Usopp and Kaya have a very gentle and subtle relationship, which is exactly the kind of relationship that would work for both of them. And I think they have the best chance of actually happening in the manga.

Usopp’s affection for Kaya is very obvious. She’s the most important person in the village to him, and he goes through a lot of pain and suffering to protect her. He’s the one who made the first move, so to speak, when he went to her window to tell her stories. He continued talking to her even when she initially told him to leave, thinking him some silly boy who wanted to bother her. But he made her see that he only wanted to make her laugh and smile, and it took some perseverance on his part to accomplish that. Usopp endured humiliation and despair while trying to save her, and still risked his life numerous times to try to help her afterward. Usopp also forced his latent courage to display itself because of her, putting aside his usual cowardly nature.

Kaya also has obvious affection in return for Usopp. Yes, she did believe Klahadore over him at first, but consider the facts. Klahadore had been caring for her a long time, and was living with her even before her parents died. He lived with her. He was around her all the time, showering her with care and affection. Usopp, on the other hand, only showed up occasionally to tell her stories, and she didn’t meet him until after her parents had died. He was also known as the town liar. Now honestly, who would you believe? But when Kaya learned the truth, she was quick in her attempt to fix her mistake. Kaya cared about Usopp, even when she believed he was trying to smear Klahadore’s reputation. And she was crying when she saw him leave. What more proof do we need?

Like the case with Zoro and Tashigi, these two have a lot in common. Both of them lost their parents at a young age, and have had to deal with that pain for a while now. They can understand each other. They can connect. Both of them have a high sense of loyalty and duty. Usopp will confront his biggest fears and endure horrible pain to help out the people he cares for, and allow his own reputation to remain marred to protect his village from unnecessary fear. Kaya believes in Klahadore, the person who cared for her after her parents died, until she knows without a shadow of a doubt that he has betrayed her, and she walks into danger to protect the village (she even offered Kuro/Klahadore all of her money, everything she had, if he would leave the village alone). Both of them have huge hearts and big dreams, and they can find completeness in each other.

But why will it work? For one, I believe whole-heartedly that Usopp will return to his village after his adventures with Luffy are through. Unlike with the others, he’s goal isn’t to find something, make something, or defeat someone. Usopp’s goal is in the process of the “cruise”. He wants to become a brave warrior of the sea (in my opinion, he has already accomplished this goal) and have lots of wonderful adventures. By the time Luffy finds One Piece, Usopp will have been on countless adventures, and being able to say that he was a part of the King of Pirates’ crew will be thrilling on its own. Why wouldn’t he return to the village he loves so dearly?

And once Usopp returns, I think it’s highly likely that he and Kaya will marry. She will probably be waiting for him, waiting to hear all of his new and wonderful tales. They could live in her mansion and live well at that (she already has lots of money, and is going to become a doctor). Usopp might even want to start his own family, and be the father he didn’t have. While he looks up to his father for following his dreams, no one can honestly say that being abandoned by his father didn’t cause him pain. And besides, by the time he would have children, all his dreams will have been accomplished. There would be no reason to leave. His children could grow up hearing his stories.

I think Usopp and Kaya could have a wonderful and happy life together once the adventures of the series are complete. They care very deeply for each other, encourage each other, understand each other. It seems like a match made in heaven, right?

Have your own reasons for Usopp/Kaya? E-mail me here (put “Usopp/Kaya” in the subject line please!) and I might put them on the site!

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