CHAPTER 12 — The First Real Training Plan
(10 April, S.C. 1510)
The morning breeze had a crisp bite to it as Ren walked toward the hilltop. Birds called from the canopy. The ocean sparkled far below, waves whispering against the cliffs.
Ren breathed in deeply.
Today… he was going to start a real training routine.
Not random exercises.
Not chaos created by Luffy.
Not falling off hills or being chased by goats.
A real plan.
He lifted the small notebook he'd made with Makino's extra paper.
On the cover, in shaky handwriting:
"Training Plan — Version 1"
He opened it.
Inside were simple drawings:
push-ups
sit-ups
squats
running paths
breathing counts
and one note circled three times—
"Slow is fine."
Ren exhaled. "Okay… let's start."
---
Warm-Up (Disaster Begins Early)
Ren stretched slowly, copying the positions he remembered from old gym classes.
Arms up.
Arms forward.
Shake legs.
Rotate shoulders.
Deep breaths in, deep breaths out.
"So far so good—"
His leg cramped instantly.
Ren flinched.
"Why—why now—?!"
He hopped on one foot, grabbing his calf.
Kiro walked up, chewing on a piece of bread. "You're fighting your own legs?"
Ren groaned. "They started it."
"That tracks."
---
Push-Ups (Round 2)
Ren positioned himself properly.
"One. Just one. I can do one."
He lowered himself slowly…
slowly…
His arms trembled violently.
Kiro crouched beside him. "Ren, you're vibrating."
Ren hissed through his teeth. "It's… part of the—process."
"It looks like you're being electrocuted."
Ren fell.
Face-first.
Into a patch of clover.
Kiro patted his back sympathetically. "Good warm-up."
"That… was the warm-up…"
---
Enter Luffy: Destroyer of All Plans
"REEEEENNN!"
Ren didn't even look up. "I knew this would happen."
Luffy jumped over a bush (and tripped), rolling to Ren's feet.
"I'm here to train with you!"
Ren sighed. "You don't know what training is."
"I do!"
"Explain it then."
Luffy puffed his chest proudly. "Training is… being AWESOME!"
Ren facepalmed. "That's not helpful."
Luffy pointed at a large boulder. "Let's smash that!"
"No."
"Why not?"
"I'm seven."
"I'm seven too!"
"Yes, but you're—you."
"YAY I'M ME!"
Kiro whispered, "This is your life now."
Ren whispered back, "Please save me."
"No."
---
Ren's Discovery: Enhanced Durability
Ren forced himself back into push-up position.
He lowered slowly.
His arms shook.
His core tightened.
He didn't collapse instantly this time.
"…Oh?" Ren whispered.
He held the position for…
one second
two seconds
three seconds
Kiro blinked. "You're lasting longer."
Luffy gasped. "REN IS GETTING STRONG!"
Ren ignored both and focused.
His body… felt different.
Not strong, but used to stress.
Almost as if the world itself made physical strain slightly easier to recover from.
He pushed himself up.
Then down again.
Twice.
Then three times.
He managed five before collapsing.
Ren flopped onto the ground, panting.
"That… wasn't horrible."
Kiro clapped lightly. "Progress!"
Luffy tackled him in celebration. "REN IS STRONG NOW!"
Ren wheezed. "Luffy—air—please—"
---
Breathing Pattern Observation
Ren sat cross-legged, breathing steadily.
Four counts in.
Hold.
Four counts out.
He noticed something strange.
Every deep breath filled him with a warmth that spread through his limbs—subtle but real.
Not Haki.
Not spiritual.
Just the natural vitality of this world.
Ren whispered, "This place really does run on different rules…"
Luffy leaned in too close. "Whatcha saying?"
Ren jumped. "Luffy! Personal space!"
"Huh?"
Kiro leaned over. "He means don't breathe on him."
Luffy exhaled directly on Ren's face.
Ren froze.
"…I regret everything."
---
Running: Controlled Chaos
Ren studied his notebook.
"Okay… running. But carefully. No slopes."
He picked a flat path along the cliff edge.
Luffy bounced beside him. "I wanna run too!"
"Fine. But stay behind me."
"Okay!"
He didn't.
Luffy sprinted ahead like a wild horse.
Kiro shouted, "RENNNN! DON'T CHASE HIM!"
Ren chased him anyway.
Two seconds later—
BONK.
Luffy ran straight into a tree.
Ren ran into Luffy.
Kiro laughed so hard he fell over.
Ren lay on the ground groaning. "My face is a magnet for pain."
Kiro wheezed. "You two look like pickled radishes."
Luffy popped up. "Let's run again!"
"NO."
---
Cool-Down (Finally Peaceful)
Ren lay on the grass and stared at the passing clouds.
Luffy climbed a tree.
Kiro skipped stones.
Windmill Village buzzed softly below.
Ren's muscles burned.
His stomach ached.
But…
He felt good.
Accomplished.
Alive.
Changing.
Makino arrived with water.
She looked at Ren's dirt-covered body and sighed fondly.
"You worked hard today."
Ren nodded weakly. "I think… I made progress."
Makino patted his head. "You did. I'm proud of you."
Ren's cheeks warmed.
"…Thank you."
Luffy shouted from the tree, "MAKINO I'M STUCK!"
Makino sighed deeply. "Of course you are."
---
Evening Reflection
As the sun set, Ren wrote in his notebook:
Push-ups: 5
Sit-ups: 8
Running: 2 minutes (before tree collision)
Breathing: Calming, effective
Luffy interference: Constant
Pain: High
Progress: Real
He smiled to himself.
One step at a time.
One day at a time.
He would grow.
And the world—this strange, beautiful, chaotic world—
would grow with him.
---
End of Chapter 12 — (10 April, S.C. 1510)