Ash woke up and stepped out of his flat. Rebecca had taken Pikachu for the night while he had his mind and heart on the heir of the Ryugu Palace, Shirahoshi. He allowed his mother to sleep as he decided to patrol in the early morning and wander around. "I do wonder where Shirahoshi's staying," he thought to himself. "I know that Pikachu's with Rebecca." He started to journey down the streets before someone found him.

"GARCHU!" cheered Ocarrot. She tackled Ash before she kissed her favorite Lesser Mink.

"Ocarrot!" he gasped.

"I haven't seen youteia for a long time!"

"Yeah, I was doing some special training and helping with Lord Cobra with the arrival of the other kingdoms."

"I saw… I became excited to see who came. So, we're gonna start the festivities?"

"Not quite. The Tontatta Kingdom hasn't arrived. We can't start it without them." The detail made Ocarrot whine.

"But we set everything up I even heard that Owanda, Dogstorm, Cat Viper and others were coming to it all!"

"I know, but what can we do?" All Ocarrot could do was sigh. "Anyway, were you on your way to the Pinwheel?"

"I was… Owanda was stopping by and wondering about the festivities that are now delayed."

"Oh, really? I bet Pikachu will lead Rebecca to the Pinwheel." The thought made Ocarrot grab Ash's hand.

"Then, let's go, my favorite lesser Mink!" She dragged Ash to the Pinwheel for a day of fun.

Pink Hair! Interviewing Ash

Ash and Ocarrot arrived at the Pinwheel as Onami was setting the sign up. She found the two coming to the restaurant. "Oh, you're just in time!" she noticed. "And you brought Ash along."

"I wouldn't let my favorite lesser Mink go," Ocarrot smiled. "Youteia can understand, right?"

"Neither would I," Onami agreed. Ash and Ocarrot gawked as Onami came to Ash. "Hell, I'd rather have him like a little brother." Ash realized and giggled to the briefing while Ocarrot laughed. Sanji emerged to see Onami pet Ash on the head.

"What the hell, you three?" he groaned.

"Onami told me that she would want Ash as a little brother," Ocarrot briefed.

"Oh, I see…" realized Sanji. "I know he's not one to show feelings to women like I do…" Ash would disagree, but he chose to stay quiet.

("Good morning, Ash!") cheered Pikachu. Ash turned to see Pikachu. Rebecca followed behind.

"Pikachu!" greeted Ash. Pikachu reached Ash's shoulder. "How was Rebecca?"

("Good!") he replied. Rebecca giggled at the sight.

"Pikachu had a nice time with me," Rebecca briefed. "He behaved, especially around Aunt Viola."

"I bet," Ash chuckled. Everyone entered inside where Rebecca, Ash and Pikachu sat by a table.

"I've heard the stories of the Summoner," she began. "How hard had it been since you were an orphan?" Ash seemed surprised to hear of the notice as Shirahoshi found the restaurant.

"How did you learn about it?"

"My aunt. She can look into a person to see what kind of person he or she is. I'm still not quite sure what the process is, but she can see into the person and see their inner intentions."

"She can do that? Wow, I can only think of how she learned to do that, same with Boss with how he stretches his limbs."

"While I do not appreciate being called a crybaby," voiced Shirahoshi. "He has protected me with that talent of his." Everyone turned to the mermaid princess with Sanji's eyes replaced for hearts.

"Princess…" awed Ash. Shirahoshi floated to Ash's and Rebecca's table thanks to the bubble around her. Ash froze as Pikachu came to the other princess.

"Oh, princess?" wondered Rebecca. "Good morning."

"You, too," Shirahoshi answered. "It does feel like a breath of fresh air coming out of the Ryugu Kingdom.

"Oh, with all of the merfolk and fishmen," Rebecca realized. "I know of that kingdom. I do wish to see it."

"I'm sure you can come on by at any time," Shirahoshi offered. "But this concerns me… What was your life before you came to Grand Jipang?" Ash shook his head.

"Nothing fun, lemme tell ya," he replied. "Imagine almost going through your entire life without a parent." Shirahoshi gasped to the thought.

"You were an orphan?" she shuttered.

"Aunt Viola sensed it when she first saw Ash himself," Rebecca pointed out. "I had that same reaction as well." Omao heard and came over with glasses of water.

"Ash stayed at the temple for a long time where he learned to be a summoner," she voiced. Looking to the waitress, Rebecca wondered about any relationship to Ash that Omao had.

"Onami said to us that she would want Ash as a little brother," she voiced. "What about you?" Omao giggled to the question.

"I don't really see myself in a relationship with Ash," she denied. Ash and the girls understood. "I, too, was shocked when I first heard about it. You could understand how and why Robin adopted him."

"Would you blame Aunt Viola if she wanted to take Ash for herself?" suggested Rebecca. The others giggled. "But what possessed you to become a summoner?"

"Actually, it was him that made me a summoner," Ash corrected as he thumbed to Pikachu. He responded with a paw in the air.

"So, you influenced him to be a summoner," Shirahoshi concluded. Pikachu itched the back of his head embarrassingly.

"Don't blame him too much," Robin eased as she arrived with Usopp also entered. "Besides, you can tell how well their bond is."

"We can," Rebecca noticed. "Even after I had him last night."

"Part of me did see a bit of Boss inside of Ash," Usopp compared. "It's possibly why Rayleigh took a liking to him to help keep crime down here." Onami came by with bowls of ramen.

"What's this?" wondered Shirahoshi.

"Sanji decided to make some ramen as a way to greet you into our restaurant," Onami explained.

"Oh, is this how ramen is made in Grand Jipang?" wondered Rebecca. Ash sighed to the claim as Pikachu jumped onto Onami's shoulder while Luffy entered.

