Shanks Keeps Treating His Childhood Sweetheart Like a Brother Today, Too

Main Blurb:

Coral never expected that simply running an errand for her cousin to buy a bath powder from Jusenkyo would lead to such bad luck. She fell right into one of the springs, and what she least expected was to surface surrounded by a bunch of strange, gruff men.

She looked at the empty bath powder packet floating on the water, then at her flat chest. When she reached down and felt something she definitely shouldn't have, she fell silent.

Bad news: For some reason, she had wandered into the men's bathhouse.

Good news: She'd turned into a boy!

At least now she wasn't embarrassed at all.

A month later, Coral, now an apprentice crew member aboard the Roger Pirates' ship, dreamed about a strange being who claimed to be the will of the world. It said:

“I'm sorry! It was my mistake that brought you here. I've prepared a way for you to get back. It's on the Final Island!”

Hey, what a coincidence! Captain Roger's goal was to reach the Final Island and complete a voyage around the world unlike any other. In that case, all she had to do was stick with everyone, and she'd be home before long!

But just as they were about to set sail for the Final Island, she came down with a fever. Buggy fell ill along with her.

Because Shanks had been too excited to sleep the night before, he'd dragged her and Buggy out onto the deck to feel the sea breeze for most of the night. The culprit was perfectly fine, while she and Buggy had collapsed before the journey's end.

Thinking of their health, Captain Roger refused to take them to the Final Island, no matter what. He ordered them to rest in town. Shanks, looking deeply guilty, stayed behind with them.

Coral: ...

Thinking that she had been just one step away from the way home, only to miss it because of a little fever, made Coral grit her teeth in anger. She looked at Shanks, who was changing the towel on her forehead, with a dangerous glint in her eyes.

“I'm sorry, Coral. It's all my fault that you and Buggy couldn't go to the Final Island with the captain and the others.” Noticing the unfriendly look from his friend, Shanks felt even guiltier. “But don't worry. I'll have a ship of my own someday, and I'll take you to the Final Island then!”

So, please don't hate me...

After staring for a long time at Shanks's puppy-dog eyes, all dewy with remorse, Coral reached out from beneath the blanket and held out her little finger.

It's a promise. You have to take me to the Final Island so I can go home.

“Yeah! It's a promise! I absolutely, positively will take you to the Final Island on our very own ship!” Shanks firmly hooked his little finger around Coral's and beamed.

Buggy, lying in the bed next to them: ...You two just made a promise? What about me?!

And another thing, Shanks! I'm the one who grew up with you and got into trouble with you. Why are you feeling guilty toward someone who's been on the ship for less than two years?

Is it just because Coral is better-looking than me?

There are two reliable people on Red-Haired Shanks's ship: his first mate, Beckman, and his senior officer, Coral.

Both of them can keep Shanks in line, but when it comes to putting a leash on him, only Coral can do the job. So every time Beckman sees Shanks listening obediently with his head hanging, he can't help asking, “If you listen to Coral so well, why didn't you make him your first mate in the first place?”

Shanks answered as if it were obvious. “Because Coral doesn't like handling ship business.”

Beckman: ...Do I look like I enjoy handling ship business?

“And besides...” Shanks scratched his head. “You know Coral can't speak. The crew still needs someone more imposing as first mate.”

Beckman coldly brushed the hand off his shoulder and asked, “So I look imposing?”

Shanks glanced at Beckman's face, which had grown noticeably more haggard and aged since they'd first met, worn down by paperwork. He instinctively looked away, then gave his usual slightly goofy smile. “Well... From the first time I saw you, Beck, I knew you were the perfect first mate for our crew!”

Beckman: “...Heh.”

Everyone in the Red-Haired Pirates knew that Coral, Captain Shanks's childhood friend, was a very strange person. She would swim with them, but never bathe or soak in hot springs with them. Coral's explanation was that she had a thing about cleanliness and couldn't stand bathing with other people.

Everyone had their own little quirks, and that was normal, so no one ever suspected anything.

Until one day, a drunk Shanks, desperately needing to pee, walked into the wrong room.

When he pushed open the washroom door, he saw through the steamy haze a woman who looked almost exactly like Coral. In fact, she was Coral, only as a woman, taking a bath.

In that moment, Shanks's mind went completely blank. Mechanically, he shut the door and stepped back out.

Only then did he realize he'd just entered Coral's room.

So the person bathing inside was...

Shanks felt all the blood rush to his face, and his ears burned.

This was bad! He'd stumbled across a huge secret!

Worse still, that night he dreamed of pinning that lovely figure beneath him and ravishing her. The face beneath him, gazing up at him with tearful eyes and an expression that set his heart pounding, was unmistakably Coral's!

When morning came, Shanks sat up with his hair sticking out in every direction. Feeling the dampness beneath the blanket, he covered his face with both hands.

What was he going to do? He'd discovered something even worse than the fact that his brother had suddenly turned into a woman:

He might be in love with the brother he'd grown up with, the one who was closer to him than family!

Content Warnings:

1. As usual, expect OOC characterization.

2. The female lead is Shampoo's cousin from Ranma 1/2. She was born with a serious expression and doesn't like talking.

3. The story begins in Roger's era, so the male lead should be pretty obvious!

4. Because of the curse of the Spring of Drowned Man, the female lead turns into a boy if enough of her body comes into contact with cold water. That's why she can live communally among the men!

Special Note: Ranma 1/2 is a high-powered, comedic slice-of-life anime by Rumiko Takahashi. It's a lot of fun and pretty much the origin of the gender-swap trope, so I highly recommend watching it if you haven't! Takahashi-sensei is the best! The female lead is quite strong, and knows all kinds of secret techniques and ultimate moves from the Kuonji Amazons.

Theme: Is it brotherly affection or romance? It's hard to tell.