Like Luffy, Dragon had a knack for good luck. But he rarely made use of it. So when he won the raffle at the grocery store for an all-expense-paid trip for two at a nice hotel in Hokkaido, he gave the tickets to his son. He cared not for such things but he saw it as an opportunity.

"Perhaps you can go with Nami?" he said.

Luffy very much liked Dragon's idea. After receiving many thanks, he left him alone in his room to grab a cup of coffee.

Dragon smiled to himself. He liked doing good deeds. This deed in particular would no doubt bring major developments. He just knew it.

Now, why do people lie- not just to others but to themselves? Who are they trying to protect? What good comes from lying?

Not much.

Nami sat up in bed and typed the following words in the search bar:

'Is it possible to fall in love with your best friend?'

She groaned at the answer and pressed her face in her pillow. She had googled this question before. Well not exactly...

'Is it possible for two best friends to fall in love?'

'Is it normal for best friends to fall in love?'

'Can two platonic friends fall in love?'

Different questions, same answer.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Google Search could not lie. It pushed the facts in your face whether you liked it or not.

She had caught feelings for her best friend. That she would not deny. Whether it was since day 1, or day 100, one thing for sure is that when summer vacation started and they spent all that time together, she found herself wanting to be with him all the time. Wanted to smile into his eyes all the time and to be hugged and kissed ALL. THE. TIME.

She could not recall when but it happened. Didn't notice at first but it crept up on her like a preying cat. And now their friendship was at risk and its demise would all be her fault.

Whether it was in the way he looked at her, touched her, talked to her in that caring, reassuring voice of his, stood up for her when needed, the crux of the matter was that any girl would have fallen hard but Nami was not just any girl.

She was his best friend.

They were special to each other but Nami was convinced she made his friendly affection go too much to her head and now that she thought of him in different ways, craved him in different ways, made her feel like the biggest pervert to ever walk the earth.

She had to call him and put an end to all this so she did, without a second thought.

"Oh, Nami! Hi. I was just about to call you. I have the greatest news, but you go first."

"Hey... I've been doing a lot of thinking and I've decided that I'm ready to start dating again."

"... Oh. Okay."

Nami did not like that pause. She had to get her point more across and the best way to do that was not over the phone.

"You're home right?"

"Yeah."

"Can I come over and maybe we can go somewhere... where it's just us?"

"Sure. But we don't have to go anywhere to do that. My dad's not home."

Not what Nami had in mind but it would have to do.

"Give me 30 minutes. Can I get you anything?"

"No. I'm okay."

"I'm stopping by the supermarket and I don't mind getting you a snack or two. Just name it."

Nami grabbed her notebook and pen and readied her hand.

This was going to be a long day.

Nami pulled up outside Luffy's house a tad earlier than she planned and used the extra time to fix her hair and check her face in the mirror for any imperfections. However, she caught herself and saw heat in the form of red rush to her cheeks.

The red plastic bag on the passenger seat she got from the grocery store could not compare. Right now she was having an out-of-body experience. An epiphany, if you will.

Luffy did not care about what her hair looked like but she always made sure to look her best when around him. Why? Her room when she had to decide on what she was going to wear when meeting him was always left in shambles. Why? Why did she care so much about what Luffy thought of her appearance? Was it so he could call her cute or was it so he could admire her completely; taking his time to allow his eyes to sweep over her, silently giving her his approval with a smile that lasted for a moment too long. Like she knew he would.

She lost herself to her thoughts...

Nami's hands squeezed her wheel and she grabbed the bags and headed towards the front door. She didn't know how to face Luffy with the thoughts racing through her head. And she had honestly forgotten what it was that she wanted to talk about. But everything was going to be fine.

So she told herself.

At the sound of the doorbell, Luffy opened up with merriment on his face.

"Sorry, I'm late."

Before she could let herself in, Luffy, to her surprise, reached down and kissed her on a place he never ventured before: her lips.

Nami squeaked and pulled away, her face on fire and she shut her eyes tight; opening them again when he touched her face with tenderness. Nami blinked into his soft eyes full of love for her and she allowed him to kiss her a second time. Deeper and longer than before. she lost herself in the feeling of her heart's darkest desire. She dropped the bag of snacks and wrapped arms around him and they made way to his room, all while tugging clothing off arms and limbs where he had her and she had him as it was always meant to be...

Nami snapped out of her daydream. Her phone was ringing.

She reached for it, her face a blazing scarlet. The air conditioning was instantly set on its highest. What the hell was wrong with her?

"Nami?"

As she focused on what was in front of her, Luffy was standing in the doorway with his phone to his ear. He waved in her direction. She waved sheepishly back.

"What's taking you so long? You've been sitting out there for hours."

It had only been 10 minutes.

"I'll be right there," she said, grabbing the grocery bag in one swift motion.

She was being ridiculous.

"You look cute today."

His voice over the phone sent chills in places she never thought possible.

