Luffy scratched his head, looking in the direction Merry had disappeared.
He turned back and met Robin's deep gaze.
Having experienced so many ups and downs, especially under the devastation of the Pirate King Training Plan, Luffy's thick skin was indeed not what it used to be.
"Robin, are you still staying here?"
That was basically asking her to leave.
Robin didn't speak. She just looked at him silently for a few seconds.
"Then I'll go first!"
If you won't leave, then I will.
Luffy saw that sly look on Robin's face and remembered the last time she had made his legs go weak and his body tremble.
His gaze unconsciously drifted to her rosy lips.
Suddenly, Robin took a small step forward, closing the distance between them. The sly smile on her face grew more pronounced. She lowered her voice to a volume only the two of them could hear and said softly:
"Why don't we try it next time?"
Luffy's brain didn't process it at first. He unconsciously followed her lead and asked, "Try what? With feet?"
The moment the words left his mouth, Luffy wished he could tie his rubber tongue into a knot!
He snapped out of it and saw the triumphant smile in Robin's eyes. He couldn't help but let out a light cough.
"Sure~"
"What?"
"I said sure."
Robin's answer was light and airy. Instead of being embarrassed, she moved half a step closer, almost pressing against him.
The faint scent of books and the fragrance of a mature woman drifted into Luffy's nose, making him feel a bit dizzy.
Before Luffy could react, Robin had naturally reached out and gently taken hold of his wrist. Her fingers were slightly cool, her touch delicate.
"I remember no one is on the Going Merry right now." Robin said.
"Where are we going?" Luffy felt his voice go a bit dry.
She pulled him along, and he followed her involuntarily.
Robin turned her head and winked at him. Her long eyelashes fluttered like butterfly wings in the moonlight. Her smile was mysterious and alluring.
"To try it."
Try it?
Try how?
Try where?!
Then Luffy was pulled by Robin into the girls' dormitory on the Going Merry.
Why did he say "again"?
Meanwhile, near the kitchen of the Thousand Sunny.
Merry floated into the kitchen like a gust of wind. She leaned against the cold wall, gasping for breath.
She covered her still-burning cheeks with both hands. Her heart was racing.
"S-So embarrassing!"
Robin-neesan had seen them! And Luffy had actually...
She mumbled incoherently to herself. Her mind kept replaying that blushing scene on the deck from earlier.
It felt like the warmth of Luffy's fingers still lingered on her toes. Her whole body felt restless, yet there was also a tingling sensation.
"Merry, what's wrong? Your face is so red!" Chopper had come to the kitchen looking for milk. Seeing Merry in this state, he immediately ran over worriedly. "Do you have a fever?"
"N-No!"
Merry waved her hands repeatedly. "I'm just a bit hot!"
Wait a minute.
What was Robin-neesan doing?
Damn it, let go of Luffy already!
Did they forget that I'm the ship spirit of the Going Merry? Don't think you can do whatever you want just because no one else is on the ship!
Merry changed back into her little Merry form and let out a whimpering wail. Her face flushed as she glanced at her own small feet.
Wait why did those two look so skilled at this? Had other things happened without her knowing?
"Merry? What's wrong?" Vivi's voice came from nearby. She was drinking a glass of water.
Merry was so startled that she seemed to see something else. Then the light in her eyes faded. "I... I'm fine..."
The morning sun shone on the deck of the Thousand Sunny. The sea breeze carried a salty, humid scent.
Early in the morning, Luffy looked radiant.
He had returned to his previous state.
At least he had confirmed that Ace was locked up in Impel Down with no immediate danger to his life.
It seemed that aside from the Pirate King Roger, who had been publicly executed, most prisoners captured by the Navy and sent to Impel Down especially those with powerful Devil Fruit abilities,were simply imprisoned. Apart from serving their sentences, the reason was to prevent those powerful Devil Fruits from circulating back into the world.
Either way, Ace was probably safe.
This had helped Luffy channel his sense of urgency in the right direction.
Getting stronger was what really mattered.
On top of that, Robin's soul-deep, careful "guidance" last night had fully released his pent-up pressure. Right now, Luffy felt like a fully charged batteryso full of energy he didn't know what to do with it.
"Zoro, want to clash with some Busoshoku Haki?" Luffy immediately spotted Zoro in the corner of the deck. "It's been a while since we sparred."
"I've been wanting to."
Zoro was sweating profusely while lifting an overweight dumbbell. After warming up, he stopped and casually put the dumbbell down, producing a dull thud.
He accepted that his overall strength temporarily couldn't catch up to this monster captain. But when it came to training Haki, he refused to fall too far behind.
And after seeing that Black Blade, Zoro felt there might be some connection between Black Blades and Haki.
Could he turn his own swords into Black Blades?
Nami walked out of the kitchen with a glass of orange juice. Seeing the two of them instantly entering combat mode, she tilted her head in confusion. "That's strange. Why does Luffy seem especially energetic today? Yesterday he looked so preoccupied."
Not far away, Robin sat elegantly on a beach chair, holding a thick book in her hands.
Hearing this, she looked up and pushed up her glasses. The corners of her lips curled into a meaningful smile. "Mm. It's not good to have too much pressure building up inside. When necessary, one really does need a thorough release and some guidance."
As she spoke, her long legs naturally crossed, adjusting to a more comfortable sitting position.
Release?
Guidance?
Nami didn't dwell on the deeper meaning of Robin's words. She enthusiastically invited, "Robin, the weather is so nice today. Want to go swimming?"
"It really is good weather for swimming."
Robin smiled and gently shook her head, her tone carrying a perfectly languid tone. "But maybe another time. I was a bit too tired last night. I'd like to rest."
Her words were soft, but they made the tips of Merry's ears, who was pretending to wipe the railing nearby, instantly turn bright red.
Merry secretly peeked up at Robin. Robin seemed to notice.
She looked up and met Merry's gaze with a knowing, teasing smile.
Robin even winked at her, which made Merry let out a squeak. Like a frightened little rabbit, she dropped her rag, and ran away.
Inside, she was screaming:
"AAAAHHH, they last night! Only I know what that smile from Robin-neesan means!"
This was way too Embarrassing!
"Yohohoho! What a vibrant morning. To see such a premonition of an intense battle right as I arrive."
Brook was holding a cup of black tea, standing by the ship's railing, watching Luffy and Zoro, who were instantly at each other's throats. Even his hollow eye sockets seemed to ignite with fighting spirit. "A clash of Haki? Though I'm nothing but bones, I'm also quite interested in such profound techniques!"
***
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