“When the line between good and evil becomes impossible to see, then choose the side that saves people.” As he sank beneath the sea, Dazai recalled Oda Sakunosuke’s final words.
Light had never suited him.
Neither had darkness.
If anything, the gray space between them was where Dazai belonged.
He had joined the Port Mafia only because Mori Ougai had picked him up.
In the darkness, human nature was laid bare, and studying it gave him a reason—however faint—to keep living.
But even that had been destroyed.
Mori never believed Dazai had no intention of taking his place.
As the man capable of always finding the “optimal solution,” Dazai had become too influential within the Port Mafia.
Worse still, he was the witness who knew how the previous boss had truly died.
Using Gide as a pawn, Mori manipulated events to drag Dazai’s closest friend, Oda Sakunosuke, into the conflict.
After hearing Odasaku’s dying wish, Dazai left the Port Mafia behind.
A stray dog that had finally found a home(chief of the Beast Tamer Corps)…
had become homeless once again.
So…
this is finally the eternal sleep I’ve been searching for.
Surprisingly, the thought filled Dazai with perfect calm.
At that very moment…
Far away, the small rowboat carrying Monkey D.
Luffy and Roronoa Zoro drifted peacefully across the East Blue after leaving Foosha Village.
Zoro sat with his swords in his arms, resting with his eyes closed.
Meanwhile, Luffy bounced all over the tiny boat, making it rock wildly from side to side.
“Luffy, quit running around,” Zoro said without opening his eyes.
“If the boat flips over, I’m the one who has to fish you out.” “So boooring!” Luffy complained, leaning over the edge.
Adventure on the sea was exciting—but the long, uneventful stretches between islands were simply part of a pirate’s journey.
Suddenly, Luffy’s eyes lit up.
“Whoa!
Zoro, look!
There’s someone floating in the ocean!
That’s awesome!” Zoro glanced in the direction Luffy pointed.
In the distance, two legs stuck straight up out of the water, drifting with the current and twitching every now and then.
“Gomu Gomu no—!” Luffy’s arms shot forward, stretching across the sea with pinpoint accuracy until they grabbed the floating figure.
The instant he made contact, however…
His rubber arms went limp.
His entire body lost all strength.
With a pathetic splash, Luffy toppled overboard.
“What the hell?!” Zoro’s eyes nearly popped out of his head.
“You idiot!
You were trying to save someone, and now you’ve fallen in yourself?!” “Z-Zoro…” Luffy sputtered as he bobbed helplessly in the water.
“The second…
I grabbed him…
I lost all my strength…” Before he could finish, he sank beneath the waves.
“Don’t you dare sink, idiot!” Clicking his tongue, Zoro dove into the sea without hesitation.
After hauling his hopeless captain back onto the boat and confirming he was still breathing, Zoro swam over and retrieved the mysterious stranger as well.
The young man was tall and slender, with messy dark hair and strikingly handsome features.
He wore a camel-colored overcoat over a white dress shirt and light-colored trousers.
A dazzling sapphire bolo tie rested at his collar, making him stand out despite his drenched appearance.
He lay motionless in the boat, looking almost lifeless.
“Zoro, is he alive?” Luffy asked curiously, poking the stranger’s cheek.
“He’s breathing,” Zoro replied while wringing out his soaked clothes.
“He’s alive.” Then he glared at Luffy.
“And what was that back there?
You just made more work for me.” “I dunno!” Luffy scratched the back of his head with a grin.
“As soon as I grabbed him, it felt exactly like falling into the sea!” “…A Devil Fruit ability?” Zoro frowned.
“Something that nullifies Devil Fruit powers?” He couldn’t think of any fruit like that, but the Grand Line was said to be full of impossible things.
Luffy, meanwhile, had discovered a new source of entertainment.
He poked the unconscious man’s face.
His body weakened.
He stopped.
Recovered.
Poked again.
“Weird!
It’s the first time I’ve felt like this without actually falling into the ocean!” His eyes sparkled.
“I’ve decided!” “I’m making him join my crew!” “I don’t remember agreeing to that.” The young man’s eyes slowly opened.
His beautiful dark brown eyes were calm, carrying an unfathomable darkness within them.
Despite waking up to hear a complete stranger declaring him a crewmate, he neither panicked nor complained.
He simply refused.
“Ehhh?!” Luffy protested.
“I’m Monkey D.
Luffy—the man who’s gonna become King of the Pirates!
Isn’t joining my crew awesome?!” Ignoring Luffy’s relentless recruitment, Dazai quietly observed his surroundings.
An endless sea.
No sign of land nearby.
The two boys in front of him dressed nothing like anyone in Yokohama.
His gaze lingered briefly on the three swords at Zoro’s waist before he pieced together everything Luffy had blurted out.
King of the Pirates…
pirates…
Devil Fruits…
These two don’t belong in my world.
No…
I’m the one who doesn’t belong in theirs.
“I’ve actually been transported to another world!” Dazai clapped one fist into his palm, sounding oddly delighted.
“What a shame.
I had a job interview today.
Guess that’s not happening anymore.” “Hey!
Join my crew!” Luffy insisted.
“Luffy,” Dazai asked with a smile, “you’ve only just set sail, haven’t you?
Why do you want to become King of the Pirates?” “Amazing, Zoro!” Luffy exclaimed.
“He figured out we just left!” “Idiot,” Zoro sighed.
“Anyone could tell.” Still, he made no attempt to interfere.
Since he’d already decided to follow Luffy, the captain’s decisions were absolute.
Luffy’s expression suddenly became serious.
“Because the Pirate King is the freest person in the world.” “And…” “I made a promise to Shanks.” “I understand.” Dazai answered solemnly, acknowledging the sincerity in the young pirate’s dream.
“But…” “I still can’t join you.” “You pirates live outside the law.” “I promised a friend I’d stand on the side that saves people.” His smile dimmed ever so slightly.
Luffy grinned.
“If it’s a promise to a friend…
then I can’t argue with that.” He thought for a moment before speaking again.
“Then don’t be an official crewmate yet.” “You seem like you don’t have anywhere to go right now.” “Your friend would probably be worried about you.” “Stay with us until you figure out what you really want.” “When that time comes, you can leave whenever you want.” How…
simple-minded.
Dazai thought so at first.
Yet he couldn’t deny he’d been touched.
He had arrived in an unfamiliar world with nowhere to go.
Luffy, without asking for anything in return, had simply offered him a place to stay.
“All right.” Dazai smiled warmly.
“I don’t have a job anymore anyway.” “So…” “How much does your crew pay?” “…Pay?” Luffy froze.
“We’re supposed to pay people?” After a long pause, he awkwardly adjusted his straw hat.
“Then…
all our Berries are yours!” Zoro silently watched his captain get completely wrapped around Dazai’s finger.
Dazai merely laughed.
Money had never meant much to him.
As long as his basic needs were met, that was enough.
He stood up, straightened his coat, and gave an elegant bow.
“My name is Dazai Osamu.” “My current occupation…” “…Unofficial member of the Straw Hat Pirates.” Luffy beamed.
“I’m Monkey D.
Luffy!” “The man who’s gonna become King of the Pirates!” “And your captain!” “I’m Roronoa Zoro,” the swordsman said simply.
“Vice Captain of the Straw Hat Pirates.” “And your companion.” Thus began Dazai Osamu’s journey through the world of One Piece.
Straw Hat Pirates: 3 Members.