Hana kicked off her shoes and collapsed onto the plush, oversized beanbag chair in her cozy apartment. A soft sigh escaped her lips as she stared at the ceiling, her mind replaying the scene from earlier that night at the Baratie.
"Hey, it's okay. Please don't cry...please... I hate to see you cry..." Sanji's voice echoed in her memory. She could still see his concerned gaze and feel the warmth of his hand as it briefly brushed against hers. He had stood up for her when that obnoxious customer had made those rude remarks, causing her cheeks to flush in a mixture of embarrassment and gratitude.
"Sanji... what are you doing to me?" she mumbled under her breath, unable to shake the image of his face as he'd looked at her with genuine concern.
Her heart fluttered as she recalled the way he would look at her before returning to his duties, the flames from the kitchen dancing in his eyes. In those moments, she felt a magnetic pull towards him, one she struggled to resist.
"Get a grip, Hana," she scolded herself internally, trying to snap out of her daydream. "You're here to work, to learn about the fish, and to help Baratie become even better. You're not here for... whatever this is."
But as hard as she tried to push Sanji from her thoughts, there he remained—his strong hands, his effortless charm, his unwavering confidence in the kitchen. And now, after tonight, his gallantry.
"Ugh," she groaned aloud, "Focus, Hana. Focus," she whispered to herself as she paced back and forth in her small apartment. The walls, covered with notes of various marine life, seemed to mock her lack of discipline. Her eyes darted to the meticulously organized desk in the corner, where her research on the fish surrounding the Baratie was neatly stacked. She knew she needed to concentrate on her work, but her thoughts stubbornly returned to Sanji.
Her heartbeat quickened as she remembered their laughter-filled conversations, the gentle brush of his fingers against hers when he handed her a plate, or the way his gaze lingered just a second too long sometimes. Shaking her head, she tried to regain control over her wandering mind.
"Come on, Hana," she scolded herself, "you can't let this... crush get in the way of your goals."
Her resolve to maintain the hard-to-get act intensified, even though a part of her ached to be genuine with him. Deep breaths, she reminded herself. Just focus on the fish, not the flirt.
Meanwhile, in his room above the Baratie, Sanji lounged on his bed, a dreamy smile plastered across his face. The lingering sensation of Hana's lips on his cheek sent shivers down his spine.
"Man, I can't believe she actually kissed me!" He chuckled, replaying the moment in his head for the hundredth time. "I've got to make that dinner extra special for her."
He began to imagine the elegant table setting, the candlelight flickering and casting a warm glow upon Hana's smiling face. As he envisioned each carefully selected dish, his heart raced with equal parts nerves and excitement. He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down. He was determined to make that evening special for her, and he would do everything in his power to make it perfect.
"Tomorrow," he whispered to himself, his eyes gleaming with anticipation, "I'll surprise her with that private dinner I promised her. It'll be perfect, just you wait, Hana."
The sun had barely risen the next morning, casting a warm glow on the Baratie as it bobbed gently on the ocean waves. Hana entered the restaurant, determination etched on her face. Today, she vowed, would be different. She'd flirt with Sanji—genuinely this time—but still keep him on his toes.
"Morning, Sanji," Hana called out sweetly, spotting him at one of the counters, chopping vegetables with impressive precision.
"Ah, Hana! Good morning!" Sanji replied, nearly slicing his finger in surprise, his heart suddenly racing at the sight of her.
"Careful there, hotshot," Hana teased, sauntering over to him. She leaned against the counter, her hand brushing his ever so slightly as she picked up a carrot. "Wouldn't want you to injure that talented hand of yours."
"Of course not," he chuckled nervously, trying to regain his composure, but feeling his cheeks flush under her lingering gaze.
As the day progressed, Hana found herself enjoying their playful banter more than she anticipated. Although she had been determined to maintain her hard-to-get demeanor, she couldn't help but genuinely appreciate his wit and charm.
"Hey, Sanji, what do you call a fish with no eyes?" Hana asked, smirking as she delivered the punchline: "Fsh!"
Sanji burst into laughter, momentarily forgetting his usual suaveness. "Oh Hana, you're so funny! That's a good one! I'm adding it to my arsenal of culinary jokes."
