Don't have too much to say about OP right now. I am absolutely loving the Punk Hazard Arc, but I'm ready for them to get to Big Mam already. And I REALLY want to know more about this three-eyed girl... I smell a new nakama... IF it's Koala (who has eaten a DF like I suspect) that is...

Pardon my speculations haha. Back to the story. Enjoy the chapter!

Gum Arms, Long Noses, and Whimsical Ghosts

First day of semester one.

Sanji awoke bright and early, already ready for classes to be over so he could see Nami again. He was up so early the sun hadn't even beaten him to the new day. Upon gazing at his clock, he saw that it was barely six o'clock.

It was the perfect time to get up, get ready, and make the others some coffee to jump-start their day.

He threw the sheets back and stepped out of bed. After deciding what he'd wear for the day, he grabbed his toothbrush and toothpaste and walked into the bathroom.

It was clean for now. But there was no way he could keep both the bathroom and the kitchen clean… he'd have to give the duty of keeping this room clean to someone.

He had heard Luffy saying he only took baths once a week so he was clearly out of the question. Why would he want to clean something he barely used?

There were only two other options, but maybe Usopp was the better candidate. He'd run it by him later today.

Once he was done brushing his teeth and washing his face, he returned the brush and paste back to his room and headed into the kitchen.

Nami had been in here yesterday. Hopefully she'd come again today. After all, she only lived around the corner.

After starting the coffee, Sanji opened the door to grab the newspaper and sat down at the table. He read over the main page, and before he turned, he noticed the lumps under the cover on the couch.

Zoro shifted unnervingly in his sleep. He could feel some unwanted attention on him.

He turned and his leg hit something, causing him to fully wake up.

He rubbed his eyes and sat up only to see that a blanket had been tossed over him and there was a large lump behind his feet.

He pulled the cover back and saw that it was Luffy sleeping soundly while facing the opposite direction.

"What the…?"

"You awake, marimo?" Zoro turned quickly when he heard Sanji's voice. "Luffy's a nice kid. I would've just let you freeze. "

"Why isn't he in his own bed?"

"He gave it to Chopper for the night. Don't mistake his hospitality for interest in you… The only reason Chopper didn't sleep on the couch was because you were on it."

"…"

"I'm making coffee. You're welcome to some once it's done."

The green haired man didn't respond. He simply got off of the couch and walked to his own room. His classes didn't start until eight so he could sleep for another hour before he had to get ready.

Although waking next to Luffy was very weird, he was thankful that someone was nice and considerate enough to share a blanket with him. He had a tendency to stay asleep even when he was uncomfortable with the temperature.

He smiled when he remembered that Chopper had stayed over. If he could be that comfortable with them, then Zoro had no problem with him staying over more often. After all, the little guy needed some friends.

"Get up, Luffy!" Usopp yelled as he shook the boy's sleeping form.

"Nyah! One more minute and I'll…wake…up…"

Usopp sighed. If he had known Luffy would sleep until ten minutes before his first class, he'd have done this much earlier than now.

He apologized for what he was about to do. After grabbing a hold of the cover the other was wrapped in, he snatched it, causing Luffy to harshly hit the floor.

"OWW!"

"Luffy, your class starts in ten minutes!"

"T-ten minutes!?"

"Yeah! Now go get ready and head out!"

Luffy scrambled off the floor and ran into his room. He grabbed a red t-shirt and a pair of knee-high shorts from his closet and changed into them before getting his art supplies and speeding out of the dorm.

"Thanks Usopp!" he called as he passed said boy who was on his way to the science department.

"See you later, Luffy! And good luck today!"

"You too!"

After realizing he'd most likely not make it if he kept running, Luffy pulled his free arm back and stretched it to grab hold of the antenna on top of one of the buildings ahead of him. No one said anything about Sea Prism Stone being outside the buildings.

"Gomu gomu no-Rocket!" He shouted while flying to the roof. He jumped quickly off the other side of it.

