With a crash, the cabin door burst open.
The captain, who had just unfolded the cargo manifest and was preparing to enjoy a quiet cup of tea, jerked in surprise. Hot liquid splashed over the table.
He slammed his cup down and glared at the sailor standing in the doorway, panting.
"Sim! If you don't have something important to report, I'll dock your pay!"
"C–Captain! There's… there's someone in the sea! Swimming toward us!"
The captain's brow twitched. "Swimming? Pirates?"
He shoved past Sim and strode out onto the deck. Sim scrambled after him.
"N–No pirates! Just… one person!"
"One person?" The captain stopped and turned, unimpressed. "You interrupted my tea for a lone swimmer?"
"But sir! He's moving fast! He's almost catching up to the ship!"
That finally earned the captain's interest. He snatched up his binoculars and looked toward the stern.
Sure enough — a lone figure cut through the waves at unbelievable speed, arms and legs moving like a sea beast. Even against the steady pace of the merchant vessel, the swimmer was closing the distance.
"…Stop the ship," the captain ordered.
Sails were eased. The ship slowed, drifting atop the calm blue of the Grand Line.
The swimmer reached the hull moments later. He caught the rope ladder, climbed swiftly, then flipped over the railing and landed lightly on deck.
"Yo! Good morning!"
The sailors surrounding him froze.
The captain pushed forward through the crowd. The boy before him had a lean, well-trained body, sun-browned skin, a grass skirt tied at his waist, and a youthful face far too calm for someone who had just chased down a ship at sea.
"Kid. Name. And why are you out here alone?"
The boy scratched his head. "I'm Roy. I lived on the Boon Islands for three years. Saw your ship passing and followed it."
A murmur passed through the crew.
They knew those islands — uninhabited, dangerous, choked with carnivorous plants and wild beasts. No normal child could survive there.
The captain studied him carefully, then placed a hand on his shoulder.
"You're a lucky one, kid. If your home's on our route, I'll take you there."
Roy shook his head. "No need, Uncle. I don't have family left. Just drop me on any inhabited island."
A hint of sympathy flickered in the captain's eyes.
"Sim! Get him clothes and food."
"Yes, Captain!"
Roy stood quietly as sailors whispered around him.
"How did he live out there alone?"
"Look at those muscles…"
"Maybe he wrestled sea kings!" another joked nervously.
Roy ignored them, instead scanning the deck. Sturdy planks. Well-kept rigging. Cargo crates stacked high — a profitable run.
Sim returned with a spare sailor's uniform and a plate of bread and dried meat.
"Here. It'll be big on you, but it's better than nothing."
Roy pulled the shirt on, rolled up the sleeves, and bit into the bread.
"Thanks."
The captain leaned on the railing, lighting a cigarette.
"Kid. I've seen fish-men swim fast. I've seen pirates with strange powers. But I've never seen a human chase down a ship like that."
Roy swallowed and grinned. "I had to run from giant man-eating plants every day. If I was slow, I'd die. So I got fast."
The captain exhaled smoke.
"…Guess the sea favored you."
"Yeah. Lucky, I guess." Roy glanced up. "So where's this ship headed?"
"The Sabaody Archipelago," the captain said. "Last stop before the New World. We trade there. Make decent money."
Roy's eyes widened.
"Sabaody… Really?"
"If you don't mind working," the captain added, raising one finger, "we don't feed freeloaders aboard this ship."
"No problem!" Roy thumped his chest. "I'm strong!"
Laughter broke out among the crew.
A broad, bearded sailor stepped forward.
"Strong, huh? Then let's see."
He pointed to a massive cargo crate lashed to the deck.
"Move that to the hold."
Roy walked over, tested the weight briefly, then lifted the crate clean off the deck.
The laughter died instantly.
"…Where to?" Roy asked casually.
The bearded sailor's jaw dropped.
"T–That way! Hurry!"
Roy carried the crate off with steady steps.
Trip after trip, he hauled heavy cargo below deck without slowing. The crew watched in stunned silence, then broke into cheers.
The captain smiled faintly.
"Interesting kid. Sim — get him a hammock."
"Understood!"
Evening fell. The sky burned orange as the sun sank into the endless sea.
Roy sat on the railing, watching the horizon.
Three years on the Boon Islands. Running. Fighting. Surviving. Becoming the island's strongest creature just to stay alive. Even with only the strange little plant-creature "Pea" for company, the loneliness had never left.
Now, surrounded by human voices again, his chest felt strangely warm.
"Hey, kid."
The bearded sailor — Jack — sat beside him, handing over a lunchbox.
"Dinner."
Roy accepted it. "Thanks, Uncle Jack. How long until Sabaody?"
"At this speed? Two days." Jack opened his meal. "But listen carefully. Sabaody is rich… and rotten. Pirates. Marines. Slave traders. Nobles who think they own the world."
He looked Roy in the eye.
"Don't wander alone there. Kids disappear fast."
Roy grinned.
"Don't worry. I'm strong."
Jack laughed loudly. "Yeah, yeah. Still a kid though. Eat and get some sleep. Work starts early."
Night settled. The ship cut smoothly through the calm waters of the Grand Line.
Roy lay in his hammock, surrounded by the snores of sailors. Yet sleep refused to come.
He stared at the wooden ceiling.
Images of the island flickered in his mind — snapping vines, towering carnivorous trees, narrow escapes, blood, sweat, and silence.
Those days had forged him.
Now he was back among people.
Roy closed his eyes.
"…Maybe it's time to find something worth doing."