The gentle sway of the sea would have lulled him to sleep—if not for the throbbing in his legs and the gnawing emptiness in his stomach.
Megumi crouched in the dim corner of the ship's pantry, surrounded by crates of canned goods and dried meats. The gentle rocking of the cruise ship was a comforting rhythm, but it couldn't ease the growing ache in his limbs. He had barely slept since sneaking aboard in Dawnport, avoiding sailors and workers with the skill of someone used to hiding in shadows.
He pressed a hand against the cold wooden floor, trying to stay as silent as possible. His stomach growled again, louder this time. He sighed. There was food everywhere, but he didn't want to risk being caught over something as mundane as hunger.
He had covered the three-day journey between Foosha Village and Dawnport in half a day by running. He hadn't properly rationed the supplies given to him by the mayor.
Dawnport had been quite a bustling town, especially compared to the simpler life in Foosha Village. He had wanted to rest there for a bit—especially after waking up beaten and bruised on a beach and then running nonstop for half a day.
But when he found out there was a ship heading toward Loguetown, he wasn't sure why, but he had the urge to board it. Maybe it was instinct—some subconscious draw toward movement, toward the Grand Line.
No ticket. No money. No name anyone would recognize. Hiding was the only option.
He hadn't expected the cruise ship to be so luxurious—almost over-the-top. It was a floating palace meant for nobles and merchants, not wayward teenagers with monsters in their shadows.
It was also disappointing to find out that it was a sailing ship. He was now just hoping the countries in the Grand Line were more advanced—and praying he wasn't stuck in some medieval-era world.
He hadn't dared summon the Divine Dogs again since Foosha Village. Even the small shadow tricks—moving through them, hiding in them—drained him more than they should have.
Still, he had made it onboard.
Then footsteps passed on the deck above.
He froze.
Shouting followed. Screams. The sound of metal hitting wood. Explosions.
Megumi's eyes sharpened. Pirates.
He peeked through the cracks in the ceiling, catching flashes of chaos—men in gaudy clothes with weapons, terror-stricken passengers. It didn't take long for the air to fill with the stench of gunpowder and panic.
"Move!" someone shouted. "It's the Alvida Pirates!"
Megumi's brow furrowed. He didn't recognize the name, but pirates were pirates—dangerous people who hurt others to get what they wanted. He clenched his fists. His body was low on stamina from hiding and not eating, but if things got worse…
Not my problem, Megumi thought. I'm not a hero here. Just passing through.
His stomach growled.
Maybe I'll see what I can do after eating.
He waited until the footsteps faded, then slipped from his spot toward a nearby crate. The lid creaked faintly as he pried it open, revealing dried fish and bundles of smoked meat. His hand hovered, hesitating just long enough to feel guilty, before he grabbed a piece of dried meat and tore into it.
It was tough, salty, and exactly what he needed.
He didn't get more than a few bites in before the pantry door slammed open.
Megumi froze mid-chew.
A tall teenager wearing a red vest and a straw hat entered and looked around the room like he'd just discovered treasure.
"I smelled food," the straw-hatted boy grinned. "Jackpot."
Megumi didn't move. His instincts flared—not from danger, but from sheer confusion. There was something off about this guy. Not threatening, exactly… just strange.
Before he could react, the boy walked straight past him and plopped down next to a barrel, helping himself to a piece of hardtack and smoked fish without hesitation.
"...Are you part of the crew?" Megumi asked cautiously.
"Nope!" the boy said with his mouth full. "I'm Luffy. I came out of a barrel."
Megumi blinked. "A… barrel."
"Yeah. It was kind of cramped, but it worked." Luffy beamed, completely unbothered.
Before Megumi could process that sentence, another figure burst into the room—a round-faced boy with pink hair and nervous energy leaking from every pore. His eyes went wide as he saw him. "Wha—who are you?!"
Megumi sighed. "Stowaway."
The straw hat kid grinned. "Cool. I'm Luffy."
"...Megumi," he replied, deciding there was no point in lying.
The boy in glasses took a step back, bumping into the closed door. "Y-you too?!"
Megumi gave him a look that could only be described as tired. "Relax. I'm not here to steal your ship."
"But—pirates! Alvida! This ship's under attack!" the boy stammered.
"I noticed," Megumi said, biting into another piece of smoked meat. "Still not sure why you're here screaming instead of hiding."
