After all this time, it was a complete coincidence; five years since they had met face to face, two years since he had moved to Tokyo. He had investigated every registry he could think of, searching.
"Senpai?"
Zoro looked up, his nearly empty can of beer resting on the ground between his legs. His eyes narrowed, his brain whirring with recognition. "Luffy?"
"Yeah." Luffy nodded, an astonished laugh escaping his lips. "Wow… It's really you, Senpai."
"Yeah, it's, uh, been a while…" Zoro murmured.. "How've ya been?"
"Good, good. You?" Luffy asked, one hand shoved in the pocket of his baggy jeans and the other clutching his plastic shopping bags.
"Yeah, alright." Zoro nodded and shrugged.
"You live here?" Luffy asked, nodding to the apartment behind Zoro.
"Yeah." Zoro confirmed, turning to look at his closed front door. "About six months now."
"That's just crazy…" Luffy breathed, grinning widely. "I moved in last week."
"Well, whaddaya know…" Zoro said, returning the grin. He gestured to the spot beside him. "Care to join me? You've gotta be… well… You're at least old enough for a beer now, yeah?"
"I'm 20." Luffy laughed happily, setting his grocery bags against the wall of Zoro's apartment. He sat beside Zoro, grabbing the can of beer that was offered to him. "I'm a legit grown up now, Senpai."
"Senpai…" Zoro groaned, rubbing his hands over his cropped, green hair. "Just calling me Zoro is fine."
"Okay, Zor-o…" Luffy drawled, popping open the tab of his beer. He chugged his drink, smacking his lips loudly with satisfaction. Luffy propped his knees up, wrapping his arms around his slender legs. "So, what've you been up to for the last five years, Senpai?"
"Nothin' much, Mon-keyyy…" Zoro teased.
"Oh no!" Luffy groaned. "Please don't… Please…"
"Then call me Zoro." Zoro insisted, knocking his broad shoulder against Luffy's slender one.
"Sor-ry. My bad." Luffy grumbled. "Zoro."
Zoro finished his beer, crushing the can in his large hands. "I've been working."
"Yeah?" Luffy asked, his lips pressed against the mouth of the can. "Where at?"
Zoro popped open his next can of beer and took a quick swig before replying, "I work construction."
"I had heard you left school…" Luffy said absently before taking another swig. "It was all the old Aunties talked about for a while."
"Yeah, well, fuck them." Zoro muttered before finishing his can of beer. He wiped his wet mouth sloppily, nearly gulping for air. "It's none of their business."
"Do you still do judo?" Luffy asked, eyeing Zoro thoughtfully. Suddenly the tension grew thick between them. "You look like you might…"
"Nah." Zoro shook his head. "This body's from work." Zoro opened up another can of beer. "You don't look like you do much of anything… What've you been up to?"
"Well, my damn grandpa nearly had me in the Maritime Self-Defense Force…" Luffy explained, scratching his belly through his thin shirt. "But I managed to get him off my case by agreeing to go to college."
"Yeah?" Zoro smiled, his eyes narrowed. "How's that going for ya?"
"I'm a dumbass." Luffy confessed with a smile.
"Obviously." Zoro teased, knocking his knee against Luffy's.
"Senpai…" Luffy began unsurely. "Why'd you quit school?"
"That's none of your business, Luffy." Zoro said calmly, pushing himself into a standing position.
"Sor-ry." Luffy said with a shrug, taking a sip of beer.
"It was… it was good to see you…" Zoro breathed, resting his weight against his door knob.
"Awww…" Luffy complained, twisting on his bottom to face Zoro. "Are you leaving?"
"I have work in the morning." Zoro replied, pushing open his apartment door.
"I live in 16." Luffy said, blocking the doorframe with a slender leg. "We should catch up sometime."
"Sure." Zoro nodded, stepping over Luffy's blockade.
