The flames danced calmly in Luffy's eyes as he stared, utterly captivated. Nothing compared to the allure of an ability with special effects—something that showed its strength in a flash. Who wouldn't be tempted by such a cool power?
Reluctantly, he dismissed the flames from his hand and returned to the training room where Uta was practicing, book in hand. He found it relaxing, surrounded by the soothing music and the delicate form of Uta moving gracefully. He even started to think Uta was looking better than before—perhaps it was her dance training giving her a new elegance, or maybe it was just him waking up to something new.
Luffy lay on the floor, sneaking glances at Uta's intricate poses and light breathing as she danced. He could hardly believe the flexibility; her moves made his head spin. Thank goodness the royal dance instructor was skilled enough to manage her training without risking injuries. After all, Shanks might look mild-mannered, but when it came to his daughter, he could get dangerous.
As Luffy watched, he got lost in thought, considering how to refine his new fire technique, "Flame Fist," and integrate it into his other moves like Iron Body and Paper Art. He needed to keep refining it, making it part of his regular repertoire.
...
At noon, the two strolled through the palace halls, Uta chatting about her dance training.
"It's exhausting; my whole body aches!" she complained.
"Yeah, it looks kinda dangerous," Luffy agreed, recalling some of her extreme flexibility poses that he couldn't even imagine doing.
"I want a sauna!" Uta declared suddenly. "After a good sweat, a soak in the hot springs is a must."
"Have you ever tried a sauna before?" Uta asked.
"Not really," Luffy admitted. "I just use the individual showers."
"What? Then you should come with me today! The royal hot springs, and then the sauna afterward!" Uta grabbed his hand and started dragging him off, not waiting for an answer.
Her hair, styled into two "bunny ears," seemed to bounce with her excitement, and Luffy couldn't resist giving one a playful tug. It didn't feel fluffy as he'd imagined, just like regular hair—definitely not the fur of a dog or cat.
The royal hot spring room was immense, circular, and filled with thick steam that clouded the entire space.
"Doesn't look like there's a separate area for men and women," Luffy noted.
"That's because it's the private royal bath, silly. King Gordon doesn't even have a wife." Uta's cheeks reddened slightly as she said it. "We can just hang a curtain to divide it if that makes you more comfortable."
Luffy nodded, and they set up a curtain down the middle of the spring. Each took a side, changing quickly before slipping into the water.
"Wow, that's hot…" Luffy dipped his toes in to test the water temperature. Uta, already immersed, sighed happily as the heat started easing her sore muscles.
Luffy slowly lowered himself into the water until it covered his neck, feeling relaxation wash over him.
...
"Luffy, wake up!" Uta's face was flushed, wrapped modestly in a towel as she leaned over to poke his cheek. "Don't fall asleep! There's still the sauna left to try."
Yawning, Luffy reluctantly got up, grabbing a towel and wrapping it around himself as they headed to the sauna room. When he peered inside, the thick, hot steam hit him like a wall.
The sauna room was designed with no gender separation and had wooden seating on different levels. Uta picked a spot and sat down comfortably, while Luffy found a seat across from her, taking a moment to adjust to the heat.
"This is supposed to burn calories, like running ten kilometers!" Uta informed him with a grin.
"Ten kilometers? Really?" Luffy muttered, a bit skeptical. Still, he decided to play it safe and used his Armament Haki to shield a "certain area" of his body—after all, high temperatures could be a problem there.
"Most people can't handle more than two minutes in here!" Uta smirked mischievously.
Both of them, however, managed to last three minutes before they got up to leave, calling it a draw.
...
Afterward, as they walked back, Luffy glanced at the hot springs one last time, noting how this "hot springs scene" seemed like something he'd seen in every anime ever. Though, admittedly, it hadn't come with any particular "benefits."
That evening, after a hearty meal, Luffy and Uta settled into her dream world for a bit of training.
"We have an hour," Uta said, calculating her ability's duration.
"Great!" Luffy's eyes brightened. "Hey, Uta, can you create a mirror version of me?"
"A mirror version?" she asked, tilting her head.
"Yeah, one that copies everything I do," he explained.
With a melodic note, Uta created a mirror image of Luffy in the dream. He grinned, punching the air while his copy followed suit.
"Perfect!" Luffy said, thrilled. "This will help me look even cooler while I practice."
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