The silence lingered for only a moment before the women who had run off moments earlier returned, each using their unique methods to rejoin Luffy almost instantly.
One of the sisters, left behind during the chaos, stomped her foot in frustration. With an irritated huff, she grabbed the hem of her skirt and began running back, muttering curses under her breath.
After the scene settled, a brief pause hung in the air. Violet clung nervously to Luffy's coat, her hands trembling slightly. She awaited the women's reactions, her heart racing in anticipation. Her anxious gaze flitted between them, unsure of what to expect.
Yamato, who had dashed a considerable distance earlier, finally caught up. She was utterly exhausted, her breath coming in ragged gasps.
"Damn it! Why do such evil things as high heels even exist in this world?" she grumbled, glaring down at her footwear as if it had personally wronged her.
As everyone gathered again, Violet covered her mouth in astonishment, marveling at how quickly they'd returned.
Luffy, calm and composed as ever, gently released Violet from his grasp. He then turned to Mansherry, who had nestled herself securely in Koala's arms during the commotion.
Finally noticing the little princess, Luffy stretched out his arms and beckoned her over. Tears welled up in Mansherry's eyes as she realized she was being acknowledged. With a soft cry, she leaped into the air, flinging herself towards Luffy, who caught her effortlessly.
The small girl sobbed uncontrollably in his hands, her delicate form trembling. Luffy's voice softened as he whispered words of comfort, his tone warm and reassuring. After a few moments, Mansherry began to calm down. Luffy raised her high above his head, presenting her to the rest of the group like a treasure.
"This," he announced, his voice carrying authority, "is Mansherry, the princess of the Tontatta Kingdom. She's now one of us—a part of our family. Let's give her a warm welcome!"
Despite their curiosity and unspoken questions, the women obediently clapped, their applause filling the air. Even Yamato, who had been panting like a tired dog, managed a few weak claps.
Her attention soon shifted to the tiny Mansherry perched in Luffy's hands. Yamato squinted, her exhaustion momentarily forgotten.
"She's adorable!" Yamato exclaimed, a mischievous grin spreading across her face. "Is this the new toy you bought for us, Luffy?"
The room fell silent.
Girls: ….
Luffy: ….
Mansherry froze, her wide eyes darting up to meet the gaze of the towering Yamato. With her imposing horns and wild expression, Yamato appeared monstrous to the little princess.
The tears that Mansherry had just stopped came rushing back. "W-Wahh! So scary! The bull-headed monster is going to eat me!"
Yamato blinked, startled. "Bull-headed monster? Who are you calling a—?"
Her words were interrupted by her own laughter. Yamato found Mansherry's reaction so amusing that she burst out laughing, the sound echoing throughout the room. Her hearty laughter contrasted sharply with the disapproving stares from the rest of the group.
One by one, the girls turned their gazes on her, their expressions a mix of pity and exasperation. Yamato's laughter slowly faded as she noticed their looks.
"Wait… you're not talking about me, are you?" she asked hesitantly, pointing at herself. Her voice carried a note of disbelief.
Nami stepped forward, pulling a small mirror from her pocket. She tapped Yamato's arm with it before holding it up to her face.
Yamato leaned closer, her reflection coming into view. The bright red horns on her head stood out prominently. Her expression darkened as a vein twitched on her forehead.
"Those are cute devil horns, not monster horns!" she snapped, her voice rising defensively. "How rude!"
She took a step forward, intending to confront Mansherry directly, but her heel caught on the hem of her skirt. Yamato let out a surprised yelp as she toppled forward, landing face-first on the ground with a loud thud.
The room erupted into laughter. Even Mansherry, through her tears, couldn't help but giggle at the spectacle. Her small hands covered her mouth as she laughed, her earlier fear forgotten.
Before the teasing could escalate, Koala tilted her head, her expression shifting into one of curiosity. "Wait a second… Did you just call yourself cute?"
Yamato's body stiffened. Her anger dissipated as Koala's words registered. Panic flared in her eyes as she scrambled to deny it.
"I— No! That's not what I—!" she stammered, waving her hands frantically.
But Koala wasn't listening. She gasped dramatically, clutching her head as if the world had turned upside down.
"Something's wrong! Yamato—the Yamato—just called herself cute! Is this the end of the world?!"
Her outburst sent the group into a frenzy. The women began shouting, their voices filled with a mix of disbelief and mockery. Kujaku and Olivia looked like they were on the verge of tears.
Kujaku sniffled. "Sister, you've finally come to your senses! We've been waiting for this moment!"
Olivia added, her voice trembling with emotion, "It wasn't easy, but you're finally back to normal! Big Sister's guidance really worked!"
Yamato flushed with embarrassment. Their words felt like a dagger to her pride. She clenched her fists, struggling to understand what had just happened.
"Why did I even say that?" she muttered to herself. "This doesn't make sense. I'm a man! Why would I describe myself like that?!"
[Ding! Error detected. Please update your phrasing to use feminine pronouns such as 'this lady' or 'this princess.' Reminder: You are not a man. Please recognize your gender identity and make appropriate corrections.]
The mechanical voice from Yamato's watch cut through the chaos. Her jaw dropped as she stared at the device in disbelief.
"I am not—" Yamato's voice faltered. She yanked the watch off her wrist, raising it above her head as if to smash it. But just as she was about to throw it, she hesitated. The thought of losing her ability to communicate remotely—or to play her favorite games—stopped her.
With a frustrated growl, she stuffed the watch into her pocket, muttering under her breath. "Fine! But when I get back, you're getting dismantled!"
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