You to Orange Town and I to Foosha Village

by sr_6001

Summary:

Ace and Luffy, two brothers separated at an early age due to their parents' divorce. Although the two are not related by blood, their resemblance is remarkable. Ace lives in Orange Town (located in London, England) with Buggy, who is a famous fashion designer. For his part, Luffy resides in Foosha Village (located in California, USA) with Shanks, who is a winegrower.

Neither of them remembers the existence of the other, but fate causes them to meet by chance at Grand Line Camp. Before returning home, the two hatch a plan to reunite their parents, but there is a problem that they did not count on... Shanks plans to marry an old friend of his, Makino.

Or... A Parent Trap!AU where Shanks and Buggy are the divorced parents of Ace and Luffy!!

Notes:

Hello there!
I'm excited to say that this fanfic is finally here!!!

I've been working on this story for 9 months now and building up the whole world and how the story is going to unfold took longer than I had planned. But finally here it is.
This is my first time writing a story so please feel free to leave me your comments and I apologize in advance for any spelling mistakes and grammar errors, English is not my first language.

Without further ado, I hope you enjoy it ♡

Chapter 1

Notes:

CHAPTER 1. THEN AND NOW

The waves gently caress the side of the ship, which, despite its age, sails across the Atlantic with unyielding elegance. The sun bids farewell on the horizon, its golden rays illuminating the gleaming letters that give name to this imposing vessel: "Oro Jackson." Inside the main hall, music plays, barely louder than the fireworks bursting in the sky from the stern. A special event is being celebrated on this ship, something long-awaited and anticipated.

Before the altar, hand in hand, red and blue vow eternal love. And as they place the ring on each other’s finger, they both become complete.

Candles and flowers elegantly decorate the hall; the couple, arm in arm, is welcomed with applause and cheers from their loved ones as they enter.

To commemorate such a special occasion, an exquisite meal is served, accompanied by a special drink reserved only for the newlyweds, "Binks Brew."

In the center of the dance floor, among the other couples, the long white tail of the groom’s suit, with hair like ocean waves, swirls with each turn caused by his partner—his husband. Amid laughter and with the soft music as a backdrop, their gazes meet, eyes full of love and longing; they slowly draw closer until their lips meet in a sweet, tender kiss. The young man with blue hair, one hand still holding the bouquet of tulips, roses, and camellias, wraps his arms around his beloved’s neck; meanwhile, the redhead’s hands gently slide to embrace his adored one’s waist. The music becomes a distant murmur, and their hearts beat in unison; in that moment, only the two of them matter.

Near dawn, just before the night ends, a silver-haired gentleman with glasses and a distinguished scar over his right eye approaches the couple with a camera in hand. —“ Such a beautiful night deserves a great photo for the memories ”— he says. The newlyweds look at each other, smitten by their love. They know they should turn towards the camera, but they can't tear their eyes away from each other, sweetly appreciating every detail, even the smallest one. Their love is so deep and special that, even in the photograph, the bond that unites them can be felt. A bond that will last forever, unbreakable, even in the face of adversity.

Or at least, that was how it was supposed to be...

“Okay, now I think you’re exaggerating.”

“Exaggerating?! Do you really think I’m exaggerating?!”

As the years passed, the lives of the two lovers changed, and thanks to various events, the married couple ended up becoming a family of four, and they became parents of two precious children. Both loved those two kids with all their hearts, but their relationship was being strained by the challenges of parenthood.

“Yes. I think you’re making this bigger than it really is.” Shanks speaks slowly and calmly, trying to keep the conversation peaceful.

“And you’re not taking this seriously! Just like you always do!!”, Buggy exclaims exasperated.

Shanks closes his eyes and takes a breath. “Buggy... nothing bad happened, the kids are fine.” The redhead’s tone starts to change. This isn’t the first time they’ve had this kind of argument, and frankly, he’s starting to get fed up.

“But something almost did happen!! Damn it Shanks, they could have gotten hurt! Don’t you realize that?!”, Buggy doesn’t back down and confronts his husband.

“They’re fine! They were just playing!”, Shanks finally raises his voice. “Why do you always have to see things from the negative side?!”

“How can you minimize this?! Don’t you care about the kids?!”, Buggy is on the verge of hysteria, unable to believe how indifferent the redhead is acting. “Why is everything always a damn game to you?!”

