The bustling streets of Loguetown were filled with noise and activity, but Nami's objective at the moment was clear.
She spotted an elegantly decorated women's clothing store and, without a word, pulled Luffy inside by the arm.
"Welcome!"
The shop owner greeted them with a beaming smile, clearly interested in this young couple, completely unaware of what she was about to face.
Did she actually think she could make money off Nami?
What lay ahead was a battle of wits.
Nami's haggling skills were forged through countless trials. You'd better not let her see anything she likes.
The store was filled with beautiful clothes, making Nami's eyes shine. She let go of Luffy and began selecting with great enthusiasm.
Soon, she picked out several dresses of different styles. She glanced at Luffy—he was still buried in his book?!
That rubber idiot is a block of wood!
Nami shoved the book-absorbed Luffy into one of the store's small fitting rooms and squeezed in after him.
"Hey, hey, Nami?"
Luffy almost dropped his book. "Why are you pulling me in here to try on clothes?"
"Quiet,"
Nami deftly pulled the curtain closed, creating a bit of private space. "Just sit there and tell me which ones look good."
She pushed Luffy down onto a small stool in the corner, then stood behind the curtain to begin her fashion show.
Luffy sat on the stool and found he could actually manage a bit of divided attention. Turning a page, he occasionally glanced up.
"How's this one? The blue striped dress. Looks pretty casual, right?"
Nami did a little twirl, smiling brightly.
"Yeah, not bad."
"And this? The pink shirt and shorts. Don't they look lively?"
"The colour is bright."
"What about this shirt? The cut is good, right? It's more of a spring/autumn style, but I bet it'll come in handy when the weather changes in the Grand Line!"
Nami showed off a beige, trench-coat-style shirt.
"Oh... wow, that's big."
Because this particular garment emphasised the chest area, and for Nami, that was her field of expertise.
Luffy was starting to get a bit tongue-tied.
The ding-dong warnings in his ears and Nami's presence made it hard for Luffy to fully immerse himself in his reading.
This was pure torture.
Luffy was gradually beginning to appreciate the feeling of enjoying such a pretty sight.
"Victoria's Secret" wasn't just a brand anymore.
He had his own secret now.
"Nami..."
Luffy wanted to have a proper talk with Nami.
Faced with a girl changing into various beautiful outfits, emerging from behind a curtain in this tiny cubicle and striking different poses, he inexplicably felt his mouth go dry.
Would things head into "not suitable for children" territory if this continued?
The problem was, he didn't even know what "not suitable for children" territory entailed. He had no prior experience!
He was inexperienced!
What if Nami peeked out from behind the curtain, hooked a finger at him, and asked him to come in?
Just then, the curtain was pulled aside a bit. A pale finger beckoned from the gap.
"Luffy, come help me for a sec."
"Huh?"
"The back clasp is a bit tight and stuck. I knew this size was starting to feel uncomfortable, I need a bigger one... Anyway, forget that, just come here."
Faced with her urging, Luffy could only steel himself and step forward. He pulled the curtain aside to see Nami with her back to him, half-crouched, leaning forward. Her snow-white back was aesthetically pleasing—the classic "beautiful back."
And because of her excellent development, even with her back turned, Luffy could see the... side profile surging.
"W-what should I do?"
"Just help me unhook it first." Nami maintained her kneeling position, holding the front of the garment against her chest, a faint blush on her face.
"No peeking yet."
"Oh... but isn't the point of putting it on to be looked at?"
"You can look after it's on properly!" Nami looked back over her shoulder, giving Luffy a flustered and annoyed glare as she brushed a stray lock of hair behind her ear.
"But it looks good like this, too."
The blush on Nami's face instantly spread, from her neck down to her shoulders and back. "Don't say weird things like that here!"
At this rate, she'd probably blush all the way to her toes.
Why? Why was it that every time she took the initiative, trying to do something, Luffy would inadvertently say something that completely turned the tables on her?
After sorting out the clasp, Nami hurriedly pushed Luffy out of the fitting room first.
The sun over Loguetown was mild, yet it made Nami's heart more restless than on the hottest summer day.
Luffy took a deep breath.
The notification in his ears was an unexpected delight.
He seemed to have just undergone some serious mental training!
[Mental energy severely depleted. Your willpower has increased. Observation Haki proficiency +1]
[Mental energy severely depleted. Your willpower has increased. Observation Haki proficiency +1]
[Congratulations! After intensive compression training, your Observation Haki level has risen to Lv1!]
Observation Haki Proficiency: 0/10000 (Lv1)
[You have acquired Observation Haki usage skill: Basic Sensing]
This power...
Luffy closed his eyes. Everything around him was locked in his awareness. For a moment, he could even sense places beyond his line of sight and the emotions there!
Whoosh!
The curtain was pulled open.
Nami was no longer wearing the previous outfits. She was now in a pristine white lace ensemble. The top was an exquisite long-sleeved white blouse, the bottom a matching short skirt. The semi-transparent design hinted at the young girl's lovely curves beneath. She wore sheer black tights that completely covered her feet and ankles, her slender calves looking perfectly toned.
"H-how about... this one?!"
Nami expected Luffy to slowly look up upon hearing her voice. Instead, she found him already staring wide-eyed in her direction.
"V-very pretty."
Observation Haki could sense the emotion there—a tangled, complicated mess.
The sight of that slightly flushed, smugly smiling face, combined with that eye-catching, lethally attractive white lace...
He instinctively looked away.
"If it's pretty, then look a bit more! Clothes are meant to be looked at once they're on."
Seeing Luffy avoid her gaze, she tilted her head slightly, a mischievous yet expectant smile on her face. She bent down, pinched Luffy's chin with one hand, and forced his eyes—which were nearly crossed from reading—to look up at her.
Their gazes met.
Luffy's pupils dilated slightly. The faint, pleasant scent from Nami wafted over. Unconsciously...
[Warning, punishment countdown...]
Right in the middle of his wandering thoughts came a supercharged warning.
"Why so quiet?"
Nami loved kneading Luffy's face.
The properties of a rubber man made Luffy's face incredibly fun to squish.
"Because..."
Luffy averted his gaze slightly.
Nami quickly understood what was happening and immediately let go of his face.
Her cheeks flushed crimson in an instant, burning all the way to the tips of her ears.
The atmosphere suddenly became very awkward.
***
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