Chapter Text
Monday morning came to the East Side Sunset, and bustling people emerged from their apartments to start their daily lives. But Luffy, a certain boy, slept on his alarm clock many times, until the 15th alarm of his, just able to open his dear eyes. As Luffy sat up in his bed, still dozing off, fortunately, before his head hit the bedside table, he was able to notice the time of his alarm. To see a late morning time of 7:40 on the dot.
He scrambled his bed of shock and fell off his bed due to the dizziness of his sudden jerking body movements. He rushes to get a shower, gets ready, and finishes all the leftovers after reheating. Leaving his home in a mess is quite a norm to him, so leaving it behind is not a problem for him, and of course, not forgetting to unplug all things that must be unplugged to not cause an accident he made in his home before independently living alone.
...
At 8:20 am, Luffy was able to arrive almost on time for the interview; he was job hunting. The big and spacious building standing tall in the middle of Grand-Light City, which is famous for its business industry throughout the whole country of Japan, and countering some rumors not only in Japan but also in other continents.
Luffy wanted to be a famous traveler and photograph the whole world like the idol whom he admired since he was a kid. Unfortunate events happened in his last year of high school that led him to change his career path to business to help his two older brothers… precisely what his dear father advised him to be.
As he arrived in the building, he went straight to the counter to ask about where the interview would be held on what floor. So he goes straight to the level of the floor that the counter lady provided him; due to rushing, he doesn't notice that the elevator has already been opened and the people inside are coming out one by one, and new individuals are coming in.
The oh so lucky boy Luffy seems not on the good side of the Fortune Goddess for not being able to reach the elevator that everyone is crowding in, and even if he reacts, the elevator is on the limit. But somehow Luffy is still able to reach his interview despite the oh so unfortunate happenings...
...
- Oh no, pls, pls, pls, don't close!!
- Aishhhhh, why is this happening to me on such a morning!?
Rushing to the other elevator that seems different in his eyes, he continues running after it and bravely puts his hand between the doors of the elevator. As the door fully opens at his gesture of his doing, he looks inside and sees that it's not crowded, but sees the brazen look of the individuals inside at the elevator unto him.
"Um, can I join in, please? I'm in quite the rush, hehehe."
Luffy asked as he came inside the elevator with a bright smile on his face and clicked the floor level that the counter lady had told him. When the door closed, only then did the people inside burst into shock or be dazed by the brazen act and realize that the elevator was starting to go up with Luffy inside with them.
One guy seems to be unable to put up with the action of the boy; furious with it, he spoke, directing his finger at Luffy, saying.
"You!! You crazy boy, what are you doing here? Do you know whom you're riding with--"
Before the guy finished his worldly speech, another guy cut his word and said, "It's fine, not like this boy occupied the whole remaining space it has." His voice was deep, naturally intimidating, yet calm in a way that made the entire elevator fall silent. Like a king in the middle of his territory, not a single person dared oppose him.
Luffy looks at this guy with curiosity and charm in his voice, despite the fact that he knows a few with deep voices, but this one is different, and he can't seem to figure it out. Luffy looks up and sees that the guy is already looking at him with something behind those pink something glasses; he knows that the guy is looking at him despite the weird glasses it wore.
1... 2... 3... He looked away and couldn't handle the stare down despite those very weird glasses. He felt something—not the glasses looking cute in his eyes—anything weird always seemed interesting to him, and his brothers said that it's part of his personality.
Occupied by his own mind, he was startled by the stop of the elevator and rang inside, reminding him that it stopped at one of the click floor numbers. Feeling flustered, he steps out of the elevator, knowing it's the floor. He clicks, and he looks behind as the door slowly closes in. Luffy looked again to mouth a thank you to the guy, but as he looked, behind those weird glasses, he felt that... He felt it, and his whole body shuddered.
Snapping out of that moment, he looks at his phone to see that it is 8:25 am, feeling strange in those moments at the elevator as if time passed very fast or it was just him...
