Archive of Our Own

Don’t judge the book by the cover. But, some people are adamant about giving their best first impression, because it matters a lot. Because changing people’s opinions about some people is harder than making the best first impression.

That is what Sanji is thinking. That is also why he always dresses his best whenever possible because he wants to make the best impression in his meetings with other people, mainly aimed at women.

First impression matters, especially now that he has decided to change career after a long time being stuck in one place.

Joining Luffy’s group isn’t something that Sanji ever imagined before, but it would be a lie if he said that he never thought about it. For the majority of his life, Sanji has met various kinds of pirates, starting from the old-fashioned but strangely warm-hearted like Zeff, to plainly rude and vicious pirates that come to Baratie. And, the Straw Hat Pirates are definitely different kinds of pirates.

The first time he saw how Luffy cared so much for his dying comrade, how distraught Nami was, and how Usopp tried to lift up the mood but failed, Sanji thinks that they are more like a mismatched family, but a family nonetheless. The affection and bonds are real and strong, and even Sanji, as an outsider at that time, could tell.

It makes his inside warm… but also strangely twisted.

And he wonders why.

“I said, I’m okay.”

“No, you are obviously not. You need to see a doctor now, you idiot. Or do you want me to drag you there?”

“Try me.”

Sanji can’t admit that he is feeling jealous of how Nami is being concerned with that prideful but idiotic swordsman. The cook wants no more than kick Zoro for being a dickhead toward the caring Nami, but he has the weird feeling that he can’t just butt into their conversation. They give out the air that they are childhood friends or something, that has gone through a lot together, so they are in their own world.

“Come on Zoro, you need to see a doctor. Gotta make sure that my first-mate is okay and well before we can go continue to our journey to find One Piece,” Luffy butts into their conversation easily, with his bright smile.

“…fine,” Zoro looks distasteful about it, such an ungrateful bastard.

“You have to go too, Luffy. Don’t forget about the slash wound on your hand, we have to make sure it won’t get infected,” Nami reminds the oblivious captain.

Luffy shows an innocent expression and tilts his head. “I’m fine, my hand isn’t hurt anymore,” Luffy shows the palm of his hand and Sanji can’t see any kind of wound there. Is that the characteristic of being a rubber man? Healing faster than normal people? Sanji doesn’t know how Luffy’s body works.

“I don’t care, since we have the luxury to have access to a doctor now, we should check your condition. Now, be a good captain and listen to my advice, for once,” Nami taunts him with a commanding posture.

“Damn, Nami is scary when she gets mad,” Usopp whispers to Sanji’s ear and Sanji only gives him a smile and a nod.

Women are terrifying when they get mad.

“…okay, sure,” Luffy agrees, not sounding too happy about it but he doesn’t go against the navigator’s advice.

“Good,” Nami sounds satisfied. Not that Sanji can blame her, he knows just how worried she was when Luffy fought against Arlong and the building collapsed in front of them with Luffy still inside of it. The beautiful lady with orange hair turns at him and Usopp.

“How about you two? Are you two okay or do you need to see the doctor as well?” she asks them.

Sanji wants to bask in her attention, enjoying it to the fullest. She is so kind for being concerned about his well-being, despite them only knowing each other in a very short time. He wants to answer that, yes, he has broken a couple of ribs during his fight with Arlong’s henchmen. But then, somehow Sanji is unable to say it.

It isn’t that much of a big deal. There is no special treatment needed for broken ribs, Sanji knows that from experience. He just needs to be easy on his body, plenty of rest, and ice the sore spot regularly, that would do the trick.

He is still the new guy in their group, he doesn’t want to raise unnecessary attention. He isn’t a weakling who would whine and complain about an insignificant wound like this. In fact, he has a lot to do, so it will be better for him to spend his time where he can be useful.

“I have some scratches from my spectacular battle with that hideous fishman but the Great Captain Usopp is alright,” Usopp says with a proud look. He puffs out his chest with a confident smile.

“Thank you for your concern Nami, but I’m alright too,” Sanji gives out his best smile.

“Okay then, see you later,” Nami pushes the two of the members of the group along with her.

“Sanji, I want meat for dinner later!” Luffy turns around and shouts loudly, before being pulled by Nami with his collar.

“Got it,” Sanji gives a thumbs up.

“The villagers are going to throw a party, you are still going to cook dinner for us?” Usopp asks him. That is kind of a stupid question, Sanji is a cook so of course he is still going to cook. The cook looks around at the happy villagers who are ready to prepare a big party to celebrate their freedom from the notorious Arlong.

