"Oh, right!"
Although he was still a bit shocked by Akira's situation, Eiichiro Oda suddenly remembered something else and praised Akira, "I finished reading the second chapter of *Emiya Kiritsugu* this week. It was beautifully drawn!"
The plot progression of the second chapter of *Emiya Kiritsugu* was both unexpected and completely logical.
Or rather, after the young Kiritsugu killed his own father, the fate of Natalia, who began to play the role of his mother figure, seemed to have been written in stone long ago.
More importantly, the hidden emotions in young Kiritsugu's heart after patricide could no longer be suppressed with the matricide plotline, pouring out all at once.
His resoluteness during the act stood in stark contrast to the scene of him kneeling on the ground and wailing in despair afterward, and the overwhelming emotional impact of this contrast was incredibly memorable.
However, Eiichiro Oda lamented, "Mochizuki-kun, didn't you make Kiritsugu's experiences a bit too tragic?"
"---Huh?"
Hearing this, Akira couldn't help but be filled with question marks. He stared at him with a strange expression, wearing a face that said, "Are you kidding me?"
It would be one thing if someone else said that, but where did you, Oda, get the nerve to say such a thing?
Let me ask you, what is the deal with the world of *One Piece* anyway?
How many characters actually have a backstory that isn't tragic?
Huh?
Answer me!
"What is it?"
Eiichiro Oda was still a bit confused. Seeing this, Akira simply spelled it out, "I think the situation for the vast majority of people in *One Piece* might actually be even worse."
"For example, Nami's experience might be the norm in *One Piece*, but many people can't save themselves like Nami did, nor do they ever meet a savior like Luffy."
Hearing this, Eiichiro Oda was slightly surprised, and then became even more delighted, "As expected of Mochizuki-kun, to be able to see through this so easily!"
Although *One Piece* had been serialized for two years, judging from fan letters, there weren't actually that many people who could see this.
In the eyes of most readers, *One Piece* was just a lighthearted, optimistic, hot-blooded, and funny adventure manga.
But this was actually a huge misunderstanding.
Because the traits mentioned above were not actually the underlying tone of the *One Piece* world itself, but rather those of the Straw Hat Pirates, or perhaps even just Luffy's unique traits.
If you set Luffy aside, you can see that the backdrops of the other Straw Hat members are all heavy and dark, even Usopp, who often serves as the comic relief.
The reason why everyone thinks the atmosphere among the Straw Hat Pirates is so joyful is actually because of Luffy's presence, which infects the other crew members.
And the reason why everyone feels *One Piece* has a lighthearted, optimistic, and funny atmosphere is that, so far, the vast majority of the story's perspective has focused only on the Straw Hat Pirates.
But the world of *One Piece* has been cruel and dark from the very beginning.
It's just that in the early stages of the story, this cruelty and darkness were hidden in the shadows, covered up by the cheerful atmosphere brought by Luffy.
But once the story reached the Enies Lobby Arc, the world-building of *One Piece* gradually expanded, and this cruel and dark undertone began to surface bit by bit.
Until the Fish-Man Island Arc two years later, this cruel and dark undertone was completely exposed, no longer able to be covered up by the joy of Luffy's crew, causing the tone of the entire story to become heavy.
This is also why many readers felt that the tone of *One Piece* from two years later was completely different from two years ago.
But this change had actually already begun to show since the Enies Lobby Arc.
At this point, the existence of Luffy and the Straw Hat Pirates instead became one of the few bright spots in this heavy story, and one of the few parts that could make readers smile knowingly and feel relaxed.
However, some people also criticized that after the story became heavy, Luffy still had a goofy, smiling face most of the time, not serious at all, which made it annoying to watch.
This point is a matter of opinion.
Anyway, because of Akira's words, Eiichiro Oda also understood why the other party had looked at him like that just now, so he explained, "Although they are both tragic experiences, Kiritsugu's situation is a bit different."
The tragic experiences of most people in *One Piece* are based on external factors, such as oppression from external figures and environments.
While Kiritsugu's situation also has a large portion of external factors, the more crucial part lies in the situation ultimately brought about by his own choices.
More importantly, no matter what Kiritsugu chose, the final result would always break him.
Choosing to save the citizens meant he would have to kill his own foster mother with his own hands;
Choosing to save Natalia meant he would completely deny and stifle his own ideals.
This factor was also the key reason why Eiichiro Oda felt so deeply about it.
Emmm—
"Well, okay.
"
Although he still felt it was a bit strange, Akira had to admit that the other party had a point, so he could only accept it helplessly.
Then, after a brief chat, the two sides prepared to return to the front venue.
Akira and Rin planned to look around elsewhere, while Eiichiro Oda, as a die-hard fan of *Dragon Ball*, wanted to admire the original manuscript of *Dragon Ball* for a bit longer.
So, the two sides prepared to say goodbye for now.
"By the way,"
But before that, Akira suddenly thought of something and asked Eiichiro Oda with a smile, "Speaking of which, Oda-kun, which arc of *Dragon Ball* do you like the most?"
"Me?"
Eiichiro Oda fell into deep thought and said hesitantly, "For me, it seems a bit hard to choose—"
"I love every arc, or rather, everything about *Dragon Ball* so much that it's really hard to compare which part is better."
This statement sounded like the most standard public relations answer possible, but looking at his conflicted expression, one could tell that this was indeed his true feeling.
Well, he was a true die-hard fan.
Compared to him, their interest seemed more like that of casual passersby.
That being said, although they were parting ways for now, there would be *One Piece*-related performances and information releases on the main stage of the event later.
This included the video of his previous interview with Oda, which would also be played on-site.
Not only them, but as the author himself, Eiichiro Oda would definitely go to the main stage to check it out as well.
So they also agreed to meet up at the main stage later.
Although the main stage would definitely be packed with audience members by then, as serialized Manga Artists, they could go directly to the wings or backstage of the stage area.
"See you later then!"
"See you later."
After waving goodbye to Eiichiro Oda for now and watching his figure quickly get swallowed by the crowd, Rin smiled gently and said, "Oda-sensei is also quite an interesting person."
"Indeed."
Akira nodded in agreement.
At least compared to the vast majority of people he had met in society after entering it in his previous life, Eiichiro Oda was much more simple-minded and childlike.
Therefore, being with him felt more like hanging out with a middle or high school classmate—without so many conflicts of interest and calculations, making it relatively pure and comfortable.
Anyway, since Eiichiro Oda had already left, Akira smiled at Rin and said, "Then let's keep going too."