"Well freshman, how was the first week of classes?" Robin asks as the crew settles down to the area in the common area that we've claimed as ours. She's comfortable in a beanbag.

"I think some of them are doing better than others," Franky teases as he places the pizza boxes down on the coffee table before taking a seat on the floor next to Robin.

Sanji is sitting in one of the recliners with Nami on his lap; Luffy, Zoro, and I are sharing the couch; Chopper is lying on his stomach on the floor; Usopp and Brook are sitting on the loveseat. The food smells too good to wait any longer for any of us to get our plates, and it gives us freshman time to gather our thoughts before answering Robin.

"Somehow, in the span of a week, every single person on campus now knows that my older brother is Ace, so I have people coming up to me all the time wanting me to tell Ace that they hope he can bring home the national championship this year," I speak up first. A soft smile forming on my lips when Luffy presses a kiss to my temple. "All the girls want to know if I can put in a good word for them, but I don't think they understand that I don't get to decide who my brother wants to date."

"Or that the only girl he wants to worry about right now is you," Robin teases.

"Like that would deter them in any way," I shake my head. "Then, everyone also knows that Luffy's my boyfriend, and I get a combination of guys wanting to me him and girls that think they are being sly when they talk about their jealousy in my presence. As if Luffy would ever leave me." I take a bite of my pizza. "Other than that, love all my classes."

"There have been a lot of girls that want to sit next to me in the classes I don't have with you, Akari," Luffy says.

"Good thing Zoro and I are with you in all those other classes," Usopp chuckles.

"I don't really pay attention to those girls anyways, so hopefully they'll think I'm rude and leave me alone," he shrugs. "The guys that talk to me about soccer are fine, but it does get a bit annoying. I never thought that I would be looked at like the only thing I can do well is play soccer." He shoves some pizza into his mouth. "Classes are fine."

"What about your meeting with your advisor?" Zoro asks.

I roll my eyes, "Oh, Luffy told me all about that. She saw I was his phone background and apparently got super irritated that I was his girlfriend and not his sister."

"Boa Hancock's your advisor, right Luffy?" Brook asks.

"Yeah, she's been following my soccer career for a while," Luffy places a hand on my thigh. "Told me she requested me as an advisee, but I really don't care. As long as she can help me with class choices, I guess it's fine. Akari's always going to be my girl, so I didn't really pay attention to any of her advances or whatever."

"Well, Akari and I popped in to see our advisor, Shanks, and I can see why Makino has such a crush on that man," Nami chuckles. "They would make a super cute couple."

"I've known Shanks a while since we would come to soccer games to watch the boys, and I'm glad to have him as my advisor," I smile.

"Besides that, I had a lot of Nojiko's sorority friends come up to me and offer to show me around. Even had some freshman girls ask if I had any influence to get them into her sorority. Obviously, I do not, but I'm not going to let them know that quite yet."

"Because they are getting your things?" Usopp asks.

"All kinds of things," she happily sighs. "Coffee, food, gift cards, all kinds of things. I'm trying to milk it for as long as I can before Nojiko picks those who will be able to join the sorority and then the house next year."

"I can make you any treats that you want, my angel," Sanji presses a kiss to Nami's cheek. "I'm glad that my brothers stayed with my dad when my parents got a divorce, and my sister went overseas to study, so I don't have to deal with anything like what you and Akari are going through. No one even knows that I can cook."

"Yet," I mumble through a mouthful of pizza.

Sanji chuckles, "I guess that's true. Anyways, I am enjoying my classes, and always look forward to meals with everyone."

"I heard Zoro already has a fanbase, and they watch him practice kendo," Franky says.

"They're annoying," Zoro grumbles. "Sometimes they get in the way, and they shout things at me whenever I do anything. At least in classes they stay away."

"They are too afraid to approach you because you never smile or they think you're too cool for them," I say. "Kind of the opposite of Luffy."

"Well, I don't want them to talk to me, so I'm glad they think that. All I need is to focus on becoming the best at kendo and getting passing grades. I don't have time for a girlfriend."

"Unless her name starts with 'P'," Nami teases.

"Shut up," he snaps.

"I'm the odd guy out with no siblings, not in a sport, and I can just go about my days by all your guys' sides without worrying about anything," Usopp chuckles. "No one is pinning for my girlfriend either, so I don't have to worry about that. My classes are interesting, and Franky's going to get me into the robot club."

"That's how you're going to make a name for yourself," Franky says. "I think together we can have a real chance in all the competitions that I've wanted to enter, but haven't because it would be all on me to create a winner."

"Basically you're saying I should appreciate no one knowing who I am right now, because it isn't going to last?"

"It will be a niche group of people that will recognize you, but yeah, that's what I'm saying."

"How about the rest of you?" I ask. "How was your first week of classes?"

"I'm taking all my classes online this semester, which means I can work more hours at the library, and because not many people need help at the library, I'm getting as far ahead in my classes as possible," Robin replies. "That way I can focus on whatever I want to do when I'm waiting to put in returned books or something."

"You have to make sure that you have time to help us study when the time comes too," Luffy says. "We're lucky to have our own personal tutor in the group."

