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Thank you for returning to Making the Grade!

Other than that, this is the final chapter in my Homecoming saga! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR MAKING IT THIS FAR! I want to give this first storyline a real, proper sendoff while setting up for everything to come in the new saga.

Sorry I've been gone for so long! I got caught up with some real world real name writing projects, but now I have the time to kinda split between that and this! While chapters might be a bit shorter for a while, the dream is to release them at some sort of consistent rate! Whether that exists as me writing four/five chapters in a row and releasing them weekly, or some or way, I'm going to make it work so if I disappear again, it'll be more clear.

It was a lot of hard work to get here! I even initially wrote in the draft about how I was excited to have this wrapped up by 2023… It wasn't easy, but I made it my mission to have something; proof that I could do this for the long term, even though my life is in constant flux. But when I come back, the world is gonna grow even more! More characters, more fun, and more drama!

Hope you continue to enjoy my re-imagining!

XXXXXXXXXX

Police sirens wailed around the school, the red-and-blue swirl of lights covering Grand Line High. A dozen police vehicles surrounded the building. Students and faculty who'd been enjoying the Homecoming were pulled out into the parking lot, many being interviewed.

"I didn't do anything!" A disgruntled Django called out as he was being handcuffed by the side of a car. "I just helped a friend out! Is that illegal?!"

Several other students weren't detained, so much as reprimanded and reminded that they would serve consequences through the school's own systems. They had the bruises and scars from their fights with Sanji and the Tashigi-Zoro pairing to serve as embarrassment enough.

Kuro looked out to the massive crowd of students staring at him from behind the tinted window of a cop's car, handcuffed to uncomfortability. Sweat rolled down his face, suit opened and creased to the point that anyone who didn't know he was a psychopath would think he was one anyways. The butler with a thousand plans… was finally captured.

And how frustrating the defeat was.

X ~ Before… ~ X

"Was that gun a fake?!" Nami yelled out to Usopp, who'd just pocketed the taser he'd previously used to take down Kuro.

"Yeah. One of the kids I babysit has a father really into model guns. And I knew that Kuro wouldn't want a gun on the table if he didn't bring a weapon like that himself."

"And you were sure he wouldn't just bring a gun?" Sanji asked, breaths heavy but slowing down as the intensity of the situation had concluded.

"I-" Usopp hesitated. "It was a hunch, but I was right; he's so stupidly egotistical in his plans that the moment he doesn't expect something, he'll try to take control of that, too. That's why I believed in you guys, you know? I knew he was so sure in his plans to take care of you guys, that the moment you all showed up regardless, his rational thinking would collapse."

"Rational thinking?" Kaya questioned.

"He's the man with a thousand plans, right? And when that runs out, he has the people surrounding him to protect him. Those bullies you had to fight off, the people who betrayed our trust… if those plans failed him, even partially, I bet he was just going to attempt improvisation until I was dead and any proof was taken care of. Seems I was right, as he just prepared to fight you guys even when you outnumbered him three-to-one."

"What a dumb-ass." Zoro murmured. "This is the guy who was outsmarting us."

"He was still smart, don't get me wrong, but-"

"HUH?!" Luffy launched up from his spot on the ground, taking in a big breath as his return from unconsciousness was quick and painful.

"Luffy!" They all cried to him, running over and nearly stepping on the spazzing Kuro.

"Let me at him!" Luffy leapt up just as the group surrounded him, fists prepped for fighting as blood ran down his face. It was filled with small cuts formed from the shattered frame he'd been thrown into, one shard in particular still stuck underneath his eye.

"It's alright!" Nami said, grabbing him by the shoulders. "Usopp's alright!"

"...What?" Luffy looked over to Usopp, seeing his nervous smile for the briefest of seconds before bursting into tears. "I- t- th- thought you w- were-"

"I'm alright!" Usopp gave him a thumbs up. "You really helped me out there!"

"Oh… good…" Luffy quickly relaxed, almost too much, as he quickly collapsed into Nami's arms. Unlike the defeated boy they'd seen before, this Luffy at least had a big, reassured grin on his face as he fell asleep.

X ~ Present ~ X

From across the parking lot, Kuro made eye contact with Usopp, who was sitting on the steps of a nearby building. The two locked eyes for a few seconds, before Kuro sneered in his direction. Usopp simply responded in turn by pulling down one of his eyelids and sticking out his tongue, not a care in the world.

