Chapter 46 — The Man in the Chest
Sunny's POV
The sea breeze was soft that morning, carrying the salty tang of freedom mixed with the faint, earthy scent of distant islands. Standing at the bow of the Going Merry, I let the wind brush my face, ruffling my hair and tugging at my clothes like an old friend welcoming me back to the open waves. The sun hung high, casting shimmering diamonds across the water, and the ship cut through the gentle swells with a rhythmic grace that still felt new and exciting. Behind me, the deck was alive with the usual chaos—our crew's signature blend of bickering and laughter that somehow made this floating hunk of wood feel like home.
"Full speed ahead! Captain Usopp commands it!" Usopp declared dramatically from the helm, planting one foot on the railing and striking a heroic pose, his long nose pointed skyward like a compass needle. His curly hair whipped in the wind, and he waved a makeshift flag he'd fashioned from an old shirt, as if that made his claim official.
"Oi, don't stand there like an idiot—you'll fall overboard and we'll have to fish you out," Zoro grunted from his spot lounging against the mast. His three swords were propped up like makeshift pillows, and he looked half-asleep already, one eye cracked open just enough to shoot Usopp a lazy glare. The guy could nap through a hurricane, I swear.
Lucy, meanwhile, was running in wild circles across the deck, her arms spread wide like makeshift sails, her straw hat flopping precariously on her head. "Wooo! We're flying! Sunny, look, I'm an airplane! Vroom vroom!" She stretched her rubbery limbs for emphasis, nearly tripping over a coil of rope in her enthusiasm.
I muttered under my breath, suppressing a smile despite myself. "That's not even a thing yet in this world. Where'd you learn about airplanes, anyway?" But Lucy just laughed, oblivious, bounding around like a hyperactive puppy.
Nami leaned against me at the railing, her orange hair catching the sunlight in a way that made it glow like fire. She pointed out to sea with one hand, the other casually brushing mine—a touch that sent a quiet spark through me. "Navigator's orders: ignore both of them. Usopp couldn't steer a straight line if his life depended on it, and Lucy's just going to tire herself out and demand food in five minutes."
{ego}: This crew is pathetic. A fake captain, a sleepy mosshead, and a rubber idiot. You're the only one with any sense, Sunny-boy.
[system]: ♥ But Master looks so cool with the wind in his hair! Way better than Zoro's snoring face. Ara ara, I could watch you like this forever~
I chuckled inwardly, glancing down at Nami. Her presence was a steady warmth against the cool breeze, and I wrapped an arm around her waist without thinking, pulling her closer. "Sounds like a plan. As long as you're navigating, I'm good." Her cheeks flushed a light pink, but she didn't pull away—instead, she leaned her head on my shoulder, her hand finding mine and intertwining our fingers. Moments like this, amid the chaos, felt like stolen treasures.
It was peaceful—almost too peaceful—until Lucy skidded to a halt at the bow, her eyes widening like saucers. "ISLAND! LOOK, GUYS, ISLAND!" She screamed at the top of her lungs, pointing wildly and nearly toppling overboard in her excitement, her rubber arms flailing to keep balance.
Sure enough, a small patch of green rose from the sea on the horizon, an uncharted blob of land dotted with jagged cliffs and dense foliage. It looked inviting from afar, but my Haki picked up faint ripples—odd energies, like the island itself was alive with peculiarities.
"Not on the map," Nami said, pulling out her charts and frowning, her brow furrowing in that cute way she did when puzzled. She adjusted her glasses, leaning over the railing for a better look. "Which means it could have treasure… or traps. Or both."
"Or food!" Lucy added, her stomach growling on cue as she rubbed it dramatically. "I'm starving! Let's raid it for meat mountains!"
"Or monsters," Usopp said from the helm, his voice already quivering as he clutched the wheel tighter. His knees knocked together audibly. "Big, scary, man-eating monsters with teeth like swords and eyes like fire! We should turn back—captain's orders!"
