"Huh? Well, tell me," Luffy said, looking up at Gion with a mix of amazement and curiosity.
"Hmph, you're so eager," Gion teased, a mischievous smile spreading across her lips. "Little Luffy is really too cute."
Taking a step closer, Gion leaned down, her rose-tinted lips brushing near his ear. The faint fragrance of her perfume surrounded him as she whispered softly, "Hey, little Luffy… I've heard your 'seeds' are extraordinary. Care to let me have a taste?"
Meanwhile, on the way to the water park, Kalifa took the opportunity to ask Kujaku about the task Luffy had mentioned.
"Hehe, it's nothing major," Kujaku said with a casual wave. "I just need you to use your Slip-Slip Fruit ability to give Gion a little beauty treatment. But don't overdo it—don't adjust her condition to the max. Just make her skin a bit more tender."
Though the request was unusual, Kalifa nodded seriously, committing it to memory.
Afterward, they turned their attention to lighter topics, chatting casually as they made their way to the pool. By the time they arrived, Ain and the others were already playing and had made Yamato's acquaintance.
The scene of Yamato's unreserved openness left Kalifa, Koala, and Kujaku just as shocked as Olivia and the others had been earlier.
Seeing their stunned expressions, Hancock approached them quietly and lowered her voice to explain. "Be careful not to say she's a woman in front of her," Hancock warned. "For Yamato, that's as serious as telling someone they have no breasts or curves and are like a man."
The three newcomers nodded solemnly, understanding the gravity of the advice. They promised to be mindful of their words, not wanting to upset Yamato.
Once reassured, Hancock called out to Yamato, who was happily flailing her limbs while lying on an inflatable boat in the pool. Hearing her name, Yamato immediately paddled over with excitement, leaving behind any lingering unpleasantness from earlier.
For Yamato, this was the first time she had so many people willing to play with her. The joy of newfound friendships had completely overshadowed any past grievances.
As Yamato approached, Kujaku extended a hand and introduced herself, covering her nose subtly with the other to avoid drawing attention to the situation. Like Olivia earlier, she couldn't resist letting her eyes wander, taking in Yamato's striking appearance.
But Kujaku was bolder than Olivia. After Kalifa and Koala introduced themselves, Kujaku casually wrapped an arm around Yamato's waist, her fingers playfully brushing along Yamato's lower abdomen.
Yamato turned her head, confused. "Huh? What are you doing?"
Kujaku didn't flinch. With a confident smile, she said, "We're friends now, right? Relax! Some physical contact between friends is perfectly normal."
"Really? We're already friends? That's amazing!" Yamato exclaimed, her face lighting up with joy. Without hesitation, she hugged Kujaku tightly, lifting her slightly in her excitement.
The sudden softness pressed against her made Kujaku inhale sharply, her cheeks flushing as she caught a faint hint of Yamato's milky scent.
"Yamato," Kujaku said with a grin, "from now on, you're my best brother!"
Hearing this, Yamato's happiness soared even higher. She held Kujaku's hand tightly and began rubbing cheeks with her in excitement.
Olivia, standing nearby, could only watch enviously, her eyes wide with longing. Unable to hold back, she rushed forward and declared, "If Kujaku's brother is my brother, then Yamato, let's be sworn siblings!"
The scene of the three entangled together drew exasperated sighs from the others. Ain, with a dark expression, marched forward and delivered swift, corrective punches to each of them, breaking up their antics.
Minutes later, Yamato, now sporting a comically large bump on her head, was back in the pool, happily playing with Nami and Koala.
On the shore, the other girls dipped their feet into the water, their expressions mixed with bemusement and exhaustion.
Hina scooped up a handful of pool water and stared at it curiously. "Isn't Yamato a Devil Fruit user? Why is she so energetic in the water?"
Olivia, a scientist at heart, shared Hina's confusion. "Logically, even fresh water or bath water should drain some energy due to seastone-like factors, even if it's less potent than seawater. Yamato shouldn't be this unaffected…"
Unable to resist her curiosity, Ain turned to Yamato and called out, "Hey, Yamato! What Devil Fruit power do you have? Doesn't the water make you feel weak?"
Yamato, who was currently wrestling both Nami and Koala in the pool, pinned them effortlessly before turning to answer. "Me? I have the Mythical Zoan: Dog-Dog Fruit, Model: Okuchi-no-Makami. And, uh… I guess I'm okay in water? My dad locked me up with seastone all the time, so I kinda got used to it."
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