Yamato glanced down at her hands, fidgeting with her fingers as if they were suddenly the most complicated things in the world. The firelight flickered across her knuckles, painting them gold and shadow in equal measure. She drew in a slow breath, then let it out.
"Actually…" She began, her voice quieter than before, "Sixteen years ago, I was there in the plaza."
Luffy's eyes lifted to her face.
"I saw it," She continued. "The Legendary Hour. I watched Kozuki Oden stand there and smile while the world tried to crush him. I didn't even understand everything that was happening, but I knew…"
Her hand tightened around the edge of Oden's journal. "I knew I was looking at someone who was different from anyone I had ever seen."
Luffy raised a brow. "So that's where it started."
She nodded. "That's where it began."
A small, crooked smile tugged at her lips as she scratched the side of her face. "Later, I found his logbook. Read about the seas he crossed, the people he met, the way he laughed at danger and ran toward the horizon instead of away from it. I didn't just admire the man anymore. I admired the life he lived."
"Yeah, I get that." Luffy chuckled softly, the sound low and thoughtful. He leaned forward, resting his forearms on his knees.
Crackle...
The fire popped between them, sending a ribbon of sparks spiraling into the night.
"But let me ask you something," He said. "What's the one thing you truly admire about him?"
Yamato blinked. "What do you mean?"
"I mean," Luffy continued, "people aren't just one thing. There are lots of parts you can admire."
He tilted his head, thinking. "I admire Shanks because he's an easy-going and free spirited person. I admire my grandpa because, even though he's terrifying and throws me into pits sometimes, he's got a strong sense of justice and cares about people."
He looked back at her. "So what is it about Oden that really grabbed you?"
Yamato furrowed her brows, caught off guard by the question. The answer didn't leap out at her like she had expected. She stared into the fire, watching the flames curl and collapse in on themselves.
"I… I don't know," She admitted.
'Good,' Luffy smiled faintly and thought in his heart. He liked the personality of Yamato and wanted to pull her on his boat in the future but her blind admiration in Oden was something that Luffy found annoying.
Kozuki Oden was a strong person and there was no doubt about it. But he was very stupid and selfish person too.
Luffy knew that Kozuki Oden was a good person. He was a man worthy of admiration and respect. He knew that Kozuki Oden may be suitable to be a friend, suitable to be a brother, even suitable to be the captain of a pirate ship.
But he is not suitable to be a leader of a country with his personality.
Luffy could understand that what Oden did was for the sake of Wano and the people but the path he chose was simply foolish and stupid.
Luffy didn't mind Yamato admiring Oden.
What he minded was her being blinded by that admiration, forgetting to live as herself instead of as someone else's shadow.
Outwardly, he kept his tone light. "Then I'll guess."
Her eyes flicked up.
"You admired his freedom," He said. "And the way he was willing to throw himself into the fire for others. That kind of courage hits hard when you're young. Especially when you've never seen anyone stand up like that before."
Yamato swallowed, because it was uncomfortably close to the truth.
Luffy stretched his arms above his head, the movement loose and casual, but his gaze stayed locked on hers. "I'm gonna say something, and you might not like it."
She straightened. "Say it."
"It's natural to admire someone," he said. "But you can't spend your whole life trying to become them."
The words landed heavier than she expected.
"Look at me," he went on, grinning. "I admire Shanks. I admire my grandpa. But I'm not trying to be either of them. I'm still me. I'm Monkey D. Luffy."
He leaned closer, close enough that Yamato could see the reflection of the fire dancing in his eyes. "You can't become Oden. No one can. And you don't need to."
Her chest tightened.
Luffy laughed softly and took a long pull from his sake. "Honestly, I admire you."
She blinked. "You… what?"
"You stood up to Kaido," he said. "You kept your will even when he tried to crush it. That takes guts. Not everyone can do that."
The fire crackled louder, as if echoing the sudden pounding of her heart.
"So don't try to be someone else," Luffy finished. "Be yourself. It's way more fun to become someone others admire instead."
Yamato stared at him, stunned.
"Become… someone others admire," she whispered.
The words felt strange on her tongue, like a door opening to a place she had never even thought to look.
The wind swept past them, carrying the smell of salt and fire and the distant roar of the sea.
For the first time in her life, Yamato didn't see herself standing in Oden's shadow.
She saw a path of her own, stretching forward into the dark, wide and waiting.
Luffy's grin widened when he caught the change in Yamato's eyes, the way the firelight no longer reflected only awe for a long-dead hero, but something brighter and more alive. Satisfied, he tipped the sake bottle back and drained the last mouthful, the liquid glugging loudly before he set the empty bottle down beside the rock with a soft clink.
He stretched his arms high over his head, joints popping as he rolled his shoulders, and let out a long, exaggerated sigh.
"Whew. That was a heavy talk," He said, laughing lightly. "You've got plenty of time to think about what you want to do next, Yamato. But right now…"
He glanced down at himself, wrinkling his nose. "I seriously need a bath."
Yamato blinked, caught completely off guard by the sudden shift in mood.
Luffy waved a hand casually, as if the topic of life, freedom, and destiny had just been another sparring match.
"I've been running around all day, zapping ninjas, breaking chains, and throwing punches. Add our little fight on top of that, and—" He lifted his arm and sniffed theatrically. "Yeah. I'm definitely not fit for polite company anymore."
For a heartbeat, Yamato just stared at him. Then a laugh burst out of her, bright and unrestrained, echoing across the quiet rocks and into the night.
"Hahaha... You're unbelievable," She said, shaking her head, half amused and half exasperated. "You talk about changing my whole way of thinking, and the next thing you care about is taking a bath."
Luffy grinned back at her, completely unapologetic. "Hey, a guy's gotta have priorities."
Yamato pushed herself to her feet, brushing dust from her hakama as the fire crackled between them. She caught the faint scent of sweat and smoke clinging to her clothes and wrinkled her nose. "Now that you mention it… you're not wrong. I'm sweaty too."
She shot him a sideways look, her eyes still carrying that new spark of curiosity and warmth. "We'll continue this conversation later. I'm not done thinking about what you said."
Luffy paused, then gave her a small, genuine smile. "Good. I'll be looking forward to it."
The wind rustled through the skull-shaped cliffs above them, carrying the sound of the sea and the promise of whatever tomorrow would bring, as the two of them headed off in search of water, laughter still lingering in the night air.
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