Hey guys, hope you're all having a great Sunday. I'm not. Chelsea drew with Southampton :(. But that doesn't matter, we're back! Welcome to the first chapter of the third and final part of my One Piece High School series!
Before we get on with this chapter, I'd firstly like to once again thank everyone whose read One Piece High School and/or One Piece High School Summer Vacation. You gave me a lot of great support for both those stories and I'm really grateful for that.
Secondly, I want to warn you that there are A LOT of new characters introduced in this chapter, plus there are a lot of old characters who didn't feature that much in the Summer Vacation Story (especially towards the end) making returns in this chapter. So it's a lot different to usual, but I do hope you can get to grips with that, and hopefully you'll be looking forwards to future chapters with some of the new characters.
I feel like there's more I should say, but this author's note is pretty long, so let's just get on with the first chapter!
Mr Shanks tried his hardest to resist laughing, but the challenge proved too difficult, the teacher eventually bursting out laughing. Mr Mihawk, who didn't realise that he was being watched, glared at the figure leaning against the doorway. "What's so funny?" He angrily demanded.
"Come on, it's the first day of the school, and the first thing I see is you pacing backwards and forwards in your classroom. How am I supposed to react?"
"I don't know, perhaps you may consider going to your own classroom so that you can get things ready for your new classes?"
Shanks laughed. "Pfft, you know that's not my style. I prefer to go with the flow. So what's eating you anyway? It can't be that your nervous about the new students, can it?"
"If you must know, I was thinking about Mr Doflamingo…"
Shanks' carefree persona immediately evaporated at the sound of that name. "So you believe the rumours, huh…"
"You don't?"
Shanks turned around, deciding it was maybe best to head to his own classroom. "I didn't say that. Anyway, the guy's gone so we don't have to worry about whether or not what he supposedly did was true."
Mihawk sighed. "I know. Say, Shanks, have you looked at the list of new pupils yet?"
Shanks, who had been about to go, blinked, turning back around. "No. Why?"
"There are a lot of them. Way more than usual."
Shanks chuckled dismissively. "I wouldn't read anything into that. You know how these things are, the amount of new students changes every year."
"I know that," Mihawk replied irritably, not liking the way that Shanks seemed to be talking down to him. "But still, there's a lot of potential for new trouble, whilst the old trouble is still here. At least for another year."
"You're talking about Luffy and the guys, right?"
"Who else?"
Shanks grinned. "You're way too uptight. Things would be way too boring around here without them."
"And would that be such a bad thing?"
Shanks laughed, at last setting off for his own classroom. "Wow, school hasn't even started and you're already complaining about trouble. Good luck lasting 'til the end of the week!"
Mihawk watched Shanks' retreating figure for a second before smirking, although the red-haired teacher didn't see that. "I see you're the same as always…" He muttered to himself.
######
The blonde man smiled, inhaling deeply as he stepped out of his car into the first September morning of the year. The first day of school. The first day of his new job.
"Are you sure about this?" A female voice asked as she opened the back door of the vehicle. "I mean, you could have called or visited them or something."
"I don't know whether they still live in the same house. Besides, It'll be more fun to surprise him in school, don't you think?"
"If you say so."
"You don't sound convinced. Although I guess you don't know them."
The younger female pouted. "Hey, you haven't seen them since you were kids either!"
The blonde man laughed. "That's true, but we were very close as children. Brothers, actually."
"Well, not really…"
The blonde man glanced back at his younger companion, his expression completely serious. "No, really. We're brothers. We did the ritual and everything."
"That just sounds creepy…"
The older man chuckled, turning around. "Well you can ask him when we find him at school. Although first we need to figure out where exactly your classroom is. And my classroom too for that matter…"
"That's right. I wonder if we'll see Robin too."
"Oh, that's right. She moved to this city, didn't she? I wonder… wouldn't it be an amazing coincidence if she came to this school too?"
######
Bartolomeo grinned. It was his first day at his new school. Luffy's School! It would seem some dreams really did come true…
The green haired boy was too busy drooling at the thought of spending all year at Luffy's side that he didn't notice a blonde boy with a black hat standing in front of the school. As a result, Bartolomeo walked straight into the boy, nearly knocking him over.
When the blonde boy had recovered, he turned to glare at Bartolomeo. "Hey, watch where you're going! I would never forgive you if you damaged this perfect face of mine."
Bartolomeo snorted. "Perfect? As if… The only perfect person is Luffy. I don't have time for cocky jackasses like you."