"Gomu gomu no-Fuuuuseeeen!" he shouted.

Immediately, he blew himself up and floated towards the multiple buildings in the art department.

As soon as he landed and deflated, he sped into the drawing building and through the hallways.

He entered the classroom and fell over, completely out of breath.

The instructor turned and smiled, "Well it seems you made it before eight. With seconds to spare too!"

"Sorry! *huff* I woke up late *huff*."

"Well take a seat anywhere you see an available one."

Luffy stood and picked up his booksack and sketch pad before gazing around. His eyes landed on something that looked like grass in the back of the classroom and then he noticed what it was.

"Oiii! Zorooo!" he grinned widely.

Said man sighed. He didn't realize he would probably take this class with Luffy. Apparently the university was currently short on instructors for this basic drawing course and this teacher wasn't even supposed to teach this course this year.

When Luffy came and sat down in the seat to his right, he tried ignoring him as best he could.

"I didn't know you were in this class! Getting your electives out of the way early, huh? You should've woken me this morning when you got up for class!" the boy smiled.

Zoro was a little surprised. It was as if this kid didn't even care about the fact that he had slept next to him last night.

Eyebrow had said it wasn't a sign of interest, and maybe he was right. Maybe Luffy was just genuinely a nice person.

"Giving Chopper his bed for the night and sharing a blanket with me was just to be kind…" he thought.

"Shishishishi! We're gonna have so much fun this semester!" Luffy laughed.

The instructor walked to the front of the class and began lecturing on the history of art for about fifteen minutes.

Luffy, already bored by the first five minutes, had started doodling in his sketchbook.

He turned and then started drawing Zoro, who was equally as inattentive.

As his eyes moved across the man's form, he couldn't help but notice how nicely sculpted he was. Sanji had called him a musclehead, but he didn't realize how right he was. His muscles were average sized, but compared to his own arms, Zoro was toned.

Not to say he was buffed up or anything, he just had a nice balance of build in all the right places.

"Okay class, the first thing I want you to do is sketch a copy of this master drawing."

The screen shifted to a picture of The Miraculous Draught of Fishes by Raphael. Both Luffy and Zoro were shocked at such a large first assignment.

Other students in the room started mumbling about it which conveyed the general concern and dismay.

"Your copies don't need to be perfect. I'm just trying to give you a chance to show achievement. For those of you who don't think you're any good, this is a great chance to get in some practice. I'll be gauging your skills through this assignment."

Zoro looked over to Luffy. The kid had already begun drawing. He wasn't very good, but he was at least trying.

He turned to his own sketch pad and picked up his pencil. No need to waste time when a critique was surely on its way near the end of class.

The teacher quietly made his way around the classroom, observing his students' skills and methods of completing the daunting task.

He stopped when he reached the boy who had come in late.

His piece, it was atrocious. Lines everywhere and the figures were far from defined. The green haired boy next to him hadn't done any better.

"Luckily they're in the back…" he sighed.

He continued to walk about the class and noticed a few students with some major talent. Poor things in the back would be destroyed in the critique. But that was something maybe they needed to help them improve.

When he noticed the clock working faster than he was, he called time on the assignment. At ten fifteen, everyone took their drawings and pinned them up on the wall. The critique began immediately.

Everyone's eyes moved around the wall picking out the best and the worst ones that had been hung.

"Will someone pick one they like? That would be the best way to start."

A bleach blonde, pale girl with wings on the back of her shirt smiled and walked over to the worst one and picked it, "I like how this person didn't do any specific people and how everything's a blur. It's a completely different approach to the assignment."

"Whose is that?" the instructor asked.

Zoro blushed and raised his hand. Everyone turned and looked at him.

"Come on up and defend your artwork!"

The marimo stood from his seat in the back and walked up to the picture.

"He's pretty hot…" a girl whispered.

Too bad she was in a small group of them so no one could tell who it was.

