Balloons were fired like bullets. The desperate sniper missed again. It was difficult to aim with clothes drenched, dyed in red.
He was deeply wheezing and his arms were getting sore. It was probably due to his clothes getting heavy with water and due to his frustrations.
As expected, Luffy was too fast and too random to follow but Usopp is not the kind of person to just give up. His determination to hit Luffy with the last balloon in hand did not yield.
Chopper, who decided not to join and seeing the great gap between the two, cheered Usopp from the swing in the hopes to give him the push he needed.
And true to Chopper's wish, Usopp suddenly felt purpose. Usopp imagined himself as an mvp player in the field with a duty to fulfill the fans' happiness.
He could hear the wild imaginary cheers. His hunched back straightened with confidence and his chest tingled with a sensation he couldn't understand at that time. It felt like drums beating loudly, thrilled by the sound of the cheers.
Unable to suppress his emotions, Usopp roared his battlecry with fisting to the air. And like any battlefield, giving it all in the cry has given him a high spirit and great motivation. To Chopper, it turned out like a promise of a good fight.
The sniper deeply breath and set a foot forward, eyeing his target as he read the movements.
All went slow even for the fast Luffy. It was as if the Sunny Go got attacked by Noro Noro no Mi user. Luffy's laughter slowly echoed in the air with Chopper's cheer in the background. When Luffy stepped, the crispy clap of the slipper on the lawn echoed loudly in Usopp's ears and vibrations creeped under the feet. Eyes dilated with a sharp breath once alarmed by the senses.
He lightly gripped the balloon and hurriedly pitched the shot. The pitch flew faster and more accurate than before and almost taken Luffy by surprise.
Luckily, Luffy's reflexes managed to twist and bend his body backwards, grazing only the ear while Chopper, the unsuspecting bystander, suddenly felt a cold rubbery flesh melting on his face before hearing a pop.
Chopper screeched. His precious brown fur turned green. He trembled and tears formed that recoiled Usopp.
Luffy's heart stung and felt responsible too. But instead of sympathizing, Luffy wore the widest smile and patted Chopper's back, like how he remembers big brother Ace did it to him.
"If you use your guard point, you'll look liked a big marimo. Zoro would be pleased."
Luffy, who tried to turn things in optimistic way, continued to tease which only made Chopper flare more. Though Chopper knew that it was an accident, he surely wanted a pay back.
He held a hoof up in front of Luffy. "Luffy!" and with just a name, Luffy understood and eagerly handed him a balloon. As soon as the balloon landed on the hoof, Chopper quickly and sloppily threw it at Usopp.
It made a slow upward-long projectile motion that Usopp didn't need to duck to dodge it. All eyes followed the balloon until it hit a man. Clangs of forks and tray and breaking of plates and glasses were heard.
The cook stood there for a moment, staring at the wasted food, with his back facing the kids. There is nothing more to do aside from disappointed head shakes and sighs.
Somehow fortunate, Sanji was not wearing his usual coat and tie due to summer heat. Only his dress shirt took the damage. When Sanji touched the wet part, there were reddish tint stains on the fingertips. Then he wondered, as he rubbed the fingertips, if the stain would be easy to remove.
Sanji let out a breath again before tapping around the pockets for cigarette. He lighted it in his mouth and took a drag. Then hid his hands in the trouser pockets and turned around to face the kids.
Scanning their faces, one was avoiding his eyes, the small one cried and the other has long nose. They were too readable. He knew immediately who the culprit is but he wanted the kids to come clean and confess.
"Who among you made me throw away the food?"
"No one. You did."
Luffy quickly replied in philosophical manner.
"What?" Sanji snarled but was distracted when he heard chuckling and heavy boots climbing down the stairs.
"Not a word, Marimo-kun. Not now."
"Is that tomato on your shirt?" Zoro teasingly remarked despite Sanji's warning.
"What part of not a word didn't you understand? Moron!" Sanji yelled.
"Did they finally had enough and threw tomatoes at you?"
After continuously puffing smoke like an old model train, Sanji replied calmly but was unable to hide the rage in his eyes.
"No, the tomato got lost just like you."
"Who would be lost in their own ship?"
"Then what the hell are you doing there?"
"Can't I roam around?"
Sanji's hair stood up and hardly bit on the cigarette as he asked.