"Don't listen to him," I roll my eyes, pinching Luffy's side. "You're our friend, not tutor."

Robin softly chuckles, "Once the semester gets a couple weeks in, I will open up my tutoring services, but I don't help everybody, and all of you will always be priorities if you sign up. Anyone else I can delegate to other tutors under my watch."

"I can also help if someone really needs it," Chopper raises his hand for a few seconds. "My high school classes aren't difficult, so I get that work done in between my college classes. I'll have time if anyone is really stuck on something."

"You're such a sweetheart, Chopper," I softly smile.

"Do you ever go to the high school now that college has started?" Nami asks.

"I have to go in once a month now to give updates on how I'm doing in all my classes," Chopper answers. "My high school classes are all online, and the only reason I went into the school before college started was because they wanted to make sure I had everything in line."

"He spends a lot of time with me in the library in between classes," Robin says.

"My grandma rented a nearby apartment, so I just go there to sleep at night. When I have to go back to the high school, I'll just take the train back the day before. I'm glad I only have to do this for one year."

"Don't try to grow up too quickly," Usopp teases.

"I've finally hit the hard classes for my major, so I have a feeling I'll be putting in a lot of long hours soon, but I won't mind it," Franky shrugs. "I'll just up my energy drink intake for a couple months."

"You shouldn't do that," Robin scolds.

He chuckles, "Afraid my heart will give out?"

"Don't even joke about that," she shoves his shoulder.

Brook laughs, "The two of you have started to act like an old married couple recently. Not even Akari and Luffy act like that, and they've been together a long time."

"Luffy and I have never really teased and taunted each other," I speak up, trying to take attention away from Robin and Franky (who are both blushing at Brook's comment). "That's just not the way our personalities mesh, I guess."

"You two are the sweetest couple I've ever met," Nami says.

"What about us?" Sanji whines.

"We're working on it, lover boy," she pats his chest.

"Well Brook, you're the only one who hasn't said how their first week has gone," I say. "How your last first week of college been?"

Brook laughs, "Nothing special. All my classes are specialized for my major, so I'm taking it one day at a time and hoping it doesn't go by too quickly. I want to spend as much time with all of you before I graduate and have to go out and get a job."

"We'll all come to your graduation in the spring to cheer you on, so at least you have that to look forward to," Usopp says.

"Then we'll go out and celebrate, with some booze," Zoro grins.

"That just gave me a great idea," I glance over at Zoro. "All of us should go out tomorrow night, since it's a Saturday, and we shouldn't have too much homework, and go to a karaoke bar to kick off the semester. Not that this little pizza party wasn't a great celebration, because it totally was."

"I actually think that would be a lot of fun," Robin speaks up. "A way to fully relax before school takes over our lives."

"It does sound like a great time," Franky agrees.

"There are a lot of new songs out," Usopp bobs his head.

"It would be a good opportunity to warm my voice up for my serious performances," Brook says.

"Then it's settled," Luffy chuckles. "We're going to a karaoke bar tomorrow to sing our hearts out!"

+~*~*~*~*~*~+

"You boys are killing it!" I cheer as Luffy and Zoro tackle Sketch by Kiro Akiyama. Those two aren't the best singers out of us, and it might be the couple alcoholic drinks that are running through my body, but I don't think they are terrible right now. "Have you been hiding this from us all this time!?"

We've already been singing for a couple hours now, with some of us drinking more than others (and Chopper drinking none), but all of us having an amazing time together. There's something about letting go off everything to belt out a song with your friends that is truly amazing. It is different than when we play video games together, or when we watch the boys playing soccer or Zoro competing at kendo tournaments, or when we spend the holidays at my house because not everyone has a loving family to go back to. This is one of the only times that we can truly forget about the world outside the room, and we can act like the total goofballs that each of us are deep inside.

Zoro and Luffy's song come to an end, and the place the microphones back before heading back to their seats.

Luffy picks me up in order to place me on his lap as he settles into the couch. His hand grabbing the beer on the side table to take a swig from. "You're a little tipsier than I thought if you were cheering for us like that, my sweets."

I laugh, curling into Luffy's hold. "I'm not that drunk. Besides, you do have a good voice, Luff, you just like to mess around rather than actually try."

"I like making people laugh. I'll let you sing with your beautiful voice to even it all out."

"You're such a suck up," I giggle. "What do you want, huh?"

"I don't have to compliment you to get anything, so I'm telling the truth." He presses a quick kiss to my lips. "I think you sound beautiful when you sing."

"Fine, fine, I'll believe you, this time."

All of us like to sing different genres and artists even when we aren't doing karaoke. I prefer songs from LiSA and Eir Aoi; Luffy will sing anything as long as he can have fun; Zoro is more for the punk songs; Nami enjoys strong female voices like Kelly Clarkson and Girl's Generation; Usopp loves songs from video games; Sanji will sing any love song from any era; Chopper is very into pop songs; Robin is a fan of slow songs from anyone; Franky is an old schooler with favorites from Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd; Brook will sing anything that gives him a chance to really show off the range of his voice. Still, when the night comes to an end, we will come together to sing a song no matter what it is.