Usopp turned his attention from the arrested psychopath to a reunited group nearby; Kaya and her parents, along with Merry, huddled up into a hug. The four of them nearly collapsed into each other, tears streaming down their faces. Kaya especially bawled, the intensity of the night stuffed into her tears with a feeling of catharsis Usopp was sure the girl had rarely, if ever, felt in her life.

In that way, everything he'd put himself through was worth it.

"You okay?"

Usopp nearly leapt from his spot, turning to see the Student Government President, Rosinante.

"Ah! Yes, I think I am. Are you good?"

Rosinante took a seat beside Usopp. "Besides my Treasurer attempting murder at Homecoming, the results of the voting probably being rigged, and just overall being a shitty president… yeah. Good."

"Glad to hear it." Usopp said, turning back to Kaya and her family.

"Good job, by the way."

"What do you mean?"

"For saving her. And in a way, saving me. At least from the further embarrassment of trusting someone like Kuro. He's a smart guy, you know. Really smart. It must've taken someone with a lot of intelligence and a lot of courage to take him down."

"Just luck, really. A handful of half-baked plans that somehow overcome his ego."

"But that doesn't make you any less of a hero. You might not be remembered for it…" Rosinante patted Usopp on the shoulder. "So thank you, from the bottom of my heart."

"Thanks." Usopp said, only a couple of seconds later double-taking and turning to face the President. "What do you mean? About being remembered?"

"Ah, you haven't heard? Apparently the school thinks your friend in the Straw Hat was the one who took care of Kuro. He certainly seems to have the scars to prove it."

The two looked over to an ambulance parked in front of the gymnasium. Luffy was getting stitched up for the massive shard of glass under his eye, the rest of the Straw Hats and friends surrounding him. Others grouped around them, curious to look on and hear what they were talking about.

"Let him take it." Usopp brushed the notion of fame aside. He looked one last time back to Kaya. "I only did this for Kaya anyways."

One Piece - Making the Grade

New World!

Homecoming Saga (Final)

"So, what does that mean?!" Zoro holds up Fukurou by the collar of his school uniform, the bystanders passing them by meaning very little to him.

"Just what I said! Papapa!" The disheveled Fukurou shook his hands in wavering defeat. "Monkey D. Luffy is now one of the hot-ticket items at this school after the stunts at Homecoming! How is he not supposed to be, after talking to Hancock, ditching the bombshell Nico Robin at the main dance, and uncovering a murderer!"

"Sounds about right." Sanji leaned on the lockers to the left of Zoro and Fukurou, sucking on a lollipop. "Any way to go back from this?"

"Just lock him in a box for two months, see what happens!" Fukurou joked. It didn't land for either Zoro or Sanji. "Alright! Jokes aside, your friend just seems to be a magnet for conversation, alright?! What do you want me to do about it?"

"Come on!" Nami called out to the two, slowly walking away while facing them. "We're going to be late for the party's set-up!"

Zoro let the gossip go, his boxy figure falling to the floor with a crash.

"Anything for you, Nami-swan." Sanji politely made his way beside the redhead, Zoro snorting in disapproval.

"Are you sure I just can't help with a different party?"

It'd been a week since the Homecoming Fiasco, and conversation around the Straw Hats had been at an all-time high. The group (along with Robin and the other big players that night) had been inundated with conversations from parties and cliques about their rebellious spirit and desire to upend the status quo. Of course, none of them had been informed that they'd become representatives of an idea antithetical to the rigid Grand Line High, but conversation continued nonetheless.

Rumors ranging from Zoro and Nami dating to Luffy secretly being Hancock's step-brother plagued their lives for the whole week, but as long as they didn't make anyone uncomfortable Luffy didn't seem to mind. It just meant more people for him to talk to.

Despite Rosinante's insistence Usopp wouldn't get any credit for the takedown of Kuro, rumors of the connections between himself, Kaya and Kuro spread like wildfire due to Kuro's attempt at a mastermind-level assassination. He'd even received a little bit of praise and compliment from those marginally connected to their circles. But Luffy ended up the real star of the event, being invited to one thing after another.

After it was explained that most of these people wanted Luffy to ditch his friends so he could hang out with other people, Luffy stopped being interested. That didn't mean Luffy was completely out of the public eye, or that he hadn't made any new friends from the situation. Just that… he would have to be a bit more selective.

"Hey Luffy!" Conis waved to the Straw Hat boy from her friend group as he passed her down the hallway. "Still six o'clock tonight?"

