Uta handed him a bottle of water, her fingers brushing against his in the briefest, deliberate motion. Luffy noticed the way Uta's cheeks turned the faintest shade of pink, but he said nothing, simply flashing her a charming grin in return.
The effect was immediate – Uta quickly looked away, her blush deepening.
Ann rolled her eyes, clearly noticing the exchange. "Unbelievable. You've got her swooning too."
Luffy laughed, leaning back on his hands as he took a sip of water. "It's not my fault I'm charming."
"You're insufferable," Ann muttered, though she didn't sound like she meant it. She glanced at Sabo, who was still unmoving. "And you… are hopeless."
Sabo groaned again. "I'm just conserving my strength… for round two."
Luffy raised an eyebrow, his grin widening. "Round two? You sure you're ready for that?"
Sabo sat up, determination flashing in his eyes despite his exhaustion. "If you can keep going, so can I. I'm not backing down."
Uta clapped her hands together, clearly entertained. "That's the spirit!"
Ann groaned, flopping backward into the grass. "You're both insane."
Luffy stood up, stretching again as he glanced down at Ann. "C'mon, Loser. You can't quit now. You're doing great."
Ann propped herself up on her elbows, shooting him a glare. "Don't call me Loser."
Luffy tilted his head, his smirk still present. "Fine. Ann-chan, then."
Her face turned bright red. "Don't call me that either!"
He laughed, turning his attention to Sabo. "Alright, let's see what you got. One more spar, and we call it a day. I promise."
Sabo nodded, pushing himself to his feet and squaring his stance. "Ready when you are."
Uta moved closer to Ann, sitting beside her as the two watched the spar unfold. Luffy's movements were fluid, his control and confidence on full display as he effortlessly blocked and countered Sabo's attacks.
Every strike and dodge was calculated, his experience far outweighing Sabo's.
"He's really something," Uta said softly, her voice tinged with awe.
Ann sighed, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "Yeah… he is."
Uta turned her gaze to Ann, a playful smile forming. "You're staring."
Ann's cheeks flushed instantly. "Am not!"
"It's okay," Uta teased. "I think we're all staring. He just has that kind of presence."
Ann huffed, crossing her arms and looking away, though her gaze inevitably returned to Luffy. He had taken control of the spar completely, forcing Sabo onto the defensive as he moved faster than Sabo could keep up.
Finally, after a swift disarm and a tap to Sabo's shoulder, Luffy stepped back with a grin. "That's it for today. You did good, Sabo."
Sabo, panting and sweating, nodded with a grin of his own. "Thanks, Luffy. I'll get better, I promise."
"You will," Luffy said confidently. "Both of you will."
He turned toward Ann, who was still seated on the grass. "And you're not off the hook, Ann-chan. Tomorrow, we're working on speed."
"Ugh, can't wait," Ann muttered sarcastically, though there was a faint smile tugging at her lips.
Luffy winked. "Good. Because I'm not letting you slack off."
Ann stared at him for a moment, her heart betraying her resolve as it fluttered in her chest. She quickly looked away, scowling. "You're impossible."
"And you love it," Luffy teased, his voice low and playful.
Before Ann could respond, Uta giggled, breaking the tension. "Alright, you two. Let's head back before it gets dark."
Sabo let out a long breath. "Agreed. I need food. Lots of it."
Luffy laughed, throwing an arm around Sabo's shoulders as they began walking back toward the village. Ann and Uta followed closely behind, the blonde still shooting occasional glares at Luffy, though the faint smile never fully disappeared from her face.
----
Back at Makino's bar
The group gathered around a table, exhaustion written on their faces but smiles lighting up the room. Makino brought out plates of food, her motherly instincts kicking in as she fussed over them.
"You've all worked hard today," She said, ruffling Luffy's hair as she placed a plate in front of him. "Eat up."
"Thanks, Makino! You're the best!" Luffy dug in with gusto, earning laughter from the others.
As they ate, Uta began to hum a tune, her voice weaving a melody that seemed to capture the warmth of the moment. Luffy leaned back in his chair, a contented smile on his face as he watched his friends.
Makino noticed the smirk on his lips and raised an eyebrow. "What are you plotting now, Luffy?"
"Me? Plotting? Never!" Luffy replied, feigning innocence. He leaned closer to her and whispered, "Unless it involves figuring out how to keep you smiling like that every day."
Makino laughed, her cheeks flushing slightly. "You're too smooth for your own good, you know that?"
"Just calling it how I see it," Luffy said with a wink. "And I've got to say, you're looking as stunning as ever."
Makino shook her head, clearly amused. "You're lucky I'm fond of you, or I'd kick you out for all this sweet-talking."
"Sweet-talking? I'm just being honest," Luffy replied, leaning back and placing his hands behind his head, a self-satisfied grin on his face.
"What are you grinning about?" Sabo asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Nothing," Luffy said, flashing his trademark grin. "Just thinking about how great today was."
Makino shook her head fondly. "You're something else, Luffy."
"And this is only the beginning," Luffy replied, his voice filled with confidence.
"One day, the whole world will know my name."
As laughter and chatter filled the bar, the sun dipped below the horizon, casting the village in hues of gold and orange.
Luffy's journey was just beginning, but here in Foosha Village, surrounded by friends and family, he knew he was on the right path.
The golden rays of the setting sun filtered through the windows of Makino's cozy bar, casting a warm amber glow over the wooden tables and walls. The laughter and chatter that had filled the room earlier began to quiet down as Ann, Uta, and Sabo said their goodbyes, stepping out into the evening.
The door creaked softly shut, leaving Luffy and Makino alone in the peaceful quiet of the bar.
Makino let out a small sigh, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear as she began to gather the empty plates.
Luffy, now leaning back lazily in his chair with his hands laced behind his head, watched her every move with an appreciative gleam in his eyes. The bold and mischievous smirk playing on his lips made it clear he had no intention of letting the night end so easily.
"You're really something, Makino," He said suddenly, his smooth voice breaking the silence.
She turned toward him, raising an eyebrow. "Oh? And what exactly does that mean?"
Luffy's grin widened as he stood up, sauntering over to her. "It means you're too beautiful to be working this hard."
Makino laughed softly, shaking her head as she picked up a few more plates. "You're awfully sweet tonight, aren't you? What are you trying to get out of me, hmm?"
--- ✦ ✦ ✦ ---
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