Chapter 13

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Toshi's eyes fluttered open, his vision blurry as a sharp pain radiated from his side. He winced weakly, instinctively gritting his teeth. Blinking away the haze, he took in his surroundings. The room was small, almost claustrophobic, and lined with medical equipment that hummed faintly in the background.

His gaze shifted downward, finding himself lying in a hospital bed. Bandages wrapped tightly around his torso, and wires connected him to a machine beeping rhythmically by his side. He groaned softly, his hand gingerly pressing against his side.

"Where... am I?" he muttered hoarsely, his voice barely audible. His limbs felt impossibly heavy, but he could move them...barely.

The door to the room slowly creaked open, the sound low and drawn out. Stepping inside was a boy with striking blue hair, dressed in a bright orange jumpsuit that stood out. His thick blue eyebrows framed a pair of pearly blue eyes that glimmered with a quiet intensity.

In his hands, he carefully balanced a plate of food and a juice box, his focus locked entirely on the task. His face scrunched in concentration, his tongue poking out slightly as he maneuvered the plate.

Who… are you?" Toshi's weak voice broke the silence, though his words were clear enough.

"AHH!" The boy flinched, startled, as the plate slipped from his grasp and crashed to the floor. "Nooo… I spilled it!... You're awake already?" He let out a dramatic sigh before turning his blue eyes toward Toshi.

Then, with a sudden burst of energy, he jabbed a thumb against his broad chest and declared confidently, "The name's Troy! The future strongest… so don't forget it!"

Toshi stared at him for a moment, his expression deadpan. ' What a nerd… ' he thought with a sigh, "Right... Troy, the future strongest." Toshi's voice was dry, a bit skeptic, though he couldn't muster the energy for much more. He glanced at the mess on the floor, the spilled food and overturned juice box pooling near Troy's feet. "Guess the strongest hasn't mastered balancing a plate yet."

Troy pouted, crossing his arms. "Hey! Cut me some slack! I was trying to be nice, bringing you food and all. You could show a little gratitude, y'know!"

Toshi let out a tired sigh, his head sinking back into the pillow. "Gratitude? You dropped it before I even had a chance. Besides..." He winced, his hand returning to his side. "...I'm not exactly in the mood for food right now. "

Troy crouched down, quickly scooping up the fallen plate and discarded juice box. "Fine, fine, I'll clean it up. But you gotta admit," he added, his grin creeping back, "you're lucky to have me around. I mean, who else is gonna brighten up this dreary little room for ya?"

Toshi rolled his eyes. "I don't even know you..."

Troy smirked, standing up straight. "Alright, tough guy. But remember, this is your first meeting with greatness. You'll thank me one day."

Toshi didn't respond at first, simply closing his eyes as if shutting out the world. But Troy's voice cut through the silence once more.

"Oh, that's right… He told me to let you know—when you wake up, you should go find him."

At those words, Toshi's eyes slowly fluttered open. ' I'm just as curious to find out who this guy is… ' he thought. Despite the heaviness in his limbs and the lingering pain coursing through his body, he forced himself to sit up and then rise from the bed.

"Well, I'm not exactly sure where he is," Toshi admitted, steadying himself as he stood. "So, lead the way."

Troy scratched the back of his head, thinking for a moment. "Hmm… I'm not really sure where he is right now, but he's usually in his office. If he's not there, then I can't help you, my friend," Troy said with a casual shrug. He turned toward the door and gestured for Toshi to follow him, his orange jumpsuit swishing slightly as he walked out.

"Alright," Toshi muttered under his breath, shoving his hands into his pockets. Following behind Troy, his gaze wandered, scanning the surroundings. The hallways were narrow, the walls made of worn wood that seemed to creak with every step. Hanging from the ceiling were lamps, faintly swaying...subtle enough to go unnoticed unless one was paying close attention.

They continued walking, turning through the winding corridors, until Troy finally stopped in front of a set of double doors.

"This is it," Troy said, pointing at the doors. Without hesitation, he knocked firmly, the sound echoing softly down the hallway. A moment later, he cracked one of the doors open and peeked inside. After a quick glance, he shut the door once more.

"It's all yours," Troy said with a grin, gesturing at the door. Then, spinning on his heel, he placed both hands behind his head and strolled off without a care in the world.

Toshi sighed, taking a moment to steady himself. With a deep breath, he stepped forward and slowly pushed the double doors open.

As he pushed open the double doors, his steps faltered as he took in the scene before him. The walls were a maze of maps and photographs, all interconnected by strands of red string, forming a web of clues and connections. At the center of the room stood a massive table, covered by a large world map. Sticky notes dotted its surface, each one tethered to another by the same red threads.

Behind the table, a man sat at a cluttered desk, surrounded by stacks of books and scattered papers. His long, spiky black hair, slicked back and flowing halfway down his back, framed his dark green eyes, which glinted as they met Toshi's gaze.

Toshi shifted awkwardly, his voice breaking the silence. "You… asked for me?"

