The swordsman released another tired sigh. It was around noon now and he still hadn't gotten any bites on the fishing line, let alone be able to solve the problem he'd be pondering over for the past three hours.
No, he wasn't slow in figuring out why he felt so uncomfortable lately. He knew exactly the reason why his heart raced when she was near; why his stomach turned when seeing her smile; and he knew the reason he got jealous over other men fondling over her.
He liked her, simple as that. But he refused to admit that was the case. He didn't want to like her in that way. She was a pain; always getting into trouble; always found some way to get in a fight (not that was a bad thing); and always ended up heading blindly into a situation. Yet, for some reason, he still found the unfeminine, brash, and alcoholic young woman rather attractive.
There must be something really wrong… Zoro thought, scratching her head with another sigh.
"Oi, boy!"
Zoro looked back over his shoulder, seeing an old man standing there and waving his walking stick at him.
"Do you have any idea how yer holdin' that thin'?!" the old man shouted at Zoro.
Zoro looked to how he was holding the fishing pole, seeing nothing wrong with it, and looked back to the old man. "Something wrong with how I'm-"
"Everything's wrong with how yer holdin it!" the old man scolded him again, bonking Zoro on the head with his stick. "Yer posture is wrong, yer grip on the pole is wrong, an' it's the reason you've been sittin' here for three hours an' not caught anythin'!"
Zoro was irritated at the old man, but heard him out anyway.
The old man sat down next to Zoro, snatching the pool from him and taking hold of it. "Ya gotta hold it like ya would a woman: Kind, gentle, yet firm!" Zoro grumbled to himself, feeling that uncomfortable feeling coming back to him when an image of Chas popped into his head. "Ya don't hold yer woman properly an' don't treat her right, she'll run off on ya! Understand?"
"Yes," Zoro said, nodding.
"Good!" the old man said, handing the fishing pole back to Zoro. Zoro took ahold of it, but was soon getting yelled at again. "Yer still holdin' it wrong!" The old man grumbled to himself, swearing a bit here and there, but soon looked back to Zoro. "Ya have a girl, Boy?"
Zoro thought for a moment, grumbling when Chas popped to mind once again. She wasn't his, nor did he really like her. But he thought of her.
"Or maybe ya like a lass but she isn't yer's?"
Zoro grumbled again, the redhead's image not fading from memory, and said, "No…no one comes to-"
"LIAR!" the old man shouted, bonking Zoro on the head before he could finish. "I saw how ya were holdin' the pole just now! Ya thought of a lassie an' was tryin' to forget about her!" The old man crossed his arms, facing Zoro. "So, what? She broke yer heart? Left ya because ya went out to sea? Became a pirate? That why ya out here, in the middle of nowhere, fishin'? What was it?!"
Zoro sighed and told the old man what was going on. He soon regretted doing that when he was hit on the head with the wooden walking stick again.
"Quit tryin' ta make excuses!" the old man said, crossing his arms. "Yer just tryin' ta tell yerself somethin' far from the truth!" The old man continued to hit Zoro on the head as he spoke. "If ya like the girl, get her already! There's no hidin' those feelin's!"
Before Zoro could give a counter argument…
"Zoro-san!" Brook shouted, waving his hands franticly as he ran across the pier.
"What is it?" Zoro questioned, raising an eyebrow.
Brook held up a finger, gasping for air even though he didn't have lungs to use. Once he was all right, he began talking again. "I was told to come get you and bring you back!"
"Why?" Zoro once again asked.
Brook began crying. "It's Chas-san!"
After that, Zoro immediately got up, leaving the old man with the fishing rod, and ran off towards the ship with Brook leading.
"Don't forget what I told ya!" the old man shouted, shaking his fist in the air, but Zoro was long gone. The old man simply shook his head and went back to fishing, snorting, "Damn kids…"
Zoro and Brook quickly opened the door to the sick bay, only to find the redhead sitting on the bed, yelling about how much the antiseptic hurt her more. She had a large gash on her head, a few small cuts on her arms, and her hurt foot swollen; other than that she seemed fine.
Sadly, Chas wasn't the only one injured. Sanji and Luffy were also injured, from head to foot, in cuts and bruises. They were barely noticeable.
Chas explained to Zoro what had happened. She had gotten caught by Vera and after a while of getting her butt kicked, Chas gained the upper hand. Before Chas could deal the final blow, Lang had stepped in.
Lang then made a deal with Luffy, saying that there would be no harsh feeling when the competition was over. But if the Straw Hats lost, then they would have to give up "the book they hold hostage, along with the treasure they had gotten ahold of".
Luffy, of course, agreed without any questions. He had high expectations for his team and knew that they would beat Lang that night in the Final Round. Now there was only waiting.