The night was as still as water, and the sea breeze carried a distinct chill.
Sanji, having been collectively "kicked out" of the kitchen by the chefs, was currently lying spread-eagle on the deserted deck of the Baratie.
An unlit cigarette dangled from his lips as his gaze pierced through the drifting clouds, staring at the brilliant starlight overhead.
The surroundings were quiet, save for the rhythmic sloshing of waves against the restaurant's base. In this tranquility, long-buried memories surged back like a tide.
Ten years ago. That barren, desolate rock in the middle of the ocean. Despair, hunger, thirst. And an old man who gave him every scrap of food while eating his own leg...
Sanji instinctively touched his stomach. It was full now, brimming with strength.
"Betting that leg and this entire restaurant on me, huh..."
The words spoken by Viktor and Zeff earlier that day echoed in his ears.
—"Spending your whole life in the tiny East Blue, guarding a one-legged old man—is that your 'Way of the Cook'?"
—"Just get out already! You're nothing but a burden!"
Sanji slowly closed his eyes, a bitter yet liberated smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Honestly... a bunch of idiots with terrible acting skills."
He fished a lighter from his pocket. His hands trembled slightly, and it took several tries before the cigarette finally caught fire. As the smoke rose, the stinging fumes made his eyes grow hot.
He finally understood. For the longest time, he believed that staying here, guarding this restaurant for the rest of his life and looking after the old man until the end, was the best way to atone for that lost leg.
But he was wrong.
When that old geezer cast everything aside to save him, was it really just to raise a watchdog who would guard this small patch of territory and cook the same dishes every day?
No. What Zeff wanted to see was the boy who shared his dream going out to fulfill the ambition he could no longer reach.
"Parents are just unreasonable creatures like that, aren't they... If I stay here and rot, that's when I truly waste the value of his sacrifice."
Only by going to that legendary sea... only by finding the "All Blue" that every chef dreams of on behalf of that old man... only by witnessing the world he craved and bringing back the stories of its sights and flavors...
That would be the greatest repayment to that old bastard!
Having reached this clarity, Sanji crushed the cigarette butt.
Flutter-flutter!
Just as the atmosphere turned solemn and sentimental, the rapid beating of wings shattered the silence. A black shadow dove from the night sky, landing firmly on Viktor's shoulder.
"Caw! Boss! Boss! I'm exhausted!" Klay panted heavily, its small chest heaving. It had clearly pushed itself to the limit.
Viktor, who had been leaning against the railing enjoying the night air, casually pulled out a piece of dried meat and stuffed it into the bird's beak. "Well? Did you find her?"
Gulp!
Klay swallowed the meat, instantly revitalized. It puffed out its chest and reported loudly: "Caw! Found her! The orange-haired woman is sailing northwest! Over there... there's a huge smell of fish! It's fishman territory! Lots of weirdos with gills!"
"Fishmen?"
Beside them, Luffy pressed down on his straw hat, his gaze instantly turning sharp. "Where is that?"
Hearing the words "fishmen" and "northwest," Johnny and Yosaku turned deathly pale, their teeth chattering. "Northwest... could it be... Arlong Park?!"
"That's the base of the Arlong Pirates, the most evil fishman crew in the East Blue! Why would Big Sis Nami go there?"
"Whatever the reason is," Luffy didn't hesitate for a second, his fists clenching tight, "now that we know the location, we're going to get her back! And my Merry!"
"But..." Usopp looked at the "Yosaku-Go" next to them, which could only seat two or three people, and looked troubled. "Our boat is too small. We can't all fit, and the Merry was taken."
Creak—
Just as they were worrying about transport, the restaurant doors swung open. Zeff walked out, arms crossed over his chest, leaning on his wooden leg. Behind him, several chefs were pushing a strangely shaped vessel.
It was the restaurant's spare supply ship—the "Shimashima-Go." Though the name was odd, the prow was shaped like a giant Psyduck, looking both ridiculous and sturdy.
"Hmph. Pirates worrying about a boat? Brats," Zeff snorted, pointing at the vessel. "This ship is yours. It's not big, but it'll get you to the next island. If you're going to mess around on the sea, you need a decent ride."
His gaze swept casually toward a certain corner of the deck as he raised his voice. "And while you're at it, take that idiot cook who's loitering here with you. I'm tired of looking at him."
Hearing this, Sanji's body trembled slightly where he lay. He slowly stood up, brushed the dust off his clothes, and walked back to his room without a word.
