It seems my chapters are getting longer every chapter... All well~! Not that much Ace x Reader lately but it will definitely pick up soon. Tell me mistakes, I don't mind.

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Exhausted, you dropped your phone next to you on the bench and hunched forward with your hands covering your face. Dragging them downwards, you stretched out excess skin and slapped your cheeks. "Wake up [name], we have a meeting." You muttered to yourself, dusting off your clothes, and shoving your phone back into your jean pocket. Hopping up, you shook your limbs out before heading to the staffroom.

The call you just had with Bonney's parents was certainly something. They were the type of people who were bewitched into thinking their children were the best in the world. That they were angels. People who couldn't be touched. Albeit, they were wrong, of course. No one was perfect.

You didn't know what they were going to do about the information of knowing that their child was secretly a playgirl but you didn't think it was too good from Bonney's expression yesterday. Hopefully, it's nothing overly severe. I do despise her for touching Portgas, but even so, they're just messing about. They're kids for crying out loud, although they're only two years my junior.

Reaching your destination, you scanned the area for potential seating but most were already taken. Either you sit next to Robin, the historian and florist, and Mihawk, the school's personal kendo trainer and Spanish teacher, or you sit next to Trafalgar, the school's counsellor and top scientist in Anatomy, with Caesar, the chemistry expert. Hard choice.

As strange as it was, most teachers and students alike in this school had many abnormal talents, reaching from persuading mass numbers of people into thinking that they were toys to being an animal whisperer. This was generally because many of the people have had other occupations or came from strange backgrounds, but you were in the dark about most stories, being a teacher-in-training and all that.

Aiming to go to Robin's side, the option was snatched away when Shanks-sama walked in. It was common knowledge that he was a man of high expertise, being one of the top teachers in the country for his area of study in psychology and that he was a man not to be reckoned with. As intimidating as he was, just to add a cherry to the cake, he was missing an arm and had three long drawn scars across his left eye. Plus, he was a close friend of Mihawk.

Knowing your final options, you shrugged and headed to Trafalgar. May as well get this silly meeting over and done with.

Finishing up, you yawned as you waved goodbye to the other teachers, heading for your classroom for the first period. However, you didn't leave unaccompanied. A specific Red-Haired Man and Surgeon followed after.

Growing uncomfortable with two highly ranked teachers, you diverted your thoughts to Portgas. I wonder, does he know who the principal currently is? If not, he would make the cutest face when he finds out.

Chuckling quietly, you were brought to reality by a very deep voice. "Something funny?"

Almost stopping, you coughed and calmed your nerves. "Um, just thinking about some friends, Shanks-sama." Unexpectedly, he laughed softly and smiled at you.

"Please, Professor is for the students. Unless... you want to be my student tonight~?" Taking a second, you flushed and instantly sputtered back.

"E-excuse me, Sir! That is not appropriate for school grounds!" A grunt beside you proved that Trafalgar agreed.

He threw back his head and laughed, and cheekily grinned at you. "Don't worry, my dear, I'm just messing with you. However, just call me Shanks."

Sighing in relief, you replied quickly. "Okay. Shanks-san then." Surprisingly, he wasn't as intimidating as you thought he was. Maybe that quote, 'never judge a book by its cover' was a real thing.

He lightly chortled and spoke, "we'll work on it."

Glancing behind your way, he brightened even more, if that was possible. Looking over your shoulder, you realised that Trafalgar had been glomped by that Luffy teenager from this morning. "Tra-guy!"

You sweatdropped as he struggled to make the energetic child let him go. "Murigawa! Let go! I'm at work!"

Eyes wandering to the side, you noticed that his brothers stood there, ignoring the scene beside them, but still keeping an eye out. Ace.

Seeing the drift of his eye, you diverted your attention to the pouting male beside you, hiding the faint blush on your cheeks while ignoring the confronting stare at your head "Lufffyyy~," Shanks whined.

"Oh, hey Shanks!" Finally realising that the psychologist existed, he released the poor scientist and speeded right in front of Shanks, bombarding him with questions, or in the redhead's case, attention. First name basis? They most know each other extremely well.

Your lips quirked up a bit and you shook your head, giggling softly. You walked up to Trafalgar and dusted off his back. "Tra-guy, hm?" Glaring at you half heartily, he brushed off his clothes and readjusted his fluffy hat.

"Class."

Just as he said that the bell rang. "Whoops. Might be a little late today." You muttered, turning your attention back to Shanks, feeling like you might as well signal him that you were going to class as well. "Ah, Shanks-san. I'm going to class as well. See you around..."

Turning to go down the hallway with Tra-guy, you barely heard him call back to you as Luffy dragged him to their class. "Let's have coffee someday!"

"Okay," you whispered, uncertain if he heard you or not. Surprisingly, in only ten minutes of being in his presence, you were already comfortable with him. No wonder he was skilled in psychology.

Paying your attention back to the two seniors that were now edging closer to the direction of the emergency doors, you raised an eyebrow. "Excuse me, but where do you think you're going?"

—•—

[to everyone] Q: Ever tried to skip class before?
[personal] A: No. I would've been murdered by my school or parents.