As soon as Sanji stepped outside the restaurant, the noise inside Baratie softened.
The chaos, the shouting, the clattering of plates — all of it faded into a low, distant hum, like a storm finally moving away from shore.
Luffy remained seated at his table, staring into a bowl of soup he had nearly finished.
"You know," he said casually, lifting his spoon, "I really don't feel anything wrong with this."
Across from him, Zeff let out a low chuckle.
Several of the cooks exchanged embarrassed looks, shifting their weight like children caught lying.
"There isn't anything wrong with it," Zeff said, smiling faintly. "Not a damn thing."
Patty crossed his arms and clicked his tongue.
"Sanji's a great cook," he admitted. "One of the best in this whole floating wreck."
More nods followed. Quiet ones. Earnest ones.
Luffy frowned slightly and looked up.
"Then why did you all say it was disgusting?"
Zeff pulled out a chair and sat down across from him, the familiar thump of his wooden leg echoing against the floor.
"That kid," Zeff said slowly, "is stubborn to the bone."
Luffy listened without interrupting.
"He's got dreams bigger than this restaurant," Zeff continued. "But he chained himself here because he thinks he owes me something. A debt I never asked to be paid."
Luffy's eyes softened — just a little.
"He would never leave on his own," Zeff said with a dry laugh.
"So we shoved him," Patty added. "Hard."
A ripple of quiet laughter moved through the kitchen.
Luffy smiled — and then felt it.
A presence.
Standing just outside the door.
Listening.
He rose without a word and walked toward the back exit.
---
Sanji leaned against the railing outside, cigarette shaking between his fingers. Tears streaked down his face, though he made no effort to hide them.
Luffy stood beside him, back against the ship's side, gazing out at the sea.
"You had a dream," Luffy said.
Sanji flinched, then exhaled smoke.
"Yeah," he admitted. "One I wanna grab before I die."
He hesitated.
"…You ever hear of the All Blue?"
Luffy looked up at the sky, clouds drifting lazily above the endless horizon.
"Yeah," he said. "Legendary ocean. Where all four seas meet."
Sanji froze.
"Fish from every sea," Luffy continued. "North, South, East, West. Every chef's dream."
Sanji turned sharply, eyes wide.
"You really think it exists?"
Luffy paused.
"I don't know."
Sanji's shoulders sagged.
"But," Luffy added, glancing at him, "there's only one way to find out."
Sanji laughed softly.
"…Guess there is."
Luffy stepped forward and stared out at the ocean.
"Let's turn the world upside down."
He turned back.
"Get your things. We're leaving."
Sanji nodded — then froze.
"…Leaving where?"
Luffy's eyes shifted toward the distant horizon.
"I've got a thief to catch."
---
Inside Baratie, the calm didn't last.
The doors suddenly exploded inward, wood splintering as something massive crashed through.
Cooks screamed. Plates shattered.
Dust filled the air.
When it settled, everyone saw it.
A man.
Half-devoured.
Trapped inside the jaws of a shark.
Luffy stared.
"…I should drink less."
Someone shouted, "Is that a fishman!?"
Another yelled, "Did he come here to eat!?"
Patty smacked both of them.
"It's a guy in a shark's mouth, idiots!"
Luffy stepped forward.
His eyes widened.
"…Yosaku?"
Moments later, the shark was dragged away, blankets thrown over the battered bounty hunter.
Yosaku shivered as Luffy crouched in front of him.
"Where's the crew?" Luffy asked calmly. "Did you find Nami?"
Yosaku swallowed.
"We know where she went."
Luffy's eyes sharpened.
"Where?"
"…Arlong Park."
The room went quiet.
"If our guess is right," Yosaku added, "going there could get everyone killed."
Luffy stood.
"Then let's go."
---
Outside, Sanji returned with his bag over his shoulder.
"You ready, Captain?"
Luffy nodded.
"Looks like everyone needs help."
Sanji turned back, shouting farewells, insults, thanks — and crying all at once.
Luffy raised his hand.
The sky answered.
Thunderclouds gathered.
A platform descended from the heavens, crackling with quiet power.
Gasps echoed across Baratie.
Luffy stepped onto the cloud.
A throne formed.
Two chairs followed.
"Are you coming," he asked, "or planning to stare all day?"
Sanji and Yosaku scrambled aboard.
Electric restraints snapped gently into place.
Luffy looked back.
"Take care, old man."
The cloud surged forward, vanishing into the sky.
Zeff watched it go.
"…Impudent brat."