Zoro cracked one eye open fully this time, smirking. "You're shaking like a leaf, 'captain.' If there are monsters, I'll handle 'em. Wake me when we dock." He promptly closed his eye again, snoring lightly.
I sighed, rubbing the back of my neck. Another day, another detour. But with Nami's hand still in mine, it didn't seem so bad. "Let's check it out. Could be fun."
Nami squeezed my hand, her smile turning mischievous. "Fun? Or just an excuse to play hero again?" She leaned up on her toes, brushing a quick kiss against my cheek. "Fine, but if it's trouble, you owe me a massage later."
"Deal," I murmured, my heart skipping a beat as she pulled away, her eyes sparkling.
{ego}: Smooth, lover boy. But don't get distracted—monsters incoming.
[system]: ♥ Kissy-kissy! Give that to me, please! Nami's so lucky~
The Strange Beasts
We anchored the Merry in a shallow cove, the water crystal clear and teeming with colorful fish that darted away as we waded ashore. The island looked normal at first—towering palm trees swaying gently, rocky cliffs rising like jagged teeth against the sky, and the distant trill of birdsong filling the air. The sand was warm underfoot, dotted with seashells and driftwood, and the scent of tropical flowers wafted on the breeze. But as we ventured inland, pushing through thick underbrush that snagged at our clothes, the first thing we ran into was anything but normal.
"Is that… a lion with a mane made of sunflowers?" Usopp squeaked from behind a bush, his slingshot already drawn but shaking in his hands.
The creature was massive, its body a bizarre mashup of lion ferocity and floral whimsy. Golden fur rippled over powerful muscles, but its mane was a riot of blooming sunflowers, petals fluttering dramatically as it roared—a sound that was half-ferocious growl, half-rustling leaves. It pawed the ground, kicking up dirt, and fixed us with beady eyes that seemed more curious than threatening.
Lucy's eyes sparkled like she'd just spotted a mountain of meat. "SO CUTE! LET'S KEEP IT AS A PET!" She charged forward without a second thought, her arms stretching wide in a rubbery embrace, completely ignoring the danger.
"Lucy, wait!" Nami yelled, grabbing for her but missing as Lucy bounded ahead.
The lion-pig-plant-thing—wait, on closer look, it had a curly pig tail too—swatted at her with a massive paw, petals scattering like confetti. But I casually flicked a pebble infused with a touch of Haki, sending it zipping through the air to ping off the creature's nose. It yelped in surprise, distracted just long enough for Lucy to glomp it into submission, her arms wrapping around its neck in a bear hug.
"Fluffy!!! You're mine now! I'll call you Sunpiggy!" Lucy cooed, rubbing her face into the sunflower mane, which released a puff of pollen that made her sneeze explosively.
"Don't bring that thing on the ship," Nami warned, crossing her arms and tapping her foot. "It'll eat all our supplies—or worse, shed petals everywhere!"
Next up was a rabbit with a snake's tail, slithering-hopping through the grass like a confused garden hose. It hissed at Usopp, who shrieked and hid behind Zoro. "It's a bunny-snake! It's gonna eat my soul!"
Zoro sighed, drawing one sword lazily and poking the creature away. "It's harmless. Probably."
Then came a dog with bird wings, flapping clumsily overhead and barking at the clouds. Lucy tried to catch it mid-air, stretching her arms like a net, but it dodged and pooped on Usopp's head. "WHY ME?!" he wailed, dancing around trying to shake it off.
The place was basically a zoo curated by someone drunk on imagination and bad ideas—animals fused in ways that defied logic, each one more ridiculous than the last. Every time we encountered one, Lucy tried to adopt it, cooing and naming them on the spot ("Wingpuppy! Snakeybun!"). Every time, Zoro had to pry her off, grumbling about "no more pets or I'll start swinging."
By the time we reached the cliffs, sweat beading on our brows from the humid trek, I was already done. "If the next animal has six heads or breathes fire, I'm leaving you all here and sailing back alone."
Nami sidled up to me, slipping her arm through mine with a teasing smile. "Aw, but think of the romance—stranded on a weird island with me? We could build a hut, live off coconuts…" Her voice dropped to a whisper, her breath warm against my ear.