That comment was the start of the mumbling. Everyone was now interested in the man. His style in clothes was so different it made him seem all the more appealing.

For starters, he had three golden earrings in his left ear. He was wearing a scarf around his forehead and let his green hair stand from the top of it. His shirt was tight fitting and around the collar left a lot of exposed skin. Finally, his boots were the same color as his pants which made them look like they were actually one garment instead of the two they actually were.

"Please, tell me about your amazing work." the girl said.

"Conis, no need to be so nice. We're trying to help each other out here."

"But…I meant every word I said."

"Hey, Zoro! Nice job!" Luffy grinned from the center of the class.

Conis turned to Luffy and smiled, "Right?"

"How'd you do it?" another student asked.

"Well, I just sketched everything and tried to give some value with the blending tool… I didn't do much else because I ran out of time."

The teacher walked over to the work and observed it more closely, "Well, you didn't define much…but it's a start I suppose. Just try a little harder next time. A man who can manage his time is a man who will surely succeed."

"This course is only an elective in my major… I took it because of all the other courses, I wanted to improve here the most." the man blushed.

"Well, just because it's an elective, doesn't mean you shouldn't give your all." The teacher said.

"On the contrary sir, I think he did amazing work. He seems to have tried his best. Look, he's still holding his pencil. I think he cares a lot and is taking this really seriously."

"Thank you…" Zoro said.

"Well, please pick one you find interesting. We have to keep the critique going."

The marimo turned and quickly picked the one right next to his, ready to get back to his seat.

"Ah, and who did this amazing piece?" the teacher asked, truly astonished.

"Meeeee!" Luffy said happily before walking to the front of the class.

"Really now!? When I first walked by, you seemed to be struggling. How did you come to make this?"

"I always start off with rough sketches before going over things with pen. It's something an old friend taught me back in my hometown."

Zoro, who had gone back to his seat, was completely surprised that he had picked Luffy's. More to the point, he was surprised that Luffy had made that!

He had done so much to ignore him that he didn't even look at the boy's work once.

"By the way, thanks for helping my friend out, wing girl!"

Conis smiled and brushed it off as nothing.

Zoro banged his forehead onto his sketch pad. Way to draw attention to him even more…

"Wait, did he just say 'friend'?"

Luffy thought of them as friends already?

The instructor got closer and tried to pick Luffy's work apart but the kid knew exactly what he was doing and why. It amazed him.

After his own critique, Luffy insisted on talking about Conis's drawing.

For the rest of the class, the two practically led the critique saying what they liked and would have improved on with the other works.

Once everyone had been evaluated, the instructor congratulated everyone and said class was over. He honestly wasn't expecting two of his students to take such initiative on the first day. Of course, Conis kept things mature while Luffy did just the opposite.

He watched as they talked together briefly. Well, the less work he had to do, the better.

Luffy walked back to his seat and started putting everything away.

"Nice job today, Luffy." Zoro said while packing his own things.

"Oh, you too! And if you ever want my help or advice, I'm happy to give it to you!"

"Thanks."

"See you later today, roomie!" Luffy said before quickly leaving the room to get to his next class.

He wanted to be there with time to spare this time around.

Around two o'clock in the afternoon, Nami had finished all her classes and was now headed back to her room.

On her way she saw Robin coming out of the library.

"Hi Robiiin!"

"Nami!" said woman smiled, "Good afternoon."

"Hey, I'm gonna visit the boys later. Wanna come and meet them?"

"Sure thing. You know, we should probably bring Vivi too."

"Alright. Well, I'll see you later."

"Right."

With that, the two parted ways. After picking up a smoothie on her way through the student union, Nami continued on her way back to her room.

She spotted Sanji and sprinted in his direction. "Sanji-kun!"

The man heard his name called and turned around, "Nami-swaaaan! How are you my dear!?"

Everyone turned and watched as the two came together in the center of the union. They were making quite a scene.

"I love that outfit on you, Nami-san."

