You had an elbow to Tilestone's back, hand around his twisted wrist, your lips lifted.

"You did good, but not strong enough, big guy." You stated, getting off him as Tilestone loudly grumbled as he stood that you were truly impressive and making your lips widen into a proud smirk. "I gotta be! What I want isn't something easy to get but thanks, Tilestone." You turned towards the other foremen who stared with wide eyes, some nervously sweating and pale. "Who wants to try next?"

"I-I'm good!"

"Maybe we should head back to finishing the galleon, right?"

"Th-that sounds like a good idea! It's almost half finished!"

The other foremen slowly started to leave.

"OI!" Tilestone shouted, crossing his arms and bearded face deep. "WHO TAUGHT YOU TO BE COWARDS?! WE'RE THE SHIPWRIGHTS OF WATER 7! NOW CHALLENGE (Y/N)!"

"But," one of them stated, sweatdropping, "H-how could we possibly compare to you and Lulu...?! (Y/N) beat you guys!"

"WHO CARES?!" The others flinched back at Tilestone's roaring voice, some of it creating a sonic wave and making the foremen's hair fly back as they blinked and got a hair blowout. You tilting you head with a hand to your chin. Not the best hairstyle. "I CLEARLY HAVE BEEN OUTMATCHED...I—" his voice wavered, his eyes suddenly shadowing as he kneeled down. "MY PEDESTAL OF BEING THE MOST BUFF HAS BEEN TAKEN! SOMEONE NEEDS TO COME IN TO BE MY STAND IN!"

"Err," you interrupted, finger up, "I don't think I was doing this for a title—"

"TAKEN!" Tilestone shouted, tears in his eyes and you scratching your head as he went on to punching the floor as the foremen looked around, at a loss.

You wanted some excitement during one of their breaks of building a few days after the bar night, the others seeming to calm down although Lucci has been acting more close and less distant to you for some reason. Hattori even going to your shoulder to the other shipwrights shock. Kaku has been acting odd too...pulling back when you put an arm around his shoulder. At least Paulie still acts the same with his reactions when you're hot or when you jump on him just cause.

"Paulie~!" You jumped from behind as you wrapped your arms around his torso, feeling him immediately stiffen. You quickly let go and went to his front, seeing his face red.

"W-woman! The hell's w-wrong with you?! " He stuttered out, while you just laughed at his expression.

"D-don't laugh at me! Stop doing this!"

He was too funny. He even told you to button your shirt one day when it was very hot, and you only unbuttoned three and you had a tank top underneath but it seemed it was still too scandalous for Paulie when you were working.

"You're distracting with t-that!" Paulie pointed at your white dress shirt, you rolling your eyes with a laugh and continued your business, not really bothered by his statements. You did button at least one, just so he could perhaps calm down. He didn't though.

"(Y/N)!" Paulie yelled once again as he came over towards you. "I thought I told you to button them!"

You only rose an eyebrow at him.

"Maybe it's better I just take my whole shirt off then." You teased with a smirk. The blond man quickly shut his mouth, nearly breaking his cigar with a little blood trickling from his nose as he walked away.

In order to make some excitement, you decided it to be a good idea to challenge the Galley-La men to a nice friendly fight. You not using your swords or any special moves really, just your body. Kaku looking mildly concerned when you made the announcement and saying that may still not be fair quietly to you with you waving him off that this is just for fun, despite his words and doubt you could tell he was curious. Paulie and Lucci away when you made the announcement, you think to Iceburg or to a customer.

Lulu went first, using his saws that you dodged with your body and head with each swing before you ended the fight by catching the saws with two hands. Lulu accepting and going back to watch frok the sidelines dutifully after you said that was fun and you haven't really seen people use building saws for weapons before. After fixing his bad hair of course. It just went to his mustache though.

Tilestone was eager, using his hammer and shouting all the while before you put him down.

"You are impressive, (Y/N)-san," Kaku said with a smile before walking towards you until he stood in front of you, hands in his hips. "I want to try."

You blinked before grinning.

"Sure! You can start whenever you're ready."

Kaku hummed before pointing to where you left Kuroi ten'nosabaki and Karasu to the side against stacks of wood.

"Can you pick your buster sword up? We should make it fair." When you tilted your head and said it is fair for you to not use weapons, Kaku's smile turned knowing as they quirked further. "Not for you, (Y/N)-san. For me. Your weapon is one of the heaviest out there when it comes to the famed ones. You being the wielder got used to the weight, but without that extra few kilograms holding you back...you're faster."

