Walking through the forest, we share more about ourselves.
Learning a bit of Kiri's past, I now ask about Luffy's.
He hails from Foosha Village in East Blue. As a kid, he lived there, often chatting with pirates who stayed in the village. Free-spirited and unruly, they never harmed the villagers—once even driving off bandits.
The straw hat he cherishes was entrusted to him by one of those pirates.
Curious, I ask the pirate's name. It's a world-famous one. My eyes widen, unable to hide my shock as I blurt out questions.
"I know Foosha Village. I'm from East Blue, too."
"It's a great place. Wanna show you someday, Kiri."
"But Red-Haired Shanks, in that tiny village? Rumors said he sailed East Blue, but people called it nonsense. No one would believe he'd stay there."
"You know Shanks?"
"Not just me—everyone does. A legendary pirate. His name alone makes pirates tremble."
"Huh, really? To me, he's just a friend."
Luffy speaks casually, not boasting, genuinely seeing a global legend as a pal. Most would be floored or scoff at the claim.
Oddly, I believe him instantly.
Maybe his unique childhood makes him seem destined for greatness. It doesn't feel strange.
Childhood experiences become priceless treasures with age.
His must have shaped who he is now.
I feel closer to him, my curiosity growing. Like Luffy earlier, I lean in, eager for more.
"When Shanks' crew left, I swore to find better nakama and become Pirate King. He gave me this hat, told me to return it someday."
"So, becoming Pirate King and meeting Shanks are your dreams?"
"Yeah. Gotta meet him before I'm Pirate King. And I'll beat him, too."
"That's a huge ambition. Almost dizzying."
Luffy's carefree laugh truly makes my head spin.
Does he know how strong a great pirate like Shanks is?
Those ruling the Grand Line's latter half can topple hundreds, even thousands, of soldiers alone. With the Pirate King gone, some are called emperors.
To be Pirate King means defeating them all.
And, as far as I know, Shanks is one of those emperors.
Knowing or not, Luffy's bold claim leaves me speechless, shrugging.
"Even if you could win, it'll be a long journey."
"Longer's better. More adventures."
"Yeah, you'd say that. I'm starting to get you."
Nodding, I take my turn to ask.
Everyone has a past, but his sounds especially fun. I'm hooked, wanting more. Even if I won't be a pirate, this much is fine, so I prompt him.
"What next? Bandits attacked, Shanks saved you, then what? You didn't just live quietly, right?"
"My grandpa was super strict. Said no to pirating, told me to be a Marine. He's a Marine, always busy, rarely in the village. Instead of raising me, he left me with bandits."
"Ironic. Taken hostage by bandits, then sent to them?"
"Different ones, though. I hate bandits, but I like Dadan's crew."
"Sounds like a decent bond. Just curious, what's your Marine grandpa's name?"
"Monkey D. Garp. His punches hurt like hell. I'm rubber, so blows shouldn't work, but they do. Weird."
Arms crossed, Luffy ponders, tilting his head. I look away, face blank, expression fading. Something's off, but he's too lost in thought to notice.
We reach a forest clearing, spotting a narrow, gentle river.
Its calm flow is beautiful, different from the sea.
We pause, listening to its soft murmur.
"Pretty river. Good for drinking."
"Sweet. Won't die yet."
"For now. Food next, and we're set."
"Meat'd be nice. Let's hunt."
"Which way?"
"Upstream. Might find something."
"Picking randomly again. Fine."
We head upstream, walking side by side.
As we listen to the river, I resume questioning.
"Back to it. Grandson of 'Fist of Garp'?"
"You know him, too? He's famous, I guess."
"As much as Shanks, maybe more. The Navy's hero, fought Pirate King Roger, a living legend. Vice Admiral by choice—he turned down promotions. His strength's Admiral-level or higher."
"So, super famous, right?"
"Do you get how huge this is?"
"Kinda."
"Sigh… thought so."
I frown, but Luffy just grins, unfazed, uninterested.
I sigh, frustrated. The conversation isn't sinking in.
I thought I was understanding him, but I was wrong. Assuming I get him is a mistake.
I try not to overthink, keeping the talk going.
Despite his attitude, I have tons to ask. It's oddly compelling.
"Whatever. Maybe family feels less impressive. So, left with bandits—"
"Dadan's crew, but I mostly hung with my brother. We didn't get along at first. I like them, but I still hate bandits."
"Brother? Left with bandits, yet you had a sibling?"
"Nah, not blood. We shared sake cups, became sworn brothers."
I nod, understanding. That makes sense. Blood siblings would be harder to believe.
Left with bandits, likely meeting for the first time.
What a guy. Marine grandfather, pirate idol, raised by bandits, and swearing brotherhood as a kid. A rare life.
He's bound to be a big deal, I think, believing every word.
