Hello everyone, thank you for your reading, the story seems to be well received. As explained, English is not my native language, it is true that I speak it very well but my brain remains conditioned in French. As I think in French I am sometimes afraid of offering a translated text. When I come across a particular expression, I look for its best twin in English. Here is the 2nd chapter, a little dramatic but necessary for the rest. Happy reading everyone!
Chapter 2
The next day, Some makes a point of having her hair perfectly done, tied in a double French braid and finished in a ponytail. She wears light makeup that highlights her hazel eyes. She slept perfectly well and she intends to keep her promise to Yamato. She happily leaves for work early because she wants to go to the library in the afternoon to read and write. She enters the restaurant and greets Reiju. A group of people enter the restaurant and are seated by the elder Vinsmoke, before Some takes care of them. When she goes to the kitchen to get the dishes, her eyes meet Sanji's and they both exchange a friendly smile. Her heart is beating so fast she is so happy.
A new group comes in, at first glance they are merchants and Reiju welcomes them, that's where she meets the eyes of a certain young woman she knows very well. She is surprised to see her, expecting anything but that. A certain animosity forms in her stomach but very quickly her maturity reminds her of the truth about this new arrival. Then Reiju approaches her, like four years ago, her brown hair is tied with ribbons and her bangs hide her forehead. Her big brown eyes show that she looks like she's having a good day.
"Pudding-san, welcome to All Blue's."
"Reiju-san! You are radiant!"
"Thank you so much. Are you alone or are other members of the Charlotte family coming?"
"No, I'm alone, I know that my family is not welcome here. I came on my own, I absolutely wanted to see Sanji-kun!"
"I see. I'm going to tell him that you have just arrived, in the meantime follow me, you must be hungry."
Reiju guides Pudding to a small one-person table and hands her a card before telling her that Abby will take care of her. Some sees the new arrival out of the corner of her eye and the first thought that comes to her is that she reminds her of a princess. She doesn't pay too much attention and continues to take care of her tables. Later, while she is taking dishes from the kitchen counter, the young woman whom she saw eating alone also enters the kitchen and declares in her crystal clear voice:
"Chef Vinsmoke, do you need my help making dessert?"
Hearing his last name, Sanji almost jumped, he could have gotten angry but since it was a woman's voice that spoke, his perky side was about to take over. He turns his head and his cigarette slips from his lips as he gapes. Pudding gives him a huge smile before running towards him and jumping into his arms.
"Sanji-kun! I'm so happy to see you!"
"Pu-pu-pudding-chwaaaaan! ~"
Immediately, his eyes become hearts, his whole being melts because of the embrace Pudding gives him. The young woman's cheeks turn pink as she seems happy and Some witnesses this scene. She is touched like everyone else in the kitchen, but strangely she feels another feeling that she has never experienced in the past. Pudding doesn't let go of Sanji, her arms are tight around his neck.
"You did it, Sanji-kun! You found All Blue!"
"Yes! Welcome to my restaurant, Pudding-chan! You ate?"
"Of course! I just tried your lobster pasta, it was incredible!"
"Oh, I'm so happy! ~"
Pudding breaks away from Sanji and spends the rest of the day in the kitchen with him. Some had taken a sailboat early in the afternoon to return to the library. She has finally found the way she wants to write her books, she wants to tell short, fictionalized stories for children. Her first idea, which is not the least, tells the story of the young dancer coveted by a giant wolf and saved by a prince who masters fire. She notes her first drafts in her notebook and is inspired by the writing style of other books with children's stories. Chuji keeps her company and its joy of life encourages Some to persevere. She returns to All Blue in the early evening and notices that Sanji and Pudding are drinking tea around a small table on the restaurant's terrace. It's hard to miss the smile on their face, the young woman seems to be saying a lot of things and the cook is fascinated by what she says. She feels that they haven't seen each other for a long time, and they must have a lot to talk about. Some smiled at the scene, reminding her of herself who had lots of things to say to him when she found him. She walks towards her lodging and falls onto her bed.
The young woman tells herself that it's a good time to sleep because the next day she intends to return to the library. She is inspired for her first book and she wants to devote herself. Maybe she could have Sanji read the script? She wonders if he will recognize the story. Some feels herself falling asleep when a knock at her door startles her. She gets up to open it and finds Reiju, still wearing her confident smile.
"Some-chan, there's a Poker tournament at the All Blue's bar, do you want to come with me?"
"Oh! It would have been a pleasure but I... I don't know how to play poker."
"So what do you say about just coming with me? I invite you."