"Please do," she said, her eyes twinkling with mischief as they met his. The electricity between them was undeniable, and it left Sanji utterly breathless.
"Um, sure," he stammered, accidentally knocking over a stack of plates in his flustered state. They clattered loudly to the floor, drawing the attention of their coworkers.
"Smooth move, Romeo," Hana teased, her laughter music to Sanji's ears. She knew she was pushing the boundaries, but for once, she didn't care.
"Can't help it," Sanji admitted sheepishly, his heart pounding in his chest as he struggled to resist the urge to sweep her into his arms. "You're just so beautiful that you naturally have that effect on me!"
"Is that so?" Hana flirted back, biting her lip playfully, making Sanji's knees go weak.
"Absolutely," he whispered,
She pulled on his tie, their faces coming dangerously close to each other. A pang of guilt surged through Hana as she realized how far they had strayed from the line she'd drawn. But as she looked into his deep blue eyes and heard his intense breathing, she couldn't bring herself to pull away completely.
Instead, she offered him a coy smile and purred, "Well then, I guess you'll just have to learn to handle it, won't you?"
There was something about her dominating manner in the way she pulled on the tie, almost as if she had complete control over him, that took Sanji by surprise. He could feel himself being drawn to her as if her presence was a magnetic force. He could feel his heart pounding in his chest as he watched her eyes. He knew then that he couldn't deny her. Sanji felt himself surrendering to her, his heart pounding in his chest and his breathing shallow.
"Ch-challenge accepted!" Sanji vowed, his cracked voice barely audible. Having let go of his tie, Hana smirked and left the love-struck Sanji to begin her duties, swaying her hips as she walked. Sanji, overwhelmed with infatuation, staggered back to his duties. Although he tried to keep his mind focused on what he had to accomplish, his heart was racing and he was reeling from the sensation of being inches away from the face and lips of the beautiful Hostess.
As they worked, their hearts raced and their minds were consumed by thoughts of one another. They both knew something deeper was forming between them— something more than just a professional relationship
As the flirtatious tension between Hana and Sanji grew more palpable, the other cooks and staff members could hardly keep their eyes off the pair. They exchanged curious glances and whispered among themselves, intrigued by this new dynamic that seemed to be unfolding before them.
"Is it just me, or are those two getting awfully... close?" Patty murmured to Carne, who nodded in agreement.
"Never thought I'd see the day," Carne replied, shaking his head in disbelief. "Sanji's always been a flirt, but Hana? She's had him on a tight leash until now. Heh, looks like those two might actually become a thing!"
Amidst the flurry of whispers and sly smirks from the kitchen, Zeff observed the blossoming romance with growing annoyance. His stern expression conveyed his disapproval and as he watched Hana and Sanji exchange another lingering glance, Zeff felt his frustration mounting. He knew that something had to be done – for the sake of the restaurant, and the sanity of everyone involved.
"If this continues, it's going to become a problem. Mark my words."
Following yet another exchange of smoldering glances between Hana and Sanji, Zeff's annoyance reached its boiling point. Zeff had been observing the two for a while and had grown tired of their back-and-forth flirtation. He was particularly irked by the fact that Sanji seemed to be avoiding him, so he decided to take matters into his own hands. He marched over to Hana, his face a mask of stern disapproval.
"Miss Hana, I need to speak with you," he said gruffly, motioning her away from the dining area. Sensing the urgency in his tone, Hana followed him to a quieter corner of the restaurant.
"Is something wrong, Chef?" she asked, her brow furrowing with concern.
"Sanji is getting too distracted by your constant flirting," Zeff explained, crossing his arms over his chest. "If this continues, it'll be disastrous for both of you and the restaurant."
Hana bit her lip, understanding the gravity of the situation. She knew their playful banter had been escalating, but she hadn't realized the impact it was having on their work.
"I understand, Chef," Hana replied, nodding her head solemnly. "I didn't realize we were causing so much trouble. I promise I'll tone it down."
"Good," Zeff huffed, seemingly satisfied with her response.
As Hana made her way back to the dining area, her heart felt heavy. She berated herself internally; how could she let things get so out of hand? She understood the importance of professionalism but had allowed herself to be swept up in the excitement of flirting with Sanji.
'I really need to get a grip,' she scolded herself, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. 'This isn't a game; we have a job to do.'