"Yeah!" He grinned and waved back. "See ya there!" Conis beamed, the frustrations of Homecoming Night completely gone from her face.

"Yes! See you there!"

X ~ 6:00 P.M ~ X

"What's going on?" Kaya questioned, being led up a pathway by Usopp and Merry as she covered her eyes.

"You'll see." Usopp teased, a big smile on his face.

"I do think you'll appreciate it, Miss Kaya." Merry added, a bit more cautious about her walking on bumpy concrete than Usopp was.

Eventually, they took her up a few steps, opened a door, and led her inside a building.

"Okay, open them up!"

Kaya opened her eyes to see a large group of students in front of her, taking up the space of the diner nearby Grand Line High. The Straw Hats were in front, above a large hand-drawn sign that read 'We're going to miss you!' Others included Tashigi and Koby, Perona, Robin, Wednesday, Conis, and a few others she'd gotten to know through the whole ordeal.

"Surprise!" The group called out, some more affectionately than others.

Her face turned beat-red, and she had to push through a stutter to even get a reply. "W-w-what is this?!"

"Well…" Usopp began. "We knew your parents were planning on transferring you to another school, but… I wanted to make sure you knew you still had friends here. So, why not a party?"

"I mean, the idea of it being a party specifically was Luffy's idea." Nami added, turning to an excited Luffy wearing a cheap party hat over his Straw Hat.

"Yeah! Since Homecoming was lame, anyways!"

"Wow- I…" Kaya thought about the group around her for a few more seconds, before a tear rolled down her cheek. "Thank you. Everyone." Usopp smiled, and the others cheered.

Luffy pumped his fist in the air, laughing.

"Alright! Let's party!"

As most of the group were inside, enjoying themselves, Merry pulled Usopp outside for a moment. The two leaned on the wall next to Merry's parked minivan, looking out onto the slowly sinking sun. They looked in through the window, seeing Kaya dancing, smiling.

"Thank you." Merry said.

"Well, my friends helped with-"

"I mean with Kuro. He was… family to us. He threatened the lives of yourself and your friends if you didn't play into his sick game… and I don't know if I would have had the same constitution for conflict that you and your friends had that night. You kept Kaya safe, when no one else could. So please, don't let me put the thanks anywhere else but you for this."

Usopp let the words sink in for a moment, before simply nodding.

"Anyways… I've heard from Miss Kaya that you and some of your friends take the bus to school everyday?"

"Yes. Me and Luffy live a little too far away to walk, so-"

Before Usopp could even react, a set of keys were in his hand.

"...What?"

Merry motioned to the van. "The van. I want you to have it."

"The van?!"

"Yes. It's been a bit of a pet project of mine for a while now… a Going brand. The Going Merry… heh. But I assume I don't need it as much as excitable kids like yourself. At the very least… just promise me you'll be back to the house soon to visit Kaya, and it's yours. No hesitation."

"I- yes! Thank you!"

Kaya peeked from outside the door to the diner. "Aw! Did I miss you giving him the car?"

"Sorry, Miss Kaya. I just… I didn't want him to think it was a gift specifically from you. I wanted him to know the whole family was appreciative of what he did."

"Alright…" Kaya pouted, before taking Usopp's hand. "Can I take him back inside then? I don't want to waste another minute tonight."

"Of course. I'll be getting a ride back home, so look out for your parents later, Miss Kaya."

Before he could turn around, Kaya threw herself into a big hug of Merry.

"Thank you for always looking after me."

He patted her head. "You too, Miss Kaya."

Back inside, a song slowed to its end as Nami sat at a countertop, one of the waitresses of the diner came over to her.

"Thanks again, Nojiko." Nami muttered.

"Hey, it's the least I can do for my little sister. Especially after… all of that." Nojiko paused, looking her sister up and down. "Something up?"

"What? No, how could it-?"

Nami realized Nojiko was looking out onto the small dancefloor they'd set up, where Luffy and Robin were dancing. Well, Luffy was dancing, and Robin was mostly letting his motions lead her along, but she didn't seem like she hated it.

"Ah… to be young."

"You're not old, you know?"

"But you're still young to me." Nojiko held her sister's shoulder lovingly as the song came to its end. Just as she was about to say something else though, Wednesday came up.

"Uh- Nami!" She gulped, completely nervous.

"Yes?"

