When Lynn's eyes fluttered open, the world around him was utterly unrecognizable. Gone were the dim walls of his small bedroom, the flickering glow of his CRT monitor, and the muffled sounds of his sister moving around their cramped apartment. Instead, his senses were assaulted by unfamiliar stimuli—the sharp tang of salt water stinging his nostrils, the rough-hewn texture of polished wood beneath his fingertips, and the nauseating sway of the surface beneath him, rising and falling in an endless rhythm. His stomach lurched with each roll of what he was slowly realizing must be a ship, the distant cry of seabirds punctuating the confusion swirling in his mind. The taste of brine lingered on his lips, and the distant calls of seabirds pierced the air. He was somewhere different—somewhere far from the world he knew.
Fainting after being bullied was nothing new for Lynn—it had happened enough times that waking up in unusual places had become almost routine. He often began his school days in the school's backyard, his uniform still reeking from yesterday's abuse, his body aching from bruises both fresh and fading. It wasn't like the teachers cared about an orphan like him.
In fact, almost no one at school cared about him at all.
Lynn always told himself he had to excel in school. His grades were his ticket out—his way to help his sister and maybe escape the life that seemed to offer nothing but disappointment. But now, school was the last thing on his mind. He wasn't in the classroom or sprawled in the dusty backyard of his middle school. He was trapped somewhere unfamiliar, adrift in the middle of nowhere, with no idea how he got there.
"Where... where am I?" His voice trembled as he took in the sight of rough-looking men surrounding him, their weathered faces and curious eyes fixated on the stranger in their midst. Some wore bandanas tied around their heads, others had gold earrings catching the sunlight, and all of them bore the unmistakable look of men who lived by their own rules. The reality of the situation began to settle in, each detail only adding to his confusion and fear.
"Vice-Cap'n, the brat's eyes have opened!" The sudden shout came from a barrel-chested man with a red-striped shirt and arms covered in faded tattoos.
The shout startled Lynn, and he could only stare at the sailor who loomed over him, intimidatingly close. How did he know they were sailors? The place he had woken up in was made of wood, creaking with the waves, and the men wore pirate attire like something out of a movie. The smell of gunpowder, rum, and sea salt hung in the air. Lynn, as a Japanese kid who had spent countless hours playing video games, recognized the classic pirate aesthetic immediately.
But how was this possible?
He'd never even been near the ocean—his life was confined to studying, playing games online, and occasionally reading novels or watching TV shows. He was a nerd, even if being bullied sometimes distracted him from it. No one ever came to his rescue; the teachers were just as scared of the bullies as he was.
Please remember: childhood bullying is far preferable to the torment adults can inflict. But can any form of bullying really be called better or worse?
That's the right question. Children might grow from their experiences with bullying—some might become broken by the trauma, but others strive to rise above it. That's how kids develop. They can survive their past, no matter how dark, as long as they learn to overcome it and become stronger than their tormentors.
But adult bullying is different.
There's no such thing as adult bullying—only oppression. An adult who bullies is a criminal, unfit for society. Such a person will be caught, imprisoned, or... brought down by the very people they oppressed. Adults are expected to maintain dignity and sanity, and those who fail, creating oppression under the guise of "power harassment" or other forms, will eventually fall.
By their own doing, or by those around them.
Humans have limited lifespans, rarely reaching 100 years, and nearly half of that time is spent sleeping or engaged in trivial activities. Cross a certain line, and even an hour of that time could turn into a living hell.
Do you think an hour of suffering for the oppressor could be worse than a year of being oppressed? Without a doubt.
But let's not get sidetracked—Lynn was facing something entirely different now.
The real question is: could he handle it?
"Wh... Where am I?" Lynn repeated, his fingers digging into the rough wooden planks beneath him.
"This is the middle of the Grand Line, where else?" A man with a patch over one eye leaned in closer, his breath hot against Lynn's face. "You're lucky, kid—we found you floating nearby. A little later, and you'd be fish food for Sea Kings."
One of the pirates tried to scare Lynn with his words, but the mention of "Grand Line" and "Sea Kings"—the words echoed in Lynn's mind, triggering fragments of memories. These weren't terms from the real world—they were from anime. From One Piece, specifically. A show his classmates had obsessed over while he'd focused on his studies, catching only glimpses and overhearing excited discussions about pirates, Devil Fruits, and a world of endless oceans. His breath caught in his throat as impossible realization dawned. This couldn't be happening. People didn't just fall into fictional worlds. There had to be a logical explanation... and yet, the evidence of his senses was overwhelming.
