Sanji and Kazuki's POV
Meanwhile, Sanji and Kazuki had wasted no time finding exactly what they were looking for in the shopping streets near Loguetown's harbor. The city boasted a particularly lively market, where merchants offered an incredible variety of products from all four Blues. Between stalls overflowing with exotic fruits, fishmongers displaying their finest catches, and shops specializing in spices, the two cooks had more than enough to indulge their shared passion.
Sanji, in particular, seemed to have rediscovered his inner child. He moved from stall to stall with infectious enthusiasm, carefully examining the freshness of the fish, the quality of the meat, and the aromas of the spices on offer. Kazuki followed him with an amused smile, regularly taking the time to compare prices and negotiate with the merchants.
"Look at this, my darling Kazuki!" Sanji exclaimed, showing her an assortment of spices carefully arranged in small wooden containers. "Pepper from the Southern Islands, volcanic salt, and even saffron from West Blue! With these, I could prepare some absolutely magnificent dishes!"
"Then buy some, my love. We have plenty of money, and Jordan asked us to stock up on supplies before entering the Grand Line."
"You're right! And I happen to know a recipe you'll love that uses this saffron."
Kazuki gave him a tender smile before planting a small kiss on his cheek.
"In that case, I can't wait to taste it."
Sanji immediately looked as though he would happily buy half the market just to please her. Fortunately, Kazuki had enough common sense to stop him from emptying their entire purse at the very first shop.
They continued shopping for nearly an hour, purchasing fresh vegetables, several varieties of rice, fruits, meats, and various preserved foods. Thanks to the ship's storage capabilities and the magic available to the crew, they could afford to stockpile far more supplies than an ordinary pirate crew.
However, as they approached a large square a few streets away from the harbor, an unusual commotion caught their attention. A crowd had gathered around a stage decorated with colorful banners, while a particularly enthusiastic man was loudly promoting a cooking competition.
"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN! STEP RIGHT UP! STEP RIGHT UP! THE GREAT LOGUETOWN COOKING COMPETITION IS ABOUT TO BEGIN!"
Sanji immediately stopped in his tracks.
"A cooking competition?"
Kazuki followed his gaze and noticed an enormous silver figure displayed behind the stage. It was a gigantic fish, whose massive head and impressive size towered over the tables prepared for the contestants.
"And this year's grand prize is none other than a magnificent ELEPHANT TUNA!" the organizer continued. "An exceptional catch, highly sought after by the greatest chefs in East Blue!"
Sanji's eyes instantly lit up.
"An Elephant Tuna..."
Kazuki studied the fish with interest.
"It's enormous. We could prepare dozens of dishes with a catch that size."
"Dozens? My darling Kazuki, with a fish of this quality, I could prepare an entire banquet! Its flesh is famous for being tender, flavorful, and exceptionally rich. It would be a crime to let an opportunity like this slip away!"
She burst out laughing at his enthusiasm.
"Then what are we waiting for? Let's sign up!"
Sanji immediately took her hand.
"That's why I love you, sweetheart! You understand my priorities perfectly!"
"More like I'm starting to recognize that expression you get whenever you discover an exceptional ingredient."
The two lovers headed toward the registration desk, where a portly man wearing a neatly pressed suit was welcoming the contestants.
"Hello! We'd like to enter the competition," Sanji announced with a smile.
"Why, certainly, sir!" the organizer replied enthusiastically. "Our competition is open to anyone passionate about cooking. I'll just need your names to confirm your registration."
"Sanji Vinsmoke and Kazuki."
The man began writing their names in his register before suddenly freezing. He slowly raised his eyes toward Sanji, then glanced at Kazuki and her long white hair. His professional smile stiffened as he recognized the two faces he had seen on wanted posters.
Twenty-two million berries for the man... And fifteen million for the woman! They're members of the Straw Hat Pirates!
A cold sweat trickled down his temple. He cast a nervous glance toward the crowd, then back at the two pirates waiting calmly in front of his desk. He had absolutely no desire to provoke individuals with such substantial bounties, but the thought of allowing them to participate in a public competition terrified him just as much.
