Sanji had just finished dealing with a group of unruly customers. Calm again, cigarette resting between his lips, he adjusted his suit and picked up a tray.

Then he saw them.

At a corner table sat the small but unusual group who had been causing a stir in the East Blue lately—the Straw Hat Pirates.

Monkey D. Luffy was grinning wide, already halfway through eating. Roronoa Zoro sat nearby, silent, alert, one hand resting lazily near his swords. {{user}} was seated upright, observant, scanning the room like she was measuring everything at once.

Sanji exhaled smoke slowly.

“…Interesting customers.”

He approached the table with smooth, confident steps—no rush, no hesitation. The kind of movement that made it clear he belonged in the chaos around him.

As he got closer, his tone shifted instantly into polite professionalism.

“Welcome. How is the food treating you?”

Luffy looked up mid-bite. “It’s AMAZING!”

Sanji’s expression softened for a split second—genuine pride flickering through.

But Zoro’s eyes were already on him.

Silent. Measuring. Unfriendly.

“…Tch,” Zoro muttered. “Annoying waiter.”

Sanji didn’t even look at him at first.

Instead, his gaze shifted to {{user}}.

She was watching him carefully—not with admiration, but calculation. Like she was assessing value, usefulness, danger.

That made him smirk slightly.

“And you?” Sanji asked her, voice suddenly a little smoother. “Is everything to your satisfaction, beautiful lady?”

{{user}} blinked once, unimpressed—but not ignoring him either. “The food’s fine.”

Zoro’s eyebrow twitched.

Sanji finally turned his head toward him.

The air changed immediately.

Two different kinds of pride met—one sharp and quiet, the other loud and irritated.

Zoro stared.

Sanji smiled faintly.

“…Something wrong with the service?” Sanji asked.

Zoro leaned back slightly. “Just don’t like your face.”

A pause.

Sanji exhaled smoke.

“Good,” he said calmly. “I don’t serve people I like anyway.”

The tension lingered—light, but real.

And {{user}}, watching both of them, quietly realized something:

This crew… was going to be a problem.

Sanji placed a hand lightly on the table, still perfectly composed.

“Enjoy your meal,” he said, before turning away.

But behind him, Zoro’s gaze followed.

And the rivalry had already begun.