After Ace and Luffy were finally bandaged up, Makino led them into her tavern.
"Here—eat," she said, setting food on the counter. "Luffy, Ace."
"Meat!" Luffy's eyes practically turned into stars.
"I won't hold back!"
Just as Luffy reached out to grab a huge piece, Ace yanked him back.
"Huh? What is it, Ace?" Luffy blinked. "There's meat right there—why are you stopping me?"
"Shut up, idiot Luffy."
Ace pulled him into a quick bow toward Makino. "Thank you for the food."
Ever since Makino had corrected him once, Ace had taken manners seriously—like it had been carved into him.
"Aww—so polite, Ace." Makino smiled. "Go on, eat. No need to be formal with me."
Only then did Ace and Luffy dig in.
Dadan, as usual, went straight for the alcohol.
"Mmm—so good!" Luffy said through a mouthful of meat. "Makino, you're amazing!"
Makino chuckled and set down more dishes. "Slow down. There's plenty. Don't choke."
Ace ate while thinking out loud. "See? You can't sail without a cook. I've decided—once I go out to sea, the first thing I'm doing is finding a chef."
Luffy nodded hard. "But we should find a musician first."
"Why?" Ace asked, confused.
"Because you can't travel without throwing parties," Luffy said, serious as if it were obvious. "A musician is perfect."
Ace froze, then burst out laughing. "You're right! Hahaha! We'll find a cook and a musician!"
The two of them kept eating and dreaming about the future—so caught up they didn't even notice when Garp walked in.
Garp was still simmering. He hadn't felt satisfied earlier, and the moment he entered, he heard the exact kind of talk that set him off.
"Ahem…"
Ace and Luffy stopped instantly.
Their bodies started trembling at the same time.
That voice was way too familiar.
Makino forced a careful smile. "M-Mr. Garp… maybe eat something first?"
"Hmph." Garp crossed his arms. "Fine. I'll spare you two brats—for now."
"Makino. Food and sake."
"Yes!" Makino replied, bright as ever, and hurried to serve them.
Soon the three—grandfather and grandsons—were eating like nothing had happened.
Garp chewed noisily and lectured between bites. "Listen up! A strong Marine has to keep their body at its best at all times."
"So when you can eat—eat as much as you can!"
Ace slammed a foot on the counter and glared. "Why do you get to decide for us?"
"I'm going to be a pirate."
"NANI?!" Garp's eyes bulged. He pressed his forehead against Ace's, hard. "Still spouting that nonsense?! You're both becoming Marines!"
"I'm going to train you into the strongest Marines!"
"Stop deciding other people's lives!" Ace pushed back with his head, refusing to yield. "I'm going to be a pirate!"
"BAKA!" Garp pushed harder. "Stop talking stupid! You're becoming Marines!"
"Pirate—"
"Marine—"
They kept headbutting each other like bulls, both stubborn as rocks, completely missing the fact that Luffy was vacuuming up food at terrifying speed.
"Heh. Those two…" the village chief chuckled from the side, entertained.
Makino raised a finger. "Um—Mr. Garp, Ace—if you don't eat faster, Luffy's going to finish everything."
"Hah—?!" Both of them turned—
And saw Luffy's arms stretched out, grabbing food from right in front of them.
"IDIOT LUFFY!" Ace exploded. "Don't take my food!"
Ace immediately joined the eating race.
Garp wasn't about to lose either.
All three began competing—shoveling food down like they were training for war.
Before long, steam-like white wisps started rising from Ace and Luffy's heads.
Garp saw it and smirked. See? Tough bodies. Makino worries too much.
Makino and the village chief weren't surprised at all. They'd seen it plenty of times—Ace and Luffy got hurt, then ate like monsters, and somehow bounced back.
Makino unfolded a newspaper while serving. "Looks like the 'Soul Songstress' Uta has returned to the East Blue. I haven't seen her in ages."
"NANI?!" Luffy jolted. "Uta's coming back?!"
"Yes." Makino turned the paper toward him and pointed at the photo. "Look, Luffy—she's grown up a lot. And she's famous now."
"Whoa…" Luffy grinned. "She didn't come with Shanks last time, so I worried. But now she's a big star!"
Ace glanced once. Didn't recognize her. Kept eating.
"Uta…" Garp muttered, trying to place the name—then his eyes landed on the paper and he clicked his tongue.
"Ah. That girl. She was with that brat 'White Ghost.'"
"Eh?!"
"Mr. Garp?!"
Makino and Luffy stared at him. "You've met Uta?"
Garp ate and spoke like it was nothing. "Seems like she got separated from the Red-Hair Pirates after the whole Elegia mess."
"NANI?!"
Makino, Luffy, and even Ace froze.
"Shanks… destroyed a kingdom?" Makino covered her mouth, horrified.
The boys' eyes went wide.
Garp snorted. "Hmph. Now you see what pirates are like."
He jabbed a finger at the paper. "From what I heard, that country was ruined—massive casualties."
Luffy shook his head hard. "N-no… Shanks wouldn't do that."
"Hmph. You're naive, Luffy," Garp said, seizing the chance to preach. "Most pirates are lawless. Selfish."
"You really think Shanks is some saint?"
Ace lowered his gaze, silent, as if something bothered him.
Luffy's voice rose. "No! You must be wrong! Shanks isn't like that!"
"Wrong?" Garp slammed his palm down. "The facts are the facts—even if we don't know every reason."
Luffy stared at the counter, shaken. "Pirates… pirates are supposed to go on adventures with their friends."
"Treasure hunts. Parties. Laughing together…"
"How can they destroy a country? That's not what Shanks told me!"
Garp's eyes went sharp. "And where do you think those party feasts come from?"
"They rob people."
"As for 'treasure hunts'—that's just a pretty word for stealing."
"Some pirates take money. Some kill even after they get it."
Luffy shook his head wildly, like he could shake the words off. "No… no… pirates aren't like that."
"Shanks told me they aren't!"
He looked genuinely scared—not of Garp, but of the idea that what he believed might be wrong.
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