Degrees of Affection

I love that the cover is reminiscent of the first volume's cover.

Here you really see the love Luffy's crew has for him; he's done so much for them time and time again, now it's time for them to return the favor.

Seeing each character change after two years was amazing because of how different yet how similar they are. I look forward to really seeing them show their powers.

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Reread 11/3/2014.

3D2Y. That's the mark Luffy's arm bares in the picture and his nakama understand. Even for the Straw Hats, there is two be no shortcuts. For the next two years, they will train on the islands Kuma flung them to (sent them to?) before returning to Sabaody Archipelago and Sunny. Only then can they face the New World.

All leap to do their best but it's Sanji and Zolo who make true sacrifices. Sanji must fight continually to gain knowledge and flee his personal hell. Zolo bows before the man he must one day defeat, Hawkeye, and begs him to train him. For Luffy and the crew, his pride is put aside. Luffy will train with Rayleight and finally masters what he's been using instinctively, the power of the Supreme King. Luffy leaves his hat, his symbol by the coast...and the time skip begins.

(At this point Eiichiro Oda took a month of vacation; the first he'd taken in 14 years!)

Sabaody Archipelago, the crew begins to arrive and we get to see how they've grown/changed and hints of what they've been up to. But someone's pretending to be the Straw Hats adn that brings the Pacifistas to the island. But they're no problem anymore. Luffy calls goodbye and his promise (to be King of the Pirates) to his mentor and they're off to Fishman Island.