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  "Hehe… you don't even reize me now, Makino-?"

  The youthful, fident voice rang out from behind Garp as the young man stepped forward, a wide grin pstered across his face. His raven-bck hair, slightly tousled by the sea breeze, added to the charm of his sunny demeanor.

  Makino froze iracks, her emerald eyes widening in disbelief. Her heart skipped a beat as the handsome young man's familiar grin and warm aura stirred a flurry of emotions.

  "L-Luffy?" She stammered, her voice tinged with uainty.

  It couldn't be… Could it?

  The little boy who g to her apron just a year ago was now standing tall, his physique broad and athletic. His grin was as cheeky as ever, but there was a newfound fiden his stahat made her stomach flutter uedly.

  "Makino-, it's been a while, hasn't it?" Luffy teased, tilting his head. "You've missed me, haven't you?"

  Makino's cheeks flushed a soft pink, but before she could respond, the gathered vilgers erupted into a otion.

  "What?! That's Luffy? No way!"

  "Are you sure this isn't some older cousin of his?"

  "But he's just a kid! How did he—"

  "—grow so mu just one year?!"

  "Quiet, you idiots!" Mayor Woop Sp's authoritative voice cut through the hubbub as he smmed his e on the ground. He turo Garp, raising an eyebrow. "Garp, what did you feed this boy? Some kind of mystical sea beast meat?!"

  "Eh?!" Garp's loud, boisterous ugh echoed as he scratched his head. "Don't go acg me, old man! This brat just worked hard!"

  "Worked hard?" Makino whispered to herself, still uo tear her gaze away from Luffy. She shook her head quickly, scolding herself internally. Get it together, Makino! He's still Luffy… Just… different.

  After a hearty exge of jokes and ughs with the vilgers, Garp eventually made his way back to the warship. But before leaving, he pced a massive, calloused hand on Luffy's head, ruffling his hair roughly.

  "Listen up, brat! No sg off! I trained you to be the best, and I expeothing less! One day, you'll make a fine Fleet Admiral, mark my words!"

  Luffy sighed, waving him off. "Yeah, yeah, Grandpa. Just don't fet t back a ton of Sea Ki ime, alright?"

  Garp bellowed anh as his ship set sail, leaving the vilgers and Luffy standing at the shore.

  As the warship disappeared into the horizon, Makino reached out hesitantly, pg a f hand on Luffy's shoulder. "Are you okay, Luffy? You must miss him already."

  Luffy turo her, fshing that familiar bright grin. "Nah, Makino-. He'll be fine! Besides, I've gottey strong too!" He flexed his arm exaggeratedly, causing the vilgers around them to ugh.

  Makino's eyes lingered on his bicep a little lohaended. Her face turned pink again as she quickly looked away, hiding her rea. "W-Well, you do look… uh, very strong now," she mumbled.

  "Shishi-shi! You think so, Makino-?"

  Oh no, She thought, her heart thudding in her chest. Why does he have to say my name like that…?

  "Are you hungry, Luffy?" Makino asked as they walked back toartys Bar. Her voice was steady, but her palms felt cmmy.

  "Makino-'s cooking? Of course, I'm hungry!" Luffy beamed, practically skipping beside her.

  The moment they stepped into the bar, Makino turned and locked the door behind them.

  Luffy cocked his head, raising an eyebrow. "Eh? Why are you log the door? What if someone wants to e in?"

  Makino leaned casually against the doorframe, her lips curling into a pyful smile. "Oh, I think my ers wait. It's been a year since I've had the pleasure of spoiling you, Luffy. Today, this bar is all yours."

  Luffy blinked, momentarily caught off guard by the slight ge ione. But before he could think too deeply about it, Makino tied her apron around her waist aured to a chair.

  "Sit down. I'll whip up something special for you."

  "Shishi-shi! You're the best, Makino-!"

  As Makino bustled around the small kit, Luffy leaned ba his chair, casually her. The soft hum of her voice as she worked, the way her hair framed her face when she trated—everything about her felt strangely different. Or maybe it was him who had ged.

  "So," Makino began, gng over her shoulder, "What exactly did Garp put you through this past year? You look like you've been through hell and back."

  Luffy groaned dramatically, slumping over the table. "Ugh, don't remind me! Grandpa's training is insane. I had to carry boulders the size of this bar while dodging onballs! I thought I was going to die!"

  Makino giggled softly, her ughter like a soothing melody. "Well, it seems to have paid off. You've grown into quite the man."

  Luffy perked up, puffing out his chest. "You really think so, Makino-?"

  Makino turned, leaning slightly against the ter as she smiled warmly. "I know so, Luffy." Her tone softened, and for a moment, her emerald eyes met his. "You've always been special, but now… you're remarkable."

  Luffy scratched the back of his head, his cheeks tinting faintly pink. "Shishi-shi! Makino-, you're embarrassing me!"

  "Oh?" Makino's eyes lit up with a pyful light as she suggested. "Then how about I will give you a massage ter?"

  "Really? Then thank you, Makino-." Luffy smiled at her.

  --- ? ? ? ---

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