"Why did you come today? Are your injuries all right?"
Makino stood behind the counter, resting her chin on her hand, looking at the three with a big smile.
"It's fine! It doesn't hurt at all anymore, hehehe."
The now seven-year-old Luffy grinned widely at her, showing off his teeth.
"Children really do heal quickly; such serious injuries can recover so fast."
Makino looked at him gently with a smile.
That night, when she saw the three little ones at Dadan's bandit hideout, all of them were badly hurt, especially Luffy.
Seeing him then had shocked her, and she couldn't help but shed a lot of tears.
"But don't exert yourself too much, okay?"
Makino warned little Luffy.
"I know!"
Luffy still had that naive and adorable expression.
"Dadan sent us to tell you that we're fine now, so don't worry."
Ace said to Makino.
"Now that we're done, let's go."
He smiled at Luffy and Sabo beside him, "Shall we?"
"Okay!"
Luffy exclaimed joyfully.
"Haha."
Sabo also laughed as he ran out with the two.
"Be careful on the way."
Makino urged the three, her eyes filled with a mix of helplessness and affection.
Then, she couldn't help but think of that black-haired boy.
"Why is there such a big difference, even though he's around the same age as them?"
On the road.
"Where are we going to play today?"
Luffy looked at Ace and asked.
Ace, hands behind his head, said, "Hmm… I'm not sure. Since the end destination is burned down, we should play in the mountains instead."
"Are we going to catch stag beetles?"
Luffy's eyes sparkled with excitement.
Sabo listened with a smile as they talked.
Suddenly, he saw a black-haired boy and a girl with short blue hair walking towards them.
Upon seeing their faces, Sabo's eyes widened slightly.
"Ron?"
Ron, who was returning with Kuina after buying something, looked up and saw Sabo's surprised face, along with Ace and Luffy beside him.
"It's you."
Ron was a bit surprised; he didn't expect to run into the three of them here.
"Sabo, who's this guy? Do you know him?"
Luffy pointed at Ron, asking curiously.
"He's the benefactor I told you about; he helped me escape from the city, which is how I was able to find you guys then."
Sabo said excitedly, looking at Ron.
Upon hearing this, Ace's gaze toward Ron changed.
He stepped forward and, with a serious expression, bowed slightly to Ron and said,
"My name is Ace, and I'm their sworn brother. Thank you for helping Sabo. Although you might not know what happened, your assistance saved all three of us, and I will remember this kindness."
"Luffy, you should thank him too."
He pushed little Luffy's head down.
"Thank you."
Little Luffy obediently said to Ron.
"Don't mention it."
Ron accepted their gratitude, then turned to Sabo and asked,
"Have you decided not to go back to that home anymore?"
Sabo's expression instantly froze with a smile.
He lowered his head,
"I—I haven't thought it through yet."
Ron didn't say much more.
Sabo watched as Ron and the girl with the short blue hair who carried the sword entered Makino's bar.
Ace couldn't help but ask Sabo, "Sabo, are you sure this is the benefactor you said defeated several noble guards in an instant?"
"Absolutely."
Sabo nodded.
"But he looks about our age. How could he defeat several adult noble guards in an instant?"
Ace still found it hard to believe.
Little Luffy, while digging his nose, said,
"I think he's taller than you by quite a bit."
"Shut up, Luffy."
Sabo turned to look at the bar and said, "Ron might indeed be about our age, but he's definitely much stronger than us. I'm sure of that."
"Really that strong…"
Ace rubbed his chin, pondering, then his eyes lit up.
"Then how about we ask him to teach us how to get stronger?"
...
Inside Makino's bar.
"Teach you to get stronger?"
Ron looked at the three brothers bending down before him, a bit surprised.
The three nodded eagerly.
"Ron, you're really strong, right? We heard you sent Lute flying with one punch; we want to be like you."
Ace said.
Sabo and Luffy looked at him with wide eyes, full of expectation.
Ron took a sip of juice and said slowly, "I can't directly help you get stronger."
The three brothers showed disappointed expressions.
"But, since it's for Makino's sake, I can let you train with me."
The three instantly perked up again.
"Training with you means we can get stronger?"
Sabo said excitedly.
"At least stronger than you are now. But my training is quite tough; are you sure you want to join me?"
The three brothers exchanged glances and grinned.
"Definitely!"
After experiencing that big fire, they finally understood their own weakness and truly wanted to become stronger.
"Alright, then tomorrow morning at five, let's meet at the foot of Mt. Colubo."
"Five o'clock?"
Luffy was taken aback.
Ace and Sabo exchanged glances, then nodded firmly to Ron, saying,
"Got it!"
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T/N:
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