"You've got a real attitude considering you're the one in the wrong here. You're lucky I'm in a good mood today, or I'd have to fix that for you."
Bartolomeo rolled his eyes, walking away from the blonde boy and towards the school entrance. "If you say so… whoever you are…"
The blonde boy glared at Bartolomeo as he walked off. "What, you're not even gonna ask my name?"
"Don't care."
The blonde boy gasped. At his old school he'd been used to being the centre of attention, the most popular and more importantly, the most handsome boy. No one would have dreamt of talking to him like Bartolomeo had. "It's Cavendish!" he called out.
Bartolomeo continued walking. "I told you I don't care. It doesn't matter if your name is Cabbage or whatever."
A vein popped on Cavendish's head. "I said Cavendish, not Cabbage! And aren't you going to tell me yours?"
"Eh.. Maybe later."
This annoyed Cavendish even further. "What's that supposed to mean! All you have to do is tell me your name! It's not that hard!"
Bartolomeo didn't reply, opening the door and entering the school. Cavendish glared at the entrance. "Jeez, I hope not everyone in this school is a rude jerk like him…"
######
"Wait, Rebecca!"
The pink haired girl, who was already a good 100m or so from her house, turned around to see her father dash out of the house holding a small brown paper bag. "Is that…"
Kyros smiled as he quickly caught up to his daughter. He proudly waved the object in front of her. "Your lunch. I made it special for you."
Rebecca decided against informing her father that she already had money to buy lunch and would probably go for that option rather than one of her dad's infamous inedible lunches and just took the bag, smiling as convincingly as she could. "Thanks a lot dad!"
Rebecca expected her father to head back inside, but Kyros just stood there awkwardly, shuffling his feet slightly. He looked like he wanted to say something, but was too nervous to actually say it. Rebecca giggled. "What is it?"
"It's just… you remember what I said yesterday, right?"
Rebecca inwardly rolled her eyes. "Don't worry dad, I get it. I'm not to talk to any boys under any circumstances." "Like that's realistic…" she added as an afterthought.
Kyros certainly seemed to think it was, him smiling relievedly. "Alright then. Enjoy your first day Rebecca. I love you so much."
Rebecca smiled back. "Love you too dad."
The father and daughter exchanged one last hug before Rebecca set off on her way again, her new school the destination.
######
Trafalgar Law scowled up at the sky, having just finished checking his front porch, like he did every morning. There was no letter, as always.
It had been about a month since he'd last heard from Monet. A month spent searching continuously for news of Doflamingo and Vergo. A month of no progress on that front. It seemed to Law that he was further away than ever from finding either of those two.
Law sighed, making the decision to push all of those worries to one side for today. It was the first day of school after all. The first day of his senior year! How time flies…
Without realising it, Law found himself smiling as he walked the familiar route to school. He hadn't had any contact with Luffy and the others since the soccer tournament and that day had been pretty hectic, with the incident with the blue haired girl. Now that he thought about it, he couldn't help but wonder what happened to her.
Law smirked, actively increasing his pace, actually wanting to get to school as quickly as possible. For a while now he had isolated himself, and now he was looking forward to catching up with all of his friends. At least he still had them.
######
Ace hummed to himself as he locked the front door on the way out, Luffy well on the way to school at this point. It wasn't just school that was starting today. Today was the day that Ace was returning to work, the day he'd been looking forward to pretty much since he'd been discharged from the hospital.
The police officer had spent the last couple of weeks at home counting seconds as he stared blankly at either the TV or his laptop, all his thoughts centring around one man.
Marshall D Teach.
Ace was going to get him. The man that had betrayed everyone at the police force, his closest friends. The man that had broken Crocodile out of Impel down and put Olivia and Robin in danger. But most importantly, the man that nearly killed his brother. His little brother. That on it's own was enough motivation for Ace.
The drive to work seemed shorter than usual, although Ace's mind hadn't been on the drive, so maybe that was why. It had only been a few weeks since Ace had turned up for work, yet it felt like it had been much longer. Ace couldn't quite figure out why that was the case.
After dealing with a round of welcome backs and firm handshakes from pretty much every single person in the force, Ace finally made it to his desk. He sat there for a second, only one thing still on his mind.
He was going to get Teach. Even if it killed him, he was going to get him.
######
"Have fun."
Violet glanced back at Vergo, who was standing in the doorway of the apartment complex, his arms crossed, his expression hidden behind his sunglasses. He would look pretty cool if it wasn't for the piece of burger stuck on the side of his mouth. Violet gestured towards her face, Vergo getting the hint and removing the piece of food. Violet turned around.
