Luffy took his time bathing in the nearby stream. The water was cold, refreshing, and clear enough for him to catch his own reflection. He stared at himself for a moment, then smiled—not because he looked stronger, but because he could feel it. His face hadn't changed much, but the way he stood, the way his eyes looked back at him... that was different.
There was a calm behind his gaze now. A certainty. He wasn't the same kid who left this place a month ago.
After scrubbing the dirt and leaves from his hair, he got dressed, slung his shirt over his shoulder, and made his way back toward the bandit base. The walk was quiet, peaceful almost, but the moment he pushed the door open—
Everyone froze.
Bandits stared at him like they'd seen a ghost.
"Where the hell do you come from, Luffy?! We thought you were dead, you know!" Dadan shouted, throwing her arms in the air.
Luffy scratched the back of his head, offering a grin. "Sorry, I just went to get some training is all."
Dadan grumbled under her breath but crossed her arms. "Oh, well… at least tell us next time before disappearing into the mountains. Geez."
"I will," he said casually, walking further in. "Hope you guys didn't touch anything in my room."
"Don't worry, I handled that," Dadan replied with a smirk. "Just in case you did die, I kept your things safe. Of course... I took a bit of your money. You know, compensation."
Luffy laughed, shaking his head. "Thanks. I need some rest. See you guys in a day."
He waved lazily and headed off without another word.
Dadan watched him go, expression softening. "He's really serious about this pirate thing... I didn't know someone could mature that fast."
"Yeah, well, he is Garp's grandson," Dogra said "Even that old nutjob gets serious sometimes."
"Yeah..." Dadan murmured, still watching the path Luffy had taken.
Luffy entered his shack, quiet and empty as he left it. He dropped his shirt on the floor, let out a breath, then collapsed face-first onto the bed. The moment his head touched the pillow, he was out cold—breathing deep and even, a long-earned rest washing over him.
The moonlight crept in through the wooden slats of the shack, casting soft lines across his sleeping face.
....
Luffy stepped around the bar and grabbed a towel slung over the counter. He started wiping down the empty tables near the front, glancing toward the pirates seated in the far corner. They were loud—too loud for this early in the morning—and the way they laughed made it hard to tell if they were joking or mocking someone.
There were five of them. All armed, though not obviously so. A couple had pistols strapped lazily to their sides, while the others kept their coats close—hiding whatever they didn't want seen.
The one at the center, clearly the captain, had a gold chain around his neck and a faded bounty poster tucked into his coat like a trophy. He leaned back with his boots on the table, sipping from a large mug. His eyes scanned the bar, sharp and calculating—even while he smiled.
"Makino, bring us another round, will ya?" he called, tapping his cup on the wood.
"I'm coming," she replied, polite but firm. She moved with practiced calm, but Luffy could tell she was keeping her distance more than usual.
He narrowed his eyes slightly as he wiped the bar clean.
One of the pirates noticed him and nudged his crewmate. "Who's the kid?" he whispered.
The captain raised an eyebrow, glancing Luffy's way. "You a local?"
Luffy didn't answer. He just kept wiping the table, not even looking at them.
The captain chuckled, not offended by the silence. "No manners, but sharp ears. I like that."
Makino placed their drinks down with a soft clink and quickly stepped back before they could make conversation.
Luffy finally turned, facing them calmly.
"You're not from East Blue," he said flatly.
The table quieted slightly. The captain's smile stayed, but his eyes sharpened.
"Good ear. Nah, we're just passing through. Calm seas, easy coin. Your little village has good food."
"And no Marines," one of the others added with a grin.
The captain gave him a look—just sharp enough to warn him not to say more.
Luffy met his gaze without flinching. Then turned back to wiping the counter like nothing happened.
"You'll behave while you're here," Luffy said casually. Not a threat. Just a fact.
The pirates didn't answer at first.
Then the captain let out a low laugh. "Relax, kid. We're not looking for trouble. Not today."
They raised their mugs, clinking them together as if the tension hadn't risen a moment ago.
Makino glanced at Luffy from behind the bar, lips tight. He gave her a small nod.
'Shady crew... but not here to fight,' he thought. 'Still, I'll keep an eye on them.'
An hour later, the pirates finally left the tavern, saying they were just going for a walk around the village. Their laughter trailed behind them, rowdy and careless as they vanished down the street.
Makino let out a breath she'd clearly been holding.
"That was exhausting," she said, rubbing her temples before slumping into a nearby chair.
Luffy grabbed a clean glass, filled it with water, and handed it to her before sitting beside her at the bar.
"Yeah… it's been a while since I've met pirates," he said, leaning back slightly, eyes distant for a moment. He remembered Ace, just for a second. That warm, wild fire his brother always carried.
Makino took a sip and glanced over at him.
"It has been some time, hasn't it? Still, besides everything else… they weren't bad. One of them even gave me a tip." She smiled faintly, though the worry hadn't fully left her eyes.
"I'm still suspicious of them," Luffy said, watching the door. "I'll stay in the village tonight. Just in case."
"No issue. Let me go fix you a room—"
"Oh, nah, it's alright," Luffy waved it off. "I'll head home. Been a while. I kinda miss it."
Makino nodded gently. "Okay then. Thank you for helping out today, Luffy. Tomorrow night, I'll cook you a feast."
Luffy's mouth watered just at the thought. He grinned wide.
"See you," he said as he headed out.
The sun was already dipping behind the hills, casting long shadows as he walked the path back home. The house where he and Garp used to stay sat quietly at the edge of the woods—simple, weather-worn, but standing strong.
Garp hadn't been around often. Most times, Luffy had ended up at Makino's. But when Garp was here… those memories stuck. Loud meals. Brutal training. The sudden disappearances where Luffy found himself flung into the jungle "for survival practice."
Still, it was home.
He pushed open the door and found the place clean, freshly dusted, the windows clear. Makino must have come by, probably more than once.
'She really looks out for me,' he thought, setting his hat on the table.
Then he looked toward the window, the one facing the village road.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
'Those pirates… I should go spy on them. Just in case.'
TO BE CONTINUED