"What, this old thing? It's nothing really…"

The girl was dressed in a white, spaghetti strapped dress with blue polka dots around the top that faded as they went down. She had decided to wear golden sandals that gripped her up to her ankles. She looked really nice on this first day of class.

"Are you done with your classes?" Sanji asked.

"Yeah. What about you?"

"I just got out of Calculus. Not fun. If you have the option, take another course instead of that one. I don't even see why I need to take that course for my major…"

"I'll keep that in mind."

"Are you going back to your room?"

"Yeah, I wasn't expecting to run into any of you boys until later."

"Well, I'm meeting Chopper for lunch. You should join us."

Nami looked down to her smoothie. No way would she eat anything after this. But spending time with Sanji and Chopper sounded fun. Besides, she could finish her smoothie while they ate.

"Sure. I have a smoothie so I probably won't eat anything."

"You could eat a salad." Chopper offered as he approached the two.

"That's right! A nice chicken salad!"

"Don't change a thing, Nami-san! I think you're perfect the way you are!"

"He's right Nami. You've got a good looking physique. You have to eat though. Don't starve yourself to be skinny." Chopper added.

"Thanks guys."

"Is that…that marimo?"Sanji asked as he glanced through a crowd.

The other two turned and spotted Zoro walking to the student activity center.

"You'd think he'd spend his free time doing some homework…" Nami said.

"Nevermind him. Let's get something to eat, shall we?"

"Right!" Chopper shouted.

Nami watched Zoro until he entered the double doors of the building. Something about him was so mysterious to her. Maybe it was his walk. Or maybe it wasn't that, but… No. She was definitely thinking too much about him. He wasn't worth the contemplation.

"Coming Nami-san?"

"Yeah, let's go."

"Oiii, Usoooooopp!" Luffy called as he ran to catch up to said boy.

Usopp turned around and smiled when he saw Luffy.

"Hey Luffy! Hope you weren't late for your classes!"

"Nah!" the boy responded as he slowed down when he got next to the other, "I even saw Zoro in my first class!"

"Zoro-kun? What class do you two take together?"

"Basic drawing."

"Oh, kinda boring huh? Maybe you'll be able to get closer to him in that class… It's a good thing I guess since all he seems to want to do is work out and sleep."

"Usopp, how do you know he works out?"

"Because I just saw him in the activity center."

"Really!? Let's go see him!"

"Luffy, I don't think he wants a crowd…"

"C'mon! Maybe he wants someone to walk back to his room with!"

Usopp, against his gut, gave in and led Luffy to the activity center.

They stopped and looked into one of the large windows for their green haired friend.

"A lot of giants in there, huh?" Luffy asked.

Usopp stepped back from the window, "Yeah… Maybe we should just go… Giants tend to be pretty intense… So I've heard…"

"No, I see Zoro!"

"Is he leaving?"

"No, he's lifting weights. And he doesn't have anyone spotting him!"

"Probably because he doesn't need-"

"Ikuzo*, Usopp!"

Luffy grabbed the long nosed boy and ran in through the double doors.

Zoro lifted the weights he had been lifting up to their holster and sat up. He lifted his water bottle and took a large swig from it before wiping his forehead with the towel he had dropped on the ground.

"Zoro!"

"Hey, Zoro-kun!"

"Usopp? Luffy? What are you two doing here?"

"Usopp wanted to come see you." Luffy grinned.

"Wha-"

"You need something?" the man on the bench asked.

"Are you about to go back to the room? You can walk with us." Luffy responded in Usopp's stead.

"I was actually. Don't need or want a crowd, but since you guys are here…"

"Awesome!"

Usopp turned when a few giants walked past, "Scary…" he muttered.

Luffy, completely ignoring his surroundings, stepped closer to Zoro and patted him on the back, "Getting in shape for the ladies?"

"No, I already told you guys I'm not looking to date anyone."

"Nami was right, that's so boring of you."

"It's my life!"

"A life you could have spent with me! Horohorohorohorohoro!"

