"Speaking"

"Thoughts"

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

The smell of spices wafted through the kitchen as you stirred a huge pot of soup, internally grateful for your mom teaching you this recipe. Tasting some of it with a spoon, you nod to yourself that it is done. 

After seeing Luffy climb up the mountain with whom you believe two of his friends/crewmates and leaving them in the care of Dr. Kureha and Chopper. You decided to make some soup to help them all warm up when they woke. 

Usually, you wouldn't make such a large batch of soup but knowing Luffy and how hungry he would be, he would probably eat it all in less than ten seconds. So you decided to pour some of the soup into bowls for yourself and the others, then just leave the rest of the pot for Luffy.

After placing all the bowls on a platter and covering them to protect the soup from getting cold. You shugged on your coat and turned into your human form. You knew you didn't need to hide your real form from Luffy, he'd most likely think it was cool, but you were worried about the other two reactions and frankly didn't trust them. So you would put up with being uncomfortable.

Picking up the platter, you go to the room where Dr. Kureha was treating the girl. Opening the door to make your way inside, you see them arguing about something. 

"Hope I'm not interrupting anything but I brought food." Walking over and showing them the soup you made. 

Kureha Grins, "Kehehe, actually you have great timing." She grabs a bowl and pushes you beside the girl's bed. "You can watch the girl while I go do something." She walks away to do something before you can even get a word in.

"But!- sigh..." You quickly give up knowing how Kureha was and turn towards the girl to hand her a bowl. "Here you should eat something to help regain your strength. It will also help fight off the cold." Gently smiling at her.

The girl grabs the bowl with a small thanks and takes a sip. Her eyes widen before exclaiming, "This tastes amazing! Did you really make this?" Caught off guard by her reaction, you nod at her question.

"Yes, I was the one to make it, although the recipe belongs to my mother. I'm happy you enjoy the soup." You said a bit embarrassed, not expecting to get a compliment on your cooking skill. It doesn't even compare to the food your mom would make.

(First POV)

I grab my bowl, and we sit silently, enjoying our food. As we were eating I realized I never told the girl my name. Turning towards her, going to introduce myself, "Ah, by the way, my name's-" Before I could finish, the door slammed open, causing us to jump in surprise. 

Chopper runs through the door, screaming, as he's being chased by Luffy and the other patient who were saying stuff about wanting to turn him into a stew. Placing down my bowl, I stood up and went over to Kureha, who had returned from whatever she was doing. 

The three of us watched as they chased Chopper in and out of the room before they noticed that their friend was awake. Luffy stopped and backtracked to face her, quickly followed by the yellow-haired guy

"Nami, your ok?"

"Nami-san!"

"Ah, so that's her name, at least I can stop calling her 'girl' in my head. I should probably hurry tho to get the other two their food. Chopper is too cute to be turned into food." I thought to myself as the other two were talking to Nami, the yellow-haired man talked about making some venison stew for her which reminded them of what they were doing in the first place. 

Both he and Luffy turned to look at Chopper who, in the middle of trying to sneak away, froze. They stared at each other for a moment before another chase broke out tho one that didn't last long once Chopper saw me.

"[NAME]! SAVE ME!!" He yelled while running to hide behind my legs. 

Luffy, Nami, and Yellow-hair Guy, "I should really ask him what his name is", all froze once hearing my name before focusing their attention on me. The recognition in Luffy's eyes being quite evident.

Here it was. 

The moment I've been nervous about ever since I arrived here.

When me and Luffy finally meet again, but this time, in the real world instead of in a dream. 

Multiple emotions could be felt running through me as we stared at each other, but mostly happiness and fear. 

I was glad that I could see and talk to him physically because it proved to me that he wasn't a figment of the imagination I created in my dreams, but a real person who wanted to be my friend ever since we met. 

But I was also scared of how he would feel knowing I stopped talking to him for over half a year, not only that but how he would react when seeing what I've become. 

Of course, the chances of him reacting badly are practically nonexistent knowing Luffy, but the 'what ifs' wouldn't stop clouding my mind.

We also sat in a tense silence before Luffy himself broke it.

"[NAME]?"

"Heh heh... surprise?" I said while smiling awkwardly. 

Luffy's face changed from one of shock to pure happiness. 

"[NAME]!!" In the next moment, I was tackled to the floor by a hug from Luffy, Chopper being quick to move so he wouldn't get smushed, to which I returned cheerfully—feeling a huge weight being lifted off my back.  

"You're here! You're really here!!" He said in excitement. 

I laugh, "Yes Luffy, I'm here." 

Nami's yell then broke our little moment.

"Wait, you were telling the truth!?!"

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

As it turns out, Luffy had apparently told his crew about me when they overheard him mumbling to himself about the day I would join the crew. 

'Course they didn't believe a single word he said about me, especially about how I was from a different world, but that never stopped Luffy from telling stories about me. 

Who would have thought they would actually meet that person?

