Onepiece: I'm Gojo Satoru [R-18]

The Red-Haired Pirates had initially planned to stay in Windmill Village for just a brief respite. Yet, two months had quietly slipped by. During this time, the crew had become surprisingly close to the villagers. Bonds were forged over shared stories, laughter, and the occasional drink.

Among these connections, the bond between Shanks and Makino had grown notably strong. To the casual observer, the two maintained their usual camaraderie, but Satoru's sharp perception couldn't miss the subtle changes. Shanks' glances toward Makino lingered a bit too long, and his smile softened whenever she was near. Makino, for her part, had a certain warmth in her demeanor whenever Shanks was around, though she tried her best to keep it subtle.

"Who made the first move?" Satoru mused silently, sipping his milk at Makino's bar. He couldn't quite decide if Shanks' goofy charm had won Makino over, or if it was her quiet, unflappable nature that had melted the pirate captain's heart.

The cozy chatter of the tavern was interrupted by a boisterous voice.

"Shanks! I want to join your crew and become a pirate!"

Young Luffy stood on a chair, holding a glass of juice high above his head, his face radiating determination. The tavern went silent as all eyes turned to the boy.

Shanks, lounging comfortably with a mug of ale, burst into laughter. "Luffy! Pirates drink grog and rum, not juice. You think you can sail with me while sipping apple juice?"

The crew erupted into laughter, and Luffy's face turned red with indignation.

"Then why is Uta allowed on your ship?" Luffy retorted, pointing toward the red-haired girl sitting nearby.

Uta, startled by the sudden attention, nearly choked on her drink. "What did I do?" she muttered, casting an exasperated look at Luffy.

Shanks chuckled and ruffled Luffy's hair. "Because Uta's my daughter, Luffy. She doesn't count as crew; she's family. You, on the other hand, need to prove yourself!"

This explanation didn't sit well with Luffy. "That's not fair!" he huffed. "What about Satoru? You've been begging him to join your crew for weeks, and he drinks milk!"

The entire tavern turned to look at Satoru, who calmly sipped his drink, unconcerned. "Calcium," he said simply. "Helps me grow tall."

The room burst into laughter again, save for Luffy, who glared at Shanks in frustration.

Shanks leaned forward, his tone growing more serious. "Luffy, Satoru's different. He's strong. If you could fight like him, I'd let you join my crew in a heartbeat."

Luffy clenched his fists, clearly dissatisfied with the answer. He plopped back into his seat, crossing his arms as he sulked.

Makino, who had been observing from behind the counter, chuckled softly. "Luffy, why don't you focus on finishing your juice first? You can't set sail on an empty stomach."

The tension in the room eased as the conversations resumed. Shanks turned to Satoru, his expression more thoughtful. "We're heading out soon, Satoru," he said.

"Oh?" Satoru responded without much interest, his eyes fixed on his half-empty glass.

Shanks leaned closer, lowering his voice. "Last chance. Join my crew. You won't regret it."

Satoru looked up, meeting Shanks' gaze. "Regret it? Probably not. I've told you already—I'm not interested in being a pirate. And even if I were, I'd be the captain of my own crew. I'm not the type to take orders."

The room seemed to hold its breath as the two locked eyes. Shanks chuckled after a moment, but there was a hint of steel in his voice as he spoke. "You've got a special air about you, kid. Feels like you've already got one foot in the future. Makes me wonder…"

"What?"

"Whether we'll meet as enemies someday."

The tavern grew quiet again. The weight of Shanks' words hung in the air, and a faint tension prickled at the edges of the room.

"If you stand in my way, Shanks, I'll take you down." Satoru's voice was calm but resolute.

A low murmur swept through the tavern. To challenge Shanks, a pirate of his caliber, was unthinkable. Yet Satoru's unwavering gaze conveyed absolute confidence.

Shanks' smile widened, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "Big talk, kid. You sure you're ready to back it up?"

Satoru shrugged. "If you try to kill me and fail, you'd better sleep with one eye open. I don't forget."

The temperature in the room seemed to drop as Shanks released a faint trace of his Conqueror's Haki. A chill ran down the spines of those present, and even Makino instinctively stepped back.

But Satoru didn't flinch. "I'm not scared," he said, his voice steady. "But if you really want to test me, go ahead. Just don't cry when you lose."

For a moment, it seemed like Shanks might act. Then he laughed—a deep, hearty sound that filled the tavern and eased the tension. "You're one hell of a kid, Satoru. I'll let this slide—for now."

He stood, motioning to his crew. "Alright, boys, time to set sail! Let's see what adventures await us on the next island!"

The Red-Haired Pirates began filing out, leaving behind empty mugs and lingering smiles.

As the door swung shut, Makino turned to Satoru, her expression stern. "Satoru, why do you provoke him like that? He's a pirate. What if he really did something to you?"

Satoru met her gaze with a faint smirk. "I'd count on you to stop him, Sister Makino."

Makino blinked, and a faint blush crept up her cheeks. His tone was teasing, but there was something about the way he looked at her—like he already knew her thoughts. She shook her head, busying herself with cleaning the counter.

Luffy, meanwhile, remained seated, his expression contemplative. "One day," he muttered, "I'll be just as strong as Satoru. No—stronger! And then Shanks will have to take me seriously!"

Satoru raised his glass, giving Luffy a small, almost imperceptible nod. "Good luck with that, Luffy. You'll need it."