Nami's attire was orange overalls paired with an off-the-shoulder yellow crop top. Her hair was in a neat bun. Mentally, she pat her shoulder and celebrated. She had no business being so elated but Luffy always had that effect on her.

"Thanks."

She hung up and quickly went past him into the house avoiding all eye contact. Her destination was the living room and she sat and waited with the bags held fast to her chest. Her flashbacks to her dream weighed heavy on her mind and at present, there was no cure in existence to mend her racing heart.

"Are you okay?"

Nami looked at Luffy who had a foot on the stairs. At that moment, she became more aware of her shallow breathing and the hair that clung to the sweat on the back and sides of her neck. But she did her hardest to not let her discomfort show.

"Me? Yes. Never been better."

"Well let's go."

"Where?"

"My room."

"W-What?"

Luffy cocked a brow and tilted his head. Nami knew exactly what he was thinking. She was being weird. They have always hung out together in his room. This was not the first.

"Can we stay down here?"

"I wouldn't recommend it. It gets super hot in the summer."

Nami hesitated and gave up allowing Luffy who came up to her to pull her along with him up the stairs.

She settled on his bed while he on his chair. He went through the things she bought and rejoiced at the top of his lungs seeing that she had bought not one bag of barbecue chips but 3 (they were his favourite since they tasted a lot like meat); some candy and a bottle of his favourite drink.

"Thanks, Nami. You're the best!"

"No problem."

Nami could tell that he did some speed cleaning. There was a shirt sticking from under his bed and a stack of books, manga no doubt, was clumsily piled in a corner.

She kicked the shoes off and crawled over to the bed head and reclined on one of the pillows.

His room smelled entirely of him and Nami was not conscious of it before but was today more than ever. It wasn't bad. In fact, it was good. And there was no fighting the colour that returned to stain her cheeks.

She watched him tug a bag open and stuff his face. The drink he uncovered and tilted to his lips. The sound of the game he paused played quietly in the background.

Suddenly he looked up and Nami gulped. He caught her staring.

"Want some?"

"...Sure."

Instead of handing over the bag, he went and sat right next to her, much to Nami's dismay; tilting the bag ever so slightly for her to take as much as she needed.

Nami ate and no words were exchanged between them. They were usually most comfortable in each others presence but Nami as the days went by was becoming more and more aware of her feelings- if you could call them feelings at all. Things had a habit of changing and this comfortable silence she grew to love now had her heart ringing in her ears. It was all too much so she went about it as always. It was the only way she knew how to cope.

On his shoulder, she laid her head and she refused her body's insistence to do more.

"Games, huh?"

"Yeah. I was bored. I have nothing planned today but now you're here, maybe we can do something. Your choice."

He took another drink of soda and handed her the rest. Without thinking, Nami put it to her lips and drank it all. Her face went red when she realized what she had done.

That was definitely an indirect kiss and Nami wondered how many they had shared without knowing. How ignorant she was to it all.

Yes, as the days went by, Nami was becoming more and more aware of her feelings- if you could call them feelings at all. They bothered her in ways they shouldn't. And she was pretty sure that Luffy didn't feel the same way so today she was going to put an end to her selfishness once and for all.

"You're quiet today, Nami. What did you want to talk about?"

Now was her queue.

"First of all, go back to your chair. I can't think straight with you near me right now."

"Why not?" Luffy whined.

"Just go."

He did not understand her need for distance. He did go back to his chair but wheeled it close to the bed and Nami all but pinched between her brows.

"As I said on the phone, I want to start dating again."

"I remember."

"Why did you... Why did you go silent when I told you? Any particular reason?"

Nami wanted to feel him out.

"Not really. I'm just worried about you, is all. Are you sure that you're ready?"

"I am."

"Well don't go dating any jerks like the last one. If you can promise that, I'll support you."

Nami's spirits lifted.

"Thanks, Luffy. I appreciate i-"

"He'll have to answer to me if he hurts you in any way. And make sure he doesn't have you doing anything you don't wanna do and that he doesn't force you to ignore the people important to you."

Luffy turned away, a dent in his brow.

Nami knew how much that last part upset him. She had to assure him this time that she would make a good choice. A better choice.

"I promise."

Luffy smiled. He remained in his seat, leaned back his head and stared at the ceiling.

"You know I love spending time with you, Luffy. You make me so incredibly happy that I am convinced that there is no one else out there who can make me happier. No one understands me like you do, no one listens more or motivates me to be and do better. We get along better than anyone else. I enjoy laughing with you. Ten times out of ten my days are made just spending time and laughing with you..."

Nami could no longer look at Luffy. Her eyes were focused on her fumbling fingers that laid in her lap.

"But there are things that I want that you can't do for me. I want to be kissed and swept off my feet and cherished, doted over. Do you understand what I mean, Luffy?"

"I do."

"Even though I highly value our friendship, there will be a time when it'll only be right for you to forget about me and I to forget about you..."

"Don't cry, Nami."

