I swear to the moon and stars, my life has never been normal.
So there I was, sitting awkwardly on a stolen Marine ship — which, by the way, used to be my family's ship.
Yeah. Dad's beloved "Monkey's Pride," a ship he bragged about polishing himself.
Now it was hijacked by one beat-up pirate and a confused teenager.
Me.
The pirate, Edward Newgate, sat on a crate, bandaging his wounds while humming a pirate song I didn't know.
His bisento leaned against the mast like a terrifying scarecrow.
I kept thinking, "Maybe I can jump overboard now. Swim back. Maybe I'll drown before Garp's Fist finds me."
Then he spoke.
"Oi, brat."
I jumped like a scared cat.
"Y-Yeah!?"
He grinned through bloodied lips.
"I've been thinking… I'm gonna start me own pirate crew."
I blinked.
"H-Huh?"
"Aye," he nodded, eyes gleaming. "I'm tired of followin' idiot captain and takin' orders from a fool. It's time I built somethin' big — somethin' of my own. A family at sea."
I stayed silent. Because what the hell was I supposed to say to that?
He pointed at me next.
"And you, brat. You're my first crewmate."
"EH!?"
"No backtalk."
I raised my hand like an idiot.
"I-I don't know how to pirate, sir…"
He just laughed.
"That's perfect. You'll learn. 'Sides, this ship's already ours. Let's make good use of it."
I wanted to cry.
But it got worse.
"I'll name my crew… the Whitebeard Pirates!"
He grinned so wide I swear his teeth shined.
I blinked again.
"Whitebeard? You don't even have a beard."
He snorted.
"Doesn't matter, kid. One day, I'll grow a beard so fine, the whole world'll remember it. But for now, it's the name."
I sighed.
Then the final blow.
"From today, you're my vice-captain."
"Wait wha—"
"And my foster son."
"HUH!?"
"No backtalk!"
His bisento thunked into the deck next to me.
"Call me Oyaji."
My lips trembled.
"O… Oyaji…"
He smiled like a proud lunatic.
"Good boy."
I wanted to disappear.
And so, by accident, bad luck, and one injured madman's whims, I, Monkey D. Iron, now known as Diron, became the first mate and foster son of a no-crew, no-name pirate captain with a ship he stole from my dad.
As the stolen ship sailed deeper into the West Blue, I stared at the moon.
It wasn't full yet.
If it was, maybe I'd kill this idiot and swim home.
But for now… I was stuck.
Diron, Vice-Captain of the Whitebeard Pirates.
What a joke.