"I—I was trying to hide! And then Luffy burst out—wait, why are you so calm?!"
"Because panicking won't help," Megumi said coolly. "Neither will yelling."
"I like him," Luffy added cheerfully, now munching on something Megumi couldn't identify. "Hey, pink-haired guy, what's your name?"
"K-Koby," the boy answered, blinking between the two of them. "And you're crazy. Both of you."
"Is this a pirate ship?" Luffy asked, ignoring Koby's reaction.
Koby sat down, sighing. "No, it's a passenger ship that's being raided by Alvida."
"Are you one of those pirates, too?" asked Luffy, continuing to munch on the food.
Koby's shoulders slumped as he rubbed the back of his neck, clearly embarrassed. "Yeah… kind of. But not because I wanted to be."
Luffy tilted his head. "So you don't want to be a pirate?"
"No!" Koby said quickly, then glanced around as if expecting Alvida to be lurking in the shadows. "I was out fishing one day, just off the coast near my hometown. I found this small boat and thought maybe I could explore a little. But before I knew it, Alvida's ship pulled up alongside me, and they dragged me aboard."
Megumi frowned slightly. "And you didn't try to escape?"
Koby laughed bitterly. "Escape? She threatened to crush my skull the moment I said anything about leaving! I've been stuck here scrubbing decks and cleaning her boots for two years. She treats everyone like garbage, and no one dares talk back."
Luffy exclaimed, "Man, you're dumb and stupid!"
"You're brutally honest…" whimpered Koby.
"Why didn't you just leave at the port?" Megumi asked.
"Because she watches everyone who gets off the ship," Koby said, his voice low. "No one leaves unless she says so. If anyone steps off without permission, she smashes them with that iron mace of hers."
"Oh, you're a wimp, too? Man, I hate you!" exclaimed Luffy while laughing.
Megumi didn't quite feel that way about Koby, as he had also been in a similar situation not too long ago.
"Yeah… That's right… If only I had the courage to drift the ocean in a barrel… There's actually something I want to do, too…" said Koby. "Umm… What compelled you to set out onto the sea, Luffy?"
"I'm gonna be the King of the Pirates!" said Luffy in a sure and confident tone.
Koby's jaw dropped. "K-King of the Pirates?!"
"Yep."
"Are you serious?!"
"Yeah."
"Wait, you're a pirate, Luffy?!"
"Yep."
"What about your crew?!"
"I'm just about to look for one."
Megumi leaned against the wall, chewing slowly. He was still trying to decide whether Luffy was brave, stupid, or both. Probably both. But something about the way he spoke—that unwavering certainty—made Megumi pause. It reminded him, in the faintest way, of him. Of Gojo, standing tall no matter what was thrown at him. Of Yuji, diving headfirst into danger without hesitation.
Standing up, Koby declared, "K-K-King of the Pirates… the title given to the person who obtains everything in this world! That means seeking the great treasure of wealth, fame, and power… the One Piece!"
"Yup," replied Luffy.
"Yup?! Pirates all over the world are after that treasure!"
"Me too!"
"No way! No way, no way, no way! Absolutely no way! There's no way you can stand at the apex of this Great Pirate Era! No way! No way!" blabbered Koby—just before he was cut off by a punch from Luffy.
"Why did you hit me?" whimpered Koby.
"You were hysterical."
"It's all right. I'm used to it now… hehehe," replied Koby.
"I'm not afraid to die, Koby," Luffy started in a serious tone. "I've set myself to become the King of the Pirates, and if I die trying… then at least I tried!"
What guts and determination… thought Koby, admiration clearly visible in his eyes. "Y-You're not afraid to die!?"
Luffy grinned wide, flashing teeth with the confidence of someone who had never once doubted himself. "Nope! Not even a little."
Koby's mouth opened, then closed again. He looked down at his trembling hands. "I… I wish I could be like that."
"You can," Megumi said quietly, his voice flat but steady.
Both Koby and Luffy turned to him.
"Huh?" Koby blinked.
"You said there's something you want to do, right?" Megumi continued. "Then go do it. Being scared is normal. But if you let fear decide everything for you, you'll never move."
Koby stared at him in surprise, not expecting anything so blunt yet sincere from the older boy. "But I'm not like you or Luffy… I don't have any strength. I've never fought anyone—I'm just… just me."
