Screen 1 — The Smell of Home
The sun sinks low over the forest of Whole Cake Island.
Sanji walks alone, clutching a lunchbox. His cigarette trembles slightly between his fingers.
He hears a faint sound — a growl.
Not of a beast.
Of hunger.
He follows it, and there — lying against a broken tree, bruised and barely conscious — is Luffy, staring up at the sky, smiling weakly.
Next to him sits Ben, human form, half-slumped but awake, watching over him.
Ben (quietly): "He hasn't moved in hours. Said he'd stay right here until you came back."
Sanji freezes. The sight hits him like a knife. Luffy's stomach growls again — louder this time.
Sanji's hand tightens around the lunchbox. His eyes fill with tears.
---
Screen 2 — Flashback: The Fight Before
Moments earlier, Charlotte Counter had cornered them both.
Ben was injured, his Omnitrix on cooldown, sparks flickering red.
Luffy was still standing — swaying but burning with willpower.
Counter: "You think your fists can stop the Charlotte Family?"
Luffy: "No. But they can stop you."
He coated his fists in Haki — black lightning crackling.
"Gomu Gomu no… Hawk Gatling!"
Dozens of Haki punches crashed into Counter's face.
The earth shook. Counter fell — unconscious.
Ben dragged Luffy to the shade of a tree.
Ben: "Don't you dare die before lunch."
Luffy (grinning weakly): "Sanji's cooking… better be worth it."
---
Screen 3 — Reunion
The smell of food cuts through the salty air.
Luffy opens his eyes, and his grin spreads instantly.
Luffy: "Sanji! You came! Took you long enough!"
Sanji can't speak — just stares at him, trembling.
Ben looks away, smiling faintly. "Told you he'd wait."
Sanji kneels and sets the lunchbox down.
Luffy tries to open it — but it slips, falling into the mud.
Sanji chokes on his breath. "I… I dropped it… I couldn't even protect this."
He lowers his head. "I can't protect anyone."
---
Screen 4 — The Taste of Friendship
Luffy digs his hand into the mud anyway, pulling out the soggy food and eating without hesitation.
Luffy (mouth full): "This is great!"
Sanji: "Don't… don't lie to me."
Luffy (grinning): "Why would I? Everything you cook's amazing. Always has been."
Ben (softly): "Told you. The captain doesn't taste failure. Just effort."
Sanji's eyes widen. Luffy finishes the meal and sets the box aside.
He stands, shaky but smiling — a spark of strength back in his eyes.
Luffy: "You're coming back with us. No more running. No more deciding alone."
Ben (rising beside him): "We fight together — or not at all."
Sanji wipes his tears, finally smiling through them.
Sanji: "You idiots… fine. Let's go."
Luffy and Ben grin at the same time.
The forest wind carries the faint scent of cooked food and new hope.
Be continued