"Near the lady's quarters?"
"I'm not a pervert like you." Zoro smirked.
"Who are you calling pervert?!"
Sanji snapped. It must be Zoro's arrogance that ticks his nerves. Or maybe not. Mere presence already annoys Sanji and what more in hearing that baritone voice.
With heavy thud on the metal, two swords out and a leg up against a sword. Zoro lunge the free sword but the blonde saw through and pushed with his defending foot against the blocked sword for a somersault.
Zoro didn't waste any time and moved his body forward following Sanji with arms spread like scorpion ready to attack. On the other hand, the slender body flexes with Sanji cartwheeling to avoid those pincers.
When a bit of distance was made, Sanji kicked the floor. Like an eagle, he shadowed over Zoro while rapidly flipping his body to create enough momentum in the kick to break through Zoro's hard shell.
Chills felt down the spine. A challenge Zoro has been seeking from the cook for days. His heart pumped with adrenaline, anticipating the big blow but then his face suddenly frowned from excitement. The swordsman felt unease and the vibe is not coming from the cook.
Zoro's unusual behaviour caught Sanji off guard. Zoro usually face anything head on but he was lowering his arms, stepping backwards and irritated like forced to surrender.
With such little time to change the momentum, Sanji drilled his foot on the lawn floor, creating a hole.
"What the hell?"
Sanji barked at Zoro but the attention was nowhere near him. Curious, the cook followed Zoro's gaze and saw 2 goddesses peering down from heaven.
To Sanji, it was ecstatic. They were glowing, as if they have halos at the back of their heads.
The cook laid his eyes on Nami with awe like it was his first meeting her. Then Sanji touched his chest while appreciating her beauty. He could feel the heart pounding, and heat rising from the core, burning the neck and ears like wildfire.
Sanji gasped with cheeks flushed. To him, even the goddess have mercy on him. If Nami wasn't glaring down at them with killing intents, he might have died of heart attack and blood lost. Sanji thought it was sweet of her to temporarily spoil her beauty for his sake.
"Sanji, do you have any idea on what you just did?" Nami spoke with jawbone resting on the palm and fingers tapping on the cap rail.
Sanji put his hands on the hips and tapped the floor with his foot while looking down, searching for clues. He just fought with Zoro and it's nothing unusual that may concern Nami. Then he remembered the tray and sweat drops formed on his temple.
Sanji touched his nape as his breath escaped his mouth. "Ahh. I'm sorry Nami-san… Robin-chan. Just got little accident on the way. Please bear with me for a bit. I'll prepare the snacks right away."
Sanji immediately bowed down for forgiveness and dismissal and immediately picked up the tray. Then he glanced at the kids, only two left with Luffy gone. Though bit disappointed, he asked the kids to help him clean up the mess.
"Sanji. I'm not done yet."
Sanji's ear twitched. It was uncommon for Nami to ask for more. Days of showing his love has finally paid off. He might now have bigger chance of winning the lady's heart.
Sanji shift back to Nami, dancing in excitement with a smile and sang.
"Yes? Nami-swan..."
"Do you know how much an Adam wood costs?"
Sanji suddenly pictured Nami in lascivious business suit, seated cross-legged with elbows rested on a black tall leather wingback armchair and a tobacco clipped in her fingers.
But it was not the time to fool around, so Sanji peeked at Zoro from the corner of his eyes and noticed him gulped. He knows how big Zoro's debt is and his budget for new refrigerator with lock is on the line too.
"I'm sorry Nami-san. I know that it is expensive but have no idea of how much. May I help the ladies and ask Franky about it?"
"Nevermind. To be honest, I'm having crisis and so I came here with a business proposal to both of you."
"Don't involve me in your monkey business."
Zoro immediately rejected the idea which made Sanji reactively scold Zoro for his rudeness, but Nami doesn't actually care as long as she could push Zoro in her way.
"That's not the way to talk to her. moron!"
"When was the last time you paid me? Let me help you by helping me." Nami spoke abruptly, trying to early diminish potential fight between the two.
"Nami-san, don't worry about him. If Zoro doesn't want to, I'm here at your service." Sanji kneeled down like a knight waiting for his queen to give him the recognition and honor.
"That won't do. Zoro, you need to be part of this. Be a responsible adult." Zoro noticed Nami gripped on the rails but he is not going to be bothered by it.