"With Ace and Sabo, we ran around the mountains, training as kids. We swore to be pirates, sailing the seas freer than anyone."
"Those names sound familiar—"
"Ace left first, became a pirate. He's got a bounty, pretty famous. You probably know him."
His innocent eyes make me pause, hand on chin, thinking.
One name and face come to mind—a global celebrity.
If I'm right, it's huge. I've never heard of his family.
Hesitant, I test it.
"Ace, like Fire Fist Ace?"
"Yup, that's him."
"Seriously? My head hurts."
"Why?"
"You don't know how famous Fire Fist Ace is?"
"I know him, but not how famous. Lived in the mountains, didn't hear rumors. Makino just said he's famous."
"Let me put it simply: he's a commander under a pirate who rivaled Roger. Youngest of them, his fame's near the top worldwide."
"Wow, so super famous."
"Was that for nothing?"
It's the name I expected, shocking me. I nearly stop, head in hands. The name's weight hits hard.
Equally shocking: Luffy doesn't see it as a big deal.
His nonchalance is almost more surprising.
"Your connections are insane. I'm dizzy."
"Shishishi. Wanna join my crew now?"
"Nope, not falling for it."
"You never say yes. What'll make you join?"
"I quit pirating. I'm done."
Still, I'm drawn to him. His famous connections aren't the only reason—they remind me of my past. Exploring this wild land as "adventure" excites me more than I expected.
I swore off pirating.
I shake my head, scolding my wavering resolve.
Luffy grew up in a wild environment. His grandpa, brother, friends—an incredible lineup. But what's that to me? I force myself to think that.
One thing lingers.
The other name he mentioned with Ace.
"The other one? Sabo, right?"
"Yeah. I had two brothers."
"He a pirate, too? That name—"
"Sabo died. When I was Rizwan was a kid."
His casual words freeze time.
Luffy's face is calm, like it's nothing. Stunned by the unexpected answer, I grimace, scratching my cheek awkwardly.
The forest's silence feels oppressive.
Afraid of painful quiet, I speak despite the tension.
"Sorry. Bad question."
"It's fine. Years ago."
He seems unbothered, smiling.
Trying to smile back, I spot something ahead.
My gaze sharpens, focusing. A loud sound grows closer.
I point, alerting Luffy.
"Hey, look."
"Hm? Something's there."
We hurry forward, curiosity alight, faces eager. The tense air dissipates, drawn to the sight.
It's clear as we approach—a waterfall.
Not massive, but its roaring water forms the river. The air feels fresher, invigorating.
Luffy gapes upward, awestruck. I stretch, smiling.
"A waterfall!"
"Worth the trip. The air's crisp."
In this lush clearing, a round pool reflects a modest but stunning waterfall. Its sound is refreshing, the canopy open to the sky, a faint rainbow in the mist. A rare, breathtaking scene.
Hands on hips, we're speechless, captivated.
This is why adventure's addictive, I think, then scold myself. I got swept up, but I can't let it take over.
Determined to stay focused, I contrast Luffy's joy as he strides toward the waterfall.
"Hey, Kiri, know what? Waterfalls hide caves with treasure."
"Pirate tales say that, but not every waterfall's the same."
"Let's check!"
"Might be nothing."
"Then we confirm it. That's the point."
He jogs to the waterfall. I follow, exasperated, knowing he won't stop.
"Haven't we adventured enough?"
"No rush, right?"
"Not rushing, but adventure's separate. Find real nakama for this. I'm out."
"I want you as nakama."
"No way."
"Why?"
"I quit pirating."
Luffy reaches the waterfall's base, peering behind it for a cave. I catch up, sighing, acting fed up. I have to resist his pace, or I'll regret it.
"Normally, you'd know about treasure before searching. A random island we washed up on wouldn't have a cave or treasure—"
"Look, Kiri!"
Cutting me off, Luffy points behind the waterfall. Incredibly, there's a cave-like hollow. Too perfect for coincidence.
My jaw drops. Luffy slaps my back, grinning.
"Told ya! There's treasure!"
"No way. I'm trying to quit, and now this…"
"Let's go! You're coming, right, pirate?"
"I'm not—"
Before I can refuse, his arm stretches, wrapping my waist, gripping tight.
No time to react—his other arm shoots through the waterfall, grabbing a rock inside.
Too late to protest. His arm snaps back, launching us through the water like bullets.
Soaked again, we crash through, tumbling into the cave.
Rolling to a stop, my body aches from the impact. But being dragged here is worse.
Luffy's arm still around my waist, I lie back, sighing deeply.
"Talk about trouble. Who does this?"
"Shishishi, worked out! Where's the treasure?"
Luffy springs up, heading deeper. Free now, I'd have to swim the pool to leave—a problem, since I can't swim. Reluctantly, I follow, secretly enjoying the chaos.
