CHAPTER 5 — The Boy Who Went to the Market
The morning breeze rolled gently across Windmill Village, carrying the scent of salt and freshly baked bread. Ren inhaled deeply.
Today felt… new.
Maybe because the shed finally had a roof that didn't threaten murder.
Maybe because the villagers had started greeting him by name.
Maybe because he had woken up feeling almost—almost—normal.
Makino poked her head out of the bar.
"Ren! You awake?"
Ren stepped outside. "Yes."
"Good. I need you to help with an errand. Can you go to the market?"
Ren blinked. "Me?"
Makino nodded, smiling. "You worked so hard on the shed. Think of this as a change of pace."
Kiro appeared behind her, stretching. "You're trusting Ren with money? That's bold."
Makino rolled her eyes. "Kiro, he's more responsible than you."
"That hurts."
"It's true."
Ren looked between them. "What do I need to buy?"
Makino handed him a small pouch of coins and a list.
"Fresh vegetables, some salt, and thread. If Luffy is in the market… try to keep him out of trouble."
Ren stared at the last line. "…That's impossible."
Makino sighed. "Just… reduce the damage."
Kiro snorted. "Good luck with that."
The Market of Windmill Village
Ren walked toward the village center, a mixture of nerves and excitement bubbling in his chest.
The market wasn't large—just a row of stalls along the main dirt road—but it was full of life.
Fishermen displayed their morning catch.
Women bargained loudly over vegetables.
Children darted around carrying wooden toys.
A man chopped coconuts with dangerous enthusiasm.
Voices blended with the sound of crashing waves.
For Ren, it felt like stepping into a warm, noisy painting.
A vendor noticed him immediately.
"Oh! You're Makino's new helper boy!"
Ren blinked. "…Helper?"
"That's what everyone's calling you!" the vendor said cheerfully. "Makino says you've been fixing that old shed—good lad!"
Ren's ears warmed. "I'm… trying my best."
"That's all anyone can ask."
Ren nodded awkwardly and moved on.
Encounter 1: The Tomato Lady
Ren approached a stall neatly decorated with bright red tomatoes.
The old woman behind it gave him a piercing stare.
Ren froze.
"…Good morning?"
Her eyes narrowed further. "You're that new kid."
Ren swallowed. "Yes."
She leaned closer. "Are you polite?"
Ren blinked. "I— I think so."
She shoved a tomato into his hands. "Then take this!"
Ren jumped. "Why?!"
"Because Makino said you're helping her! Anyone who helps Makino gets a free tomato."
Ren stared at the tomato in confusion. "That's… a strange rule."
"It's tradition!"
"…Since when?"
"Since today!"
Ren didn't know what to say.
"Eat it," she commanded.
Ren bit into the tomato. It was sweet, juicy, and surprisingly comforting.
The old woman nodded approvingly. "Good boy."
Ren walked away in a daze.
Encounter 2: The Fishermen's Challenge
"Oi, kid!"
Ren turned to see three fishermen waving from their stall.
"You're Makino's helper, right?"
Ren sighed. "…Yes."
One fisherman leaned forward. "Can you tie knots?"
"Um… some."
"Show us!"
Ren hesitated. "Right now?"
"Of course! Test time!"
They handed him a rope.
Ren stared at it, then carefully formed a sailor's knot.
Then a loop knot.
Then a basic fishing tie.
The fishermen stared.
"Damn. He's good."
"He's better than Kiro!"
"Don't tell Kiro."
Ren blinked. "Was this… necessary?"
"Absolutely!"
"We test all newcomers!"
"It's also tradition!"
Ren looked suspicious. "…Since when?"
"Since right now!"
Ren sighed deeply and accepted a free fish they shoved into his hands.
He added it to the basket. He had no idea what Makino would do with a random fish, but refusing felt dangerous.
The Chaos Arrives
A loud crash echoed.
Ren froze.
No…
No, not now—
"REEEEN!!"
Luffy sprinted through the market carrying a stolen watermelon, three angry shopkeepers chasing behind him.
"STOP HIM!" someone screamed.
"HE DIDN'T PAY!"
"GET BACK HERE, YOU LITTLE—!"
Ren covered his face. "Why… why today."
Luffy spotted him instantly.
"REN! HELP ME!"
Ren responded instinctively.
"No."
"PLEASE!"
Ren sighed loudly and stepped in front of Luffy.
The mob of shopkeepers skidded to a halt.
Ren held up both hands. "I'm so, so sorry."
Makino's name had already spread through the market—meaning Ren had credibility he didn't deserve.
The shopkeepers groaned.
"It's Luffy again…"
"Why is it always him?"
"Makino will make him work it off."
Ren took the watermelon and bowed slightly. "He didn't mean harm. He just… does things."
"That's the problem!" someone yelled.
Ren nodded. "You're right. I'll return this and make sure he pays."
The crowd grumbled but dispersed.
Luffy blinked. "…Ren?"
Ren turned slowly. "Yes, Luffy?"
"You saved me!"
"I prevented a riot."
"Same thing!"
Ren sighed. "…Stay with me. Makino told me to keep you out of trouble."
Luffy immediately picked up a coconut. "Is this trouble?"
"PUT THAT DOWN."
Shopping with a Monkey
Shopping should have taken twenty minutes.
With Luffy, it took an hour and a half.
He poked every vegetable.
Tried tasting raw onions.
Asked why every fish was dead.
Climbed a fruit stand.
Almost kicked a chicken.
Actually kicked a chicken.
Got chased by that chicken.
Ren had to save him.
Twice.
When they finally returned to the bar, Ren collapsed onto a chair.
Makino peeked into the basket.
"Hmm… vegetables, thread, salt… and… a fish?"
Ren nodded weakly. "A gift."
Makino raised a brow. "From…?"
"Everyone."
Luffy grinned proudly. "Ren saved me today!"
Makino exhaled slowly. "Oh no."
Ren nodded miserably. "Oh yes."
She patted Ren's shoulder sympathetically. "You did well. Luffy's a natural disaster."
"Why is he like this?" Ren whispered.
Makino sipped her tea. "We don't know. Garp says it builds character."
Ren shuddered. "I don't want his character."
Makino chuckled.
Evening Reflection
After helping unload the ingredients, Ren stepped outside.
The sky was purple and gold, waves reflecting shifting colors. Villagers talked quietly, preparing nets and counting supplies for tomorrow.
Kiro found him near the path. "You look… tired."
Ren sighed deeply. "Luffy."
Kiro nodded. "Ah. That explains everything."
Ren managed a weak laugh.
As they watched the sea, Kiro nudged him.
"You're fitting in, you know."
"…Am I?"
"Everyone likes you. Even the tomato lady. And she hates everyone."
Ren blinked. "That's… oddly comforting."
Kiro shrugged. "Windmill Village is weird. But it's good weird."
Ren didn't answer.
He just listened—to waves, birds, laughter, life.
Something inside him slowly unwound.
This place…
It was becoming familiar.
Warm.
Safe.
Home.
The Whisper of Tomorrow
Kiro headed home. Ren stood alone beneath the first evening stars.
He thought of his old world.
His parents.
His loneliness.
His failures.
He thought of this new world.
Makino's kindness.
Kiro's jokes.
Luffy's ridiculousness.
The villagers' warmth.
He exhaled softly.
"…I can grow here."
This world wasn't perfect.
The shed wasn't perfect.
He wasn't perfect.
But that was fine.
Tomorrow, he would work more on the shed.
Help Makino.
Maybe train with Luffy.
Maybe meet more villagers.
Little by little—
He would build a life.
A real one.
End of Chapter 5