I pulled her closer, smirking. "Tempting. But I'd miss the Merry's eternal kitchen flames."
She laughed, swatting my arm playfully. "Practical as always."
The Chest-Man
Then we found him—or it, at first glance.
Pushing through a thicket of vines, we stumbled into a small clearing, and there, lying innocently in the tall grass, was what looked like a weathered treasure chest. Gold trim glinted in the dappled sunlight, hinges rusted but sturdy, promising riches inside.
Usopp's eyes lit up. "Treasure! Finally, my captain senses were right!"
But as we approached, the lid creaked open with a dramatic groan, and a face popped out—bushy hair, wild beard, eyes blazing with mock fury.
"WHO DARES DISTURB MY DOMAIN?!"
Usopp screamed like he'd seen death itself, jumping back so hard he tripped over a root and face-planted. Lucy screamed back—but out of pure excitement. "TREASURE MONSTER! AWESOME! Do you spit gold coins?!"
Zoro blinked slowly, his hand on his swords. "…What the hell is this? A mimic?"
The man—if you could call him that—was literally fused into the chest. His arms and legs stuck out awkwardly from the sides and bottom, his torso completely swallowed by the wood and iron, like he'd been crammed in and forgotten. His face was weathered, lined with years of sun and isolation, but there was a spark of humor in his eyes beneath the theatrics.
"Finally, worthy challengers!" the chest-man bellowed, his voice booming despite his ridiculous predicament. "I am Gaimon, guardian of this island! Tremble before my might!"
I tilted my head, crossing my arms. "So… if we open you, do we get loot? Like, rare items or berries?"
"HEY!" Gaimon spluttered, his beard twitching in indignation. "I'm not a loot box! I'm a man! A proud pirate stuck in a—well, yeah, a box!"
Lucy gasped, crouching down like she was approaching a skittish animal, her eyes wide with wonder. "Sunny! He's rare! Don't open him—we need to tame him! Here, Chest-san, want a meat treat?" She pulled a half-eaten drumstick from her pocket, waving it enticingly.
Usopp, still on the ground, muttered shakily, "This is some nightmare… A talking chest? We're cursed!"
{ego}: Pathetic. Stuck in a box for decades? Trash. You should leave him to rot—saves us the headache.
[system]: ♥ He's funny though! Master, don't you want to keep him too? He could be like a mascot for the ship~ Fufufu.
The Story
Once Gaimon realized we weren't going to stab him for imaginary gold or turn him into a sideshow attraction, he relaxed—or as much as a man in a chest could. He settled back with a sigh, the lid creaking shut slightly like a weary door. "Alright, alright. Sit down, you weirdos. I'll tell you my tale."
We gathered around in a loose circle—Lucy cross-legged like a kid at storytime, Usopp still eyeing him warily, Zoro leaning against a tree with bored indifference, Nami beside me, her hand finding mine again for that quiet comfort. As Gaimon spoke, his voice grew heavy, laced with the weight of years unspoken.
Twenty years ago, he'd been a pirate captain, young and ambitious, searching for legendary treasure rumored to be on this very island. His crew had betrayed him, sailing off without a backward glance, leaving him stranded. Undeterred, he'd climbed the treacherous cliffs alone to claim the prize—but in his haste, he'd slipped and fallen straight into this open chest at the bottom. And got stuck. Limbs trapped, body wedged in so tight he couldn't budge. Ever since, he'd lived here, befriending the island's odd animals, guarding the treasure he could never reach, his dreams rotting away with his freedom.
As he spoke, the loneliness clung to him like dust, visible in the way his eyes misted over, his bravado cracking just enough to reveal the broken man beneath. He'd watched ships come and go from afar, heard the world move on without him, but he still smiled—for the animals, for his "domain," for whatever scraps of purpose he could cling to.
Lucy bawled instantly, clutching her face as tears streamed down. "THAT'S THE SADDEST THING I'VE EVER HEARD! CHEST-SAN, YOU'RE LIKE A PRISONER OF WOOD!"
