Chapter 7: "Quiet Days and Steady Dreams"
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The early sunlight warmed the apartment just enough to push away the coolness of the night. Outside, the usual sounds of a city waking up filled the air—the distant rumble of a delivery truck, the faint chatter of neighbors greeting the day, and the soft murmur of footsteps on the sidewalks.
Kaito leaned back in his chair, eyes resting briefly on the blank document open on his laptop screen. Despite the quiet calm around him, a storm of thoughts brewed inside his mind.
He had arrived in this world a month ago. Thirty days since everything familiar had been stripped away. No magic. No grand powers. No supernatural forces. Just this… strange, normal, female-led world.
At first, the shock had been overwhelming. How could a world like this exist without any trace of the stories he cherished, the heroes he admired? How could this world have no "One Piece"?
His mind often wandered to the old life he had left behind—the cramped office where he had spent long, tedious days. The empty apartment where he came home to silence every evening. The lonely meals, the distant colleagues, the absence of family or meaningful friendships. There, his one bright spot had been anime—especially One Piece. It had been a lifeline, a world of adventure, friendship, and dreams that lifted his spirit from the monotony.
And now? Here, he was an outsider, a man without any special power, but armed with something invisible but powerful: memories.
He had no choice but to begin anew. The decision to write had come naturally—a quiet rebellion against the strange emptiness that threatened to engulf him. If the world didn't have One Piece, then he would create it himself. A story of hope, struggle, and courage—one that might remind people of what they could be if they dared to dream.
Kaito opened the document again and reread what he had written so far. His words were simple but heartfelt:
"Luffy wasn't born into greatness. He carved it out with his own two hands — his own indomitable will. No matter the world he was in, that spirit would always shine through."
He smiled faintly, fingers poised over the keyboard, ready to continue.
But then, a shadow of doubt crept in.
Could he really do this? He wasn't a professional writer. He had never dreamed of creating a story on this scale. What if no one read it? What if he failed, just like in his old life?
Yet the words persisted in his mind, louder than doubt:
One day, they'll know. They'll remember.
The days passed quietly, but in each one, Kaito found little moments of progress and growth. His writing improved with every sentence, and with every chapter, he felt a little more connected to this world.
Mornings became a sacred time. He would wake early, savor a strong cup of coffee, and write for hours before the city was fully awake. The quiet gave him space to focus, to let the characters he loved come alive in his mind.
Evenings were for walking through the city's bustling streets, a chance to observe the world around him.
Midori City was like many places on Earth, yet subtly different. Women held most of the leadership roles in government, business, and society. It was a matriarchal world, but not in an oppressive way. Instead, it felt balanced, with men and women living mostly in harmony, though the cultural expectations on men were quieter, sometimes overshadowed by traditional views.
Kaito noticed the way people looked at him. His black hair, sharp jawline, and strong features often drew glances. Women, especially, seemed to notice him—some with curiosity, others with subtle smiles. It was a strange feeling, being admired simply for his appearance, something he had never truly experienced before.
At first, the attention was flattering. But it soon became something else—unwanted, intrusive.
There were times he would pass by a café and catch a group of women whispering and glancing his way. Or when a clerk would linger a little too long while helping him with a purchase. Sometimes, an innocent compliment felt like a spotlight he didn't want.
He wasn't used to it. In his old life, he was invisible—a ghost in the crowd. Here, his looks marked him, made him a target of attention he didn't always welcome.
Yet, through it all, Kaito kept his distance, never encouraging any advances. His focus was elsewhere.
Writing.
His dream was not to chase fleeting admiration or shallow friendships.
It was to breathe life back into a world that had lost its story.
One afternoon, as the soft spring breeze fluttered through the open window, Kaito found himself thinking about his characters—about Luffy and his crew, about the grand adventures they would undertake.
In this world without pirates, the idea of freedom felt even more precious.
He imagined Luffy standing on the deck of the Going Merry, wind in his hair, eyes bright with determination.
"I'm gonna be the Pirate King!" the words echoed in Kaito's mind.
The dream of freedom, friendship, and unbreakable will was something universal. Something no world could ever truly erase.
It was that hope that kept Kaito going, even when the days blurred together.
In the evenings, he sometimes wandered through the small park near his apartment, watching children play and couples stroll hand in hand. The simplicity of these moments grounded him.
There was no rush. No grand destiny knocking at his door.
Just time.
Time to write. Time to build.
To craft a legacy that might one day inspire others.
Sometimes, when the loneliness crept in, Kaito would think back to his old self—a 35-year-old office worker with no family, no girlfriend, and few friends. Just a man who had found solace in the fantastical worlds of anime and manga.
Now, in this new world, he had no powers, no supernatural gifts, but he had something even more precious:
A chance.
A chance to start over.
To rewrite the story.
The reflection in the window caught him once again.
That handsome face. Those sharp eyes.
He was no longer the invisible man.
He was a storyteller.
A dreamer.
A man with a purpose.
And every day, that purpose burned brighter.
Kaito sat back down at his desk and resumed typing, his fingers flowing across the keys with renewed energy.
"The sea is vast. The world is wide. But no matter where you are, the heart's true compass never fails. It points to the dreams we hold deepest inside."
The words felt like a promise.
A promise not only to his readers, but to himself.
Outside, the city lights flickered on one by one as dusk settled.
Kaito closed his laptop for the night, stretching his tired hands.
He glanced once more at the quiet world outside his window—the world he was slowly making his own.
With a small smile, he whispered:
"One day… they'll know. They'll remember."
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[A\N: Yo~ Author here. Just your friendly reminder that this story's about slow but steady progress. No fla—just a guy, his memories, and his dream to bring One Piece back to life in a world that never knew it. Thanks for sticking with me! «By LonerWolF_23»]