Lynn had never been near any sea. How could he have ended up floating in the middle of an ocean that only existed in fiction? Was this some elaborate prank? Some new kind of bullying?
No, this was already beyond bullying—if real, it was like attempted murder. No group of middle school bullies would go that far, right?
Realizing something was very wrong didn't help Lynn understand it.
He was just an ordinary middle schooler, not expecting to find himself transported into a world like One Piece. He wasn't even a fan—he only knew bits and pieces from what classmates had shared. The story never stuck with him, so he didn't really understand the world or its rules.
In his mind, Lynn was convinced he had been abducted and was about to be sold overseas.
It was the only logical explanation for suddenly finding himself in the middle of the ocean. Or maybe he was dreaming? He stared at the people around him rudely, trying to make sense of it all.
BAM!
A rough hand collided with the back of his head, not hard enough to truly hurt but enough to startle him.
"Don't give me that look! We may be pirates, but we don't deal in human trafficking. Mind you, kid!" The man who'd struck him had a gruff voice but eyes that didn't match his tone. They were surprisingly kind, despite his attempt at intimidation.
Rubbing his head, Lynn felt the sting—it wasn't a dream. The pain was too real, the sensations too vivid.
"Yohohoho! I see our mysterious castaway has rejoined the land of the living!"
The voice—melodious yet commanding—came from a towering figure who parted the crowd of pirates with elegant authority. His long limbs moved with a musician's grace as he approached, the violin case strapped to his back shifting slightly with each step.back. His skin was dark, and he wore a flamboyant outfit that marked him as someone of importance. He grinned widely, showing far too many teeth, but there was a warmth in his eyes that contrasted with the roughness of his crew.
Lynn realized with a jolt that this must be Brook—but a living Brook, not the skeleton he would become. This was pre-death Brook, still alive and serving as the vice-captain of the Rumbar Pirates.
Backing away, Lynn stumbled and fell, his legs weak beneath him.
"Gyahaha!"
The pirates laughed at the pitiful sight, their voices a chorus of amusement at the 14-year-old boy's expense.
"Boy, you're not manly enough! Scared of the vice-captain?" taunted one of the fearsome-looking men surrounding him—one of the Mizuta twins. He had a distinctive scar running from his temple to his jaw, the only feature that distinguished him from his identical brother. Both were barrel-chested with muscular arms covered in nautical tattoos, their matching red bandanas and gold earrings completing their intimidating appearance. They stood shoulder to shoulder, identical grins spreading across their sun-weathered faces, their eyes twinkling with mischief rather than malice.
"I'm the vice-captain of this fine crew, Brook. Welcome aboard the Rumbar Pirates' vessel... wherever you came from," Brook said, offering a hand that Lynn hesitantly took. The grip was firm but not harsh, another surprise in this sea of contradictions.
"I know he's scary with that ridiculous afro—he's a seasoned pirate, after all. No way a kid like you could handle the pressure!" The other Mizuta twin chimed in, elbowing his brother playfully.
"Oy, oy, oy. That's harsh! How can this gentleman be called scary? You guys mock me too much." Brook shook his head, sighing at his crew's teasing, but there was no real annoyance in his tone. His violin case gleamed in the sunlight streaming through the portholes.
All around them, the massive ship bustled with activity, the warm glow of lanterns illuminating polished wooden beams overhead. Lynn now realized he was in the galley—a spacious room with high ceilings and wide windows that let in streams of golden sunlight. Long oak tables stretched across the wooden floor, bearing the scars of countless feasts and celebrations. At least forty pirates were gathered, their boisterous energy filling the space with life. The ship itself seemed to sing with each creak of timber, a magnificent vessel that whispered stories of adventures across unknown seas. In one corner stood what appeared to be a stage—small but well-constructed—clearly designed for the musical performances the Rumbar Pirates were apparently famous for.
Some were busy preparing food, others were tuning instruments, and a few were merely lounging about, playing cards or arm-wrestling. Despite their roughness, they clearly had a strong bond as crewmates. They weren't the strongest at sea, but they saw each other as brothers. This sense of camaraderie didn't come from nowhere—it was built over time, as they looked out for each other, supported by a captain who fostered their unity.
