Sanji took out his treasured picture book from his bag and gave it to Zoro. The latter held onto it like for dear life.

"Take it, Zoro. Just don't forget about me, okay?" Sanji sniffed.

"I won't! Don't forget about me either!"

"When we are bigger, let's meet again, okay?"

"Of course! If you don't come back, I will definitely go find you, it's a promise!" Zoro held out his right pinkie finger. Sanji did the same and they entwined their fingers together each not wanting to be the first to let go.

"Zoro?" Sanji looked up to meet his eyes with Zoro's.

"Yeah?"

"I like you."

"I like you too." Zoro smiled through his tearful face. He felt the need to express his feelings even though he had always brushed off Sanji's confession of liking him.

"Zoro," called Sophia. The small boy turned to the woman standing behind him. She crouched down to his level and took him in her arms. "Be a good boy, okay? Don't forget to eat your meals and grow up to become a handsome young man."

"I will," the green haired hugged her closer.

From over her shoulder, he saw his father approaching them, his long coat flowing behind him in the wind.

"Father," he called and the man gave him a nod.

Sophia gave Zoro one last squeeze before letting him go, remembering what she had mentally written down in her to do list not too long ago.

"Mis-ter Dra-cule Mi-hawk," she said slowly, taking a firm stance in front of the man, not at all intimidated by his presence.

"Can you tell me how old your son is?" she asked, one of her eyebrows slightly rose up.

"Nine," he answered simply.

"And?" Sophia pressed on.

"And what?" Mihawk asked back in his usual emotionless voice.

"And he's just a kid! Be sure to carry out your role of a father. "

The man just blinked at her words. No one had ever brought up this issue to him. Sophia Blackleg really knew no fear.

"What should I do?"

"Come home more often and keep your son company. Learn to be a father!"

Jinbe, witnessing this confrontation, approached Sophia and pat her gently on her shoulder in a way of telling her to stop. The woman broke down then and started sobbing quietly.

Zoro's heart was galloping as his father approached him, his eyes set firmly on him.

"Zoro."

The boy flinched as his large hand came down on him but he felt no pain. Instead, Mihawk had rested his hand on his head.

"A man does not cry."

"Yes!" Zoro wiped his tears away and wondered if ever Sophia's words did leave an impression on his father. If they did, he was really thankful to her.

"It's time to go now." Jinbe announced as he himself got onto the small skip boat which would bring them to the large ship coasted not too far away in the deep sea.

"Good bye, Zoro." Sanji waved at him before getting on board.

"Good bye, Sanji." Zoro said weakly back and waved at both Sophia and him.

He watched them as they grew further and further away. It was only now that he took a good look at the ship which was magnificent indeed.

Zoro cheered himself up with the thought that Sanji would finally be able to meet his father after so long. He was happy for him and only his selfishness would hold him back. He ought to send his friend away with a big smile and with no regrets.

However, he was regretting deep inside. He was blaming himself. He had not spent enough time with the blond. They had not played enough together. They should have gone to more places together. He should stuff himself more of the food Sophia made. Now he would never have the chance to eat her food ever again.

Mihawk saw through his son and his inner turmoils.

"Instead of thinking what you did not do and regretting it, think about what you did together and cherish those moments instead."

As usual, his father spoke none other than philosophical sentences to him. However, his words did save the young boy from his dark thoughts and Zoro did as he was told.