“Well, sorry for not being as uptight as some people!”, Shanks responds irritably; already annoyed with the direction the fight is taking, he didn't measure his words and he didn’t realize what he’s said until he saw the stunned look on the blue-haired man’s face.

“...what the hell?”, Buggy is stunned. Did Shanks really just say that? “What the hell are you trying to say with that?!”

“...nothing, I didn’t mean anything.”, Shanks avoids Buggy’s accusing gaze.

“No, no, no! Come on, say it!”, the blue-haired man demands, agitated. Did his husband, the person he loves most, just insult him? “What the hell did you mean by that, Shanks?!”

“Buggy...”

“SAY IT!” 

“With you it is always having to proceed with caution! You always have to stop and think about how things can go wrong!”, Shanks responds angrily. “Can’t you just let it go and enjoy the moment?!”

“Well, one of us has to use their head and think about the situation! And since your stupid, useless brain isn’t capable of that, I have to do that for both of us!! Especially when it comes to the kids!!”, Buggy exclaims on the verge of tears.

“You’re not letting them breathe!! That’s your problem! You think you always have to be there, hovering over them, making sure nothing ever happens to them, but that’s not it! They need to be able to do things for themselves, fend for themselves, and face challenges!”

“Damn it Shanks, they’re kids!! Ace is 3 years old, and Luffy is 2! Tell me how exactly they’re supposed to fend for themselves?!”

Shanks stares at Buggy. After a moment, he sighs and shakes his head, “...this isn’t how Roger and Garp would have wanted us to raise the kids.”

“Well, too bad! I’m not raising my kids the way others would have wanted; I’m raising them thinking about them! About their safety and their well-being!”, Buggy’s voice begins to break.

“You’re raising them the way YOU think they should be raised!”, Shanks accuses.

“...what does that mean?”, Once again, Shanks’ words leave Buggy stunned.

Shanks takes a moment to respond. He made a promise when Roger and Garp entrusted the children to them and left them in their care. He promised himself that he would do everything possible to raise them as Roger had with them, just as both he and Buggy were raised. He can’t understand why the blue-haired man is so against this. 

“You can’t just set aside everything we were taught and impose your idea of parenting. I’m trying to do what’s best for Ace and Luffy. What you’re doing is wrong. It’s not the right way to raise them.”

Silence reigns after that comment from the redhead. Shanks sighs once more; he finds it truly exhausting to argue with the blue-haired man. 

“...Buggy, God knows how many times I’ve gone along with you even when I didn’t agree, but this, this isn’t something I can let go.” The redhead says, already tired of trying to get his point across..

Tears threaten to fall, but Buggy doesn’t allow himself to cry, “...wow… so it finally came out.” His voice is shaking, “Well, sorry for always making you do things you didn’t want to do, Shanks”, the blue-haired man turns and gives his back to the redhead.

“Buggy... don’t take it like that.” Shanks tries to approach his husband, but he rejects him.

“No, no, you’re right! It’s always been like this! Since we were kids, we’ve always been opposites!! We’ve always argued and fought! And we think very differently from each other!” Buggy is in a state of hysteria, moving around the room where they were, trying to put distance between them every time the redhead tries to get closer to him.

“Bug...”, Shanks extends his arms towards Buggy, trying to reach him with the idea of calming him down.

“I don’t know how we ended up like this, HAHA. How the hell did we end up together?! We’re so damn different!!” The tears finally overflow. Buggy discreetly tries to wipe them away, but it’s in vain; they keep flowing from his eyes. Giving up, his hands end up covering his face.

“...wait…”, Shanks tries to speak to his husband. He feels the situation is getting out of control and doesn’t know what to do. “...Buggy, wait, I didn’t-”

“Maybe we were never meant to be together.” Buggy says as calmly as if it were a matter of fact, his voice devoid of any emotion.

Shanks feels like he’s been struck. The air leaves his lungs, and he stops breathing. His eyes widen and begin to water. He feels a lump in his throat, he tries to speak, but the words die in his mouth.

“Maybe… maybe it would be better if....”, Buggy murmurs to himself.

“...Blue…”, Shanks’ voice breaks as he utters this nickname.

Hearing the redhead call him that, Buggy turned to look at Shanks. Neither dared to continue. In a moment, everything that had just happened and the things that were said came back to them. They looked at each other, their eyes reflecting the pain caused by that argument.