"Uh... Mr. Sanji, Miss Kazuki..." he began, his voice trembling slightly. "I'm truly honored by your interest in our humble competition, but... you see... we have many families and children attending today."
Sanji immediately noticed his discomfort and understood what had happened.
"Ah, you recognized us from our wanted posters?"
The organizer turned even paler.
"I... Yes, sir. But I assure you, I have absolutely no intention of disrespecting you! It's just that... well... some spectators might be concerned about your presence."
Kazuki exchanged an amused glance with her boyfriend before answering in a reassuring voice.
"Don't worry. We're simply two cooks who want to participate in your competition. We have absolutely no intention of hurting anyone."
"Exactly," Sanji confirmed. "We spotted your magnificent Elephant Tuna and thought we'd try our luck. Nothing more."
The organizer nodded hurriedly, visibly torn between relief at hearing them speak so calmly and fear of making the wrong decision.
"Naturally, naturally! I'm not questioning your word at all, but..."
He never had the chance to finish his sentence.
A small commotion had just broken out among the spectators. Three blue-eyed Heartless, belonging to the patrols that now regularly roamed the towns of East Blue, were calmly approaching the gathering.
Their presence had become relatively familiar to the region's inhabitants. These creatures regularly intervened to protect civilians from criminals and violent pirates, to the point that many merchants had come to regard them as guardians rather than monsters.
"Oh! Look! The Heartless are here!" a merchant exclaimed.
The organizer turned toward the three creatures with a relieved expression. He knew they generally intervened whenever someone posed a threat to the townspeople.
However, much to his surprise, the Heartless simply walked past Sanji and Kazuki without showing the slightest hostility.
One of them even accidentally brushed against Sanji's leg while making its way through the crowded passage before peacefully continuing its patrol alongside its two companions.
Sanji briefly glanced down at the little creature before turning his attention back to the organizer.
"See? Even they don't consider us dangerous."
The man watched the Heartless peacefully continuing their patrol before looking back at the two pirates.
"That's true... They didn't react to your presence at all."
Sanji shrugged with a relaxed smile.
"That's because we're good people. We don't hurt innocent people, so they have no reason to attack us."
Kazuki nodded in agreement.
"A bounty doesn't always tell the whole story about someone. You should know that, considering how many pirates have passed through this town."
The organizer appeared to think for a few moments. The blue-eyed Heartless had earned such a positive reputation that their lack of reaction was enough to reassure him.
He finally let out a sigh of relief.
"You're right. Please forgive my hesitation. With all the stories we hear about pirates, I sometimes tend to imagine the worst."
"No problem," Sanji replied kindly. "I completely understand that you want to protect your contestants."
"In that case, welcome aboard!" the organizer finally declared, regaining some of his enthusiasm. "I'll register your team immediately. I just hope you'll treat us to an impressive culinary demonstration!"
Sanji flashed a confident smile.
"Count on us. You won't be disappointed."
Kazuki affectionately slipped her hand into her boyfriend's.
"And we fully intend to walk away with that magnificent fish!"
The organizer chuckled, now considerably more relaxed.
"Then I wish you the best of luck! You're going to need it, because some of our contestants are exceptionally talented!"
A few minutes later, the two lovers found themselves behind a spacious cooking station equipped with several stovetops, professional knives, and an impressive variety of ingredients.
The competition consisted of preparing an original dish using the ingredients provided, then presenting it to a panel of judges made up of restaurant owners and culinary experts from Loguetown.
Sanji and Kazuki naturally decided to work together, which the rules allowed since several other teams of two were also participating in the competition.
However, their registration had not gone unnoticed.
"So, two little pirates think they can win my competition?"
A particularly confident female voice rang out behind them.
Sanji and Kazuki turned around to discover an elegant woman with long purple hair, wearing a chef's outfit that was as extravagant as it was meticulously maintained. She wore a confident smile and seemed especially proud of the numerous trophies she had already won.
"I'm Carmen, the best chef in East Blue!" she announced, striking a theatrical pose. "And I'm warning you right now: nobody is going to steal my victory!"
Sanji observed her for a few moments before offering her a polite smile.
