Luffy: The food was delicious! Till next time, Sanji!
Sanji: There's no next time.
Luffy: Aww, come on, your cooking is the best in the whole world! Don't deprive people like me from tasting it!
Nami: That's right, Luffy, flatter him even more.
Sanji: I will make the best delicacies for you for the rest of my life, my Nami-swan.
Luffy: Yay! Thanks, Sanji!
Sanji: It's for Nami-san, not for you!
Hancock has been reading the comments on Luffy's recently posted photo of him eating at a classy restaurant with his friends again.
They seemed very close to each other now.
Luffy still visits her, but not as frequently anymore. She's not at home most of the time either, and Luffy is busy with his studies, which is why it's not convenient for both of them.
Hancock's gaze was fixed on a particular comment made by Luffy.
Aw, come on! Your cooking is the best in the whole world, don't deprive people like me of tasting it!
Wow, come on, your cooking is the best in the whole world!
Your cooking is the best in the whole world!
She envies him – that curly-browed man whom Luffy praised. Luffy used to tell her that. But now Luffy has found people who are better than her. And she must accept it. Luffy's world is different from hers. Luffy is no longer… hers to claim.
Her eyes welled up, after a few seconds, she felt her tears run down her cheeks.
She was 25 and Luffy was 18 when she admitted to herself that she was in love with the teenager. She had known it for a long time. She had known it all along.