Saturday came, but Sanji still had to attend his kickboxing training. I'll just leave by three, he thought. He also hadn't seen Zoro since Thursday—when they talked on the balcony.
Was he really jealous? Sanji thought. But why would he? And why am I so bothered?
He went to the second floor, towards the balcony. He needed to smoke first. There's a smoking area on the first floor, but he had to see the shithead first.
I just want to know the man who played that beautiful music. And hear him play again. Then that's it. Sanji wished he had told that to Zoro. But what's the point? I'm not even sure if he was really jealous. What if he's just mocking me?
He was getting near on the balcony when he saw Tashigi outside the Kendo room.
"Ms. Tashigi! Oh, I'm delighted to see you!"
"Sanji!" Tashigi smiled at him. "Looking for Zoro?"
"No, I'm just here to smoke," Sanji lied. "And of course, to see your beauty, too! You're still beautiful even when you're wearing your eyeglasses."
Sanji had always been like that to ladies.
Tashigi blushed at the compliment. Although she knew that Sanji was lying about not looking for Zoro. "Thank you. But Zoro's not here."
Zoro, missing his Kendo training? Sanji took a quick glance at the Kendo room. Zoro is definitely not there. He hadn't seen anyone with a green hair. That was totally not normal.
"Why? Is the marimo sick or something? Not that I care." Sanji tried not to look concerned.
"No, but I heard he has some important business to attend to."
Important business to attend to? So there's something more important than Kendo?
"I see. Thank you, Ms. Tashigi." Sanji reached for Tashigi's hand and kissed it. Tashigi let him, aware that there's no malice on the gesture. "It was so nice to see you." Then he left, totally forgetting about smoking on the balcony.
He called on Gin and told him he won't be able to attend today's training.
"Saaanjiiiiiii!"
Sanji looked around to see the source of that loud voice. Of course, it was Luffy again, standing beside Ms. Robin in front of the University Theatre. The teenager was wearing his straw hat, contrasting the semi-formal attire he was sporting.
He approached the two, and of course, the first thing he noticed was the elegant dark-purple silk dress Robin was wearing.
"Ms. Robin!" He took Robin's hand and kissed it. "You look so stunning. That dress suits your elegance!"
"Thank you," Robin said, smiling.
Walking towards them was Franky, carrying four cups of soda.
"Good timing, bro! Here's your soda," Franky said, giving Sanji's cup.
"Thanks." Sanji was surprised to see Franky wearing a respectable black coat and tie. He was sure it's because of Robin insisting to wear proper clothes. Sanji was so used to seeing the professor wearing Hawaiian button-down shirt. Thank God the university rules were strict about instructor's clothing, or else he would see Franky roaming the university, his shirt unbuttoned and lower limbs only covered with speedos. He felt pity over the engineering students at that thought.
"I think we should go inside," Robin said, interrupting his thoughts. "The show will start in thirty minutes."
"But how about Zoro?" Sanji suddenly blurted out. He immediately regretted what he said. "Well… he said he'll be here, will he?"
Luffy was busy slurping on his soda, not minding Sanji's statement. Franky, thought, was about to say something when Robin hold his huge hand, firmly, as if to say, I can handle this. Don't butt in.
"He will come. We can wait for him inside."
"Alright." If Robin said so, Sanji had no choice but to follow.
As they stepped inside and gave their tickets, Sanji noticed the pamphlets being distributed by one of the staff. He was about to get one when Luffy grabbed his right arm and pulled him inside the theatre proper.
"Wait… ugh, forget it," was all Sanji could say. Compared to this ball of energy called Luffy, he was utterly powerless. Luffy continued holding his arm until they reached their seat at the second front row.
The V.I.P. seat sure gave a very nice view of the performance stage. Two grand pianos—one black on the left and one white on the right—stood majestically at the center of the stage. From where they were seated, Sanji could clearly see the hand movements of the pianist on the keyboard. Some high officials of the university, music professors, and faces he didn't recognize—maybe they were relatives of the performers—were seated also on the special spot.