From strangers to brothers, they grew closer through shared experiences. This bond, once formed, was hard to break.
"Th... thank you..." Lynn was surprised by Brook's kindness despite his imposing stature.
"So, where are you from, kid?" Brook asked, gesturing for Lynn to take a seat at one of the tables. A plate of sea biscuits and dried meat was slid in front of him by a heavyset cook with a perpetual squint.
"I... I'm from Japan."
"That's a new name. Anyone heard of it?" Brook glanced around at his crew.
Seeing them shake their heads, Brook asked again, "Which sea did you come from? East Blue? North Blue?"
"Uh... Pacific?"
"Huh, where the heck is that?" A man with a red bandana scratched his head. "Never heard of Pacific Blue."
From the corner, a slender man with wire-rimmed spectacles and a meticulously organized medical bag approached. "Step aside, you lot. Let me see him, Brook," he said, his voice soft but authoritative, cutting through the raucous atmosphere. "The boy might have suffered cranial trauma."
This was clearly the ship's doctor—Doc Popper, as Lynn would later learn—a former university physician who'd chosen freedom over prestige. His hands were remarkably steady as they gently tilted Lynn's chin upward, his sharp gray eyes analytical behind his spectacles as he examined Lynn's pupils and checked for signs of concussion. Unlike the other pirates, his clothes were spotlessly clean, his movements precise and deliberate, betraying his formal medical training.
Seeing the confusion on Lynn's face, Brook could tell the boy wasn't lying—he was just as lost as they were.
The only explanation Brook could think of was that the boy had been tossed into the sea by some strange force, perhaps a Devil Fruit power that allowed transportation across vast distances.
"Oh well, my name's Brook. Nice to meet you, kid! Yohohoho!" Brook laughed, ruffling Lynn's hair. "What's your name?"
"Lynn. Lynn Sadogashima," he replied, still disoriented but beginning to realize that these pirates, despite their appearance, weren't going to harm him.
"Well, Lynn Sadogashima, the doctor says you're not injured—just confused. And that's understandable, finding yourself in the middle of the Grand Line!" Brook stood tall, addressing the entire galley. "Guys! We've got a new crewmate! Tonight, we're going to party!"
"OOOOOOH!" The cheer was deafening, bouncing off the wooden walls and making Lynn's ears ring.
Meeting and parting were typical for sailors, but everything needed to be celebrated to make it official. The crew began preparing for a party, bringing out barrels of booze from the hold, setting up instruments on a makeshift stage, and preparing a feast that smelled delicious even in its early stages.
"Some of the best musicians in the world, right here on this ship," Brook told Lynn proudly, as crewmen began taking out violins, guitars, and even a full piano that required six men to move. "We're the Rumbar Pirates, and music is our life!"
As the festivities began, the ship came alive with music unlike anything Lynn had heard before. One pirate played a haunting melody on a saxophone, while another pounded out a rhythm on drums. A third managed to coax beautiful sounds from a battered old piano, and soon the entire crew was singing and dancing.
Of course, Lynn felt uneasy around these easy-going but intimidating pirates. But after being handed a mug of watered-down grog (the doctor insisting that a child couldn't handle their usual fare), he began to loosen up. The twins dragged him into a dance, and soon he was shouting along with the chorus of an unfamiliar sea shanty.
As the night wore on and more drinks were consumed, Lynn's inhibitions dissolved entirely.
"FUCK THOSE BASTARDS! IF YOU WANT A FIGHT, PICK ON SOMEONE YOUR SIZE!" The words erupted from Lynn's throat, raw and painful, years of swallowed tears and silent humiliation finally finding voice. His small fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white, body trembling with emotions he'd locked away for too long.
The sudden outburst startled the pirates nearest to him into momentary silence. Then
"That's right! Fuck those bastards!" A weathered pirate with a scar across his cheek slammed his mug down, sloshing grog across the table.
"Whoever they are, they're cowards!" shouted another.
A chorus of agreement rose up, the pirates not even knowing who he was cursing but rallying to his defense all the same. These rough men—strangers from another world—were showing more solidarity than anyone in his real life ever had. The irony wasn't lost on Lynn, even through his alcohol-fogged mind."IS THERE ANYTHING WRONG WITH HAVING A DEAD FATHER AND A MISSING MOTHER?!" Lynn's voice cracked with emotion, years of pent-up frustration pouring out.