"Pleasure to meet you, Miss Carmen. I'm Sanji, and this is Kazuki, my girlfriend."
Kazuki gave her a nod.
"Nice to meet you. I hope we'll have a great competition."
Carmen seemed slightly surprised by their attitude.
"You're awfully confident for a couple of nobodies!"
"We're mainly here to have fun," Kazuki replied. "And to win that magnificent fish, obviously."
"HA! In that case, prepare to lose!"
Sanji exchanged an amused glance with his girlfriend.
"She's certainly full of energy."
"That's putting it mildly."
The competition began a few moments later, accompanied by cheers from the crowd.
Carmen immediately launched into a spectacular performance, combining rapid gestures and theatrical movements to impress the spectators. Her knives seemed to dance between her fingers as she regularly announced the different stages of her recipe.
Sanji, on the other hand, took a much calmer approach. He began by carefully examining the available ingredients, selecting several vegetables, a particularly fresh piece of fish, and a few spices whose aromas he meticulously checked.
Kazuki took charge of the side dishes and sauces, working with remarkable precision. The two cooks regularly exchanged a few instructions, but their chemistry was such that they barely needed to speak to understand what the other wanted to do.
"I'm going to prepare a slightly spicy reduction," Kazuki announced. "Would you prefer me to keep a little acidity to balance out the fish?"
"Excellent idea, sweetheart. I'm planning to cook it gently to preserve its texture."
"In that case, I'll add some citrus fruits."
"Perfect!"
Their movements flowed naturally, as though they had spent years working together. Sanji sliced the ingredients with impressive speed, while Kazuki prepared the various garnishes with almost artistic precision.
The spectators, initially drawn to Carmen's spectacular demonstrations, gradually began gathering around their cooking station.
"Look how fast they're working!"
"They don't even need to give each other instructions!"
"And that smell... It's incredible!"
Carmen quickly noticed that the audience's attention was shifting away from her own preparation.
"Hey! You'd better pay attention over here! I'm the best chef in this town!"
Sanji didn't even acknowledge her remark, too busy monitoring his cooking.
Kazuki, however, gave her an amused smile.
"Then prove it with your cooking instead of shouting about it."
Several spectators burst out laughing, while Carmen turned red with indignation.
"YOU'LL SEE!"
The allotted time quickly ran out, and the contestants took turns presenting their creations to the judges.
Carmen presented a particularly elaborate dish, accompanied by a rich sauce and several carefully arranged garnishes. The judges immediately recognized her talent and awarded her excellent scores.
She then turned toward Sanji and Kazuki with a triumphant smile.
"See? I warned you!"
Sanji simply smiled before placing their plate in front of the judges.
The duo had prepared a delicately pan-seared fish, accompanied by lightly caramelized vegetables and a citrus sauce enhanced with a carefully balanced blend of spices. The presentation was elegant without being excessive, with each element arranged to highlight the dish's colors and textures.
One of the judges took his first bite.
He immediately froze.
His colleague tasted the dish next, then closed his eyes with an expression of pure bliss.
The third judge remained silent for several seconds before slowly setting down his fork.
"This is... absolutely remarkable."
"The cooking is perfect," the first judge murmured. "The fish retains all its tenderness, and the sauce complements its flavor without ever overpowering it."
"And this balance between the spices and citrus... I've never tasted anything so harmonious!"
Sanji smiled with satisfaction, while Kazuki discreetly squeezed his hand beneath the counter.
When the results were finally announced, the verdict left no room for doubt.
"AND THE GRAND WINNERS OF OUR COMPETITION ARE... SANJI AND KAZUKI!"
The crowd erupted into applause.
Sanji joyfully raised his girlfriend's arm, and she burst out laughing before pulling him close for a kiss.
"Congratulations, my love!"
"It's our victory, my darling Kazuki! Without your sauce, the result would never have been this good!"
"And without your cooking, my sauce would have been useless."
Carmen, meanwhile, seemed to be having a very difficult time accepting her defeat.
"Impossible... How could I lose to two pirates?!"
She approached their cooking station, discreetly tasted a piece of their dish left on a plate, then froze.
