Soul King's Message

The boy with the concealed Tone Dial at the Soul King Concert

The buzz of the audience's aroused expectations drifted, making a thick layer out on the floor of the concert venue. The stage lighting was still dark and the Soul King Brook hadn't made his appearance yet. However, I… the audience understood. Just a little bit longer.

Already, the SE before the performance was gone and the back band was in position.

Very soon, on that stage, the big star, Soul King Brook, would descend.

Two years ago, he appeared on the scene like a comet and in the twinkling of an eye went to the top of the Soul Music world. Today was the last day of Soul King Brook's World Tour.

The venue was the Sabaody Archipelago's Grove 33 inside the Sabaody Park's "Sabao Dome." It had the standing space to accommodate tens of thousands of people, but it was overcrowded of course. I was one of the last ones in, yet somehow struggled forward to secure an okay spot.

Since a lot of the attendees were adult men and women, I… the number of boys and girls about 15 years old didn't make much of an impression.

Well, since it's not an idol concert, that's to be expected.

Anyway, this was my first time seeing the Soul King live in concert.

It really would have been better to get a spot closer to the stage, but I didn't have that luxury. Even if I got in on a Premiere Ticket.

My heartbeat echoed more than usual as it pounded in my chest. The feeling of expectation for the concert was at fault, but actually, that wasn't the only reason.

I don't know if I'll succeed in what I'm about to do, but that anxiety is also at fault for my racing heart.

I purposefully picked an oversized coat that I could hide my hands under. I'd been fidgeting non-stop since I got here.

It should be alright, this is for… I finger the proper switch and give myself a small nod.

This time, I can feel the sudden change in the air of the venue. There's movement on the stage. The drummer begins to tap a count with his drum sticks.

The intro flowing out for the first song is "Bone to Be Wild."

With the funky beat of the song, the audience was getting even more excited. Myself included, of course.

For all the excitement already going, the moment Soul King Brook's figure in the center of the stage was lit up, our excitement burned even higher.

o-o-o

"Yeah! Just booooones~!"

o-o-o

"Boooooone!"

o-o-o

With that classic Call & Response, fans were fainting, leaving the staff running around to care for them.

In a moment, the large crowd was taken in by the Soul King's charisma and I went completely numb.

Amazing! The Soul King was really amazing!

This excitement, I definitely have to bring it back…!

I still had my hand under my coat, where I held the Tone Dial, confirming whether it was recording or not.

My vision was shaking terribly and I was breathless.

The reverberations of the concert were stuck in my ears and I was running.

The concert was amazing. I saw amazing things─ while I ran my heart was pounding away.

The greatest singing voice. The greatest performance. Also, that shocking "finale"─

During the extraordinary encore song, when the Marines suddenly invaded, I wasn't sure at first if it was a directed stunt or not.

However, it wasn't some stunt.

After shooting threateningly at the ceiling, the Marines gave an official announcement with the loudspeaker. Soul King Brook was actually a member of the pirate Straw Hat Luffy's crew.

They revealed that astonishing fact to everyone inside the venue. But while the Marines were aiming their guns at him, the Soul King didn't move at all.

Neither an apology nor an explanation was spoken, he strummed his trademark shark guitar once more and declared from on high:

"The pirate Straw Hat Luffy lives!"

"He is the man that will become the King of the seas of the world…! When he sets sail, it won't be some quiet little thing! OH BABY"

"My final Soul! Please listen! YEAH!"

As he shouted, his guitar screeched again!

As he began to sing, the Marines yelled at him angrily, but the audience's resistance and teary appeals kept them from acting.

The song he sang was ─ "NEW WORLD"

o-o-o

Today is the day─

We're heading to a new world─

o-o-o

Soul King sang with a voice that carried, it was powerful, and there was freedom wherever it went.

But for us, that singing voice was the priceless last time we would hear it. After the first verse, with a sudden bang, the stage was covered by an explosion of flashy smoke.

When the smoke cleared, the figure of the Soul King was already gone. Also the roof of the stage had a big hole. And from that hole the Yohohohoho of his laughter came down and it was already clear.

