More Than Trouble

Chapter 23: Nowhere Else to Run

Nami knew something was off the second she stepped into the classroom.

It wasn't because of Luffy staring.

It wasn't because of their friends watching them with too much interest.

It was because of Luffy himself.

He wasn't just close.

He was acting differently.

And for the first time—it wasn't just her struggling with whatever was happening between them.

Luffy wasn't watching her like before.

He wasn't grinning like nothing was happening.

He wasn't oblivious.

He was restless.

And that was new.

It was in the way he kept fidgeting.

The way he drummed his fingers against the desk.

The way he kept shifting in his seat, barely looking her way, but never actually looking away.

It was weird.

Not normal Luffy-weird.

Just... off.

Like he was trying to figure something out, but he didn't know what.

And for some reason, that made her more nervous than anything.

Then, the first mistake happened.

She had dropped her pen.

A simple accident.

A completely normal thing.

Except—Luffy moved before she did.

And suddenly, his hand was over hers.

It wasn't even a real touch.

Not really.

Just the faintest brush of his fingers over her skin, barely a second, gone before she could react.

But she felt it.

Her whole body froze.

So did his.

For a second, neither of them breathed.

Then, Luffy pulled back.

And for the first time in her life, Nami saw him hesitate.

She grabbed her pen and didn't say anything.

But her heart was pounding.

And she could feel him, still sitting there, still restless, still acting like something was wrong.

And suddenly, she knew.

It wasn't just her anymore.

The second mistake happened at lunch.

This time, it wasn't her.

It was Luffy.

And it was worse.

They had been arguing about something stupid.

Nothing serious.

Nothing that mattered.

But at some point, Luffy had reached for her plate.

And without thinking, she smacked his hand away.

It was instinct.

Completely normal.

Except—Luffy didn't let it go.

He caught her wrist.

Stopped her mid-motion.

Didn't let go right away.

And when she looked at him—he wasn't laughing.

Not grinning.

Not teasing.

Just watching her, his fingers still wrapped around her wrist.

Her stomach flipped.

Her breath hitched.

And for the second time that day, she couldn't move.

The table went silent.

Vivi's eyes widened.
Robin raised a brow.
Usopp choked on his drink.
Chopper blinked in confusion.
Sanji looked like he was seconds away from murder.
And Zoro, ever the observer, just muttered, "What the hell is going on with you two?"

Luffy still wasn't letting go.

And Nami wasn't pulling away.

She swallowed hard.

Slowly, Luffy's grip loosened.

The moment passed.

But something about it didn't feel over.

By the time school ended, Luffy was still acting weird.

And Nami?

She was barely holding it together.

She didn't know what was happening.

Didn't know why he was suddenly making things worse.

Didn't know why it felt like the closer they got to the end of the day, the closer they got to... something.

She just knew that if this continued, she was going to break.

And she wasn't sure if she wanted that or not.

The third mistake happened after school.

And this time, it was both of them.

She was standing by her locker.

Luffy was next to her, leaning against the wall, silent.

He wasn't talking.

Wasn't laughing.

Wasn't acting normal.

And the silence was too much.

So she said it.

The words that changed everything.

"You're acting weird today."

Luffy looked at her.

Something in his face shifted.

Something she didn't understand.

But instead of denying it—he just shrugged.

"Yeah," he said.

That was it.

Just yeah.

Like it was obvious.

Like he knew.

Like he had already figured something out, and she was the only one still pretending.

Her throat went dry.

She didn't know what to do with that answer.

Didn't know what it meant.

Didn't know why it felt like he was suddenly seeing through her.

So she did what she always did.

She acted normal.

She rolled her eyes.

Shoved her books into her bag.

Pretended her hands weren't shaking.

And then, just as she was about to leave—

Luffy grabbed the strap of her bag.

It wasn't a big move.

Just a simple tug.

Just enough to stop her.

Just enough to make her turn back.

And when she did—

She was too close.

Her pulse spiked.

He was right there.

Closer than normal.

Closer than before.

Too close.

But this time?

She wasn't the one who moved first.

Luffy didn't look away.

Didn't pull back.

Didn't act like this was nothing.

He just stayed there.

Like he was waiting for something.

Like he was waiting for her.

And that was the final mistake.

Because Nami knew.

If she stayed like this for even one more second—

If she let this go any further—there was no turning back.

And she wasn't sure if she could handle that.

She swallowed hard.

Stepped back.

Didn't look at him.

Didn't say anything.

And then she walked away.

Fast.

Because if she had stayed one second longer,

She wasn't sure what would've happened next.

Nami left too fast.

She knew it.

Luffy knew it.

And by the time she made it halfway down the hall, she was already regretting it.

Because the second she stepped away from him—she felt it.

The weight of it.
The reality of it.
The undeniable truth that she had run away.

And she never ran.

So why now?

She stopped walking.

The air was too thick.

Her pulse was too loud.

And she felt like her body had just caught up to her brain—finally realizing what was about to happen if she had stayed.

If I had stayed...

If I had turned around...

If I had just—

"Nami."

Her breath hitched.

She didn't have to turn to know he was right behind her.

She could feel him.

The warmth of him.
The way he didn't hesitate.
The way he didn't even let her walk away properly this time.

Because of course he didn't.

Of course he followed.

Slowly, she turned.

Luffy was closer than before.

Not too close.

Not on purpose.

But closer.

Like his body was just moving toward hers now.

Like he wasn't thinking about it anymore.

And Nami hated how much she wanted to just let it happen.

"What?" she asked.

Luffy stared at her.

Not cluelessly.

Not like he didn't get it.

Because he got it now.

She could see it in his face.

Like he was starting to understand something he hadn't before.

Something that should've been so obvious, but somehow wasn't.

And suddenly, she wasn't the only one freaking out anymore.

"You left too fast," he said simply.

Her heart jumped.

"What?"

"You left," he repeated, as if that explained everything.

She swallowed hard.

"So?"

Luffy's brow furrowed. "So why?"

She didn't answer.

Because she didn't have one.

Or at least, not one she was willing to say.

The silence stretched.

Her stomach tightened.

And slowly, like they were both realizing it at the same time,

There was no more space between them.

It wasn't instant.

It wasn't dramatic.

It was slow.

Natural.

Inevitable.

Like breathing.

Like gravity.

Like they were just pulled toward each other before either of them could stop it.

And this time—

Neither of them moved away.

Her back hit the wall.

Soft.

Barely there.

Just enough to make her realize she had nowhere else to go.

And Luffy?

He didn't say anything.

Didn't smirk.

Didn't laugh.

Didn't do anything stupid.

Because there was nothing funny about this.

There was nothing to joke about.

This wasn't a game.

This wasn't a challenge.

This wasn't something she could just pretend wasn't happening.

Because it was.

And she wanted it.

Her heart was pounding.

Her hands twitched at her sides.

Luffy was too warm.

Too close.

Too real.

And then—

He reached for her.

Her breath caught.

Not a big move.

Not something overwhelming.

Just his fingers, barely, brushing against her wrist.

Light.
Careful.
Like he was testing something—waiting for her to stop him.

But she didn't.

And suddenly, he knew.

She was shaking.

Her fingers curled into the fabric of her skirt.

And when Luffy leaned in, so, so slow—her eyes fluttered shut.

This was happening.

This was happening.

This was happening.

End of Chapter 23