Usopp's eyes watered despite himself, sniffling loudly. "Damn it… even I'm crying… What kind of pirate gets stuck in a box?!"
Nami pressed closer to me, her grip tightening on my hand, her voice soft. "That's… heartbreaking. All those years alone…" She glanced up at me, her eyes shimmering, and I felt a pang in my chest.
And I… I just felt the weight of his soul, heavy and resilient, a man who'd turned isolation into guardianship. A tear slipped down my cheek before I even noticed, hot and unbidden.
"Why… why is Sunny crying harder than everyone else?!" Lucy wailed, pointing at me in shock.
Zoro groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. "First a dog , now a chest making the tough guy cry. This crew is hopeless."
{ego}: You shame us again, Sunny-boy. Crying over a boxed idiot? Pull it together.
[system]: No, Master's empathy makes him wonderful! Cry all you want—I'll hug you forever! ♥ Ara ara, so sensitive~
I wiped the tear away, chuckling weakly. "Shut up, all of you. It's the pollen or something."
The Attempt
Lucy, ever the optimist, decided to "help" in her own chaotic way. "Don't worry, Chest-san! I'll pull you out! Gomu Gomu no… Freedom Yank!" She grabbed his arms and yanked with all her rubbery strength, her limbs stretching comically as Gaimon's eyes bulged.
"W-wait—! Not so hard!" Gaimon squeaked, his legs kicking futilely.
POP—nothing. He stayed wedged, but Lucy flew backward from the recoil, tumbling into Usopp and sending them both sprawling in a heap.
Zoro tried next, grunting as he gripped Gaimon's shoulders and pulled, his muscles bulging. The chest creaked ominously, wood splintering slightly. "Come… on… you stubborn—"
"STOP! You'll rip me in half like a wishbone!" Gaimon yelped, flailing his arms.
Finally, Usopp joined in, grabbing Zoro's waist for leverage. "If we combine forces—! One, two, three—PULL!"
CRACK—the chest groaned like it was about to explode, and everyone let go at once, panting. Gaimon sagged with relief, wiping sweat from his brow. "Kids these days… no finesse."
I just crossed my arms, shaking my head. "Face it. That box is you now. Might as well own it. You're Gaimon the Chest Guardian—sounds pretty legendary to me."
Gaimon blinked, stunned—then chuckled, the sound building into a genuine laugh that echoed through the clearing. "Maybe you're right, boy. Maybe this is who I am now. A box with a story."
Lucy pouted, rubbing her arms. "But I wanted a pet chest…"
Departure
We left him there in his clearing, surrounded by his odd animal friends—the sunflower lion nuzzling his side, the winged dog perching on the chest lid. He waved as we walked back to the Merry, grinning for the first time in years, his eyes brighter than before.
"Thank you," he called out, his voice carrying on the wind. "For reminding me I'm not just stuck—I'm alive."
Lucy waved both arms wildly, jumping up and down. "BYE, CHESTY-SAN! VISIT US SOMETIME—WE'LL BRING MEAT!"
Usopp sighed, wiping his eyes. "This was the weirdest day of my life. A talking chest? What next, a singing sword?"
"Not even top ten for us," Zoro muttered, sheathing his blades with a shrug.
Nami slipped her hand into mine as we boarded the Merry, her fingers warm and reassuring. "You were really kind to him, Sunny," she said softly, her voice almost shy as we leaned against the railing together. "The way you gave him hope… it's one of the things I love about you." She looked up at me, her eyes soft in the fading light, and I felt that pull again, drawing me closer.
I brushed a strand of hair from her face, my thumb lingering on her cheek. "Guess that makes us the hopeless crew. But with you here… it doesn't feel so hopeless."
She blushed, but pulled me into a gentle kiss, the world fading to just us and the rocking of the ship.
As the Merry sailed away, laughter filled the deck.
Maybe Gaimon was stuck on his island forever… but at least he wasn't alone anymore.