Like many other arguments before this one, the two walked away without resolving the dilemma. And like the others, they both held back things they wished they could say to each other.

Unlike the other arguments, this one felt different, and they both knew it.

 

.

.

.

 

10 YEARS LATER

The breeze blows gently, forming small ripples on the surface of the lake. On the shore, at the dock, a few small canoes are tied up, specially designed for children. Laughter and murmurs are heard everywhere, and amid the bustle, the sound of a horn echoes. A caravan of three buses crosses under a majestic wooden arch that bears the name "GRAND LINE CAMP" engraved at the top.

Onyx-colored eyes light up with excitement, and with a grin from ear to ear, two voices from opposite ends shout in unison: — “Wooooow! We’re here!”—  The tone is identical, the energy the same, so similar it’s surprising they come from two different people. Both are eager to start the camp, not even imagining that their lives are about to change forever.

Chapter 2

Notes:

CHAPTER 2. ONE STEP CLOSER TO YOU

The excitement was palpable as the children, brimming with energy and anticipation, got off the bus, eager to explore every inch of the camp. Counselors did their best to maintain order, but the task was nearly impossible amidst the cheerful chaos.

At the heart of the camp, amid the noise and chatter, a man with jet-black hair and glasses stepped onto a bench, megaphone in hand. His posture commanded authority, though his expression remained calm.

“Good morning, campers! Welcome to Camp Grand Line! My name is Sengoku, and I’m the camp director. This grumpy gentleman here,” he gestured to the man beside him, “is Garp, your head counselor” who, with his trademark scowl, responded with a low growl. 

Sengoku continued, unfazed with the other’s behavior, “Please locate and collect your belongings as quickly as possible. We’ve got an exciting day packed with activities ahead. Now, I’ll hand the megaphone to Garp so he can announce your cabin assignments.”

With a sharp motion, Garp grabbed the megaphone. His booming voice erupted like thunder, blasting directly into Sengoku’s ear, who winced and glared at him in annoyance.

“LISTEN UP, BRATS, BECAUSE I’M ONLY SAYING THIS ONCE! Dalton, Koza, Pell, Chaka—Cabin 7. Vivi, Shirahoshi, Rebecca, Sugar—Cabin 2. Coby, Helmeppo, Pr—HEY! SHUT UP AND PAY ATTENTION!!—Prince, Cabin 9...”

While cabin assignments were being called, a small boy with messy black hair and a signature straw hat darted through the crowd, his eyes scanning every direction until they landed on a massive pile of luggage.

“Awesome! There’s my stuff!” he exclaimed with excitement as he dashed toward the heap.

Just as he reached out to grab his bag, more suitcases were thrown onto the pile, catching him off guard and sending him stumbling backward until he landed flat on his backside.

“Hey! What’s the big idea? You wanna fight or something?!” he shouted, visibly irritated as he sprang to his feet, glaring at the bus drivers unloading the bags.

One of the drivers, a burly man with a gruff demeanor, looked down at him with disdain. “What’s your problem, brat? Don't bother me,” he barked, his tone intimidating despite addressing a child.

The other driver, wearing dark sunglasses and an unsettling smirk, placed a hand on his colleague’s shoulder. “Let it go, Sakazuki,” he said in a mockingly calm voice. “Not worth the trouble over a little kiddo.”

The two men turned and climbed back onto the bus. As it drove away, the boy stuck out his tongue and pulled an exaggerated face at them.

Determined, he turned back to the luggage pile. His bag was now buried deep beneath the others.

“Come on! Get out of there!! Get out!!” he grunted, tugging at the bag with all his might. “Get out, you stupid—!”

“You must be new here,” a voice said from behind him.

The boy whirled around, startled. “How’d you know that?! Can you read minds?!”

A blond boy with spiraled eyebrows stood nearby, watching him with an amused smile. “Only a newbie would pick a fight with the bus drivers. Or, as we like to call them…” He struck an exaggeratedly dramatic pose. “The Three Fearsome Admirals!”

“The Three Fearsome Admirals?! That’s so cool!” The straw-hat boy’s eyes sparkled with awe. “Are they strong? Can we fight them?!”

The blond looked at him like he was crazy. “What are you talking about? Of course not. Those brutes just drop us off and disappear until the summer ends. They don’t really do much.”

The boy’s disappointment was evident, making the blond chuckle. “Don't worry, there's always the possibility of ending up in a fight with someone here. There's never a single quiet day in the camp.”