Megumi finished his food and stood up. "Then start there. No one starts strong."
Luffy laughed. "He's right! I wasn't always this strong either! I used to get beat up a lot when I was a kid. But I never gave up!"
Koby's eyes welled up a little. He rubbed them quickly, embarrassed. "Thanks, guys… I really do want to join the Navy."
That made both boys pause.
"The Navy?" Luffy repeated.
"Y-yeah," Koby said nervously. "I want to join the Marines… to protect people from pirates like Alvida. I want to stop people like her from doing whatever they want."
Before either Megumi or Luffy could reply, the ceiling above them exploded in a shower of splinters and shattered crates.
CRASH!
A massive form dropped straight through the roof like a meteor, slamming into the pantry floor with a ground-shaking thud. Dust and debris billowed out, knocking Koby flat on his back and forcing Megumi to shield his face with an arm.
When the dust cleared, a monstrous woman stood in the middle of the wreckage.
She was tall—easily over twice Koby's height—with enormous arms, thick legs, and a round, bulging torso wrapped in cheap silks that strained at the seams. A giant iron mace rested in one of her hands, and the look on her face was murderous.
Her lipstick was smudged, her heavy jewelry clattered as she moved, and her eyes landed immediately on the pink-haired boy cowering in the corner.
"KOBY!" she shrieked, her voice like a thunderclap. "You're gonna become a Marine and catch who?! Huh, Koby?!"
Koby flinched, his legs shaking under his own weight.
Her gaze swept over Luffy and Megumi, sneering at both. "You don't seem to be Zoro, the pirate hunter."
"Zoro?"
"Koby! Who's the most beautiful of all on these seas?!" Alvida demanded.
"O-Of course that would be—"
"Who's this big chunky lady?" Luffy asked nonchalantly.
GASP
Alvida froze.
The silence that followed Luffy's innocent question was more deafening than her entrance. Even the dust in the air seemed to hold its breath.
'This guy is suicidal,' thought Megumi.
Koby's soul nearly left his body. "Luffy…" he whispered in horror. "You're dead."
Veins bulged on Alvida's temple as she slowly turned her full glare on the straw-hatted teen. Her mace creaked in her grip.
"What did you just call me?" she asked, her voice low and deadly.
Luffy tilted his head. "Big? Chunky? Oh, you meant the 'lady' part? Sorry, I wasn't sure."
Megumi had to give him credit—either this guy had no self-preservation instincts whatsoever, or he truly didn't care. Either way, it was kind of impressive.
Alvida roared, raising her mace high. "YOU LITTLE VERMIN!" she bellowed, swinging the weapon down with bone-crushing force.
Megumi moved before the mace came down, grabbing both Koby and Luffy by their collars and jumping above deck.
The blast of salty wind hit Megumi full in the face as he landed on the deck above, Koby flailing in one hand and Luffy dangling from the other.
"Whoa! You can jump that high?" Luffy laughed, barely fazed. "That was awesome!"
Megumi dropped both of them onto the deck. "Focus," he said sharply, already turning toward the pirates scrambling to regroup from the chaos below.
The deck was a war zone.
Passengers cowered behind broken furniture and barrels, while a dozen men in mismatched armor and gaudy sashes wielded cutlasses, clubs, and old pistols. The Alvida Pirates were more brutish than organized—but there were still a lot of them.
Too many for a half-starved teen running on dried meat.
Still… Megumi's hands slipped into a familiar sign.
"Divine Dogs."
Twin growls echoed from the shadows pooling at his feet, and the two wolves—one black, one white—emerged in a blur. The pirates froze, staring in stunned disbelief as the ghostly beasts snarled and took formation beside their summoner.
"What the hell are those?!" one of the pirates shouted.
Megumi's eyes narrowed. "You picked the wrong ship."
With a simple nod, the Divine Dogs leapt.
Chaos erupted. Pirates screamed as the shikigami tore through their lines—claws slashing, jaws snapping. Megumi followed behind, targeting the armed ones first. His movements were efficient, calculated—every punch, kick, and dodge conserving energy while maximizing damage.
"WHOA!" Luffy shouted from behind, watching a pirate get launched into the air by a lunging Divine Dog. "You've got cool powers!"
A pirate lunged at him from the side—and Luffy's rubber arm whipped out, catching the man in the gut and launching him overboard.
