After the competition, Saya and I returned to the orphanage.
The children, Hayami, Eiko, and the director were waiting and hugged me so tightly I nearly suffocated.
I'm starting to think that ever since I arrived in this world, everyone's been trying to kill me with hugs... I just hope these embraces don't become the death of me.
Time passed.
Donations started coming in - and not just money!
Families came for the children, and several even came for me. Of course, I refused and continued living at the orphanage.
Saiko, who'd become my so-called "nakama"... She visited occasionally to check on the orphanage, but... I got the feeling she wasn't here for the orphanage, but rather to keep an eye on me.
— So... why are you following me? — I asked her one day.
— You're my friend, so of course I'll follow you!
— Even if I go to the bathroom?
— Even if you go to the...
After that, she followed me around less...
Pretty funny.
You might wonder why I made such a spectacle at the competition. Wouldn't I have embarrassed myself?
Not in the way you'd think.
It was my backup plan. Pity.
Even if I lost, that didn't mean I had no way to help the orphanage.
In the end, it turned out I received even more than I'd hoped to get from the competition.
As they say, "If you want to live, learn to adapt" - and adapt I can.
Do I feel bad about it? No. After all, I only spoke the truth.
Our orphanage was practically falling apart, the children wore worn-out clothes, and it was all run by an old man. How do you think it feels to live under such conditions without money or help?
We were finally able to buy the children what they needed and even hire some extra help.
The director became the energetic old man he'd been before my coma. Now I think he'll live a bit longer than expected.
He was so proud of me that he was ready to do anything, just as he'd said.
By the way, it turns out the director's name is Touma... Strange that I only learned this recently...
After sorting out the orphanage's affairs, I received a document from that doctor.
[Name: Monkey D. Luffy]
[Age: 12 years]
[Quirk: Rubber]
[Type: Transformation]
[Description: Allows the user to become rubber-like and elastic. This affects not just the skin, but also bones, veins and joints, making the user completely rubber.]
[Weaknesses: None detected]
[Notes: Manifested at age 12. Lacks the extra toe joint. Likely a mutated quirk.]
Yes, that was essentially what was written about me. I was surprised by how detailed the quirk description was.
Unfortunately (or fortunately?), no weaknesses were detected... Though I can guess some potential drawbacks.
The main weakness of Devil Fruit users is water. Or open bodies of water.
But I don't know if I share this weakness, since I got my powers not from a fruit but from a natural mutation. I should find time to test it at the sea.
Though when I think about it, I don't feel any weakness from showers or baths, which leads me to one theory...
Now about the Gomu Gomu no Mi itself. Whoever eats the fruit becomes a rubber man.
In the original, Luffy burned tremendous calories to use his elasticity. That's why he ate so much... Or maybe he just loved eating.
In any case, there was no point in me just sitting around the orphanage enjoying myself all day. Remembering recent events - my injuries, the coma, the villain attacks - I think I'm becoming a trouble magnet.
I could just ignore it all, but if it happens again, it won't just be me who suffers - the people around me will too. I don't want that...
So, steeling my resolve, I went to see the director.
I asked him for money. Yes, money.
When he asked why, I answered: "I need it, Touma, I just do..."
To be serious, I told him I wanted to go to a dojo to train and learn to use my quirk properly.
Well, he gave me a decent sum without further questions, transferring it to my account.
Yes, I have my own account now, which the director set up for me.
He wished me luck and I left his office.
You might ask why he wasn't worried about me. Well, I'd already told him where I was going and about the training place. And the reviews had convinced him... At least the positive ones.
It was a nearby dojo.
— So this is it... — I looked at the small building resembling a traditional Japanese house.
To the right of the stone gate was written: "Kendo Family Dojo."
Truth be told, I chose this dojo because it was close to our orphanage in Chiba Prefecture, and because it had few students.
Honestly, I didn't want to deal with crowds. The reviews said students here grew stronger, but most left quickly due to the master's harsh personality.
Sighing, I knocked on the door.
— Coming! — A voice called from inside.
