Luffy stood frozen, his mind completely blank.
His eyes were wide, his heartbeat pounding so hard it felt like it would burst out of his chest. His body stiffened instinctively, and his hands hovered awkwardly, unsure where to go.
A strange sensation surged through him, something he had never experienced before. His thoughts became chaotic, slipping out of control.
The air around them seemed to thicken. Even the breeze faded. Sunlight filtered through the leaves, scattering across their figures as everything else felt distant.
Then, just as suddenly, Margaret pulled away.
Her face flushed with embarrassment, and without saying anything, she turned and ran into the jungle.
She had thought she could handle it, that she could stay composed.
But she was still just a girl who had never experienced feelings like this before.
That had been her first kiss.
Their lips had only touched briefly before she lost her nerve and fled.
Even after she disappeared, Luffy remained standing there, stunned.
He had no idea what had just happened, nor what that moment meant.
Yet his mind kept replaying it.
That feeling lingered, unfamiliar and impossible to ignore.
When he finally snapped back to reality, Margaret was gone.
"Margaret!"
"Margaret?"
Only his voice echoed back at him.
A sudden sense of panic rose in his chest, like he had just lost something important.
Without hesitation, he activated his Observation Haki, searching for her presence.
He quickly found her, hiding in a corner of the jungle.
Relief washed over him.
In the next moment, his figure vanished from where he stood.
When he arrived, he saw Margaret crouched beneath a tree, hugging her knees.
Luffy slowed his steps as he approached, looking at her small figure.
Thinking about what had just happened, he found himself at a loss for words.
After standing there for a while, he finally spoke.
"Ma... Margaret... what are you doing here?"
Margaret was still lost in her thoughts, replaying what she had done.
She had not even noticed him approaching.
Only when she heard his voice did she snap out of it.
"N nothing... why are you here?"
Even as she answered, she did not turn around.
She could not bring herself to face him.
She still could not believe she had kissed him like that.
Where had that courage even come from?
It felt unreal.
Luffy walked over and sat beside her.
Margaret glanced at him from the corner of her eye, then quickly looked away again.
Neither of them knew what to say.
Silence settled between them once more.
A light breeze passed through, carrying an awkward tension neither of them understood.
After a long pause, Luffy turned slightly and extended his hand toward her.
Margaret's face immediately turned red.
But she did not take his hand.
"Margaret, come be my companion."
Her expression froze.
For a moment, her thoughts went in the wrong direction, and her face flushed even deeper.
Then she realized what he meant.
Her eyes widened as she looked up at him.
"You want me to join your ship?"
Luffy scratched his head, feeling a little awkward under her gaze. "You like adventure stories, right? Then come with us."
Margaret stared at him, searching his eyes.
All she saw was sincerity.
No hesitation, no hidden meaning.
Just a straightforward invitation.
"C can I?" she asked quietly, her confidence wavering. "Your crew is so strong... I do not really know how to do anything."
Her voice softened as she lowered her head.
She had paid attention to his crew.
Each of them had a clear role.
Renn was the swordsman, Sanji the cook, Carina the navigator, Usopp the sniper, Franky the shipwright, Kalifa handled intelligence, Chopper was the doctor, and Brook the musician.
Everyone had a place.
Except her.
Luffy blinked, then quickly understood what she meant.
"Hahaha, we are free on our ship. You do not need to know anything."
He looked at her more seriously.
"You are strong too. And..."
He stopped himself, leaving the rest unsaid.
Margaret shook her head. "No. I do not want to be a burden."
Luffy frowned immediately.
"Who says you are a burden? I will not allow it."
"I... I am not qualified to be your crew member."
Luffy stood up and turned toward the cliff, raising his voice.
"I do not care. When I set sail next time, you are coming with me."
"But..."
"No buts."
Margaret froze for a moment, then nodded instinctively.
"O okay."
By the time she realized what she had agreed to, it was already too late.
"Oh!"
Luffy suddenly let out an excited sound and turned back to her.
A bright grin spread across his face.
At that moment, he felt an overwhelming sense of happiness.
Margaret looked at him, her own emotions stirring.
Now, she would not have to worry about leaving him behind.
Even if nothing came of her feelings, staying by his side and watching him chase his dream would be enough.
Still, she clenched her hands slightly.
She could not allow herself to remain useless.
Over the next months, she would train and grow stronger.
At the very least, she would not be someone who could only stand on the sidelines.
As that thought settled in her mind, she slowly raised her hand toward Luffy.
Luffy blinked in confusion as he looked at her slender hand.
"Ma... Margaret, what is it?"
She hesitated for a moment, then spoke softly.
"You held Carina's and Kalifa's hands before. I want to hold yours too."
Luffy's face instantly turned red.
"Th that is different..."
===
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