ONE PEICE: LONG ROAD

In the early morning, the East Blue sea shimmered under the golden sunlight, its calm waves a soft rhythm against the shore. Overhead, a flock of gulls—the same kind that often followed pirate ships or marine vessels—circled, diving into the sea with precision. Each dive brought forth flopping fish, their silver scales reflecting the sun like jewels scattered on water. The sea breeze carried the faint scent of salt and adventure, blending with the rhythmic crash of waves against the beach.

On that beach, a boy lay motionless. His pale skin betrayed the hours spent adrift in the ocean, his body drained of vitality. His brows were furrowed, lips cracked and parched as though he had been fighting against the inevitability of the sea's unforgiving grasp. The faint groan that escaped his lips broke the silence of the tranquil morning.

"Water…" Wang Li croaked, his voice hoarse from dehydration. He struggled to move, but his limbs were too weak, weighed down by exhaustion. After several futile attempts to stand, he resigned himself to his prone position, the rough texture of the sand grounding him to reality.

The scene around him was eerily picturesque—the golden beach stretching endlessly, the distant waves carrying memories of both life and death. As Wang Li's vision swirled, fragments of unfamiliar memories surged forward, crashing into his mind like waves against the shore. His body writhed in pain as two identities vied for dominance in his thoughts.

"A… merchant ship… pirates… Simon… who am I?" Wang Li murmured, his voice a mixture of confusion and agony. "Am I… Wang Li? Or… Simon?" The struggle within his mind grew unbearable, forcing him into unconsciousness once more.

Wang Li dreamed of floating in a milk-colored sea. Sweet and cool, the liquid seemed to rejuvenate him as he gulped it down greedily. But before he could enjoy it further, a massive wave rose and crashed onto him, suffocating him in its creamy depths.

"Cough… cough…" Wang Li's eyes fluttered open. The warmth of sunlight greeted him, and he realized he was no longer in the water but lying under the shade of a coconut tree. A faint taste of sweetness lingered on his lips.

"You're awake," a voice chirped, startling him.

Wang Li turned to see a boy standing nearby, hands hidden behind his back as though concealing something. His messy hair and small frame were reminiscent of a young Luffy, but the boy's demeanor was entirely different—serious yet innocent.

"Who are you?" Wang Li asked warily.

"I'm Siby," the boy replied, puffing out his chest proudly. "I saved you, so you owe me a thank-you."

"Thank you, Siby," Wang Li said, forcing a weak smile. "My name is Wang Li… but where am I?"

"This is Xibei Village," Siby explained matter-of-factly. "How did you end up washed ashore? Did you fall off a ship or something?"

Before Wang Li could respond, a dull ache rippled through his head as fragments of Simon's life came into sharper focus. Simon, a boy from a merchant ship attacked by pirates, had escaped into the sea, only to be claimed by its endless expanse. As realization dawned on Wang Li, he whispered to himself, "This isn't my body… but it's still me."

"Hey! Stop ignoring me!" Siby yelled, tossing a coconut toward Wang Li.

The coconut landed near him, spilling its contents—milky white liquid that Wang Li now recognized as the source of his earlier confusion. "You fed me coconut water?" Wang Li asked, piecing together the evidence.

Siby scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "Well, yeah. You looked like you needed it."

"Almost choked me to death, though," Wang Li teased, his lips curling into a rare smile.

"Hmph! I'm generous, so I'll forgive your rudeness this time," Siby declared, crossing his arms dramatically.

Wang Li chuckled. For the first time in years, someone's company didn't feel suffocating or judgmental. "So, are we friends now?" Wang Li asked softly.

Siby's face lit up. "Of course! From now on, we're best friends!"

The sincerity in Siby's words struck a chord in Wang Li's heart. He had never known what it felt like to have a friend—someone who saw him not with disdain or pity but with genuine warmth.

"Thank you," Wang Li said, his voice trembling with emotion. "I guess we're friends, Mr. Siby."

"Good! Now let's get you some food. You look like you haven't eaten in days!" Siby exclaimed, dragging Wang Li toward the village.

As they walked, their footprints marked the sandy shore—one set small and carefree, the other hesitant but growing steadier. Behind them, the tide slowly crept forward, washing away their marks. But even as the waves erased the physical traces of their meeting, the bond they had formed remained unshaken.

Wang Li glanced at Siby, who was already rambling about his plans to become a Navy officer and defeat every pirate in the world. In that moment, Wang Li felt something he hadn't experienced in a long time—hope.

The waves may erase their footprints, but nothing could wash away the friendship now etched in their hearts.