“What are you saying? I have a lot more mouths to feed,” Sanji gives him a smile. “I will take a look at Arlong Park warehouse, I bet I can find many delicacies there.” The cook walks with a confident smile, hiding the fact that his chest is throbbing badly because of the earlier fight.

“Oh, that sounds fun, I’m in,” Usopp follows along beside him. “Maybe I can find many fun things there.” Usopp lets out a kind of hideous smile and Sanji wonders what the sharpshooter is thinking, but Sanji doesn’t say anything.

Now is the best time to show people just how useful he is as a cook, Sanji can’t wait to see people’s reactions when they eat his food. It will be delightful for sure.

0o0o0o0

It doesn’t take long for Nami and the others to come back to Coco Village, just by the time the food is ready. Luffy is happily eating while telling Sanji that the doctor said he is fine and how funny his reaction is when he discovers that Luffy is a rubber man. Nami is nagging at Zoro about some meds that the swordsman needs to take and Zoro is trying to avoid Nami stubbornly.

She surely cares about them and it is so obvious until Sanji feels jealous about it. It still stings when he remembers how she avoided his hug and ran toward Zoro and Usopp instead. It stings not because Sanji fancies Nami that way, but somehow it reminds him that he is still the new guy in their group and they are still pretty much strangers to each other.

Well, the more they realize just how good his cooking is, it will be only a matter of time before he can get settled into the group for sure. Sanji is confident about that.

“Why don’t you take a rest and enjoy the banquet with the rest of your group? Your fight with those hideous fishmen shouldn’t be pretty.”

Sanji looks at Nami’s sister, Nojiko, and he is delighted that she comes back for a second serving.

“Thank you very much, my dear lady,” Sanji flashes his gentlest smile toward her, not forgetting to give her a flirtatious wink. “I will take rest once my glutton captain finishes his dinner, no one can handle his hunger for food except me.”

“Well, your captain does eat a lot,” Nojiko glances at countless wood plates around Luffy who shows no signs of stopping eating.

Sanji just smiles. It is his part of the job to make sure that everyone is well-fed. And since he has the luxury of splurging on Arlong’s well-stocked pantry, Sanji has no reason to stop feeding Luffy to the fullest. It will be different once they go on sail again, so Sanji wants to spoil Luffy in the way only he can do now.

“You are part of the crew, right? Just don’t forget to enjoy your time here,” Nojiko says with a smile before she walks away.

Sanji feels like he can die peacefully here and now. He is more than happy when such a beautiful woman gives him kind attention. The villagers here are all good people, it gives him more motivation to cook for them.

So, the cook is diligently cooking, enjoying how the people devouring his food, even that stubborn swordsman can’t deny his delicious food. This is why he loves cooking and he enjoys this kind of moment that he barely got during his time at the Baratie.

It is worth the persistent soreness in his chest, which only gets worse the more he strains his muscles and cooks. He can tolerate this much pain and he can take care of himself later. For now, he needs to do his job as everyone’s cook.

He is glad that he is wearing a suit so that he can hide just how drenched his shirt is because of his cold sweat.

Everything is fine.

And when Luffy is full, Sanji finally can take a break from cooking and enjoy the little time of the party before the Marine comes.

0o0o0o0

“We sure brought a lot of food to our ship,” Usopp lets out a comment while lifting one of the many barrels around him.

“We have to, we should stock our food at every chance we get, as much as we can,” Sanji says with lightness despite being serious about it, he doesn’t need to explain further because Usopp was there when Sanji told him the tale of how he and Zeff got stranded for 85 days with inadequate food.

The cook lifts one of the barrels and he can feel how the soreness on his chest intensified so badly that his head almost spins. Sanji closes his eyes and takes a deep breath before he braces himself for the pain.

Maybe he should go to the doctor, maybe. He should get painkiller meds while he can, Sanji is mulling about that before his thinking is broken by seeing Zoro carrying a barrel beside him.

The cook is so stunned by that swordsman’s ridiculousness that Sanji just stays still with a gaped mouth.

“Hey, Zoro! You are still hurt, my man, you shouldn’t do anything strenuous!” Usopp scolds him lightly.

“This much weight is nothing, and I’m healing just fine,” Zoro says with the most neutral face without any hint of pain. Sanji rolls his eyes when hearing that, he has seen how terrible Zoro’s wound was, a normal person would die from that kind of injury.