Sanji roamed his eyes around the theatre. It was a big one, which was not so obvious if one would see the place from the outside. The theatre had a balcony at the back, also filled with seats. Some stylish chandeliers were currently lit, hanging calmly at the very high ceiling. After scanning the area, he fixated his eyes on the entrance, hoping to see the muscle head and expecting him to get lost.
Some minutes later, he saw a pink-haired lady in a gothic Lolita dress and an intimidating old man in a grey coat, approaching their spot. They seated on the row in front of them—the very front row—and three seats from Luffy's left. And of course, Sanji recognized them.
They were Zoro's father and older sister.
"What are they doing here," he muttered. I have a weird feeling about this. Something is definitely wrong about this.
Robin, hearing Sanji's mumbling, spoke. "Mr. Mihawk is a classical music enthusiast, aside from being a swords master. He was also an alumnus of the College of Music and Arts."
Sanji nodded, acknowledging Robin's explanation. But he couldn't help but feel more bothered.
A swords master and a classical music enthusiast. Hands that can both control sword and piano.
Where is Zoro? If he'll be here, he shall with his family, right?
Sanji closed his eyes and tried to calm his head. He held out the piano sheet from his clutch bag. I am here to listen to the mystery pianist. And no marimo can ruin this night for me.
He played The Girl with the Flaxen Hair in his head then slowly drifted to sleep.
Sanji was awoken from a nudge on his left side. It was from Luffy.
"And now, let's give a round of applause for the very stunning Ms. Ain," said Brook, the host for tonight's show, as he swiftly but gracefully exited the stage together with a huge guy in eyeglasses.
A blue-haired lady with a mysterious smile appeared on stage, and the crowd gallantly clapped their hands. Truly, the lady was a stunning one. She was wearing a black backless long dress, with more emphasis on her curvy body. As she gave a bow and sat on the pearl white piano, her hair bounced graciously against her smooth back.
If only Sanji was not occupied on other things, he would surely be head over heels for the lady.
This is a lady, and a beautiful one. But she's not who I am looking for—unless her grunt sounds like a man.
"What did I miss," Sanji said to Luffy as he rubbed his eyes and wiped his mouth with handkerchief. Then he fixed the collar and sleeves of his white tuxedo.
"Just some boring introduction, nothing much."
"Oh," was all Sanji said. He turned to Robin, hoping for a more concrete answer.
"Well, Luffy was right," Robin remarked. "All you missed was a ten-minute introduction from Brook and Professor Mizuta."
Ain started playing Polonaise-fantaisie in A-flat major, Op. 61, composed by Frédéric Chopin. It was a piano piece Sanji was totally not familiar about.
"Oh, and some reminders," Robin continued, already whispering. "Did you turn your phone to silent mode?"
Sanji recalled turning his phone into silent mode before going inside the theatre, but he still checked it to be sure. Surely, it was in silent mode. He was about to return it from his pocket when he felt it vibrate.
It was text message from the marimo.
"Your face looks so fucking funny when you're asleep."
Sanji looked around, searching for a green-haired man within the vicinity, but saw no one. Even the before empty spot beside Zoro's dad was already occupied by a stranger.
Annoyed, he replied on the text. "Bastard. Where are you?"
He tried to focus on Ain's music while waiting for Zoro's reply. He admired the girl's smooth movement, which was like an uninterrupted flowing river. He wondered if the man he was looking for also moved that way.
The music transitioned from soft to a more aggressive tempo. At the hit of that startling final note, the music ended. Ain bowed in front of the audience as it gave its round of applause. Then the huge guy in eyeglasses, Mr. Mizuta, seated on the black piano.
The duo played Ludwig van Beethoven's Symphony No. 5 in C minor.
Seeing his phone without any reply from the shitty swordsman, he sent another message. "Seriously, where the hell are you? Your family's here and I can't see any green algae sprouting on the vicinity."
Allegro con brio. Andante con moto. Scherzo, Allegro. Allegro. The four long movements finished flawlessly, accomplished by the two premier pianists on the stage. As Ain went behind the curtains, Brook appeared on the other side, teacup on hand.
There's still no reply from the marimo.
Sanji assumed he was seated at the back of the theatre, already sleeping soundly. How did he saw me sleeping, though? Maybe he approached his family before going to his seat. Yeah, probably.