"Hey, Zoro." Luffy called out, dropping onto his chest in Zoro's entryway. He smiled up at Zoro as the door knocked against his ribcage. "When's your next day off?"
"Saturday." Zoro replied, amused. He swung the door against Luffy gently, over and over. "Ya wanna get outta my door now or what?"
"I'll be back on Saturday." Luffy announced, propping his chin on his hands.
"Well, it's a relief…" Zoro laughed, pushing his bare foot against Luffy's face. "You're the same Luffy." Zoro pushed, one of his toes poking Luffy in the eye. He shoved Luffy's face, enough to move him out of the path of the door but not enough to hurt, and slammed the door closed.
"Awwwww!" Luffy whined, his lips pressing against the door. "You've blinded me, Zor-o!"
"Shaddap and get away from my door, idiot!" Zoro bellowed from inside.
Luffy laughed as he sat up. He grabbed his grocery bags and jumped limberly to his feet. "See ya later, Senpai."
Bang. Bang.
Bang. Bang. Bang. Bang.
"Hold on! I'm coming!" Zoro snapped, jumping up from his couch and running to answer the door.
Bang. Bang. "Oh, hey, Senpai!"
"Do you have to make so much ungodly noise, Luffy?" Zoro asked, propping the door open with his foot. "Come in…"
"I told ya I'd be back on Saturday." Luffy explained, handing a case of beer to Zoro as he entered. He looked around the apartment, scratching his head thoughtfully. "You haven't unpacked yet, Senpai?"
"I am unpacked." Zoro replied, pushing past Luffy and into the kitchen. He shoved the case of beer unceremoniously into his empty fridge to chill.
"Oh, well," Luffy shrugged. "Your room back home was always so full… It's weird to see you're not so messy now." Luffy laughed. "And it doesn't smell like gym socks in here. It's rather surprising, Senpai."
"Shaddap, idiot." Zoro growled, knocking the baseball cap off of Luffy's head. "If you didn't like it you didn't have to come over all the damn time, ya know!"
"I'm just surprised, s'all…" Luffy explained with a peaceful wave of his hands. "Did you clean because I said I was coming over?"
Zoro blushed, his arms crossing over his chest. "No."
"I bet ya did." Luffy insisted with a laugh.
"I wouldn't bother cleaning up for you, Monkeyyyy…" Zoro drawled teasingly. "You're barely human after all."
"Aw." Luffy grunted, pushing his bottom lip out in a pout. "You don't have to be so mean."
"I'm an adult." Zoro said suddenly. "If I don't clean my apartment no one else is going to… I got sick of living in a pig sty."
"It's cool to live by yourself, isn't it, Senpai?" Luffy breathed, hopping over the back of the sofa and settling down on the middle cushion.
"It's alright." Zoro conceded with a smile and a shrug.
"I've got a roommate." Luffy made a face. "But it's part of the agreement I made with Gramps so I didn't have to join the MSDF."
"You should've just joined." Zoro reasoned. "You're too dumb for college."
"Thanks for the vote of confidence, Senpai…" Luffy groaned, shaking his head.
"I mean it in the best of ways," Zoro breathed, sinking down in the couch beside Luffy. "I got out of there as quickly as possible. Fuck college."
"You worked so hard to get there." Luffy murmured. And suddenly the only thing either man could think about was the closing ceremony of Zoro's third year. Luffy had screwed up all of his strength and courage and asked for Zoro's second button. And wordlessly, his cheeks stained pink, Zoro had given it to him. Luffy sighed, "And you didn't come back when you quit either."
"Why would I go back?" Zoro asked, his face expressionless.
"Who knows?" Luffy exhaled with a bitter laugh.
"So, uh, what are you studying?" Zoro asked, gesturing to the beer on the coffee table in front of them.
"History." Luffy answered, crossing his legs beneath him on the sofa.
"Really?" Zoro tilted his head to the side in surprise. "That's just so… academic…"
"I'm not eternally 15, Senpai." Luffy breathed, his large, wide eyes focusing on Zoro intently. "Some things change."