A moment later, Sanji emerged carrying a small blue rucksack. He approached Luffy and Viktor, pulled out his lighter, and lit the cigarette in his mouth with a crisp click. The flame illuminated his reddened eyes.
He took a deep drag and exhaled, trying to keep his voice steady to mask the turmoil within. "Can't be helped... since there's no room for me here anymore, and I happen to want to see the outside world anyway."
Sanji looked up at Luffy. "Hey, Captain. Take me with you. To the Grand Line."
"And then... to find my own miracle."
After a brief silence...
"ALRIGHT!!!!" Luffy raised both hands and shouted in excitement. "Awesome!! Sanji!! You're finally joining us!!"
"Yeah! We have a cook! We won't starve anymore!" Usopp jumped for joy, hugging Luffy.
Viktor watched the scene, clapping his hands with a smile. "Ah, finally some human food. My poor stomach is saved."
Hearing this, Zoro—who was covered in bandages in the cabin—had a face full of black lines. He had been the one cooking before this! What was that supposed to mean?!
"Shut up, red-eyed bastard!" Sanji shot Viktor a look, but his lips couldn't help but curl upward.
The moment of parting finally arrived.
The sea breeze howled. Sanji tossed his rucksack onto the "Shimashima-Go" and prepared to board. The restaurant entrance was empty; not a single person had come out to see him off. Patty, Carne, and the old man had all seemingly vanished.
"Heh... fine by me," Sanji lowered his brow and chuckled self-deprecatingly. "Makes it easier to leave."
He jumped onto the boat and untied the lines. The small craft began to drift slowly away from the Baratie. Sanji kept his back to the restaurant, refusing to turn around, but his ears were pricked, as if expecting something—or fearing it.
Just as the boat was about to drift out of earshot...
"Hey, Sanji."
A familiar, gruff voice carried over the wind from the second-floor balcony. Sanji's body froze instantly. He stopped moving but remained with his back to the restaurant.
On the balcony, Zeff stood with his arms crossed, watching the receding figure. He didn't give a long-winded lecture or a sentimental farewell.
This stubborn old man, who had been hard-headed his entire life, simply used his normal tone to shout the simplest of phrases:
"Don't catch a cold."
Boom!
Those four simple words hit Sanji like a sledgehammer, instantly shattering every defensive wall he had built in his heart. Tears burst from his eyes in an instant, surging like a broken dam.
He could no longer maintain his cool facade. He could no longer suppress the emotion.
"Ugh..."
Sanji spun around violently and fell heavily to his knees on the deck. Even with the distance between them, even with his vision blurred by tears, he pressed his forehead hard against the wood in a deep kowtow toward the man who had raised him, saved him, and taught him everything.
"OWNER ZEFF!!!" Sanji screamed with every ounce of strength in his lungs, letting out the words he had kept buried for so long.
"FOR EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE FOR ME... THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!!!"
"I WILL NEVER FORGET THIS DEBT FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE!!!"
As he cried out, the doors of the restaurant burst open. "SANJI!!!" "You bastard, stay safe!!" "We're gonna miss you!!"
Patty, Carne, and all the chefs rushed out, sobbing like children. They waved spoons and spatulas frantically at the departing boat, crying their eyes out. "Waaaaah! You idiot Sanji!!" "You better find the ALL BLUE!!"
Zeff stood on the balcony watching. A glint of moisture finally appeared in the corner of his eyes. He fought to suppress it, turning his head away and muttering under his breath, "Idiots... quit making fools of yourselves."
On the small boat, Viktor watched the moving scene quietly.
"Ah, so this is it... a man's farewell on the sea," he mused. He pulled a handkerchief from his robe and handed it to Luffy and Usopp, who were both wailing even harder than Sanji.
"Hey! Why are you two crying so much? Wipe yourselves up, your snot is getting in your mouths."
"Waaaaah! Viktor! Sanji! It's too touching!" Luffy sobbed while blowing his nose.
Zoro, though wrapped in bandages, heard the commotion and let a smirk play on his lips. "Hmph. So noisy."
The wind caught the sail. The "Shimashima-Go" supply ship, carrying the full assembly of the Straw Hat Pirates, broke through the waves and headed northwest.
Usopp stood at the prow, looking spirited as he pointed forward. He was about to give a "Captain's" speech of encouragement when Luffy, anticipating him, knocked him flat onto the deck with a single punch.
At the prow, Luffy wiped away his tears and pointed toward the horizon with fiery resolve:
"Alright, everyone! Assemble!!"
"Target—Arlong Park!!"
"Let's bring Nami back!!"
"YEAH!!!!"
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