“You sure? If Nami finds out, she will kill you,” Usopp reminds him.

“Like she can kill me,” Zoro scoffs.

Sanji lifts one of the barrels and carries it onto the ship. At first, he wants to scold that ungrateful swordsman for acting like that toward Nami’s kindness, but Sanji’s chest is flaring up so badly that it takes all of his might to regulate his breathing.

This much pain is nothing.

Sanji turns around and sees how Zoro is still, stubbornly, helping to bring the barrels into the ship. It makes Sanji feel iffy more because Zoro is wounded worse than him. And if Zoro is doing this, then there is no way for Sanji to lose to him. Especially since stocking the food is his job too.

“You should just take a nap, if your stitches come loose again, I won’t take any responsibility for it,” Sanji reminds him with a slight glare.

“Like those lanky arms can carry all of these barrels,” Zoro scoffs at him.

“Excuse me!?” Sanji can’t believe what he just heard. “First, my arms aren’t lanky,” Sanji admits that his biceps aren’t as beefy as Zoro’s but that is because Sanji fights only with his legs. “And second, I’m not weak.” Sanji lifts one of the heaviest barrels, to prove a point. Living as a sea cook for the majority of his life has shaped his body stronger than average people.

Zoro just snorts, as if he thinks that Sanji is being ridiculous. And Sanji can only roll his eyes toward this stubborn swordsman.

He tries his best to be gentle and kind to the members of his new group, but Zoro is an exception.

That swordsman keeps irritating him as if Zoro hates his guts for no reason.

Nothing new about that, Sanji knows that many people hate him without reason and Zoro is just one of them.

Damn him.

0o0o0o0

Carrying so many barrels to stock up the ship might have been too much for his broken ribs, but Sanji only realizes it once he has finished the task. Now that the adrenaline has dwindled down, he can feel the surge of pain flaming from his chest. He just hopes that none of the broken ribs displace and puncture something, like his lungs.

But based on his experience, it seems he is still okay. It is very painful, but he has no difficulties of breathing. However, the pain makes him breathe way too fast.

Sanji takes off his suit and buttons off a few upper buttons of his drenched shirt. It is good that he is in the storage room and no one is there. He checks his bruised chest, frowning at so many blue colors that marred his skin. It seems everything is still in its place.

Sanji takes a seat on the floor and lays back on the wall while trying to regulate his breathing. His fingers are trembling badly when he takes out his cigarette, it takes a few fumbling before he can light it and put it in his mouth.

Sanji is riding the pain waves as he focuses on breathing and smoking, relying on the nicotine to dull the pain a little bit. It takes 5 cigarettes before Sanji can breathe regularly, his shirt is completely soaked with his cold sweat. Even his bang is wet with sweat.

Now that the pain has calmed down, the cook can’t fight the fatigue that comes along after it. He puts off his last cigarette and closes his heavy eyes.

He sleepily reminds himself that he needs to start the preparation for dinner in just about one hour, he wants to make a bountiful soup with a lot of seafood inside of it before they sail tomorrow, and milk risotto too… and…

Sanji falls asleep as he thinks of the menu for dinner, with his drenched bang and shirt, and the shortness of breath.

0o0o0o0

When Sanji wakes up groggily, it takes a few seconds to process what just happened.

“I fell asleep…” He mutters in horror as it downed to him. The cook jumps in surprise and then groans in pain slightly. But then he brushes off his pain and tidies himself quickly. His hair is a bit sticky and matted because of sweat, but it should do. Sanji buttons up his shirt and wears his suit back as he climbs out from the storage room just to realize that the sky is getting dark. No, it is almost completely dark.

“Shit,” he curses softly. He wonders if anyone is wondering where he has been gone too. He hopes that no one sees him passed out in the storage room, that would raise too many bothersome questions that Sanji doesn’t want to deal with.

He enters the galley and tries his best to look as normal as he can be. All of the members are there, probably waiting for dinner even though they don’t show it blatantly. Zoro is waking up from his nap. Usopp and Luffy are playing cards and Nami is reading her book of maps. “I’m sorry folks, I took a nap longer than I planned to,” Sanji greets them sheepishly. “I will prepare the dinner quickly.”

“It is okay, you can take your time,” Nami answers with a neutral expression but Sanji is still happy with her consideration toward him. Before Sanji can say thanks to her, he can hear a loud stomach growling that resembles a sea beast’s growl.

The cook turns at Luffy, the captain smiles at him. “I’m hungry,” as if his stomach’s sound isn’t obvious enough.

