this, Izo smiled silently, looking at you as Harta displayed his gifts.
"I told you, he won't get into trouble because of this."
Before you could reply, Harta made a humming sound that implied "of course," which made you laugh out loud.
“That’s true. It seems I don’t know Harta well enough.”
For the first time since you and Izang entered the door, Harta, who had been so composed, showed a look of panic.
"W-what? You're judging my problem by your own standards, what do you mean by 'how well you understand'...?"
Later, you and Izang understood the reason for Harta's overreaction. The two looked at each other and smiled as Harta's voice gradually weakened.
Perhaps it saw your and Izo's reactions with its Observation Haki, because Harta suddenly stepped between you and Izo, facing you, and changed its hesitant attitude from before, giving you "orders" alone.
"Anyway, I'm fine! Don't you dare come to see me every few hours like the guys on my team do!"
Izang, sensing something amiss, remained silent, but his eyes, fixed on you and Harta, revealed amusement at the situation. Harta, ever perceptive of such stares, didn't turn around, but instead urged you to leave.
While he said he was urging you to leave, Harta really wanted you gone; the hand on your shoulder seemed ready to kick you out of his room at any moment. His verbal urging was more of a cover for his current panic.
It is a virtue to see through something but not say it. You are relieved that your purpose in coming here was to confirm Harta's condition, but you cannot leave yet because the souvenirs you brought have not been delivered to Harta.
Thinking of this, you take out the sapphire you found in the box of treasure from your pocket, and place it in Harta's hand amidst Harta's urging, "Why aren't you leaving yet?"
"I'll leave after I give you this, is that alright?"
Harta, caught off guard by the gift you gave her, stood frozen in place. Perhaps your action was a bit abrupt, because as you handed the gem to Harta and prepared to withdraw your hand, Harta, finally realizing what was happening, turned around and grasped your hand instead.
"You came all this way just to give this to me?"
Although Harta's sapphire eyes were unfocused, you could still detect a hint of displeasure in their dim blue hue. Seeing Harta's sudden change in mood, you were once again certain that Harta was the most easygoing person you knew.
You don't personally dislike this personality trait, but its changeable nature can be a bit overwhelming, like now, when you don't know how to respond to Harta's words. Fortunately, you weren't the only one who came to see Harta; Izo, who came along, approached and subtly separated your hands from Harta's clasped hands.
The appearance of the third person caused Harta to be momentarily stunned. When Harta came to his senses, he gripped the gem you had given him tightly, followed by Izou separating your hands from Harta's and using the topic to lighten the mood.
"Halta, you scared her."
Actually, she just didn't know how to react. But before you could speak, Harta, who had turned his back to you and Izang, interrupted your explanation.
"I didn't ask you to come see me. Okay, all of you, get out. I need to rest."
One sentence shut you down.
At the same time, Izang, who knows Harta better than you, gives you a reassuring smile.
"I understand. I'll take her back now. You get some rest."
Since Izang, who brought you here, has said so, you can't stay in Harta's room any longer, so you say goodbye to Harta as Izang said.
"I won't bother you anymore. I'll come and chat with you again when you're feeling better."
Harta, with his back to you and Izang, didn't speak, but simply stretched out a hand in a gesture to shoo you away. Seeing this, you and Izang didn't linger and left Harta's room, closing the door behind you as you went.
-
Harta only loosened his grip on the gem after you and Izang had walked away. He couldn't see what color the gem you gave him was, but Harta was certain that it would be a "special case" that he would keep in a separate box.
This made Harta a little angry; he still remembered the size and temperature of the gem you placed in his hand.
That's why Harta tightened his grip, wanting to further confirm whether the extra sensation on his hand was yours.
If Izou weren't still in his room, Harta wouldn't mind letting you stay a little longer. Thinking of the sensation of the gem lingering in his palm, Harta, "looking" at it, muttered his dissatisfaction.
"You've already reached out your hand, why don't you hold it a little longer?"
If you had said just a few more words, he wouldn't have let you leave so quickly.
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