"The power of Haki is the power of the heart; it originates from the heart, so a strong body can fuel the growth of Haki…" Garp's voice echoed in Luffy's mind. "Heart, body, and will—these are what determine one's strength. Things like Devil Fruit abilities, swordsmanship, and marksmanship are extensions of these three. Don't get distracted by the fancy names others give them—focus on heart, body, and will. Everything else is secondary!"
As Luffy ended the transponder snail call, he took a moment to feel the internal force within himself. Soon, he could sense his heartbeat growing louder, like a drum resounding from his chest.
Just then, he heard the familiar sound of soft footsteps outside his door. He didn't need to see to know it was Uta.
"Luffy, look at the dress I bought today!" Uta exclaimed as she burst through the door, twirling in her pale yellow dress, her freshly washed hair flowing freely. She looked up at Luffy with a proud smile, waiting for his reaction.
From the pink flush on her toes to the delicate veins on her ankles, up to the slight curves in her dress, Luffy found himself awkwardly speechless. Uta was indeed charming, but her hair—those red-and-white streaks—had such a striking effect on him that he felt his emotions fumble, losing all sense of direction. The colors were mesmerizing, making him feel… something he couldn't quite name.
"You look really cute, Uta," he finally managed, though with some difficulty.
Uta's face lit up with delight. "Come listen to my new song! I just finished writing it!"
Luffy agreed, nodding. He wasn't the type to train relentlessly without any rest, and balancing work with relaxation was important to him. He knew from his past life that taking care of one's body was essential; back then, he had dealt with all sorts of physical ailments from endless work. He had made a commitment to himself that, this time, he'd maintain a healthy lifestyle.
One day, he thought, he'd ask Garp for advice on managing health. After all, if he started taking care of himself now, he'd be way ahead of everyone else.
Feeling a surge of energy, he grabbed a bottle of milk from the kitchen and joined the pirates, who were all seated and ready for Uta's performance.
Uta took center stage, her steps light as she began to sing her new song. The pirates tapped their chopsticks against their bowls, creating a lively beat. Luffy couldn't help but sway his head to the rhythm, and seeing him so engaged, Uta smiled in satisfaction. For her, this was a big win.
As the mini concert wrapped up, it was time for Uta's "lesson." She pulled out a newspaper, determined to teach Luffy to read, like a diligent teacher. However, the moment Luffy looked at the print, a wave of drowsiness overtook him.
"Uta, are you sleepy?" he asked.
"Don't be ridiculous, Luffy! Focus!" she snapped, rolling up the newspaper and giving him a playful bop on the head.
Luffy, now more alert, fought the urge to doze off and battled through the hour-long lesson until Uta finally said, "Goodnight, Luffy," and kicked him out of her room.
"Goodnight!" he called back cheerfully, then turned toward the dark ocean and unleashed a surge of Conqueror's Haki, feeling instantly refreshed. With a clear head, he returned to his room.
However, as soon as he lay down, he found himself struggling to relax.
"Seriously? Am I already suffering from modern-day restlessness?"
Frustrated, he tossed and turned, even clutching his head as if to wrestle his mind into calmness. His thoughts were loud and persistent, making it impossible to sleep. Trying to calm down, he placed a hand on his throat, feeling the steady pulse of his heart, focusing on its rhythm. Eventually, the fatigue won, and he drifted into sleep.
---
The next morning, Luffy didn't wake up at his usual early hour. His body and mind, usually in sync with a healthy routine, had slipped a bit last night.
Also… something else had changed.
Luffy lay in bed, feeling strangely unsettled. It was as though a new awareness had awakened within him—a shift he couldn't quite define. He was reminded of a sleepy cat, held back by an uncooperative tail that twitched of its own accord.
"Luffy, are you in there?" Uta's voice called out as she knocked on his door.
"Coming," he replied, trying to push down the unusual feeling that had risen within him. Shaking off his thoughts, he opened the door, only to meet Uta's curious gaze.
"What's with the serious face?" she asked, her brow furrowed in concern.
"Uta, you wouldn't understand… There's a desire that's been lying dormant in me, and now… it's awakened," Luffy declared, feeling both dramatic and vaguely alarmed.
"What?" Uta blinked in confusion, completely lost. "Are you sick or something?"
Luffy didn't bother to explain as he headed toward the restroom, his mind a jumble of thoughts as he wrestled with the mysterious new sensation.
"Boys and their strange moods," Uta mumbled, not quite sure what to make of his words. She caught sight of Yasopp nearby and decided to ask him about it. "Hey, Yasopp, Luffy was acting so weird this morning. He even said something about a 'dormant desire' awakening?"
"Oh, I get it now," Yasopp nodded knowingly. "So the boy's reached that age, huh? Actually, he's been showing signs for a while now… I know all about it."
"Signs? What kind of signs?" Uta looked at him, intrigued.
Yasopp chuckled, patting his rifle. "It's nothing mysterious, Uta. Just a classic case of a boy's growing
spirit, you know? It's what we call… the romance of a young man!"
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