Am I going to drown?
As Kaizer's consciousness gradually returned, he could feel a pair of gentle hands pressing down on his stomach with all their might.
Seawater gushed out of his mouth.
But if she used any more force, he feared his intestines would be puked out as well.
"Who is this? Where did they learn first aid? They're just pressing; shouldn't there be mouth-to-mouth?"
Just as Kaizer was complaining in his heart, he felt a pair of soft, moist lips press against his own.
While lamenting that his first kiss was gone just like that, a powerful surge of air was pumped from Kaizer's mouth into his stomach and lungs.
He felt like a balloon about to explode.
This unprecedented sensation caused him to wake up instantly, doubling over to cough up the remaining seawater, unable to stop.
"Great, he's awake! Haha!"
It sounded like a girl with a very hearty laugh. Was she a nurse?
"Feifei, that's amazing! But you can't do mouth-to-mouth like that, you'll blow the person to death!"
That must be the head nurse scolding her! He had to admit, this girl's lung capacity was truly formidable!
Kaizer looked up and saw his savior at first glance.
How could there be a girl in the world who was both so cute and so cool!
She had big, bright black eyes, and below her perky little nose was a mouth stretched wide in a reckless grin, revealing two rows of neat white teeth.
Kaizer had never seen such a brilliant smile; it was so bright it felt like sunlight was shining directly onto his face.
Coupled with the joy of surviving a disaster, he couldn't help but start giggling foolishly as well.
"You're awake! I'm Luffy. I found you drowning by the shore today, so I just saved you!"
"Drowning in such shallow water, you're really a loser, haha!"
Listen to that—it's the ocean! For someone who can't swim, does it matter if the water is deep or shallow?
Wait, what did she call herself?
Luffy?
Kaizer looked at the girl's features; the more he looked, the more familiar they became, especially that scar under her left eye.
Looking at her clothes, she wore a small red vest and blue shorts... looking up, she had cool and capable short hair... but he didn't see the iconic straw hat.
Whew, I was just scaring myself!
I was saying, how could it be possible?
Transmigration?
And transmigration into One Piece at that!
Then Luffy becomes a cute girl!
I wouldn't even dare to dream of such a thing!
As Kaizer was thinking this, he saw Luffy quickly dry her short hair, which had been wet from saving him... then, her arm bent at an exaggerated angle as she grabbed an unremarkable straw hat from the table behind her and plopped it onto her head.
A straw hat and a Rubber Person who ate the Gomu Gomu no Mi!
Masaka!!
Taking in his surroundings, Kaizer realized he was in a tavern.
"Could this be... the tavern in Foosha Village in the East Blue?"
Luffy nodded. "Yeah!"
"Is the proprietress Makino?"
Luffy was surprised. "Amazing! So Makino is already that famous? Someone actually came here to drink even at the risk of drowning!"
Makino, who was wiping glasses behind the bar, smiled without saying a word.
And Kaizer was now even more dazed than when he was drowning!
He pinched himself; it hurt, it was actually real!
As a fan of One Piece for over a decade, it wasn't like he hadn't fantasized about this.
But one moment he was at home re-watching One Piece, and the next he had transmuted into the world of One Piece, falling directly into the East Blue.
This whole thing was just magical!
What was even more magical was that the Luffy here was a girl, and a cute one at that!
Kaizer couldn't help but recall that soft touch during the mouth-to-mouth... and the way Luffy had inflated him like a balloon.
[Ding! System activating...]
Hearing this voice in his head, Kaizer felt that everything could now be explained.
[Detected that the host has transmuted into the world of One Piece and has developed a favorable impression of the protagonist, Luffy. Favorability System activated.]
[Gaining favorability from story characters will grant rewards.]
[Main Quest: Gain the favorability of the protagonist Luffy, successfully romance Luffy, and ultimately become the man of the Pirate King to receive the ultimate grand prize.]
Kaizer waited for more, but there was no more.
System, what's your relationship with Oda? Are you trying to fool me like a local?
An ultimate grand prize? Just like the One Piece, it's all just vague promises!
Even though I've been single since birth, am I the kind of scumbag who would romance someone just for a system quest?
A girl with short hair, a carefree personality, bright and cheerful, and a foodie attribute—she's practically my ideal type!
It happened so suddenly earlier; the hot-blooded male protagonist in my heart became a female protagonist, and I couldn't adapt for a moment.
Looking at Luffy again now, everything was immediately different!
One look and you could tell Luffy's heart was broader than the original's, and her wheat-colored long legs under those blue shorts looked even more powerful.
And those ten cute toes that looked full of elasticity... that's right!
Only feet like these are worthy of the Supreme Grade Sandals!
She is the granddaughter of a Vice Admiral and the daughter of a Revolutionary, yet she was led astray by a red-haired man from a young age, dreaming of becoming the Pirate King.
She is optimistic and passionate, harboring a dream.
She will set out on a journey, and along the way, regardless of gender, everyone will be influenced by her, uniting by her side to become her friends!
Finally, it will be discovered that she is the sun goddess destined to save the world!
This... is simply too logical!
I am definitely going to be the man of the Pirate King!
Seeing Luffy get up and prepare to walk out of the tavern, Kaizer, who had zero romantic experience, panicked a little.
He knew nothing about how to start a relationship.
Meeting because of a life-saving favor—that counts as an advantage, right!
He had to strike while the iron was hot; he couldn't let this opportunity slip by!
But how do you talk to a girl?
How does this relationship begin?
What should the first sentence be?
"Lu... Luffy! According to the customs of my hometown, a life-saving favor cannot be repaid except by offering oneself in marriage..."
Luffy didn't understand, Makino didn't understand, and the other guests in the tavern didn't understand either.
Kaizer screamed internally, what kind of nonsense am I saying!!!
Have I become incoherent just by seeing a girl I like?
The brave enjoy life first, but not with this kind of bravery!
But since I've already said it... "In other words, please marry me!"
Eh!!!!
Everyone in the tavern opened their mouths wide, eyes bulging out of their sockets; Makino even dropped her glass!
Except for Luffy, who still didn't understand.
"What 'marry', what does that mean?"
Makino explained to Luffy that going out meant a very intimate relationship between a man and a woman, the kind that eventually leads to marriage!
"Marriage? That sounds like a hassle!"
"I'm the woman who's going to be the Pirate King; I have no intention of getting married at all!"
Kaizer cursed himself in his heart for being too hasty. What was I saying just now!
Is that kind of manga-style confession something I'm even capable of?
Did transmogrifying into the One Piece world lower my IQ?
This kind of thing should be done step by step!
Kaizer urgently adjusted his strategy.
"Pirate King, how amazing! Then can I become your crewmate?"
What responded to Kaizer was Luffy's bullet-like fist.
Only a 'duang' sound was heard!
Watching Kaizer collapse peacefully with a large bump on his head, Luffy stated:
"You're too weak; I don't need a crewmate like you on my ship!"
Kaizer didn't wake up until evening.
Through inquiries, he learned that Luffy was set to set sail tomorrow... Oh no! There wasn't much time left for him to get stronger!