Everyday Life with the Straw Hats
Mariejois arc: part 13: The Chef and the Mermaid
"Damn moss head!" Sanji growled as he was walking down the street. "He thinks that just because he has a girlfriend he's hot shit all of a sudden! If I had a girlfriend, that would really stick it to him."
But knowing his luck, Sanji felt like he would never have a girlfriend at this rate. "It doesn't make sense, I'm the most caring and compassionate for the ladies out of all the us on the crew." Sanji said, his temper flaring up again, but slowly turning back into sorrow. "But….no girls ever seem to share my affection." Sanji said woefully. But then, he heard something.
"Please! Anybody, I could use some help!" a girlish voice said in the distance, but it was getting louder.
"Could that be…" Sanji thought, "A damsel in distress?!" Sanji's attitude instantly turned from self-pity to one of courage. He knew that he could not let any maiden be harmed if he could prevent it. Then, he saw her. A lady sitting in a wheelchair was speeding downhill on the road, unable to stop.
"Please, I can't stop!" she cried out.
Sanji's instincts took control. He leaped in front of the wheelchair and to stop it, then safely grabbed hold of her to cushion her fall.
Sanji scraped his knee in the process, but he would gladly do it again to protect a lady. "Are you okay…I hope you are okay." Sanji asked.
"Yes, I am…. thank you." She replied softly.
It was then that Sanji got a clear view of her. She was beautiful. She had pink hair. She was wearing a black dress with white frills. But above all, she had a pink mermaid tail. Sanji could not believe how lucky he was at this moment.
"You're…. you're…. A mermaid!" he gasped, filled with glee.
"Why yes, my name is Meroune Lorelei, but I usually just go by 'Mero'….do you not mind that I am a mermaid?" she asked hesitantly.
"Mind" Sanji started, but then paused, trying to gather his thoughts. "I love it! I've always wanted to meet a mermaid! I've always been awestruck by their beauty! And you Mero are no exception."
That last part made her blush quite a bit. "Why…thank you, you are too kind, good sir." She said, trying to hide her blushing face. "But what is your name, if it's not too much trouble."
"Oh, right. My name is Sanji, and I'm a professional chef." He said proudly.
"really? Then I would be most delighted to try one of your dishes someday."
"Deal" Sanji replied. "By the way Mero, why were you going so fast down the hill just now?"
"Oh, that. You see, I was with this woman named Ms. Smith, she told me that I was going to be staying with a group of home stay hosts, and that they were currently having lunch at a restaurant around here." Mero informed Sanji. "I told Ms. Smith that I wanted to explore the city on my own for a bit and find them on my own, but I guess I will have to find this group of people on my own."
Sanji started to gain excitement at this turn of events. "What did she tell you about this 'group' of home stay hosts?" he asked.
"Well…" Mero started, trying to remember what Smith told her, "She said that there was a guy named Luffy, and that there was a lady named Nami, and…"
"Mero…" Sanji began, a warm expression grew on his face as he looked at her. "That group that you're talking about, those are my friends. I'm a part of that group."
Mero started to gain an excited tone in her voice. "You mean…" Mero said, her eyes full of hope.
"Yes" Sanji replied happily, "my friends and I are your home stay hosts."