Fuck it, he thought. I'm here to listen to the mystery pianist, not to look for some idiot. He kept his phone on his pocket and held the piano sheet instead.
The next performers were two old musician couple known as Giolla and Lao G, together with their son Gladius. The first performance was Franz Schubert's Ave Maria.
It was Lao G who hit the piano keys. His wife, wearing a sparkling diamond white mermaid dress, stood at the center with great posture. Giolla's voice was shrilling, but nonetheless beautiful. Gladius, a man with a spiky hair, remained standing at the corner of the stage.
"Her voice makes the hair at back of my neck stand," Robin commented. "It's like hearing the screams of someone who's being tortured to death."
Sanji closed his eyes again, unminding the ghastly remarks from the beautiful lady on his right. This time, though, he tried his best not to sleep. He listened intently on the piano music, but found no connection to it. The guy I'm looking for is totally not that old bald man.
When the second piece—Laßt uns sorgen, laßt uns wachen, BWV 213 by Johann Sebastian Bach—started playing, Sanji felt his phone vibrate.
"Finally," Sanji breathed out.
He almost threw his phone due to annoyance when he read the marimo's message.
"Somewhere."
What kind of answer is that?! Sanji was already pissed. "You really are a pain in the ass, you know that? You haven't replied for an hour, and all you would say is 'somewhere'?!"
Few minutes after, Sanji's phone vibrated again. Gladius was now at the center of the stage, singing together with his mother.
"I didn't tell you to wait, dumb cook. Was doing stuff."
Sanji rolled his eyes. "Who told you I waited, dumb swordsman? And 'doing stuff'? Let me guess—you were probably sleeping at one corner of this theatre. I felt sorry for those who heard your filthy snore."
"Me? I thought it was you who was sleeping a while ago. Oh, by the way, the next time you doze off, be careful not to spread saliva on your face, dartbrow. Your pianist crush might see you."
Pianist crush. So he brought it up again, huh? "Asshole. And he's not my crush, okay? I just wanna hear him play the piano again. I even haven't seen him yet."
Zoro took more than minutes to reply. "And what if you see him, then?"
Sanji stared at his phone's screen for a while. And what if I see him, then? "Then that's it. I got what I want. Besides…"
"Besides what?"
"I am already interested on someone." Sanji's hand was shaking when he typed those words. What am I thinking? Why am I saying this nonsense to the shithead?
He was going to delete the message when he accidentally hit send.
"Dammit!" He almost shouted. He felt like shrinking on his seat. Robin, secretly peeking on his phone, knowingly smiled. Franky looked at Sanji with a raising eyebrow. Luffy, on the other hand, was half-asleep, with his straw hat covering his face.
Zoro replied within a minute, which seemed like forever to Sanji. "Is that so? Then who's the unlucky someone, huh?"
Sanji typed his reply furiously. "THE LADIES! I AM ALREADY INTERESTED ON THE LADIES. OF COURSE! AND DON'T CALL THEM UNLUCKY, BASTARD." And fuck you, that someone is not unlucky. It's me who's unlucky, falling for an idiot.
Again, Zoro took longer to reply. Sanji hoped Zoro sensed nothing on that humiliating message. This is the shithead we're talking about, after all.
"Yeah, yeah. Stop defending yourself."
"I. Am. Not. Defending. Myself." Sanji was not already sure what they were talking about—if it's about defending about the piano crush or his interest on someone.
"Whatever."
Very embarrassed, Sanji decided not to reply anymore.
After the last grand duet, the crowd gave another round of applause. The musician family bowed to their hearts' content.
A twenty-minute break was announced, and Sanji stood up from his seat to go to the bathroom. And maybe look for that shithead, he thought. And kick him, because he's an asshole. Luffy also decided to come with him, complaining that his stomach was already grumbling.
"Why did you come here if all you're gonna do is sleep and eat," Sanji asked Luffy as puffed his cigarette.
"I'm not really sleeping. Just listening. Besides…" Luffy took a big bite of his hotdog sandwich. "Woliwanahirishjanextperformansh."
