Chapter Text
Just two years. That was what Sanji thought the moment he stepped inside the campus. It wasn't exactly bustling with people, considering the fact that it was a community college in the middle of buttfuck nowhere but hey, at least it made his anxiety ease a little. It wasn’t like it was hard for Sanji to befriend others, however, he knew absolutely no one and would like that to change as soon as possible.
As he walked around following the map on his school brochure, he bumped into a running guy slightly shorter than him with messy black hair and a stupidly big smile.
“Oh, sorry! Are you okay? Did I hurt you?,” Mr. Stupidly-Big Smile asked, face contorting into something that looks worried, checking if Sanji is showing any sign of hurt. “No, thanks for asking. How about you? No offense, but you’re shorter than me but you seem like you’re an athlete type or something.”
“No offense taken!” the guy let out an adorable ‘shishishi’ laugh that made Sanji’s heart skip a beat, he continued, “You have a good eye for things, I’m actually on my way to the gym for basketball tryouts, and to answer your other question, no I’m not hurt. I’m Luffy by the way," Luffy extends his hand, asking for a handshake.
Sanji, now flustered by the way Luffy said he had a good eye for things (he sure does), tried to collect and introduce himself before taking Luffy's hand.
“I’m Sanji, I’m taking culinary and business classes so I can take over my dad’s restaurant in a few years.” He mentally facepalmed. That’s not something you would say to a stranger that you bumped into accidentally. He thought about taking what he said back and apologize for oversharing but-
“Your dad owns a restaurant? AWESOME! What kind of restaurant is it? I wanna bring in Zoro and Nami and Ace and Sabo next time…”
Relieved with the man's reaction, he says, “Who- you know what, do you wanna hang out later? I only have two classes today and my schedule ends at around 2 p.m. I still have to unbox my things at the dorms and meet my roommate but I can make time for you at about uhm, 4 p.m.? What do you say?”
Luffy did not even miss a beat, he immediately answered, “Sure! Meet me in the cafeteria at around 5, see ya!” Sanji was pretty sure Luffy’s eyes were twinkling, excited to have made a new friend, waving to Sanji before seeing him head to the direction where the gym was.
Throughout the day, he found himself ecstatic about seeing Luffy later. He felt like a primary school kid who made his first friend again. It’s stupid, but he was interested in Luffy and would love to be closer to him. He was snapped out of his daze when he heard his professor tap the whiteboard with his marker.
“That’s all for today since it’s my first time meeting you and I only had to discuss what you should be expecting this semester. Remember to review the syllabus from time to time since it would help you keep in track throughout the semester," the professor deadpans.
Sanji blinks and tries to remember the professor’s name, it was Trafal-something, he wasn’t really sure, he’d just check later. The man mumbles something about his husband waiting for him, but Sanji paid no attention to that. All he can think about is Luffy. He picks up his things and shoves them in his bag, rushing out of the room to the dorms. He only had to unbox his clothes and toiletries and school supplies so he figured he'd still have time to prepare for later.
ROOM 356. Sanji hoped that his roommate is already settled somehow and that it isn't too messy when he opens the door and sees-
"Sanji?"
Sanji, surprised to see who the person behind the door was, says, "Luffy? What are you- are we roommates? I mean I guess so, since you're here sitting on the floor putting your stuff in the closet…"
"What a coincidence! We don't have to meet up later anymore since we're already here, I still wanna eat out though. I'm sooo hungry."
Sanji smiles at that, he considered offering to cook for him, but scratched that idea when he realized how tired he is for the day, and that they probably didn't have groceries and ingredients. So he just agreed, which cued Luffy to finish up his task at hand.
It only took Sanji less than an hour, he was finally done unboxing his things, there wasn't a lot anyway, all set in his desk cabinet and closet. Luffy was still in their room playing a game on his phone while he waited for Sanji to finish. Luffy looked up from his phone just in time for Sanji to look like he was ready to go. They take the stairs down the building and Luffy basically grabs Sanji's hand to drag him to the cafeteria.
"Sanji, come on!!! The cafeteria food here is so good, you have to try the paella."
Luffy looks for an empty table and makes Sanji save it for them. After that, he heads to the counter to order, leaving Sanji alone for the first time since they met in their room. Sanji looks around and sees a beautiful girl with short orange hair beside a skrunkly looking man with green hair, laughing together about something. Sanji seethes at the scene that should be me and not that mosshead, he thinks to himself.
It's not that Sanji would throw himself into any pretty person within his radius of reach, but he really does appreciate women. Maybe a little too much. To the point where he actually considered approaching the girl and her friend.
He was snapped out of his thoughts when his roommate placed two trays of food on the table.
"I got us the paella and bread. I'm not sure if you eat salad but I got some anyway. I also got alfajores for dessert. This is my treat! I want to try your cooking next time though," Luffy states.
"Thanks Luf, and sure, just let me know what you want me to make and I'll whip it up for you," Sanji said. After he finished speaking, he was almost sure Luffy wanted to jump off his chair and give him the biggest hug right then and there. Damn, Luffy must really like food that much.
They eat in silence for a while, occasionally making small talk then going silent again, until the girl with the orange hair passes Sanji’s peripheral vision, still with the mossguy.
"What do you know about her?" Sanji breaks the comfortable silence, pointing to Ms. Orange Hair. Luffy looks up and his face lights up (yet again) for the nth time, which Sanji isn't really complaining about.
"That’s Nami, and Zoro's with her. They've been my friends since I could remember. HEYYY ZORO HEYYY NAMI!" Luffy yells and waves at his friends, making everyone in the cafeteria give them a dirty look.
Sanji remembers their earlier talks, Ohhh, so that’s the Nami and Zoro Luffy didn't seem to want to shut up about. He sinks into the chair and looks away from Luffy out of second-hand embarrassment. Thankfully, Nami and Zoro waved back at him.
Luffy sits back down and waits for Sanji to say something again. When it doesn't come, he begins, "As I said earlier, Nami's a friend, one of my closest friends in fact. She's kinda nice, kinda not nice, it really depends on her mood, you know? She's been going to Grand Line Community College for a couple of semesters now so she can save money to transfer to a proper university. She wants to be a, what do you call this, Mythologist? Yeah, a mythologist. If you're interested in her, then good luck with that, it's impossible!"
Luffy inhales after his slightly lengthy monologue and stares at Sanji again.
"What do you mean impossible?" Sanji finally asks.
"Not really my place to say… anyway, eat up! Paella is better when it's warm." Luffy takes a big bite off his food.
"If I do something to try though, will you help me?"
"Depends on what you wanna do."