"Oh, hello miss...?" I greet Makino as naturally as possible, maintaining an act of obviousness. After all it would be strange for a kid my age to suddenly know who you are withour prior acquaintances.
Makino smiles and politely introduces herself, "Hello to you too, Sephiroth. My name is Makino."
"Sephiroth?" I ask in confusion, cocking my head.
"That is your name right?" She asks, "when you were found in the forest there was a strange box with you along with this device that folded in two. There was a picture of you along with a name. Shinra D. Sephiroth."
As weird as the name is, it feels right so I replied still unsure, "I think... It is?" For some reason the name seems familiar to me but I just cannot put my name on it.
"Oh dear, you seem to be confused." Makino says with a look of worry on her face, "maybe you will remember clearly one day."
I can only nod in agreement. Perhaps I really am missing something. My stomach begins to growl making me blush in embarrassment. This causes Makino to giggle.
"Looks like your hungry. After sleeping for 3 days I can't blame you!" Makino says in amusement at my embarressed look. The 3 day part caught my attention.
"I was sleeping for 3 days!?"
"Yep! Come on down and I'll whip you up some breakfast!" Makino says with a smile leaving me to get dressed.
I spend a few minutes sitting on the bed thinking about a few things, trying to adjust to the fact that I am in a world based on a fictional tale written illustrated by Eiichiro Oda.
This brings up a theory me and my friends once discussed. Is our imaginations truly of our own make, or is it a window into other worlds?
Considering my current situation. It appears that our theory may have some merit.
To us One Piece and any other fictional series were forms of literature masterpieces and entertainment. However I ended up in one of these "fictional" worlds so the theory has some truth to it.
I am living proof after all.
But what kind of life did I end up in? Rebirth? Reincarnation? Transmigration? It cannot be one of those popular Japanese isekai scenarios because I would end up in my original body.
Looking at my current body I know that cannot be the case. While it feels natural, it also feels different for some reason I cannot explain
You know, a body that doesn't feel like your own?
My stomach is becoming increasingly impatient so I decide to put my thoughts aside and go downstairs for breakfast. If I have really been sleeping for 3 days, then I feel like I can eat a cow#
...
I head downstairs to see the bar full of all manner of people. Sailors, villagers, some local and not so ill-natured bandits. All of them enjoying a nice breakfast in minor harmony.
Foosha Village is rather secluded compared to the rest of Dawn Island and despite being part of the shitty Goa Kingdom, so there aren't too many problems experienced by outside threats.
In the One Piece world Foosha Village is one of the most peaceful places in the whole world and gave rise to many powerhouses.
Dragon of the Revolutionaries, Fire Fist Ace, Strawhat Luffy, Sabo, etc.
Legends are born here.
Makino waves me over to the bar and delivers me a hearty and bountiful breakfest to make up for the 3 days I went without food.
"Eat up Sephy!" Makino says urging me to dig in while also giving me a somewhat cute nickname.
I thank her gratefully before digging into the meal consisting of eggs, bacon, some seafood, rice, and an assortment of veggies and fruits.
It did not take long to sate my hunger and even I am surprised that I ate every single dish provided.
Man I must have been starved for the 5 years old me to put all of that food away without my stomach bulging like a balloon.
"Ahh~" I rub my full stomach in satisfaction with a smile. Makino's cooking is far better than my mom's cooking. "That was the best!"
Speaking of mom. How would she and dad feel about my passing... Or disappearance... Or whatever the hell happened to me?
Makino laughs seeing me, "I'm glad you enjoyed it. I take pride in my cooking!"
"I can see why."
"Now that you are fed, why don't you go and explore the village and introduce yourself. We may be a small and humble people, but you won't find a nicer place on Dawn Island." Makino says, suggesting I see what Foosha Village has to offer.
I nod my head in agreement.
"I think I will do that. Thanks for the meal Makino!"
I excuse myself to explore Foosha Village and meet to locals. Before leave Makino warned me about going too far into the forest outside of the village, pointing out numerous dangerous beasts live there.
I honestly don't need her to warn me about that. After following the series for so long I understand well enough.
Boars and tigers the size of horses, alligators that could swallow me whole. Plus the occasional bandits that may want to sell you into slavery.
The world is definitely not so happy-go-lucky as the show portrays. Definitely not like the shitty dubs when it was first aired in the U.S. God it was awful!
...
Wandering through the village I introduce myself to many of the colorful villagers. Some are rough and gruffy hardy sailors, while others being simple farmers and merchants. They all welcomed me warmly.
At the store UO I met and chat with it's owner who agreed to buy any fish I may catch for a fair price. This of course had made me happy, for it will grant me a means to collect funds easily.
I may be a simple child, but I did enjoy going fishing with my dad growing up.
Continuing my tour of the village and admiring the view of Mt. Colubo in the distance, I ran into the mayor himself. Woop Slap.
Ignoring the strange name, he appears to be quite nice and the villagers admire and respect him. His opinions on piracy, well as a government official it's not positive.
At this point in time he is already using a cane, his gray hairs coming in already.
While chatting with the mayor I believe I saw a certain familiar future rubbet brat playing in the distance, but I can't be sure.
After a lenthy chat with the mayor I decide to head back to Partys Bar for the time being. I'm both hungry and tired.
Thankfully I have become aware of my place in the timeline. According to what I learned from the mayor my age is roughly a few months older than Ace. 3 years older than Luffy.
So the hyper little brat I saw when I was chatting with the mayor was probably to 2 years old little monkey himself.
"Interesting..." I murmur as I leave the mayor behind. Not before he warns me about following the path of piracy.
Not that I planned to. I cannot see myself being a pirate, nor do I see myself being a marine either due to them being at the beck and call of the World Government and the pigs upstairs.
I watched and read the series so I know how hypocritical the navy can be. Joining them would mean serving the world's greatest evil."
I have plenty of time to decide on what kind of life I want to lead. Whatever I decide, I don't want to be weak in a world where strength matters.
After returning to the bar I ate a nice lunch courtesy of the angel Makino and returned to the room she loaned me.
Inside I search the room before finding the large box and folded up device Makino mentioned.
The box is a high tech chest, far superior to anything in this world with a large flat screen on the top. Just laying on top of the box is the so called fold up device.
"Isn't this a cellphone?" I ask taking the phone into my hand and flipping it open. The screen lights up immediately and a picture of a young boy with shoulder length silver hair with the bangs parted in the middle to either side of his face. Green cat-like eyes.
As my thumb connects with the large circular button at the center of the phone's lower part, the screen changes and a mechanical voice speaks out.
[Carrier Shinra D. Sephiroth has been detected. Now transferring all memories and experiences of former Soldier 1st Class Sephiroth to the carrier. Brace yourself.]
"Wait, what?" Before I can prepare a digital ball of light shoots out of the phone's screen and into my head causing me to drop the phone in surprise.
A splitting headache sudden assaults me and my vision starts to blur.
*Thud!*
I hit the ground and black out...