"Yeah, I guess so." Zoro nodded, feeling a strange twinge in his chest. He popped open his beer and took a quick swig. "You're still a skinny bastard though."
"I eat!" Luffy shouted. "I eat more than anyone! I just can't gain weight!"
"Whoa. Whoa! Calm down…" Zoro laughed, waving his hands peaceably.
"I tried those protein shakes you used to make… They tasted so bad, but I drank them every day…" Luffy explained. "And nothing! I think I'm just cursed… it's mysterious…"
Zoro laughed easily. It felt natural. No matter how much had changed in five years, Luffy was still the same Luffy. Zoro didn't realize he had been holding his breath. He cleared his throat and took another sip of his beer. "Mysterious, huh?"
"I can't believe you don't do judo anymore." Luffy said suddenly, opening up his own can of beer. "I was thinking of joining the judo team at school, even though I'm out of practice now…"
Zoro's face faltered, he licked his lips and murmured incoherently around the mouth of his beer can. "Yeah."
"College judo too hard for ya, Senpai?" Luffy asked, trying to make his voice as lighthearted as possible.
"Something like that." Zoro agreed stiffly.
"Yeah, well…" Luffy began slowly. "I quit judo too."
"Yeah?" Zoro asked, furrowing his brows.
"Yeah." Luffy answered, smiling sadly. "It wasn't the same after you left, Senpai."
"Nakamura-san wasn't a good Captain?" Zoro questioned, tipping his head back as he finished the first can of beer.
"He was fine." Luffy reasoned with a noncommittal shrug. "But he wasn't you."
"What?" Zoro shook his head with a laugh. "There was nothing special about how I ran the club."
"To be honest, Senpai," Luffy confessed. "I never really cared for judo."
"Really? Huh…" Zoro shrugged, throwing his arm over the back of the couch. "You were really good at it for being such a skinny, little fucker."
"I only joined the club because you were the Captain." Luffy continued, placing his beer on the coffee table.
"Uh…"
"You gave me your button but then you never came back." Luffy breathed. "I studied so hard just so I could make it into a school in Tokyo." Luffy moved in closer, his large eyes unblinking. "I looked everywhere for you when I first got here. What are the chances we would live in the same building, Senpai?"
"That is, uh, pretty unbelievable…" Zoro agreed.
"It's super mysterious." Luffy nodded his head slowly, his warm body pressing against Zoro's side. "I'm thanking my lucky stars."
"Luffy…" Zoro murmured, his skin prickling.
"I couldn't be stuck on a ship for four years. I just couldn't…" Luffy insisted. "Not when you were here in Tokyo, Senpai."
"It's been five years." Zoro said flatly, doing his best to ignore the look in Luffy's eyes. Luffy's hand touched Zoro's face, turning it toward his. Luffy's large eyes met Zoro's and Zoro felt something in his chest loosen. He swallowed thickly, his skin tingling where Luffy's fingers touched it. "I think we've got a misunderstanding…"
"No. Nuh uh." Luffy refused outright. His hand cradled Zoro's cheek and suddenly he was leaning in. His lips brushed against Zoro's and then they kissed. It was a sweet, unsure kiss; full of inexperience and longing.
The kiss was like a door. The moment their lips touched every single locked-away memory came flooding into Zoro's conscience. The shy glances in the locker room. The lingering touches during practice. The way Luffy's hair smelled, like almonds and coconut. The way he looked when he stole Zoro's blazer and wore it around every place they went. Every single unimportant thing they did together during Zoro's third year was suddenly fresh.
Zoro inhaled sharply as Luffy kissed him again, deeper, hungrier. It was nothing like the stolen kiss during Interhigh. Luffy had won his match, leading all of Japan in his weight division. To celebrate, the coach bought sake for the team. They divvied it up secretly in the shared hotel room. They were children, honestly, and the little bit of alcohol they consumed was enough to make the entire team innocently tipsy.
