Spoilers for 139. All dialogue is taken directly from the chapter.
"When we get the Mellow Cola, become my partner, boy."
Komatsu stares up at Zebra in shock, overwhelmed by this 'condition' that has come out of seemingly nowhere. The scarred bishokuya must be joking.
Right?
Except Zebra isn't one for jokes.
"That's…th…" Komatsu stutters, and a bead of sweat rolls across his cheek, dripping from his jaw to the shifting desert sand. He is utterly speechless.
"You're more suited to me than Toriko. We'd definitely make the strongest team."
Komatsu realizes that this is what Zebra truly believes. This is what he wants. And though the chef is Toriko's partner, can't even beginto imagine leaving him for anyone or anything but death itself, Komatsu cannot help but think that there is something about Zebra -
And the Mellow Cola. It's important to Toriko and therefore important to him as well.
He bites his lip, glancing back to see Toriko too caught up in preparations to bother looking their way. After a month in that dangling house, Toriko no longer worries Zebra will hurt him.
Komatsu hasn't been so sure, but then…
He's seen Zebra protect a child. His own fear is not gone, per say, but it is less.
And he is Toriko's partner.
A wild idea blossoms in his mind. It's insane, and Komatsu is almost more surprised it occurred to him at all than by Zebra's initial 'condition'.
He has to try.
"Then…I have one more condition!"
A/N - In my head, Komatsu's condition goes something like this:
"Let me continue to be Toriko-san's partner! The three of us, can't we travel together?"
Because I want Zebra to stay, damn it, but Komatsu is meant to be Toriko's partner and I don't want that to change.
The obvious answer to this is a Toriko/Komatsu/Zebra dual partnership.