Pirates: Martial Arts Masters on the Straw Hat Ship

"The soup I made?"

"Whoosh—Bang!!!"

Without any warning, Zeff's fist, carrying immense force, slammed into Sanji's face!

Sanji was struck dumb, the punch knocking him to the ground. He slid several meters away, overturning several chairs in the process.

"You want to talk to me about cooking... you're a hundred years too young! You brat!"

Zeff looked down at Sanji, who was lying on the ground:

"I'm a man who's cooked on the world's oceans! Your pathetic tricks aren't even worthy of shining my shoes!"

"Damn it...damn it!!!"

Sanji covered his swollen cheek, tears welling up in his eyes.

Humiliation, anger, and resentment intertwined, making it impossible for him to stay in that place any longer.

He jumped up, turned around, and rushed out of the restaurant.

As Sanji's figure disappeared behind the door, the tense atmosphere in the restaurant vanished instantly.

In the dead silence, only the sound of Luffy chewing could be heard.

Luffy walked up to the pot of soup that everyone had rejected, filled a large bowl, and gulped it down.

"ha--"

Luffy wiped his mouth, a satisfied smile spreading across his face: "This soup is absolutely delicious! It's the best soup I've ever had!"

Zeff looked at Luffy, his gaze finally softening, and he sighed:

"I know that too. Sanji's cooking skills... are highly recognized by everyone present."

The chefs around them finally dropped their pretense, their faces showing remorse and reluctance.

"It's not bad at all..."

"You did a really great job, much better than me."

"Did I yell at him too harshly just now? Sanji seems really angry..."

"Yes, yes, it really makes me feel bad."

Zeff turned around, looking at the still-swaying door, his voice low:

"However, if we don't do that, that stubborn idiot won't listen and leave!"

He turned to look at Luffy, the boy with bright eyes.

"Hey kid."

Zeff's tone was no longer that of an elder giving orders, but rather a request between men:

"I heard you need a cook on your ship, right? Well, it's not really a request... but could you take that little brat with you? To the Grand Line!"

Zeff gazed out the window at the vast ocean, his eyes deep and thoughtful: "The Grand Line... that's that fool's dream!"

The chefs started shouting, "Was my acting alright?"

"Quickly, get me a bowl of soup! I was so focused on acting that I didn't get to drink any!"

"Me too! Me too! This soup is so delicious, it'll get cold if we don't drink it soon!"

……

Outside the door, in the corner of the wall.

Sanji leaned against the wall, his hand trembling as he lit a cigarette.

Amidst the swirling smoke, tears were already streaming down his face.

"We heard you all...you brats."

He took a deep drag of his cigarette, trying to suppress the sob in his throat.

It turns out, I wasn't abandoned, but deeply loved.

These rude bastards pushed him in the most clumsy way.

Just then, the door was pushed open.

Sanji stubbed out his cigarette, straightened his slightly disheveled suit, and looked at Luffy. His eyes were no longer filled with confusion, but only with a carefree, all-consuming spirit.

"We all have foolish dreams..."

"For my destination, for ALL BLUE!"

"Luffy..."

Luffy looked at him.

Sanji smiled smugly: "Ah, let me accompany you on your adventure! That so-called... dream of becoming the Pirate King!"

Luffy was stunned, then a smile bloomed on his face, like the midday sun.

"I'll be the cook on your ship! Are you sure you can handle it?!" Sanji shouted.

"Sure!!"

Luffy jumped up excitedly, raising his hands high: "That's great!!"

Sanji turned around, his back to the restaurant door, and shouted:

"That's settled then, everyone! Sorry for causing you so much trouble!!"

Dusk, on the deck of the Merry.

The setting sun dyed the sea orange-red, and the Merry had already untied its moorings, ready to set sail at any moment.

Ronan, Luffy, Nami, Zoro, and Usopp stood on the deck, watching the blond man carrying a simple bag walk step by step toward the Going Merry.

He walked very slowly, each step feeling like he was walking on cotton.

But he didn't turn around, always keeping his back to the floating restaurant that held his childhood, his growth, and all his memories.

"Don't we need to say goodbye again?" Luffy asked, leaning on the railing.

Sanji stepped onto the deck of the Going Merry, lowering his voice and trying to maintain his last bit of coolness: "No need! What kind of man dawdles like this?"

Just as he was about to step into the cabin and bid farewell to the past.

A familiar, aged yet powerful voice pierced through the sea breeze and the distance, striking his eardrums directly.

"Sanji."

Sanji's body suddenly stiffened.

Zeff stood on the second-floor terrace, arms crossed, without uttering any grand pronouncements or sentimental attempts to persuade him to stay.

He spoke casually, as if instructing his son to go out:

"Don't catch a cold."

boom--!

These five simple words instantly shattered all of Sanji's psychological defenses.

All pretense, all strength, all "coolness" crumbled at this moment.

Tears welled up in his eyes like a burst dam.

Snot and tears mixed together, making his handsome face look disheveled.

He couldn't take it any longer.

Sanji suddenly turned around to face Zeff, the old man who had lost a leg saving him.

"Thump!"

He knelt heavily on the hard wooden board, his hands supporting him on the ground, and his forehead slammed down!

"Boss Zeff!!!"

Sanji cried out in heart-wrenching sobs, his voice echoing through the heavens:

"Thank you so much for taking care of me all this time!!!"

"Your immense kindness and virtue...I will never forget it!!!"

Every word, every sentence, was accompanied by scalding tears falling onto the deck.

On the terrace, Zeff looked down at the child crying uncontrollably, and at the fledgling eagle that had finally grown wings and was soaring into the sky.

The tears she had been holding back finally burst forth.

"asshole……"

Zeff gritted his teeth, tears streaming down his beard: "A man... has to leave silently!"

Paddy and all the chefs were also in tears, leaning on the railings and shouting:

"Sanji! You bastard! You better do your best!"

"Don't embarrass our Balati!"

"We'll miss you, Sanji!"

Ronan watched this scene quietly, a warm feeling welling up inside him.

That's the charm of One Piece: among these rough men, flows the most delicate emotions in the world.

"What a bunch of... adorable idiots," Ronan murmured.

Luffy tugged at his straw hat, then took a deep breath and shouted:

"Setting sail—!!!"

The Merry hoisted its sails and, carried by the wind of the setting sun, sailed into the distance.

Sanji stood up and wiped away his tears.

He stood at the stern, waving his arms vigorously one last time towards the floating restaurant that was gradually disappearing into the distance:

Goodbye, you brats!!!

"I will definitely find ALL BLUE!!!"

......