Smart Kaku.

You grinned sharply in response.

The other foremen's eyes widened as they muttered between themselves that it was true and they didn't realize sooner. You did show off your buster sword the other day.

"Pfft! Saw through that, huh? My bad!" You grabbed the gleaming Kuroi ten'nosabaki and placed it back on your back, tilted due to its great height compared to yours and leaving the glinting hungry Karasu. Karasu was lighter and won't have any effect on you at all. "Having Kuroi ten'nosabaki on me barely, if at all, affects me when I carry him but I notice I'm quicker without him. When I'm not using him and it's on my back though...I can't really move as natural. But ya know that too."

"Hai, Hai (Y/N)-san." Kaku simply stated with a serious smile before putting a hand to a chisel. The foremen awwing and cheering for their 'Mountain Wind', making Kaku scratch his nose sheepishly with a laugh. "Come on everyone, it's not a big deal! It's a natural conclusion to come to."

"Oi," the foremen said, flapping their hands in a deadpan including the loud Tilestone and straight faced Lulu. "Don't be so honest in calling us stupid."

Kaku blinked, turning towards them. "Oh, did I say that? Sorry!"

"So honest!" They yelled.

He turned back towards you, cap slightly shadowing his eyes.

"You ready, (Y/N)-san?"

"Ready!"

You ducked, a sound of a chisel being embedded to the wood behind you. You dodging to the side once more as your eyes narrowed at Kaku. Chisels in both hands, between each knuckle. More being hurled at you as you quickly side stepped and dodged each one along with kicks towards you.

He hurled two more towards you, you darted to the side into a jump kick. Kaku dodging, chisel in hand and going towards your shin. You twisted your body in midair, hand going atop Kaku's head and lifting yourself up atop him—your blouse slightly lowering and showing off your stomach due to the move.

Kaku's head lowered due to your weight as he grunted, before using his softened use of Geppo during his time here. Making you land in a back flip, before moving your head once more only to feel slight air to your arm.

You blinked, turning towards your arm to see your blouse got the tiniest nick before grinning at Kaku proudly.

"You got my blouse! Pretty good to throw when I'm trying to land! Pretty great actually, Kaku!" Kaku smiled, his cheeks looking a little red due to the exertion of trying to nail you. Your grin than turning more into a show of teeth as you smirked. "Not enough though."

Kaku blinked and you were in front of him, hand pushing against his chest with the other to his wrist. Chisels fallen and you were straddling over him with your lips quirked, (e/c) twinkling meeting wide walnut as you kept his wrist above his head. Your knee pressed against his other arm as he swallowed at his close your face was.

"Listen up everyone, we got a new customer for a brig to fix the main mast—WHAT IS THAT CRAZY WOMAN DOING?!"

You and Kaku turned your heads to see Paulie was back with Lucci, Iceburg, and Kalifa in tow. Paulie appearing red faced and blond hair mussed from he was staring at, you think he was saying other stuff but it sounded like gibberish as his voice cracked. Lucci's gaze honed in on your straddling position to your bewildered expression trying to understand the prudish foremen before glancing away in disinterest, hands in his pockets with his thumbs out. Kaku noticed the dismissal, eyes slightly narrowed in realization.

Lucci isn't threatened at all. And (Y/N), Kaku looked at your turned away face saying to Paulie calmly you don't understand the language he's speaking. Tilestone quickly explaining that they are just accepting and meeting your challenge as to keep the honor of the Galley La, which isn't true since this was for fun and said keeping honor was clearly not working either. Paulie calming down at that although still reprimanding you that you're being indecent just staying there with you over him and hands on him as you explained it was just a hold. You're completely unaffected...hah...is this how Lucci feels? She must still see me as a kid.

After Kaku tapped the hand around his wrist twice, you got off him and turned towards Iceburg with a raised brow who had a lawn chair instead of a lounge chair out today. Kaku sneaking a glance at Lucci, their eyes meeting only for Lucci to turn away again as Kaku frowned.

"Did you cancel some events again?" You asked the mayor, who was too busy gazing at the clouds.

"I cleared my schedule today," Iceburg answered easily, looking way too content and not at all responsible like a mayor should be. The city should be doomed. "It's too fine a day today, look at the clouds." You looked up at the cloudy sky, some looking gray and the sun being hidden. You looked back at him with a doubtful expression. "Also Kalifa can help me keep in schedule."