This surprised everyone on deck, especially Megumi. 'There are supernatural powers in this world too,' thought Megumi.
He didn't have long to process what he just saw—Luffy's arm stretching like rubber—before he ducked under a wild swing from another pirate, swept the man's legs, and let a Divine Dog finish the job with a crushing pounce.
'So he's not just loud. Weird powers too. Like a cursed technique…'
"You're made of rubber?" asked Megumi.
Luffy grinned, stretching his arms lazily as if throwing a man overboard was the most natural thing in the world. "Yup! I'm a rubber man. Ate a Devil Fruit."
Megumi blinked. Devil Fruit? He didn't like the sound of that. If there were items or abilities in this world that granted powers… that meant he wasn't as far ahead of the curve as he'd assumed.
Koby huddled behind a toppled barrel, shaking but wide-eyed, watching the fight unfold like something out of a dream—or a nightmare. Rubber? Dogs made of shadow? Devil Fruit?
"Megumi, behind you!" Koby cried out.
Megumi spun just in time to see a burly pirate raising a club toward his back—but Luffy was already there, his arm snapping out like a whip.
"Gomu Gomu no… Pistol!" Luffy shouted as his fist rocketed forward, crashing into the pirate's jaw and sending him flying across the deck.
Megumi blinked. He's like a living rubber band… Gomu Gomu?
Luffy gave a cheerful thumbs-up. "Told you I was strong!"
Before Megumi could respond, the deck trembled. The remaining pirates scrambled away as a shadow loomed from the pantry hole.
Alvida climbed back onto the deck, her face twisted with fury and a fresh dent in her iron mace. Her silks were ripped, her mascara ran like war paint, and her aura practically boiled with rage.
"WHO… SAID… I WAS CHUNKY?!" she bellowed, her voice shaking the railings.
Koby yelped and ducked further behind the barrel.
"Luffy, Megumi, let's run! You saw how powerful her mace is. In these waters, she's the most—most—"
"Most what, Koby?!"
"T-T-The most ugly, cragged old hag ever!"
Alvida's jaw dropped. For a moment, the entire ship seemed to go silent.
Even the wind held its breath.
"Ha ha ha ha!" Luffy's laugh cut through the silence like a hot knife through butter.
There was even a smirk tugging at Megumi's lips.
"YOU SNOT-NOSED RAT!!" Alvida howled, lifting the mace above her head with a snarl. "I'LL CRUSH YOU INTO FISH PASTE!!" She lunged toward the hiding Koby.
'No regrets! No regrets! I said it! I fought for my dream!' Koby thought.
Luffy moved before Megumi could and took the hit straight to his head.
"Well said, Koby."
"What?!" Alvida exclaimed, not believing her own eyes.
"That doesn't work, 'cause I'm made of rubber."
"Gomu Gomu no… Pistol!" Luffy's arm stretched back just like before and snapped forward with explosive force, slamming Alvida straight in the gut and sending her flying over the horizon.
Every pirate watching—including Koby—was dumbstruck by the show of power. The monster who had terrorized them for years was defeated in a single hit.
"Oi!"
"YES?!"
"Give Koby a boat. He's going to join the Navy!"
"Y-YES, SIR!"
Megumi exhaled slowly. He let the Divine Dogs dissolve back into shadow, his legs trembling now that the adrenaline was wearing off. His body ached. His stamina was spent.
But they'd won.
"You okay?" Luffy asked, noticing the faint wobble in Megumi's step.
"I will be," he replied. "Once I eat a real meal."
Luffy laughed. "You're cool. Wanna join my crew?"
Megumi blinked. "What?"
"I'm gonna be King of the Pirates, right? I need strong people. You've got shadow dogs and cool hair."
Megumi stared at him like he'd grown a second head. "I have my own things to do. I'm not signing up for anything."
Luffy didn't seem bothered. "That's okay! You can decide later. We'll stick together for now!"
Before Megumi could protest, Koby stepped up beside him. "Thank you… both of you," he said, voice still shaky. "I'm going to join the Navy. I have to. After what happened today—I can't just keep running."
Before they could reply—
BOOM!
The sharp crack of cannon fire echoed across the water.
Looking to the horizon, Koby's eyes widened. "It's the Navy!"
"Oh, perfect timing!" Luffy grinned. "You should go see them! But we're pirates—we're outta here!"
