"What's up?"Seeing Zoro walking in their direction, Kiana couldn't help but ask curiously.
"Your sword… No, forget it. It's fine."Zoro hesitated for a moment, then finally shook his head and turned to leave.
"Kiana-chan, that guy's a pirate. You don't need to pay attention to him," Hobodi quickly said. Why did it feel like Kiana had been much colder to him ever since they arrived at Baratie? Why?!
"Oh? I don't need to pay attention to him?" Kiana tilted her head, smiling sweetly. "Do I need to pay attention to you, then? Do I have to recognize everything Red Wine says, Captain Hobodi?"
"…"
Hobodi's face stiffened with embarrassment. Could she just forget that incident already?! He hadn't meant to put on an act—but he lost face right in front of this beauty. Actually, this whole restaurant was to blame! He'd clearly ordered a specific wine and they still hadn't brought it!
The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. Just then, his eyes caught sight of some unknown bug crawling on the floor. His brow twitched—then a sneaky idea appeared. He quietly stepped on it, crushing it under his shoe, picked it up, and dropped it into his soup bowl.
Of course, Kiana saw everything. She let out a small sigh and shook her head. Honestly, dude. Calm down. Stop adding to your kill count.
"Waiter! Hey, waiter! Get over here!"
"Quit yelling. We don't have waiters here, only cooks!"Sanji shot Hobodi a cold glare, then immediately brightened up the moment he turned toward Kiana. He practically rushed over to her table, placing a beautifully cooked steak in front of her as though it were a sacred artifact.
"Kiana-chan, this is my proudest masterpiece yet—made especially for you. Please… savor it!"
His eyes had already transformed into literal heart shapes.
"Taste your ass!" Hobodi exploded. "Why is there a bug in my soup?! Is this how your restaurant treats its customers?!"
His shout drew the attention of nearby diners, who all turned their heads toward the commotion.
Sanji glanced at Hobodi's bowl. He was certain it had contained no bugs when he'd served it—and was about to say so when Kiana casually spoke up first.
"Eh? Didn't you put that bug in there yourself just now? I thought you liked eating them."
She blinked innocently, feigning surprise.
The nearby customers who didn't know what actually happened quickly got the message.
"Ahh, so that's the kind of man Captain Hobodi is…""Trying to scam his way out of paying?""How disgraceful—even a Marine captain would do such a thing?""Pathetic…"
Suddenly, Hobodi's cheeks flushed a deep red. He had no idea what to say. Kiana-chan, why are you wrecking my plans like this?!
Still, beauty came with privilege. Even after being publicly torn down, Hobodi didn't dare get angry with Kiana. Instead, he vented his frustration on the onlookers who were watching the show.
"What are you staring at?!"
The other diners all turned away instantly, pretending they hadn't seen a thing… though a few stifled laughs still slipped out.
With a sour look, Hobodi sat back down and pushed the soup bowl forward."Take this away and bring me another one."
"We're not changing it."Sanji's voice was cold.
"Huh? There's a bug in here! It's not like I won't pay—just bring me another bowl!"
"You shouldn't waste food. This soup is perfectly fine. Just pick out the bug and drink it."
Sanji said it completely seriously—as if this was the most natural logic in the world—then he reached out, plucked the bug from the soup, and shoved the bowl back toward Hobodi.
"…You bastard, don't push your luck!"
Even though the bug had been removed, Hobodi still couldn't bring himself to drink it. His mind screamed disgust. Meanwhile, Sanji's glare sharpened—clear fury rising in his eyes.
"No changing it. Don't waste food."
"You looking for death?!"
The two locked eyes. A fight was about to break out. The surrounding diners all perked up, ready to watch something fun.
"Hey, Zoro," Usopp nudged him while sipping his drink, "looks like there's about to be a fight over there."
Zoro glanced over briefly at Sanji, then snorted."Hmph. As long as that Marine doesn't bother us, I don't care."
Then he kept drinking—as expected from a professional alcoholic.
Just as fists were about to fly—
"Mmm. This soup is actually pretty good. Did you make it, Sanji?"
Kiana's voice cut through the tension.
Everyone looked over, startled—Kiana had quietly dragged Hobodi's soup bowl in front of her and was already sipping from it.
"…She actually drank the soup that had a bug in it?"Nami blinked in disbelief. I would never do that. That's way too gross.
"K-Kiana-chan! Why did you drink it?! I'll have them replace it immediately!"Hobodi sounded almost panicked.
"No need." Kiana shook her head calmly. "People who've never experienced hunger won't understand what it really feels like. Food shouldn't be wasted."
Not that I'll tell you I once spent so much money on Honkai Impact 3rd that I was hospitalized for actual starvation in my previous life. Hmph.
Kiana smiled warmly at Sanji."It's really good. You made this, right?"
"…"
Sanji froze. What was happening inside his chest? His heart was pounding wildly—like it was about to burst out of his chest. He'd never felt this way before.
"Y-Yeah… I made it… Kiana-chan…"
He stuttered.Sanji, the cook whose words were usually smooth as butter—stuttered. For the first time in his life. His face felt hot.
Seeing Kiana smile that beautifully, Hobodi finally snapped. Why is this guy suddenly more handsome than me?! How is this okay?! Dammit!
"I told you to change my soup, you bastard!!"
He swung a fist straight at Sanji. Sanji, still dazed, didn't react in time—so he was promptly launched several meters through the air and crashed onto the table where Nami and the others were sitting.
Thankfully, Zoro and the others reacted quickly. They lifted all the dishes and bottles midair before the crash—letting the furniture break, but saving all the food and wine.
"Sorry, everyone. I'll get you a new table shortly."Sanji sat up, lit a cigarette with calm fury, inhaled deeply, exhaled slowly, and stood.
As the saying goes:When Luffy puts on his straw hat…When Zoro ties his bandanna…When Sanji lights a cigarette…Run.Don't ask why. Just RUN.
You're dead now, Captain Hobodi, Kiana thought, taking a small, amused sip of red wine.