"What's that supposed to mean?" she asked coldly. Vergo raised an eyebrow.
"I thought we were over this… hostility?"
Violet didn't think that was worth a response, just continuing on her way. Vergo frowned. "You do remember why we got you this job, don't you?"
"is it to do with your interest in bringing through the next generation?"
Vergo chuckled. "Cute. No. Starting today, you will take Joker's job as a teacher in that school. From there you will continue his work on the SMILE factory."
Violet rolled her eyes. "I know."
"Just making sure." Vergo stated in a monotone. Violet watched him for a second, before beginning walking again. One thing's for sure, she definitely didn't trust these people.
######
Mr Shanks frowned. "Um… can I help you?"
Bartolomeo, who was sitting cross-legged on the ground outside the red-haired teacher's classroom, shook his head. "I'm OK thanks. I'm waiting for Lu… I'm waiting for Luff… I'm…I'm waiting for Lu… Lu…. L…."
"Luffy?" Shanks guessed, seeing as Bartolomeo seemed unable to bring himself to complete the sentence. The green haired boy weakly nodded. "I'd come back later if I were you. School doesn't start for another ten minutes and Luffy's usually at least another ten late."
Bartolomeo grinned. "I don't mind. I'll wait as long as it takes!"
Shanks blinked, wondering who this guy waiting outside his classroom was and why he was so desperate to see Luffy. "Alright then. But don't you have a classroom of your own you need to be getting to?"
Bartolomeo shrugged. "I dunno. Probably."
"And?"
Bartolomeo jerked his thumb towards himself. "That doesn't really matter to me. I'm her for one reason, and one reason only. And that's Lu… Luff…. L…."
Shanks sighed, deciding to leave the green haired youth outside his classroom, entering the familiar room himself. He guessed this was one of the new kids Mihawk was talking about. Although he didn't seem to be so much a troublemaker as a weirdo. Although that could be worse.
Suddenly, Shanks heard a scream from outside. He glanced out of the window to see a giant blonde boy holding a much smaller student by the scruff of his neck, the smaller student looking more than a little beat up. Bartolomeo peered over Mr Shanks' shoulder and scowled at the scene outside. "Who the hell is that?"
Shanks frowned. "I dunno, must be a new- Wait, what are you doing in here? This isn't your classroom! If you're gonna hang around, wait outside!"
Bartolomeo shrugged, turning around and making for the door. "Whatever. Say, if you want, I could take care of that jerk outside for you…"
"You know as a teacher I can't approve of that…"
Bartolomeo sighed. "Fine, your loss. It just means you have to go out and deal with that guy."
Shanks also sighed. Bartolomeo definitely had a point. And just after he'd finally gotten into his classroom as well. The red haired teacher followed Bartolomeo out of the room. As he made his way outside he was acutely aware of the fact that the green haired teen was following him. When he realised he wasn't going to stop, Shanks stopped and looked sternly at Bartolomeo. "What are you doing?"
"I wanted to come and watch."
A vein popped on Shanks' head. "Watch what? This isn't a show you know!"
"What's the harm? I ain't breaking any rules am I?"
Shanks glared at the new student. OK, maybe he got this one wrong. Perhaps as well as being a weirdo, he was a troublemaker too.
######
Violet stared at the papers on her desk. She had finally gotten into school about ten minutes ago and, after taking a few minutes to sort out her stuff, was now awaiting her new class. Honestly, she was more nervous than she thought she'd be. Although teaching was just a cover for what she was really doing, she couldn't help but feel nervous about meeting the children she'd be in charge of for the next year. Like it or not, they would depend on her, and she genuinely didn't want to let them down.
The new teacher's head immediately shot up at the sound of the door opening. In strode in a handsome blonde boy, the absolute picture of confidence. He glanced at the teacher, removing the black hart he was wearing and almost gliding over to her desk. Violet thought he was trying way too hard to look as cool as possible. Nonetheless, she put on a friendly smile for the first arrival. "Good morning."
"Good morning Miss, it's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Cavendish."
"I'm Violet," the new teacher replied without thinking. She mentally slapped herself as soon as she had said it. She had never been a teacher before though, so she wasn't used to introducing herself by the surname.
Cavendish blinked. "O…K… Miss."
The two remained there awkwardly for a moment, Violet too embarrassed to even say anything to try and correct her mistake. Luckily, the door then opened and in strolled another student. A girl this time.
Violet turned to smile brightly at her, but froze at the fact that it wasn't a stranger who had entered the room. She knew this girl.
