Minding Manners
"Ahaha! Are you boys serious!" Makino covered her laugh as the scruffy youngsters in front of her competed to bow lower and lower until Luffy banged his head on his own knees. He lost his balance and tilted over until he almost toppled onto Ace, who straightened in time and shoved Luffy back the other way, to the floor.
"Ahem," Sabo interrupted. His top-hat was off and held with both hands in front of him, and his face was suspiciously cleaner than it was just a minute ago. He cleared his throat before announcing loudly, "My name is Sabo. May I please inquire as to what yours is, Miss?"
Luffy and Ace stopped wrestling and gaped at the other boy. Makino turned to Sabo and smiled brightly. "My, how polite! Nice to meet you, Sabo. You can call me Makino."
"It is a pleasure to meet your acquaintance, Makino-san." Sabo bowed gracefully with one arm behind his back and his hat stretched out to his side.
"No need to be so formal, Sabo! We're all friends here, right?"
Sabo grinned and swiped his index finger across the tip of his nose. Just as he opened his mouth to speak –
"AHAHAHAHA!" Luffy pounded his fist on the ground.
"SABO, you lame-ass, stop sucking up!" Ace clarified.
Sabo flushed angrily and scowled. "Yeah? What about 'Whom are you?'"
"S'totally different."
"Now, now, play nice, otherwise I won't give you your presents."
The bickering grew silent and Luffy hopped up immediately, eyes shining. "Is it meat?"
"Haha, no! It's something better."
"No way, nothing's better'n meat."
Makino smiled fondly at Luffy, missing his easygoingness. She reached behind her and pulled a small suitcase onto her lap. "I know when I was your age, all my boy friends were constantly outgrowing their things, so I thought…" She opened the case and pulled out a pile of folded clothes. "Tada!"
Luffy pouted. "I knew it, s'not better."
Ace reached for a blue T-shirt and "Ow!" Sabo retracted his elbow and stood straight, grinning. "Thank you, Makino-san! Your thoughtfulness is – ooph!" Ace tackled him.
Meanwhile, Luffy was already riffling through the pile. "Oooh, this shirt has a gator on it, coooool!"
Makino just giggled. Boys will be boys.