Despite her resolve, Hana couldn't help but feel a pang of longing as she caught sight of Sanji's handsome features. She wished they could continue their flirtatious dance, but she knew it was a luxury they couldn't afford.
"Focus, Hana," she muttered under her breath, preparing herself for the difficult task of distancing herself from Sanji.
"Everything okay?" Sanji asked, noticing her conflicted expression.
"Of course!" Hana replied, forcing a smile. "Just need to concentrate on work, that's all."
"Right, work," Sanji echoed, his voice heavy with disappointment.
As they returned to their duties, Hana found herself struggling to resist the magnetic pull of Sanji's charm. But she knew that their future at Baratie depended on it, and so she steeled her resolve, determined to keep her feelings in check – no matter how much it hurt.
As the lunch rush subsided, Zeff took advantage of a rare lull in the restaurant, his eyes scanning the bustling kitchen before landing on Sanji. He strode over, his wooden leg thumping against the floor with each step, the determination in his stride evident.
"Sanji, we need to talk," he said gruffly, motioning to a quiet corner of the kitchen.
"What's up, old geezer?" Sanji asked, wiping his hands on a towel, his tone casual but his eyes betraying a hint of concern.
"Look," Zeff began, his voice low and serious. "I've noticed what's been going on between you and Hana. And it's not good for the Baratie."
"Wha-?" Sanji stammered, his cheeks reddening. "It's just harmless flirting, nothing more."
"Exactly! That's the problem," Zeff snapped. "This is a workplace, not a playground for your amorous adventures. You're both too distracted and it's affecting the restaurant. It needs to stop."
"Fine, fine," Sanji huffed, trying to placate the older man. But inside, anger simmered beneath the surface – who was Zeff to dictate how he should feel or act around Hana?
"Are you even listening?" Zeff demanded, sensing Sanji's insincerity. "You know as well as I do that a workplace romance can be disastrous. We can't afford any missteps, especially not when it comes to something as frivolous as this."
"Frivolous?!" Sanji exploded, unable to contain his indignation. "My feelings for Hana are anything but frivolous, old man!"
"Listen, kid," Zeff said, his voice hardening. "I get it. You think Hana's a beautiful, smart woman. But we have a job to do, and it's not fair to the rest of the team if you two are constantly lost in your own little world."
"Maybe we wouldn't be so distracted if you'd just let us be!" Sanji shot back, refusing to back down.
"Enough!" Zeff thundered, his patience wearing thin. "This is my restaurant, and I won't have you jeopardizing its success because of your infatuation!"
"Infatuation? You don't understand anything!" Sanji snarled, his anger reaching its boiling point. 'How could he dismiss my feelings like that?' he thought, seething with resentment.
"Sanji!" Zeff warned, his tone stern. "You need to focus on your work, and so does Hana! End of discussion!"
"Fine!" Sanji spat, his face flushed with fury as he stormed away from Zeff, leaving the head chef shaking his head in frustration.
As he burst through the back door of the Baratie, Sanji fumbled for a cigarette, needing an outlet for the frustration coursing through him. Leaning against the wall, he lit up and took a deep drag, his mind racing with thoughts of Hana and the argument with Zeff.
"Infatuation, huh?" Sanji muttered under his breath, blowing out a puff of smoke as his thoughts raced. "He really doesn't get it." He couldn't help but replay the argument over and over in his head, each time feeling more misunderstood and resentful.
He inhaled and exhaled slowly on his cigarette again, watching the smoke curl into the air. He couldn't deny that his feelings for Hana had intensified since their last encounter, and it pained him to think that it might be affecting his job. But was it worth sacrificing the connection he felt with her? Could he really bury his emotions in the name of professionalism?
With a heavy sigh, Sanji came to a difficult decision. He would postpone the surprise dinner he had planned for Hana, at least until he could sort out his priorities and prove to Zeff that he was capable of balancing work and personal life.
"Sorry, Hana," he muttered under his breath, taking one last drag of his cigarette before flicking it away. "I'll make it up to you, I promise."
After pondering his thoughts, Sanji re-entered the Baratie with a sense of determination. When the time was right, he'd show Hana just how much she meant to him – without compromising the success of the restaurant.