The pink haired girl smiled nervously at her new teacher and then Cavendish before catching herself and quickly looking back at the teacher again, remembering the promise she made her father. Cavendish, however, mistook this as evidence that she had a crush on him and was too nervous to stare at him, causing the blonde boy to smirk smugly. The pink haired girl, focussing solely on the teacher, curtseyed slightly. "Hello. I'm Rebecca."
Violet knew who this was. Even though they hadn't seen each other in years, she'd seen pictures. Standing in front of her was someone who Violet had thought she'd never see again. But Violet couldn't help but feel happiness welling up inside her. She had dreamt for so long about this moment.
Because standing in front of her was her niece.
######
The giant blonde boy laughed wildly, shoving his victim against the wall. Around him, a crowd of students were watching, positively terrified of this new kid whose first action at his new school was beating the shit out of someone for 'looking at him funny'.
"You know, I don't recognise you…" A voice muttered from behind the crowd. Slowly the huddle of students parted, revealing Eustass Kid, staring coldly at the grinning blonde boy. "So you must be a new kid. I know it's dumb coming from me, considering this is exactly what I did when I was new here, but if you think you can get away with picking fights at this place, you're definitely mistaken…"
The blonde boy just grinned inanely. "Well what am I supposed to do when some wimp's just standin' there gawkin' at me?"
Kid smirked. "He was probably 'gawkin'' at you because of that ugly mug of yours."
The blonde boy didn't seem offended, instead meeting Kid's smirk with one of his own. He released the beat up student, said boy scurrying away as quickly as he could. "I thought you said I shouldn't go around picking fights? Isn't that what you're doin' now?"
"I said you shouldn't go around picking fights. You don't want to go around attracting attention from the wrong people. Like me, for example."
"Oh? Is that so? Say, what's your name? I want to make a list of all the guys I beat up. My record's twenty before I got expelled."
"Well ain't you a tough guy? I'm Kid. And yourself?"
The blonde teen jerked a thumb towards himself. "I'm Bellamy."
All the other students began backing away, sensing a fight about to break out. However before it could, a new arrival entered the fray.
Mr Smoker wasn't looking forward to the first day of school. And it was all because of one person. Just one person.
Monkey D Luffy.
He'd taught the now High School senior for three years now. Teaching him for one lesson would have been too much, but three years? It felt like a cruel joke sometimes. He had him for a fourth year now as well. It would seem that Luffy just knew how to push Smoker's buttons, but that really wasn't the case. It wasn't that Luffy intentionally pushed the buttons, it was that he had a habit of accidentally falling on them. Repeatedly. Luffy wound up Smoker without even trying, and that really really really pissed Mr Smoker off.
But today, his first headache surprisingly wasn't to do with Luffy. It was to sort out this new blonde kid who, like Shanks, he had been watching from his classroom window before deciding to take action.
"You," Smoker practically whispered, not even needing to raise his voice to intimidate the no longer grinning Bellamy. "Come with me. Now."
And just like that, the fight was ended before it begun, Bellamy following Smoker, although not before mouthing 'We'll finish this later' to a scowling Kid, surprised that Smoker hadn't punished him also. Looked like he wasn't so bad after all.
######
"This place is so noisy…" Zoro grumbled, glancing out of the window just in time to see Smoker escorting Bellamy away.
With the official start of the school day and so the school year just minutes away, most of Mr Shanks' class had now arrived at his classroom, with Nami and Luffy the only exceptions. The teacher himself wasn't there obviously, having gone with Bartolomeo to sort out the trouble outsider, not aware that Mr Smoker had beaten them to it.
Robin looked at the clock at the front of the classroom, over the empty teacher's desk. "I wonder where the teacher is…"
Usopp frowned. "It's not like him to be late… say Chopper, what's wrong?"
The short teen was slouched down on his chair, tears welling up in his eyes. "I miss Vivi!" he cried.
Zoro groaned. "Not this again…."
Robin gave him a disapproving look before getting up from her seat and going to Chopper's side, rubbing him comfortingly on the back. Just then the door opened and in strolled Mr Shanks. He glanced back at the doorway, where Bartolomeo was stood frozen, looking between Zoro and the others, starstruck as usual.
Robin smiled kindly at him. "Good morning Mr Birdy."
"G… Good morning miss Robin! I… I'm so happy to be able to be so close to you all. Especially, you, Lu… L.. LUFFY!"
Bartolomeo beamed, looking around the classroom, his smile disappearing when he finally realised Luffy wasn't there.
