Sanji and Zoro ate lunch in the infirmary then went back to class. The rest of the day went bye rather fast. Sanji knew he wasn't paying attention as he should be. He found himself taking peaks at Zoro in his seat. He knew he shouldn't be, he should be listening to the teacher but it was nice to have Zoro at school.

The last bell of the day rang and the whole class flooded the entrances. The hallways were more filled than normal. Sanji and Zoro had gotten separated from each other. Not being able to find his marimo he made his way to his shoe locker. He changed his shoes and made his way to Zoro's. He didn't find the marimo there so he looked in his shoe locker to see that they were still there, meaning he hadn't made his way there yet.

Sanji waited for Zoro in front of the shoe locker. He watched as every single student left. All clubs were suspended until further notice, so there was no need to stay and hang around here. Even the student body was suspended, no need for the student body president and the rest to stay at school.

"Sanji." Said person looks up to see the others there, his so called friends.

"Hey." He says nodding to them.

"Listen Sanji, we're sorry. About how we were mean with you."

"I told you it's fine. The reason I never thought to tell any of you is because it wasn't my secret to tell you. And it's not something to be told to anyone so easily." Sanji explains. They all nod.

"We're sorry." Nami says. They all bow. He gives them a smile.

"Okay." Sanji says. They all just stand there in silence. They were expecting something a little more than just 'okay' but it seems he's still not going to do anything for them that involves Zoro. He must be smitten with the green haired man.

"Then we'll leave. See you tomorrow." Robin says waving bye to him. Nami pushes them to go forward, leaving Sanji by himself in front of Zoro's locker. The blonde watches as they leave, watches as they get further and further away.

Sanji sighs, he is a little confused on how to react to them now. How does he talk to them? Well, he'll take one thing at a time. Right now his first priority is Zoro. "Are you done Zoro?" He asks. He turns to see Zoro peeking out from behind the end of the shoe locker.

"Yeah. How did you know I was here?" Zoro asks walking towards the blonde. Sanji saw Zoro holding bags in his hand, those must be the presents the others left for him but the teacher took all of them for safety reasons. Seems like they gave them to Zoro.

"Just thought you would be. It was a fifty-fifty chance that you were there." Sanji says stepping away from Zoro's locker to let him change his shoes. Zoro just nods and changes his shoes. "I'm guessing you know who was just here." Zoro just nods. "Are you ever going to talk to them?"

"I don't want to." Zoro shakes his head. "I know they're mad at me and I don't want to know why."

"Are... you afraid of them?" Sanji wonders.

"Yes." Zoro answer instantly, he looks down at his feet. "I had friends that I thought I could trust but they turned their backs on me when I told them I was gay." Zoro says, Sanji didn't press further. Zoro always looks hurt when he talks about them or middle school before he transferred. He wants to know who his old friends are because he'd like to teach them a lesson. He does know that he was bullied during middle school so his friends must not have helped either. But it's also sad to think that Zoro thinks the same thing is happening here. He should tell Zoro that they aren't like that. They aren't mad at him for being gay they are- were -mad at him for not telling them that he was in trouble, that he needed help. Though to be fair and play devil's advocate, Zoro didn't think he needed help. He wasn't in desperate need for others to "help" him.

"Come on I'll drop you off at work." Sanji says as he takes a step towards the entrance of the school, ready to get out of here.

"I don't have work today." Zoro says following him.

"Really!?" Sanji asks excited. Zoro nods with a grunt.

"My dad called saying I can go home today, he already let my boss know. After what happened today I think I deserve it." Zoro says.

"Then I'll spend the day with you. The old man has been getting mad at me spending my wait time for you at the restaurant."

"I think he wants to let you have fun." Zoro says.

"I know he does but... after everything that happened right now you're the only person I really hang out with." Sanji blushes just as Zoro does too. He couldn't believe he said that out loud. "So what do you want to do when we get to your house?"

"I'm going to go through this, then relax a little." Zoro says showing the bag. Sanji nods.

"I'll make your dinner." Sanji says. Zoro looks at him.

"Are you sure?" The marimo asks. Sanji nods.

"Yeah, I saw a recipe for ramen and I want to try it."

"You know how to make ramen?" Zoro asks.

"Now I do. I want to try it. You'll be my guinea pig." Sanji says with a smile.