“Really?! Awesome!!” The straw-hat boy jumped in excitement, already bubbling over at the thought of potential sparring adversaries.

“Here, let me help you with your bag. Ah, my name’s Sanji by the way.”

“I’m Luffy!!”

Together, they pulled at the buried bag, but it wouldn’t budge.

“Ugh! It’s really stuck!” Luffy complained, frustrated.

“You should’ve grabbed it before those apes tossed more luggage on top,” Sanji sighed, taking a breather. “I don’t think it’s coming out anytime soon.”

At that moment, a green-haired boy approached the pile. With one hand, he effortlessly lifted his backpack from the heap. Satisfied, he turned to leave—though, for some reason, he was walking in the opposite direction of the camp.

“Whoa! That was amazing!” Luffy exclaimed, his eyes wide with admiration.

Sanji cupped his hands around his mouth. “Hey, moss-head with brute strength!” he shouted.

The green-haired boy stopped in his tracks, he turned visibly annoyed by the nickname. “What did you just call me?”

Ignoring the tension, Luffy bounded over to him, invading his personal space. “That was awesome!! How’d you do that? You’re incredible!”

Caught off guard by Luffy’s enthusiasm, the green-haired boy looked away. “It was nothing…”

“Hey, can you help me get my bag out? It’s stuck under all this stuff,” Luffy asked with a dazzling grin.

The boy hesitated for a moment. “... sure,” he finally said. With the same ease as before, he pulled out the bag Luffy pointed to. “Here you go.”

“Wow! You’re amazing!” Luffy exclaimed, his eyes sparkling.

The boy’s cheeks turned slightly pink. “It’s no big deal…” He tried to avoid looking into Luffy’s eyes as he was handing over the bag; “I’m Zoro…”, still wanting to continue the conversation the green-haired boy added softly, “...nice hat.”

“Thanks!! My dad gave it to me before I came here!” Luffy said proudly, holding his straw hat with a beaming smile.

Sanji smirked at the interaction. “What’s with you, moss-head? Why so friendly all of a sudden?”

“Shut up, curly-brow!” Zoro snapped, his face flushing red as he prepared to lunge at Sanji.

Before the argument could escalate, Garp’s voice boomed across the camp. “Luffy! Monkey D. Luffy!! Where are you, brat?!”

“Here!” Luffy waved enthusiastically.

“Pay attention!! Cabin 3!”

“Awesome! That’s my cabin too!” Sanji said, grinning.

“Ugh, why do I have to share a cabin with you?” Zoro groaned at Sanji, making Luffy turn to look at him happily.

“Wait, does that mean you’re in Cabin 3 too?! Great!!! Let’s go together!!” Luffy cheered, ready to sprint off.

Zoro grabbed his arm just in time. “Idiot! Watch where you’re going!” he scolded as a limousine rolled past, narrowly missing Luffy.

“Phew, that was close,” Sanji sighed in relief.

Luffy, completely unfazed, watched the limousine drive away with curiosity. He doesn't even seem to care that he almost had an accident just 10 minutes after arriving at the camp.

Zoro scowled in its direction with contempt, “Who the hell rides in something like that to a camp?”,  he says irritated.

Luffy laughed at Zoro's comment. “Doesn’t matter! Come on, let’s go find our cabin!!” he exclaimed, dashing off recklessly again.

“This kid is totally carefree” , is what goes through Zoro and Sanji's minds as they rush to catch up with Luffy.

Meanwhile, the limousine came to a halt in the very center of the camp. The rear doors opened gracefully, and out stepped a sharply dressed man. Despite the stifling heat, he wore a full black suit complete with a tie, which was odd enough. But what truly caught the attention was his peculiar hairstyle—a perfectly sculpted number three atop his head.

The man scanned the campgrounds with a mix of distaste and disbelief, struggling to mask his feelings as he held the door open for the next passenger.

A boy with dark hair and freckled cheeks emerged, his face lit up with a bright smile and eyes sparkling with excitement. He carried a backpack and a small travel case. The contrast between him and the rest of the campers was undeniable—not only because of his extravagant mode of transportation but also his meticulously curated clothing, which clearly were from brands few could even pronounce.

The man closed the limousine door, looking around the campgrounds suspiciously. “We’ve arrived at Camp Grand Line,” he announced, pausing to observe his surroundings with disdain. “So, we traveled all the way from Orange Town for... this?”