When everyone else had fallen asleep, Luffy rolled over. He whispered softly, his hand finding its way under Zoro's undershirt. He flattened his hand against Zoro's defined chest and his lips pressed against Zoro's. Zoro's face had burned in embarrassment, but when Luffy asked, again, if he was awake, Zoro had feigned sleep.
Luffy had sighed, his hand snaking out from under Zoro's shirt. He rolled off of Zoro and turned his back to the upperclassman. Zoro's heart had pounded so, and he worried that Luffy knew he was faking. Luffy pulled the blanket up and over his head, murmuring dejectedly, "I'm sorry, Senpai."
But Zoro couldn't pretend to be asleep today. "Luffy…"
"Zoro…" Luffy breathed, his hands gently roaming through Zoro's green hair.
"Luffy, wait…" Zoro lifted a hand, pushing it against Luffy's chest in a halting gesture.
"Yeah?" Luffy asked, his cheeks bright red. "What?"
"Stop." Zoro might as well have shouted. Luffy released Zoro instantly, pulling his arms into his lap. He looked down, his wide eyes darting from side to side anxiously. Luffy covered his mouth, as if he was fighting the urge to retch.
"I'm sorry, Senpai." Luffy gulped, standing up.
"Don't apologize…" Zoro began, shaking his head. Luffy clenched his hands into fists at his side and stalked toward the door. He twisted the door knob, nearly growling when he couldn't get it opened. "It's, uh, locked up top…" Zoro explained quietly. "But you don't have to go… Luf-fy…"
Luffy twisted the bolt and then threw open the door. Zoro's front door slammed shut immediately after.
"Damn. Prowler alert."
Zoro looked up, wiping a bit of sweat from his brow. "I told ya not to bother me with that shit, Franky."
"Alright… but she's a solid ten and she's right at your four o'clock." Franky mused, tipping his hardhat to the young, statuesque woman.
"Charming." The woman replied, swishing her black hair behind her back.
"Ignore them." The young woman beside her barked. "Obviously they have no manners…"
"They?" Zoro turned around, insulted. "I didn't say shit."
"Senpai?" Luffy adjusted the strap of his messenger bag, a thick textbook sliding from his hand to the ground. He bent over at the same time Zoro did. Their hands brushed briefly before Luffy snatched the book up.
"Oh, Luffy…" Zoro murmured, removing his hat. "Hey."
"Luffy, are these friends of yours?" the black-haired woman asked, flashing Franky a playful smile.
"Uh, I'm Franky, Miss." Franky said in introduction, wiping his dirtied hands on his tight, form-fitting jeans.
"Robin." The black-haired woman replied, ignoring the other young woman's incredulous look.
"This is my Senpai from judo club." Luffy explained, gesturing to Zoro.
"Ah yes," Zoro stepped forward, leaning against the construction blockade. "Roronoa Zoro."
"This is one of my professors, Dr. Nico Robin." Luffy said in introduction.
"Doctor? Wow!" Franky barked with a grin.
"A doctor of archaeology." Robin explained politely.
"And this is my friend Nami," Luffy said, gesturing to the other young woman.
"No need for introductions." Nami insisted, waving her hand dismissively. "Well, we've gotta get back to the university…"
"Hey, Luffy!" Zoro called out, ducking under the partition and following after Luffy on the sidewalk.
"Yeah?" Luffy asked, his hands fumbling with the strap of his bag.
"Uh, well, I…" Zoro began unsurely. "What are you doing Saturday?"
"Nothing, Senpai." Luffy answered. "Why?"
"Would you like to go out for some drinks?" Zoro suggested.
"I don't know…" Luffy drawled hesitantly.
"Oh, come on," Robin interjected, placing her hand on Luffy's shoulder affectionately. "Invite your big, flashy friend and I'll come too."
