Ch 62 - Harmony of Heart
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Late Evening
Luffy stepped into Makino's home late in the evening, his carefree smile softening at the sight of Uta and Makino setting the table for dinner. The warm glow of the lanterns illuminated the cozy room, filling it with a sense of peace. The smell of freshly cooked stew wafted through the air, making his stomach rumble.
"Welcome back, Luffy!" Makino greeted warmly, her voice soft but full of affection as she wiped her hands on her apron.
"Finally!" Uta exclaimed, slouching dramatically at the table. "We thought you'd gone off on another adventure without telling us. Took you long enough, Captain!"
Luffy grinned, ruffling Uta's hair as he passed by. "Took longer than I thought, but I'm here now. Let's eat before I faint from hunger!"
Makino chuckled, bringing the last of the dishes to the table. "Well, sit down, and dig in. You've earned it."
As they ate, Uta dove into her usual chatter about her day.
"Ann and Sabo came by earlier," She began, her mouth half-full. "They were bragging about taking down some big pirate crew. Something about Bluejam or whatever. They're so full of themselves!"
Luffy smirked, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. "They earned it. Bluejam's crew had a decent bounty, and those two are getting stronger."
Uta groaned, poking her rice with her chopsticks. "Still, they're always out there doing cool stuff, and I'm stuck here. It's not fair!"
Makino raised an eyebrow at her. "You're not stuck, Uta. You've been working on your songs and getting better every day. Besides, you're important to this village and to Luffy."
Luffy nodded in agreement. "Yeah, your voice could charm the pants off anyone, Uta. And that's without even using your Devil Fruit."
Uta blushed, pretending to focus on her food. "You're just saying that..."
Luffy leaned forward, smirking. "Nah, I mean it. I've seen it. You've got potential, Uta. But you gotta focus."
Uta hesitated for a moment before blurting out, "That's why I want to learn Haki!"
Luffy froze mid-bite, raising an eyebrow. "Haki, huh? That's a big step. Why the sudden interest?"
She glanced at Makino, then back to Luffy. "Ann's already so strong, and she's learning all this cool stuff from you. I don't want to fall behind. I want to be just as strong—or stronger!"
Makino smiled gently. "It's good to want to grow, Uta. But are you sure this is about Ann?"
Uta's face turned bright red as she avoided their eyes. "It's not just about her!"
Luffy leaned back in his chair, folding his arms with a smirk. "You're jealous, aren't you?"
"I'm not!" Uta protested, her voice rising an octave.
"You totally are," Luffy teased, grinning even wider.
Uta huffed, crossing her arms. "Okay, maybe a little! But that doesn't change the fact that I want to learn!"
Luffy's teasing smirk softened into a thoughtful expression. "Uta, learning Haki is a big commitment. It takes time and focus. You've got your Devil Fruit, which is already crazy strong if you use it right. You've barely scratched the surface of what you can do with it."
"But why can't I do both?" Uta countered. "Ann's doing both!"
"Ann doesn't have a Devil Fruit," Luffy said firmly. "She has to rely on Haki and physical strength. You're different. Your power comes from your voice and your fruit. If you spread yourself too thin, you'll never master any of it."
Uta's lips pressed into a thin line, her defiance flaring. "I can handle it."
Luffy sighed, shaking his head. Then, without warning, he leaned over and spanked her rear lightly, making her yelp in surprise.
"Hey! What was that for?" She demanded, rubbing the spot with a glare.
"That's for being stubborn," Luffy said, his tone stern. "Listen to what I'm saying, Uta. Focus on mastering your fruit first. Basic Haki is fine, but you don't need to know everything right now."
"But—"
"No buts," He interrupted. "Starting tomorrow, you're training with me. We'll work on your Devil Fruit, and if you do well, I'll think about teaching you more Haki. Deal?"
Uta grumbled, pouting as she pushed her chair back. "Fine. But I still think I can do more than you're giving me credit for."
Luffy smirked, leaning back in his chair. "Good. I like that fire. But for now, go to your room, rest up, and think about what I said."
With a dramatic sigh, Uta stomped off, muttering under her breath about "unfair captain" and "favorites."
As the sound of Uta's door closing echoed through the house, Luffy turned his attention to Makino, who had begun clearing the table. He watched her for a moment, a soft smile playing on his lips, before stepping behind her as she washed the dishes.
"You're spoiling her, you know," Makino said without looking up, her voice filled with quiet amusement.
Luffy stood and walked over, wrapping his arms around her waist from behind.
"And you're spoiling me," He murmured, resting his chin on her shoulder.
Makino chuckled, her cheeks tinged with a faint blush. "Someone has to. Otherwise, you'd probably starve."
Luffy pressed a gentle kiss to her neck. "You know I'd survive. But you make life a lot better."
She turned her head slightly to look at him, her smile warm. "You're too smooth for your own good."
Luffy chuckled, his grin mischievous. His hand darted out again, landing a playful spank on Makino's round ass.
"You really like it," He teased, his eyes sparkling with amusement.
Makino gasped softly, her cheeks flushing a deep pink, but her laughter was genuine.
"Maybe I do," She admitted, tilting her head at him with a coy smile. "But you're getting too bold, Luffy."
"Bold?" He repeated, feigning innocence as he gave her butt another playful spank. "I'm just making sure you're paying attention."
She let out a surprised laugh, swaying into him. "Oh, I'm paying attention, alright. But if you're going to play this game, you'd better be ready for me to win."
"Oh yeah?" He said, spinning her around once more and pulling her close. His hand lingered at her waist as he leaned in, his warm breath brushing her ear. "I think I'm winning so far."
Makino leaned into his chest, her fingers tracing idle patterns over his shirt.
"You think so?" She asked, her voice a mix of challenge and amusement. "Then prove it."
Luffy's grin widened, his hand delivering another quick, teasing smack that made her giggle and press against him.
"Like that?" He asked, clearly enjoying the moment.
She looked up at him, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
"Not bad," She said, tapping her chin thoughtfully. "But maybe one more for good measure?"
Luffy's laughter was infectious as he obliged, spanking her again, this time earning an even brighter laugh from her.
"You're the one who asked for it!" He teased.
Makino stepped back slightly, crossing her arms with a mock pout. "And here I thought you were supposed to be the one spoiling me."
"Hey, I'm spoiling you!" Luffy protested, his tone playful as he grabbed her hand and twirled her around. "You're having fun, right?"
Makino's smile softened, her gaze lingering on his.
"Always," She said, her voice gentle but filled with affection.
"Then I'm doing my job," Luffy declared, pulling her back into his embrace. "And if you need more spoiling, just let me know. I've got plenty of tricks up my sleeve."
"Plenty of spanks, you mean," Makino teased, her laughter warm and full of life.
"Well, those too," He admitted with a cheeky grin, his arms tightening around her. "But only because I know you like it."
Makino shook her head, smiling up at him as she rested her hands on his chest.
"You're impossible," She murmured.
"Yeah," Luffy said, his grin never wavering. "But I'm your impossible."
Makino leaned in closer, her laughter fading into a soft smile.
"That you are," She said, her voice tender, "...and I wouldn't have it any other way."
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