When Jin found her, the little one was curled up in a dark corner.
Her entire body was covered in cracks, looking like a porcelain doll on the verge of shattering.
The moment he saw her, even Jin's heart trembled.
How unbelievably considerate this little one was…!
She was clearly on the brink of death, yet she still chose to endure the pain in silence—curling up alone in the shadows, quietly waiting for the end.
As if… as if she was afraid her partners would worry about her.
She was so small. So very small.
If he hadn't sensed something wrong and descended with his Sharingan to search, they might not even have been able to see her one last time—
Merry would have died without anyone knowing.
"But the way I look right now…" Merry whispered softly.
"It would make everyone sad. I don't want to see them sad…"
"When everyone is sad… my heart hurts."
"It's okay… it's okay… it's okay, Merry."
Merry opened her mouth slightly, then finally let out a quiet sigh and slowly closed her eyes.
At this point, even if she wanted to resist, she couldn't.
All of her strength was being used to sustain the ship.
At the very least—until she delivered her partners to a safe place—she couldn't die.
Once everyone was safe…
Her mission would be complete.
When Jin stepped onto the deck with her in his arms, everyone's gaze instantly locked onto the little figure he was holding—
The tiny being who looked as though she might fade away at any moment.
The green raincoat.
And the name Jin had spoken earlier.
In an instant, everyone understood who she was.
And the moment Usopp saw Merry's condition, something inside his head snapped.
"MERRYYYY!!!"
He charged forward like a madman.
Even when he tripped halfway, smashing his face so hard his nose cracked, he didn't care in the slightest.
Reaching Jin, he instinctively reached out—
Then froze.
Afraid that even touching her might cause her to break, he forcibly stopped his hand midair.
"Merry…?!"
"Zoro—quick!" Luffy shouted.
"Help me! I want to see Merry!"
For some reason, her voice sounded incredibly weak to him.
So weak… as if she were about to die.
Zoro didn't say a word.
He silently pulled Luffy up, draped Luffy's arm over his shoulder, and step by step brought him toward Jin.
The others followed, carefully gathering around.
"Th-this is Merry…?" Nami covered her mouth.
"What happened to her?"
"She doesn't look well at all…"
"Merry! Merry, what's wrong?!"
"Chopper—quick! Check her!"
"Everyone, don't crowd in—make some space!"
The others immediately backed away, afraid of interfering.
Chopper carefully approached Jin.
"Let me take her."
"I'm not sure you'll be able to touch her."
"…What?"
Jin didn't explain—only gestured for Chopper to try.
Chopper didn't hesitate.
He reached out—
And his hand passed straight through Merry's body.
"…EH?!!!"
"Why—why can't I touch her?!"
Refusing to believe it, Chopper tried again.
Still nothing.
His hand passed through her like air.
Chopper panicked.
If he couldn't even touch her, how could he possibly treat her?
"Chopper, what are you doing? Save her already!" Usopp shouted desperately.
"I can't!" Chopper cried.
"It's like she doesn't have a physical body at all!"
He was on the verge of tears.
He wanted to save her—but he couldn't even reach her.
"How is that possible?!" Usopp shouted.
"Merry has a body! Back on Skypiea, she repaired the ship all by herself!"
"How could she not have one?!"
"Maybe…" Granny Kokoro said softly,
"She no longer has the strength to maintain her form."
Usopp froze.
It felt as if a heavy hammer had smashed directly into his heart.
Even Chimney couldn't accept it.
This little girl—who looked even younger than her—
Was she really going to die?
"Then why can Jin touch her?" Nami asked.
"Because I'm a ninja," Jin replied.
Using the properties of Yin–Yang Release, he had gained the ability to interact with her existence.
Before using that power, even he hadn't been able to touch Merry.
"Merry…" Luffy stared at the spreading cracks across her body.
"Why does it look like she's breaking apart?"
"It's probably connected to the ship," Franky said after regaining his composure.
He pointed at the Merry.
"The ship spirit was born from this vessel. That means… her fate is linked to the ship itself."
He didn't finish the sentence—
But everyone understood.
Once the Going Merry completely broke down, Merry's life would likely end as well.
That was probably why her body was full of cracks.
But how could they possibly accept that?
"I don't believe it… I DON'T BELIEVE IT!!"
Usopp screamed hysterically.
"There has to be a way! There has to be!!"
"She's so small—why does she have to go through something like this?!"
He had completely lost control.
He simply couldn't accept it.
"I'm sorry… Usopp," Merry said weakly as she opened her eyes.
"I'm sorry, everyone…"
"Please don't be sad because of me. Being able to save you all before disappearing… I-I have no regrets…"
Even now—
She was still thinking of others.
That kindness was heartbreaking.
"No… the ones who should apologize are us."
Usopp's body trembled as tears poured uncontrollably from his eyes.
"It's our fault. We didn't protect the Merry properly."
"If anyone's to blame… it's us."
"I've never blamed any of you," Merry said softly.
She turned her head, looking at everyone, and smiled.
"I could feel all of your love. Thank you… truly."
"MERRYYYY!!!"
Everyone broke down.
Tears flowed freely, beyond control.
"Why… why does it have to be like this?!"
Usopp's legs finally gave out.
He collapsed to the deck, pounding the floor again and again with his fists.
"Why does Merry have to suffer like this?!"
Though she looked several years old, Usopp knew—
Her true lifespan might have been only a few months.
Only a few months…
To be born and die within such a short time—
How cruel could the world be?
Wiping the tears from her eyes, Nico Robin looked toward Jin.
"Jin… do you have any way?"
Usopp shot up like he'd grabbed a lifeline.
He rushed to Jin and grabbed him.
"Jin—save her!!"
"If you have any way at all, please save her!!"
"You're a ninja—you must have a way, right?!"
"You're the only one who can touch her!"
"Isn't there something you can do?!"
"Jin—save Merry!!"
Among everyone present, he was the only one with mysterious, unbelievable powers.
Maybe—just maybe—he really could save her.
Facing their desperate, hopeful eyes, Jin fell silent for a moment.
Then he spoke.
"I'll do everything I can."
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