"Franky?" Zoro arched his brow in surprise. "You want me to invite Franky…?"
"Sure." Robin replied with a smile. "Luffy, you don't mind, do you?"
"Ah, nah. Of course not, Robin…" Luffy conceded with a grin. "The more the merrier." Luffy leaned back, locking eyes with Nami. "We could each invite a few people, make it a mixer…"
"Oh, no thank you…" Nami refused.
"It'll be fun…" Robin urged.
"No." Nami groaned.
"So you do like that guy at the café… Don't you! You liar!" Luffy teased, poking Nami's arm.
"Shut up or I'll end you…" Nami threatened.
"So Saturday…" Robin redirected.
"Yeah, Saturday…" Zoro repeated, licking his lips.
"Drinks." Luffy nodded in agreement.
"Where?" Robin orchestrated with a smile.
"Uh, well, wait…" Zoro searched his pockets for his phone. "Let's trade emails."
"Sure, Senpai." Luffy breathed, digging his phone out of his bag.
They exchanged emails on the sidewalk, Zoro using his broad body to block the others from the traffic. "Well, I'll message you tonight."
"Yeah." Luffy agreed, nodding his head slowly. "Sounds good."
Luffy held his phone tightly, reading and re-reading the brief message.
It's Zoro. I was just wondering if you were still interested in going out for drinks Saturday night.
Luffy exhaled shakily, his feet bouncing beneath him.
Yes.
Luffy waited impatiently. Perhaps a one-word reply was too blunt. He chewed on his bottom lip, jumping as his phone vibrated.
How about Yebisu Beer Museum?
Luffy held his phone tightly in both hands.
Sure.
Luffy had barely sent his reply before his phone vibrated again.
It's easy to bar hop in Ebisu.
Luffy nodded, typing his response.
I hope you can hold your liquor, Senpai.
There was no response for a few minutes.
Don't make me laugh. I'll drink you under the table, Monkey.
"Lose the hat." Robin groaned. "You look like a Foamer."
"What's a 'Foamer'?" Luffy asked, pulling his hat further onto his head.
"Look it up on Yahoo!" Robin muttered, trying to pry the hat off of Luffy's head. "Just take it off, Luffy!"
"Noooo…" Luffy whined, holding firmly onto his cap. "I think I look cool!"
"Fine." Robin sighed in defeat. "I tried."
"I don't tell you how to dress…" Luffy pouted, his bottom lip jutting out.
"That's true." Robin said, covering her mouth as she laughed.
"Hey!" Franky yelled loudly, clearing a space through the crowd. "Franky's here!"
"Oh, third person. How lovely." Robin breathed into Luffy's ear.
"Should I do that too?" Luffy asked, peering into Robin's eyes expectantly.
"Absolutely not." Robin said simply. "Just be yourself. Have fun."
"Hey." Zoro said, shoving his hands in his pockets. "Sorry we're late. I got a bit turned around. I guess I thought Ebisu was a little further north… I don't know…"
"Oh, it's no problem," Robin dismissed. "We just got here ourselves."
"Hey, Senpai." Luffy spoke up, waving unsurely.
"Hey, Luffy." Zoro replied, nodding in greeting.
"Let's get a booth." Robin purred, sticking her hands in the back pockets of her jeans.
"Yeah, sure." Franky agreed. "Get us some drinks, Zoro."
"What?!" Zoro looked from Franky to the bar rapidly.
"Get us the first round." Franky instructed. "We're gonna go sit down."
"Oh, suuuure…" Zoro groaned. "Lemme just drop everything and service you."
"That sounds gay, brother." Franky said, arching a manicured brow.
"Shaddap!" Zoro snapped, knocking his fist into the middle of Franky's back.
"Whaddaya wanna drink, Ro-bin?" Luffy called after her, cupping his hands around his mouth.
"Whatever." Robin replied. "It doesn't really matter."
