"Since it's a gift from you, my dear, I'll gladly accept it without hesitation."
With a sly smile, Gion leaned forward and kissed Luffy lightly on the cheek. Holding the Blue Dragon Fruit, she brought it to her lips, poised to take a bite.
Koala's heart raced, her anxiety skyrocketing. Her neck strained as she leaned forward, mouth slightly agape, almost as though she were the one about to eat the devil fruit. But as Gion seemed ready to take the fateful bite, Koala's chest sank.
She averted her eyes, regret welling up inside her. She cursed herself inwardly for rejecting Luffy's thoughtful gift, especially when it was something as extraordinary as this. Her shoulders drooped, her frustration almost tangible.
Before she could sink further into her disappointment, Gion's teasing voice broke the tension.
"Oh, little Koala, you seem so unwilling. Do you regret it now? If you'd like, I can let you have this fruit~~"
Koala's head snapped up, her eyes sparkling with a renewed sense of hope. Seeing the fruit still intact in Gion's hand, she grew visibly excited.
But then, reality hit. She had just refused the fruit so adamantly, claiming to be steadfast in her convictions. Now, asking for it would be too embarrassing.
With her pride barely holding on, Koala stiffened her neck and retorted, "Who said that?! I don't care about devil fruits. I'm not about to trade away my strengths for a weakness. Fishman Karate is all I need!"
As soon as the words left her lips, regret struck her like a tidal wave. She silently berated herself.
Why are you like this? You've just thrown away your last chance! Idiot!
Gion's grin widened as she watched Koala squirm. Her voice dripped with mischief as she mused, "Oh? Fishman Karate, is it? I wonder how effective that'll be if I unleash a dragon's breath on you."
Her provocative tone made Koala flinch.
"Since little Koala doesn't want it," Gion continued, lifting the fruit toward her mouth again, "I won't hold back. Maybe, after eating this, I'll become the next Kaido."
"No! Wait!!!" Koala's panicked shout echoed as she sprang forward. In an instant, she was at Gion's feet, clinging to her thigh as tears brimmed in her eyes.
"I was wrong! I regret it! Sister Gion, please forgive me!"
The sudden and dramatic change in her attitude drew laughter from everyone around. Luffy chuckled as he approached, patting Koala's head before gently helping her back to her feet.
"Oh, Koala, you were so determined just moments ago. What happened to your strong will? Didn't you say devil fruits were a shortcut you'd never take?" he teased, his grin mischievous.
Koala's face turned a deep shade of red. She couldn't meet anyone's gaze and instead stared at the ground, utterly mortified.
"I… I was wrong, okay? Please don't tease me anymore!" she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper.
Luffy's laughter softened into a warm smile. "Well, since you've admitted your mistake so honestly, I suppose I can forgive you this time."
He ruffled her hair affectionately before taking the fruit from Gion and offering it to Koala. But before handing it over, he turned back to Gion.
"Are you absolutely sure you don't want this devil fruit?" he asked.
Gion crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow. "I told you, I'm a swordsman. My focus is on perfecting my blade. Unless I reach a point where my swordsmanship can no longer improve, I won't rely on devil fruits."
Luffy nodded, though a smirk tugged at his lips. "Fair enough. But if you ever change your mind, I know the whereabouts of another mythical zoan fruit."
Gion's expression twisted into a mix of disbelief and resignation. "You talk about mythical zoan fruits like they're common trinkets anyone can stumble upon. Do you have any idea how rare these are? Even the Fleet Admiral only has one!"
Luffy shrugged. "Whether they're rare or not isn't my concern. I'm just letting you know where it is. If you want it, it's yours."
Shaking her head with an exasperated sigh, Gion replied, "I'll pass for now. But I'll make a note of that location in case I need it later."
Satisfied with her decision, Luffy finally handed the Blue Dragon Fruit to Koala, who accepted it with trembling hands.
Just as she was about to bite into it, Luffy stopped her with a raised hand.
"Not yet," he said, his tone suddenly serious. "This fruit is a replica of Yamato's father's power. We should call her out before anything else."
Meanwhile, in a nearby residential area, a pair of eyes peeked nervously through the gap in some curtains. Yamato watched the group from afar, her heart aching with envy and longing.
The sounds of laughter and camaraderie drifted toward her, and she couldn't help but yearn to join them. Yet, as she glanced at her reflection in a nearby mirror, shame overwhelmed her.
Her long hair framed her delicate face, which was adorned with makeup and bright red lipstick. She looked so unlike herself, and the thought of stepping outside in such a state filled her with despair.
Lowering the curtain, Yamato sighed deeply. Her movements were sluggish as she approached the full-length mirror in her room.
"Is this really me?" she murmured, her voice heavy with self-loathing. Her reflection stared back, a painful reminder of the insecurities she carried. For a fleeting moment, the thought of ending her shame crossed her mind.
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