awunad

Luffy, Ace, and Sabo were wandering through town, doing what they always did—running around, causing harmless trouble, and pretending they weren't being chased by annoyed shopkeepers.

Most people ignored them.

Until someone familiar spotted them.

"Luffy!"

Your voice rang through the street.

Luffy's head snapped up, his eyes widening with recognition.

"(Y/n)!"

Without a second thought, he launched himself at you.

The force knocked both of you flat onto the dirt road with a loud thud.

Luffy burst into laughter.

"Luffy!" Sabo scolded, grabbing him by the back of his shirt and hauling him off you. "You can't just tackle people!"

You simply laughed as you brushed the dust from your clothes.

"It's okay," you said. "I'm used to him."

"I'm really sorry about him," Sabo apologized.

You waved him off. "It's fine."

As Luffy climbed back to his feet, something shiny caught his attention.

His eyes locked onto the butterfly clip nestled in your hair.

"Whoa..."

He pointed at it."That's pretty."

You smiled, your fingers brushing over the golden butterfly.

"Thanks. My grandma gave it to me."

The clip glittered in the sunlight.

Luffy couldn't stop staring.

"Oh!" he suddenly exclaimed, remembering something important."You've never met my brothers!"

He proudly pointed between the two boys.

"This is Ace! And this is Sabo!"

Ace sighed."Idiot. We're not your real brothers."

You looked between them before smiling knowingly.

"I understand."

Your eyes lingered on Sabo for just a moment.

You recognized him immediately. It was hard not to, he came from one of the wealthiest noble families around.

Judging by the brief look of surprise on his face, he recognized you, too.

"They may not be your brothers by blood," you said, "but they're your brothers by choice."

Ace raised an eyebrow.

"Huh." He looked you up and down. "You talk fancy."

You opened your mouth to explain until you heard your name.

"(Y/n)!"

Your mother's voice echoed through the street.

You sighed."I have to go."

You gave each of the boys a quick wave.

"It was nice meeting you."

Ace and Sabo returned the gesture.

Luffy barely noticed.

His eyes remained fixed on the butterfly clip sparkling in your hair.

Neither of you knew that one day, he would keep it as one of his most treasured memories.

"So..." Ace smirked. "When were you planning on telling us about that fancy girl?"

Luffy gently placed the butterfly clip back into the wooden box before closing the lid.

Inside were the rest of the things he'd kept over the years.

The book you'd given him.

Little odds and ends that reminded him of you.

Nothing valuable.

Everything priceless.

The Thousand Sunny was approaching another island, and excitement buzzed through the crew.

Luffy was practically vibrating.

"Don't disappear the second we dock," Nami warned.

"I won't!" he replied instantly.

She gave him a skeptical look.

"...You absolutely will."

Still, she decided to go with him.

Lately, she'd found herself wanting to stay close to him whenever they visited new islands.

Partly because someone had to keep him from spending all their money.

Mostly because she couldn't stop wondering about the mysterious person whose name was in the  book she'd been reading aloud.

Money pouch in hand, Nami hurried after Luffy as he raced through the bustling streets.

"Slow down!" she called.

To her surprise, he actually did.

Luffy stopped so suddenly that she nearly walked into him.

His entire body had gone still.

"(Y/n)?"

Your name escaped him so softly it was almost a prayer.

Nami froze. That name again. She followed his gaze into the sea of strangers filling the marketplace.

There were too many people. She couldn't tell who he was looking at.

Luffy didn't hesitate.

He pushed through the crowd.

"(Y/n)!"

People stumbled aside as he squeezed between them.

"There!"

He grabbed someone's shoulder. The stranger turned. It wasn't you.

Luffy stared for a long moment.

"...You're not (Y/n)."

The words barely left his mouth. The hope that had brightened his face disappeared just as quickly. He searched the crowd again.

Left.

Right.

Every face.

Nothing.

It was as if you'd never been there at all.

"Luffy?"

Nami's voice pulled him back. He quickly rubbed at his eyes before turning toward her with his usual grin.

"Shishishi... sorry about that."

"Did you see them?"

Luffy blinked.

"See who?" "(Y/n)."

For just a second, his smile faltered. "No." He scratched the back of his head. "I just thought I did."

Nami's expression softened.

She didn't say anything.She didn't need to. Luffy could tell she pitied him. He ignored it.

Even if you hadn't really been there,something inside him insisted you were close. Maybe it was wishful thinking. Maybe it was because you had been on his mind more than usual.

Or maybe, it was because everywhere he looked, he found little reminders of you.

Sanji had started making your favorite snacks one afternoon without ever knowing they were your favorites.

It was only a coincidence.

Luffy knew that.

But he chose to believe otherwise. Because believing made it easier to keep hoping.

And hope was enough.

One day, somewhere on the Grand Line, the two of you would meet again.