Hey everyone, it's Sue.
I just turned sixteen the other day. Being a girl, that's the legal marriage age in Japan.
Over the past year, my daily life has changed quite a bit in some ways, while other parts have stayed exactly the same.
What hasn't changed is my daily routine.
On days without "interviews" or "adventures," I relax by reading magazines, newspapers, and books.
When I feel like it, I go out shopping, treat myself to a delicious lunch or dinner, or catch a play to completely unwind and recharge.
At the same time, I'm constantly absorbing ideas from books and plays that might inspire my writing, turning them into valuable "experiences."
If I see an interesting event advertised in the newspaper, I'll go check it out if I'm curious.
Sometimes it's just for fun, but these experiences also often fuel my writing motivation and provide knowledge that adds depth to my stories.
As a bounty hunter, I'll go after a suitable target if one happens to be nearby.
Of course, I carefully consider the danger level, the situation, my finances, and my schedule. And I only take on the job if I'm really in the mood. These opportunities don't come up all that often.
But bringing back a decent bounty can easily net me millions, sometimes tens of millions of berries.
Also, while I don't always go into detail about it, I never skip my daily training. Martial arts skills dull quickly if you neglect them.
Some days I keep it minimal, just enough not to interfere with my "vacation." Other days I push myself hard to improve my abilities. Sometimes I take complete rest days to recover, but basically, I'm always working to stay sharp and get stronger.
That's not just about swordsmanship or physical conditioning, either. It includes my Haki and Devil Fruit abilities too.
So, that's everything in my life that's stayed the same.
What follows is where things have changed drastically.
Let's talk about the "training" I mentioned earlier.
If I didn't consider actual bounty hunting "practice," it would all be self-directed. But lately, other options have become available.
Though it's rare, I've been going to the Sabaody Archipelago and having Shakky and Rayleigh oversee my training.
I visit them occasionally, and Shakky will say, "Since you're here, I might as well give you some pointers like in the old days," and spar with me.
Then Rayleigh, watching us, will chime in with, "Might as well join in. I'm bored anyway." So he helps out just to kill time.
Those two are on a completely different level from me. There's no way to describe the skill gap.
Naturally, I haven't even come close to making them take me seriously.
Every time, I'd push myself until I was completely exhausted, but Shakky and Rayleigh would just laugh it off, completely unfazed. Even when I used my full abilities, I couldn't even make them break a sweat.
I knew it was inevitable, but it still stung a little, to be honest.
When I complained, they just laughed and said, "Then use that frustration as motivation to push yourself harder!"
Training with those two was incredibly valuable, especially their guidance on Haki.
Ever since my Haki awakened during a life-or-death situation while adrift at sea, I'd been self-taught. Getting proper instruction from seasoned experts was a huge help.
It seemed my methods weren't entirely wrong, but after learning from Rayleigh and Shakky, my mastery improved significantly. Watching them actually use Haki and experiencing it firsthand gave me some major insights.
It's hard to put into words—a little embarrassing as a writer, actually—but the Haki they use is fundamentally different from mine. Quantity, quality, everything.
Being confronted with my own immaturity made me ashamed of how complacent I'd become. But on the other hand, realizing I still had so much room to grow was also incredibly encouraging.
I'm resolved to keep honing both my mind and body.
The only other noticeable change is that I've been getting more work. Maybe it's because I've had a few hits, but I'm getting approached more and more often with "Write for us!" requests.
Whether it's magazine articles, newspaper columns (including regional and smaller papers, not just the World Economic News), or feature stories, it feels like the range of writing work I'm being asked to do has expanded considerably.
As a writer, I've even been interviewed for magazine features with headlines like "An Inside Look at the Face and Daily Life of an Up-and-Coming Author" or "Unveiling the Real Life of the New Literary Sensation."
It was a little embarrassing, but honestly, I was thrilled.
Maybe because of all the publicity, I started getting recognized on the street. Fans would stop me to say, "I'm a huge fan!" or ask for autographs. I worried I was getting ahead of myself, but I was glad I'd practiced my signature.
