In the dim passageway, Sabo and Luffy faced each other in silence.
Sabo knew that the seemingly reckless Luffy before him was probably connected to the memories he had lost.
The other man's completely genuine behavior, and the strange feelings Sabo had toward him, were proof enough.
Something seemed on the verge of surfacing in his mind, but all he found was a blank. The harder he tried to dig it out, the more painful the throbbing became.
"I-I lost part of my memory?"
Luffy spoke haltingly, his pupils unfocused and vacant. He clearly found the result hard to accept.
"Hey, Sabo, what do you mean you lost your memory? Were you hurt or something?"
"Right! Chopper's outside. He'll definitely know what to do!"
Luffy grew agitated, clenched his fists, and made to rush outside.
"Wait, Luffy. The Revolutionary Army must have had a doctor examine him already."
Lina quickly grabbed him. "Even if medicine can cure amnesia, you're more likely to help him recover than a doctor."
"What do you mean?"
Luffy paused, then urgently asked, "Then what should I do, Lina?"
"Uh, maybe talk about things you experienced together, or promises and secrets only the two of you know."
Leaning against the wall, Lina scratched his head and said casually, "I'm no expert, but recovering lost memories probably takes some kind of mental stimulus."
The amnesia had been caused by physical trauma, but as for recovering...
Using physical means to do it again would be far too unreliable. He might recover his memories—or end up losing them a second time.
At that, Sabo stepped forward. He could feel that what he had lost was precious to him.
"Let's try it, Luffy. We must have had some unforgettable experiences together. Maybe there's a chance." Sabo spoke earnestly.
Luffy looked