The man rested his elbows on the table, clasping his hands together. "When we first met, it was under... unfortunate circumstances," he began, his voice steady but firm. "But I'd like to properly introduce myself." He paused, letting the moment hang before continuing. "My name is Dragon... Monkey D. Dragon, to be exact. I'm the leader of the Freedom Fighters."

Toshi remained silent, hesitating before stepping closer and sitting down by the desk. "Toshi," he said simply. "Pleasure to meet you... I guess," he added awkwardly out of courtesy.

Dragon chuckled softly. "I know—it's a lot to take in at first. But I promise, it'll all be worth it. My goal is simple but grand: to build an army, a force powerful enough to liberate the world from the oppressive grip of the World Government."

He leaned forward slightly, his tone shifting. "I know it's hard to accept. The stories they've told you, the lies they've fed us... They paint themselves as saviors, but the truth is, they're no better than the pirates they claim to protect us from."

Toshi sighed, leaning back slightly. "I kinda figured," he admitted. "I'm not really shocked, not after seeing it with my own two eyes."

Dragon raised a brow, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "Good," he said, his tone lighter. "That'll make it easier to explain what we do here."

Dragon leaned back into his chair crossing his arms. "We're not just here to start a war," he said, his voice calm. "The Freedom Fighters are about freeing the people....getting them out of the chains the World Government has wrapped around them for centuries. We're here to put an end to their control and create a world where people can actually live free."

He stopped, meeting Toshi's eyes. "Our goal isn't just to take down the government—it's to build something better. A world where people don't have to live in fear, a world of peace, a paradise. That's what we're fighting for."

Dragon's eyes narrowed slightly, like he was reading Toshi. "But there's more to it than that. We're not just going after the government. We're also taking down the pirates who think they can just do whatever they want. Some of them are worse than the government—they kill, steal, enslave. They're just another form of tyranny, and we'll stop them too."

Toshi shifted in his chair, absorbing the weight of Dragon's words. "So, you're gonna take down both the government and the pirates? That sounds like one hell of a job."

Dragon gave a short chuckle. "It is. But I've seen enough suffering caused by both sides. I'm not about to sit back and let it keep going. The Freedom Fighters aren't just a group—we're a movement. Every life we save, every chain we break, brings us closer to that world we're trying to build."

"So, what do you want from me?" Toshi asked, his tone uncertain. "I'm too weak for something like that."

Dragon chuckled softly, shaking his head. "What I need is a group of like-minded people, fighting for the same cause. Weak or not, I need support for my... foolish ideas." He sighed, the weight of his words hanging in the air. "Right now, we lack the funds and manpower to fully accomplish our goals. But I know, one day, we will."

A small, unbothered smile curled at the corners of Dragon's lips. "So, what do you say? Toshi, will you join us?"

Toshi scratched the back of his head, then a grin spread across his face. "Hell yeah. I've got a grudge to settle with those little shits." Toshi declared. Toshi had been beaten, broken, and enslaved, forced into a death match where every fight was a struggle to survive. He had fought day after day, his life reduced to a fighting puppet for a crowd's twisted entertainment.

But now, he didn't care anymore. He would do whatever it took to make those corrupt shits pay.

Dragon grinned, his eyes gleaming with determination. "That's good to hear," he said. "Because now we're headed to the Grand Line.... It's time to take our plans to a global level." A proud smile spread across his face.

Toshi's eyes widened. "You mean... the Grand Line? As in the Pirate's Graveyard!? Won't we die if we go there?" he asked, his voice shaky.

Dragon burst out laughing. "BWAHAHAHA!" The sudden laughter made Toshi flinch. Wiping a tear from his eye, Dragon grinned. "Is that what they call it? Trust me, I know my way around. Don't worry about it."

Toshi raised an eyebrow, still skeptical. "If you say so..." he muttered, letting out a sigh. ' I might've just joined a madman... ' he thought.

Dragon let out a sigh, his gaze snapping to the double doors. For a brief moment, his eyes flashed red, but it went unnoticed. "Troy, show Toshi around!" Dragon barked toward the door.

The door creaked open, and Troy peeked out, an awkward smile on his face. "H-Hi... I was just... Never mind. C'mon, Toshi," he stammered, quickly changing the subject. Toshi stood up from his chair. "See ya," he said, giving a casual wave before following Troy out.

As Toshi closed the door behind him, Troy's eyes lit up with excitement, with literal stars in his eyes. "That was the first time I ever heard him laugh... I've been trying for months! How did you do it?" Troy's face was suddenly inches from Toshi's, eyes practically sparkling with curiosity.

Toshi shoved him away, sending Troy stumbling back onto his ass. "Ugh, I don't know... Just give me the damn tour," Toshi snapped, stomping off down the hallway.

"H-Hey, wait up!" Troy called, scrambling to his feet and hurrying after him. Troy caught up to Toshi, a wide grin plastered on his face. "Let's speed up this tour! There's some people I want you to meet," he said, giving a devilish grin and a thumbs-up.

Toshi rubbed his ear. ' This guy is way too loud... ' he thought, but just shrugged. "Alright," he said with a sigh.

TO BE CONTINUED...

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