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“Bake a cake, Sanji!”
Just as Sanji had guessed, Luffy’s voice rang through the entire kitchen. Earlier, before the door bursts open and the captain shows himself, he had heard the sound of someone thumping down the floor. Of course it would be Luffy. No one on the ship walks as loud as him.
Reluctant, Sanji turned away from the dishes he had been washing after the afternoon tea time to face the younger captain. “For what?” He asks. “You want some?”
“Not for me, for you!” Luffy exclaimed. “Ah, although I would like to have some of it too, of course…”
Sanji tilts his head in confusion. “For me?”
“Isn’t it your birthday tomorrow?”
“Ohh,” now he understands. What Luffy meant was a birthday cake.
“Birthday parties need cake, right?” Luffy asks, seemingly excited.
“Wait, wait, Luffy,” Sanji raises both his hands, in an attempt to emphasize “stop”. “I don’t need a birthday party.”
Now that Sanji thought of it, Luffy did ask for the same request last month. It was for Robin’s birthday. Of course Sanji happily complied, after all, he had wanted to do something special for the beautiful lady’s birthday too. And throwing a simple ship party for her just seems like the perfect idea. But for Sanji, himself? No, he hadn’t thought of the idea of having a birthday party. After all, he had gotten used to spending his birthdays alone back in his childhood days. His birthdays became more merrier in the Baratie, though, but Sanji never hoped for a party every year. Just having someone remember his birthday is enough to make him happy.
“Aww, why?” Now Luffy’s the one tilting his head in confusion. “Birthdays are a special day, right? Come on, let’s throw a party, Sanji! We have to celebrate it!”
“Well—”
“Come on, Sanjiiii.”
Sanji sighs. No one ever wins against Luffy, do they? “Fine, I’ll bake a cake,” the cook gave in. “But you’ll have to help me, Luffy.”
Luffy beamed. “I can’t cook, though.”
“Just help me with the dishes. You should at least be able to do that, right?”
“Alright!” The captain throws both his hands in the air. “Make lots of your favourite food tomorrow too, Sanji! I’ll tell Brook to sing you a birthday song!”
Between his frown, Sanji smiled. Ever since leaving to join the Straw Hat crew, he had never thought of having a birthday party thrown for him. He thought he is too old for one, anyway. But well, a captain’s order is a captain’s order. And he’s not entirely against the idea. He’s sure the others would enjoy a party too, afterall, the whole crew's merry like that.
Before going to sleep that night, Sanji thought of the whole, big and delicious cake tucked away in the fridge, preserved plates of food he likes that he’ll heat up in the morning, and what other dishes and drinks he would make for everyone. He fell asleep with a giddy feeling, excitedly waiting for tomorrow. Weird, it's something that's rarely, if never, happened to Sanji the night before his birthday. Guess he has to thank Luffy for this, he thought secretly.
A week later, Luffy bursts down the kitchen door again.
“Bake a cake, Sanji!”
And again, Sanji turned from the kitchen table to face the captain, his brain running. “For Franky’s birthday?”
“Yep! Make a big and cooool cake! And lots of foods, too! We’ll have a party tomorrow!”
Sanji laughed. His guess was right. “Sure, Luffy, help me this time too.”
This time, not only Luffy that helped, but some others stepped in and helped with the preparation too. Sanji wondered if this will become a tradition for everyone’s birthday from now on.
He must be right on the mark because on the following month, it was three days in a row. Luffy bursts the kitchen door open every night and says the same line,
“Bake a cake, Sanji!”
“Will we be having parties for three days straight this time, Luffy?”
“Well, what’s wrong with having too much parties? Birthday is something that should be celebrated, anyway!”
This time, both Luffy and Sanji were ready. Sanji had already planned the cake and dishes he had to cook for each one of the crew’s birthday, and Luffy is already rolling his sleeves up, facing the kitchen counter seriously. Surprisingly, he had gotten better at helping around in the kitchen too, though Sanji wouldn’t leave him alone there yet.
For Sanji, things like this are something to look out for. He loves cooking and loves watching the others eat it happily, their crew loves parties, and who doesn't become happy when their birthday is celebrated by their friends? The birthday parties have quickly become something natural for them to do. Sanji had started to anticipate hearing Luffy break down the kitchen door and asks him to bake some cake every noon. And he already has his planner list tucked in one of the kitchen drawer. Next month is Luffy's birthday. Sanji wondered how loud his captain's voice would be when he bursts down the kitchen door to ask for his birthday cake this time.
But much to his surprise, Luffy doesn’t show up on his usual time after afternoon tea the day before his own birthday. Sanji waited in the kitchen, but no door was bursted and no loud thumping was heard. Confused, he walks outside and finds Luffy chatting around with Robin, Usopp and Chopper on the deck.
Sanji stopped midway to ponder, maybe Luffy had wanted it to be a surprise, so he doesn’t come and ask? But they never kept the birthday parties a surprise all this time, though. Even sometimes the person whose birthday it is also came by to help around, like Franky and Jinbei did.
After standing still for a minute, he decided to just go and ask Luffy. Their captain is a straightforward one, after all. Nothing wrong in asking.
“Luffy,” Sanji waited until Luffy turned his head to him. “Aren’t you gonna help me bake a cake?”
Luffy tilts his head. “For what?”
“Huh?” If Luffy’s confused, then Sanji’s even more confused than him. “For your birthday, of course.”
“Oh,” Luffy’s eyes widened. “Oh! It's my birthday tomorrow! Ah, thank you, Sanji, but you don't have to.”
“Why?” Now Sanji’s just surprised. Even Usopp and Chopper looked at him in confusion.
Sanji had thought that because Luffy’s the one who suggested the birthday parties all this time, and he was the most excited one for each parties, Luffy must have wanted a big one for himself. So Sanji did planned a big one. But hearing Luffy said that he doesn’t have to, Sanji looked at their captain with frowns, waiting for reason.
“I don’t usually have my birthday celebrated, so it’s okay.”
“Well, I don’t, too. But you insisted to throw one for me, and for the others too.” Sanji argues.
“Oh, that,” Luffy laughed. “Well, it’s because I wanted to throw one for you guys!”
Sanji’s eyes widened. He sighed, closing both of his eyes and lets out a small laugh. A fond one. Classic Luffy. Always putting others before himself.
He opens his eyes to Robin smiling, Usopp’s eyes watery and Chopper shaking Luffy’s hand brutally as an attempt to hide (or show) how touched he was. “How about we throw one for you this time, Luffy? I want to.”
Luffy's whole body beamed. “Then, I want a meat cake, Sanji!”
Sanji laughed, pushing down the captain’s straw hat playfully. “Let’s see if I could make it possible.”
It ended up being the biggest and loudest party they’ve ever thrown on the ship. And Sanji’s sure this tradition will continue on for years to come, too.