The boy, unable to contain his enthusiasm replied with glee, “Why such a sour tone? I think it’s a delightful place!” Twirling on his heels, he spun around to admire the surroundings. “Don’t you think so, Galdino?”

Galdino joined the chauffeur at the back of the limousine to help unload the rest of the boy’s belongings. He cast a disdainful look over the camp, “‘Delightful’ isn’t quite the word I’d use,” he muttered, pulling back instinctively at the sight of insects and small animals swarming nearby. His expression worsened when a group of rowdy children raced by, nearly bumping into him.

Pulling a small notebook and pen from his jacket, Galdino cleared his throat. “Let’s go through the checklist your mother prepared, shall we?”

The boy groaned and rolled his eyes playfully as the man began reciting the list. 

“Vitamins?”

“Yes, I’ve got them.”

“Minerals?”

“Check.”

“Daily servings of fruits and vegetables?”

“Yep,” the boy replied dismissively, earning a suspicious glance from Galdino. “One for fruits, and one for vegetables. Keep going.”

“Sunblock? Ointments? Insect repellent? Envelopes? Stamps?...”

The boy began to laugh under his breath as the list grew increasingly absurd. But he knew his mother too well—every item had a justification, no matter how elaborate.

Galdino continued undeterred. “Photographs of your mother? Your grandfather? And, of course, of your esteemed butler—yours truly?” He finished with a dramatic gesture, pointing proudly at himself.

The boy grinned, nodding. “Yes, yes, I have it all.”

Satisfied, Galdino tucked the notebook back into his pocket, preparing to leave when the boy’s soft voice made him pause.

“Thanks for bringing me here,” the boy said sincerely.

Galdino’s expression softened, his eyes grew misty as he leaned down to embrace the child tightly. The boy returned the hug with equal warmth. Holding back tears, Galdino looked him in the eyes, holding him by the shoulders, “Remember, if you change your mind and want me to come get you when the camp ends instead of coming back by yourself, all you have to do is call. I’ll be here in a flash.”

“Thanks, but I’ll be fine. Don’t worry about me.” The boy smiled tenderly. “See you in eight weeks, dear friend.”

Galdino ruffled the boy’s hair affectionately. “I’ll miss you, Commander,” he said, using the playful title they shared. He extended his hand for a formal farewell, but the boy smirked knowingly.

They launched into their secret handshake—an elaborate ritual of clapping, finger-snapping, and fist-bumping, complete with an imaginary explosion sound at the end. Stepping forward, they switched places, ending the handshake with a final clasp of hands.

“ Proof that we’re family .” 

Galdino still remembered fondly those words the boy told him when he taught him the handshake years ago. He gave the boy’s head one last affectionate pat. “Have fun.”

“I will.”

The boy watched as Galdino climbed back into the limousine. Before entering, Galdino turned for one final wave, struggling to hold back tears. “Goodbye!” he called.

“Ciao!” the boy replied with a playful grin.

Galdino huffed softly, smiled to himself, and disappeared into the limousine, instructing the driver to take him to the airport.

As the limousine vanished down the road, the boy felt a surge of excitement. This was the beginning of an adventure—one he was determined to enjoy to the fullest. He couldn't wait to see all the things he was going to experience. Gathering his belongings as best he could, he turned toward the camp but stopped abruptly.

An older man with gray hair was watching him.

They stared at each other in silence, neither moving nor speaking. The man’s expression was hard to decipher, and the boy felt an inexplicable wave of nostalgia, as though he’d seen this man somewhere before.

Finally, the man spoke in a slow, deliberate voice. “...Are you Portgas D. Ace?”

“Yes, that’s me…” Ace replied cautiously.

The silence stretched again as Ace studied the man, “Why is this old man looking at me like that? What’s his deal?” The strange feeling of familiarity lingered, but Ace couldn’t place it.

Breaking the silence, the man said calmly, “You’re assigned to Cabin 8. Hurry up; camp activities are about to begin.”

The uncertainty vanished instantly, replaced by Ace’s natural excitement. “Thanks, old man!” he shouted with a grin as he hurried off.

“Who are you calling old man?!” the man barked indignantly.

Garp watched Ace run off, a mixture of emotions crossing his face. He sighed and took a moment to himself. Seeing Ace’s name on the new campers’ list hadn’t prepared him for the reality of seeing the boy in person. After what happened ten years ago, he thought he would never see the freckled boy again.

