"And when I called him after that, Sanji had already returned. See, that was me, Usopp the Great, who brought them back together!"
"Wow, really? That's so awesome, Usopp!"
Chopper looked at the long-nosed guy with awe in his wide brown eyes. Using an opportunity, Luffy stole a sip from his milkshake that, for his taste, appeared to be too sweet. Obviously enjoying himself, Usopp crossed his arms proudly on his chest. Nami rolled her eyes, taking a noisy sip of her smoothie.
"Actually, you were the one who freaked out the most," she punched his shoulder.
"Ouch!" The long-nosed guy rubbed the affected place, scowling in pain.
"'Oh my god, they will never get together, oh my god, what should we do!'" Nami exclaimed dramatically, lowering her voice to imitate Usopp's. "And then you acted cool when I tried to put some reason into Sanji, like you hadn't almost been crying several moments ago!"
Watching his friends bicker, Luffy laughed. They were so funny with their enthusiastic expressions.
"Sorry, got late," a low voice sounded from the side, attracting everyone's attention.
Luffy turned to the newcomer with a wide grin.
"Zoro! You're here!"
"A kid in the dojo had been waiting for his parents, but they didn't come," the green haired man explained, sitting down to the table. "I led him home and got a bit–"
"Lost again, huh, Marimo?"
With a slightly annoyed frown that changed into a grin instantly, Sanji approached their table, a tray with drinks and so deliciously smelling snacks in his hands.
"Hi, Sanji!" Luffy greeted, picking a chicken fried wing from the plate the cook placed in front of him.
"Hi, Luffy," the blond smiled. "How was your, hm, business?"
"It was a nice adventure!" The black haired boy beamed.
With a nod, the blond patted his shoulder and picked a glass of champagne.
"Usopp, can you, please," he turned to the long-nosed guy, who was still in the middle of arguing with Nami.
"Oh, come on, are you going to strike a long-ass pompous speech, Cook?" Zoro snorted with a mouthful of food.
"You shitty moss-head better shut up now, it's important news!" Sanji's face inflamed with rage.
"We all know you're opening your shitty restaurant, Curly-brow."
"Guys, stop fighting," Chopper mumbled with a frown.
"Are you opening a restaurant?" Luffy asked, chewing meat.
"You–" Sanji slapped his forehead with his palm. Taking a gulp from his glass, he abruptly sat onto the chair between Luffy and Zoro. "Ah, fuck you, fuck the restaurant, let's just eat already."
"Oh, c'mon, spit it."
"The 'All Blue' restaurant will be soon at your service, ladies and cavemen," the cook grinned, raising his glass. "Cheers."
"Wow, congrats, Sanji!" The little doctor's face instantly brightened.
"That's good news!" Nami's eyes widened, a pretty smile blooming on her face.
"Cheers!" Usopp laughed, raising a glass.
"This is awesome!"
Luffy grinned toothily at his friends. He watched as Zoro received a not so tough kick from Sanji below the table for a remark the black haired guy hadn't heard, and how the blonde cook tried to disguise his obvious grin by an angry expression. Chopper looked dazedly at Usopp, who was telling a tale about an alien car that turned into a giant robot at his work (for a moment Luffy himself wanted to see that cool robot too). Nami, trying her best not to look amused, was tutting her tongue at the long-nosed guy, yet a small smile she couldn't hide curled her lips around the straw when she was sipping on her drink.
They were laughing, chattering, bickering – being the merry themselves. Biting another piece of the gloriously delicious meat Sanji had prepared for them, Luffy remembered how much he'd missed his friends, his closest and most treasured people. It was so good they were all there together, so happy, so lively, so precious.