"Well, our hour is almost up," Robin speaks up, having stuck to water for most of our time here. "We could get one more hour in, but that is up to the rest of you."

"I'm starting to get tired, but I'll stay if everyone else is," Chopper softly says. "You just might have to carry me out."

"It is whatever the girls want to do," Sanji gushes.

"If the drinks keep coming, I'll go for whatever," Zoro raises his beer for a few moments.

"I'll agree with Zoro on that one," Nami giggles, taking a sip of her wine cooler. "As long as there is alcohol, I'll sing for however long we're here."

"This isn't the only time we'll be here, so we don't have to feel like we have to get all our karaoke in in one night," Luffy speaks up, always our leader in situations like this. Even though he can be quite goofy most times, he knows when to make a decision for the group. Even if this decision doesn't really hold much weight, it is still a comfort to know that he can make a choice when needed. "We'll finish off our time with one more song as a group, and then we'll head out."

"Sounds like a plan," I lazily smile as I sit up. "Who is going to pick the song we sing this time?"

"I think Franky picked it last time," Usopp says. "I nominate Brook since he's starting his final year of college."

"I second that nomination!" Franky chuckles.

Brook laughs, "If no one objects, I think I know the perfect song for us to sing." He slowly stands up, and when no one says anything, proceeds to the machine.

Usopp and Chopper burst to their feet, grabbing the microphones to hand out to everyone. Even though normally only a couple people, there are always extra microphones in the room in case one is malfunctioning. This works to our advantage when we all want to sing.

"What's the name of the song?" Robin asks, maneuvering to see one of the screens that words scroll across.

"Family, and I think it sums us up perfectly."

I widely smile, looking around at everyone as they mimic me.

There's one thing that I have always felt about this group of people that I've found myself so close with, and that is we are more than just a group of friends. These people are my family. I'm so glad that I get to call Luffy the love of my life, that Nami and Robin are the sisters I never had, that Chopper is the little brother I always wanted, that I have Zoro, Usopp, Sanji, Franky, and Brook to be more older brothers that I could ever no what to do with. I couldn't imagine my life without them.

I spent a period of my childhood wondering if I would ever find friends that I would spend the rest of my life with. If I even deserved them in the first place. Kids are mean when they are going through rough times, and I was an easy target for bullying. It only got worse when Ace and Luffy would come to my rescue. Everyone thought that I was a baby that couldn't stand up for myself. I started to wonder if people would ever want to be friends with someone like me. And then Nami came up to me that day in middle school, and I realized that other people's opinions of me were worthless.

"Everyone ready?" Brook asks.

"Start it!" we all shout back.

He pushes the button to start the song, and the upbeat instrumental blasts through the speakers.

With nine of us, it is kind of a toss up of who could sing where, but every time we do this, each of us know when and when not to sing. This isn't any different.

"We are not acquaintances, we are not friends, we are family!" Luffy, Nami, Chopper, Robin, and I sing out.

"While we're out at sea!" the other five boys sing.

"We are not relatives, we're not even siblings!"

"We are family!" we all cheer out.

There is a moment of instrumental, giving us all time to gather ourselves.

"Try looking all over the biggest map you've ever seen," Luffy seriously sings. "You'll never find guys like this!"

"Only the best good-for-nothings board our ship!" Nami beautifully sings.

"Abandon your common sense, and then you can come aboard!" Zoro's deep voice is perfect.

"Everyday survival, is an awesome reward!" Usopp draws out the words perfectly.

"We'll claim the greatest treasure ever with our mother ship!" we sing as one.

"The greatest guys have the greatest laughs!" I sing out the words with all my heart.

"We are not acquaintances, we are not friends, we are family!" Luffy, Nami, Chopper, Robin, and I sing out again.

"As long as there's adventure!" the other five boys sing.

"We are not relatives, we're not even siblings!"

"We are family!" we all sing as one once more.

A guitar solo takes over, but that doesn't mean we are going to stop singing. This is the perfect time to shout out our goals for the future.

"I'm going to be king of the Pirates!" Luffy declares. The most prestigious firefighting squad being a group called the Pirates.

"I'm going to make a legendary sword!" I shout. Not a literally sword, but a sword of knowledge through the students that I teach.

"I'll be the world's best swordsman!" Zoro raises his beer. His kendo ability never far from his mind.

"I'll draw a map of the world!" Nami widely smiles, meaning exactly what she says.

"I'm going to be a brave warrior of the sea!" Usopp firmly nods. He's more than likely talking about his desire to create robots that explore the sea that has gone unexplored for so long.

"I'm going to find the All Blue!" Sanji shouts. His dream to find the legendary sea of all fish to make the best meal.

"I want to see the world through my own eyes!" Chopper dances around. He's barely travelled around the country, and he longs to see so much more.

"An eye that sees real, huge dreams," Franky deeply sings out.

"Will never see anything but..." Brook classically sings.

"Only extraordinary dreamers are allowed on our mother ship!" Chopper sweetly sings.