Chapter 2: A Meeting Written in the Stars

The ship rocked again, harder this time, as something—someone—collided with the deck above. The shouting grew louder, the clash of steel ringing through the wooden walls of the storage room.

I leaned against the door, heart pounding, straining to catch the conversation. I already knew how this scene played out, but hearing it in real-time? Experiencing it for real?

It sent chills down my spine.

Then, clear as day, I heard his voice.

"Ahhh! That was a nice nap!"

A grin stretched across my face before I could stop it.

Monkey D. Luffy was here.

The chaos on deck was in full swing now. Pirates yelling, the sound of punches landing, bodies hitting the ground. Luffy wasn't even trying—he was just having fun.

I couldn't stay down here. Not when this was happening.

I backed up a few steps, eyeing the door. It wasn't locked—just a heavy wooden plank blocking it from the outside. With a deep breath, I rushed forward, slamming my shoulder into it.

Nothing.

I gritted my teeth. Again.

BAM!

The wood groaned but held.

"Damn it…"

I was about to try a third time when—

CRACK!

The ceiling above me shattered, and something—someone—came crashing down in a rain of broken wood and dust. I barely had time to react before a body hit the floor in front of me, groaning.

A small figure, dressed in red with a familiar straw hat on his head.

I froze.

He lifted his head, blinking, as if noticing me for the first time. His eyes were wide and curious, like a kid discovering something interesting.

"Oh," he said. Then, as if this was the most normal thing in the world: "Hey."

I couldn't breathe.

Luffy.

Monkey. D. Luffy.

Right in front of me.

Not ink on a page. Not animation on a screen.

Real.

My mind short-circuited. I had imagined this moment a thousand times, but now that it was happening, I had no idea what to do.

Luffy sat up, brushing dust from his vest. Then, as if suddenly remembering something, he looked up through the hole in the ceiling.

"Ah, I fell through again," he said, completely unfazed.

I let out a breathless laugh. Of course. Of course that's what he was thinking about.

Luffy finally turned his attention back to me, tilting his head. "Who're you?"

I swallowed hard. My throat was dry.

This was it. My first words to him.

"…Ace."

Luffy blinked. "Ace?"

Something flickered in his eyes for a split second—surprise, confusion—but it passed as quickly as it came. He grinned.

"That's a cool name!"

I nearly laughed. This was so surreal.

Before I could respond, a yell came from above.

"There he is! Get him!"

More footsteps. More shouting.

Luffy sighed, getting to his feet and stretching. "Man, they're so loud." Then, as if just remembering I was there, he turned to me again.

"You wanna come up?"

I stared at him.

Then I grinned.

"Yeah."

---

The First Fight

Luffy and I climbed out of the hole in the floor—well, I climbed. Luffy just jumped effortlessly. The deck was exactly what I expected: scattered crates, a few pirates groaning on the floor, and Koby standing frozen in shock.

It was unreal seeing Koby in person. He looked younger than I expected, more scrawny. His hands were clenched into nervous fists, and his eyes darted between Luffy and me like he couldn't believe what he was seeing.

"L-Luffy! Who is that?!"

"Oh, him?" Luffy glanced at me. "He's Ace!"

Koby paled. "W-Wait, Ace?! As in—"

"Not that Ace," I cut in quickly. I had to get ahead of that before it turned into a misunderstanding. "Just… Ace."

Koby still looked nervous, but before he could question me further, a loud voice boomed across the deck.

"YOU DAMN BRAT!"

Alvida stomped forward, her iron club resting on her shoulder. She was pissed. Her eyes locked onto Luffy first, then flicked to me.

"I don't know who you are, boy," she growled, "but if you're helping him, then you'll die with him."

The old me would have been terrified. But standing next to Luffy, knowing exactly what was about to happen?

I was calm.

I stepped back, watching the scene unfold just as I remembered it.

Luffy tilted his head, confused. "Who's this old lady?"

Silence.

Koby's face turned white.

The pirates collectively held their breath.

Then—

BOOM.

Luffy was sent flying into the mast, head-first.

I winced. Damn, even knowing it was coming, that looked like it hurt.

"Luffy!" Koby yelped.

Alvida sneered. "Know your place, brat."

But Luffy… Luffy just sat up, rubbing the back of his head. "Ow."

Then, as if nothing had happened, he got to his feet, dusted himself off, and stretched.

"Huh. That kinda hurt."

Silence again.

Alvida blinked. "What?"

Luffy smiled, pulling his cheek with one hand. His skin stretched like rubber. "I'm a rubber man."

The pirates froze.

I smirked.

Then, in a blink, Luffy pulled his fist back.

"Gum-Gum Pistol!"

His arm stretched, slamming into Alvida's stomach with enough force to send her flying over the railing. She vanished into the sea with a splash.

The remaining pirates were dead silent.

Then—

"C-CAPTAIN?!"

Complete chaos.

I grinned. I had seen this moment a hundred times, but witnessing it up close? It was something else entirely.

Luffy turned to me. "That was cool, huh?"

I let out a breathless laugh. "Yeah, that was insane."

Koby, still in shock, stumbled forward. "Luffy! Y-You just—!!"

But Luffy wasn't listening. He turned to the crew. "Hey! We're taking this boat!"

The pirates, now leaderless, didn't argue. They scrambled to lower the lifeboats, abandoning ship as fast as they could.

I watched it all with a strange feeling in my chest.

I was really here.

This was really happening.

And I was standing next to Luffy.

I clenched my fist.

This was only the beginning.