The image of a boy in a straw hat quickly comes to his mind. Garp chuckles softly to himself, “This year’s camp will be very interesting ,” he thinks. Turning toward the main hall, Garp began walking not wanting to miss a single moment of what’s to come.

Notes:

Hello there!
Hope you enjoyed the second chapter and I'm very sorry for the long delay. A lot has happened in the last few months but finally! the next chapter is here.

A reminder that this is my first time writing a story so I apologize for any spelling mistakes and grammar errors, English is not my first language. And please feel free to leave me your comments, it may take me a while to respond, but I love seeing them.

You can find me on Twitter (X) and TikTok as @sr_6001
Until next chapter!! *.+

Chapter 3

Summary:

CHAPTER 3. LIKE LOOKING IN A MIRROR

As he walked through the camp, Ace couldn’t help but stop and take in every little corner that caught his attention. Everything was new to him: the wooden cabins, the tall trees and oaks that surrounded the grounds, the lake that stretched across the center of the camp...

It was his first time traveling alone—and so far from home. His excitement kept him so occupied that every small detail felt fascinating.

He shook his head gently, trying to regain focus. He had already bumped into someone earlier for not paying attention.

“I shouldn’t get distracted… I have to get to my cabin,” he murmured to himself, adjusting the grip on his belongings.

As he looked around, he realized he had completely wandered off the path and ended up in a totally different section of the camp.

“Where the hell am I now?” he muttered under his breath.

Looking around for help, he finally spotted an older woman with a firm presence—her graying hair neatly tied up, a stern face, and a uniform marking her as one of the camp supervisors.

“Hi… excuse me, where can I find cabin eight?” he asked politely as he approached.

The woman didn’t respond right away. She looked at him in silence, her brow slightly furrowed and her expression hard to read. The silence stretched long enough to make the boy uncomfortable, shifting in place as he waited for some kind of response.

“What’s up with the old people around here? Are all the adults in this camp this weird…?” he thought, annoyed.

Finally, the woman replied, a hint of uncertainty in her voice, “You… didn’t you already come by asking about cabin three? Did you get lost again?”

Ace tilted his head, “What are you talking about?” he asked, confused. “I’m looking for cabin eight...”

The woman narrowed her eyes for a moment, staring at him again. Then she let out a light sigh and shrugged her shoulders with resignation.

“Cabin eight is down the eastern trail. Go back the way you came, take that straight path, and don’t wander off,” she said, pointing with an outstretched arm.

“Thank you very much!” Ace said with a big smile before heading off.

Tsuru watched him walk away for a few seconds, her gaze fixed on his back as he disappeared into the camp’s bustling crowd.

“That boy… I could swear…” she murmured softly, but left the sentence unfinished.

She sighed tiredly, closed her eyes for a moment, and brought two fingers to her temples, massaging them slowly in a gesture of exhaustion. “I’m getting too old for this…”

Ace clutched his belongings as best he could and walked at a near-trot toward his cabin, skillfully dodging a pair of campers who ran past without looking where they were going.

"Follow me, everyone! The incredible Captain Usopp will lead the way!"

"I already told you! I'm the captain here!"

Luffy’s excitement for camp skyrocketed even more when they arrived at their cabin and met the fourth member of their group: a boy with a long nose and afro hair, whose charisma and lively personality made it easy to get along with him... or at least until the boy proclaimed himself the “Captain” of the cabin. Which, that of course, instantly ignited the boy with the straw hat—sparking an absurd but fiery argument between the two.

Even though Sanji stepped in, reminding them that they had to head to the main cabin for lunch, the two continued their argument along the way.

“Are they really fighting over something so ridiculous?” Sanji muttered as he watched Luffy and Usopp.

Every time one of them took the lead, the other would speed up to get in front, while Zoro and Sanji followed behind, resigned to witnessing the absurd rivalry.

Luffy shouted, frustrated.

“I’m the captain! So I’ll be the one guiding the group!” he yelled before dashing off at full speed, leaving the others behind.

“That idiot… once again he takes off without watching where he’s going,” Zoro grumbled, hurrying to catch up with the straw hat.

“We’d better catch up before something happens,” Sanji said with a sigh, glancing at Usopp.

