A/n: Well Sanji did went to school when he was in his home country. Now, he isn't as he just recently came to Zoro's house with his mother. You will soon understand.
And if ever, Zoro will be treating him any differently, well you will have to read to find out hehe.
Thanks again.
Zoro stood rooted there, all frozen as realization slowly sank in.
He could now understand the reason why he had noticed Sanji's way too tomboyish behavior for a girl when he had thought he was one. Zoro even recalled refusing him once when the latter had asked him whether if he could join him in his bath.
"Have you no shame?!" had he replied in disbelief at that time and the blond had walked away broodingly.
Zoro felt like a fool now that he had finally realised that he was mistaken. A huge and embarrassing mistake on top of that. What sort of person could possibly make a mistake of this kind? And it had taken him one whole week to find out.
"I was a fool," he said in a half breathless murmur of amazement and incredulity.
A helpless anger simmered in him when he also realized that Sanji had lied to him.
But had he really?
Zoro looked up at his surprised face. For the first time, he slowly took in his features. He noticed again that it was Sanji's small and frail form which gave him away as a girl. He himself had thought he was a she the first time he had laid his eyes on him. Besides, if Zoro had not stumbled across their conversation, he would have still not find out that Sanji was a boy even with his new haircut.
Sanji's face had become more visible with his long honey blond hair gone though some of it still covered the left side of his face. Apart from a shocked expression, Sanji had a round baby face with a soft and creamy complexion, a small nose and rather thin but rosy lips.
Zoro's eyes widened slightly when he noticed his eyes. They were so blue and so clear. The more he stared, the more he felt like being plunged into them. His eyes then traveled up and he blinked.
Pff. His eyebrows!
"Your eyebrows!" he exclaimed aloud.
Sanji sucked in a deep breath and panic slowly started to engulf his small form. He glanced up at his mother with his lips pressed in a tight line. They wavered a bit as tears slowly welled up in his eyes, clouding them. Sanji bit his lips to stifle his cries.
At the sight of his near crying face, Zoro inwardly panicked. He commanded his body to do something but he just stayed there, fists clenching and unclenching at his sides. He could not move nor could he think. His mind was all blank.
"Ohh, sweetie." Sophia bent down and took her son in her arms. She sent a look at Zoro and the green haired stiffened, realizing that it was his fault and he had to apologize. But he just turned tail and went back to his room forgetting the reason why he had come downstairs to them in the first place, especially what he had wanted to say to him.
The next morning, they walked side by side to the only school in town. The green haired had still not spoken a word to Sanji since last night. The blond was sullen as he walked. He neither felt the bubbling excitement nor the nervosity he should be feeling on his first day to school.
"Zoro?" he hesitantly called out.
The green haired looked at him from the corners of his eyes.
"Are you still mad at me?"
Zoro said nothing and continued to walk.
Am I mad? Zoro asked himself. No, I'm not. He frowned as he could not understand his feelings.
"Zoro?"
Zoro sighed and turned around.
"I'm not mad."
"Really?"
"Yeah."
"Ok..."
Zoro strangely softened at seeing his small smile.
"But why didn't you tell me you are a boy?"
Sanji cocked his head in confusion and frowned.
"You never asked and I'm clearly a boy!" He puffed out his chest, standing straighter.
Zoro opened his mouth to say something but Sanji had a point.
"So... you thought I was...I was... a girl?"
Zoro reluctantly gave a nod in admission.
"…Is that... why you have been... so nice to me?" Sanji asked in a small voice, his eyes downcast.
Again, Zoro did not answer.
"Let's hurry, we'll be late," he said instead.
Sanji's shoulders slumped down in disappointment but he was caught by surprise by Zoro's next action.
Staring at Zoro's hand extended in front of him, he blinked.
"Let's go," Zoro said.
Shyly, Sanji placed his hand in his and Zoro grabbed it, pulling him along like he did everyday when he sent him home.
Sanji beamed widely, all fear now tossed aside as he followed the boy in front of him. The latter was as red as a tomato.