“Point taken,” Sanji rolls up his sleeves, deciding not to take off his suit because his shirt underneath is sticky with sweat.

His chest still flaring up with pain, but he can tolerate it at this level. There will be nothing that can stop him from cooking for his crew.

The supposed lavish last dinner before they sail is out of the window, so Sanji prepares quick food to feed the crew tonight. He feels a bit of regret because he knows that once they sail, it will be hard to cook luxurious meals with bountiful ingredients. Not that Sanji can’t cook with limited options, but as a cook, he loves it when there is unlimited choice to cook.

“The seafood fried rice is done, do you all want to eat first or-“

“Eat, I want to eat first,” Luffy says before Sanji can finish his word. Sanji is about to say the simple soup to accompany the fried rice is still simmering, along with stir-fried meat and vegetables still being cooked. But, Sanji can understand that Luffy is being impatient.

If only the soreness in his chest can go away, Sanji can cook faster.

“Okay then, please enjoy it first, there will be more to come,” Sanji divides the fried rice into four plates and he can’t help but smile when he sees how the crew are waiting around the table patiently but also with expectant expressions.

“Hurray! Fried rice!” Luffy takes a big scoop and shoves it into his mouth happily. His cheek stretches as if he is a chipmunk that stores food inside his cheeks.

“This fried rice makes me remember that time when I ate a magical fried rice…,” Usopp is telling his tale as he eats with a somewhat, fake, mournful expression.

Sanji can hear Nami’s laughter and Zoro’s low chuckle while he is focused on cooking more food. He loves it when the crew is having a good meal together, it makes him think that embracing the pain is worth it.

“Sanji, I want more fried rice!” Luffy is already jumping to his side, probably because he wants to scrap-clean the leftover fried rice from the pan. Sanji can’t tell him that it is his portion, actually, that he is supposed to eat after he is done serving everyone.

“Luffy, you can sit down and let me-“ Sanji should know that his captain has a tendency to be impatient, especially when it is about food. Luffy is moving fast, taking an unused ladle from the counter and elbows Sanji’s chest in the process.

“Sorry,” Luffy chirps out quickly. But Sanji already lets out a loud hiss from being in pain, he almost loses his balance and he needs to grab the counter to steady himself. He sees white for a second and is relieved that he doesn’t lose consciousness.

But then it is down to him that everyone’s attention is directed to him now.

Oops, he doesn’t mean to hiss in pain that loudly.

“Sanji, are you okay?” Luffy sounds concerned and forgets about the food instantly.

“I’m alright, you just caught me by surprise-“ Sanji is trying to bluff his way out of this.

“You are hurt,” Nami says, with a tone that she isn’t asking him a question. “Oh my God, you are injured, because of the fight, of course,” she repeats as the realization comes to her.

“What?” Usopp asks in disbelief.

And Zoro is throwing him a disapproving look.

Sanji feels his mouth is dry. He turns off the stove awkwardly as he can feel the heaviness in the silence.

Damn it, he doesn’t mean to hide his injuries from them. But somehow, he did.

“Why didn’t you tell us?” Luffy asks the most terrifying question with a bit hurtful eyes that Sanji can’t help but look away from them. “You should tell us,” Luffy says again, in a calm voice, as if he is asking Sanji in a gentle way to never repeat this stupidity again.

“Just a couple of broken ribs,” Sanji answers quickly, avoiding everyone’s eyes. “It will heal on its own, don’t worry.”

He still needs to finish cooking, the stir fry is halfway down and the soup is still simmering, he only needs to season them, and then-

“Sanji,” Nami talks to him in a commanding tone. “Open up your shirt.” The way she says it, she leaves no chance to go against her words. Not that Sanji can go against her words in the first place.

He is done.

He is totally messed up.

Sanji lets out a sigh. “Can we please finish the dinner first? The food will be cold and please don’t waste food,” he pleads to them. He knows that he is doomed either way, Sanji has ruined their dinner but at least he doesn’t want the crew to waste their food.

Nami still looks upset, but she huffs. “Alright, but you stop cooking and just sit there.” She is glaring at him slightly. “And don’t do anything else.”

Sanji can only nod with a defeated look. He takes a seat on the corner of the galley and tries to remember when is the last time he messed up this badly.

Well, he messed up a lot of things.

But, seriously, his broken ribs aren’t that much of a big deal. Zeff did quite a number of him in the past, probably because he didn’t know how to control his power when he hit a child, and because Sanji couldn’t help but be a dickhead around him. It isn’t like he is going to die from these injuries, so it should be okay.

