Luffy's warm, slightly rough hand gripped Uta's tightly. She tried to pull away, but he held on with that same familiar determination, just as he used to when dragging her along in Windmill Village.
"Honestly, I can never refuse you, huh?" Uta muttered, feigning annoyance. "You really want to stay by your big sister that much?"
"Since Luffy doesn't have many friends, I suppose I'll kindly accompany you for class," she added, half speaking to herself.
"But seriously, let go already! Your hand's dirty!" she protested, wrinkling her nose. "There are pebbles in it!"
"Come join the lesson," Shimotsuki Koushirou said warmly, smiling at their antics. The teacher found them charming and had no issues with Uta sitting in. In fact, the dojo didn't enforce strict fees; students could attend even without paying, as was the case for Zoro.
And while children could be noisy, they brought joy to the place, making even Koushirou feel a bit younger—assuming they weren't causing too much ruckus.
The dojo taught swordsmanship primarily but also included basic lessons. Students entered barefoot, sitting on mats with low desks. While others knelt formally, Luffy opted to sit cross-legged.
Uta, fascinated, mimicked the formal kneeling posture, smoothing her skirt and tucking her legs neatly beneath her. Her exposed calves, pressed slightly by the posture, appeared soft and inviting. Noticing this, Luffy reached out, poking the soft skin and watching it spring back.
"Stop that!" Uta shot him a sharp look, swatting his hand away.
Her legs couldn't stay folded for long, so she shifted into a more comfortable "duck" sitting position.
After discussing basic swordsmanship theory, Koushirou instructed Kuina to lead the students in suburi, or practice swings.
Luffy picked up a bamboo sword to join in, while Koushirou moved closer to observe his form. The teacher offered subtle corrections as Luffy practiced. Although this was just the basics, proper form and technique were crucial. Simple mistakes, like over-relying on the right arm or failing to control the sword's descent, could lead to muscle strain and poor habits over time.
This kind of guidance was the teacher's role—to make sure students learned each motion precisely, even in something as seemingly simple as a practice swing. It was much like the rigorous training Luffy had received from Garp, who had insisted on correcting even the smallest details with painful punches.
As Kuina led them, the young swordsmen shouted "Ha!" in unison, each strike filled with their focused energy. A strong practice swing, executed correctly, was more valuable than a hundred careless ones. Such precision, in a real fight, would be refined into a powerful strike.
As the lesson continued, Luffy committed each technique to memory, studying with uncharacteristic intensity until noon.
When lunch came, the group gathered to eat, with Uta joining them.
"Sword training is exhausting!" she commented to Luffy. Her mind raced with ideas, envisioning ways to incorporate these sword motions into her dance routines. Her dream world already had mannequins displaying some of the sword techniques in elegant poses.
"Luffy, are you drinking milk again? Such a little kid!" Zoro teased, holding his food tray.
"Well, I am a kid, aren't I?" Luffy replied, downing his milk confidently.
"Real men drink sake!" Zoro retorted.
"Have you actually drunk sake before?" Kuina asked.
"Well… no…" Zoro admitted, his confidence wavering.
"Will we keep training after lunch?" Kuina asked the others.
"Nope, afternoons are for naps!" Luffy answered, laughing as Kuina looked slightly deflated. Kids were known for their endless energy, after all.
"Why don't you stay here too, Uta?" Kuina offered. "There's an extra bed in the dojo."
Uta agreed to take a nap there, while Luffy found himself too energized to rest. He spent the afternoon sketching his King's Sword, refining its design from the practice in Uta's dream world.
During his search for the master swordsmith Shimotsuki Kozaburo, Luffy noticed Zoro in a shaded area, training his strength by lifting large rocks tied to ropes, his teeth clenched around a third rope to maintain balance. Even as a child, Zoro showed the tenacity of a true swordsman.
After some wandering, Luffy found Kozaburo napping at the cliff's edge. The old man, donning a straw hat, had a fishing pole in one hand, its line cast far below into the ocean, while his other hand propped up his cheek as he snored softly.
Deciding not to disturb the elderly man's peace, Luffy settled beside him, watching the fishing line sway in the breeze. He didn't quite understand the appeal of fishing, nor the obsession many had with it. He'd read once about people so consumed by fishing that they neglected everything else, leading to strange, even tragic consequences.
People were truly fascinating creatures, he mused.
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