#and focus

Me: I should really do some drawing.

Me: *scroll scroll scroll*

Me: Seriously, I should draw.

Me: *scroll scroll scroll*

Me: ~looks at clock~ Oh, it's too late to start now.

Me: *scroll scroll scroll*

I was rambling to my mom the other day about Usopp (because who else is going to listen to me go full One Piece mode?), and I said the issue isn’t that Usopp hasn’t gotten a “power-up”. Honestly, that doesn’t even matter (‘cause what does power up even mean anymore?). What I really want is for the story to shine some focus on him and give us a couple of juicy retcons. Something like, I don’t know, a reason to explore Yasopp’s backstory pre-Red Hair Pirates? Maybe even a hint that Usopp’s Observation Haki is hereditary? (I mean, the One Piece Wiki can’t even decide if Usopp’s sniping skills are a family trait or just pure hustle.) That would be chef’s kiss awesome.

Someone pointed out that it’d be incredible to dive deeper into Usopp’s character—something that retroactively makes all his Water 7 hardships feel worth it. Because let’s be real, that arc left a weird aftertaste for me and a lot of others. There’s so much untapped potential here! Forget Usopp just clocking Yasopp in the jaw when they meet (as satisfying as that might be). What if Yasopp left Usopp and his mom to protect them? Plot twist! Give us some layers to Yasopp, and by extension, to Usopp.

And while we’re at it, I’d love some Usopp pre-timeskip callbacks—like him reminiscing about fighting Kuro back in Syrup Village, or how he and Franky started off on rocky ground but are best bros now. Or how about the time he and Luffy fought and everything fell apart? Maybe even the moment he met Oimo and Kashii and wasn’t even a Straw Hat anymore. There’s so much richness there! I get it, Luffy is the protagonist—totally fine, no arguments there. But Usopp is practically screaming retcon potential.

Oda, hear me out. Usopp is your comic relief, and comic relief characters are the ultimate secret weapons to shake up a story when things get stale. Yasopp could be your ace up the sleeve. Bring him in. Make us laugh, cry, and scream, “I KNEW IT!” Let’s go. Usopp deserves it!

I am reminded of those sculpting students who, one half worked on perfecting one pot, and the other half churned out pot after pot, and how the latter group ended up better overall