He is a grown-up man who knows how to deal with a few injuries and take care of his own body. The same way as how he is dealing with endless hunger that haunts him in his sleep, the same way as he learns how to keep himself afloat in the sea of regret. Just like how he is dealing with his problems alone, because he doesn’t like it when people get troubled because of him.

He is glad that he is alive. He is grateful for that and he asks no more than that.

He knows that he needs to be useful so that he can pay back that debt even if only a little.

So that he can become someone who deserves to be saved by sacrificing the limb of a stranger.

This much of injuries are… nothing, really. If only everyone can understand that.

“Everyone finished?” Luffy asks around and Sanji only notices that the sound of clanking spoons has stopped. “Good,” Luffy turns around and faces Sanji. “Now, Sanji.”

Sanji lets out a sigh once again. He hopes he can protest, to make them understand that it is really not a big deal. But, he isn’t that stupid and there is no point arguing here.

Sanji takes off his suit then he unbuttons his shirt. On other occasions, he won’t mind showing his bare chest in front of Nami, but now he only opens up his shirt enough to show the bruises on his chest.

“Gosh,” Nami grimaces with a frown. “It looks bad.”

In Sanji's opinion, it doesn’t look that bad, but he can’t say that out loud.

“Ouch man, that must be hurt a lot,” Usopp hisses in sympathy.

“…not really,” Sanji mutters quietly. “I get used to it,” he adds again.

The cook dislikes how everyone’s attention is focused on him.

Not in this way, it feels so wrong. It makes his fingers twitch and his stomach churns in a weird way.

The serious look from Luffy doesn’t help either. It feels as if Sanji just failed him.

“Such an idiot,” Zoro lets out a quiet comment but everyone can hear it.

Now, Sanji feels wronged. The cook is dying to throw back the insult at that annoying swordsman, but on the edge of his eyes, he can see the changing expression of the sweet navigator.

“You, from all of the people, don’t deserve to say something like that,” Nami says menacingly as if something inside of her just snapped.

Maybe, it did.

“Now, you, sit there,” Nami says commandingly, pointing at Zoro and then pointing at the empty seat beside Sanji.

“What?” Zoro asks back with a frown.

“You too, Luffy,” Nami says again.

The seriousness on Luffy’s face melts away. “Huh? Me?” He asks in confusion.

“Just do what I said.”

If a look can kill then Luffy and Zoro will be already dead, Sanji is sure of that. He can even feel the anger radiating from Nami.

She is, seriously, pissed. She is completely seething with anger.

“…okay,” Luffy complies with a scared expression clear on his face.

Zoro follows along begrudgingly.

Now, the three of them are squeezed uncomfortably on the seat that is way too small for three men. Luffy, being the smallest and sandwiched by Zoro and Sanji, tries to make himself smaller by draping his body on Sanji and folding his legs.

If the situation isn’t this serious, then Sanji won’t mind Luffy cuddling him like this.

Nami glances at Usopp and Sanji can see how Usopp’s eyes are shaking and looking away from Nami, trying to look innocent.

“You still have some common sense, you pass,” she mutters.

Usopp takes a huge relieved breath.

“And now, you three.” Nami turns at them. The orange-haired navigator takes a deep breath as if she is trying to calm herself down, but then she fails. “I don’t believe I have to say this out loud,” she mutters to herself and no one can say anything to her.

She faces them again with the most serious look that she can muster.

“I don’t care how strong you three are, but please, please , have some common sense when you are hurt.” She scolds them with so much apparent anger. “I don’t want someone to bleed on my bed again,” she glares at Zoro. “I don’t want someone to be careless with his body just because he is a devil-fruit eater,” she glares at Luffy. “And I don’t want someone to keep pretending to be fine and strenuous himself like an idiot,” lastly she glares at Sanji.

None of them can say anything back to her, as if they are guilty children who are being scolded by their mother.

“When you get hurt, you need to get it treated. When you are hurt, then you need to get healed first before doing anything stupid. Please, just please , use your head a little. I know you guys will get hurt a lot more in the future, but please , I don’t want your stupidity to be the death of you.”

Sanji wants to rebuke that cooking isn’t stupid, but again, he knows better than to go against Nami.

“I’m not… that careless with my body,” Luffy mutters softly as if he isn’t so sure of himself, which is rare for him to act like that.

“This is so annoying,” Zoro mutters quietly.

