"What are we doing here?" asked Nami.

"I told you, these reports are for Rayleigh," replied Luffy. Nami was startled when he walked on. She ran to catch up to him.

"Well, shouldn't we have gone to the Academy?"

"Don't have to. He's here. He's the principal for this place too."

"Eh? Really?"

"Don't tell me, you didn't know?"

"It never really occurred to me."

"Well, do you remember this pathway?" Luffy asked as he decided to take her on a small detour. Nami glanced up. The trees were tall and big, but for some reason, a memory of them half their size now flashed into her mind. She remembered the sun nearing its sunset and the heat from the weather. Right now, it was fully dark except for the lamp posts set everywhere. Everything seemed familiar, yet different.

"I feel like I've been here before," murmured Nami. Luffy stopped walking and pointed to a big red building. She squinted her eyes to get a better look, until realization hit her. "Eh? The dojo?"

If she remembered right, she's only been to the New World dojo once, maybe twice, and that was when she first met Luffy. She completely forgot about this building and the surroundings. Then again, she hasn't thought about any of it in a while. It completely crossed her mind that the dojo was a part of the University.

Nami snapped back to her senses when Luffy took her hand and led her on another path. "Are you still with the dojo? Is Shanks still your sensei?"

"Of course. I just took a long break away, but Rayleigh caught me up to where I could match with the highest. So, I'm stronger than you might think."

"Oh, really? I'll have to see it to believe it."

The two of them walked around the buildings where while Luffy led the way, Nami felt like she was in a whole other world. Each building had all sorts of different names and the architecture was beautiful. She couldn't keep up. Finally, Luffy led her into one of the buildings. Before they went in, she saw a light on on one of the rooms. This was the one building that looked a lot like the Academy from the outside.

"Where are we?" asked Nami.

"The main building."

"Funny. It looks exactly like-"

"The Academy? Yeah, almost everyone that goes here came from Grand Line Academy. All our classes should be in this building. Only those that are going for One Piece go into this building. All the other buildings have different studies."

"You know so much."

"Shanks gave me a tour of the whole place when I first started at the dojo. I've had the time to memorize the place." Luffy bursted open a door without knocking. "Yo, Rayleigh!"

Rayleigh glanced up from his computer. Happiness filled his heart at the sight of his young pupil appearing at his doorway. Its been over six months since he last saw him. "Luffy, never knocking as always. Nami, too. You've grown up well."

"Thanks, Rayleigh," said Nami.

"What brings you two here? Are you back together?"

Nami looked down and took a step away from her captain. Luffy cleared his throat. To make the situation less awkward, he removed his bag and placed it on Rayleigh's desk.

"This is everything I've written down since you left, as promised."

"Good work. I'll be looking over these and decide whether to move you on with your brother."

"Looking forward to it."

-x-x-

The next day was an exciting day. Why? Because its their first day into college. Today will be the day the Straw Hats will start their third year of college together. Everyone was gathered in the living room, waiting for everyone to gather so they could leave together.

"I thought you don't wear uniforms anymore once you go into college. I didn't have to when I started at my University," Nami stated as she looked down at herself.

"New World is a special University. All "special" colleges require their students to wear uniforms," explained Robin.

"Well, these are kinda cuter than the ones we wore at the Academy." Unlike Grand Line Academy where everything was blue and white, New World's colors were red, white, and gray. For their winter uniforms, they wore a white button up shirt, a blue tie around their necks, a faded yellow sweater vest, and over it was a red blazer. For their bottoms, the girls wore gray skirts while the guys wore gray pants.

Like always, Luffy and Zoro were the only ones to wear their uniforms in a messy way, but in someways, it looked fashionable, like something the models would wear. Nami, on the other hand, made sure everything looked perfect. She wouldn't want a fashion flop on the first day.

"What are you going to do all day?" Luffy asked Marguerite who sat curled up in a ball on the couch while still in her pajamas. She shrugged and stretched her arms out.

"I'll just wait here for at least one of you to return. It's not like I can go anywhere. I'd just get lost."

"Shishi, right."

"We should be back by three. In the meantime, try not to burn the house down?" Usopp teased. Marguerite sat up straight and playfully saluted him.

"Roger that, Captain."

"I wonder if we'll all have the same classes together again," said Brook.

"Of course we will. We're a crew after all. It'll be just like high school," Luffy said with a big grin.

After Marguerite wished them good luck, the Straw Hats left the house to head to college. Since it was just down the street, they decided to walk together. The sun was bright and high up where it should be. The cherry blossoms have fully bloomed and pink petals blew along with the wind. A perfect way to start off the new year.

When they neared the school, a handful of paparazzi were being held back as they tried to get shots of the famous crew. Students would stop and stare when that crew would pass by them. Nonetheless, the Straw Hats have already retrieved their old reputation of being the strongest and smartest crew in the school.

