The soft sunshine bathed the sea, casting a thin layer of golden gauze over the surface. The waves sparkled like scattered jewels, rippling gently under the light.
The rhythmic sound of waves striking the wooden hull echoed in the quiet, a persistent urging for the small boat to press forward.
Amid the endless expanse of blue, a modest vessel, no larger than a fallen leaf on the water, sailed away. It carried the blessings of the villagers and the dreams of its passengers, charting a course toward a distant and mysterious future.
Onboard the tiny craft, just large enough to fit two or three people and a modest heap of supplies, a young man in a straw hat and red vest stood out. A faint scar under his left eye marked his face. He clapped his hands together and laughed heartily, his wide grin brimming with uncontainable joy and anticipation.
"Shishishi~ Red! I knew you'd go to sea with me!" Luffy's laughter rang out across the open water. "I told you ages ago, I can't become the Pirate King without you!"
As he laughed, Luffy waved his arms enthusiastically, slapping the boy sitting across from him in a series of loud, rapid strikes.
Bang, bang, bang!
The crisp sound filled the air as Luffy's hands repeatedly connected with the boy, who sat there helplessly, unable to dodge the onslaught.
Finally, the boy snapped.
Peng!
His fist shot forward, smacking Luffy square in the face, flattening his features comically into his head.
"You idiot! That hurts, you know!" the boy shouted, his voice tinged with frustration. He shoved his fist against Luffy's head for emphasis.
Luffy, with his face hilariously distorted, quickly mumbled an apology. "...Mmph! Okay, okay, Red, I get it. I'm sorry!"
"You'd better mean it this time!" Red huffed, withdrawing his fist and rubbing his aching shoulder. His red baseball cap shaded his face as he glared at his crewmate. Despite his anger, he knew from experience that Luffy wouldn't learn.
After all, he'd heard the same apology countless times during their travels over the past two and a half years.
Yes, Red wasn't just any boy. He was a genuine transmigrator.
Once, he had been an ordinary college student on Earth. His hobbies had been simple: reading manga, playing games, and occasionally indulging in a bit of cosplay. One fateful day, he attended a comic convention dressed as a character from Pokémon.
The day had been going well—until fate decided otherwise.
On his way home, a runaway dump truck careened toward him, leaving him no chance to react.
And just like that, his soul was flung into a different world, reincarnated as a 14-year-old orphan in the pirate world. His starting point? Foosha Village in the Goa Kingdom—a familiar place from the world of One Piece.
"If I'd known I was going to end up here, I would've kept watching One Piece instead of quitting after Marineford…" Red sighed as he watched Luffy tug his flattened face back into shape.
Thankfully, even though he hadn't seen much of the series beyond the War of the Best, he'd kept up with recaps and reviews from the reels. He had a decent grasp of the plotlines beyond what he'd seen—like Garp's attack on Hachinosu, or how some major players were moving behind the scenes.
Still, Red often found himself reflecting on Luffy's upbringing.
"Man, Garp's really not much of a family guy," he muttered to himself. "Never around, barely checks in on his grandson. No wonder Luffy looked up to Shanks and set his sights on being the Pirate King…"
"Oi, Luffy!"
Red's thoughts snapped back to the present as he noticed Luffy sneaking his hand toward their supply box.
The moment Luffy caught Red's sharp gaze, he froze, laughing nervously. "Ah...haha...no, it's nothing! I was just, uh, checking if the food was...spoiled?"
Red sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Luffy, we've been at sea for a few hours. Nothing's spoiled."
He stood and grabbed Luffy's arm, pulling him away from the supplies despite the boat's unsteady rocking.
"From now on, you're on lookout duty. Keep an eye on the horizon and make sure we don't crash into anything. I'll handle the supplies and keep things organized."
"While sailing the Grand Line, food and fresh water are precious resources. Don't mess with me, you rubber idiot!"
Red's firm voice echoed as he planted himself beside the food supplies, effectively blocking Luffy's greedy gaze. He wasn't about to let their rations run out because of Luffy's bottomless stomach—not so soon after setting sail!
