Who… am I?
The question echoed in the hollow corners of my mind, but no answer came. Panic began to rise, a slow-burning fear simmering just beneath the surface of my confusion. With a strained effort, I forced my eyes open, the blinding sunlight immediately causing me to squint. The world was blurry at first, colors blending together until my vision slowly adjusted.
I found myself lying on the rough ground, the coarse texture of dirt and grass pressing against my skin. As I tried to sit up, I noticed something․my hands. Small, delicate, unfamiliar. My heart raced. These weren't my hands. They were too tiny, the fingers too thin, like those of a child.
What the hell?
I scrambled to my feet, my legs unsteady beneath me. My body felt strange, too light, as if gravity had decided to go easy on me. I patted myself down in disbelief, feeling the small frame of my body. I was a kid. But how? Why?
My mind spun with questions I couldn't answer. Desperate for some sense of orientation, I looked around. I was in a small, coastal village with simple wooden houses, dirt roads, and the distant sound of waves crashing against the shore. The salty breeze carried the faint scent of the sea, mingling with the aroma of food being cooked somewhere nearby.
Driven by an instinct I didn't understand, I started walking, my bare feet crunching softly against the dusty path. The village was quiet, peaceful, with a few people going about their day. Some gave me curious glances, but no one stopped me. It was as if I belonged here, but I knew deep down… I didn't.
Then, I saw it.
A modest building with a wooden sign swinging gently in the breeze. The simple letters read: Makino's Bar.
Makino.
The name hit me like a lightning bolt, unlocking a flood of fragmented memories. Anime. Pirates. Devil Fruits. The Straw Hat… One Piece. My heart pounded in my chest, disbelief washing over me. I knew that name. I knew this place. But that was impossible.
I pushed the door open, the bell above jingling softly. The interior was warm and inviting, with wooden tables and chairs neatly arranged. Behind the counter stood a young woman with short green hair and kind, gentle eyes. Makino.
My breath caught in my throat.
She turned to me, smiling warmly. "Oh, hello there! Are you lost, little one?"
I couldn't respond. My mind was a whirlwind of shock and confusion. This was real. She was real.
I had somehow found myself in the world of One Piece.