Kalifa fixed her glasses needlessly on her nose, the glass flashing as she gazed at her clipboard.

"We are two days behind schedule."

"Better than three!" Iceburg said easily.

"You're a bad mayor," you repeatedly bluntly from before. You lifting your arm to block the kick you expected, steady (e/c) eyes under your cap meeting Kalifa's with your lips lifted. "Wanna accept the challenge too? I might take this as us starting."

"Oooo!" A foreman called excitedly. "A match between our beautiful secretary and (Y/N)!"

"Cat fight!" Another whooped.

You distantly think Lucci would take offense to that phrase.

"Shut up, you idiots!" Paulie yelled at the group, eyes than turning towards you and Kalifa before flushing. "Kalifa! Damn it, put your leg down—your skirt raises up like that!"

"EVEN PAULIE IS EXCITED FOR THIS VENTURE!" Tilestone exclaimed with his bulky arms up and flexing at his sides for some reason. "YOUR FACE FLUSHED SHOWS IT!"

Paulie twirled around towards Tilestone, fist up.

"S-shut up, Tilestone!"

"Now, now," Kaku said through a calm smile, hands in a placating motion between the two. "Let's not get ahead of ourselves." Despite that, his eyes took in the sight of your calm form with Kalifa's brows drawn together as they kept their position. Kaku looking down and scratching his square long nose.

"We need to get back to work, Coo~! ," Hattori stated through Lucci, him glancing at the two of you. A dash of interest in his eyes before he turned away, already knowing the outcome.

Kalifa released a small huff, putting her leg down only to appear at the whooping foremen now bruised foremen after a barrage of kicks before going back to Iceburg's side.

"You staring like that is sexual harassment."

"S-Sorry, Kalifa!" The foremen apologized through their injured faces.

"I got hit too," Iceburg pointed out on his lawn chair, welt to his cheek and causing him to sound muffled. "I wasn't even staring at you."

"You abuse your power, but you get abused too." You pointed out with a chuckle before turning towards Paulie and pointed at him as he knitted his brows. "Your turn! Try to hit me!"

"What?" Paulie tsked, turning away and crossing his arms as he turned his head away. "Why would I bother doing that?"

"Tilestone said something about honor, but it's for fun! Come on!" You pushed with a grin but Paulie was not budging as he slightly scowled around his cigar.

"Our pride as foremen isn't the reason you're doing this so let's just get back to work." Paulie moved to go past you as your grin faltered. He's being boring for some reason right now, what's up with him? You have your blouse on. "We have to finish this galleon as well so we have to split up between this and the new brig."

"Don't tell me you're scared." You taunted, having Paulie glance at you as you kept going with your hands to your hip and a smirk. "You fight with ropes, yeah? Concerned you might see them tear cause of me?"

Paulie scoffed, lips twitching in amusement.

"Don't be ridiculous. Our ropes are famous for being able to hold on to any weight—no matter how heavy. You're not going to tear them and since you're not using your swords—no cutting either."

"Sounds like you think you can beat me," you poked at him again. You know he probably doesn't, he probably knows you can take him easily but this is meant to be fun instead of serious! Besides, based on how everyone enjoyed the fights and looking the most relaxed they have in days—they're enjoying it as well. "Think your precious rope can hold me down?"

Dark eyes zoomed towards you at your challenging words as Paulie slightly flushed, muttering "Shameless". Kalifa wishes she had a cocktail right now, but instead she's covering her exasperated face behind her clipboard as Kaku stared at you with round eyes. Everyone else looking pointedly away at the sky or the ground.

You're oblivious.

You noticed Paulie making one of his funny faces again but you didn't say anything or do anything besides making fun of his ropes—

Wait...

...

Ropes...

...

Tying.

...

Steam came out from the top of your head as you flushed.

"I-I wasn't talking a-about that!"

"You just noticed?!" The foremen and Paulie shouted.

"PERVERTS!"

"You said it, not me!" Paulie sharply retorted, but you did not let up and saying he has to challenge you now for thinking something so perverted even though he's a prude. "I-I'm—I'M NO PRUDE, CRAZY WOMAN! And for the last time, no—"

"I'll go to the casino with you and give you my winnings."

Paulie brandished his rope in his hands, the air around him sparkling.

"What are you waiting for than?!"

