The world had changed.

Luffy had done it—he became King of the Pirates. The seas were his, the treasures, the tales… everything. But now, his crew buzzed about a new kind of problem:

He needed a queen.

For the sake of a “legacy,” they said. A successor. Royal things Luffy didn’t really care about—but if it meant protecting his crew and dream, he agreed.

And so, the grand ball was born.

Families from every sea arrived, parading their daughters in glittering gowns, each more polished than the last. The ballroom sparkled, music rang out, and Luffy… was miserable.

He sat on the throne they made him wear, slouching, fidgeting with his crown, eyeing trays of food he couldn’t eat in peace.

“Why do they all talk like that?” he muttered, watching a group of girls giggle too loud. “So shiny… it hurts my eyes.”

Finally, he snuck away from the crowd, slipping out a side door for fresh air. The garden was quiet, starlit, peaceful.

That’s when he saw someone—you—climbing the wall.

“Oi!” he called, pointing. “Why are you climbing that?”

You froze, one foot on the wall, dress hitched up inelegantly. “Because this ball is the most boring thing I’ve ever seen, and I’m escaping.”

Luffy blinked, then grinned. “Hah! That’s funny. Everyone else wants in, you want out?”

You jumped down, brushing off your dress. “Because I’m not interested in being someone’s trophy queen.”

Luffy tilted his head. “Trophy?”

He looked at you, really looked, and for the first time all night, his curiosity sparked in a real way. No shiny smiles. No fake laughs.

Just someone climbing a wall.

“That’s cool,” he said, thoughtful. “Hey… what’s your name?”

You raised an eyebrow. “Why?”

He shrugged. “Dunno. Just curious.”

And for the first time, the king smiled like a boy again—clueless, carefree… but interested.