One month passes, then two months. On rainy days and windy days, Luffy keeps following Ace through the mountain, through rivers, cliffs, and beasts. He is bitten, chased, bruised, soaked, and exhausted, but continues despite his injuries. After three months, Luffy finally pushes through the forest and finds Ace's trail, saying, "Ah... I'm out of the forest..." He emerges near the strange place beyond Mt. Corbo and sees Ace meeting someone else. This page shows the long grind of Luffy's persistence, turning his childish request for friendship into something Ace can no longer ignore.