"I'll pay you in my own terms."
"I don't think you could fully pay me in your lifetime with that kind of attitude. Maybe I should cut down or strip your budget for liquor." Nami smiled maliciously.
Zoro could tell Nami is up to no good. Any business she does favored her greatly and less to them. Even if he helped her, his fate would never release him from debt.
Sanji couldn't understand Zoro when dealing with the ladies and his patience on the matter is growing thin like his cigar. For no matter how stubborn Zoro could be, in the end, he wouldn't let down a friend in need.
Sanji scoldingly glared at Zoro, telling to just stop and deal with it but Zoro deflected him with a stoic face. Neither one of them blinked nor at least looked away as both tried to convey their message telepathically.
Nami sighed as she watched the two standoff silently. Funny how the two could communicate with no words even though they are always at each other's necks.
Nami wishes to do the same. She would have been at least working on the project by now if only she could easily convey what she wanted. And, the only thing she wanted is the cooperation from the two.
"Guys stop please. This is a serious matter. We are running out of budget and it will be hard to maintain this ship soon. I've ran out of things to sell and it's not like we always get gold from the islands we visit. Zoro, I get it. You only follow Luffy's orders but if you want to make him happy, better do something. You know how much Luffy enjoys food." Nami pointed her finger at Zoro after she mentioned follow and then pokes the air for emphasis in do something.
Zoro clicked his tongue, continuously arguing with them would just be pain in the ass. It wasn't worth the effort. With that, Nami knew he got Zoro.
"Nami-san, what do we need to do?" Sanji asked.
"Or better, what kind of business are you trying to pull?" Zoro butted in, folding his arms in the process.
Nami nodded in agreement with Zoro and called Sanji out.
"Sanji, remember the pictures used for your rehabilitation on the way to Fishman Island?"
Sanji unconsciously stretched his nostrils and steamed out heat. Sanji giggled with hearts fleeting around him, which made Robin chuckle at his usual golden reaction.
"It's as if it was only yesterday. Nami-san's gorgeous pictures and Robin-chan's cutest smiles are still vividly clear." And, the dreamy Sanji continued to drift away.
"What of it?" Zoro coldly asked, getting impatient with Sanji's antics.
"Simply saying, we sold them to our patrons then business boomed."
Sanji couldn't believe his ears and exclaimed "what?!", but Nami ignored the side comment and eyed Zoro as she continued to explain.
"It was one of our great source of income but recently the sales drastically dropped. Maybe we just need new faces. So I'm asking you two to be my models."
"Why didn't you say so?"
Nami facepalmed at Zoro's lit face. Who would have thought he could be this conceited.
"Don't get so full of yourself. You'll look like a squid when you're with me. You're nothing but muscles, muscle head." Sanji, also a conceited man, added his cent.
"If you say you're handsome, why hide the half of it? and who would want a skinny? so plain. No wonder I'm needed."
"That's what you call style and I've got abs." Sanji angrily pulled out his dress shirt, displaying his toned abs while tapping them.
The two continued to spurt out nonsense and bragged their good looks and sex appeal. While the ladies ogle at the free show, Nami expressed her exhaustion and stress.
"These two are too much to handle."
Robin smiled in response and soothingly caressed Nami's back.
"I know. Almost everyone is."
And Nami exhaled contently for having someone understand her.
"I envy you sometimes for being always calm."
Then she turned her attention back to the brutes.
"Okay stop it you two. We need to start right away. Today will be Sanji's. So Sanji please clean up and shave your mustache and goatee. Then let's meet up in the galley."
Sanji looked hesitant after few seconds of hearing the shave but that quickly changed after Nami puts on her puppy eyes.
"Anything for you Nami-san." Sanji excitingly said while doing heart shape using his arms before twirling his way out.
Then she noticed Usopp and Chopper, who were busy cleaning up the shards, and asked them to meet up in the galley too.
"So there's no need for me then?" Zoro asked while yawning and scratching his back. Nami gave him a confused and questioning look. She thought her instruction was clear.
"Wait for my orders in the galley."
Zoro doesn't like to be told what to do, especially if it meant waiting but he has no choice. He grumpily went to the galley and sat alone in the dining table.
Silence and boredom made his eyelids heavy and soon he was found deeply snoring with head slumped on the table.