CHAPTER 13 — Lessons from the Island
📅 11 April, S.C. 1510
Ren woke early, rubbing sleep from his eyes as morning light poured into Makino's bar. His muscles still ached from yesterday's "training," but it felt like progress.
Makino noticed him tying his shoes at the door.
"You're up early today," she said.
Ren nodded. "I want to learn more about the island. Like… how to survive here."
Makino smiled softly. "Good. You should talk to Kiro. His family knows these forests better than anyone."
She leaned closer. "But don't let Luffy go alone."
Ren winced. "I never let him go. He appears."
As if summoned—
"I HEARD MY NAME!!!"
Luffy was suddenly hanging off the doorframe.
Ren blinked. "How… how did you get up there?"
"I CLIMBED!"
Makino sighed. "Ren… please don't let him die."
Ren sighed back. "…I'll try."
Finding Kiro
Kiro was outside his house, tying a fishing line around a small wooden spear.
He glanced up. "Morning. You look motivated."
Ren nodded. "Can you take me into the forest? I want to learn how to navigate, forage, maybe track small animals."
Kiro smirked. "Sure. But Luffy's coming."
Ren froze. "Why."
"Because he always comes."
Luffy popped up behind Ren. "HI!"
Ren pressed a hand to his face. "…Of course."
Into the Forest
The forest path was shaded and cool. Sunlight filtered through tall trees, lighting patches of moss and wildflowers.
Luffy walked ahead, hopping over rocks and pretending to be a pirate captain.
"I AM THE KING OF THE FOREST!!"
Kiro shouted, "Luffy, stay where we can see you!"
"I AM STAYING WHERE YOU CAN'T SEE ME!"
Ren groaned. "This is already stressful."
Kiro shrugged. "You get used to it."
Lesson 1: Reading Tracks
Kiro crouched by a patch of soft dirt.
"Look here. Rabbit tracks."
Ren leaned in. "How do you know?"
Kiro pointed. "Light prints. Sharp toes. Rabbits hop."
Ren nodded, repeating the shape in his notebook.
"And this one—" Kiro pointed further down, "is a wild pig."
Ren's eyes widened. "Pig?! Close by?!"
Kiro shook his head. "No, this is old. Several days. The forest is full of animals. You just have to read the ground."
Luffy crouched beside them.
Then poked the tracks.
Then poked Ren's notebook.
Then tried poking Ren.
Ren grabbed his finger. "Stop touching things."
Luffy pouted. "I'm helping!"
Kiro whispered, "He's really not."
Lesson 2: Foraging
Kiro stopped at a berry bush.
"These are sweet berries. Safe to eat."
He handed one to Ren.
Ren sniffed it suspiciously. "You're sure?"
"Yes."
Ren tasted it. Sweet and juicy.
Then Luffy grabbed two handfuls and shoved them into his mouth.
"LUFFY—!"
Kiro sighed. "He'll be hyper in five minutes."
Ren blinked. "Hyper? More than usual?!"
"Oh yes."
Lesson 3: Fishing (Attempt)
They reached a small creek. Clear water bubbled over rocks.
Kiro crouched. "We can't hunt, but we can learn to spot fish."
Ren nodded, leaning forward—
Luffy jumped straight into the water.
"SPLASH!! FISH!!! COME TO ME!!!"
Every fish vanished instantly.
Ren yelled, "LUFFY—!"
Kiro laughed. "That's one way to fish."
Ren covered his face. "I'm never catching anything with him here."
Luffy stood up soaked, holding a rock. "I CAUGHT SOMETHING!"
Ren stared. "…That's not a fish."
"It's a VERY STILL fish!"
Kiro whispered, "He's five. Let him have this."
Ren sighed. "…Fine."
A Shadow on the Ridge — Ace
Later, as they followed the creek deeper, Kiro suddenly raised a hand.
"Stop."
Ren stiffened. "What is it?"
Kiro pointed toward a rocky ridge.
A boy sat alone, knees pulled close, staring over the forest.
Ren squinted.
He looked around their age—maybe slightly older.
Messy black hair.
Torn clothes.
A long metal pipe at his side.
Ren whispered, "Who is that?"
Kiro's voice dropped. "Ace."
Ren's breath caught.
Portgas D. Ace.
Future pirate captain.
Future division commander.
A boy destined for greatness… and tragedy.
But right now he was just an 8-year-old boy, thin and wary.
Luffy spotted him instantly.
"ACE!!! HI ACE!"
Ren panicked. "Luffy! Shhhh!"
Ace stood up, eyes sharp and guarded.
He didn't say anything.
Didn't wave.
Didn't look at them for more than a second.
Then he turned and walked deeper into the forest without a word.
Ren whispered, "…He didn't respond."
Kiro sighed. "He never does. He doesn't trust anyone. Not even Luffy."
Ren watched the empty ridge.
Ace looked… lonely.
Not angry.
Not rude.
Just alone.
Ren understood that feeling too well.
Lesson 4: Navigating the Island
Kiro continued walking.
"Okay, now for the important part — never get lost."
He scratched small markings on tree bark.
"See these? Subtle, harmless. They help you remember paths."
Ren copied them carefully.
Luffy copied them too—
but carved a huge spiral into a trunk.
Kiro screamed, "LUFFY NO! TREE DESTRUCTION IS NOT A MARK!"
Ren whispered, "This is why we can't have nice things."
Heading Back
By late afternoon, the forest dimmed.
Kiro stretched. "We should head back before it gets dark."
Luffy ran ahead, shouting something about becoming the Pirate King.
Ren sighed but felt… energized.
He learned:
basic tracks
safe berries
how to mark paths
creek navigation
and he saw Ace for the first time
It was a good day.
Back in the Village
Makino stood by the bar, waving as they returned.
"You're all safe, thank goodness."
Luffy was dripping wet.
Kiro was laughing.
Ren was covered in leaves.
Makino placed her hands on her hips.
"…Do I even want to know what happened?"
Ren shook his head. "Probably not."
Makino smiled fondly and handed them warm snacks.
"You did well today, Ren."
Ren blinked. "I didn't do much."
"You learned," Makino said. "That's enough."
Ren's chest warmed.
Nightfall
As the sun dipped below the horizon, Ren sat outside on the hillside.
He watched the glow of lanterns in the village, listened to the waves, and thought quietly:
About the forest.
About Luffy's energy.
About Kiro's friendship.
About surviving in this world.
And about the lonely boy with the metal pipe.
Ren hugged his knees gently.
"…I want to understand this world," he whispered.
"Slowly. Properly. Fully."
He smiled softly.
And the stars above Windmill Village shimmered in response.
End of Chapter 13 — (11 April, S.C. 1510)