Zoro and Luffy stood side by side, watching the other two claim a booth. Robin slid in first, Franky sitting across from her. She smiled, leaning forward to speak to him before scooting beside Franky, leaving almost no space between them.
"Wow." Zoro breathed out in shock. "She hasn't recently gotten divorced or injured her head or anything, right?"
"Nope." Luffy replied with a grin.
"Good." Zoro muttered, pushing his way up to the bar. "Say, whaddaya want Luffy? I'll order."
"Beer." Luffy answered, pressing up against Zoro's back.
"Yeah, uh, I'll take eight beers." Zoro said, holding up his fingers.
"Thank chu…" Luffy drawled, taking four of the bottles. He stepped away, his warmth suddenly disappearing from Zoro's skin.
"Yeah, no problem." Zoro replied, following Luffy through the crowd toward the tables.
"Alright! Alright!" Franky beamed, grabbing the beer that Zoro offered to him. "Let's get this party started!"
"He's so excitable." Robin said, her eyes widening pointedly. She slapped her hand against his muscled arm.
"If he gets too much lemme know." Zoro offered. "I can make him go home."
"Oh, I'm sure that won't be necessary…" Robin said.
"So, uh, Luffy," Zoro began. "How long've you been in Tokyo?"
"Almost two years." Luffy replied.
Zoro sat down in the booth across from Luffy. He cleared his throat, twirling the bottle of beer in his hand. "So, what are you going to do with a degree in history anyway?"
"I don't know." Luffy admitted with a shrug. "Social studies gives me the best chance to travel and go on adventures…" Luffy smiled. "I thought it was way cooler than maths or science."
"I remember a first year that used to sleep on the roof during Japanese History." Zoro mused humorously.
"Japanese History is soooo booooring…" Luffy drawled. "I wanna go all around the world. And see things I've never even imagined before."
"I'll be in Scotland for a conference next month and I'm taking Luffy with me." Robin interjected.
"Scotland?" Zoro's face twisted, deep in thought. "Like Britain?"
"The same." Robin said softly. "It's a short trip for me, only two weeks."
"We're gonna see Scotland's Stonehenge…" Luffy explained excitedly.
"The Callanish Standing Stones." Robin clarified matter-of-factly.
"Oh." Zoro nodded, not entirely sure how he should respond. He wasn't scholarly. He wasn't worldly. He knew what he needed to know and that was that.
"The best part is the college pays for it!" Luffy declared. "And we get food vouchers! I can't wait to eat!" Luffy practically drooled with anticipation.
"Well, I'm happy for ya." Zoro said, drinking from his bottle. "Now's the time to travel."
"Yep." Franky agreed with a nod. "Time to sow your wild oats and such before ya settle down, brother."
"I don't need to do any of that stuff." Luffy insisted. "That's why I came to Tokyo." Luffy banged his fist against the table. "I came for my wifey and I won't leave until I can bring 'em back home."
"Huh?" Franky laughed. "How old are you, kid?"
"I'm twenty." Luffy replied, his eyes meeting Franky's seriously.
"Have some fun first. Trust me, brother…" Franky suggested with a smile. "Especially with all that talk about travel and adventure."
"Oh, and how old are you, Franky?" Robin asked.
"Well, I'm a little past the wild oats stage…" Franky murmured. "But not so far. I'm still fun."
"Interesting." Robin drawled.
"Are you seeing anyone, Senpai?" Luffy asked, his attention solely on Zoro.
"Nah." Zoro shook his head in refusal. "I'm not seeing anyone."
"I'm not either." Luffy admitted. He pushed his tongue against his cheek and grinned. "That's pretty convenient."
"Huh? Wait…" Franky began, raising a finger. "Are you…?"
"Hey, Franky," Robin distracted him quickly. "Have you ever seen-"
"Senpai," Luffy pressed. "Have you had your heart broken?"
"God, you're persistent." Zoro breathed.
"Yeah, I am." Luffy admitted. "I don't give up."