So I explained to both Nami and Sanji (He introduced himself to me.) how it was true I was from a different world that was more technologically advanced. I explained how I was studying to become an entomologist before suddenly getting pulled into this world. Spending half a year training and then going to sea to look for Luffy before being in debt to Dr. Kureha. 

I did keep quite a few things out though like the fact I was a bug person. Both Kureha and Chopper had noticed but kept quiet knowing I would tell them at some point. 

During my explanation, the chopper had gone and grabbed the pot of soup allowing Sanji, Chopper, and Luffy to eat. However, Luffy, as I predicted, just took the whole pot of soup.

As I finished, there were, understandably, a lot of questions. Mainly about the technology from that world, but I didn't mind and did my best to explain. 

Honestly, it was quite adorable to see them ask about technologies related to their interests, heck even Chopper and Luffy joined in.

Once everyone was done asking questions, I asked how Nami and Sanji joined Luffy's crew. Leading them to tell me their story of joining Luffy. Which brings us here. 

"Wait so you left all the money you earned over the years to your village but then proceeded to steal everyone's wallet?" I asked Nami.

She grinned as she replied, "Well I had to start my career of earning money for myself somehow."

I stared at her for a moment before breaking out into laughter. "HA! Well, you certainly started with a bang!" Calming down from my laughing fit, I go and give my thanks to her. Before turning towards Sanji and giving him thanks as well for saving Luffy from drowning.

"It was nothing, he helped save Baratie from those pirates, how could I not help him." Sanji says as he turns back to the two of us.

"And I get to be in a crew with Nami-san!" He cheers causing the both of you to chuckle.

"[NAME]!!" You jumped at Kureha's yell and immediately stood up to face her. You didn't want a knife thrown at you again. No, thank you.

"You slacked off enough for today, now go get back to work!" 

"Yes Ma'am!" I immediately rush off to not anger the old woman and pray for the others as they are left with her. 

I found myself in the kitchen which was still a mess from me making that soup.

"Ah. I should probably clean this up" I thought to myself before getting started.  

Halfway through I heard screaming from not only Chopper but also Luffy and Sanji along with the yelling of Dr. Kureha. 

I silently prayed for them as I continued to clean. 

Just as I placed the last plate back in the cabinet, Kureha slammed open the door, causing me to jump. 

"[NAME] watch over my patients while me and Chopper go deal with something outside." 

"What would need the both of you to go outside? I thought you were done treating the people in the villages?" I asked confused.

"Ah, it's just a Wapol problem, nothing to be worried about." She says nonchalantly before leaving. 

"Oh. Ok then." I say as I put the last of the cleaning supplies away. Then her words registered in my head.

"Wait. Wapol!?!"

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

I stood by Nami's bed while looking out the window to watch as Kureha, Chopper, Sanji, and Luffy faced Wapol and his men.

"Are you not going to join them?" I hear Nami ask, causing me to sigh.

"You don't think I tried? Dr. Kureha wouldn't let me, even hit me on the head when I tried to argue." I pointed to the bump on my head as I tried not to sulk. 

"Eh?? Why would she not let you join? Wouldn't she want all the help she could get?"

"It's because I would just be a burden in the fight." I answered, shocking her with my blunt answer. 

Turning towards her, I continued on, "I recently learned about a certain condition I have that makes it that whenever I'm in too cold of a climate, my body will shut down and go into a hibernation-type state. Even with winter clothes on, I will still be sluggish which hinders my ability to fight by a lot. So even if I did go out there, I wouldn't do much and just be in the way."

Nami looked at me, I could tell she felt bad about my situation. 

"Hey, don't look at me like that..."

"But-"

"Besides! It just means I have to do less work!" I grinned, causing her to sweatdrop. 

Looking back out the window, I noticed Luffy was missing, "Eh? Where did he go?"

Luffy running into the room, and asking to borrow Nami's coat answered my question. 

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

A/N: The number of times I've gone and rewritten parts of this chapter, don't know why but this chapter was hard for me to write and caused me to give up on it for a while. Finally worked up the energy to finish it, thank god. 

I've started my first year of College as well, so now I'm trying to get used to living in dorms and being a few hours away from my cats. Though it is nice to be able to do what I want now, without needing to ask if my parents can take me somewhere. I can just walk now since everything is nearby.

Fun fact: when I was writing the 'Fuck it's Cold' chapter, I originally planned to have [NAME] meet Luffy and his crew back at Logue Town. The reason I changed it to when they meet Chopper is because I've rarely seen stories written where the characters all meet there. It's usually in the East Blue or somewhere farther along the Grand Line. So I thought it would be a good change of pace to have them all meet on the winter island. 

I also have a question for you all. What type of Haki should [NAME] have? I already decided that they would have Conqueror's Haki but can't decide whether or not they should have all three Haki's or just two. I could also do something where they have all three but one is stronger than the other. I'll just leave this for you all to decide.