Luffy ran ahead, laughing, and not paying attention to the path—until he crashed into someone. “Ouch!” he yelped, stumbling back a couple of steps and raising a hand to his sore forehead.

“That hurt…” he said, lifting his gaze to the person he had bumped into.

Standing in front of him was a tall man with a calm expression. His face, partially marked by scars, radiated a mysterious sense of serenity. He walked with the help of a wooden cane.

As Luffy looked at him more closely, he noticed something strange about the man’s eyes—like he couldn’t actually see him.

The man let out a soft, almost amused chuckle. “You might want to pay a little more attention to where you're walking. Camp’s barely started and this is the second time we've run into each other like this.”

Luffy tilted his head, “Second time?” he asked, confused. “What are you talking about, old man?”

The man tilted his face slightly, as if trying to sense something beyond what his eyes could reach.

“Hmm… I couldn’t forget someone with such a kind aura like… yours…” he finished with a note of uncertainty. Frowning gently, he paused for a moment before continuing.

“How strange… is this maybe the first time we’ve met?”

Luffy let out a quiet laugh. “You're really weird. I’m Luffy! Nice to meet you!”

The man raised his eyebrows, surprised by the name.

“Luffy…?”

“Idiot!” Zoro suddenly appeared, grabbing Luffy by the back of his shirt. “I told you to stop running around without looking. How do you keep getting yourself into trouble?”

“Sorry, sorry!” Luffy laughed with his usual carefree tone, unfazed by Zoro’s scolding. “Well, bye, mister cane man!” he said cheerfully, waving as Zoro dragged him off toward Sanji and Usopp.

The man stood alone. His calm expression turned thoughtful as he rested both hands on the top of his cane.

“How curious… I’ve never mistaken two people before,” Fujitora murmured. “Luffy… Ace…”

He stayed silent for a few more seconds. He remembered hearing those names before, mentioned more than once by Garp. For some reason, every time the older man spoke of them, it was with a mix of pride and deep melancholy—as if those memories weighed more heavily than he’d ever admit.

“Why were you picking a fight?!” Zoro asked as he dragged Luffy into the mess hall. The group of four joined one of the lines to serve themselves from the food already laid out in the center of the room.

“I wasn’t! But that old guy was really funny,” Luffy replied with a chuckle.

“What do you mean?” Sanji asked, curious.

“He was a really weird guy. He said something like it was the second time we’d met… but I’ve never seen him before.”

Zoro frowned, thoughtful. “Maybe he got confused and didn’t know what he was saying. He was an old blind man, after all.”

“Hey! That’s rude,” Usopp scolded him immediately.

The main cabin was filling with noise as more and more campers trickled in, their chatter and laughter swelling as they lined up for food.

As soon as Luffy reached the table, he eagerly began piling massive amounts of food onto his plate without a second thought.

“Leave some for the rest of us!” Zoro snapped, giving him a smack on the head.

At that moment, Sengoku approached with his usual calm demeanor. “It’s nice to see the new campers so full of energy… and with such an appetite,” he commented, before settling near the dessert section of the table.

“Don’t you want some cherry pie?” he offered Luffy, pointing at the pastry with a knife.

Luffy made an exaggerated face of disgust. “Nope, I don’t like cherry pie!”

“As you wish,” Sengoku said with a shrug. He then turned to the boy on his left. “And you? Would you like a slice?”

Ace turned to look at him and replied politely, “No thank you… I really don't like cherry pie.”

Sengoku nodded and continued cutting his slice. “Yes, I know. You just… told me that… wait a second…”

He quickly turned to his right—but Luffy was no longer there. He looked back at Ace, confused.

“How did you get over there?”

Ace frowned, puzzled. “What are you talking about?”

Sengoku blinked several times, rubbing his eyes beneath his glasses and muttering to himself,
“I think the first day of camp is always exhausting. All the noise and paperwork… I must be seeing double… or hallucinating…”

Ace watched Sengoku, who had started mumbling to himself. “ Yeah… all the adults here are definitely weird…”, he thought, smiling in amusement as he walked away with his tray.

Sengoku kept murmuring, distracted. “And it doesn’t help that that old man won’t cooperate… in fact, he’s been really distracted and acting strange ever since this all started…”

He turned to look for Ace again, but the boy was gone. In his place was Garp, casually serving himself food like nothing was happening.

“I think the one who’s distracted is you, hahahaha!” Garp let out a carefree laugh.

