Chapter 27 - From Dust to Hope

After walking for a while, Coby finally came across a house not far from the shoreline. Although the house appeared to be in ruins, he noticed signs of minor repair efforts. Despite the subtle improvements, it was evident that the house had been abandoned and uninhabited for years.

Coby entered the small house, feeling a mix of emotions within him. Inside the dilapidated dwelling, he discovered remnants of his parents' past. Family photographs lay scattered on the floor, dusty and damaged. It was as if Coby was touching the traces of his long-departed parents' lives.

The house consisted of two bedrooms, a living room, a toilet, and a kitchen. As Coby recalled memories from his childhood, the house seemed larger, perhaps due to his small size back then.

What was once a warm place now lay in ruins, covered in dust. Coby surveyed the surroundings and entered his parents' bedroom, hoping to find something left behind.

In the cluttered room that bore the mark of brutal pirate intrusion, Coby could sense the violence and roughness inflicted by the invaders. After sifting through the debris, he discovered a small book in the corner. Realizing that the pirates paid little attention to books, focusing solely on valuable items, Coby felt a glimmer of hope.

As he examined the book, Coby realized it was his late mother's diary. Opening its pages, he delved into her memories. The beginning chronicled the days before his mother met his father, the middle section narrated their courtship, and the subsequent pages detailed their long-awaited marriage and the blissful days that followed. Finally, there was a section that depicted Coby's birth, the happiest moment for both of his parents.

"I suppose my mother didn't have time to write anymore due to the busyness of caring for a child," Coby thought after reaching the last page of his mother's diary.

Coby became immersed in reading the diary, allowing the memories and emotions to flow.

"I don't know what to make of all this. The child they raised is gone, and I have taken over Coby's body. Will they be angry because I have taken their child's body?" Coby felt a sense of fear contemplating this. Nonetheless, he reassured himself that he was not the original Coby but someone who had come from the blue planet and entered Coby's defenseless body.

For a long time, Coby sat in contemplation amidst the ruins, uncertain of what to do next.

After a while, Coby heard footsteps approaching him. He hadn't even realized that someone had come so close. Normally, his Kenbunshoku Haki would have warned him of anyone's approach.

After a brief silence, the person finally spoke, "Coby, I hope you are not in despair. What your parents did was the best choice to protect you. Rise up, my child. Your parents would be heartbroken to see you in this state," said the voice of Gyuro, the village elder.

Coby looked towards him and listened to his words, but he didn't know how to respond.

Seeing Coby's lack of response, the old man continued, "Meet your parents, Coby. They are buried on the hill where they used to spend time together."

Coby simply nodded, willing to go to his parents' graves.

Following the directions given by the village elder, Coby reached a small hill covered in lush green grass. Though simple, the view was breathtaking. He approached a stone that served as a marker and saw two graves there, bearing the names Masaru and Yumi.

Coby sat beside the graves, feeling a momentary confusion about what to say to them.

After a brief silence, he began to speak, "Hello, allow me to introduce myself as Alex Masonhill, an inhabitant of the blue planet. This is my first time in this world, and Alex is the name I originally had before transmigrating into Coby, your child's body."

"I'm not sure how to explain all of this to both of you. I will start by telling my story, the story of how I came to be Coby, the experiences I've had after being captured by the Black Skull pirates, my rescue by the Marines, and my training at the Isshin Dojo for the past four years."

After finishing recounting my story to the graves before me, I sat there in silence, unsure if it was an illusion or simply exhaustion after everything that had happened to me that day.

I caught a glimpse of a handsome young man with slightly tanned skin, likely from exposure to the sun, and a woman with pinkish-red hair, resembling Coby's appearance. They both smiled in my direction and waved their hands, as if welcoming something. Unbeknownst to me, a young child stood beside where I was seated.

Coby recognized the silhouette as his own from when he first came into this body. His body looked small and frail, but he had a bright smile. The child hurried towards the two figures and was greeted with warm hugs. They all laughed happily, rejoicing in their reunion.

After laughing and embracing as a family, they waved their hands towards me, and I felt as if I could hear a man's voice expressing gratitude for their reunion their family.

Then, I heard a small child's voice, one that resembled my current self, saying, "My body is weak, and I need to train hard to become strong. I hope you won't be disappointed. I wish for you to find happiness in this world, Alex." Hearing the child's voice, I replied, "I will take good care of this body, Coby, and thank you for allowing me to come into this world. I will not let any of you down." My words came forth sincerely, with tears streaming down my cheeks. "Thank you so much, Coby," I whispered after watching the three figures fade away.

Having witnessed all of that, I left the hill.

Now, there were three stones visible, with one added as a reminder of the previous Coby.