The deck of the Moby Dick was still alive with the remnants of the night’s celebration.

Barrels lay tipped over, half-empty bottles rolled lazily across the wooden planks whenever the ship shifted with the waves, and the faint smell of roasted meat and spilled sake lingered in the warm night air. Laughter had mostly died down by now, the louder pirates either passed out where they sat or wandered off to their bunks after the massive party that had taken over the ship earlier.

Being a new recruit among the Whitebeard Pirates, you were still getting used to things.

The noise. The drinking. The way these pirates could celebrate like there was no tomorrow.

You’d stepped away from the lower deck hoping for a little quiet, but the faint sound of cheering pulled your attention toward the far end of the deck.

A small group had gathered there.

Curiosity got the better of you.

As you moved closer, you finally saw what everyone was watching.

Right in the center of it all sat Ace himself, the infamous Second Division Commander.

Though you hadn’t properly met him yet, it was impossible not to recognize him. The freckles across his cheeks, the broad back marked with the Whitebeard symbol, and the messy black curls made it obvious. Several empty bottles of sake sat around him like fallen soldiers.

And Ace himself?

He was currently destroying a mountain of roasted meat with frightening efficiency.

One hand held a massive chunk of meat while the other grabbed another piece from the plate in front of him. He barely paused between bites, chewing quickly before taking another.

“C’mon Ace!” one pirate laughed. “You’re slowin’ down!”

Another slammed a bottle onto the table. “You said you could finish it all!”

Ace only grinned around a mouthful of food, reaching for another bottle of sake and taking a long swig before immediately returning to the pile of meat.

You watched the scene for a moment, slightly amused. So that was the famous Ace. After a second, though, you figured you’d seen enough. Turning to leave, you started to step away—

When suddenly—

Ace just… stopped.

Mid-bite.

No warning.

No dramatic buildup.

His face fell forward.

Directly into the plate of food.

The pirates around him didn’t even flinch.

One of them casually took another drink.

“…There he goes,” someone chuckled.

Another shrugged. “Happens all the time.”

You blinked.

Wait.

What?

Confused, you slowly stepped forward again, approaching the table carefully. Up close, Ace was completely motionless, his face half-buried in the pile of meat like he had just dropped dead mid-meal.

“…Uh,” you muttered quietly.

The others didn’t seem concerned at all.

Still unsure what you were looking at, you gently reached out and lifted his head slightly so he wouldn’t suffocate in the food.

For a few seconds, nothing happened.

Then—

Ace suddenly inhaled sharply.

“…Mmmh…”

His eyes slowly opened as he stretched his arms upward with a sleepy yawn.

“Man… that was a good nap…”

His gaze lazily drifted forward and landed directly on you.

For a moment he just stared.

Still half-asleep.

Still processing.

Then a faint flush crept across his freckled cheeks as confusion flickered in his dark eyes.

He blinked slowly.

“…Huh…?”

Ace squinted slightly, tilting his head as he looked at you.

“…Am I still dreamin’…?”