The training had been brutal. Luffy recalled how he would often come home with several bruises from the simulation creatures Vegapunk and Franky would create to fight him. But it was all worth it. He'd learned how to control his powers and his haki. He was by no means a master, but he had good, if not great, control over his powers. The only downside was that he had to keep it a secret from everyone except Shanks. He hated having to lie and ditch his friends because some bozo with powers was causing havoc. Luffy looked at the time on his phone, 9:45. If he didn't get home by 10, Makino would kill him. He wrapped his arms around Umi Tower and launched himself home.

Ace was looking at the clock. It read 9:55. 5 more minutes, and Luffy would get the scolding of a lifetime. Ace loved his brother. There was no doubt of it. But it was always hilarious to watch Luffy get told off by Makino. Did that make him an evil brother?

"No, it doesn't," He thought.

Unfortunately for Ace, the front door opened, and Luffy screamed he was home at the top of his lungs. Oh, so close. As the night went on, Ace continued to observe his brother. He had been doing it since he saw Shanks run out of his hospital room and bring his brother back crying. Luffy had started to change since that fateful day. It wasn't just physically that Luffy had changed. Sure the once skinny boy was taller and more muscular, which Ace attributed to Luffy hitting puberty, but how he acted also changed. Luffy seemed more mature; when he smiled, only the front row of his teeth showed, not the back. Ace was scared. Luffy was never mature, and Luffy's smile always showed the back row of his teeth. Whatever happened that night did something for his brother. He wasn't even sure Luffy noticed. But to Ace, it was clear his brother wasn't entirely content and happy as he used to be. Whatever it was, he was going to find out. Dinner passed in the Monkey D. household, and soon everyone was asleep.

Luffy's morning started just as many of his mornings had started. He was running late to school. So he hopped into the car with Shanks, and they were off. For the first time in a while, the two reached school on time since there weren't any disturbances along the way. Luffy rushed into class, a pair of brown eyes following his every move as he sat next to Usopp.

"He's early," Nami thought in her head. It had been two years since the two of them had last talked. But she could never forget her childhood friend. She always remembered the ridiculous smile that was always on his face. That smile wasn't as bright or big as it used to be. Every minute of their childhood was spent either asleep or together. If there were something wrong with Luffy, Nami would be able to see it. Luffy wasn't the same person he was two years ago. He didn't hang out with his friends as much. He didn't hang out with her at all. Something was going on with Luffy. She absentmindedly paid attention to what the teacher was saying. Her eyes wandered to the date written on the board, three days until the dance. Then, her eyes went back to Luffy.

"When is he going to ask me?" She thought.

The bell rang, and she saw him run out again. The day passed, and still, Luffy showed no sign of asking her. So finally, when it was time for lunch, she headed toward the cafeteria. She turned the corner, and there was Luffy and Zoro.

"Luffy asks her already."

"How she's surrounded all the time."

"Luffy, aside from your family, I'm the only person you've known longer. Ask her already, you chicken."

"It's not that simple."

"Yes, it is. Just go up to her and say, "hey Nami, wanna go to the dance." And boom you have a date"

Nami couldn't make out the rest of the conversation as the two walked into the noisy cafeteria. So Luffy did like her. She couldn't help but smile. The day went by fast afterward. Once the final bell rang she tried to make her way to Luffy only for the boy to rush out again leaving her and his friends wondering where he went.