All three turned and saw a girl standing behind Zoro, leaning on the weight bench.

"Perona…"

The girl had long, curly pink hair and two strange ghosts floating on either side of her. She was wearing a black top hat with white flowers stitched onto it, a long black and white dress, and red boots to finish the outfit.

"Bakayaro*! That's absolutely no way to greet me!"

"What's that bear standing behind you?" Usopp asked.

"Bear-"

"Omoshiroi*!" Luffy said excitedly as he walked past Perona and poked the bear.

"Stop… please…" the thing pleaded.

"Bearsy! I've told you a hundred times not to talk!"

"Perona, what are you doing here? Get lost…" Zoro said.

"Oi, you can't talk to me like that! And if you must know, I was heading to the coffee shop and noticed you in here…Thought I'd come see who these two were."

"They're my roommates."

"Did you eat a Devil Fruit? What are those ghosts?" Usopp asked.

"I ate the Horo Horo* fruit. I can usually fly out of my body and float where I want to go, but thanks to these walls, I can barely make Negative Ghosts."

"You ate a Devil Fruit too!?" Luffy asked eagerly, "I ate the Gomu Gomu Fruit! I'm made of rubber, see?" he said, stretching his face abnormally.

"Eh…! What a weird ability! This is your crowd nowadays, baka?" she asked, turning questioningly to Zoro.

"It's none of your business."

"Stupidhead…" Perona blushed, "There's another reason I came to talk to you…"

"And what's that?"

"I wanted to tell you we should go out on a date sometime again…"

"Go out again…? Us? Well, I…uh…"

"He has a boyfriend!" Usopp declared, realizing Zoro clearly didn't want to date this girl again.

"WHAT!? WHO?" Perona asked quickly.

"Luffy!"

"Luffy?"

"Luffy!?" the green haired man exclaimed.

"Me?" Luffy asked.

Usopp turned and winked at him, "Yeah, Zoro asked you out yesterday! Remember? And you said yes!"

"Usopp, what are you-" Luffy stretched his arm as much as he possibly could and wrapped it a few times around Zoro's mouth, successfully cutting him off.

"You're dating Zoro? Well, I guess this explains a lot about you, huh? Never would've taken you for a banana crammer."

"Mph! Mmmmm!" Zoro grabbed at the rubber arm around his mouth, stretching it as much as he could to get free, "URUSAI! I'm not a banana crammer!"

Everyone in the room turned to look at the four making a scene. Perona sighed and decided it was time for her to go.

"If I find out you're lying to me, I'll have a Negative ghost fly into your body and stay there forever! Horohorohorohorohoro!" she laughed as she left the three and headed to the café.

"LU-FFY! GET YOUR ARM OFF OF ME!"

"Wari*, Zoro."

"Usopp! What were you thinking!?" he asked.

"Gomen na*, Zoro-kun… But at least you don't have to deal with that Perona girl anymore."

"Because she thinks I'm dating Luffy!"

"Well, who is worse in your opinion? Besides, it's not like you are dating him…"

"It's just a joke, Zoro. Don't take it so seriously." Luffy added.

Zoro irritatedly picked up his towel and water and stood from the weight bench. Even though he hated it, Usopp had made some sense. At least Perona was out of the picture. For now. But the punishment she would deliver if and when she found out he wasn't actually dating Luffy was too daunting to even think about.

While the other two led the way back to the dorm room, he stayed a few paces behind. Luffy may have been annoying, but he was at least better than Perona. And much more fun when he thought about it.

"Too bad he's a guy…" the marimo uttered silently.

*Ikuzo – let's go! i'm going!

*Bakayaro – moron; asshole

* Omoshiroi – interesting; funny

*Horo Horo – Hollow Hollow

*Urusai – shut up; be quiet

*Wari – sorry

*Gomen na – sorry

You don't have to do so, but reviewing is nice. They help me improve and also, although seldom, they do give me ideas...since the story is practically writing itself xD