Uta was very curious about what had happened to Luffy.
Who was this navigator named Nami?
Putting aside the medical knowledge he seemed to know inside out—Uta still believed that was just Luffy trying to get her attention—she casually asked him two simple theoretical questions from the book, and Luffy answered them without hesitation.
It instantly made Uta feel like she was still dreaming.
Could this be her projecting the most perfect image of Luffy into her dream?
Thinking this, Uta suddenly bit Luffy's arm.
"Ouch, ouch, ouch!!!"
Uta's little fangs were sharp. Luffy sucked in a cold breath. "What are you doing?"
"I just wanted to see if I was dreaming."
"...Then why didn't you bite yourself?" Luffy's mouth twitched slightly.
"I'm scared of pain." Uta sheepishly averted her gaze.
"Let me bite you back." Luffy, who believed in an eye for an eye, set his sights on Uta's arm.
Uta: "..."
"If you do that, I'll call you a pervert." Uta stared at Luffy as if he were trash, crossing her arms.
"Then you're a pervert too."
Luffy sneered.
"Since when did you become so sharp-tongued? Did someone train you? Was it that woman named Nami? What did she pour into your brain? Give me back that idiot Luffy!"
Uta wasn't actually dissatisfied with the current Luffy; in fact, she felt a bit proud that he had become more capable.
But for some reason, she felt very annoyed, like a childhood toy had been snatched away from her, and the toy had even been remade into a shape the other person preferred.
No, the more she thought about it, the angrier she got.
I was here first!
Luffy still didn't understand why a woman's mood could be like a storm, arriving and departing just as quickly. One moment she seemed calm, the next...
But his face was being pinched, and there were teeth marks on his arm.
A fierce look crossed Luffy's face. He twisted his own body into a coil and bit back.
[Warning, warning...]
Shut up! You wait for your turn. Can't you tell who's in charge here?
I hold the initiative! I'll do what I want!
After mentally retorting a few times, Luffy finally looked ahead with a smug expression.
He had Uta pinned on the bed, her hands behind her back, thoroughly restrained, with him sitting on top of her.
Revenge is a dish best served cold. The boomerang from our childhood has finally hit its mark, hasn't it?
Roles reversed. I'll show you what cruelty means!
"Luffy, you jerk..."
Uta gritted her teeth but couldn't move.
"Shishishi, it's time you got a taste of your own medicine."
"...Let me go."
"You have five seconds to admit defeat."
"Impossible!"
"Then I'll do all the things you did to me when we were kids, right back to you."
"You..."
Tap, tap, tap.
"Ahem, Uta, are you feeling better?" Gordon's voice came from outside.
Knocking sounded at the door. Uta remembered her teacher was still on the ship. Her face flushed red, and she quickly wanted to admit defeat.
If it were just the two of them in private, she could be stubborn even if he spanked her, just like when Luffy was caught by her as a kid, and she'd beat him until tears were about to burst out, yet he'd still grit his teeth and not give in.
They were both stubborn like that.
Admit defeat?
Impossible.
But now it was different.
"I..." Smack!
Uta's world went quiet. Her hands instinctively flew to cover her mouth, preventing any sound from escaping.
"I admit defeat, you bastard!"
The tables had turned. Uta finally got to experience that feeling.
Gordon entered the room and saw Uta glaring at Luffy with the expression of a flustered young girl, her face blushing. He couldn't help but feel a complex emotion, like seeing a pig he'd carefully raised getting trampled.
But he also felt a bit relieved.
Back on the island, Uta was usually completely immersed in her music. During her rest time, she mostly just spaced out by herself. It was rare to see her with such rich facial expressions.
The relationship between childhood friends was truly something special.
"Um... Mr Luffy, about your crew." Gordon brought over a Den Den Mushi. "They want to confirm your situation."
"Hey, Nami?" Luffy picked up the receiver, and Nami's roar immediately came through.
"You jerk, contact us sooner next time!" Nami shouted, clearly somewhat worried.
"Sorry, sorry. Something else came up. By the way, the ships have stopped, right? Why don't you come aboard?"
"That's a ship flying the World Government flag." Nami looked at the large vessel not far away. "Your friend must be connected to the World Government, right? If they're discovered interacting with a pirate ship, it could cause trouble. So it's better if we just follow at a distance."
Nami knew her captain had no awareness of these things and patiently explained.
"I see. I wanted to introduce Uta to you." Luffy glanced at Uta, who was practically glued to his side, and tried to push her away, but failed.
"We communicated a bit earlier. Our routes are pretty much the same until Loguetown..."
"I'll be back before we reach Loguetown."
Hanging up the call.
Luffy glanced at his Song skill proficiency. Progress was too slow just studying alone from a book. He didn't know how long this so-called 'special reward time' would last.
If they parted ways before Loguetown, what if that damned Plan went crazy again and ordered him to find Uta?
It would probably be very difficult to meet again after entering the Grand Line.
An idea immediately popped into Luffy's head. He excitedly invited Uta: "Uta, do you want to come aboard my ship?"
"...Hah?!"
Uta was stunned for a moment, then her face rapidly turned crimson. She rushed over to Luffy and covered his mouth. "What the hell are you saying?!"
The impact was strong, knocking him over.
Uta's mind was in a daze.
Her and Luffy... getting on a bed together?
Her fair face and neck were stained with a layer of crimson as she tried to be extremely patient.
Mmph mmph?!
"Ahem..." Gordon coughed lightly to remind them of his presence and couldn't help but add, "I believe Mr Luffy meant to invite you to join his crew as a nakama."
Oh, join the crew?
Uta let go of her hand.
"Huff... huff..." Luffy gasped for air, looking like he had finally come back to life.
"Are you trying to kill me?!"
"...W-who told you to say such weird things!" Uta stood up, somewhat sorry. "Besides, I told you, I just don't hate you. That doesn't mean I like pirates!"
Let alone become one.
Luffy: "..."
That phrasing sounded really awkward.
So 'not hating' and 'liking' were connected?
Could he round it up?
No, this isn't the time for that. If Uta wouldn't join the crew, he'd have to cram for the exam now.
The role of a teacher was absolutely not to be underestimated.
They could impart knowledge, provide guidance, and resolve doubts.
Feeling a certain part of him was about to reach its limit, Luffy hurriedly shouted:
"Uta, help me!"
***
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