While Katakuri listened to Big Mom's plan, things were not going particularly well on Cain's side.
…
Inside the room arranged by Big Mom.
At that moment, Cain and Uta were sitting stiffly back-to-back on an absurdly luxurious bed.
As expected of an Emperor's territory, Totto Land had pushed the word "gorgeous" to its absolute limit.
But the problem was…
What was with this bed?
"Hey, isn't this a little too much…?"
Cain felt the mattress beneath him, so soft it seemed capable of swallowing a person whole, and the corner of his mouth twitched uncontrollably.
Earlier, he had been too focused on asking Katakuri about Pudding and had completely forgotten to confirm what the room was like.
As a result, when they pushed the door open, what greeted them was not just an oversized room with one huge bed, but also bright pink flower petals scattered across the delicate velvet sheets.
Was this really a guest room?
This was clearly the highest-grade bridal chamber.
Since confirming their relationship, apart from the special circumstances during their personality swaps, this was the first time Cain and Uta were truly sharing the same bed.
Cain felt every muscle in his body tense like a fully drawn bowstring. Even his breathing became careful.
He kept struggling inwardly.
Could he really survive this setup?
"Um… Cain?" Uta spoke softly.
"Mm… yeah?"
Cain answered mechanically.
But inside his mind, scenes from the bathhouse earlier kept surfacing at the worst possible time—the hazy steam, the blurred outline, and that sudden flash of red and white…
'Help! Someone tasukete!'
Once that kind of image took root, it lingered like he had been hit by the Slow-Slow Beam, replaying in slow motion inside his brain over and over again.
Cain felt heat stir deep in his nose.
He had no choice but to frown hard and desperately tilt his head up, trying to use gravity to fight that restless warmth.
'Calm down, lil Cain!'
He roared wildly inside his mind, and for some reason, Sanji's perverted face appeared in his head.
"Is this the price I pay for lighting Sanji's cigarette?"
Cain muttered in a complicated tone.
"That bastard's curse can actually cross time and space to strike me with perfect accuracy?"
"Pfft… What nonsense are you talking about?"
Hearing that ridiculous mutter, Uta could not help laughing softly.
Her previously tense shoulders finally relaxed a little.
At first, she had only thought this room was strange, but seeing Cain's back now, as if he were facing a great enemy, she immediately understood that this guy had started thinking in the wrong direction again.
And seeing Cain looking like he was about to spontaneously combust…
Hehe.
The little flame of mischief in Uta's heart flared up again.
Remembering something Shakky had once said, some strange ideas popped into her mind.
Facing a Cain like this, how could she not tease him properly?
"Hey, Cain."
Uta suddenly turned around and pressed herself close against Cain's burning back.
Her slender fingers slowly slid down his arm before seemingly brushing against his chest by accident.
Her tone lifted slightly, carrying a faintly seductive ending.
"You… don't want to do anything to me?"
"Uta! This… really won't do!"
Cain felt as if the back of his head was about to catch fire.
This was Totto Land!
Who knew which corner might have a Homie's eyes hidden inside?
If something really happened here, wouldn't that be way too much of a loss?
If they were really going to do anything, at the very least, it had to be somewhere without other people around…
For example, the Going Merry docked at Water 7 or something like that!
And besides, setting aside his problem of spraying nosebleeds the moment he saw anything, with Uta's current small body, could she really handle it?
"If Shanks finds out we progressed this fast," Cain said incoherently, dragging out his final shield, "he'll definitely carry Gryphon and cut his way from the Four Blues all the way to the New World! Do you want to see me turned into sashimi?"
"Hmph. That idiot Shanks can't control me. Besides, from beginning to end, you're the only one talking to yourself. I haven't even said what I wanted to do yet."
Uta snorted lightly, clearly dissatisfied with that excuse.
Her interest in teasing Cain grew even stronger. She wanted to see more interesting expressions on that calm face.
Not only did she not retreat, she used the motion to stand up, her delicate foot lightly touching the bed as she pushed Cain down with unstoppable, spoiled force.