Luffy led the way for the crew as they passed through the halls. His vice captain was on his right walking along side him. Unlike two years ago, Luffy felt more confident with where he stood. On his other side, Nami still felt insecure about all this attention she was receiving. Usopp, Franky, Chopper, and Brook looked like they were having fun with it. Zoro and Robin held hands and ignored it all. Sanji was keeping his eye out on any guy they'd pass by while clutching the hand of his girlfriend. Nami was a step behind Luffy to allow him all the fame. He was a natural. He accepted everyone's greetings in a calmly matter.

The Straw Hat captain noticed her hiding behind him for comfort. He reached down and grabbed her hand secretly. Nami looked up when she felt her hand being squeezed. Although he was staring up ahead, Luffy smiled comfortingly, letting her know he was right here.

For some reason, the halls seemed more crowded than it should be. Students would come running in or they'd pile out of their homerooms and look over people's heads to get a glimpse of the newest crew that has enrolled into their school.

"Oi, Robin, do you remember what room number we're in?" asked Luffy.

"C-3," replied Robin.

"C-3, huh? Brings back memories."

When they entered their homeroom, it was already almost full. There were hardly any recognizable faces, but Luffy knew that all the crews present in this room came from Grand Line Academy. There was one person Luffy did recognize, and he was sitting on the highest step along with his crew.

"Kidd, you're in here too? What happened to Marineford?" Luffy called out.

"Let me off for good behavior. I'm not out of the game yet," replied Kidd.

Vivi scanned the room until her eyes landed on one specific captain sitting near the door. "Bonnie, you're in this class too?! Long time no see!"

The pink haired captain smirked when she saw the little princess holding hands with her boyfriend. "Still together, I see. Well, as long as he doesn't go after me like last time, nice to see you too, Vivi."

Luffy led the crew towards the window area where they used to sit in their third year of high school. It felt really nostalgic. Everyone took the same seat and to Nami, nothing could be more perfect.

"If we have homeroom again, I wonder who's our homeroom teacher," said Brook.

The noise grew louder outside the closed door. There were mainly a few screams and squeals from the girls outside.

"Oi, oi, what's going on out there?" asked Usopp.

"Sounds like we've got ourselves another celebrity," said Bonnie.

Luffy furrowed his brows. This feeling and this situation seemed oddly familiar. The door slid open, making the squeals sound louder. Chopper and Usopp moved around in their seat to get a glimpse of this popular new celebrity.

"How is it?" Usopp asked Luffy and Zoro who sat in front of the entire group. "Is he hotter than me?"

"Who is it? Who is it?" asked Chopper.

Luffy squinted his eyes. The girls blocked the way for him to see this mystery person. He couldn't shake that odd feeling in his mind though.

"Girls, please. This is my first year here, so please be gentle with me," said the mystery person.

Zoro sighed. He recognized that voice. He looked over to his captain to see what he'd think, but it looked like he didn't hear it. The swordsman shook his head. Nami noticed his reaction. She looked closer until the girls made way for the stranger, revealing himself.

Luffy's chin fell to the floor. He turned pale white and he felt a sudden brush of wind pass through him. He had a feeling something like this would happen again, but he didn't want to admit it.

"My name is Portgas D. Ace, and I'll be your homeroom teacher this year."

"ACE?" the Straw Hats yelled in unison.

"I thought you graduated last year!" said Nami.

"Yeah, but I got nothing better to do. I said I would be waiting for you at New World, didn't I? Well, here I am. This should be a fun two years together."

"Two years?!"

"What happened to our old homeroom teacher last year?" asked Bonnie.

"Retired early. So, now you've got me. Don't worry. I'll make sure a crew from my class will reach One Piece."

-x-

It was lunch and half of the students of class C-3 was heading out the door to head for the food court. The other half went out to have their bento in the beautiful cherry blossoms. Thanks to Sanji, they had their own bento. The only problem was where they were going to have lunch. The place was filled with students trying to get close to them.

"We could just have our lunch here," Vivi suggested.

"Nope. Get out," said Ace. "I need a word with your captain."

"Luffy?" Nami turned to her captain. He smiled comfortingly and nodded for them to go.

"I'll meet up with you in a second. Save me some meat."

The crew piled out of the door. Nami looked back, but he had on the same reassuring smile on his face.

Luffy closed the door, then turned back to his Nii-chan who was sitting on top of his desk eating his own bento.

"So, a teacher again, huh?" asked Luffy. Ace shrugged.

"Don't make fun of me."

"What's Marco doing nowadays? And the old man?"

"The old man retired as captain. He's a teacher here now. He's teaching the students in this building too. Marco became an instructor at the dojo just like dad, but he teaches the first years."

"I see. Then, how'd Nationals go?"

"I took your spot the year after. Won that tournament easily. The year after, Law got chosen."

"Really? Law? How'd that turn out?"

"He won. But when he did, he completely disappeared from the dojo."

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"After he won, he withdrew his name from the list and left the school. No one knows where he is or his crew. Dad tried calling him up to get him to reconsider, but he never got a hold of him."

"Disappeared, huh. What else is new?"

"A lot of things have changed, Luffy. Ever since you left, nothing's been the same as it used to."

"And what do you mean by that?"


MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Although I didn't get anything this year, I hope you're all having a safe and warm day, and I hope you all received everything you've ever wanted this year.