I Woke Up to Find Shanks Apologizing to Me Again

A heads-up: This is a fluffy, brainless everyday-life romance, full of petty details and slow to warm up. It doesn't involve complicated conflicts among the Navy, pirates, the Revolutionary Army, the Celestial Dragons, or anyone else! New story next door: “Every Time I Hand in My Resignation, Marco Gives Me a Raise” When Shanks first met her, she was a little girl who didn't even reach his chest. Captain Roger gave her the name Perla, meaning “pearl of the sea.” Because the captain had found her drifting at sea. Captain Roger entrusted Perla's care to Shanks, who was only a little older than her. Shanks happily accepted the task. He would become the best big brother. Little Perla was adorable and well behaved, but she was shy around strangers and didn't like to talk, like a little mute. Only later did Shanks learn that Perla really was a little mute. Shanks sat up in bed in the middle of the night. “I'm the worst.” Perla, unable to speak freely because of her cursed speech: ? Later, after the captain was executed, Shanks fell into despair with Perla by his side. He had no idea how she did it, but she found a ship and gave it to him, hoping to help him pull himself together. That finally gave him the resolve to set sail and form his own pirate crew. He sat on the ship, looking at Perla's pale lips and hands covered in wounds, not knowing what to say. As her big brother, he was relying on his little sister to keep him going. How embarrassing. Shanks sat up in bed in the middle of the night. “I'm the worst.” Perla had only gone to fetch Shanks for a meeting on the shore at Mihawk's request. But she watched Shanks board an unfamiliar ship with tears in his eyes and set sail with her aboard: ? The Red-Haired Pirates grew famous, and Perla gradually grew up. But she still liked sticking close to Shanks. Benn Beckman: “Perla really likes you.” Shanks: “I know, but it could never happen. I only see her as a little sister.” Benn Beckman: “?” What else would you see her as? Shanks knew Perla was just experiencing imprinting. Once she grew up a little, she'd find someone she truly liked. But then she nearly died for his sake. Shanks sat up in bed in the middle of the night. “I'm the worst.” Perla, standing on the shore before a Sea King swept her into the ocean with a wave, unable to swim and clinging desperately to Shanks: ? Shanks: “Sorry.” Perla: ? So what are you apologizing to me for this time? Content notes, spoiler-free version: 1. Shanks pairing. A fake mute, real cursed-speech user heroine who is extremely introverted x Shanks, whose brain is full of who-knows-what. Childhood friends at first, then their relationship gradually changes. 2. The heroine is a cursed-speech user. She has no special abilities besides cursed speech, and cursed techniques are barely mentioned in the story. 3. An everyday-life story with a mostly made-up plot. It doesn't follow the events of RED, so Uta doesn't appear. 4. The timeline has been changed. Promotions: 1. Completed story “One Sentence That Made the Red-Haired Man Ponder for Three Days,” paired with Shanks 2. Completed story “The Right Way to Flirt with Chivalry,” paired with Sanji 3. Upcoming stories... Well, they're all over the place. Feel free to browse. Theme: Good communication is the first step to falling in love