×=× My name is Shuumi. After failing to seize power in the Port Mafia, I ended up in a world crawling with pirates, as a fragile ordinary person.
Someone told me I have a son, and that if I find him and give him unlimited motherly love, I can have everything.
So whose mother am I?
First clue: My son has a strange temper.
So I found my first son. He's a rebellious kid in sunglasses who spends all day proclaiming that he'll destroy the world. I doted on him and loved him, helped him work on his temper, taught him to grow his business and swallow up rival forces. Then suddenly, he went berserk and tried to kill his own younger brother who'd come looking for him.
That temper is way too extreme. He can't be my son.
I sighed, packed my things, and went on looking for my son.
Second clue: My son is ambitious.
So I found my second son. He was bent on overthrowing a kingdom. As his strategist mom, I supported him, helped him, and became his most capable right-hand woman. Then one day, out of nowhere, he said I was in his way and tried to kill me.
My son's ambitions can't be that extreme.
I packed my things again and left.
Third clue: My son has lofty aspirations.
So I found my third son. He's a formidable swordsman, taciturn and reserved. I practiced swordsmanship and sailed on adventures with him, cheered him up, and helped him reach greater heights in life. Then suddenly, he said he was done and wanted to settle down on an island and farm.
His aspirations aren't that lofty either.
I sighed again, packed my things, and left once more.
My fourth son apologized, said he didn't consider me his mom, and went off to make a revolution.
My fifth son went out, came back, and also refused to acknowledge me. First he made a revolution, then he went to work for the Navy.
I've found so many sons, so why isn't any one of them the one I'm looking for?
Next up are three little brats. They have strange tempers, want to become the Pirate King, and are ambitious with lofty aspirations. They fit my son's criteria perfectly.
Three of them...?
Oh, whatever. I just have to play around with them and give them love. One of them has to be my son.
*
Years later, at a Seven Warlords of the Sea gathering.
All my former sons have come together. Each claims to be my best son, and they want to fight it out to decide who gets to be my kid.
They fight to the death, glaring at one another in disgust, then finally turn to me.
"Whose mom are you, anyway?!"
Stop fighting, stop fighting. I've been looking for so long, I want to know too.
P.S.
1. The main story is told in third person. Shuumi.
2. The story mainly follows her search for sons and raising them. Since she can't find her son, the heroine also raises daughters. She raises them all.
3. The World Trigger setting is just a backdrop and doesn't feature much.
Theme: Family comes first