The sudden finale left my emotions in disarray and I just stood there.

"He fled to the skies! After him!"

At the Marine's unexpected shout, I came back to myself.

In the venue, the audience and Marines fell into chaos, pushing at each other in the crowd.

I held down the bulge of the Tone Dial in my coat, locating the exit with my eyes and running towards it. I moved as fast I could to get out of the venue before the chaos of it all got in the way.

I ran. To leave as soon as possible.

Also to meet you as soon as possible.

Beyond my intensely shaking vision, to go see you at the hospital as promised.

In the hospital, I woke my little sister up as she lay on her bed.

"Onii-chan!"

At seeing my face, she smiled. Her complexion wasn't looking so good, but she'd been worse so I could say that today was a good one. I raised my hand with four TDs in response.

Music drifted softly through the hospital room. From the TD's mechanical recording on the side table the sound flowed. From the Soul King's TD, the song was a flowing Soul Ballad.

"This is a private room, you know. It's okay to play it a little louder."

I was sitting in a chair at her bedside.

"Sure. But before that, how was it, the Soul King's Tour Finale?"

My little sister stops the music and turns to face me.

"Yeah," I nodded. "… It was the best."

"What was the first song?"

"Bone to Be Wild, of course."

"As expected! That's what I thought it would be!"

As she spoke, I noticed some of the color return to her face. More than any medicine, more than any food, telling her stories of the Soul King and listening to the Soul King's music worked better in making my little sister lively, like right now.

o-o-o

My little sister turns twelve this year. But even if you low ball it, she's spent half of those years stuck in a bed. Since the day she was born her body has been weak and the doctor has stopped her from doing any intense exercise. She doesn't go to school, spending all her time at home or in the hospital. She can't go out either, my little sister who doesn't get to exercise, yet sometimes as she listens to music, I feel at peace. She doesn't read or paint, as her hobby is music, which I originally only somewhat liked, and it has come to affect me.

My little sister would indiscriminately listen to any genre, but her favorite artists' TDs were listened to so often they became scratchy. For that sister of mine, right now her most beloved and listened to artist was the Soul King.

When the Soul King's tour schedule was released and we knew the final location was here in the Sabaody Archipelago, my little sister thought it was definitely a good idea to go. At the time she wasn't in the hospital yet and was recuperating at home. Somehow, we were able to get our hands on a single ticket.

But a little while after that, my little sister's physical condition worsened and she had to be admitted to the hospital. My little sister continued to hope for permission to go out, but her doctor would not give his permission.

She cried and it was hard for me too, but I couldn't blame the doctor. With her current physical fitness, it would be impossible for her to stand and watch through the long concert without someone there to help her.

"Onii-chan, you go, to the Soul King's concert."

She said that after she wiped away her tears. I hesitated, but giving up the fun Premier Ticket to some other person even as deep down I wanted to go myself, she repeated it.

"Go ahead, you love the Soul King don't you, Onii-chan?"

Love, huh.

Yes, because I love it, I want to share that concert's excitement with my little sister I thought─ no, decided.

"Alright, alright, I'll go, if you listen to my story, the ticket won't be wasted. Is a TD recording okay?"

Here, my little sister stretched her hand out for the recording on the side table.

"Ah, wait," I said, grabbing her hand. "Before we listen to this TD, I've got something better."

"Eh?"

I took the Tone Dial out from under my coat and showed it to my vulnerable little sister.

"Onii-chan, that's…"

My little sister's face suddenly stiffened. She quickly guessed what I had done. I felt a tickling pain in my chest.

That's right, I thought. For my music loving little sister, an illegal recording from the concert venue was wrong.

I know that. I do know that, really. But, I had to─

"H-hey, I just hid it under my clothes! I don't think it's a good recording, but this─ it's just for the atmosphere, okay? I just thought that it'd be nice to bring you back a taste of the concert's atmosphere! Um, uh, right, if you'll just get comfortable and listen, the skull, right, it's just bones! Haha…"

I forced a smile as I rushed to reassure her. But she didn't smile. Ugh, it's as I feared. But─

She just needed to hear it, that's all. If she listened to it just once, the excitement of the concert should bring a smile to her face. I awkwardly pushed the playback button on the once forgotten Tone Dial.

