The Heart and Soul of Monkey D. Luffy: One Piece (Luffy x OC)

Chapter 3: The Newest Straw Hat

Later that evening, the Straw Hats sat at the kitchen table eating dinner. It was Aria's first dinner with the crew, and first night with the Straw Hats. She sat between Luffy and Usopp and looked down at her plate, at the incredible meal that Sanji prepared for them. But despite how incredible it looked, she wasn't feeling very hungry.

"Aren't you gonna eat?" Luffy asked as he shoved food into his mouth.

Aria looked at him. "It looks delicious," she said. "But I guess I just don't have an appetite."

Luffy swallowed. "You better eat somethin' before Sanji freaks out," he muttered before shoving more food into his mouth.

Aria managed a small smile. She looked around at the rest of the crew, who were all eating and engaged in conversation amongst each other. Just then, Luffy stretched his arm across the table to grab more food. The crew was used to it, casually continuing their conversations, but Aria's eyes widened in surprise as she watched Luffy's arm stretch at least four times its normal size across the table.

Aria immediately shot up from her seat, startled. "Wha?!"

Luffy retracted his arm and looked at her quizzically. "What?"

"How the heck did you just stretch your arm like that?" Aria asked, her eyes wide with surprise.

Luffy laughed. "I'm made of rubber!"

"Huh?!" Aria was perplexed. She'd never seen anything like it before.

Luffy leaned back in his chair casually. "Yeah, I ate a devil fruit and now I'm made of rubber. Kinda awesome, right?"

The other Straw Hats chuckled at Aria's reaction and Zoro spoke up. "Yep, you get used to it."

Aria's eyes were now full of wonder and curiosity. "Made of rubber? Do you mean you can stretch your whole body?"

Luffy grinned. "Yeah! I can stretch any part of my body." He stretched out his arms and legs to prove his point. "I can even stretch my face!" He said as he stretched his face into a distorted shape, sticking out his tongue.

"Whoa, that's weird, and so cool!" Aria exclaimed, genuinely fascinated.

Luffy laughed again. "Yeah, it's pretty fun." He returned his limbs to normal and leaned back in his chair again.

"Can... I try?" Aria asked, unable to help herself.

Luffy laughed and nodded. "Yeah, sure!"

The other Straw Hats chuckled as well, amused by Aria's curiosity.

Aria reached out to Luffy's face and gently grabbed his cheek. His cheek stretched as she pulled it back, but then snapped back into place like a rubber band. Luffy laughed and the other Straw Hats joined in the laughter as they watched.

"Careful," Usopp warned. "He can stretch much further than that."

Aria's eyes lit up as she looked at Luffy like he was the coolest thing she'd ever seen. "Really?! Just how far can you stretch?"

Luffy grinned, clearly enjoying the attention. "I can stretch pretty far. Wanna see?"

Aria nodded excitedly. "Yes!"

The others chuckled as Luffy sat up straight in his chair and stretched his arm across the room.

Zoro shook his head in mock disapproval. "Show off." he muttered.

But Aria was clearly amazed. Her eyes were wide with wonder and her mouth had dropped open. Luffy chuckled and retracted his arm. "LThis is incredible! You said you can stretch like this because you ate... a devil fruit?" Aria asked. She'd never heard of such a thing.