No longer contemplating what happened and goes straight to the counter, gives his ID, and goes straight to the hallway, as the counter lady instructed, and comes inside the room as Mr. Monkey's applicant ps100.
Classes at Sabaody Archipelago University were never quiet. The hallways were already filled with students rushing from room to room, the noise of overlapping conversations echoing throughout the building. Some carried unfinished assignments, others cups of coffee as if their lives depended on caffeine alone.
And in the middle of all that chaos—
“LUFFY!!”
—A scream echoed across the fourth-floor corridor.
A certain black-haired boy immediately froze.
“Eh?”
“You forgot your materials again!”
Nami stood near the BSBA classroom door holding a rolled-up folder in one hand while glaring at him hard enough to make nearby students avoid eye contact and mind their business (the irony).
Luffy laughed nervously, scratching the back of his head.
“Hehehe… I knew I forgot something.”
“You said that all year we have here!”
Before Nami could continue scolding him and before Luffy could go near Nami, another voice suddenly interrupted from behind.
“Oi, move. You’re blocking the door.”
Zoro walked past Nami with his usual sleepy expression, one headphone hanging around his neck while carrying what looked like three different sports bags at once. As he came forward, where Luffy was, he extended the smallest of all three sports bags at him.
Speaking boredly, “Here the stuffs, and the morning snacks are just in the bag.”
“Oh, Thanks! How are you even alive this early in the morning?” Luffy asked.
“Training.”
“You trained before the sunniest came up!? C’mon, we’re fourth year zoroooo!” chiply laughing.
“Unlike you, some people wake up on time.”
“That hurts.”
“It should.”
Nami sighed deeply, already looking exhausted despite the day barely starting.
Sometimes she wondered why she continued tolerating these idiots.
Around them, students casually glanced toward the trio.
Not because they were causing trouble—
well, not entirely because of that—
But because the group itself was already well known around campus.
The noisy, bright business student who somehow knew almost everyone.
The terrifyingly smart finance major. (A huge lie in a terrifying part, as Nami always said but never refuted openly.)
The athlete with zero sense of direction.
Somehow, despite their completely different courses and schedules, they always ended up gathering together during breaks as if it happened naturally.
And at the center of it all was Monkey D. Luffy.
A completely ordinary fourth-year business student.
…At least, that was what most people believed.
The moment the professor entered the room, the entire class immediately settled down. With Nami and Zoro bidding their farewell at the moment, they will meet again for the late lunch.
“Luffy.”
“Hm?”
Luffy blinked and looked around the room.
Only then did he realize he had somehow ended up again the only one still standing while everyone was settling into their group seating, flustered, plastered in Luffy's face as he giggled his way to his fellow group.
“…Oh.”
The professor sighed and put on a small smile, while the entire room burst into soft laughter. Beginning their morning with the same countenance in everyone's first year, way back.
“How do you even manage that every time?”
“I got distracted,” Luffy defended himself confidently to one of his mates in the group as if it explained everything.
“It explains nothing,” Nami muttered from the doorway before leaving comfortably.
A few moments later, some classes ended, and another class will begin in a minute or in many hours.
=
Sabaody Archipelago University’s College of Business Administration was known for producing some of the country’s most promising graduates. Competition inside the department was fierce, especially for fourth-year students preparing for internships and future employment.
Yet despite being surrounded by ambitious students constantly chasing top grades, Monkey D. Luffy somehow stood out differently.
Not because he ranked first.
Far from it.
His grades were average at best.
Sometimes slightly above average if he actually studied.
And sometimes—
“Luffy.”
“Hm?”
“Why is your quiz paper blank?”
“…Because there was a quiz today?”
—the complete opposite.
Yet strangely enough, professors rarely disliked him.
Because whenever group activities started, presentations happened, or real-life business simulations were involved, Luffy became unexpectedly reliable.
