Phew.
Finally over. That was pure torture.
How is being a doctor more exhausting than being a cook?
Comparing the two, Luffy felt being a craftsman was probably much better than being a medical practitioner.
Sweating profusely, he glanced at Uta on the bed. The clothes on her body were now reduced to just her underwear.
Between the cold compresses and the wiping down, he had finally managed to lower Uta's body temperature. Her breathing was smoother, and her complexion looked much better.
"What's the meaning of this? Don't think just because you made me save my friend, I'll be grateful to you," Luffy muttered softly, sitting by Uta's bedside.
Why did he say that?
He looked at the previous prompt from the [Pirate King Training Plan].
According to the plan, it was time to study with Nami, but it detected a conflict with an upcoming event. Based on the judged importance of the significant event, it allocated time... and told him to get to the next target's side as soon as possible.
That target was Uta, who was in a dangerous situation. Good thing he came over.
So what was the deeper meaning?
Luffy refused to believe this damned thing was being that kind.
Earlier, when he took the ice and medical kit from Gordon at the door, he asked Gordon to relay a message to avoid worrying Nami and the others.
Given Uta's condition, it was better for him, the temporary doctor, to stay by her side.
[Prompt: Detected an opportunity to awaken the (Nika) consciousness. Entering special reward time, Phase One. Please raise Song Skill Level to Lv1 while in the presence of Uta, user of the Uta Uta no Mi.]
"Hah?!"
Luffy's eyes widened. He knew it wasn't that simple, but he never expected it to be this complicated.
Why learn singing and music? Leave that to the future musician on the crew! Just happily sing along; no technique needed at all.
Am I, the future Pirate King, supposed to become a professional musician and lead singer too?
Then what's the point of having a musician?
You're being unreasonable!
When he first set sail, the first thing he wanted was a musician. After his stomach was tamed by hunger, he wanted a cook. Wanting something and becoming it were two different concepts!
And what the hell is this 'Nika' thing?
But Luffy saw the words 'special reward time'. Rewards should be good, right?
[Warning. Please strictly adhere to the plan...]
In the moment Luffy was distracted, he looked down, and his face instantly fell.
No, no, no, the time isn't up yet... It's because of earlier, when I was helping Uta...
Luffy stood up, feeling a bit like he might collapse. Lately, too many images of pale, jiggling things had been flooding his mind, opening some new world's door for him. It wasn't like this before!
But, after so many years apart, Uta had really changed a lot. The biggest change was probably her figure. Although certain areas weren't as full as Nami's—seemingly something one hand could cover, unlike Nami's which seemed to overflow...
No, what am I thinking?
Grandpa wasn't wrong; women truly are jackals, wolves, tigers, and leopards.
He hurriedly went to find a book. It was another one of those situations where he was completely in the dark, having to systematically learn something with no one to teach him but books.
Fortunately, he had been through this before. Having experience made it much faster.
...
Uta was dreaming.
The first nine years of her life were happy. Everyone on the Red Hair Pirates was her family. Her dream was to travel the world and use her voice to create a new era of peace and happiness.
Because the Red Hair Pirates were more like an adventure team, traveling everywhere, Uta also met the first friend of her life... and also her last friend.
Later, she was abandoned by the Red Hair Pirates, isolated from the world on Elegia, with only her teacher by her side. For a long time, she was somewhat gloomy. It wasn't until her new song became a smash hit that she reclaimed something.
This trip back to the East Blue was to respond to some fan invitations.
She opened her eyes, dazed and confused. It felt both awful and comfortable. Was she in her own bed? It felt familiar.
"You're awake?" Luffy noticed the movement and turned to look at the somewhat confused Uta. "Are you feeling uncomfortable anywhere else?"
"N-no." Uta pushed the covers aside, feeling dizzy. A chill ran through her. Cracking her eyes open, she saw Luffy leaning closer. His familiar face made her mumble, "I'm cold."
Uta's world was small.
On the Red Hair Pirates, she was the only child.
On Elegia, there was only her teacher, Gordon.
She had no peers around her, no friends. She was lonely.
When was the happiest period of her life? In that small village in the East Blue, when Shanks and the others were still there, and when Luffy was there...
When people are sick, they want to rely on someone, especially in front of someone they let their guard down around. Uta didn't realize her voice now sounded quite similar to an ordinary girl's acting cute.
"Nonsense, cover yourself with the blanket quickly." Luffy's mind was currently a complete mess; those books on singing techniques and vocal skills were like ancient scriptures to him.
"Hmm?" Uta didn't seem to understand. Her body had already leaned over, pressing against Luffy. Feeling like she was hugging a furnace, she clung even tighter, refusing to let go.
Her cheeks rubbed against Luffy's chest incessantly, like a little cat.
"So comfortable..." Uta's eyes were half-closed, her dazed look quite adorable.
Have you lost your mind from the fever?
Luffy really wanted to say that, but seeing Uta rubbing her face all over him like this, making unintelligible acting cute sounds, he swallowed the words back.
Uta stuck to him like some kind of cotton candy, impossible to shake off.
[Warning...]
The moment a thoughtful expression appeared on Luffy's face, it instantly turned into a look of utter misery. He hurriedly grabbed that book of musical scores to read.
Even his internal cursing, which was quite foul, only flashed through his mind.
The scene resembled a cat in heat, with its owner feeling helpless but still having to work.
"Luffy?!"
She didn't know how much time had passed, but Uta finally came to her senses. She stared blankly at Luffy, then looked at her own hands, which were somehow draped around his neck.
Such ambiguous actions!
"You... I..." Uta quickly retreated, pulling the nearby blanket to wrap around herself, and asked, "What happened?!"
Her memory was still stuck back when she first saw Luffy.
Feeling how scantily clad she was, Uta also saw her various belongings scattered nearby.
Her beloved headphones, the feathered wings, the black bow tie and white short skirt she was wearing today...
Anyone who didn't know better would think some intense battle had taken place.
"You should be really thanking me. Otherwise, your brain might have been fried."
Luffy reached out, brushed aside Uta's bangs, and pressed his forehead against hers to check.
"Not bad. At least the fever's down."
"You... you did all that?"
Having a rough idea of what happened, Uta felt relieved inwardly, but stared at him full of embarrassment. "You... you pervert?!"
"Hey, I saved you."
"Why did you take all my clothes off?!" Uta shouted.
The girl's voice was full of coquettishness.
***
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