When the cherry blossoms fall to the ground...
And the scent of perfume fills the air...
The air sparkles with a new life and light...
As the gates of Whole Cake Academy open for the day...

"One more week...just one more week before I come back to school."

Charlotte Linlin gripped to herself as she stared out the rainy window. Ever since that Luffy guy exposed her not so sweet side, she had been trapped in her home and working on schoolwork from afar. Often Kalifa would drop by and hand over some homework for her and give her the run down on what was happening in school.

When she heard that Black Maria and Ulti beat up Luffy, she was tickled pink. Finally, someone brought him down a peg. Maybe this incident was the catalyst that would make him leave. However, she was informed that Boa Hancock of the Beautification committee had taken him to the nurse's office. How dare that harlot think she could keep that boy there! She would have to deal with her little group later.

"Kalifa, isn't the school trip to Whiskey Peak coming up soon?" Linlin asked via online chat to her second-in-command.

"Yes, we have scheduled a trip there tomorrow actually. It is required for everyone to pair up with someone to conquer the mountain trails." Kalifa informed her, pulling up the permission list of girls attending. "And yes, Luffy is attending this trip. I'm quite surprised about who he got to sign his permission slip though. It would appear that our little monkey has some famous friends."

Linlin scanned down the list until she saw who signed Luffy's permission slip. "Are you kidding me?!"

A few days earlier...

"Hey Auntie Makino! Long time, no see!"

A few miles away from Whole Cake Academy was one of the few save havens that Luffy loved. On Foosha Street, there was a small bar where Luffy spent most of his youth at when his father and grandfather were busy. Luffy would run over after school and hangout with his loving aunt Makino, owner of Partys Bar, one of the most popular bar in town.

Makino was a kindhearted woman, letting Luffy have food for free since he helped out in her bar. Her dark green hair was tied back with a light pink bandana today and she wore a blue blouse, white apron on her blue jeans, and black and white sneakers. She may have been the owner, but she also was the bartender and chef too. Every Friday and Saturday night Luffy would come by to help clean the bar after everyone left their tables or serve some drinks to patrons.

Or be a baysitter to her son. Either job earned him money and he was happy for that.

Today he was coming in to do his busboy duties, tying his apron on and getting his tray ready. After all, the usual customers would come around six and he had to be ready.

"How's school been going? I heard from Shakky that your grades have been steady with some As and Bs in certain classes." Makino said, pouring some drinks into cups to get ready for the rush. "She and Rayleigh keep in touch with Shanks and I. They want to see the baby constantly."

"I'm not going to lie to you Makino. I've tried my best to fit in, but some of these girls aren't the nicest to deal with. I got beat up the other day just because I'm a guy." Luffy admitted, rubbing the back of his neck. "If Yamato-oneesan hadn't promised to watch over me, I probably would have given into their bully and fought back."

Makino smiled softly, patting him on the back. "Luffy, no matter how much they prod you or push you, never fight back. Words will hurt, I'm not going to lie, but you choose whether to let them control your life. However, if they throw the first punch, you have permission to fight back."

Luffy grinned back, hugging her from over the bar. "Thank you Aunt Makino."

"Now then, you have a field trip coming up soon." Makino said, giving him a knowing look. "Knowing how busy your father and grandfather are, do you want me or Shanks to sign that slip?"

Luffy chuckled, wiping the glasses left on the counter. "Doesn't really matter which one really. I'm not picky about who signs my permission slips. Unless I was in elementary school..." He thought about the time that Ace had signed his slip, claiming to be his legal guardian. "Since you signed the last one, Shanks can do this one."

"This boy..." Linlin grit her teeth in anger. "How does he know about Shanks Akagami, one of the business mongers from New World Industries?! You know how long it took my family to finally get recognized by that company? Ages and a lot of hard work!"

"Regardless, this field trip may be a prime opportunity to get rid of the boy." Kalifa said, getting Linlin back on track. "Whiskey Peak has many trails and roads to get lost in. If we can manage to lead Luffy down some unsuspecting path, he could get lost or even..."

Linlin grinned, crossing her legs in an undignified manner. "I like the way you think Kalifa. Oh wait...he has to be paired with someone for this trip. All people have to have someone to do the walk with in order to pass." Tapping her pink nails on the desk, she ran through all the girls at their school. "Since he's such a "gentleman" he claims to be, he has to have a line of ladies already at his beck and call."

Kalifa nodded. "A secret club was formed in order to prevent your schemes to get rid of him just this week. Part of this club seems to be Carrot Mink, Camie Umiko, that weird pink haired girl who eats, and...Nami Mikan."

"That traitorous slut! How dare she think she can defy me!" The fact she lost a pawn wasn't the reason she was angry, but the fact she lost the most promising member of the student council to that boy. Vivi could be easily replaced, Kalifa was her loyal second, but Nami was always a wild card. To her, losing Nami was like losing a big pillar in her future plans.

"Well this could work to your advantage then. Team Nami up with Luffy and get rid of the two of them. The rest of the club will then fall apart without the object of their affection."

Sometimes Linlin forgot how devious Kalifa could be. "What an interesting idea. Make sure that this happens, I don't care what you have to do. If Luffy isn't gone by this trip, then when I get back, I'll deal with him myself...personally."

Nami sat down at the kitchen table, surrounded by piles of paper and textbooks. Her pencil laid idly by her hand, nearly rolling off the table. A single glass of tangerine juice stood by her phone, which was on silent mode during study time. However, Nami wasn't studying for a test or doing her homework. Instead, she was gazing at the flier for the school's annual hiking trip to Whiskey Peak.

"What's got you staring so intently?" Nojiko asked her little sister, leaning over her shoulder and startling her. "Hmm...? The school's hiking trip huh?"

"Nojiko!" Nami held a hand over her heart to stop it from beating. "You scared me!"

"Sorry sis, didn't mean to snap you out of your stupor." Nojiko picked up the flier and studied it. "You signed up for this extra credit trip right?"

"Yeah I just did it this morning." Nami looked away shyly, pressing her fingers together.

"Is Luffy going to be there?" Nojiko teased, poking her cheek. "Did you ask him to be your partner?"

Nami snatched the flier from her hands and looked away with a red face. Truth be told, she had wanted to ask Luffy to be her partner ever since she saw his name on the sign up sheet. However, when she went to go ask him, a wave of nervousness washed over her and prevented her from speaking. It kept happening every time she tried to talk to him, at lunch, in math, and even when she tried to catch up to him after school.

It was driving her nuts and yet this was all her fault.

"As if I want to ask him to hike with me! He probably agreed to go with some other girl." Nami said, clearing the table of her clutter. "Probably doesn't even remember me from all those years ago too."

"Doesn't hurt to ask him. He seems like the type that needs a headstrong woman like you to keep him in line." Bopping her on the head with a notebook, she gave Nami a warm smile. "I think you two would make a cute couple."

Now Nami was really blushing hard. Her sister knew exactly what spots to hit. Tomorrow, before leaving school grounds, she would ask him to be her partner. It would be just the two of them walking around the woods and becoming one with nature.

Just the two of them, alone together, with nothing to disturb them.