Fan mail started piling up, and people kept asking for sequels to my books. Eddie-chan even suggested I hold an autograph session the other day. I wonder if she was serious? If so, it would be a little awkward... but still, it would make me happy.
To think this all started as a hobby... I never imagined it would come this far.
Looking back, I kind of impulsively declared, "I'm going to become a Great Writer!" Of course, I was serious about doing everything I could to make it happen. But now that I've actually come this far, it's... well, it's deeply moving.
Maybe it's a cynical view, but I think many writers end up letting their dreams remain just that—dreams.
I've gotten this far entirely thanks to the support of everyone who believed in me and the readers who enjoyed my stories.
I'll keep working hard to create enjoyable stories for you all, so please continue to cheer me on!
...Who am I even talking to right now?
Anyway, the other big change... it's definitely my range of travel.
Even though I'm using the Eternal Pose, the fact that I can now reach places like the Sabaody Archipelago means I can explore a much wider world than before.
It's not just about navigational skill, but also about courage—that mental fortitude you need out on the open sea.
Of course, having my ship, the *Elena*, which I had specially built and handles like an extension of my own limbs, makes a huge difference. Whether there's wind or not, whether the waves are towering or barely rippling, I can maneuver her through almost any conditions, within reasonable limits. That kind of control is invaluable when navigating the sea.
Lately, I've been venturing to islands I'd always wanted to visit, even though I'd previously thought, "It's still too far, I'll go later." Kyuka Island and Jaya are prime examples.
Kyuka Island lived up to its name—a perfect place for a relaxing vacation, and it was a blast. It's the kind of idyllic resort you see in pictures, with such stable weather that you almost forget you're on an island in the Grand Line. It was peaceful, serene, and utterly tranquil.
The food was delicious, and I'd definitely go back if I had the chance.
Jaya was interesting enough, but the lawlessness was insane. It lived up to its reputation as a town beyond the reach of the World Government—robberies and murders were happening right out in the open. I even became a target myself.
I stayed at the Tropical Hotel, the one from the Original Work, and the service was comfortable enough. But... I don't think I'd go out of my way to visit again.
I also went to a place that seemed like the cherry pie shop from the story and tried a slice. It was... just average, I guess?
Oh, and I'm planning to visit Fish-Man Island soon.
Since the dawn of the Great Pirate Era, Fish-Man Island had been plagued by human traffickers. But once the Great Pirate Whitebeard claimed it as his territory, that lawlessness supposedly vanished.
Not only did human trafficking disappear, but the island also became significantly more peaceful in other ways.
Well, even pirates—or perhaps especially pirates—would want to avoid crossing Whitebeard. No sane pirate would dare cause trouble in his territory.
With Fish-Man Island now so peaceful, Hatchan offered to show me around if I ever wanted to visit, and I plan to take him up on that offer soon.
An underwater paradise... the Mermaid Cafe... the island's famous sweets... I can't wait to experience it all!
Of course, since we're still a ways off from the original storyline, those events might not have happened yet.
Come to think of it, the Mary Geoise incident probably hasn't occurred yet, and the Sun Pirates haven't been formed either.
If that's the case, going to Fish-Man Island now would mean Arlong and Jinbe are still there, right? Arlong as a soldier of the Ryugu Kingdom, and Jinbe as some thug in the Fish-Man District.
With Hatchan as our guide, I doubt things would get too dangerous, but that part still makes me a little uneasy.
Well, if the danger level is around a 20 million bounty, I'm confident I could handle it. But didn't some theories suggest Arlong got rusty and weaker after going to East Blue? Maybe he's even stronger now...
In the end, the best thing is probably to avoid trouble and not get involved in any messes. I'll just pray they don't come looking for me.
Well, I've explained some of the changes that have happened since before, but there's one final, major "change" I need to talk about.
To be fair, like the whole Fish-Man Island thing, this is more about what will happen than what has already happened, but it's already been decided.
Honestly, I never expected things to turn out this way, but since it's settled, I'm going to accept it as another "experience."
So, here's the announcement:
I, Venerdi Toto Sue, 16 years old, am going to... get married!
...To a Celestial Dragon.
To be continued...