Chapter 4 – Mya Mya Island & First Confirmation
Ding Li was still lost in thought, weighing whether he should put his single emotion point into Physique, Vitality, or Soul Strength, when a familiar voice shattered the silence.
"Hey, pervert!"
The girl from earlier had come back. Ding Li blinked in surprise. Before he could think, he shouted from the sea, "First off, my name is NOT 'Hey'! And it's definitely not 'Pervert'! It's Ding Li! I ended up here because… because…"
He almost blurted out "because I died," but caught himself. No wonder she had looked at him like he was insane earlier. While he fumbled for a better excuse, the girl rolled her eyes.
"Fine, Pervert Ding Li. Here—put some pants on before you keep talking." She tossed a pair of folded trousers onto the sand, then turned around and walked a few steps away, arms crossed.
Ding Li scrambled out of the water, hastily pulled on the pants (simple brown ones, a little loose but perfectly wearable), and cleared his throat.
"I'm decent now. You can turn around. Thank you… really. What's your name?"
The girl turned. Sunlight framed her pink hair like coral flames. Her clear eyes studied him carefully.
She noticed the sharp lines of his jaw, the faint sorrow that lingered in his gaze despite his smile, and (she couldn't help it) the eight-pack abs still glistening with seawater. A faint blush colored her cheeks. She quickly looked away, then back again with a bright grin.
"I'm Remu Koya. Just call me Koya. Those pants belonged to my older brother. Wasn't sure they'd fit, but… they look pretty good on you."
Ding Li smiled gratefully. "Thank you, Koya. They fit perfectly. I owe you one."
Koya waved it off like it was nothing, but curiosity sparkled in her eyes.
"So why exactly were you lying naked on our beach?"
Ding Li opened his mouth… and closed it again. How do you explain resurrection by mysterious orb?
Koya didn't wait for an answer. Her imagination was already running wild.
"Ohhh, I get it! You said you 'died' and woke up here—so pirates must've robbed you, stripped you to your underwear, and threw you overboard! You thought you were dead, but you just washed up here. Pfft—haha! You're such an idiot!"
Ding Li gave an awkward laugh. Well… that story worked way better than the truth.
"Y-Yeah… something like that. Pirates. Super unlucky."
Koya giggled, clearly entertained. She liked this strange, slightly dazed guy. He seemed reliable somehow, and his body was… distracting.
"This is Mya Mya Island," she continued. "Just a tiny place. Only about a dozen people live here, and everyone's nice. You're safe."
Right on cue, Ding Li's stomach let out a thunderous growl. He hadn't eaten in two days.
Koya laughed again. "Sounds like you've been drifting a long time. Come on, I'll feed you."
She spun around and started walking inland, pausing after two steps to make sure he was following.
Ding Li jogged after her, stealing glances at the cheerful girl ahead.
Pink hair fluttering in the sea breeze, simple white dress swaying, bare feet leaving little prints in the sand—she looked like a painting come to life.
"Hey! Quit staring and hurry up!" Koya called without turning around, though her ears were slightly red.
Soon they reached a cozy stone-and-timber cottage overgrown with flowering vines. The thatched roof and colorful blooms gave it a storybook charm.
Inside was just as warm: a wooden table, a few chairs, some pottery dishes, and the faint smell of dried herbs.
Koya poured him a cup of cool water. Ding Li drank gratefully, feeling more human by the second.
"Where's your brother?" he asked, glancing at the pants again.
"Out fishing. He won't be back until tomorrow." A shadow flickered across her smile, quickly hidden.
Ding Li caught it anyway. "Are your parents with him?"
Koya's fingers tightened around the cup. After a moment she answered quietly,
"We don't have parents anymore."
Her voice was steady, but the pain underneath was unmistakable.
Ding Li's heart clenched. "I'm sorry… I didn't mean to—"
"It's fine," she cut in, forcing a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "They were killed by pirates when we were little. My brother hid me in a barrel, and our parents… didn't make it. That's why we both want to join the Marines someday—to wipe out every last pirate."
Fire flashed in her eyes, then dimmed. "Too bad neither of us is qualified to enlist."
She shook her head, as if shaking off the sadness. "Anyway—sit tight. Food's coming."
As she disappeared into the kitchen, Ding Li's mind raced.
Pirates. Marines. The vast ocean. And then Koya's off-hand shout from the kitchen confirmed everything:
"Of course we're in the East Blue, dummy! Did the pirates knock your brains out too? The biggest island nearby is the one with Windmill Village—we sell our fish there!"
East Blue. Windmill Village.
He was in the One Piece world.
Ding Li's pulse quickened. Without hesitation he opened the system panel and dumped his 1 spendable point into Physique.
[Physique: 10 → 11]
A warm current surged through his muscles. He clenched his fist—strength, speed, reflexes, everything felt sharper.
If he wanted to survive in this world—much less grow strong enough to protect the people he cared about and maybe one day bring his parents back—he needed power, and fast.
Koya returned with a steaming plate of grilled fish and fruit.
"Eat up, castaway," she teased. "You're gonna need your strength if you plan to stay on Mya Mya Island."
Ding Li smiled, took the plate, and quietly made a vow to the system, to himself, and to the endless blue horizon outside:
I'll collect every last emotion point. I'll become strong enough to change fate itself.
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