"You're too easy, Paulie." Lulu, Tilestone, Iceburg and the other foremen stated flatly.

"Coo! How like you to take advantage in a game of fun, Paulie." Lucci remarked through Hattori and Paulie bit back saying you're the one who suggested it. Which you did, you're just staring at Lucci dully. Him saying that and acting like he's innocent from the same thing is mind boggling. "Poor Miss (Y/N) doesn't know what she just agreed to. Is that a habit?"

At the falsely innocent tone, you gritted your teeth as you looked to the side to meet Lucci's eyes.

"Don't call me Miss." Was all you said before you faced back forward towards the ready Paulie, his ropes in his hands. You made a motion for him to come at you and added to not hold back, you can handle it. It was only a millisecond later a rope met your wrist, you glancing at the hand to your hip with the encircled rope only for you to next bed sharply tugged. Suddenly you were in the air, rope tight on your wrist until you felt a pull to the ground. The ground almost meeting your face if you didn't place your free hand upon it. You peered over—eyes slightly shadowed under your cap and your blouse ridden up, your (skin tone) stomach being shown—to see Paulie's hands tight around his ropes, still in position of how he threw you forward and brows together in determination. Your eyes gleamed around your grin. "Gotta do better than that, Paulie~."

You pulled your encased wrist harshly, noticing the strength only for Paulie to wring back the rope to his sleeves. Catching on what you were trying to do.

Can't pull him around with his own rope, but he can't do much to me besides pull me around. Although it's impressive he can handle Kuroi ten'nosabaki's weight...

You pushed your hand against the ground, doing an experimental kick towards him to see what he's going to do. You've been going easy on everyone, like you said, it's just for fun.

Paulie sidestepped, darting before thrusting out two ropes from his sleeves.

"Rope Action!" He called as the ropes went above you as you landed on the ground, glancing at it questionably before you looked at Paulie who still had a look of concentration. "Top Knot!"

The ropes squeezed your arms and than just as suddenly got yanked—your gaze blurring as you spun speedily. Are you hallucinating, or are there three Hattori's over your head? You didn't focus on it cause you were too busy laughing, your stomach ticklish as you stopped spinning.

You turned towards two bewildered Paulie's, eyes swirly with a dopey grin.

"Again! Do that again! Hurk—" you stopped, hand to your mouth. "Ah...maybe not again...but I can handle one more I think. Do it faster though!"

Paulie blinked at you dumbly.

"You shouldn't even be standing."

"(Y/N)-san seems to be having fun," Kaku pointed out in mild amusement, watching as you slight stumbled and drew closer to a confused Paulie with your hands together for him to do that move again but more power. Kaku couldn't help but release a small laugh behind a fist at your dizzy expression. "Might as well humor her, Paulie!"

Lucci felt his eyes go skyward in a mimicry of rolling his eyes at your childish behavior. Hattori cooing from his shoulder, wings shaking as you practically begged the rope man. You're not taking this serious in the slightest. Just like he predicted although your taunts were unexpected...despite himself, his dark eyes turned back towards you—spotting your wide grin at the rope man.

Tanned hands in pockets twitched.

"Don't make fun of me!" Paulie shouted, making you blink, your eyes clearing at his words with his ropes in both hands as his eyes were narrowed at you. "Take this seriously or you're just going to hold back the whole time?"

"I'm not making fun of you," you said slowly, seriously, before your eyes brightened as you pointed at his ropes. "Your ropes are pretty cool!" Paulie's eyes rounding at the compliment matched with your sincere expression, "How do you fit so much in your sleeves anyways? They seem pretty endless from what I've seen when you use them for work. And they're so long! Say," you paused, hand to your chin in mock thought. "...you have to stuff them in your pants too, right? That must be...uncomfortable."

Paulie flushed.

"Y-You're shameless!"

"Ah," you put a fist to your hand. "I'm right!"

"THAT IS NOT HOW IT WORKS!"

"You got caught, Paulie," Iceburg teased from his lawn chair, Paulie whipping towards the mayor—teeth sharp.

"WHY ARE YOU STILL HERE?!"

"It's a beautiful day—"

"It's cloudy!" Paulie interrupted as you released small chuckles turning into laughter as the other foremen teased Paulie that they now know why he's so uptight, Paulie turning towards them with a red face with ticks as you felt at ease at the love of ships and creations out of nothing. ""IT DOESNT WORK LIKE THAT,