"Hah?!" Sanji and Gin exclaimed at the same time.
Luffy leaped down from the second-floor balcony.
His body spun lightly in the air before landing smoothly on the deck railing. He then sat down cross-legged there, as if keeping his balance on the narrow wood was the most ordinary thing in the world.
With a wide grin, he looked at Sanji.
Sanji returned his gaze for a moment. Smoke curled slowly from his mouth before he finally asked,
"Who are you?"
"I'm Monkey D. Luffy."
Luffy pointed at himself with his thumb.
"The man who's going to become the Pirate King."
Sanji raised an eyebrow.
"So you're a pirate."
He remembered something and glanced at the hole in the restaurant's roof.
"Wait... don't tell me you're the one who fired that cannonball into this place?"
Luffy scratched his cheek, laughing a little.
"Yeah... but that was an accident. I just knocked back a cannonball that was fired at my ship."
Sanji let out a long breath of smoke.
"I don't even know how that's possible..."
He shook his head slowly.
"But don't pull any more stunts like that in this restaurant."
Luffy just laughed awkwardly.
Sanji continued,
"The owner of this restaurant used to be a famous pirate."
"Heh?"
Luffy looked a little surprised.
"So the old man used to be a pirate too?"
"Yeah."
Sanji nodded.
"Most of the cooks here are former pirates too."
Luffy immediately remembered how Patty had beaten up Gin without hesitation.
"Heh... no wonder this restaurant's so scary."
Sanji chuckled.
"That's normal here. We even get customers who come just to watch pirates fight the cooks."
He shrugged.
"That's exactly why most waiters don't last long working here."
"Oh..."
Luffy nodded slowly.
"So that's why the old man told me to work here for a year."
His gaze returned to Sanji.
His grin widened.
"Hey."
"Be my friend."
Sanji answered without hesitation.
"I refuse."
"I have my own reasons for staying here."
Without warning, Luffy leaned forward from the railing until his face hung upside down right in front of Sanji's.
"In that case..."
"I refuse your refusal."
Sanji instinctively stepped back half a pace.
"Hah?"
"What's that supposed to mean?!"
Luffy pulled himself back upright and crossed his arms over his chest.
"Because you're an amazing cook."
"So come with me."
As if it were already a settled matter.
A small vein appeared at Sanji's temple.
"Oi! Listen when someone's talking!"
"What's your reason?" Luffy asked casually.
"I'm not going to tell you."
"Weren't you just the one telling me to listen?"
Sanji's temple twitched.
"What I meant was accept my refusal!"
"I really want to chop you into three pieces, you straw-hat pirate bastard!"
Luffy's grin vanished instantly.
A small vein appeared on his forehead.
"Never insult my straw hat."
"Or else I'll be the one beating you up!"
Just as the two of them were glaring at each other...
"Sorry to interrupt..."
Gin's weak voice cut between them.
Luffy and Sanji turned at the same time.
"What?!"
Gin was now sitting propped against the railing. His face was still pale, but a flicker of life had returned to his eyes.
"I'm Gin."
"A member of the Krieg Pirates."
His gaze shifted to Luffy.
"You're a pirate, right?"
"What's your goal?"
Luffy answered without hesitation.
"I'm going to find the One Piece."
"Then head to the Grand Line."
Gin fell silent.
His eyes widened slightly.
"You... you're still looking for a cook."
"That means your crew isn't complete yet."
Luffy pointed at Sanji.
"Yep."
"He's my fifth member."
"Don't just decide I'm a member on your own!" Sanji snapped.
Gin took a long breath.
He bowed his head. His fingers slowly clenched into fists until his knuckles turned white.
"I'm saying this because you strike me as a good person."
"Don't go to the Grand Line."
"This sea is vast."
"There are still plenty of places you could sail instead."
"You don't have to go there."
Luffy watched the change in Gin's expression.
"Have you been to the Grand Line before?"
Gin's body went rigid.
His breathing grew ragged.
Both his hands gripped his own hair, his shoulders trembling faintly.
"No..."
"I... don't know anything about it..."
"I don't even understand that place..."
His voice grew fainter.
"That's why..."
"...I'm scared."
Silence fell over the deck.
Sanji studied Gin for a moment before speaking.
"Even though you're with Krieg's crew..."
"You really seem like quite the coward."
Luffy kept his eyes on Gin.
He could tell that fear wasn't an act.
Even so...
His grin slowly returned.
"Thanks for the warning."
He stood tall on the railing, letting the sea breeze brush gently against his straw hat.
"But my dream is in the Grand Line."
"I'm not going to change my destination just because I know that place is dangerous."
Luffy pressed his straw hat down with one hand.
His gaze stayed fixed straight ahead.
"I'm going there."
"And someday..."
"I'm going to become the Pirate King."
Gin let out a long breath.
"I see..."
He slowly stood up. His body still swayed a little, but he was in far better shape than before. Gin brushed the dust off his pants, then looked at Sanji.
His gaze softened.
Without hesitation, he bowed deeply.
"Sanji-san..."
"I owe you my life."
"That food you gave me... was the most delicious thing I've ever eaten in my entire life."
Sanji just waved a hand without turning around.
"Don't worry about it."
Gin smiled faintly.
He walked toward the small boat tied to the side of the Baratie. Just before climbing aboard, he paused.
Gin turned back.
His expression, once gloomy, now looked far more at peace.
"Sanji-san..."
"Would it be all right if I came back here someday?"
Sanji lifted one corner of his mouth.
"Sure."
"Come by anytime."
A genuine smile finally appeared on Gin's face.
"Thank you."
He climbed into the boat and began rowing away from the Baratie.
Luffy and Sanji just stood there, watching him go.
The little boat drifted farther and farther away, rocking with the waves until Gin's figure shrank into the distance.
The sea breeze stirred again.
For a moment, only the sound of the waves filled the space between them.
"Hey, you two!"
A deep voice from above broke the silence.
Luffy looked up.
On the second-floor balcony, Zeff was standing there — no one knew since when — arms crossed, watching them.
"Geh! The old man!"
"So this is where you've been."
Zeff's gaze shifted to the empty plates and glasses scattered near the railing.
The corner of his mouth lifted slightly before he turned away.
"Sanji!"
"You busboy brat!"
"You two better get to work already!"
"Yes, sir!" Luffy and Sanji answered in unison.
Sanji picked up the empty plates and glasses, while Luffy ran right behind him back into the restaurant.
***
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