Some thinks about it, she's a little tired but at the same time it's the first time she's been invited somewhere, plus she really likes Reiju. She ends up offering her a smile and accepts, she takes a vest to cover herself as the nights can be slightly chilly and holds out her hand for Chuji to jump on. The elder Vinsmoke leads the way to the bar and walks towards a table where a group of people are already seated including Pudding, a pirate captain, a nobleman and an elderly Navy captain. A man working here as a dealer and sitting in the center of one side of the table, five equal piles of token coins are placed and Reiju takes a seat in front of the last pile, she invites Some to sit on the chair at next to her. A waiter approaches with a tray on which rest six flutes of champagne.
"Have you ever tried Champagne, Some-chan?" Reiju asks, handing her a flute.
The young woman nods negatively, brings the flute to her lips and takes a sip. The sparkling and fresh taste invades her mouth, giving her a new sensation. The slightly fruity flavor bothers her a bit at first, but by the second sip she gets used to it. She offers Reiju a smile and toasts her glass with her. The dealer begins to shuffle the cards and deals two to each before placing three, face down, in the center of the table.
"Ladies and gentlemen, the small bet starts at twenty thousand berries. Lady Pudding, you have the honor of opening hostilities."
"Alright!"
Pudding puts up the twenty thousand followed by the pirate captain who places the forty thousand of the big bet. The nobleman named Armand de Valcour does the same, as does Isabelle, captain of the navy. Reiju looks at her cards, she has an eight of diamonds and a ten of clubs. This might not lead anywhere, but she wants to use the first round to take the temperature. She keeps a poker face and puts down her bet. The dealer turns over the three cards, now on the table there is a nine of diamonds, an ace of hearts and a jack of spades.
Pudding's first raise takes place, she puts down fifty thousand berries. The pirate checks, while Armand folds. Isabelle raises twenty thousand more and Reiju decides to call. When everyone is lined up, the dealer burns a card and places a fourth, a second ace. Pudding, with her angelic smile, advances a hundred thousand berries. Reiju understands that when the ace appears, the young woman in front of her probably has at least two pairs. The pirate calls, smiling too, and this time Isabelle folds too. Reiju ventures to see the last card. When it lands on the table, a two of spades, the eldest Vinsmoke understands that she has nothing in her hand. Once again, Pudding raises and the captain does the same, while Reiju folds.
"The honor is yours, my lady," declares the dealer.
"I happen to have two pairs, aces and kings," Pudding announces, pointing to the pair of kings in her hand, while the pirate growls under his mustache as he pointed to a jack and a three.
Thus, the young woman wins the first round, with her little crystal clear laugh, she collects all the token coin on the table. The games continue and bluffing and acting skills come to the table. Of course, as pirates, nobles and a member of the navy meet around a table, a neutrality pact is established. They talk about all their exploits, what they experienced before the Red Line disappeared and what they are experiencing now.
Some is fascinated by what she sees. The people around the table all radiate a certain power. The atmosphere is certainly friendly, but distrust remains. Isabelle, although she is approaching sixty, still seems capable of beaking pirates. Armand de Valcour might not know how to fight, but he's rich and there are probably bodyguards all over the bar. Some knows that Reiju is a very strong woman, her friend Cosette told her about the genetic particularity of which the Vinsmoke are made and that the older sister held the Germa Kingdom with an iron fist for three years before leaving everything behind to find her little brother. Some knows Reiju's reputation as Poison Pink and knows that if she wants to kick everyone present out of All Blue, she can.
The only person who doesn't seem agressive is Pudding. Some is captivated by the beauty and delicacy of the young woman. She reminds her of a doe who finds herself in the middle of a pack of wolves, fragile and vulnerable. Her big brown eyes reflect innocence, she manipulates the cards with her delicate hands. She knows how to play poker, that's for sure, but this table, this place, is way too dark for her. When she speaks, her good humor warms Some's heart, her laughter is sincere and angelic. Sometimes she tucks a lock of hair behind her ear with princess gestures. A smile appears on the geisha's face. The more she looks at Pudding, the more she is fascinated by her pure beauty. She understands why she is so close to Sanji, her kindness is similar to that of the cook.
"Are you having a good time, Some-chan?"
"Yes, Reiju-san, I didn't think a simple card game could require so much strategy and risk-taking."
"I could teach you to play if you want, Some-chan!"
She turns her gaze to Pudding, who offers her a gentle smile. Learning poker with her is an idea that delights her. She nods while responding to her smile. Watching the interaction between the two women, Reiju feels her heart pinch. The innocence of the proposition makes her sad.
The evening continues for another two hours. Isabelle, Reiju and Armand fold again and it's between Pudding and the pirate. There are almost a million berries in poker tokens coin on the table. The five cards are two tens, a queen, an eight and a king. Pudding presents his full house, queens over tens (three queens, two tens) and offers a victory smile. Reiju displays an impressed expression while Isabelle laughs, amused by her youngest. However, the pirate begins to chuckle. He throws his pair of cards onto the table, which turns out to be the other two tens, giving him a four of a kind hand, which dominates Pudding's full house.
"Nice try, kid, but I win."