He adapted quickly.
Talked naturally.
Understood people frighteningly well.
And most importantly, people trusted him.
Even if they had only met him once.
Just at the front of the random room, Luffy was currently talking to three students from another section, whom nobody else had managed to negotiate with regarding project collaboration or even wanting to be advised by them in merging ideas.
Yet somehow—
five minutes.
That was all it took.
Now they were laughing with him.
Those who already knew Luffy in some gatherings involving college life or in random parties, they knew, along with Luffy’s OG circle, proudly.
“That’s just Luffy.”
=
As the clock hits 1:43 pm, the five graduating friends have finally found their place for a late lunch together, and make up for the past few days of not being able to gather completely in groups of 5 to 10 in between their circles. Bickering is the norm inside the group; it builds up as catching up, enjoying each other's presence, and other activities, and circumstances like waiting for their orders to be completed before digging all together.
“You say that like it explains something.”
“It explains everything.”
“Luffy has always possessed a rather unique charm.”
“Unique?” Nami repeated. “You mean accidental manipulation.”
“I’M NOT MANIPULATING ANYONE!”
“You convinced an entire café to give you free food last week.”
“They said I looked hungry!”
“You looked homeless.”
“I was rushing that day!”
“Get away from me,” Zoro muttered.
“YOU’RE JUST JEALOUS OF MY PASSION!”
“I’m jealous of silence.”
In the middle of the noise, Luffy suddenly leaned back in his chair.
“Hm…”
Nami narrowed her eyes immediately.
“That face means trouble.”
“Huh? No, it doesn’t.”
“You’re thinking too hard for a guy whose head is empty but filled with delights.”
“I was just thinking about yesterday, and food is everything, Sanji! Your major is about food, so you should know.”
“Yours is too much.”
Zoro looked up slightly.
“The interview?”
“Yeah...”
Almost instantly, the atmosphere around the group shifted with curiosity.
Usopp leaned forward dramatically.
“WAIT WAIT WAIT—right! How did it go!? Was the company huge!? Did they ask impossible questions!? Did they make you sign contracts in blood!? WAIT? WHAT!? Interview since when?!”
“That only happens in movies,” Sanji deadpanned.
Luffy hummed.
“The building was really big.”
“That’s your first impression!?” Nami cried.
“And the elevator was weird.”
“…The elevator?” Usopp repeated.
“Yeah! I accidentally entered the wrong one, I think.”
“Of course you did,” Zoro muttered.
“This huge guy was wearing pink glasses inside.”
The moment those words left his mouth—
Everyone paused.
Nami blinked.
Luffy tilted his head.
“Hm?”
“…Pink glasses?”
A brief silence followed. (... might be another shenanigans Luffy about again.)
But then—
“…Luffy,” Nami said slowly, “what company did you apply to?”
Luffy smiled brightly.
“Secret! I will only tell if we’re all complete.”
“But Zoro knew about it?!”
“Still! And… I do not know… crazy, everything happened so fast. Truly don’t know what just happened…”
Again… That’s just Luffy…
With their food prepared and set on their table, everyone starts to dig in, leaving the topic and surely the next one will be pressed for answers later. Along with Luffy, eating as usual, but the catch was that he was brazen after the interview. He might, and might not, get what he gets into despite attempting to be so calm and not be bothered about the results that will be sent through an email…
.
A week had passed since the day of the interview, and Luffy had just come home to his apartment, tired and heavy after the whole day without an hour of rest. He dropped onto his bed, adjusting himself until he found that perfect position after a long day. Just in time, his phone had vibrated. He looked at it, checked on it, and it startled him, making him sit up and rub his eye roughly.
- oh my…?!
In all overall in summary of this email…
“Congratulations, Mr. Monkey D. Luffy. You’ve been selected as Mr. Donquixote's personal secretary intern. To Our Chief Executive Officer (CEO).”