Then Nami hits the table and they all jump in their place.

“What? Do you think what I’m saying is wrong !?” She is very angry, Sanji can tell. The other two, being an idiot, maybe can’t tell it but Sanji knows that Nami is on the verge of exploding.

“Yes, Madam! Understood!” Sanji says quickly. “It won’t happen again, I promise!”

Sanji glances at Luffy and Zoro then give them a look.

At this point, there is no way to against Nami, just no way. They are all doomed.

“Okay, I agree,” Luffy nods.

Zoro just grunts something, probably saying that he agrees as well.

Nami nods and has a tired look on her face. “Good then. You three need to remember that,” she says as she massages her head with an exasperated face.

Sanji looks at her.

Then to the slightly pouting Luffy beside him and the annoyed Zoro.

And Usopp is clearly amused with the situation.

He bites his lip, but he can’t stop laughter from escaping from his mouth. Sanji covers his mouth with his hand, but he is starting to chuckle even though it makes him wince in pain. He really can’t help it, but this situation is really…

Hilarious.

The notorious demon pirate hunter, the self-proclaimed man who will be King of the Pirates, and also himself, are completely defeated by their scary, but very beautiful, navigator.

The three of them can take down those bastard fishmen, but they really can’t win against Nami.

“This is just… so funny… I’m sorry…,” Sanji is trying so hard to hold down his laughter but he fails.

“What is so funny about this?” Zoro sounds beyond annoyed and Sanji just laughs harder. The cook is holding on to his hurting chest, but he just can’t stop.

“Am I missing something?” Luffy looks around with a baffled look.

Then Usopp joins Sanji’s laughter. Probably because he thinks the same way as Sanji.

“Oh men, you need to see all of your expressions earlier… ha ha ha…,” Usopp chuckles and wheezes, and hearing that Sanji can only laugh harder.

Zoro has this insulted look and Sanji is completely enjoying that expression on his face.

“Okay, okay, you need to stop before you aggravate your broken ribs, Sanji,” Nami scolds him, in a kinder way than before. “You need to see a doctor, I will accompany you.”

Sanji stops laughing and now he can feel the warm feeling in his chest. It isn’t only because Nami is offering herself to accompany him, but…

Because Sanji knows she cares.

She cares about him because he is one of the members of the Straw Hat Pirates.

And Sanji feels included now.

And the way he is also included as one of the idiotic main fighters in this crew doesn’t feel half bad either.

He feels acknowledged. And it flatters him.

“It is my pleasure to get your company, Nami. Thank you very much,” Sanji replies back, he buttons back his shirt with a delightful smile.

“And Zoro, don’t forget to take your meds, I see you,” Nami reminds the stubborn swordsman with a gesture that she is watching him.

Zoro grunts again with a distasteful look.

“I’m surrounded by idiots, for real,” Nami mutters to herself again, as if she is pitying herself. She huffs and turns around at Sanji. “Let’s go.”

“Uh, oh, Sanji, can I finish everything on the stove?” Luffy asks as Sanji turns off the simmering soup.

“Huh? What? No, don’t. They are still half-cooked, don’t touch them, Luffy.” Sanji warns the captain.

“Luffy, please, you can’t get sick because of food poisoning, again,” Nami glares at Luffy. “I’m warning you.”

Luffy only nods with a very innocent look, as if he doesn’t know what his fault is. Nami sighs heavily again.

“Oh, Nami, poor you,” Usopp nods in sympathy.

“And you too, Usopp, please don’t cause any trouble,” Nami reminds him.

“You have my word, The Great Captain Usopp-“

Nami is already walking away from the galley and Sanji follows her obediently from behind. She glances at him and she frowns. “Why do you keep smiling like that?”

“You are very beautiful, that’s why,” Sanji says smoothly.

Nami shakes her head and walks ahead.

Sanji holds down his chuckle. He can’t help it. It is very obvious that her anger comes from her affection for the crew. She is angry for their sake, and it is heartwarming for Sanji.

And she is angry for his sake too.

Of course, Sanji can’t stop himself from smiling like an idiot.

Seeing her angry back like this, and those idiots in the galley, Sanji thinks that he, finally, finds himself to belong in the crew.

Between all of them.

He is also their friend and a member of the crew. He realizes that now.

And that makes Sanji feel happier. The happiest he had ever felt ever since he was born.

And he hopes that he can stay with them, venturing to adventures and realizing their dream, together.

Together, as long as possible.

End