Sound came from the Tone Dial, but it wasn't the sound of music. It was the sound of rustling clothes and static noise, and you couldn't hear anything.

"…Huh?"

I pushed the button again, but still there was no music coming from it.

"Wha─ this can't be. It didn't record anything…!"

I quickly tried pushing the switch several times, shaking it, and blowing on it. But no matter what I tried the results were the same. No sound.

That damn old man…! I thought back to the face of the owner of that back alley antique shop.

─The outside was old, but normally there is no problem with the recording playing back, okay?

…What's wrong with this stupid thing, why'd it suddenly quit working?! Damn Tone Dial!

How strange, though. When the shop owner gave it a test run, it worked just fine…

After all, perhaps I grabbed a defective one. In retrospect, the store's appearance and the owner's face were both somewhat shady. It would just be some story of a clueless kid desperately saving their allowance only to be swindled by a quack shop owner.

Well, maybe not─

The music gods must hate me, making a Tone Dial that should work just fine stop… right?

But even if that's the way it is, I couldn't just give up.

Once. Just once is enough. Even just a mix of noise is enough. Today's concert, today's Soul King's singing voice, just let my little sister listen to it. This is sure to make her feel better, so please.

"Shit, work damn it! Work!"

I persistently pressed the button and my sister said,

"That's enough, Onii-chan."

"But!"

When I looked at her face, she was weakly smiling.

"Really, it's enough… that Oni-chan would feel this strongly for me, it makes me happy. Thank you."

I sniffled painfully. Damn it… The worst. I'm the worst…

I selfishly smuggled the Tone Dial into the venue, nervously recorded it, only to result in no sound, and I let my little sister down with my intentions… really, I'm the worst.

And while doing all this, I failed to enjoy the dignified and sunshine bright Soul King's concert.

I ruined the good will of my little sister giving me the Premiere Ticket.

"I'm sorry… I took all the fun out of it."

"It's fine, I said. Really, this is probably for the best."

"… yeah… It's just that…" I hung my head. "…Really, I wanted you to hear it because─"

I hesitated a moment, but I couldn't stop there.

"Because the Soul King probably won't return to the stage ever again…"

My sister's eyes widened. "What are you saying?"

I told her. About the shocking finale─ and the Soul King's escape into the sky.

With my words and my struggling voice, I conveyed the feelings of that time in the concert venue, the widening feeling of loss. At the same time, I felt a bit reproachful too.

It's true, the Soul King is really done already.

You won't sing for us anymore…

Here is a girl trapped in her bed who loved you, loved your music, but couldn't go to your concert today, and you're already…

"… I see."

I heard my little sister's voice and fearfully raised my head.

She was looking out her hospital room window. Looking out there, did she see the ghost of the Soul King in the air before her? With that expression, I was worried about the dark places her mind might go.

"So that's it." She turned a little to face me. "Today I'll listen to Onii-chan's song instead!"

"…what?"

"Today I feel like listening to Onii-chan's song."

She said with a mischievous grin.

"What? M-my song? B-but…"

"It's fine, right? Your guitar's already over there."

My little sister looked over at the guitar sitting over in the corner of her room.

My guitar.

An aspiring musician… is what I am I suppose, though to be honest I have no skill with the guitar or singing, so it's just a selfish goal. Yes, I say I'm an aspiring musician… but I've yet to ever play before my little sister. Before anyone, really.

I'd brought the guitar to her hospital room, but to play for her in this private room… I've apologized for not playing countless times, always saying I needed to get a bit better, but each time it was just an excuse to keep running away.

"But I─"

I started to say, trying to excuse myself as usual before I swallowed those words.

My little sister was staring straight at me. I can't run away today, those eyes were telling me.

A warmth filled my belly. I'll sing. Today. If I can't sing before my little sister, how can I call myself an aspiring musician?

"… I'll do it."