"I've never had my heart broken." Zoro answered, taking an edgy gulp of his beer.
"I have." Luffy confessed, his eyes wide. He licked his lips, his dark hair falling into his face.
"Sorry." Zoro replied. "Girls can be fickle." Zoro took another big gulp of beer. "That's why I don't fool around with 'em."
"It wasn't a girl." Luffy clarified.
"Oh…" Zoro breathed out. "Well, I'm sorry… I suppose, uh, that sort of thing… Well…" Zoro rubbed his head anxiously. "I guess I didn't know you were… like that…"
"Like what?" Luffy asked.
"You, uh, you know…" Zoro mumbled. "Gay, homosex-, uh, gay…"
"Gay?" Luffy made a face, deep in thought. "I'm not gay…" Luffy scratched his chin. "I mean kissing boys isn't necessarily gay… Neither is rubbing one out in your best bro's bedroom…" Luffy smiled, his fiery eyes watching Zoro with interest. "Was it asking for your button? Or was it kissing you last weekend? What was the biggest clue?"
"Hey!" Zoro protested, his face reddening. "What are you talking about all th'sudden, Luffy?"
"Why'd you ask me out for drinks, Senpai?" Luffy demanded, narrowing his eyes. "Don't you think that's too cruel?"
"Wh-wha-what?" Zoro panicked.
"You're so dumb it hurts, Zoro." Luffy complained, sliding out of the booth.
"Luffy!" Zoro called after him, sliding awkwardly from the sinking bench. "Hey-Luffy! Wait a damn second!"
Zoro chased after Luffy, through the bar and outside into the street. He grabbed Luffy, yanking his arm in an attempt to stop him. "Like you said, I'm persistent." Luffy said, grabbing Zoro and pinning him against the side of the building. "I'll just keep trying, ya know…"
Luffy kissed Zoro. His thin body pressed against Zoro's muscled chest. He held him in place, his hands on either side of Zoro's head. He kissed him forcefully, a trail of spit connecting their mouths. Zoro's stomach did a weird flip, his lower body reacting in a way he wasn't entirely familiar with. "Luf-fy…" Zoro breathed around Luffy's mouth. "Hold on…"
Zoro felt a sudden emptiness as Luffy pulled away, releasing him. "Sorry…" Luffy shook his head and laughed uncertainly. "I keep getting ahead of myself, Senpai."
"Why are you doing this?" Zoro asked, narrowing his eyes and shaking his head in confusion. "I mean, what the hell are you thinking?"
Luffy nodded slowly, backing away. "I'm going home, Senpai."
"Luffy, what are you doing?" Usopp breathed, trailing after his roommate and friend. "We stick out here… Let's go…"
"I'm just looking." Luffy murmured, shrugging out of Usopp's reach. "Don't be such a baby. I can go anywhere I want."
"Sure, sure…" Usopp groaned under his breath, sticking close to Luffy. "But these guys are huuuuge! I mean, look! Their necks are the same size as your waist!"
"This isn't high school." Luffy replied, flashing his friend a confident smile. "The jocks aren't gonna bully you. And if they do…" Luffy cracked his knuckles. "I'll just kick their asses."
"Hey," the manager looked up from his clipboard, inspecting Luffy critically. "What can I do for you?"
"I wanna join the judo team." Luffy said, slapping his hand on the bill of his baseball cap.
"Uh, judo…?" the manager scoffed, looking Luffy up and down.
"Yeah." Luffy nodded.
"You too?" the manager asked, pointing at Usopp.
"Hell no." Usopp refused firmly, shaking his head from side to side. "You couldn't pay me!"
"Uh, okay…" the manager rolled his eyes. "Tryouts are next week." He pointed to the signup sheet pinned to the wall. "Go ahead and sign up. "
"Sure, thanks." Luffy said, smiling widely.
"Alright…" Usopp whispered. "Are you finished? Can we go now?"
