---- [Timewatch] ----
A golden palm-sized device resembling an ornate pocket watch, gleaming with a polished luster that catches light like a rusted relic.
When opened, it reveals an intricately crafted interface emitting an aura of brilliance—unaffected by the erosion of time.
Single-use: Upon usage, it allows you to travel at any point of the timeline of your desire and brings the person of your wish to the present. To do so requires mutual agreement.
While in another time—either past or future—you CANNOT cause a butterfly effect.
The time limit lasts until you return to the present. Once you've chosen a time, you cannot change it.
If you die in a different timeline, your existence will be wiped off from the present.
Costs: 100% of your Contributions Points + 1,000 CPs loans, 20 years of your lifespan.
A calamity shall befall in the future taking away your life.
-----
The cost of the timewatch was something too heavy for anyone to afford.
Yet, Sakura didn't hesitate as he purchased the product with bloodshot eyes.
Then, without a moment of pause, he attempted to use it.
'Earth… to my hometown, 2023!'
Sakura hoped. Prayed even, despite being an atheist. Yet nothing happened.
'Uhh… Earth? Japan? Tokyo? XXX-XXX-XXX? Do you need a precise location? More accurate time, up to milliseconds?'
Yet, nothing happened.
[ERROR!]
[The listed location must be within the world of One Piece.]
'Oh, is that so.'
Sakura's eyes lost their light instantly. He had half-expected it. Hoped it wouldn't be true. But when the words came out, it still hit like a slap to the soul.
'Oh well, it's just a damn watch,' Sakura tossed the timewatch up playing with it.
"M-Master… are you okay?"
From behind, Aqua called out to him worriedly.
"Hmm? It's okay, Aqua. I'm perfectly sane. You see… master is just experiencing life,"
Sakura directed a kind smile toward Aqua who worried for him.
'Irritating for a machine programmed to worry.'
"I'm feeling a bit uncomfortable so I'm gonna go upstairs a bit, okay?" saying this, Sakura headed upstairs with steady steps.
Then locking the door and making a barrier that allowed nothing to escape from within it and enter from the outside, he looked around, a dirty roach-infested room—the byproduct of his laziness, untouched since day one.
With low breaths, Sakura muttered, dispersing a wave of flames spreading to every corner of the room.
With enough heat, the bacteria, trash, and bugs melted, yet somehow, the fire didn't pass to the other burnable surface. Eventually, the dirt and ashes disintegrated along with Sakura's dispersed flames.
Only the terrible odor remained, but he could handle it fine. Finally, Sakura sat down.
Then, with the Law Of Programs—creating materials similar to tissue and lotions—playing a video taken out of his memory…
———
Downstairs, the cafe continued its rhythm, oblivious to what was happening just above them.
"I wonder what was wrong with Boss, he seemed pretty upset," Roja said.
He really could not read Sakura.
"Ralts…" Ralts fell to her knee, crying dejectedly.
"Aqua…" Aqua unconsciously cried in her name, kneeling in the corner like the introvert she was.
"We-well, it's not anything unordinary! It just tells that even the lazy owner can feel something. Cheer up! He'll be fine—ah, Smoker! You came at the right time!"
*ring* *ring*
A bell rang by the gate announcing the arrival of Smoker followed by his subordinates.
"What's wrong?" Smoker asked.
Knowing Roja was from Rock-Hard Fist Gang to revenge his deceased family, and his willingness to provide information to Marines—the two had built up a favorable friendship with time.
"This…" Roja explained what he saw, happened.
"So a watch just suddenly appeared in his hand and he became angry…" Smoker pondered in naught as he required more information.
"Captain Smoker, look at the computer! There's a new game available! Ah, this one looks cute, it allows you to nurture a gorilla… and it's talking!" Marine C pointed to his monitor.
While Roja and Smoker conversed, his subordinates were racing toward computers because even with the extra three computers, it wasn't nearly enough for them.
One would assume Marine were bored, but that wasn't the case. Some Marines—against their will—stayed behind the base to wait, in case an emergency ran off.
"Alright, got it. At this time, when one is down, the only way to become happy is by diving into the internet, the green one, and the maid one, come. Play the new game with us,"
"Ralts?!"
"M-m-, me!? I…, I want to but… I'm a maid…"
"It's Sakura we're talking about. If it's him, he'd allow his worker to slack off a little bit," Roja winked.
