#hungry days au

“Law? …Laaaw!”

  The insistent voice brought Law back to the present. For a moment, he had been lost in memories he hadn’t known owning.

  —Memories of pirates, ships and submarines, bread (ew!)and…hearts?

  Why did he hate bread all of a sudden? Why did he remember the face of that new student in his school?!

  “Hey, Law!”

 —The same student who keeps calling my name.

  Law glanced at the grin on the younger boy’s face.

 Your smile is still like the sun.

  Law put a hand on his face, sighed, and finally replied, “What?”

   “Do you remember too, Law?”

  …Yes, he remembered. He remembered that troublesome boy from his past. (Past what? Past life? Law wasn’t sure what to think of the new memories—or better, old memories—flooding his mind yet.)

   “Law? Are you ok?”

   The nerve. “You are reckless, do you know that?” Law blurted out.

   “I’m the Pirate King! Of course I am!”

  Luffy looked so proud of himself that Law almost smiled. Almost.

 So, what are we? Soul mates?

  He couldn’t believe he was even thinking that. And yet…

 The moment my eyes met Luffy’s for the first time, it happened.

  Law had recalled his past life, and Luffy had apparently done the same.

 He also nearly killed himself to run after his straw hat.

  Law had saved Luffy by grabbing him by the sleeve of his uniform. The cup ramen Luffy was eating spilt a bit, but the boy was too happy he had got his hat back before it got carried away by the wind to complain about the wasted food.

 Are you an idiot? You nearly jumped from the school roof to run after an old hat.

  Law sighed again, a hand still on his forehead.

  No, it isn’t just an old hat. It’s your treasure, and the moment our eyes locked, you remembered about it too.

  “I still like you, La—” Luffy stopped for a moment before saying, “Torao.” The grin on his face grew even bigger.

  “…Can’t you at least drop that silly nickname?”

  “I’ll try, Torao.”

  Luffy’s smile was so bright and honest that Law couldn’t get angry at him.

 I can say goodbye to my peaceful school days.

@lawluevents My fifth contribution to the LawLu Week 2022 (DAY 5 - “soul mates” prompt) is a flash fiction set in the Hungry DaysAU!