Chapter 1

"Goodbye, Miss Kaya!" A cheerful voice echoed over the sea.

"Goodbye everyone! Have a pleasant voyage!" A graceful figure stood by the shore, the gentle sea breeze lifting the hem of her white dress, making it flutter slightly.

"Ohahaha!" Laughter drifted from the distance.

"Merry! Is it really okay? To send him off on an adventure without telling him, just by putting him on the ship?"

"Yes, Miss Kaya! After all, I raised him, and I believe he will understand me. Having such abilities but only thinking about eating and drinking until he dies like a salted fish, I built the ship for the day he would set sail and explore. Now, sending him off with these young people is just right. I'm sure they are getting along well by now." Merry stood straight, watching the distant sailboat, his eyes glistening with tears.

"Mebi! I'm waiting for you to come back." Kaya stood in the wind, trying not to cry as she stared at the departing sailboat.

...

"Miss Kaya, it's late!"

"I'm afraid he won't come back! I want to see him one more time!"

~~~~~

"Ohahaha! Let's celebrate the start of our voyage with a party!"

"Agreed!"

"Agreed!"

"Agreed!"

"Rubber! Rubber! Climbing!"

"Thud!" A clear sound echoed, the sound of someone jumping and running.

"Ha-ha-ha! Zoro! Nami! Usopp! Come in quickly, Miss Kaya sent us a treasure chest. Let's open it together and have a party!" A young boy in a red vest, blue shorts, and a straw hat saw a tall treasure chest clearly placed in the center of the storage room and shouted to the others.

The chest, made of fresh-smelling oak, had shiny rivets and iron bands, and the edges were adorned with gold thread. In the center of the chest, a lock with embedded gems indicated that it was a carefully crafted treasure chest.

"A treasure chest?"

"From Miss Kaya?"

"Does it have treasure?"

"Where? Where? Where? Let me open it." Immediately, the sound of footsteps on the wooden boards echoed.

"I'll do it! I'll do it!" The storage room door was quickly blocked by two boys and a girl, all trying to squeeze in.

"Bang! Bang!" Two loud sounds, and a girl with orange hair, wearing a pink top and yellow skirt, rushed in first. Next came a young man with green hair, a white shirt, and dark green pants, with three swords at his waist. Finally, a boy with a long nose and a brown one-piece tracksuit walked in.

"Ohahaha! I bet it's meat!" The red-vested boy drooled at the thought.

"It must be beli! Miss Kaya must be worried we don't have enough food to buy more."

"It's alcohol! What pirate doesn't drink?"

"Um, um, can I guess it's a person?" The long-nosed boy said hesitantly, having a bad feeling as a friend who had lived with Kaya for over a decade.

"A person?" Three pairs of eyes focused on him.

"Bang!" The green-haired man drew his sword and cut the lock open.

"Mebi!" Four voices shouted in unison!

"Snore! Snore!" Inside the chest, there were no supplies, only a black-clothed boy lying there, holding a red longsword, and sleeping.

"Mebi, wake up! Wake up!" The orange-haired girl grabbed the boy's clothes and shook him wildly to wake him up.

"Snore! Snore!"

"Slap! Slap! Slap!" The orange-haired girl slapped him wildly.

"Ugh! Ugh!" The boy opened his blurry eyes, looking at the suddenly dark sky, and reflexively reached out to grab it.

"Awake! Awake! Mebi, let go first, okay?" The orange-haired girl tried to pull her arm free, but it was stuck in place.

"Nami? And Luffy? Zoro? Usopp? You haven't left yet?" Mebi let go and asked, then noticed his face was a bit sore.

"Why is my face a bit sore? I don't remember getting hurt." Mebi sat up and realized the surroundings were both familiar and strange.

The group looked at each other, then directly at Mebi without speaking.

"Where am I?"

"We want to ask you why you're here!" Four voices shouted in unison.

"Is this the Merry Go?"

"Yes."

"Oh! So Dad gave this ship to you. In that case, have a pleasant journey. I'm going home."

"Goodbye! Kaya and I will miss you." Ignoring the strange looks on Luffy and the others' faces, Mebi headed for the door.

"Aaaaah! Where am I?" Mebi shouted in shock when he saw the real situation outside the door.

"I think you're at sea, and you can't go back." Nami came out from behind to console him, knowing that Mebi had always been reluctant to go to sea.

"Also, this letter fell out of your pocket. It must be from Kaya." Nami handed a letter she had picked up to Mebi and then turned to leave, giving him some time alone.

"Kaya?" Mebi took the letter, puzzled.

Tearing open the pink letter, he read it slowly, his fingers trembling with effort to control his emotions and not crush the letter. His eyes flickered with confusion and pain, as if he could see that gentle, lovely smile before him.

"Breath! Breath! Breath!" Mebi panted heavily, regaining his composure, and then shouted towards the distant horizon!

"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!"

"Kaya! Dad! Wait for me to come back!"

"Wait for me to come back!"

"Come back!" His clear, angry roar echoed across the sea, startling the seabirds playing on the distant reefs, causing them to flutter in the air.

"Ha-ha-ha-ha! Even if you force me out, I will definitely come back!" Mebi laughed wildly, releasing his pent-up emotions.

The four people in the distance smiled happily, relieved that their worries had not come true.

"Ha-ha! Captain Luffy, do you need more crew members?"

"Ohahaha! Mebi! Welcome aboard!" Luffy laughed heartily.

"Thank you, Captain!" Mebi smiled.

"Party! Party! Ohahaha!" Luffy picked up a barrel of alcohol and laughed.

"To the new crew member and this ship! Cheers!"

"Cheers!"

"Cheers!"

~~~

Laughter echoed throughout the sailboat.