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"Hummu~ Do I look convinced, I wonder...?"
"Let's see. Yes, you are."
"You're correct, yes~"
Issho nods solemnly with a satisfied smile. He brings the tea cup from the table to his lips. He actually expected some more convincing but seems like everything is moving to his liking.
"So~" Borsalino peeks at the colleague beside him. "Do we need to tell Sakazuki?"
Both of them now face each other and stare in silence. Though it was just Borsalino staring and Issho figuring it out based on vibes only.
"It doesn't seem like a good idea."
Borsalino laughs crisply. "I know right...~"
Two days later, after a carefully planned plan to sneak out of HQ, the two Admirals safely arrived on a specific island. Though, no. They didn't plan anything. And despite disembarking from actual Marine warships, again, these two Admirals, aren't wearing their coat.
Issho is rocking a black and purple color while Borsalino wears his yellow waist coat and fedora hat. The Marine mobs behind them have gone long pale watching the two walks away with leisure.
"Ooh~" Borsalino whistles as he scans around through his glasses. He tips it down and can definitely see pirates mixing in. But oh...?
"Right. We're officially on vacation now," Issho adds.
Though, no. They're not officially on vacation.
"Do you see where the booth is?" Issho looks around. Though he doesn't. "Borsalino?"
"Yeah~ It's just right ahead and big screen there..." Borsalino materialize besides him again. He's also slurping a bowl of ramen. The scent tickles Issho's nose.
Issho moves his cane and starts walking,"This isn't lunch yet."
"Lunch.. is whenever your heart desires it." The man slurps more as he walks.
The town is as packed as it can get. The booth is especially swarmed with folks who each has the same goal.
"I believe they have the flyers there."
"There...?"
Borsalino's gaze follows the direction of Issho's finger. It's like a battle field in there.
"Do you want me to snatch it?"
Issho shifts the direction of his finger. "And return that bowl."
"Okay, okay... I'll be back. ... I'm back~"
Borsalino opens the flyer for them to see today's line up.
"I can't see," Issho said.
"Oh~ How foolish of me~" It was deliberate.
Borsalino reads the flyer to himself and hums. "Let's see... Eleven horses.., that's a lot~"
"Can you talk faster and go to the point?" Issho pokes his shoes with the cane.
"Can't you see, I'm busy.. reading?"
At this moment, Issho wondered if he invited the wrong person. Thankfully, the announcement just started to explain the race and the horses that will be participating.
"Have you decided on who to bet?" Issho asks smugly minutes later. It was easy decision because he's here for the fun of it. "I'm betting on Sunscreen."
"Obviously~ This runner up called, Twinkle Twinkle... Sounds good, no?"
Sounds like Borsalino is also choosing based on fun.
The two hurriedly slide through the masses to place their bet. Both insists that their horses will win.
"A hundred thousand berries for Twinkle Twinkle~!"
Issho snaps a glare. Not really. "Are you afraid of losing, Borsalino?" The man almost grins. "This old man will bet three hundred thousand for Sunscreen!"
Borsalino isn't brothered. Though he is bothered. "Hmm... Are you feeling risky? I'm raising to five hundred thousand~"
Their eye brows twitches.
"Forget it. I'm doing six hundred thousand!"
"Well, well... Seven hundred thousand~"
"Eight hundred thousand!"
Issho grits his teeth, bumping head with Borsalino. The two keeps betting higher with intensity that the staff have to break them apart.
"Good sirs, this isn't an auction! Please stop!" The man cries out trying to separate the two forces.
"The one who loses will have to take blame in front of Sakazuki!" Issho dares.
Borsalino raises a brow in amusement. "You should prepare to be yelled at then, Issho-kun~"
The two walk away separately after such heated nonsense. Yet seconds later, Borsalino turns around to follow hos friend.
He hums, "Wait, Issho-kun~ Do you have money for cola...?"
The announcer's voice spreads through the air and reaching everyone in the stadium. People and yelling and cheering for their respectful horses. While the horses are currently doing some warm-ups, captivating the eyes of the supporters who bets on them.