But as he glanced at their cramped little fishing boat, Red couldn't help but sigh.
"Ahhh~"
"If I'd known it'd turn out like this, I would've saved up to buy a proper ship. Now I'm stuck squeezing onto this tiny dinghy with Luffy."
A hint of helplessness flickered in his red eyes.
Truth be told, deciding to go to sea with Luffy hadn't been part of his original plan. If his 'system' hadn't manifested, Red wouldn't have dared to set out on these dangerous waters while still so weak.
By nature, Red was cautious and methodical, someone who avoided unnecessary risks. Yet here he was, plunging into the unpredictable seas alongside Luffy.
Fortunately, his time spent with Luffy over the past two years had tempered some of the boy's reckless energy. That small bit of influence was already proving vital to their survival.
Red's thoughts returned to the present as he noticed Luffy's eyes still glued to the food behind him.
He sighed, realizing it was time to make Luffy understand the gravity of their situation. With a serious expression, he turned to his captain.
"Luffy, do you remember what we agreed on before setting sail?"
"Even though you're the captain of this ship, as the first mate, I have the right to veto your decisions whenever necessary."
"That means every choice we make as a crew—when we eat, how much we eat, and everything else—has to go through me first!"
"Being a pirate isn't a game, Luffy. From the moment you decided to form this crew, you took on the responsibility for its survival. If we're careless, we won't make it to the Grand Line!"
Red's stern tone left no room for argument. It was clear they couldn't afford to be reckless, especially as inexperienced sailors with no knowledge of sea charts or navigation.
They'd already changed their departure date to avoid the whirlpools that had trapped Luffy in the original timeline, but the sea was unpredictable. Who knew what dangers lay ahead?
Faced with Red's unwavering resolve, Luffy gave in. "Oh~ okay~ I won't eat," he mumbled, sulking as he leaned against the railing. His aggrieved expression was almost comical, but he knew better than to challenge Red when he was serious.
Red, watching from the corner of his eye, felt a small sense of relief. While Luffy's cheerful and carefree nature was endearing, there were lessons he needed to learn early if they hoped to survive the perils that awaited them.
Still, Red couldn't help but chuckle internally. 'It's easier to expect Zoro to find the way to Laugh Tale on his own than for Luffy to listen.'
Five minutes later, Luffy, restless as always, wandered back over. His eyes sparkled with excitement as he leaned toward Red.
"Hey, Red! When can we go back to that world again? You know, the one with those amazing creatures!"
Luffy's grin stretched wide. "I didn't get to explore enough last time, but this time I'm gonna find some treasures and maybe even catch one to be our nakama! Imagine them coming with us on adventures!"
"They're called Pokémon, Luffy," Red corrected without looking up, busy checking their compass. "I've told you this at least ten times already."
Though exasperated, Red reached for the NS handheld device embedded in his body. After glancing at the displayed battery level, he finally answered:
"We'll have enough power for a full adventure by nightfall. Just wait a little longer."
"Nightfall?! That's so far away!" Luffy groaned, slumping over like a wilted plant.
Red glanced at him, unimpressed. "It's just a few hours, Luffy. Think I don't want to go back too? But if you distract me and I mess up the navigation, we'll end up lost like that moss-head!"
"Oh~ fine~" Luffy grumbled, retreating to the bow of the boat.
Though visibly disappointed, he was already brimming with excitement about the prospect of visiting that world again.
As he stared out at the endless sea, a thought crossed Luffy's mind. His grin returned, and he chuckled to himself.
"Shishishi~ Red might be tough, but it's great having him as part of the crew!"
"One Piece, here I come!"
Red, overhearing, couldn't help but let out a small sigh.
"As expected of Luffy—always brimming with optimism," he thought, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
But then, as he adjusted the sails, another thought crossed Red's mind.
"Well, considering you're my first Pokémon, Luffy, the title of Pirate King…"
"This trainer will get it for you!"