"Swallow your food first, okay," Sanji rolled his eyes, although he could already understand what his friend said. Being with Luffy for a long time made him comprehend words formed by mouth stuffed with food. "What's up with the next performance, anyway?"
"It's him! The ghost pianist."
Sanji was thrilled at the thought of hearing the pianist again. Less than fifteen minutes still remain for the break, but he couldn't wait to go inside.
Luffy was busy munching on another batch of hotdog sandwich when a thought occurred on Sanji.
"Wait a minute… how did you know it was him who'll play next?"
Luffy tried to look away, but panic was obvious on his face.
"Don't attempt to lie. You know you suck at lying. You know something, don't you?"
Luffy was about to speak when Sanji's phone vibrated. It was a long vibration; not a text message, but a call from Zoro.
Luffy immediately left Sanji, bringing the rest of the food. Saved by the bell.
"What do you want," Sanji asked over the phone, his voice almost shaking.
"You did not reply, I thought you're sleeping again."
"Don't liken me to you," Sanji tried to sound contemptuous, but deep inside he felt pleased. Zoro, calling me because I did not reply. Heh. "So, where are you?"
"Why are you so persistent in knowing where I am? Of course I'm at the theatre, but I don't want you to see me. Yet."
"Yet?"
"Yet. Anyway, talk."
Sanji puffed at the remaining cigarette and threw it on the ashtray. "Right now? Oh well, we still have time."
Zoro had always been like this—when he said talk, it meant he wanted to listen to the shitty cook's story about anything. It also meant Sanji listening to Zoro's. Sanji thought of it as one of many's Zoro's weird side, but for Zoro, it was his means of relaxation. Whenever he felt stressed or uncomfortable (of course, he wouldn't let Sanji know he felt that way), he would ask Sanji to tell a random story. For some reason, hearing Sanji share what happened on his day, his dreams, and his daydreams made his mind at peace (although when it's about fawning over girls, Zoro felt really annoyed). It was also a relief for him to share how he had been, and mock the dartbrow for being lesser than him. It was just a joke, of course—Sanji was far way better than him in many things—but seeing the blonde's reaction to his insults made the conversation more engaging.
Sanji, though, would always be willing to share a story to the marimo—even if he couldn't understand what these stories really meant for Zoro. He would also always be willing to listen to Zoro, and would always retort to any snarky remarks from the shithead. He had always enjoyed fighting with Zoro, although he would probably never admit it.
And now, Zoro was feeling nervous. He needed Sanji to talk to him.
"I didn't attend kickboxing today," Sanji said.
"Why is that?"
"Not on the mood. Besides, I don't wanna feel tired while attending this concert."
"Heh, it's because you're weak."
"Shut up!" Sanji loosened his burgundy necktie and wiped a sweat on his forehead. "And what about you, why did you not attend your Kendo training, huh?"
"I'm with my dad."
"Oh." Meeting with his dad was really an important business to attend to.
The two talked about their classes and professors. It was the second month of the second semester, and the things they needed to do were starting to pile up. They also talked about random things, like dogs and cats. Sanji was a dog person, and Zoro was a cat one. And as expected, this led to another phone fight.
Only three minutes left before the program resumed.
"Anyway, it's almost time," Zoro said.
"Oh yeah. Luffy said that pianist will be the next performer."
Zoro coughed then he spoke. "You know, if you weren't sleeping a while ago, you could have seen him already."
"Wait, what do you mean? So you know him?"
A moment of silent lingered on the phone line. Then Sanji heard a laugh on the background. It was not Zoro's laugh, but it was disturbingly familiar.
"Anyway, it's starting. Got to go."
And Zoro was finally out on the other line.
Sanji stared at his phone, unable to move.
"What… was he doing with Brook?" He couldn't be mistaken. That laugh was certainly Brook's.
He took the music sheet from his pocket and stared at it. The Guy with the Flaxen Hair. The roughly crossed out 'Girl'. The word 'Guy', with a handwriting that… fuck.
How could I miss that?
Brook and Luffy… And perhaps, Ms. Robin, too…
Don't tell me…
That grunt…
No, it can't be.
Sanji decided to go back to his seat. That mystery pianist was the next. Then he won't be a mystery anymore.