Words unbefitting of stoic Smoker may have escaped from his mouth—infected by internet cafe—but he had managed to change the mood of the room.
'As expected of the Marine Captain.' Roja couldn't do the same.
Confirming the two agreeing upon his request, Smoker's gaze landed on the two open chairs—his subordinates opened up for him and Roja—but it wasn't enough.
Without a choice, Smoker called out. "During the morning lap, which two of you were the slowest?"
At this moment, without a single hesitation, nine marines pointed to their fellow member, causing the two to stand up in defeat. Even as they exited the door to wait outside, they tearfully glanced back at the computer as if they didn't want to part with their wives.
"Great, spots are opened up. Y'all, do whatever you want, play Palworld with me if you want, and do the minigame if you want. I won't scold you like Tashigi,"
At Smoker's words, marine members cheered up.
"Yesss! I've always wanted to beat up my boss!! I wonder what I could do with this game..."
"Gorilla-chan~!! Daddy is coming for you!!"
"Glad to see it as cheap as ever. My salary isn't enough to cover it if it's got any pricier."
Marine soldiers got rowdy, excited to finally be able to play games after a long day of work.
…
Due to the additional game, the PlayGround became slightly more bright, but it was still somewhat empty. The sky was black, ripples spreads from their stepping as they didn't even know what land are they trampling.
But they didn't mind it much as they had no intention of moving around here for a long time.
Inside the playgrounds, five white avatars headed for the palworld.
Upon entrance, Smoker expertly navigated through the interface and chose [Online].
'Server? What is that?' Smoker wondered and looked it up, eventually understanding its functions.
"So basically, it's a world. You need a password or permission from the god (admin) of that world to enter it, and using the god's authority, you can even kick out a person." Smoker simplified.
"What is this, Celestial Dragon simulator?" Smoker said in sarcasm as he created a server.
[Server Name: Marine Training Ground]
PASSWORD - DEATH
For the password, Smoker used one of his favorite cigarette brands.
"I've created the server," Smoker said, announcing his voice to the other players, and the password of servers.
The five simultaneously pressed the [Enter] button, their white avatar gradually resembling their real face.
Then, they were sent to character editing space, they could change the way they looked, or they could choose to keep their appearance and head to the game.
Ralts for certainly, edited her appearance as she would be mistaken for a monster from Palworld.
But Smoker and Roja for instance, kept their original appearance, unbothered the possible trouble that may come with it and headed straight for the game.
…
"…" greeted by the dazzling sunlight, Aqua's vision were soon to be filled by three adorable monster.
From left to right, Lamball is an adorable sheep-like creature whose whole body—aside from face—is covered by wool.
Cattiva, a pink-colored cat-like pals that stood with its two legs.
Chikipi is a chicken. For some reason, when it dies it drops a cooked chicken.
Did it roast itself after death? Such questions are better left unanswered.
Confirming that no players existed near her, the 'gamer' maid robot finally unleashed her true self.
Opening the OBS with the movement from memory she repeated a thousand times, she looked to the camera that hovered around her.
"Hello everyone, Konaqua~ Holol-… oh wait... that's from a different world isn't it? Currently, it's the master's precious idol maid! Aqua!"
"Today I will be playing Palworld!... That's right! Listen, listen. Just now, I came back after mustering my courage to advertise my master's internet shop but when I returned... he was very down, I couldn't think of a way to cheer him...," Aqua sub-consciously talked to the camera, while skillfully gathering resources.
Even Aqua herself had no idea why she was so proficient in doing it but, she programmed herself to enjoy this activity.
Although it knows no emotion, its coding was dancing in joy, happy to be able to stream again.
That is, even if she were streaming in a world where no one is watching her.
[Watching: 0…]
.
.
.
[Watching: 1]
Uta: Big sister, how are you doing this? How did you connect to the Den Den Mushi that has stopped working?
"Welcome! First-timer! Have a good time~! As for your question, it's the master's amazing technology! Through his help, I can broadcast myself to the world in real time! Master is amazing, right?"
Aqua adorably winked at the camera.
Aqua had gained her first viewer rather quickly, garnering happiness as she skipped around while searching for her first pals.
Even if just one person watched—Aqua's world was no longer empty.