"There's nothing wrong with that!" Several voices shouted back.
"Exactly! Family is who you choose!" One of the older pirates raised his mug.
Many of the Rumbar Pirates were orphans or came from broken families, living tough lives before finding freedom on the seas. Hearing Lynn's outburst, they understood what the boy had gone through. The language barrier of social class dissolved in the face of shared pain, creating an unexpected connection between the displaced middle schooler and the hardened pirates.
"Mumble, mumble, mumble!" Lynn's words became increasingly incoherent as the night went on and fatigue caught up with him.
"That's right!"
"Oy, what's right? The kid's wasted."
"Oh, whatever it is, he's right!"
The doctor finally intervened, lifting Lynn's slumped form from the bench. "Enough for tonight. This boy needs rest."
As the merrymaking continued around them, the doctor carried Lynn to a small hammock in the corner of the infirmary. Meanwhile, Brook headed inside the depths of the ship, walking slowly down the corridor and knocking on an ornate door at the end of the passageway.
"Captain Yorki, we've got a new crewmate... and I think you'll want to hear this story."
Inside the captain's quarters, a man with long blonde hair looked up from his maps, his eyes curious about the stranger they'd fished from the sea—a boy from a place that didn't exist in their world.
"Tell me everything, Brook," Captain Yorki said, leaning back in his chair. "It's not every day a mystery washes up on our deck..."
Extras
"What do we do with this kid?" asked one of the Mizuta twins, poking Lynn's cheek as he lay unconscious on the deck.
"Well, Vice Cap'n. I don't think keeping him in the hull is safe from the weather. Should we bring him to the infirmary? The doctor might be able to tend to him," suggested a gaunt man with a parrot perched on his shoulder.
Brook considered this for a moment, his brow furrowed. "Nah, just leave him there for now. We don't know his situation, better be safe than sorry..."
"Oh, okay."
The Mizuta twins continued examining Lynn, fascinated by their find.
"It's my first time seeing a kid this scrawny, yet wearing tattered but good clothes..." one of them remarked, fingering the fabric of Lynn's school uniform.
"Leave him be, Mizuta twins!" Brook called from across the deck.
"Then, you guys take care of him!" They scurried away, passing responsibility to another crew member.
"What do I need to do?!" The new guardian looked panicked at the sudden assignment.
"Just stare at him, he might wake up later!" the twins called over their shoulders.
"Oh, okay!"
The pirate sat cross-legged beside Lynn, studying the unconscious boy with a mixture of curiosity and wariness. Around them, the ship continued its journey through the unpredictable waters of the Grand Line, carrying them all toward an uncertain future.
[Character Status: Lynn Sadogashima]
Level: 1
Class: [World Traveler] (potential evolution paths not yet revealed)
HP: 50/50 (★★☆☆☆ - Low for the Grand Line)
MP: 20/20 (★★★☆☆ - Average potential)
Core Attributes:
[STR]: 3/100 ★☆☆☆☆ (Novice) - Physical power below average pirate standards • [VIT]: 5/100 ★☆☆☆☆ (Novice) - Endurance needs significant improvement [AGI]: 4/100 ★☆☆☆☆ (Novice) - Basic movement capabilities [INT]: 40/100 ★★★☆☆ (Intermediate) - Modern education provides advantage
World-Specific Attributes:
[Sea Legs]: 2/100 ★☆☆☆☆ (Terrible) - Prone to seasickness [Haki Potential]: ?? (Locked) - Cannot be measured yet [Devil Fruit Compatibility]: 70% (High) - Natural affinity if opportunity arises [Musical Aptitude]: 15/100 ★★☆☆☆ (Basic) - Some natural rhythm, could improve
Passive Skills:
[Dexterous Hands] Lvl 1 - Slightly improved manual coordination [Modern Knowledge] Lvl 3 - Information from another world, may prove useful [Survivor's Instinct] Lvl 2 - Developed through facing bullies
Active Skills:
[Locked] [Locked] [Locked]
Achievements:
✓ [Fish Out of Water] - Survived unexplained world transfer
✓ [Pirate Encounter] - Met the Rumbar Pirates and lived to tell the tale
✓ [First Party] - Celebrated with a pirate crew and lived to remember it
Current Quest:
» [Lost at Sea] - Discover why you were brought to this world
» [Rumbar Rookie] - Find your place among the musical pirates