"I'm not crying." Tears ran fiercely down her face and Nami dared him silently to come comfort her which he did.

"I'm such a cry-baby."

"Yeah. You are."

He snickered when she buried her face in his sleeve.

"I hate that I cry so much."

"Don't worry about it."

"It's exhausting and I look so stupid and needy and spoiled. Life is unfair and I hate how selfish I can be at times."

"I can be selfish too."

"Not as much as me."

"Sometimes, it's okay to be selfish. At least it's good to know what it is that you want to be happy and go after it, no matter the cost."

Nami quieted down completely, hearing Luffy say that.

"Do you want to forget about me?" he asked.

"No. Of course not. I wouldn't dream of it."

"It's the same for me. A zillion years could go by and I'll still remember you. You're my best friend."

His declaration made Nami cry again.

Life really was unfair.

There were a lot of things she was willing to risk, but not Luffy. Anything but him.

That's right. She'll bottle up her feelings and cast them in the sea where they will float away and never be seen again.

"For the record, there isn't any guy out there like you. Kinder than you, nicer than you. I can go on and on."

Luffy hummed and laid backwards taking Nami along with him. Whenever she held onto him, it took her a while to let go. Not that he minded.

She curled at his side, her head comfortable on his shoulder and chest.

"You're not going to sleep are you?" she asked.

"Nope. Just thinking. You can go if you like."

"Okay."

She stayed.

A few hours passed and Nami woke with a start after hearing her phone ring. She and Luffy had fallen asleep unexpectedly.

It was her mum. She wanted something from the store right away so Nami had to leave.

When she tried to move Luffy had a strong arm around her waist and she had to sadly wake him up. Which was a bummer because she was so comfortable and Luffy had this cute expression on his face as he slept. It was a shame but she had to go.

"Sorry about falling asleep. I stayed longer than I should have."

"That's okay," Luffy said. They were standing in the doorway to say their goodbyes. He rubbed his eyes and stifled a yawn.

"Your hair..."

"I'll fix it in the car," Nami blushed at her supposed bed-hair.

"I like it. It's cute. You should leave it like that."

Nami blinked and tucked her bangs behind her ears. If Luffy said so, there must be some truth to it.

"I have to go. Thanks for listening to me Luffy."

"You're welcome."

"No jerks?"

"No jerks."

With one hand, Nami hugged him and turned her head to kiss his cheek. Alas, at the same time Luffy turned and Nami barely missed his lips. Kissing both his cheek and the very edge of his mouth.

She was aware of it and almost died.

"Before you go, Nami, I almost forgot. Wait here. He ran upstairs and came back with a yellow envelope."

"I know you're in a hurry but as soon as you go home, have a look at this and give me a call to let me know if you're interested or not. We can go together. It should be fun." 'Shishishishi'

Luffy looked at his best friend and rose a brow. She had a blank stare. As if she had seen a ghost.

"Make sure to get some more rest when you go home. Okay? You've been acting a little weird today. And get back to me with your answer. Today if possible. Okay?"

Nami nodded twice to both questions.

The rest he knew should do her some good. He sent her away with a tight squeeze and a kiss to her temple.

In a trance, Nami went straight home forgetting to stop by the grocery store as requested.

Bellemere could only stare as she watched her daughter walk like a zombie to her room, an envelope clutched to her chest.

"Where are the groceries?"

"The what?"

Bellemere made a face. Something was up and upon close inspection, Nami's cheeks were a tad too pink.

"You've been by Luffy all this time?"

Her face flared up at the call of his name.

She nodded and the next words that came out made Bellemere's ears tickle with delight.

"I like Luffy."

"Didn't you say that you and Luffy would never be in that sort of relationship?"

"I know what I said but-"

"Did you tell him?"

"What? No!"

"Why not?"

"Because there is a high chance that he doesn't feel the same way and we wouldn't be able to hang out like we used to if I come out and say something stupid."

"So you're calling your feelings stupid?"

"Maybe if you were in my shoes, you'd understand, Mum."

"I understand that you'll be making the worst decision of your life if you don't bag him. Someone else will and you will have to live with that for the rest of your life."

"So be it. The bottom line is that I will not risk our friendship for petty feelings. Things, as they are, are perfect. I'll get over Luffy and I'll find someone who loves me and wants a life with me. Someone more than friends. Luffy is not that person."

"You wouldn't know till you ask."

Nami frowned. Her mother was not listening to a word she said.

They parted ways after her mum asked for the key to her car. Nojiko borrowed hers.

Nami went straight to her room, tossed the envelope on her desk and went to take a shower and grab a bite to eat. Anything to distract her mind from the matter. Her mother was right but only time would prove her wrong. Nami was sure of that.

When the evening fell, Nami got on the phone as quickly as she could with the contents of the envelope in hand.

She was upset it took her so long so there was not a moment to lose.

"So what do you say?" came Luffy's voice over the line. He was excited. As if already knowing her answer.

"Yes."

To be continued...