"I um- you know- I just was wondering if maybe- I mean… if there was any chance-"

"Did you want to dance?"

Wednesday gulped again, hands shaking. "...Yes."

Nami, who'd been slightly solemn up to that point, put on a smile. "I'd love to."

"Really?"

"Yeah! Come on!" Nami waved her sister goodbye, before taking Wednesday's wrist and leading her out to dance. Nojiko smiled, waving back.

At the same time, in a small home in a small section of town, Bellemere walked into her daughter's room.

"Ugh… I wish she'd clean around here more often." She sneered at the mess Nami left, eventually frustrated enough to walk over to her bed and begin to make it neat. It was only when she'd finished with the bed that she noticed a shimmer behind a small box on her desk.

"What do we have here…?" She reached over, pulling it out of its place, to reveal a necklace. It was more of a novelty thing than anything else Nami owned… with its signature bit being a metal carving… of a sawfish.

She froze, nerves not being enough to describe her fear.

"Arlong?"

In a small office, on the third floor of the Grand Line West Police Precinct, a man with dark, silvery hair smoked a cigar while going through files.

Records, to be specific. Records of the nearly-fatal Homecoming Night. To be even more specific, he was stuck at a description for one of the students involved, a boy who wore a Straw Hat. Where had he heard of that before…

He nearly dropped the cigar from his mouth when he realized.

Without hesitation, he dashed towards a filing cabinet, digging through feverishly before pulling out one with a specific blue folder. After shuffling through some pages, he finally found it:

"Young teenager with black hair and straw-like hat attacked the son of a Head Councilmember… knocked him from a moving locomotive after getting into an altercation over…"

"Shit." He muttered to himself. At that moment, he realized there might be some sort of connection. And in order to get ahead of the situation, before anything else could happen, he would have to work fast. There was just one problem: he was Garp's grandson.

Back at the party, Luffy, Zoro, Sanji, Usopp and Nami danced together in a circle, the upbeat tunes of UTA allowing even Zoro a space to let back. Away from the dance floor, Wednesday looked on at Nami's bright smile, still red in the face from all the dancing they'd done together.

"Mind if I sit down?" Robin sat across from Wednesday before she could even agree.

"You're… Luffy's date to Homecoming, right?"

"Yes. And you… are a hard girl to track down. Isn't that right…" Robin leaned in and whispered, cool as a cucumber. "Vivi Nefertari."

All the color from Vivi's face drained.

"How… how did you-"

"I have connections. Had, actually. The Straw Hats there took care of that. But do you think things would be the same if they found out about your… royal heritage?"

"A-Are you threatening me?" Vivi muttered under the sounds of the music, stunned.

"Threaten? I think that's a bit too harsh. I'm simply after an exchange of information. And if I can get that information back to my… employer, and confirm its validity, you won't have to worry about your little friends ever finding out your true nature."

Vivi's hand clenched, terrified. It took everything in her just to croak out a response.

"What do you want from me?"

"Just some information… about your father."

The five Straw Hats danced like kings and queens, unaware of the looming danger Robin was bringing into their lives. She'd considered leaving them be, but Robin had a job to do. And she wouldn't let anyone, not even Luffy, get in her way.

BTS (Behind the Scenes) CH.13 -

And that's a wrap on the Homecoming Saga!

I do wish I'd had more time to do a grander version of this saga. When I initially planned this out, I'd planned for more characters to be relevant to the chaos of Homecoming night. But at the end of the day, I want to have as much time as possible to plan the next saga, so it was either truncate my ideas here or truncate my ideas for the future. I only have so much time to spare on writing FanFiction, so it only makes sense to focus on the future in this scenario. I was supposed to be done with this saga by 2023, you know! I'm at least a year behind my plans!

This doesn't mean I'm disappointed by my results; quite the opposite. I still got a lot of things in this without having to compromise the initial idea of a confrontation between Usopp and Kuro at Homecoming. One of my early ideas was also this idea of them having to throw a make-up Homecoming for Kaya, as the original storyline ended very quickly for Kaya. Don't think she's gone from the story, either!

Also, sorry for the Return of the King number of endings there, I just wanted to get some of these plot trains rolling before leaving this saga behind. What's Bellemere going to do now that she knows Nami's back in contact with Arlong? How's our favorite Smoker going to combat Luffy? And… What's the deal with Robin? Why does she need information from Vivi? And why's it worth risking her growing relationship with Luffy over?