"But Oden wanted to save the hostages taken by Orochi," Yamato retorted indignantly, her voice rising with passion. "He had no choice but to dance naked to meet Orochi's demands! It was the only way to save them!"
Luffy sighed heavily, his patience clearly wearing thin. He smacked Yamato lightly on the forehead, then pulled her head down to rest against his chest again.
"Yes, Yamato, he wanted to save the civilians. I get that," Luffy said, his tone laced with frustration. "But he didn't have to dance around like an idiot without any other plan! If he knew he couldn't fight them head-on, why didn't he reach out to his good brother Whitebeard for help?"
Yamato blinked, caught off guard. Luffy pressed on, his words sharper now. "Instead, Oden wasted years humiliating himself, all while Orochi and Kaido solidified their grip on Wano. By the time he realized his mistake and decided to fight Kaido, it was already too late. He lost his life, his country, and only managed to save a few retainers before dying. And for what? A fool's hope?"
Luffy turned, fixing his gaze on Hiyori, who knelt nearby. Her face was pale, her lips trembling slightly. "And you," he said, his tone icy, "do you seriously think that nonsense about a prophecy 20 years into the future was worth more than actually acting? If Oden had sent his retainers overseas to Whitebeard or Roger, they would've come to Wano and crushed Kaido in days."
He leaned forward, his words biting. "But no, instead of asking for help, Oden decided to stew himself in an iron pot and leave Wano to suffer for twenty years. Do you know how many people starved, how many died because of Kaido's tyranny during that time? More than those hostages Orochi took, I guarantee you."
Luffy's voice grew louder, his frustration spilling over. "This isn't leadership—it's stupidity. And this is the man you idolize, Yamato? You admire his... 'unique skill' of boiling himself alive?"
Each word struck like a hammer, leaving the room heavy with silence. Hiyori lowered her gaze, her hands trembling. Yamato, for all her earlier defiance, had no counterargument. Even Nami, Hancock, and Violet, who had remained quiet until now, found themselves stunned.
Nami broke the silence with a sharp exhale. "Wow... I thought Oden was just a flawed character, but hearing this... was he even thinking? This is next-level stupidity."
Hancock nodded, her regal demeanor tinged with distaste. "To have such powerful allies and never call on them—it's baffling. He squandered his position and left his people to suffer."
Violet, who had once endured the fall of her own kingdom, couldn't hide her disgust. "He had every opportunity to act, but instead, he handed Kaido the keys to Wano on a silver platter. How many lives were lost because of his incompetence?"
Meanwhile, Luffy's attention returned to Yamato. Her defiant posture had crumbled, replaced by an expression of raw vulnerability. With one hand, Luffy gently stroked her head, though his words remained firm.
"Silly girl," he said softly, "you're better off finding a new idol. Honestly, even if you don't want to worship someone like Roger or Whitebeard, at least choose someone who isn't objectively terrible."
His tone shifted, tinged with sarcasm. "Think about it. Oden abandoned his wet nurse as a baby, hung out in red-light districts at six years old, picked fights in casinos at eight, and by fifteen, he was abducting people's daughters and wives. This is the guy you admire?"
Yamato's eyes widened as each fact hit her like a slap. Luffy continued, his voice rising. "You want someone to look up to? Try me. In the past decade, I've done more for this world than Oden did in his entire life."
Yamato's lips quivered as tears welled up in her eyes. The weight of Luffy's words—and the painful truths about her idol—crushed her spirit. Suddenly, she let out a loud, wailing cry.
"Woooo~ Woo woo woo~!" Yamato sobbed, burying her face in Luffy's chest. "I'll never have an idol again! Diaries and stories are all lies! Luffy, I'm so sad!"
Luffy's eye twitched, the corners of his mouth twitching wildly at her over-the-top reaction. Why does she have to be so dramatic? he thought, though he wisely refrained from saying it aloud.
Instead, he coated his chest in Armament Haki to brace against her horns and gently patted her back. "There, there," he muttered awkwardly, trying to soothe her.
Nami, Hancock, and Violet exchanged glances, their expressions a mix of exasperation and amusement.
Hancock sighed, crossing her arms. "Poor girl. Her perfect little idol just shattered."
Violet nodded thoughtfully. "This is why idol worship can be dangerous. Better to admire real people cautiously."
Nami tilted her head, smirking. "Still, do you think Yamato would be any different if Oden wasn't her idol? Would she still be this carefree, silly, and kind of... dumb?"
Hancock and Violet paused before nodding in unison. "Yeah... definitely."
Had Yamato heard their remarks, she would have jumped up to challenge them. But her sorrow kept her rooted in Luffy's arms, crying uncontrollably as he awkwardly patted her back.
In the corner of the room, Hiyori watched the scene unfold with a pang of envy. The camaraderie, the teasing banter, and the genuine care between Luffy and his companions were worlds away from her reality. They're so close, so happy, she thought, her chest tightening.
Her gaze fell to her hands, clasped tightly in her lap. I'll never have this, she realized bitterly. With her status and past, she doubted she would ever experience such warmth or friendship. Swallowing her emotions, Hiyori rose silently and resumed her duties, tidying the room with the quiet efficiency of a maid.
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