Her foot slid upward along his lower abdomen.
"I… I…"
Faced with Uta's words and movements, Cain was clearly stunned, completely unsure of what to do.
Should he follow his instincts, or keep holding onto reason?
What was he supposed to do?!
Uta looked at Cain's troubled expression, and at the way he wanted to reach out to stop her yet kept shrinking back. Her eyes grew more and more pleased.
On that flower-covered bed, Uta suddenly grabbed Cain's tie and pulled it upward.
Cain was yanked up sharply, and Uta lowered her head at the same time.
Their noses touched, and their breaths mingled. Her star-filled eyes now carried an air of looking down from above.
"You… stop using Shanks as an excuse."
Her breath was sweet and soft, and the corner of her mouth curved into a dangerous yet charming smile.
"Cain, why don't you just give in to me? I hope you'll serve me nice and comfortably."
Cain's pupils shrank sharply.
The only thought left in his mind was:
'Shakky, what the hell did you teach her?!'
"Uta, maybe we shouldn't… Have you forgotten what happened today? What if I hit the ceiling again…"
Cain shifted his gaze away, his eyes drifting. That unconcealable shyness finally broke through under Uta's "pressure."
Seeing Cain like this, Uta revealed a satisfied smile of victory.
Thinking of Cain spraying blood twice today, she nodded as well. Even the braids behind her head perked up playfully as she said,
"Oh, right. I almost forgot!"
She obediently sat back down on Cain.
Then she abruptly shot up again.
She had clearly felt something, and her face flushed even redder. The aura she had built up earlier vanished like smoke.
In truth, her own heart was pounding too.
Just now, she had only dared to push him so boldly because Cain was too honest.
If it actually came to "real combat," she would probably run faster than a rabbit.
After all, she had heard from Shakky just how terrifying Mythical Zoans could be!
The next second, the shyness in Cain's eyes instantly changed.
"SORRY, UTA!"
Cain let out a low shout, suddenly flipped over, and pressed Uta beneath him.
His hands turned into blurred afterimages as he grabbed the thick down comforter beside them.
Before Uta could react, he moved swiftly and wrapped her up tight like a burrito, sealing her into an airtight "cocoon."
'W-what was happening?'
'Why was he suddenly so urgent?'
'Could it be that he really wanted to…'
Uta's face turned bright red, her heart pounding like a drum.
She thought she had gone too far this time. At this rate, she might not be able to get out of bed for two or three days.
"AH! CAIN, WHAT ARE YOU DOING? EVEN IF YOU'RE THAT IMPATIENT, I'M STILL NOT READY TO DO IT INSIDE THE BLANKET…"
Uta struggled desperately inside the bedding, her embarrassed shout not yet fully out when the space inside the room suddenly distorted.
"ROOM."
Along with a cold, low voice, a pale-blue hemispherical space instantly covered the entire room.
Several figures appeared out of thin air.
The one in front was Trafalgar Law, his expression so dark it looked like water might drip from his face.
Behind him was Capone Bege, sweating heavily, his expression anxious yet faintly awkward.
"Hey, you two…"
Law looked at the huge "blanket roll" on the bed that was still squirming, then looked at the messy flower petals scattered all over the floor.
The hand gripping Kikoku trembled slightly, and the corner of his mouth twitched wildly.
"I know the timing is extremely inappropriate… but if you don't want to be discovered, then hurry up and figure out how to deal with the trouble coming next!"
Inside the blanket, Uta went completely still.
After a deathly silence came overwhelming relief.
Thank goodness Cain had wrapped her up so quickly.
Otherwise, if someone had walked in and seen her like that, she might as well have launched the Eye of the Moon Plan right then and there!
Outside the blanket, veins bulged on Cain's forehead as he stood in front of the bed, his face dark.
He glared at Law through gritted teeth, grinding out each word.
"Trafalgar Law! …Although you've helped us a lot, and I really am grateful, in this situation, you had better have a reason that can truly 'save lives.' Otherwise, I guarantee that before anyone else discovers us, Death will descend on your head first!"
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