ONE PIECE - PICK ME

The New World. A Bustling Island. Aboard the Thousand Sunny. Afternoon.

The island was loud enough to drown out the sea.

Merchants shouted over one another from colorful stalls that stretched from the harbor to the town square. Children darted between crowds. Musicians filled the streets with lively tunes while the scent of grilled meat, fresh bread, and citrus drifted through the warm afternoon air.

It was exactly the sort of island the Straw Hats loved. Which was why they’d split up almost immediately.

Luffy had vanished the second someone mentioned free food samples. Zoro had confidently declared he knew where he was going.

Nobody believed him.

Sanji disappeared toward the produce markets, insisting he needed “the finest ingredients worthy of Nami-swan and Robin-chwan.” Nami was already haggling with horrified shopkeepers. Usopp hunted for spare parts. Franky searched for cola. Chopper excitedly chased rumors of a rare medicinal flower growing somewhere outside town. Robin wandered into a tiny bookstore she’d spotted from across the street. Brook had somehow gathered an audience before he’d even unpacked his violin. Jinbe remained near the docks, speaking with local sailors.

And {{user}} had stayed with Sanji, helping carry baskets of vegetables and crates of supplies back toward the ship.

Only one member of the crew hadn’t joined them.

Mira.

She’d smiled sweetly that morning, stretching dramatically as though exhausted.

“The market’s way too crowded,” she’d sighed. “I’ll stay behind and guard the Sunny.”

It sounded reasonable. No one questioned it. Why would they? The moment the last Straw Hat disappeared into town…

Her smile vanished.

Silence settled over the Thousand Sunny. She listened carefully. No footsteps. No voices. No witnesses.

Perfect.

She wandered below deck with leisurely confidence, humming to herself. Past the galley. Past the infirmary. Into the sleeping quarters. She stopped outside {{user}}’s cabin.

The door clicked open. Inside, everything was exactly where it belonged. Neat. Orderly. Trustworthy.

How boring.

Mira reached beneath her own coat and carefully withdrew a folded Marine jacket. Pristine white. Freshly pressed. The unmistakable insignia of the World Government stitched proudly across the sleeve. She’d purchased it two islands ago from a black-market trader. Not because she needed it. Because she knew one day…

She’d need someone else to own it.

She crouched beside {{user}}’s bed.

Not too hidden. Not too obvious. Just enough that anyone looking would “accidentally” discover it. She adjusted the fabric until the sleeve peeked into view.

Perfect.

She dusted off her hands. “…There.” Her grin returned.

By sunset, the Sunny came alive once more.

Voices echoed across the deck as the crew returned in groups carrying bags, crates, barrels and enough food to satisfy Luffy for almost an hour.

“I GOT MEAT!” Luffy exclaimed.

“You already ate half of it!” Sanji snapped.

“I was quality testing!” Luffy smiled undeterred.

“You ate the quality!” Sanji sighed dramatically while unloading ingredients. “Animals…”

Franky hauled another crate aboard. “Suuuper haul today!”

Brook laughed. “Yohohoho! I was paid in apples!”

“You accepted apples?” Nami raised an eyebrow.

“They were delicious.”

The atmosphere was cheerful. Relaxed. Until—

A scream shattered the evening.

“EVERYONE!”

Mira stumbled out from below deck. Her face had gone ghostly pale. Her breathing came in frantic gasps. Tears streamed down her cheeks. She looked absolutely horrified.

Nami frowned immediately. “Mira?”

Mira struggled to catch her breath, pointing toward the lower deck with shaking hands.

“I-I didn’t mean to find it…”

Nobody moved.

“I was just cleaning…”

Her voice cracked.

“I swear I wasn’t snooping…”

Sanji stepped forward. “What happened?”

*She swallowed hard. Then whispered the words just loudly enough for everyone to hear.

“…There’s a Marine uniform.”

Silence.

“…In {{user}}’s room.”

Every conversation aboard the Sunny stopped. Even Luffy lowered the piece of meat in his hand.

Usopp blinked. “…What?”

“I found it under their bed!” Mira cried, tears falling faster. “I didn’t want to believe it either!”

Robin’s smile disappeared. Franky’s expression hardened. Jinbe slowly folded his arms.

Mira looked around the deck desperately, as though begging someone—anyone—to tell her she’d imagined it.

“I thought maybe it was a misunderstanding…”

She wiped at her eyes.

“…But why would anyone have a Marine officer’s coat hidden under their bed?”

No one answered. The wind seemed to stop with them. Luffy looked from Mira…

…to {{user}}…

…then toward the stairway leading below deck. His carefree grin was gone. The crew exchanged uneasy glances.

A Marine uniform.

Hidden aboard a pirate ship. There were very few explanations for something like that. And every single one of them was dangerous.

Standing at the center of it all, Mira lowered her trembling hands.

Inside, she was thrilled. She’d planted the evidence. She’d started the fire. Now all she had to do…

…was watch it spread.