Did I hit the target?

'It's been a long time since I stepped into Shanks' room again, and seeing all the valuables in here, it's only natural that he wouldn't let just anyone in here,' I said to myself when my eyes got a little lost when I saw all the rare and antique items around me.

'but that doesn't mean I'm interested or amazed, it's just that I'm curious... yes, I'm just curious, very different from the country boy in front of me right now.'

It made me feel better in some way to see Luffy right now with those sparkling eyes as he held up a small wooden box that looked ugly and old. Because of this, it's obvious that the two of us are in very different classes.

"Devil Fruits!"

After hearing Luffy scream and say something unusual, my eyebrows slightly raised because I was aware of the Devil Fruit that Luffy was referring to. I'm even more expert with experience with Devil Fruits than people think.

"Why are you so noisy? How could Shanks keep the precious Devil Fruits in that ugly wooden box?" I commented sarcastically. But as if he didn't care, this annoying kid just kept staring excitedly at the box he was holding, and I could tell he couldn't wait to open it.

"Listen, Luffy, the Devil Fruit is a rare and special item in this sea. Anyone who consumes it will gain a special ability, but they will also be afflicted with a curse that makes them unable to swim in this sea forever."

After giving a bit of a long explanation, I beamed with pride because with this, at least Luffy could respect me a little more because of my vast knowledge. But, what he said next caused my smile to twitch a few times and lose my composure.

"Are you stupid? Everyone knows that kind of thing. After all, have you ever met a Devil Fruit user yourself?"

This not-too-large and dim room somehow made me feel like I was suffocating. This could also be because I was in the same room as this boy, but the pain in my leg made me feel a bit calm as I replied:

"Of course. Do you know who the pirates I have defeated are? Most of them are Devil Fruit users, you know. Their average bounty is above 100 million Berries."

When I saw Luffy's eyebrows raise slightly in surprise, it made me satisfied, and I didn't forget to make fun of him by saying, "a country boy like you who has never left your small village will know nothing about this vast sea."

While I was waiting for Luffy's response, I was the one who was surprised now because Luffy simply smiled wryly and didn't say anything. He also returned his focus to the wooden box in his hand and ignored me.

'Did I hit the target?' I thought to myself, both joyfully and confused, because earlier on, I had the impression that Luffy's eyes contained a trace of melancholy.

*Click

I was jolted awake by the sound of something opening, and as I approached Luffy, I was astounded to see a Devil Fruit actually in this dingy, old wooden box. I couldn't believe it. This fruit, which looks like an apple and is marked all over its body with stripes, is almost definitely a Devil Fruit.

But Luffy immediately closed the box before throwing it away like trash. He wasn't even as excited as before, which shocked me, and I asked, "are you crazy? Just now, you lost your mind so much when you talked about Devil Fruits, but now you're not interested anymore?"

"Ahh, I'm still interested in Devil Fruits though, don't overthink it," replied Luffy as he looked back at his surroundings, particularly on the floor, and his eyes flashed with excitement once more as he lifted another wooden box.

I sighed and thought, 'was Shanks so careless as to put all his precious Devil Fruits in this ugly wooden box? He even let them scattered on the floor neglected,' but out of curiosity, I also waited beside Luffy to see what other Devil Fruits we would find.

"Not this," said Luffy after seeing the Devil Fruit inside the box, and then once more, he casually closed the box and threw it at me before looking for another box until finally, we checked the last box on the floor.

"Listen, Luffy, I don't know what's going through your head right now, but you should know that each of these Devil Fruits is extremely valuable. Everyone even sacrifices their lives to get one."

When Luffy suddenly turned around and looked at me with his black eyes that were so thick and deep, his smile even managed to feel somehow a little chilly when he asked me, "hey, Uta, can you be quiet for a moment? Or you can wait outside."

After that, Luffy turned his attention back to the final box in his hand and completely ignored me. 'how dare this little prick who doesn't know anything tell me to be quiet?'

"As you wish, I'll be out... you idiot."

I eventually got up the nerve to leave. Although I had to take it easy and go slowly because my leg was still hurt, I was more determined than ever to follow through with my resolve.

As I waited and leaned against the wall and continued to wait, I muttered to myself, "After all, who wants to be close to you? If something happens, I don't want to be responsible."

A few minutes passed, but Luffy still hadn't come out. Even though I could hear occasional noises coming from inside, my pride wouldn't let me check it out and walk in, so I continued to wait while keeping my fingers crossed that the brat wouldn't damage anything.

Until I saw the silhouette of Luffy walking out, at which point I noticed that the slightly unsettling expression he had been wearing earlier had vanished, and he was now smiling in his usual mischievous way.

Luffy then asked, "Are you hungry?" after closing and locking the door to Shanks' room and hiding the key under the mat.

Because I still felt like my irritation had not gone away, I responded coldly, "hmph, no! I'm not hungry!" but Luffy forcibly carried me in his arms before he sprinted towards the kitchen.