Lei stood motionless, his breath steady as he slowly opened his eyes. Before him loomed a massive wooden pillar, its weathered surface etched with the scars of countless voyages, rising like a sentinel into the sky.
He turned his head sideways, gazing at the endless expanse of the sea, its waves rolling in a rhythmic dance beneath the sun's glare.
This must be a… pirate ship.
He shifted his gaze back toward the other towering pillar, then looked ahead across the creaking deck. His eyes traveled upward, where a flag whipped and billowed in the wind, emblazoned with a menacing skull pattern that grinned defiantly against the fabric.
Isn't this the boat of that ugly woman.
A soft hand suddenly pressed against his shoulder. In a blur of motion, Lei unsheathed his nichirin blade, the metal singing faintly as he pressed its sharp edge to the back of the intruder's neck.
The person was short in stature, with a worn straw hat dangling loosely on their back.
"Whoa! That's a cool sword! Is it sharp? Hey, are you a samurai? Do you have any meat?"
Luffy?…
Luffy wore a wide, goofy grin, utterly unfazed by the blade at his neck. He casually poked the flat of the sword with his finger, testing its edge as if it were a mere toy.
Oh… how can i forget that luffy defeated her then moved along with koby.
He sighed softly.
"No, I don't have meat." He sheathed his nichirin blade with a smooth motion.
"Whoa, you look strong! I like you. Join my crew!" Luffy grinned wider and burst into laughter.
"Shishishi!"
And yes,This is Luffy. I don't give a flying fu*k. I am lowkey going to accept this.
"Sure."
"Shishishi! Really?! That's great! I'm Luffy, and I'm gonna be the King of the Pirates! You're my first crewmate!" Luffy exclaimed, his eyes sparkling with unbridled excitement. Without a moment's hesitation, he grabbed Lei in a rough, rubbery hug, his stretchy arms wrapping around him like unbreakable vines, before starting to drag him toward the nearest boat with effortless strength.
"Hey! Hey! Wait!" Lei protested, his voice rising in surprise as he stumbled along.
Why amI even trying? Like he is going to listen.
As Luffy hauled him onto the small boat, Lei noticed a small boy already there—pink hair tousled by the sea breeze, round glasses perched on his nose, and notably short in stature. The boy began pedaling the boat vigorously as they climbed in, setting them adrift on the waves.
"Luffy-san, who is he?" the boy asked, his voice slightly cracking with nervousness.
"Shishishi! See, Coby? I told you I'd find some crewmates! He's my first crew member! We're gonna be the best fleet ever!" Luffy declared triumphantly, turning to Lei and announcing it like it was the greatest news in the world.
Coby… He sure is exactly what I watched.
Luffy tilted his head to the side, locking eyes with Lei, and blurted out without a hint of hesitation.
"Oh, right! Hey, I forgot! What's your name?"
Lei's lips pressed into a thin line before he burst out laughing, the sound echoing over the waves as he quickly composed himself.
"My name is… Lei."
Lemmeregard my pathetic past life here.
"EEEEEHHH?! Luffy-san!! Are you serious?! You're actually serious?! You can't be serious!!" Koby's jaw dropped in disbelief, his tone shrill and piercing like a tea kettle whistling.
Lei sat down in the boat, his knees bent as he pressed his back against the edge, and said in an even tone, "Yes, I am his first crewmate."
The sea waved frequently, its surface undulating in a mesmerizing rhythm. Lei looked sideways.
Who the fuck said the One Piece world isn't beautiful. And is just dull.
Luffy and Coby's arguing grew louder, their voices clashing over the splash of waves, Coby's shrill protests cutting through Luffy's boisterous laughter like a discordant melody.
The sun's rays beat down relentlessly on Lei, warming his skin as beads of sweat formed on his brow.
As time wore on, Lei succumbed to sleep amid the pleasant weather, his body relaxing against the boat's edge as the gentle breeze and warm sun lulled him into rest. The small vessel floated relentlessly across the open sea, carried by the currents toward their destination.
…
"We are finally here. At the marine base!!" Luffy exclaimed in excitement, raising his right arm triumphantly toward the imposing structure looming ahead.
"Yep!! Finally!!!" Koby agreed, his voice brimming with relief.
"You are great, Koby!" Luffy said.
"Huh?" Coby replied, blinking in confusion.
"We've reached our destination," Luffy clarified with a grin.
"Of course, that's the basics of navigation," Coby said modestly. Then he added, "If you wander around every time, you will never become a pirate. You should at least find a navigator."
"Alright. Let's go eat!" Luffy cut him off, ignoring Koby's advice entirely as he hopped up with enthusiasm.
"Yeah, let's go," Lei said, having been quietly watching the banter between the two from his spot.