"What is wrong with you?" Luffy asked, shaking his head. "You act like you've never been in a gym before… What do you think's gonna happen?"
"You're gonna say something stupid. Piss one of those giants off. They're gonna swing at you and you'll dodge. They'll hit one of those other huuuuge dudes and then it will turn into an all-out brawl…" Usopp theorized. "In the attempt to destroy you, I will get dragged into it. I can't take a direct hit. I'm sensitive and I like my body in one piece, thank you…"
"You worry too much." Luffy accused.
"Probably." Usopp agreed with a solemn nod. "But it keeps me alive."
"You're gonna be one of those dudes who dies from stress." Luffy warned.
"Yeah, well, you could use a little more caution in your life." Usopp breathed out. "Seriously, Luffy! Why do you suddenly think you can join the judo team anyway?"
"I don't know." Luffy shrugged. "I was good at judo in high school."
"We've already established that this is not high school…" Usopp drawled. "These are grown men… You look like 13 year old next to them!" Usopp knocked his elbow into Luffy's ribcage. "And I don't mean a 13 year old boy. I mean a 13 year old girl…"
"Hey… that's not very nice…" Luffy complained, rubbing his stomach. "Now you have to buy me lunch. Since you were mean to me."
"I don't have to buy you anything…" Usopp insisted.
"Yeah, yeah you do!" Luffy groaned exaggeratedly. "Cause you're mean and you hurt my heart…"
"Okay…." Usopp snapped. "Let's just go! Puhlease!"
Luffy climbed the staircase, his arms weighed down by his heavy shopping bags. He paused on the landing, surprised to find Zoro outside his apartment, once again seated on the ground in front of his door. Luffy opened his mouth to speak but then thought better of it. He nodded in greeting, walking forward without pause.
"Hey, Luffy." Zoro called out, lifting his hand with a beer as offering. "Wanna beer?"
Luffy looked from Zoro's proffered hand to the hallway toward his apartment. He sighed and then smiled, walking toward Zoro. "Sure."
He dropped his bags underneath Zoro's window and sat down on the concrete floor beside him. He took the beer that Zoro offered him and popped the top off. They drank in silence for a few minutes, watching the sky darken and the streetlights turn on.
"You know," Zoro began nervously. "I'm sorry about the other day."
"Yeah?" Luffy asked, staring down at his hands. "What about the other day?"
"Well, uh," Zoro's skin flushed in embarrassment. "I was kinda ignorant… I guess… and I…"
"Don't worry about it." Luffy sighed in disappointment. They drank in silence for a few more minutes, Luffy opening up a second can of beer. "Senpai," Luffy breathed out. "I've always been in love with you."
"Huh?" Zoro sat up straighter. It felt like this should have been earthshattering news, but somehow, it didn't come as a shock at all.
"You knew, didn't you?" Luffy asked, his voice strained. "You knew I liked you but you just pretended that I didn't…"
"We were friends." Zoro said softly, the words cutting Luffy's insides like a knife. "I wasn't ready for more than that."
"And now?" Luffy asked, his eyes burning a hole into his hands.
"I would like to be friends." Zoro pleaded. "I didn't realize how much I missed you until you showed back up."
"You want to be friends…" Luffy said calmly. "Even though you know my feelings aren't so pure?"
"I can't return those feelings." Zoro confessed before draining the remainder of his can. "But I do want to be friends."
Luffy felt like something inside of him shattered. He nodded mechanically, bringing the can of beer up to his lips. He kept nodding, almost as if he couldn't stop. He downed his beer, smacking his wet lips together noisily. He smiled, his face feeling as if it were made of wax. "Of course… Of course we can be friends, Senpai."
"Really?" Zoro sighed in relief. He slapped Luffy on the back. It was intended to be friendly but Luffy could only imagine the hollow concussing as an indication that he was truly empty inside. "I'm glad, Luffy."
"Yeah." Luffy grinned widely. "Me too."