Guess I'm a pirate at heart, despite my efforts.
The cave's narrow, barely wide enough for us. Dim, but light filters through the water, letting me see Luffy clearly. It's a straight path, easy to follow.
About ten meters deep, we reach the end in under a minute.
In the faint light, we're stunned, jaws dropping.
"Wow."
"This is…"
A skeleton in tattered clothes sits abandoned. Long dead, moss grows on the bones, a testament to years alone in the dark. No one else is here.
Unafraid, we stare, voicing our thoughts.
"Poor guy. Died alone, unnoticed. Weird place to end up."
"What was he doing here?"
"Who knows? Shipwrecked like us, treasure hunting, or a fugitive? His clothes don't look honest."
I step closer, kneeling to examine the corpse.
Luffy watches, curious but not stopping me.
"What's that?"
"Looking for clues about why he's here."
I search the clothes, finding an old parchment in a chest pocket, plus a pistol and broken compass, which I leave behind.
Unfolding the parchment, Luffy peeks over my shoulder, intrigued.
It's a map of an island, with four marked spots—likely a treasure map.
"Whoa, a treasure map?"
"Seems so. This beach—probably where we washed up."
"You can tell?"
"The terrain matches. This is our island."
Just a guess, but I'm sure. Luffy points at the map.
"Those marks—treasure, right?"
"Maybe. Not that simple."
"Four marks. Treasure's at one, yeah?"
"Probably a trick."
"Why?"
"Like the cave behind the waterfall, treasure maps have patterns. Let's go outside. Too dark here."
"Got it."
Luffy pulls us through the waterfall again, soaking us.
I don't care—too focused on the map. Spreading it on the ground, it's damp but intact, showing the island and four marks.
It's a small island, walkable in a day.
Luffy peers over, and I explain.
Minutes after finding it, I've decoded it. Guess I'm sharper than I thought.
"What's it mean?"
"These maps don't point directly to treasure. They give clues. This mark—our location, based on the beach and our path."
"Awesome, Kiri. I'd never figure that."
"The cave had no treasure, just a body. Pirate logic suggests none of these marks hold the treasure."
"Huh?"
"Like this—"
Arms crossed, I smile at Luffy's confused face, grabbing a stick to draw on the ground.
Four circles, evenly spaced.
I draw lines from each, crossing in the center, forming an X.
Luffy's eyes light up.
"Oh!"
"The treasure's likely where the lines cross."
"You know where that is?"
"Roughly. Not far, judging by the scale."
"Sweet! Let's get that treasure!"
"Yeah."
Luffy marches off, eager. I start to follow but slap my forehead, looking skyward, cursing my slip.
He stops, turning back.
"What's wrong?"
"I'm done with pirating."
"C'mon, it's getting good!"
"I said I'm out. I've gone too far. I can't keep—"
"You were having fun."
"That's the problem. I quit. Enjoying this is bad."
"It's fine if it's fun."
"Not if I'm going home. Pirating would cause trouble."
I glance at the river, stepping closer, staring at its calm flow, my face somber.
"You can't stay the same forever. If the world changes, so must you."
"Hm, never thought that. I don't change."
"That's you. It's pirate-like."
"See? Just be a pirate. You love it."
"It's decided."
His distant gaze bothers me. He looks serious.
Why force change? He's always lived freely, aiming to be Pirate King, choosing a life without regrets with his brothers.
Kiri must still love pirating. His actions show it.
That's why I keep inviting him—he fits. But his resolve is firm.
He looks lonely by the river, hard to ignore. If he's refusing, why that face?
He hasn't shared his whole past. I want to know, but he won't talk now. Treasure comes first.
I call out brightly to his silent back.
"Forget the details. Let's go!"
"Were you listening?"
"Yup. But listen, Kiri."
"What?"
"I can't read maps."
Hands on hips, he boasts his weakness with pride.
Stunned, I stare, wide-eyed.
He continues, unfazed.
"Even with the treasure's spot, I can't get there alone. Or off this island. Help me."
"Don't say that so proudly…"
"Whatever happened, forget pirating for now. We're alone here. Help me out."
His odd confidence is unshakable. I'm at a loss—first time in ages.
He grins warmly.
"No more 'join me' talk. One last adventure. That's fine, right?"
"…Guess so."
"Shishishi, it's settled."
Luffy starts walking, then grabs my hand, pulling me close.
I stumble but don't fall.
Walking together might reveal more.
No need to talk—just stay together. Treasure hunting's fun.
He smiles, holding my hand, leading the way.
"Hey, I can walk without being dragged."
"Which way, Kiri? I'm clueless."
"Don't lead then. I'll guide. Let go."
"Alright, you're in charge."
I hurry after him, hand freed.
Swept up again, but it's fine. His words shook me. Just this once, I think.
Fate won't let me quit easily. I sigh, smiling wryly.