It's been a while since the strawhats defeated Wapol. You remembered the time when the villagers running around, scared, first while Wapol was still the king, then the Blackbeard pirates came and swept over everything, killing without mercy.
At that time, Wapol and his subordinate ran away to a hiding, leaving the villagers to fend themselves. Lastly, when the strawhat came, asking for help for his crew.
Strawhat coming caused confrontation between them and the returning Wapol. You dont know the details, but what you do know is that amidst all the tragedy and chaos, he will always be standing on the front line, protecting the vilagers, protecting everyone.
"(Y/n)-neechan, do you hear?" A kid's voice called out and you looked at your side. It was one of the kids from your sanctuary.
"What are you doing here?" You asked as he helped you lifted your groceries and walked along with you happily.
"Madam told me that I can follow you to the market. Then I saw a man make an announcement-"
"Mother did huh?" You asked, cutting him halfway. You looked at the list in your hand, calculating the number of people in the sanctuary. Usually, you will order and the grocer will send the things to the sanctuary, but the weekend was busy for the people of Sakura Kingdom, and you have to pick them up yourself.
You walked by a stall, selling scarfs and saw a bright (f/c) scarf on sale. You pulled the kid's hand and went over to looked at it.
"Nee-channn did you hear what I said? The announcer just now said that Dalton-onisan-..." you shot a glare at the kid.
" I dont want to hear his name. I told you." You fumed, but gave up, realising he was just a kid.
His expression changed and you put the groceries on the icy ground and held the kid in your arms.
"I'm sorry, okay? I didn't mean to scold you." You held the kid's small face in your hand and he nodded.
The kid was one of the orphans in the sanctuary built by your mother. It was a place where homeless and disable take refuge, and have been packed eversince the fights started. Old citizens, orphans effect of the war, the injured. It was tight and the sanctuary barely hold up.
You carved a smiled and stood up, giving one last look at the scarf before walking away, knowing that the coin sack in your hand is getting dangerously empty.
"I'm back..:" you called out and the kid rushed in, to join his fellow friends. You shook your head lightly, balancing the groceries in your hand and went to the kitchen.
"The price hiked again." You sighed, and your mother stopped cutting the onion. The groceried consisted of cabbage and carrot only. No meat, since it is too expansive.
"We'll get by. Dont worry." Your mother smiled at you, her hair started to turn gray not long ago and now it was almost all.
You swept back you (h/c) hair, and tried to hide your sadness. You dont care what happened to the kingdom. You already gave up your hope. You thought that after strawhats defeated Wapol, its going to be okay. But nothing changed. It got harder, now that Wapol no longer boast his wealth around.
Your mother used to work in Wapol's royal kitchen, but now she's spending whatever left of her money to get the santuary by.
You too used to help out in the castle, and got the salary that was used up by tthe sanctuary. If there are no other means, the santuary will have to be closed and the people will have to live on the streets.
"Another letter came today." Your mother suddenly said and you closed your eyes
"Burn it."
"Why can't you just read. Know what he wanted to say?"
