... so that's how it happened, [ comes Yamato's response, quieter, wistful. of course, they only ever read about it in the paper, and never quite knew what exactly happened. but — of course. ace would have protected luffy to his last breath.

then, louder, ]

Of course you're right! I trust him to take down Father. I held him back, waiting for Luffy to make it back to the roof... now it's all up to him.

[ just casually dropping in the fact that the one who made sure kaido never left the roof after everyone else was defeated... was none other than yamato. ]