Uta handed him a bottle of water, her fingers brushing against his in the briefest, deliberate motion. Luffy noticed the way Uta's cheeks turhe fai shade of pink, but he said nothing, simply fshing her a charming grin iurn.

  The effect was immediate – Uta quickly looked away, her blush deepening.

  Ann rolled her eyes, clearly notig the exge. "Unbelievable. You've got her swooning too."

  Luffy ughed, leaning ba his hands as he took a sip of water. "It's not my fault I'm charming."

  "You're insufferable," Ann muttered, though she didn't sound like she meant it. She g Sabo, who was still unmoving. "And you… are hopeless."

  Sabo groaned again. "I'm just serving my strength… for round two."

  Luffy raised an eyebrow, his grin widening. "Round two? You sure you're ready for that?"

  Sabo sat up, determination fshing in his eyes despite his exhaustion. "If you keep going, so I. I'm not bag down."

  Uta cpped her hands together, clearly eained. "That's the spirit!"

  Ann groaned, flopping backward into the grass. "You're both insane."

  Luffy stood up, stretg again as he gnced down at Ann. ", Loser. You 't quit now. You're doing great."

  Ann propped herself up on her elbows, shooting him a gre. "Don't call me Loser."

  Luffy tilted his head, his smirk still present. "Fine. Ann-, then."

  Her face turned bright red. "Don't call me that either!"

  He ughed, turning his attention to Sabo. "Alright, let's see what you got. One more spar, and we call it a day. I promise."

  Sabo nodded, pushing himself to his feet and squaring his stance. "Ready when you are."

  Uta moved closer to Ann, sitting beside her as the two watched the spar unfold. Luffy's movements were fluid, his trol and fiden full dispy as he effortlessly blocked and tered Sabo's attacks.

  Every strike and dodge was calcuted, his experience far outweighing Sabo's.

  "He's really something," Uta said softly, her voice tinged with awe.

  Ann sighed, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "Yeah… he is."

  Uta turned her gaze to Ann, a pyful smile f. "You're staring."

  Ann's cheeks flushed instantly. "Am not!"

  "It's okay," Uta teased. "I think we're all staring. He just has that kind of presence."

  Ann huffed, crossing her arms and looking away, though her gaze iably returo Luffy. He had taken trol of the spar pletely, f Sabo onto the defensive as he moved faster than Sabo could keep up.

  Finally, after a swift disarm and a tap to Sabo's shoulder, Luffy stepped back with a grin. "That's it for today. You did good, Sabo."

  Sabo, panting and sweating, nodded with a grin of his own. "Thanks, Luffy. I'll get better, I promise."

  "You will," Luffy said fidently. "Both of you will."

  He turoward Ann, who was still seated on the grass. "And you're not off the hook, Ann-. Tomorrow, we're w on speed."

  "Ugh, 't wait," Ann muttered sarcastically, though there was a faint smile tugging at her lips.

  Luffy winked. "Good. Because I'm not letting you sck off."

  Ann stared at him for a moment, her heart betraying her resolve as it fluttered in her chest. She quickly looked away, scowling. "You're impossible."

  "And you love it," Luffy teased, his voice loyful.

  Before Ann could respond, Uta giggled, breaking the tension. "Alright, you two. Let's head back before it gets dark."

  Sabo let out a long breath. "Agreed. I need food. Lots of it."

  Luffy ughed, throwing an arm around Sabo's shoulders as they began walking back toward the vilge. Ann and Uta followed closely behind, the bloill shooting occasional gres at Luffy, though the faint smile never fully disappeared from her face.

  ----

  Back at Makino's bar

  The group gathered around a table, exhaustion written on their faces but smiles lighting up the room. Makinht out ptes of food, her motherly instincts kig in as she fussed over them.

  "You've all worked hard today," She said, ruffling Luffy's hair as she pced a pte in front of him. "Eat up."

  "Thanks, Makino! You're the best!" Luffy dug in with gusto, earning ughter from the others.

  As they ate, Uta began to hum a tune, her voice weaving a melody that seemed to capture the warmth of the moment. Luffy leaned ba his chair, a tented smile on his face as he watched his friends.

  Makino noticed the smirk on his lips and raised an eyebrow. "What are you plotting now, Luffy?"

  "Me? Plotting? Never!" Luffy replied, feigning innoce. He leaned closer to her and whispered, "Unless it involves figuring out how to keep you smiling like that every day."

  Makino ughed, her cheeks flushing slightly. "You're too smooth for your own good, you know that?"

  "Just calling it how I see it," Luffy said with a wink. "And I've got to say, you're looking as stunning as ever."

  Makino shook her head, clearly amused. "You're lucky I'm fond of you, or I'd kick you out for all this sweet-talking."

  "Sweet-talking? I'm just being ho," Luffy replied, leaning bad pg his hands behind his head, a self-satisfied grin on his face.

  "What are you grinning about?" Sabo asked, raising an eyebrow.

  "Nothing," Luffy said, fshing his trademark grin. "Just thinking about how great today was."

  Makino shook her head fondly. "You're something else, Luffy."

  "And this is only the beginning," Luffy replied, his voice filled with fidence.

  "One day, the whole world will know my name."

  As ughter and chatter filled the bar, the sun dipped below the horizon, casting the vilge in hues of gold and e.

  Luffy's journey was just beginning, but here in Foosha Vilge, surrounded by friends and family, he knew he was on the right path.

  The golden rays of the setting sun filtered through the windows of Makino's cozy bar, casting a warm amber glow over the wooden tables and walls. The ughter and chatter that had filled the room earlier began to quiet down as Ann, Uta, and Sabo said their goodbyes, stepping out into the evening.

  The door creaked softly shut, leaving Luffy and Makino alone in the peaceful quiet of the bar.

  Maki out a small sigh, tug a strand of hair behind her ear as she began to gather the empty ptes.

  Luffy, now leaning back zily in his chair with his hands ced behind his head, watched her every move with an appreciative gleam in his eyes. The bold and mischievous smirk pying on his lips made it clear he had no iion of letting the night end so easily.

  "You're really something, Makino," He said suddenly, his smooth voice breaking the silence.

  She turoward him, raising an eyebrow. "Oh? And what exactly does that mean?"

  Luffy's grin widened as he stood up, sauntering over to her. "It means you're too beautiful to be w this hard."

  Makino ughed softly, shaking her head as she picked up a few more ptes. "You're awfully sweet tonight, aren't you? What are y to get out of me, hmm?"

  --- ? ? ? ---

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