Mr Shanks rolled his eyes. "What did I tell you? Luffy's not here yet. And you need to be getting to your class. So beat it."
Bartolomeo glared at him. "No way, I'll wait here as long as it takes!"
Robin looked between the teacher and student, sensing trouble about to begin. Suddenly, an idea popped into her head. "You know Mr Birdy, Luffy really looks up to Mr Shanks…"
Bartolomeo's eyes widened. Suddenly, without warning, he dropped to his knees, startling Mr Shanks. "I… In that case, I'm so sorry Sir! I won't disrespect you again! I'll go to my class immediately!"
With that Bartolomeo got to his feet and scurried out of Mr Shanks' classroom in search of his own. Mr Shanks just stared at his retreating figure. "What a strange guy."
Zoro meanwhile, smirked at Robin. "You really know how to deal with him, don't you?"
Robin giggled. "I guess so."
######
Violet stood motionless, not knowing what to say. This was her niece! Her niece! She had grown up so much! Violet couldn't believe she was already 16. When she'd last seen her in person she'd only been a baby after all. That felt like such a long time ago to Violet now though. Given everything that had happened…
Rebecca shuffled her feet slightly, not really understanding why her teacher was staring wide-eyed at her. Cavendish looked between the two, wondering whether he should say something. Just when he was about to, the door opened. Cavendish looked over in that direction, instantly feeling his first day getting a lot worse.
"You gotta be kidding…"
Cavendish glared heatedly at the room's new arrival, who just stared blankly at him. Now it was Rebecca and Violet's, who'd been snapped out of her trance by Cavendish's voice, turn to look between the two, not understanding the reason for the the tension. For a couple of seconds, Cavendish stared down the confused green haired teen. Eventually, a light bulb went off in Bartolomeo's head. "Oh, I remember you now! Cabbage, right?"
"It's Cavendish! Cabbage isn't a name! Miss, please don't tell me this jerk is in this class too!"
Violet, a little hesitant to interrupt the 'standoff' between the two, cleared her throat. "Welcome… uh…."
Bartolomeo turned to her, annoying Cavendish who didn't like the idea of being ignored. "Bartolomeo. Sorry I'm late, I was waiting for Lu… For L…. for someone. I would have waited for longer, but the red haired teacher said I had to come here…"
Violet smiled at him. "Oh don't worry, You're not late. Most of the other students aren't here yet either. Anyway, please take a seat everyone. We actually have half an hour before lessons start in which I believe the principal said we were 'to get to know each other'."
Cavendish scoffed, heading to the far end of the room, as far away from Bartolomeo as possible. "I don't want to get to know that jerk."
Bartolomeo glared at him, taking the seat closest to the front of the room, preserving the gap between the two. "Well who said I wanted to get to know you asshole?"
Rebecca looked between the two, choosing a seat in the front row of the classroom, although at the opposite end of the classroom. She giggled slightly. She remember what her father had said that morning, but these boys didn't seem that bad. Violet noticing this, smiled, before a sad realisation dawned upon her.
The very reason why she hadn't seen Rebecca in so long was the reason why she couldn't now tell Rebecca who she was. Violet bit her lip. That didn't matter. Even if Rebecca couldn't know they were related, she was definitely going to make the most of their time together.
######
The blonde man smiled at the sight of the gaping teen in front of him. "It's been a while, hasn't it… Luffy?"
Luffy just stood there motionless, unable to say anything, his mouth completely dry. Nami, at his side, stared in shock at her boyfriend, who looked like he'd seen a ghost. "Luffy?"
"S… "
The blonde man, who Nami guessed was a new teacher, walked towards Luffy. He removed his black hat. "You haven't changed a bit. Still carrying around that Straw Hat of yours. Although I still have my own favoured headgear, so I guess I can't complain."
"Sa…"
The blonde man was now standing just a couple of metres in front of Luffy. "When we were kids we used to fight all the time. You could never beat me or Ace. We should have a rematch, although I think maybe an arm wrestle may suffice this time… Although we probably can't do that here. All kinds of rules about students and teachers you know?"
"Sab…"
The new teacher held his hand out to Luffy. "I've really missed you. Brother."
"SABO!"
I think someone mentioned Sabo in a review in the Summer Vacation story actually. I'm not 100% sure on that, but here he is anyway! Not that he's the only new character haha.
So yeah, what do you think? Was it a good enough opening chapter for the new story? As always, I'd love it if you guys could leave a review, your thoughts and opinions are really important to me.
Thanks for reading!