Sengoku frowned in irritation. “Shut up, Garp!”

Garp looked at the cherry pie, thoughtful.

“Distracted, huh? Could be… There’s something that’s had me really excited lately.”

Sengoku eyed him suspiciously. “What are you up to now?”

Garp cast him a sideways glance, still smiling.

“Nothing you need to worry about…”

And with that, he walked off calmly. Sengoku followed him with his eyes and let out a long sigh.

“That only makes me worry more…”

After lunch ended and once Sengoku had made sure all the campers had eaten, he stood at the front of the mess hall and announced in a booming voice:

“All right! It’s time for our first official camp activity! One-on-one battles!”

The news caused an explosion of excitement among the kids. Voices rose with cheers and laughter as everyone rushed out toward the sparring grounds.

“Hurry, guys! The fun’s about to start!” Luffy shouted, running and bouncing with excitement.

“What’s so fun about fighting someone…?” Usopp grumbled, his voice shaky.

Luffy chuckled mischievously. “It’s to prove your courage!”

Usopp crossed his arms smugly. “Oh, well then I don’t need to do this. I’ve already fought hundreds of men. In fact! I command an army of a thousand soldiers!” he declared dramatically.

“A thousand soldiers?! Incredible!” Luffy exclaimed, eyes sparkling in awe.

“Idiot, he’s obviously lying,” Zoro and Sanji muttered in unison.

The four of them stood at the edge of the sparring area, watching the other campers’ matches while eagerly waiting for their turn.

In the center of the ring, a match was wrapping up. A blond-haired boy with a confident look had easily defeated his opponent.

“Well done, Marco!” someone called out from the crowd, followed by several cheers.

As the campers shifted around, Sengoku stepped forward with a list in hand to announce the next match.

“All right… the next battle will be between Portgas D. Ace and—”

“Luffy, you're up!” Garp interrupted loudly.

Sengoku immediately turned to him, looking both baffled and annoyed. But Garp didn’t look back; he was entirely focused on the sparring area, arms crossed, wearing an expectant expression.

Luffy stepped forward with a huge smile, excited, toward the center of the sparring grounds, while Zoro, Sanji, and Usopp cheered him on.

“Go get him, Luffy!” Zoro called out.

“You’ve got this, Luffy!” Sanji shouted.

On the other side of the area, his opponent was already waiting.

“Beat him, Luffy!” Usopp yelled, raising a fist in the air… but then he blinked several times, confused. He rubbed his eyes and looked again.

“Hey… are you guys seeing what I’m seeing?”

The excitement they felt just moments ago vanished in an instant. The three of them could only stare, confused, not really sure what was going on.

Sanji furrowed his brow, puzzled. “Uh… well… I think… Maybe it’s just…”

Zoro, meanwhile, remained completely still, staring in silence, mouth slightly agape.

“There are two Luffys?!” Usopp shouted. His voice echoed across the combat area.

But Luffy didn’t hear a thing. He stood completely still, facing his opponent. His smile had vanished.

The other boy was frozen too, equally confused. Ace stared back at Luffy, wide-eyed.

Luffy felt his chest tighten. Something stirred inside him… something familiar. He couldn’t place it, but somehow, it felt comforting.

And without understanding why—without knowing where the feeling came from…

…he suddenly felt an overwhelming urge to cry.

Notes:

Hello there!
I hope you enjoyed Chapter 3, and thank you so much for your patience during the long wait. A lot has been going on in my life—both personally and professionally—and I ended up taking some time to reflect and figure things out. I’m really sorry for not working on the story (nor any of my other projects) during that time.

I can’t promise exactly when the next chapter will be out, but I want you to know that I will try my best. I’m not abandoning this story. It holds a very special place in my heart, and I plan to see it through to the end, no matter how long it takes.

By the way, I made a Spotify playlist inspired by the story! If you want to listen and get more into the mood, feel free to check it out.
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3eTicE3Rkhl1so0g9sqZGJ?si=bac4da04053441d3

Also, just a quick reminder: this is my first time writing a story, so thank you for your patience with any grammar or spelling mistakes (English isn’t my first language). And please feel free to leave a comment—it might take me a bit to respond, but I truly love reading them. They made my day and they inspire me to continue ♡

You can find me on Twitter (X) and TikTok as @sr_6001
Until next chapter!! *.+

Series this work belongs to:

• Part 2 of Shuggy ParentTrap!AU