I said, going to the corner of the room, taking the guitar from the stand, and returning to my former seat.

Settling down to play the guitar, I wondered what song I should sing. But my repertoire isn't very big.

I decided to play the song that's been stuck in my head since I came to this room. That Soul King ballad should have a relatively easy chord progression.

I clear my throat, hold down the strings for my first chord, and for a moment, try to play the intro.

Ugh… I really can't do this.

My conviction to sing shatters and my usual weakness returned with a vengeance.

If I miss a note, what will I do…? I look at my left hand's position. Is my finger's position right? I can feel my sister's stare burning into my forehead.

Sorry. I really can't today. Those words get stuck in my throat. Gah, if I say that, rather than messing up my performance, I'll feel embarrassed. So I square my shoulders even though I don't feel like I can play.

Damn it… If I just had the skill to play a single minute of the Soul King's tens of thousands in music. If I had the bravery to sing in that dignified way─

At that time, these words appeared suddenly in my mind.

o-o-o

Today is the day─

We're heading for a new world─

o-o-o

The theme of "NEW WORLD." The Soul King's far reaching singing voice came back to life clearly in my mind.

To the new world─ it whispered in my heart, this strange thing lightening the load on my shoulders.

To the new world─ it repeated once more, and the uneccesary tension in my wrist eased.

That's it, I thought. The fog over my senses cleared, creating something new inside me.

Now I felt I ready to receive it, the Soul King's message….

When the Marines stormed in, the Soul King should have escaped as fast as he could. But he didn't do that, he sang "NEW WORLD."

He tried to tell his captain, Luffy, Today is the day we set sail.

From "The Concert Venue" to "The Adventure at Sea," before he left the stage, to entrust the message for his captain to us, he sang that song. He's a musician and a pirate, so I don't know if those were his manners or not.

At the same time, he gave us, his audience, a message.

I've gotta get back to my adventure. Ya'll gotta set out on your own adventures.

So I too─

Today I had to sing.

I took a deep breath and changed my left hand's position. I changed my mind on the song I was going to sing.

Not a Soul King song, it might be difficult as hell, but it would be one I made myself, an original song.

Today, we're going to a new world. This day, I've decided that I won't be singing someone else's song, it's only appropriate to sing one I made myself.

An intro arpeggio. First, a single note crying out for a moment, the feeling of a small boat rowing out to sea. Somehow, I wasn't scared anymore.

As I played, I hit the wrong chord.

─Don't pay it no mind

My voice broke.

─Keep your cool

I went off pitch.

─Funky, don'cha think?

The lyrics were childish.

─That's from the heart, not that I have one.

Yet I was able to play my own song with dignity.

During my performance, it was strange because it felt like I was receiving support from the Soul King.

I played the last chord and the reverberation melted into the air, only for the sound of clapping to fill the hospital room.

I raised my face and saw my little sister wiping at her teary eyes.

"That was a great song, Onii-chan! Very cool!"

"…thanks."

Now my own eyes were getting damp, it was embarrassing. But that's fine. Today I was able to sing. It was damn hard, but I stuck it through to the end.

"Really, it was a good song! The soul was… right, the soul was a trembling song!"

My sister was being nice, and I laughed in spite of myself.

Turning towards my audience of one, my "first concert" was─ well, I would call it a success for now.

Oh, right.

During an artist's concert, if they're not singing, the MC is saying stuff.

There's something I want to say as well. Before this audience of one.

"Sooo, if you get better… I mean, you're definitely getting better. Anyways, when you're better, let's go to lots of concerts and listen to lots of music."

Because there's definitely a new world waiting out there.

My audience of one gave a response full of life.

"Yeah!"

Translation Notes

The only thing I have to note, really, is the more slang-style talking from those few lines by Soul King Brook. Brook normally uses rather formal Japanese, but when he's rocking as Soul King, he drops down to a less formal style, which is difficult to reflect in English. Not using contractions is one thing translators do to reflect more formal speech styles, so going opposite for more contractions and slang kind of helps differentiate, though you can't see that much here since there isn't the two sides of Brook speaking here to compare.