Chapter 4: When the World Starts to Notice You
Morning came slowly.
Not with birds singing.
Not with peaceful sunlight.
But with shouting.
"LUFFYYYY!!!"
"WAKE UPPPP!!!"
I kicked him.
Hard.
"GAH!"
He rolled off the roof and crashed into a cart.
"OW!"
He stood up instantly.
"Morning, Nixu!"
"…You are not human."
We had slept on the restaurant roof.
Because Luffy said:
"Beds are boring."
I regretted agreeing.
My back hurt.
My neck hurt.
My soul hurt.
Down below, villagers were already working.
Fishing nets.
Fruit stalls.
Children running.
Normal life.
A life I never had.
Luffy jumped down.
"Food time!"
He ran inside.
I sighed and followed.
Breakfast was simple.
Bread.
Fish.
Soup.
Luffy ate like he hadn't eaten in years.
Again.
The old man sat beside me.
"You kids leaving today?"
"…Probably."
Luffy nodded.
"Yep! We're pirates!"
"Speak for yourself," I muttered.
The old man smiled sadly.
"Be careful."
"This sea is cruel."
I met his eyes.
"…I know."
After eating, we walked to the shore.
Luffy's small boat waited.
It looked…
Unsafe.
Very unsafe.
"…That thing floats?"
"Yes!"
"…How?"
"Because I believe in it."
"That's not science."
We pushed it into the water.
Loaded supplies.
Food.
Water.
Maps.
Knives.
Then—
A shadow covered us.
I looked up.
A massive ship.
White sails.
Blue symbol.
Seagulls.
"…Marines."
My blood froze.
Luffy smiled.
"Cool!"
"NOT COOL."
The ship anchored.
Boats lowered.
Soldiers jumped out.
Rifles.
Swords.
Uniforms.
An officer stepped forward.
Tall.
Dark glasses.
Scar on face.
"Listen up!"
His voice echoed.
"We're searching for criminals."
"Yesterday, bandits were defeated here."
"Witnesses reported two suspects."
His gaze swept the crowd.
Then—
Stopped on us.
My heart dropped.
"…Bad."
He walked closer.
"You."
He pointed.
Straw hat.
White hair.
Me.
"You fought the bandits."
Luffy grinned.
"Yep!"
"Why would you admit that?!" I whispered.
"Because it's true."
"SHUT UP."
The officer stared.
"You interfere with Marine business."
"I was hungry," Luffy replied.
"…What?"
"They broke wall. That's bad."
The officer clenched his jaw.
"Name."
"Monkey D. Luffy!"
Gasps.
Some Marines whispered.
"D…?"
"Dangerous…"
"Report this…"
My stomach twisted.
"And you?" he asked me.
"…Nixu."
"Full name?"
"…Just Nixu."
He narrowed his eyes.
"Suspicious."
I smiled nervously.
"Genetics."
Suddenly—
Something inside me stirred.
Cold.
Heavy.
Dark.
My arm burned.
The mark.
Void Authority.
Reacting.
I grabbed my sleeve.
"…Not now."
The officer felt it.
He stepped back.
"…What was that pressure?"
The air felt thick.
Villagers froze.
Luffy looked at me.
"…You okay?"
"Yeah. Totally. Dying inside."
The officer raised his sword.
"Arrest them."
Marines moved.
Luffy cracked his knuckles.
"Oh! Fight!"
"No! RUN!"
I grabbed his arm.
We ran.
Through streets.
Past houses.
Over fences.
Bullets flew.
"SURRENDER!"
"No!"
We jumped onto roofs.
Dodged nets.
Slid down walls.
Luffy laughed.
"This is fun!"
"You are insane!"
We reached the shore.
Boat.
So close.
"GO GO GO!"
We pushed.
Marines surrounded us.
Ten.
Twenty.
Too many.
The officer raised his gun.
"Aim!"
My heart raced.
If we were captured…
Mary Geoise.
Imu.
Reprogramming.
Chains.
No freedom.
Never.
Something snapped.
"…No."
The mark glowed.
Black mist leaked.
Wind howled.
The sea trembled.
Everyone froze.
"What is that…?"
I stepped forward.
My voice echoed.
"Leave."
Pressure exploded.
BOOM!
Marines fell.
Weapons dropped.
Knees buckled.
Only the officer stood.
Sweating.
"…Monster…"
Luffy stared.
"…Woah."
I collapsed.
"Ugh…"
Luffy caught me.
"Nixu!"
"I'm fine… maybe…"
The officer retreated.
"Withdraw!"
They ran.
Ship pulled back.
Silence returned.
Villagers stared.
Fear.
Respect.
Confusion.
Luffy smiled brightly.
"That was AWESOME!"
"…You're impossible."
We boarded the boat.
Pushed off.
Waves carried us away.
The village grew smaller.
I lay back.
Breathing hard.
"…I used it."
"What?" Luffy asked.
"My… power."
"Cool!"
"…That's it?"
"Yep!"
I laughed weakly.
The sun rose higher.
The sea sparkled.
Ahead…
Adventure.
Enemies.
Secrets.
And my past.
Far away…
In Mary Geoise…
Imu opened her eyes.
"…He has awakened."
The world had noticed me.
And it would never stop chasing.
Chapter 4 End.