Shortly after Kuma became king, something strange happened.
The people of the town suddenly saw a teenage girl with pink hair running through the streets, shouting loudly about stamina and energy, completely full of life.
She darted around like she owned the place, leaving everyone confused as they tried to figure out who she was.
Then, just as suddenly—
She shrank.
Right in front of them.
Her body shifted back down into that of a small child.
And she stood there, looking completely confused.
It was Bonney.
The entire town went silent.
Kuma's friends stared in shock.
Kuma himself—
Just passed out on the spot.
Later, an old man flipped through a worn copy of the Devil Fruit Encyclopedia and found the answer.
The Age-Age Fruit.
Bonney had eaten it.
From that point on, Bonney kept trying to make herself older on command, focusing as hard as she could—but it didn't work the way she wanted it to.
The more she struggled with it, the more frustrated she became.
And the more it stressed Kuma out watching her.
At one point, one of Kuma's friends spotted a small old woman with pink hair wandering nearby and immediately assumed it was Bonney using her powers again.
But it turned out to be someone else entirely.
Conney, the former queen dowager of the Sorbet Kingdom.
The misunderstanding led to an awkward apology from Kuma and his friend.
Around the same time, news spread quickly through the kingdom.
A newspaper reported that the former king had created a story.
According to him, Kuma had burned down a village, attacked the king, and seized control of the country by force.
The world believed it.
To them, Kuma was now a tyrant.
Warships were already being prepared.
They were coming.
Mr. Bulldog brought Kuma the news personally.
Kuma listened quietly.
Then simply said he would destroy anything that came for him.
But he understood the reality.
If he fought them, the entire world would brand him a criminal.
So instead—
He chose to leave.
Bulldog agreed to rule in his place and promised to take care of Bonney.
He would also make sure the church remained a lightless environment to protect her condition.
Kuma said his goodbyes.
He hugged Bonney tightly.
Then he set sail alone on a small ship.
It didn't take long before three warships approached him at sea.
On one of them stood the former king, shouting accusations, continuing his lie—that Kuma had stolen the kingdom and ruled it with an iron fist.
Kuma didn't argue.
