CHAPTER 9 — Learning to Stand Strong
Ren woke earlier than usual.
His body wasn't hurt from the fight—Makino prevented the worst of it—but his mind churned with leftover fear. The memories played again and again:
The shove.
The raised fist.
His own trembling hands.
Makino's grip stopping the attack.
Ren touched his chest lightly. His heart still felt too loud.
He stepped out of the bar quietly, letting the cool morning air calm him. The sea glittered under the rising sun. Villagers moved about, repairing boats and feeding chickens.
Life continued.
Peaceful.
Unaffected.
But Ren still felt shaken.
Makino Finds Him First
"Ren?"
He turned.
Makino approached carrying two cups of warm tea.
She handed one to him. "You vanished before breakfast."
Ren looked down. "…Sorry."
"Don't apologize. I figured you needed air."
They sat together on the small bench outside her bar. Seabreeze brushed past gently.
For a while, neither spoke.
Then Makino said quietly, "Yesterday scared you, didn't it?"
Ren swallowed. "Yes."
Makino nodded. "That's normal."
"I froze," Ren whispered. "If you hadn't arrived—"
"You weren't alone," Makino cut in gently. "Kiro was there. Luffy was there. And the village looks out for its own."
Ren's shoulders clenched. "But I didn't do anything. I couldn't."
Makino sighed softly. "Ren… you don't have to fight grown men. You're still a child."
Ren flinched. "I don't want to be helpless."
Makino looked at him—really looked at him.
"You think being scared means you're helpless," she said. "It doesn't. Being scared means you're human."
Ren's eyes stung.
Makino placed a warm hand on his shoulder.
"If you want to get stronger… then we'll help you. But strength isn't built overnight."
Ren nodded slowly.
"…I don't want to freeze again."
"You won't," Makino said firmly. "Not with us here."
Kiro's Unhelpful Encouragement
Kiro jogged over, panting.
"There you are! Ren, I told the entire village you fought bandits."
Ren nearly dropped his tea. "WHAT?!"
Kiro grinned. "It's cooler than saying you froze like a scared puppy."
Ren buried his face in his hands. "This is worse."
Makino swatted Kiro lightly. "Stop teasing him."
Kiro shrugged. "Fine, fine. But seriously—everyone's talking about how brave you were."
Ren stared. "…I didn't do anything."
"You stood your ground," Kiro said. "That's bravery."
Makino nodded.
Ren felt something warm stir inside him.
Maybe… maybe he wasn't useless after all.
Training, Luffy Style (Not Recommended)
"REEEEEEN!!"
Luffy came charging down the path carrying two sticks.
Ren braced instinctively. "No."
"Yes!" Luffy yelled proudly. "TRAINING!"
Makino sighed. "Be careful with him."
Kiro snorted. "He won't be."
Luffy shoved a stick into Ren's hands. "Here! We're doing stick fighting!"
Ren blinked. "I don't know how to fight with a—"
WHACK.
Luffy swung wildly. Ren barely ducked.
"Luffy—!"
"Attack me!"
"No!"
Luffy pouted. "You gotta learn!"
Ren held the stick awkwardly. "I'm not hitting you!"
Luffy grinned. "Then I'll hit you instead!"
Ren screamed.
Makino facepalmed.
Kiro laughed so hard he nearly fell over.
Unexpected Improvement
But something unusual happened.
Each time Luffy swung, Ren dodged faster.
Stepped back more precisely.
Shifted his weight better.
His reflexes sharpened instinctively.
"Ren, you're getting good!" Luffy cheered.
"No, I'm trying not to die!"
Kiro squinted. "Actually… he is getting faster."
Ren blinked mid-dodge.
…He was.
His body moved before he consciously decided to. His balance felt lighter. The world seemed… more responsive.
Like gravity itself bent differently here.
Ren paused, breathing hard.
"This world… is strange."
Luffy tilted his head. "Huh?"
Ren didn't answer, but his mind raced.
Physics didn't behave normally.
Movements were exaggerated.
Strength scaled oddly.
Reflexes felt more fluid.
People here weren't bound by the same limits.
If he learned the rules—if he adapted—maybe he could grow stronger.
Not to fight monsters.
Not to become a warrior.
But to protect himself.
To protect the people who cared about him.
Makino Patches Ren Up (Again)
After Luffy's "training," Ren sat at a table while Makino applied a cold cloth to his forehead.
"You're bruised," she muttered.
Ren sighed. "Luffy is a danger to society."
Makino smiled. "He's actually good for you."
"In what way?"
"You laugh more when he's around."
Ren blinked.
"…I laugh?"
Makino nodded. "A lot."
He looked away, embarrassed. "That's because he's… uncontrollable."
"And you like people who are uncontrollable?" Makino teased.
Ren glared lightly. "No."
Makino laughed.
He pouted.
But deep down… he didn't mind at all.
A Walk with Kiro
Later in the afternoon, Ren and Kiro carried wood from the forest back toward the shed.
Kiro nudged him. "You know… most kids in the East Blue aren't strong. It's okay to be weak now."
Ren frowned. "How do you become strong here?"
Kiro scratched his cheek. "Well, there's the Marines. Or pirates. Or hunters. But that's for adults."
Ren walked silently.
Kiro glanced at him. "You thinking about getting stronger?"
Ren exhaled slowly. "I just… want to stop being afraid."
Kiro nodded. "Then we'll help you."
Ren blinked. "We?"
"Yeah. Me, Makino, even Luffy. We'll train you."
Ren raised an eyebrow. "I don't trust Luffy's training."
Kiro laughed. "That's fair."
At the Shed
The shed still looked terrible, but now there were fewer holes and more effort.
Ren touched the wooden wall.
"I'll keep working," he said quietly. "Little by little."
Kiro grinned. "That's how everything is built."
Ren nodded.
This shed wasn't just a shelter.
It was a symbol—of stability.
Of a new life.
Of progress.
He would fix it.
Just like he was fixing himself.
Makino's Final Words for the Day
That evening, while Ren swept the bar floor, Makino approached him.
"Ren?"
He looked up. "Yes?"
She smiled gently.
"You did well today. Better than you think."
Ren lowered his eyes. "…I hope I can keep improving."
"You will." Makino placed a hand on his shoulder. "Because you're not doing it alone."
Ren's heart tightened—warm, hopeful.
"…Thank you."
Makino nodded. "Get some sleep. Tomorrow's another big day."
Ren smiled softly.
"Yeah. It is."
The Beginning of Determination
That night, Ren lay on his futon thinking:
He froze yesterday.
But stood today.
Trained—badly, but trained.
Dodged.
Improved.
Laughed.
He wasn't strong.
But he was moving.
For the first time since he arrived…
Ren truly wanted to grow.
Not out of fear
—but out of hope.
End of Chapter 9