With a special negotiation technique, which is just pure intimidation, Borsalino and Issho got themselves the best seat. The two Admirals- the two old man are enjoying the view and snacks available.
"Did you even pay for the ramen earlier?"
"How rude, Issho-kun... What makes you think I didn't pay, hm~?"
Borsalino is muching on a burger this time. It comes as a set with the massive cola that Issho bought.
"Just a hunch," Issho replies without much thought. "Though I can see you didn't bring any money with you."
"No.., you didn't."
The two of them falls into a second of silence and more of Borsalino chewing.
"Yes, I can't see."
"Ooh~!" Borsalino excalimes and points across them. "Do you.. see that person selling banana crepes? Give me.. your money... Please~?"
A vein popped on Issho's forehead.
A few minutes later, both are enjoying banana crepes as the race about to start.
"See..?" Borsalino points to the horses lining up. "Yours is the farthest from here... Keep your eyes on it..~"
Issho enhances his senses. He can hear the heartbeat of the horse clearly. Sounds like it's in a good shape. A smug chuckle escape him.
"I made the right choice."
"No.., in your dreams~ I will win so I can.. replace- uh oh~"
"What was that?" Issho pokes, suspicious at him. Somehow he got chills and a really bad feeling. "Borsalino, what was that-!?"
Borsalino ignores him. "Go-! Go-!"
His questions quickly swallowed by the loud cheers all across. The race finally started and off to a strong start.
"Twinkle Twinkle! Twinkle Twinkle! Our beloved runner up is charging forward and currently leading! Comes second, Butterpea!!" The announcer speaks non-stop.
Issho clutches on his cane at the fast changing situation. He grasps where Sunscreen is and the horse is currently on the fourth place.
"Come on! You can do it!" he urges, immersing in the race.
Borsalino chirps in smugly. "Oho~ Look at that, Issho-kun~ I won~"
"You should look at that," Ishho spat, bumping deliberately on Borsalino. "Your runner up is a runner up-!"
"Huh..? I can't hear you~"
"Are you being intentionally dense?" Issho groans.
"Huh...?"
The announcer's voice gets louder. "Five hundred meters remaining! Golden Wind breakthrough to the front! Twinkle Twinkle got into second! Is this it? Is this it? Sunscreen coming in from inside!"
"Uoogh!!"
The two supposedly dignified Admirals stands up because of the intensity. They're holding hands, breaking each other's fingers as they eyes glued to the race.
"Two hundred meters left!"
The atmosphere turns desperate. Everyone is expecting miracles. Heart pumping to the max and leaving some nauseous.
"One hundred meters! Neck to neck Twinkle Twinkle and Sunscreen!
"I'm going to win this... Issho-"
"No way, I won't let you-"
"Golden Wind! Golden Wind! Three winning streak!"
The announcer's especially shrieking voice halts both Borsalino and Issho. The two quietly let go of each other and sits.
"Huh... Now Sakazuki is going to kill me.., it seems...," Borsalino mutters quietly.
"Seriously, what do you mean by that?"
"BOTH OF YOU STUPID FOOLS!"
Sakazuki's roar probably could be heard all across the HQ. Though everyone must be used to it at this point. Doesn't mean Borsalino and Issho aren't standing like a child caught playing in muds.
"Running away from duty and ignores work call on purpose," Sakazuki groans, slamming his fist against the table. He glares, as burning as lava. "Even more, gambling with my money!?"
Issho almost flinches and he can feels Borsalino's presence besides him disappearing. "What!?"
"As if I'd know ~ It was Issho who dragged me along... I'm truthfully innocent~ So I'm outta here..." Borsalino laughs and disappearing into the light.
"Oi, Borsalino!" Issho yells in cold sweats. The room is getting hotter for a reason he can definitely name.
"Issho," Sakazuki calls coldly, "you better have my money ready and starts doing overtime."
Issho's grip on his cane shaking. He won't ever invite Borsalino for anything ever again. That man is a walking disaster!
"Curse you, Borsalino!!"