After a moment, the wooden door opened to reveal a woman with brown hair and green eyes.
— Hm? How can I help you? — she asked.
I bowed.
— My name is Luffy. I'd like to train at this dojo.
The woman gave me a strange look, then glanced back inside.
— Luffy-kun... You see, our dojo is closed... — she said reluctantly.
— I see. When will it reopen? — I asked.
— Um... Probably never?
Strange... Why would it close? I can't just leave - I have no interest in other places. This is the only dojo nearby.
The others would require taking the train, and I'm not spending money on that.
— May I ask why?
— Well... — she sighed, — Come in...
She let me inside and I followed her.
— You see, Luffy. You probably came here without reading the reviews...
— I read them, — I corrected.
— Then why did you come?
— I don't care about someone's personality. "Don't judge a book by its cover," as my uncle used to say... Maybe the students who trained under him were just idiots.
— I see... — she said, and I sensed... relief from her?
Again with sensing emotions... Is this Observation Haki's influence?
— My husband values this dojo... He can be strict, yes, but that's not all there is to him.
We entered the house and continued past a small bamboo garden with a pond.
— Muramatsu loves his students, but... one incident made him stricter with them.
Finally, we reached a door where the sound of strikes could be heard.
— Dear! You have a visitor with a request! — she called, — You're on your own now... Good luck.
I swallowed hard and opened the door.
In the corner stood a muscular man with stubble and red hair tied back with rope. His eyes burned scarlet, and his hands were wrapped in bandages.
He ignored me, clearly focused. I dreaded to think what would happen if I disturbed him...
So without entering fully, I sat by the doorway and observed.
I decided to test my Observation Haki, closing my eyes to concentrate.
Observation Haki - a type of haki that lets the user sense presence, strength, and emotions of others, even predict the immediate future.
Though predicting the future is hard unless you go all out. You need advanced Observation Haki for that.
My range was small... Extremely small.
But it was enough to sense the monster currently training and pummeling a punching bag.
One thing was clear - I couldn't read this man's emotions. Like he was shielding them, meaning he was a true professional.
His aura was... unusual. The villains I'd encountered had red-hued auras, but his was calm and green.
My range only covered this small dojo - beyond was just darkness.
Suddenly, I sensed danger and opened my eyes, leaping aside just as—
—BOOM!
A hole appeared where I'd been sitting, courtesy of the red-haired master's now-giant fist.
I'm not joking. His fists had literally grown larger!
— Not bad reflexes, — he said as I recovered from the shock. — Though you wouldn't have dodged if I'd moved faster. — Muramatsu noted. — Ah yes... When observing, you must conceal your intentions too.
He... sensed my Haki?
— Ah... Right... — I nodded, standing.
— Come in. — he said.
The man shrunk his hands back to normal and walked to a small table.
I followed and sat seiza-style.
— Why are you here? — he asked.
Steadying myself under his pressure, I answered:
— I want to learn from you.
He studied me, then exhaled irritably.
— I don't take students. Didn't my wife tell you?
I stayed silent, just nodding.
— Every student I've taught left crying to their parents. So why should I take you on?
I smiled and gave my answer.
— Then you're lucky. I have no parents - just an orphanage.
He seemed uncomfortable. Wow, I sensed his emotions again?
— All the more reason. I can't just take anyone. — He slammed the floor. — Leave before I throw you out!
— Coward... — I said, standing.
— What? — he snapped.
— I said you're a coward. Afraid to teach because of some criticism?
— Boy, you don't understand.
— No, I don't. But I want to. — I met his gaze. — I'd be glad to learn even the basics from you, to protect my brothers and sisters... But I doubt a coward like you could teach me anything.
I turned toward the door when—CRASH!—he shattered the table with a single strike.
— Fine... — he growled as I looked back. — I'll take you as a student. But no whining later. — He smirked, a vein bulging on his forehead.
Grinning eagerly, I nodded.
— Shishishi! Take good care of me, sensei!
And so began my long, life-threatening training.