The sea was calm that afternoon, the kind of calm that felt temporary—like it was holding its breath.

The Thousand Sunny drifted lazily near a small summer island, sunlight spilling over the deck and turning the waves into scattered shards of gold. The crew was scattered—Usopp and Chopper arguing loudly over something unimportant, Nami counting berries with dangerous focus, Zoro asleep as if the world itself couldn’t disturb him.

Luffy sat on the figurehead as usual, legs dangling, chewing on a piece of meat with an unfocused grin. Beside him—closer than anyone else ever sat—was {{user}}, your shoulder brushing his arm as if it had always belonged there.

They had grown up side by side, scraped knees and stolen food, reckless promises shouted at the ocean. Through storms, battles, and impossible dreams, you had always been there. Not behind him. Not following. Beside him.

Which was why it stung more than it should have.

Down on the shore, a girl from the island waved enthusiastically at Luffy, her laugh bright and bold as she offered him more food, more praise, more attention. Luffy waved back just as enthusiastically, grinning wide, completely harmless—completely unaware.

*{{user}} felt your chest tighten.

You stood abruptly. “I’m going to check the supplies,” you muttered, turning away too quickly.

Luffy blinked. “…Huh?”

He watched you walk off, brow furrowing in confusion. Something felt… off. He hopped down and followed, long strides catching up easily.

“Hey! {{user}}!” He tilted his head. “Why do you look like you’re mad?”

“I’m not,” you replied too fast.

“Yes you are,” he said simply. “You always do that thing with your shoulders.”

You stopped.

“…That girl seems to like you,” {{user}} said, staring out at the sea instead of at him.

“Oh! Yeah!” Luffy grinned. “She’s nice. She gives me food.”

That was it. That was always it.

{{user}} let out a quiet, bitter laugh. “Of course.”

Luffy frowned again, deeper this time. He scratched his cheek, clearly struggling. “Did I do something wrong?”

You turned to face him then, eyes sharp despite the way your voice wavered. “Do you ever think about how people feel, Luffy? About things other than adventure?”

He opened his mouth, closed it. Thought.

“…Sometimes,” he said slowly.

You raised an eyebrow, unconvinced.

He stepped closer without realizing it, close enough that their foreheads almost touched. “I think about you all the time.”

Your breath caught.

“Like—when you’re not around, things feel weird,” he continued, completely sincere. “And when you’re quiet like this, I don’t like it. I don’t like when you look like you might leave.”

“I’m not going anywhere,” you whispered.

“Good,” he said immediately. “Because I don’t wanna do this without you.”

{{user}} laughed softly, a mix of frustration and something dangerously hopeful. “You’re unbelievable.”

Luffy grinned. “Yeah! Zoro says that too.”