One Piece: Born to Betray

Makoto's grin blossomed — bright, harmless, so obviously a lie.

"Oh, hey! Look at you lot. I was just making a new friend." He gestured to Usopp with the knife like he was pointing out a stray puppy. "This is Captain Usopp. Brave warrior of the sea. Local hero. We were… bonding."

Usopp squeaked, tried to stand, but only squeaked louder.

"H-he said he was gonna off me—!"

Luffy gasped like someone told him the ocean had run out of meat.

"Makoto! You can't kill the friends you make!"

Makoto clicked his tongue, rolling his eyes at Luffy like he was the unreasonable one.

"Relax, Captain. He's still breathing, isn't he?" He ruffled Usopp's hair roughly. Usopp flinched so hard he nearly toppled over.

Luffy suddenly shoved his face nose-to-nose with Usopp's, squinting so hard his hat almost fell off.

"Hmm… you look kinda familiar. Do you know a guy named Yasopp?"

Usopp froze, eyes wide as dinner plates.

"Y-Yasopp?! That's my dad! Wait—how do you know my dad?!"

Luffy's grin exploded across his face.

"Shishishi! Knew it! Yasopp's the sniper on Shanks's crew! He's amazing — he showed me how to shoot stuff when I was a kid!"

Usopp's mouth opened and closed like a landed fish.

"My dad… is with Shanks?! THE Shanks? Red-Haired Shanks?!"

Nami glanced at Makoto, who just tilted his head, smirking like he already knew all of this.

Zoro raised an eyebrow, arms folded.

Taiga poked Usopp's cheek with her wooden sword. "Oi. Hey. Don't faint. You're our snack guide now, long nose."

Usopp looked like he might burst into tears or laughter — maybe both.

"He—he really stayed at sea all this time? With Shanks?! My dad's a real pirate hero?!"

Luffy beamed, nodding so fast his hat wobbled.

"Yup! He brags about you all the time too."

Makoto leaned back on his heels, watching Usopp's meltdown with sly amusement.

Usopp puffed up, tears drying into sheer, ridiculous pride.

"Damn right! I—I'm gonna be a brave warrior of the sea too! Just like my dad!"

Nami rolled her eyes.

"Alright, proud hero. Let's get the supplies before you do anything stupid."

…

The sun was dipping lower when the crew squeezed into the tiny restaurant at the edge of Syrup Village. It was the kind of place with mismatched chairs, chipped mugs, and the smell of home-cooked stew drifting out the open windows.

Luffy slammed himself down at the biggest table first. Taiga plopped beside him, balancing her wooden sword against the wall, while Makoto lounged across two chairs, boots kicked up with shameless disregard for manners.

Nami counted out their coins like a suspicious accountant. Zoro didn't bother sitting properly—he leaned back, chair teetering dangerously, bottle of sake already in hand. Usopp, still pink with pride from the earlier revelation, practically buzzed in his seat next to Luffy.

Plates clattered down—rice, grilled fish, cheap local beer, bowls of steaming soup. Luffy was already halfway through a loaf of bread by the time Nami finished scolding him for ordering extra meat.

Makoto just poked at a bowl of pickled vegetables with the tip of his blade, half-listening while Taiga muttered about stealing his portion later.

It was when Usopp, trying to look tough, leaned his elbows on the table and asked:

"Hey, Luffy. If you ever get rich—like really rich—what's the first treasure you'd buy?"

Luffy's mouth was stuffed so full he had to chew for a moment before answering. He paused, bread half-dangling, thinking way too hard. Then he grinned, wide and clear.

"I don't need to buy treasure. I already got the only one I need."

Usopp blinked. "Eh? What? You mean gold? Or a map? Or—"

Luffy tapped the brim of his straw hat, pushing it down to shadow his eyes.

"This."

Even Makoto, lazy eyes half-shut, cracked one open at that. Nami paused mid-sip. Zoro's chair tipped back a little more.

Usopp squinted. "That old hat? That's your treasure?"

Luffy's fingers brushed the brim, gentle, like it was made of glass instead of battered straw and frayed thread. For once, his grin faded into something softer—an old memory flickering behind his bright eyes.

"Shanks gave it to me. He promised I'd give it back when I became a great pirate. So this hat's my promise, see?"

He looked at each of them in turn, eyes clear as the sea beyond the window.

"If anything ever happens to this hat, I'll fight the whole world for it."

The table fell quiet—Nami's teasing grin faltered; Usopp's mouth hung open. Even Taiga, who normally couldn't shut up, just stared.

Zoro snorted, balancing his chair on two legs. "So if we lose it, you'll lose your mind?"

Luffy just grinned again, big and boyish, like the sun cutting through a storm.

"Yup! So don't lose it!" He jabbed a drumstick at Usopp, who nearly fell off his chair.

Nami rolled her eyes but looked away too quickly for anyone to catch the small, real smile on her lips.

Taiga nudged Makoto under the table. "You hear that, fancy prince? Better not blow it overboard with your stupid lightning."

Makoto raised his glass lazily toward Luffy. "Hey. I'd like to see the world try to steal it from him."