Before Megumi could ask what he meant, Luffy grabbed his arm and dragged him toward one of the remaining lifeboats still hanging from the side of the wrecked ship.
"Wait, what are you—?" Megumi began, but Luffy had already leapt into the boat, stretching an arm to yank the release lever.
With a heavy clunk, the lifeboat dropped into the water, splashing both of them as it rocked hard.
Koby screamed, "Get serious! I can't just join the Navy like this! I'll be captured instead! Take me with you too!"
Luffy blinked up at Koby, who was now leaning dangerously far over the railing, panic written all over his face.
"Huh? But you said you were gonna be a Navy guy," Luffy said, tilting his head.
"I do want that!" Koby shouted. "But if they think I was with Alvida, they won't listen to me—they'll arrest me before I can explain!"
Megumi looked up at him, then glanced at the approaching Navy ship. The sails were getting larger by the second. He sighed. "He has a point."
Megumi couldn't stay on the ship either, because he couldn't hide in the shadows—he was at his limit—and he didn't have anything to prove he was a passenger to the Marines.
Luffy scratched his head. "Alright, alright, jump already!"
Koby hesitated for a heartbeat—then climbed onto the railing.
"NOW, before they shoot again!" Megumi snapped.
With a terrified yelp, Koby leapt.
He landed in the lifeboat with a splash and a thud, nearly capsizing it. The boat tilted violently, soaking all three of them before rocking back into place.
Koby gasped for breath, soaked and trembling. "I'm alive…"
Megumi shot him a look. "Barely. Next time, jump better."
Luffy just laughed as he grabbed the oars and started rowing. "Welcome aboard, Koby!"
"But I'm not a pirate!" Koby squeaked. "Let's just focus on getting out of range before they try again."
As they rowed across the open sea, the sound of another cannon rang out— but the shot splashed wide, far behind them.
Luffy whooped. "We're free!"
Koby slumped in the boat, water dripping from his hair. "This is not how I imagined escaping…"
"Whew, that was fun!" Luffy laughed.
"Umm, Luffy. If you're heading for the One Piece, that means you're going to the Grand Line, right?" Koby asked curiously.
"Yeah."
"You are also going to the Grand Line?!" exclaimed Megumi.
Koby blinked at Megumi. "Wait… you are too?"
Megumi exhaled, brushing wet bangs from his eyes. "That's where Vegapunk is, right? I need some answers." '—and if anyone knows how I can go back, it's probably him. Or that's what I originally thought. Now that I know there are supernatural powers in this world, maybe I can find a power that can send me back.'
Luffy grinned. "Oh, cool! So you do have a reason to come with me!"
Megumi frowned. "Don't get the wrong idea. I'm not part of your crew."
"Sure, sure," Luffy said, completely unfazed. "We're just… going the same way!"
Koby looked between them. "The Grand Line… It's called the pirates' graveyard."
"That's why I'm going to assemble a super crew," Luffy said, eyes shining. "If the One Piece is real, that's where it'll be."
Koby sighed. "You're both insane."
Luffy laughed. "Thanks!" Then, "Oh! That guy—the pirate hunter, what was his name?"
Koby replied, "You mean Roronoa Zoro? I heard he's being held prisoner at a Navy base."
Luffy looked disappointed. "Aw, he's a weakling?"
Koby looked horrified. "Nothing of the sort! He's as terrifying as a demon!... Why are you asking about him?"
Luffy grinned. "Thought I might have him join my crew if he's a good guy!"
Koby's jaw dropped. "You're being reckless again! Megumi, why don't you tell him something?"
Megumi muttered in a bored tone, "Whatever."
Koby stared at Megumi, scandalized. "You're just going to let him waltz into a Navy base and try to recruit a criminal?!"
Megumi gave a shrug, leaning back in the boat. "I'm too tired to argue with someone like him."
Luffy beamed at the comment, clearly taking it as a compliment. "See? He gets it!"
Koby groaned and buried his face in his hands. "I'm surrounded by lunatics."
The lifeboat drifted under the soft glow of the setting sun, the Navy ship fading in the distance. Megumi leaned back, trying to rest even as the ache in his limbs reminded him of his limits.
The sea breeze was sharp, salty, and unfamiliar—but for now, he had a direction.
And in this strange, lawless world, that was enough.