Her expression gradually changed.
"... Damn it."
Sanji gave her a kind smile.
"Your dish was excellent, Miss Carmen. You're very talented."
She immediately looked away.
"I don't need your compliments!"
Kazuki smiled.
"Then consider it the opinion of two fellow chefs."
Carmen remained silent for a few seconds before letting out a long sigh.
"Very well... You won this time. But don't think I'm going to give up! One day, I'll challenge you again!"
"With pleasure," Sanji replied.
"And next time, I'll win!"
"We'll see about that," Kazuki added with a wink.
After the award ceremony, the organizer officially presented them with their enormous Elephant Tuna. He also gave them several assortments of local spices, particularly prized by Loguetown's chefs.
Sanji gazed at his prize with obvious satisfaction.
"Magnificent... With a catch like this, I'll be able to prepare some extraordinary dishes for the entire crew!"
Kazuki looked at the fish, then at her boyfriend.
"You do realize Luffy will probably want to eat the whole thing as soon as he sees it, right?"
Sanji turned slightly pale.
"... We absolutely have to keep it somewhere safe."
"Jordan specifically asked Charles and Kratos to buy a large refrigerator with a lock."
"That man is a genius!"
Kazuki burst out laughing before using her wind manipulation to gently lift their prize. The gigantic fish gradually rose off the ground, surrounded by a controlled current of air that allowed it to float effortlessly above the cobblestones.
The spectators watched them leave in astonishment, while Sanji carried their bags of spices and other purchases.
They quickly returned to the harbor, where Merry enthusiastically greeted them from the deck.
"Sanji! Kazuki! You're back already?"
"Just stopping by to drop off some supplies, Merry!" Sanji replied. "Look what we won!"
The ship's spirit opened her eyes wide when she spotted the gigantic fish floating above the dock.
"WHOA! It's enormous!"
Zoro, awakened by the commotion, cracked open one eye from his usual spot against the mast.
"What's that thing?"
"Our dinner," Sanji replied proudly.
Zoro stared at the fish for a few seconds.
"Oh. Luffy's gonna be happy."
"EXACTLY!" Sanji exclaimed. "Whatever you do, don't tell him we have this until I've finished preparing it!"
Kuina burst out laughing.
"You know he'll find out sooner or later."
"Then we might as well delay that moment as long as possible!"
With Kazuki's help, Sanji carefully stored their prize and the various provisions in the ship's storage compartments. He personally made sure the fish was properly protected before asking Merry to keep an eye on their supplies.
"Count on me!" the ship's spirit replied cheerfully. "And if Luffy tries to sneak in and eat something, I'll let you know!"
"Thanks, Merry. You're probably saving us several days' worth of food."
Once their purchases had been put away, Sanji turned toward Kazuki with a tender smile.
"There we go, sweetheart. Our mission is accomplished, and we still have several hours ahead of us."
She stepped closer and wrapped her arms around his neck.
"Then I suggest we finally enjoy the rest of our day together as a couple."
"With the greatest pleasure!"
He placed a gentle kiss on her lips before offering her his arm with exaggerated elegance.
"Miss Kazuki, would you do me the honor of accompanying me on a romantic stroll through the streets of Loguetown?"
She took his arm with a smile.
"With pleasure, Mr. Sanji. But on one condition."
"Anything you want!"
"This time, we're going to browse the shops without stopping at every single grocery store."
Sanji appeared to consider this demand very seriously.
"... Even if they sell rare ingredients?"
Kazuki gave him a mock-stern look.
"Sanji."
"All right, all right! Today, I'm entirely yours!"
She burst out laughing before pulling him toward the gangplank.
"Now that's an answer I like much better."
The two lovers finally left the ship hand in hand, leaving behind a carefully preserved Elephant Tuna, several bags of spices, and a Merry who was particularly amused by their affectionate chemistry.
(Author's Note: Sorry, I watched an episode of The Little Chef, and it inspired me a little for this chapter. For those who don't know, Carmen only appears in the anime, not the manga. I'll try to post another chapter right after this one because this one feels a bit too short to me. ^^)