I was having a perfectly normal day—well, as normal as a high schooler's life could get—when a scruffy man with a hat that looked like it had survived three natural disasters practically collided with me.
"Hey… got a little spare change?" he asked, holding out a hand so grimy I briefly considered calling the CDC.
I sighed, fishing a few coins from my pocket. "Fine."
The man's eyes widened like I'd just handed him the key to the universe.
"You… are a generous soul," he said, leaning closer. "Tell me… what's your favorite anime?"
"Uh… One Piece?" I muttered.
His reaction was… catastrophic.
"ONE PIECE?! The adventures! The meat! The Grand Line! Do you… want to live the life of a pirate? Huh? HUH?"
I tried to respond, but before a single word left my mouth, the world spun violently. Sidewalk, street, sky… everything blurred into white light.
Then, I landed. Face-first.
And the ground wasn't ground at all. It was soft. Way too soft. I sat up, blinking, and realized the island looked like a giant marshmallow had exploded. My hands sank in, and I may have squeaked involuntarily.
I stood up, dusting myself off, trying to make sense of it. Palm trees waved lazily in the breeze, bright flowers dotted the landscape, and the ocean sparkled like it was auditioning for a postcard. Somehow… I was here. Somehow… this was real.
I shouted into the empty sky. "Hello? Anyone? This isn't… real, right?"
No answer. Just the gentle rustle of marshmallow-like sand under my feet.
I took a cautious step forward. The island was way bigger than it looked at first glance. Hills rolled lazily into valleys, strange fruits hung from trees, and I swear I heard something moving in the underbrush—but every time I turned, nothing was there.
"Well," I muttered to myself, rubbing my temples, "I guess I always wanted to see the Grand Line… but maybe I should've started with, you know, a map or something."
And so, stranded on an island that was way too soft to be normal, I had no choice but to explore… alone.
I took another step, trying not to sink too far into the fluffy ground. Every footfall was like walking through a giant pillow, and I had the sudden, unshakable suspicion that this island was mocking me.
I wandered toward a grove of bizarre-looking trees. Some bore fruits shaped like stars, others like little moons, and one had what looked suspiciously like a tiny pineapple… except it was bouncing. Bouncing. On its own.
"Okay," I muttered, backing away slowly, "definitely not eating the fruit that's hopping around like it's caffeinated."
A rustling from the underbrush made me jump. Out darted a small, furry creature with wings—like a squirrel had somehow fused with a hummingbird. It landed on a branch above my head, chittered loudly, and then zoomed off into the distance.
"Right," I said, exhaling shakily, "I definitely didn't take the wrong turn at reality. This is fine. Totally fine."
The sun was beginning to tilt toward the horizon, painting the island in shades of pink and gold. I decided it was probably wise to find some kind of shelter. Maybe a cave? Or a clump of trees? Something that wouldn't try to eat me or bounce away before I could touch it.
I stumbled across a small grove where the ground was still ridiculously soft, but a few tall trees leaned over, creating a patch of shade. Not exactly a fortress, but better than nothing. I collapsed onto the marshmallow sand, rubbing my face.
"Survive the day: check. Don't get eaten by giant berries or flying squirrel-squirrel hybrids: check… mostly," I muttered. "Step two: figure out food."
I glanced at the strange fruits again. They weren't moving now—at least, not visibly—but I wasn't about to take any chances. I spotted some coconuts hanging from a tree. Not moving. Not bouncing. Probably safe. Probably.
I grabbed one, shook it a little, and it plopped to the ground. I smashed it open with a rock—mostly by throwing it at the coconut until something cracked—and took a sip of coconut water. Refreshing. Small victory.
"Okay," I muttered to myself, "this isn't the worst first day stranded on a random island I've ever had."
Of course, I immediately remembered I had no idea where I was. And no clue how to get anywhere.
I trudged along a small path that seemed to wind toward the center of the island, curious and nervous. Strange shapes moved in the distance—some tall, some short, some fast—but none came close enough to get a good look. Still, I had the nagging feeling I wasn't alone.
As night approached, the sounds of the island changed. Chirps, screeches, rustling leaves—it was like the island had an entire orchestra of creatures playing just to make me paranoid. I found a small hollow under a leaning tree and curled up, exhausted.
"Tomorrow," I whispered, staring at the stars emerging above the marshmallow-like terrain, "I survive. Tomorrow, I find… whatever else is on this island. Maybe a normal animal. Maybe… a snack that doesn't attack me first."
Somewhere in the shadows, I thought I saw a pair of eyes watching me. I froze.