"Okay." Zoro says with a smile of his own. He could eat anything so even if it does end up horrible for his first time he knows he could still eat it, finish it. And he doesn't have to cook, so win win.

As Sanji and Zoro get closer to Zoro's home Sanji sees someone sitting on the steps with what seems like presents. Getting closer they see it's Elliot. Zoro opens the gate letting them in, Elliot looking up to them with a smile. "I'm glad you're here." He says getting up.

"What's up with all this stuff?" Sanji says looking at the wrapped boxes, and a normal white box in his hand. Elliot looks down at the white box at his hand.

"I don't know what this is. Someone came to deliver it and gave it to me." He hands Sanji the box as Zoro searches for the house keys.

"It's from my father." Zoro guesses, but that's the only person he can think of that got it. Plus it looks like what he got last year.

"The others box is from me." Elliot says grabbing the wrapped box green and silver. "It was the only wrapping paper I had. Happy birthday Zoro." He says smiling, Zoro looks at him shocked and he opens the door. Sanji stares at both of them shocked. He didn't know it was Zoro's birthday today. He didn't think to ask but with everything that happened recently Zoro's birthday, though it should be, wasn't in the forefront of his mind.

"It's your birthday!" Sanji shouts. Zoro just nods.

"How did you know?" Zoro asks Elliot.

"It was on our work schedule, that you have the day off today because it's your birthday." Elliot says.

"I didn't see that." Zoro says. He thought he had work the whole week so when his father called he was surprised.

"That's because Zephyr handed you a fake schedule. Your father told him he wanted to surprise you." Elliot adds. They all walk in and Sanji puts the box down on the kitchen table. It was a big box with careful written everywhere on it, and 'this way up' with arrows pointed to the sky. It seemed to be an important box. Zoro sets the bag next to the box.

"I'll be back." Zoro says running to his room and dropping his backpack down. Then changing into some more casual and comfy clothes. A black turtleneck wool sweater, and black sweats.

"Do you know what's in the box." Elliot asks standing next to Sanji both wondering what's in the box.

"My birthday cake." Zoro says doing the box carefully not wanting to ruin the cake.

"It must be a big birthday cake." Elliot says looking down at his phone. "Damn, I have to go to work. See you tomorrow." Elliot says running out the house.

Sanji watched Zoro open the box then lifting the top off revealing a pearl white covered cake. A strip of white chocolate with 'happy birthday' written in milk chocolate. A simple two layered cake but beautifully decorated. Sanji looked over at Zoro smiling. "How come you didn't tell me your birthday?" Sanji asked a little hurt. If he knew he would have planned something.

"I forgot. Today wasn't the simplest, or quet of days." Zoro says taking his phone out and taking pictures, to hold on to or send he doesn't know. Sanji frowns, he's right. With what happened with Brandon everything escaped his mind besides if the fact that Zoro is all right.

"I would have gotten you something." Sanji says depressed.

"It's fine. I wasn't expecting anything at all, like last year." Zoro says pulling Elliot's present towards him.

"You didn't get anything last year?" Sanji asks. Zoro nods as he unwrapped Elliots present.

"Besides my birthday cake and a text that said I could buy what I want." Zoro says. He looks in the box to see a red... sash, scarf or was it a plain red obi. Zoro didn't know what it was but he liked it. There was also a green haramaki. Zoro smiles. He told Elliot about how he use to have one when he was little, even showed an old photo to him.

Sanji sat there sulking as Zoro looked at Elliots gift then at what the students got him. He felt bad that he didn't ask, that he didn't know. But he knew that they didn't do anything for him last year as friends.

Most of what he got from the glass was letter saying they were sorry, gift cards, one person got him a rather very cute fox and tiger keychain, someone from what they assume is the art club drew him a picture, a very cool picture of him and three swords. He looked like a warrior. It was awesome. Zoro really liked it. He's going to have to buy a frame for it.

Sanji spent the day with Zoro for his birthday, made him ramen and they sat with each other, well across from each. Sanji ate his, it was alright but it's not like he had something to compare it too. He looks at Zoro to see him eating. "So?"

"It's alright." Zoro shrugs.

"What did I mess up?"

"I think the broth." Zoro says then shrugs again. "I don't know how you cooked it so I can't help." Zoro says.

"Then next time I cook it we'll do it together so you'll tell me what I am doing wrong." Sanji says.

Zoro nods with a smile. The next time.