"The cook has more respect for women than other people do," Ash answered. "At least to him. Though, seeing that, I'm actually getting kinda hungry. Any chance I can get a bowl as well?"

"Sure, if you tell me how you got several women by you," Sanji offered with a mull.

"Don't be such a stickler!" snapped Onami. "Just make a bowl for him!" Fearful, Sanji saluted.

"At once, Onami-Swan!" he agreed before making a bowl of ramen for Ash. Once made, Ash took a good look to it.

"Oh, I can't wait to try it," he smiled before handing some chopsticks. They soon dined on the ramen where everyone agreed to the flavoring.

"This is well-made!" awed Shirahoshi. "You can definitely taste how rich the broth is."

"That's for sure," Rebecca agreed. "Where did you find this?" Sanji snickered to the question.

"It's actually something I had for some time," Sanji brought up. "However, we didn't have the resources before Ash got the gem. Since then, we have better equipment." Ash scarfed the ramen before taking a refreshing breath, enjoying the taste of the ramen. As he lowered the bowl, a noodle seemed to be attached between his nose and mouth. Looking, everyone seemed to be amused to the new look. Usopp, Luffy and the girls giggled to the new face. Ash looked confused.

"What?" he wondered. "What are you guys laughing at?"

"Nothing!" lied Onami while snickering. "Nice mustache, though!" Ash blinked before he felt the noodle stuck to his upper lip.

"Oh…" he laughed. Suddenly, he stood up and firm. He cleared his throat before speaking like a grizzled man. "What're you youngsters laughin' at!? Ain't you ever seen an old man with a mustache before!?" The act made everyone burst in laughter to the act, but Sanji mulled to the sight. Seeing Ash toying with his food, the chef was the only one not amused. Robin and Shirahoshi slapped the table, their laughter being Ash picked up a chopstick before pointing it at Luffy. "You'll see the end of this cane between your peepers unless you start cleanin' up this mess… pronto!" The laughs continued to Ash's comedy routine. He poked fun at Ocarrot and Onami, but they took it like champs and laughed to the jokes. Finding Usopp, he had a gag ready to launch. "You say you wanna be a great samurai, Usopp? Well then, I got a tip for ya…" Usopp gulped, anticipating the punchline.

"Y-Yeah?" he snickered. "What's that, G-Gramps?" Ash pointed to Usopp with the chopstick.

"GO HOME AND LET ME GET SOME SLEEP!" he replied. The restaurant became an echo chamber of laughs. Everyone sprawled on the ground, laughing their heads off. Luffy and Usopp were hammering the ground with clenched fists, unable to control their laughs. Sanji was the only one who kept getting madder while Ash removed the noodle from his upper lip and slurped it. While mad that he saw Ash playing with his food, he kept calm because of how happy the women were.

"Oh, God!" chuckled Omao. "That was so good!"

"It was!" agreed Rebecca with a laugh. "You proved Aunt Viola right! Maybe we can be a capable item as well!" She reached and kissed Ash on the cheek, causing him to blush. Shirahoshi seemed worried that the boy he started to have feelings for.

"At least Ash will fit in with more than just Grand Jipang," Luffy believed. The joyous time started to come to a close while Rebecca, Shirahoshi, Ash and Pikachu stood outside the Pinwheel.

"Ash, I do want to spend more time with you," Rebecca wished.

"As do I," Shirahoshi added.

"Believe me," Ash agreed. "I'd like to know more about the Ryugu and Dressrosa Kingdoms."

"As well as your summons," Shirahoshi giggled. That's when her brothers came by.

"Sister!" voiced Fukaboshi. Everyone turned to the brothers.

"Oh, Fukaboshi!" realized Shirahoshi. "Manboshi, Ryuboshi…"

"We came to pick you up, sis!" voiced Manboshi.

"Our father is worried about you, la… ti… do!" sang Ryuboshi. Fukaboshi came to Ash before facing him.

"Summoner, we thank you for watching over our sister," Fukaboshi addressed. "She does tend to swim out of sight at times."

"It's okay, Fuu- I mean, Prince Fukaboshi," Ash corrected.

"No need to correct yourself, Summoner," Ryuboshi denied. "You're a special human that we respect throughout the countryside." They shook the hands with each other.

"Is there a moment when I can meet your king?" asked Ash. "Like a time since we're still waiting on the other kingdom to show up?"

"We can give you a time to see our father if you want," Fukaboshi accepted. "In fact, our father has been anxious to see you in private himself."

("King Neptune also wants to see us?") gasped Pikachu. Ash smiled to the thought.

"Let me know if there is a day available," Ash allowed as Rebecca came forward.

"This also goes to us as well since Aunt Viola would like a word with you, too," she added. Ash accepted before they shook hands. Evening came by as Ash and Pikachu returned home.

"That was a surprising comedy act that you pulled off, Ash," Robin giggled.

"I still remember my sensei's voice, and that he scolded me when I started to feel too overwhelmed," Ash admitted. "I guess it's why he wasn't sure to let me go so suddenly for me to be on this trek to find Rayleigh and help Grand Jipang."

"Oh, he wanted you to stay?"

"I know, right? It was like he was a father figure that didn't want me to leave the nest so soon, even though I'd spent almost all of my life there. What about you?" The question made Robin frown.

"The moment people learned of my powers, I was casted as a bakemono, or monster by them. Since then, I was ostracized by my village where you were the same after your parents died. Neither one of us had the enjoyment of being with people until Cobra saved me and became Vivi's protector. Here, no one discriminated me for what I have." Out of sympathy, Ash hugged Robin.

"No one should suffer like we did. We are a mother and son of powers that people are scared of… but that's no reason we should be casted aside." Replying, Robin hugged Ash back. There was more for the Summoner to deal with while a new group started to make their way to the grand city…

TO BE CONTINUED...