The girl sat up from bed, breathing heavily, her long hair clinging to her face, drenched in sweat. Her white dress, now damp, clung closely to her waistline, highlighting her slender figure. Her feet curled adorably, five delicate toes bunched up in a dainty display.
"Uta… You're still awake?" Luffy greeted her awkwardly, trying to recall the previous moments.
Hmm… He had just washed her feet very carefully, not doing anything strange… right?
Uta's eyes misted over, her hands clutching the sole of her foot, her flushed ears betraying her embarrassment.
"I needed to save some energy to change my clothes," she replied, touching her foot where he had tickled her, recalling a strange, electric feeling she had never experienced before.
"Oh… Well, you go ahead and change. I've finished washing your feet," Luffy replied before stepping out of the room, taking a deep breath of fresh air outside.
Relieved, Uta sighed as a wave of drowsiness washed over her. She shook off the memory, pulled off her dress, and slipped under the sheets, her bare skin against the cool linen. She let out a soft sigh and soon drifted into sleep.
…
The pirates were still drinking heavily on the deck, clearly planning to go all night. Luffy returned to his cabin.
He spotted a box on the small table, neatly wrapped. Upon opening it, he found a set of art supplies—paints, brushes, and a sketchpad.
A gift from Shanks, perhaps.
After washing up, Luffy, now dressed in shorts, grabbed his sketchpad, set the paints to one side, and began to draw. Without training in the dream space tonight, he figured he'd pass the time drawing.
He started sketching Uta's feet from memory, her delicate toes and graceful arches. Art was something he found enjoyment in, even if he wasn't exactly a refined artist. Like the way Iori Yagami could play the guitar, a bit of artistic flair added style.
As the gentle sound of waves filled the quiet, Luffy's eyelids grew heavy. Hanging his drawing to dry, he finally gave in to sleep.
…
The pirate ship drifted peacefully over the vast ocean, its crew scattered across the deck, having dozed off after an all-night drinking spree. This part of the sea was too tranquil to demand vigilance, and the pirates relaxed completely.
Uta let out a soft murmur, her pale arms stretching from under the sheets, feeling the cool air before retreating back under the covers.
Then, remembering she hadn't put on her nightclothes, she glanced down at her exposed skin. A small smile played on her lips as she snuggled against the soft sheets, enjoying the comfort of the fabric on her bare skin.
After a moment of rolling around in bliss, she finally stretched out a hand and grabbed a loose nightshirt, slipping it over her head.
"Back to life!" she exclaimed with a cheerful clap, feeling rejuvenated.
Opening her door, Uta wrinkled her nose at the strong smell of alcohol lingering on deck. The pirates lay slumped in various positions, even Shanks leaning against the wall, snoring, his shirt open to reveal toned abs.
But another scent caught her attention, something warm and savory coming from the galley. Intrigued, she peeked inside.
There, she found Luffy, standing on a stool to reach the stove, diligently flipping food in a frying pan. The rich aroma filled the room, and beside him sat a bowl of warm, golden-yellow food, releasing wisps of steam.
Watching his profile, Uta stood on tiptoe, that strange tingling sensation from the night before creeping back into her thoughts. She found herself licking her lips, feeling an urge she couldn't quite place.
"Luffy, you can cook?" she called out.
Due to the height of the kitchen counter—designed for adults with more robust frames—Luffy had pulled over a stool to reach it.
"Just a little. I picked it up watching others cook. It's not hard," he replied, concentrating on his task.
The pirates usually had Western-style breakfasts, something like sandwiches stuffed with meat. Luffy found those tasty, but today he craved something simpler.
Compared to hearty sandwiches, he suddenly longed for something like egg-fried rice or even a cup of instant noodles. Simple dishes could be comforting.
From the fridge, he'd gathered some ingredients to make a soft egg custard and two seared pieces of deep-sea monster meat. It wasn't chef-quality, but his seasoning and special sauce, inspired by cooking shows he'd watched, gave it a satisfying flavor.
"All done. Enjoy," he said, setting the dishes on the table.
The first thing Uta examined was the yellow bowl. She nudged the edge with her fingers, watching the smooth custard jiggle slightly. Soft and cute, it looked like pudding, with a delightful, fluffy texture.
Luffy poured a light sauce over the custard as a final touch, then handed her a spoon.
"Let's eat!" Uta eagerly dug into the egg custard.
It had a mild flavor with a hint of soy sauce, melting on her tongue with a silky texture that reminded her of pudding.
"Who knew you could cook this well, Luffy!" she exclaimed, pleased with the soft, comforting taste.
"But you lose points for not making my favorite—pancakes with whipped cream!"
"I'm not having whipped cream this early in the morning…" Luffy muttered.
…
After breakfast, Luffy collected the dishes, heading to wash up, while Uta swung her legs, resting her chin in her hands as she watched him wobble slightly on the stool.
"It's hard getting used to being back on the ship. I wonder what we'll do today," she said, the usual boredom of ship life settling in.
Her purple eyes rested on Luffy, a glint in them as she thought of something mischievous.
"I know! I'll teach you some music, Luffy. How about it?"
"Sure! I want to learn the shakuhachi," Luffy replied, the lyrics to a traditional Japanese song drifting through his mind.
"Shakuhachi? Sure!" Uta nodded, surprised. "I thought you'd just be interested in doing handstands or training the whole morning."
"Training is important, but I don't mind spending time with friends too. It's not like I'm some training maniac," he chuckled.
"Oh? So you do think I'm cute, huh?" Uta teased.
"Yeah, yeah, Uta's cute," Luffy replied, not even looking up as he scrubbed the dishes.
"Hey! You're not supposed to say it out loud, you know!" Uta's cheeks flushed, color creeping into her face.
"Don't get it…" Luffy's head tilted at an odd angle, confusion on his face as he tried to understand her strange reaction.
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