Pudding immediately loses her smile. She watches her tokens being taken from her by the pirate. Some is disappointed for her, her lips purse in empathy for the young woman. Her angelic face becomes sad following her defeat.
"That was well done, my little one," Isabelle encourages her.
Some tries to smile at Pudding. She tells herself that she still has a lot of tokens despite her big defeat and that the evening is not over. She is convinced that Pudding was not going to let herself be defeated and that given the education she seems to have received, she was going to take this defeat with elegance.
But, Some wasn't ready for what happened next.
Pudding's gaze suddenly changes, reflecting indescribable rage. Her face begins to tense and her teeth clench. In a second, she pulls out a knife tied to her thigh and stabs it into the table close to the pirate's hand. Some screams in surprise and jumps from her chair, taking a step back. She realizes the sudden change in atmosphere and her eyes open in incomprehension at what she sees. Pudding is now inches from the pirate's head, staring at him with hatred and her hand, trembling with anger, is still closed over her knife. Once the surprise passes, the pirate begins to frown, showing that he isn't impressed at all. However, Pudding opens her mouth and the crystalline voice gives way to a deeper, more threatening tone.
"You cheated."
"What are you talking about, kid? Take your defeat like an adult."
"You think I don't know who you are, Alder Brent, known as the legendary crook?"
"Oh! Even a little girl like you has heard of me? So back off before I ruin your pretty face."
Pudding doesn't flinch at the threat, she grabs the pirate by the collar and her face turns murderous.
"I don't care who you are, pirate or not. You have another pack of cards up your sleeve. Do you think I didn't see you hide your proud smile during the game? I'm an actress, I know how to recognize when you're pretending."
"My lady, calm down. And you, sir, show your sleeves."
"There is no question of me bending to the whim of this little bitch!"
Alder grabs Pudding's wrist as she holds her collar and stands up, forcing the girl to do the same. She takes her knife off the table and raises it, more threatening than ever. Some's heart races. How could a young woman as sweet and refined as Pudding have transformed herself like this? It's no longer at all the same person she has in front of her. Now, when she looks at it, fear invades her. Pudding's aggression and murderous impulses bring tears to her eyes.
"Stop, Alder! We are on neutral ground!"
Isabelle finally gets up and points a gun at the pirate. An intimidation game begins. Pudding, Alder and Isabelle. No one flinches, the atmosphere becomes frosty and the air difficult to breathe. Some feels her legs trembling and almost falls, she is paralyzed. To make matters worse, Alder's crew and Isabelle's soldiers begin to gather around. One wrong move, one single sign of aggression, and conflict breaks out. The young geisha realizes that she is in the middle of all this and that if shooting starts, she has a good chance of being hit by a stray bullet. She feels Chuji trembling against her, hidden in her blouse, and reflexively, she places her hands on it to protect it. There is no longer a noise in the bar, the waiters aren't moving, the conversations have died down. Pudding doesn't look away from Alder and Isabelle still has her right arm pointed towards them. This was going to end badly...
"STOP!"
Reiju's voice slices the air, cutting off the breath of many. She suddenly places a hand on the poker table and all eyes turn towards her. The eldest Vinsmoke shows palpable anger, straight and threatening, a light dark pink smoke begins to escape from her hand placed on the table. Even Alder, Pudding and Isabelle, who are still looking at each other, have their attention directed towards her. Her aura becomes more threatening.
"You are here at All Blue, a neutral place where everyone is welcomed to be fed. There's no way I'm letting conflict break out here. One shot, one punch, and I'll send you all to hell. And believe me, you're lucky you're dealing with me and not my brother. Do I need to remind you who Black-legged Sanji is, a member of the Pirate King's crew? I believe to remember that he has the third highest bounty in the world."
This time, fear can be seen on the faces of all the guests. A drop of sweat rolls down Isabelle's face, Alder swallows hard. All the navy officers look at each other, unsure whether to put away their weapons, swim away, or wait for an order from their captain. The Alder pirates are not having a good time either and strangely the other customers are reassured that Reiju has intervened, ready to protect the place. Some still doesn't move, frozen with fear, but she is relieved to see that Isabelle puts away her pistol and tells her soldiers to back off. Alder lets go of Pudding and tells his pirates not to move. Reiju keeps her threatening expression and realizes that her statement were on point. She finally whispers:
"Thought so."
Alder keeps a cool head although he is the first to leave the scene, Isabelle follows a few minutes later when she is sure that there is no longer a single pirate. The atmosphere relaxes and the air warms up. Gradually, Some regains her breathing and decides to sit down because her legs are becoming too weak to carry her. She notices that Pudding has regained her previous attitude, her face is gentle again and her eyes reflect deep kindness. The young geisha doesn't understand what has just happened and she notices that tears are welling up in Pudding's eyes.
"Reiju-san, I'm so sorry!" I couldn't control myself... forgive me!"
"I know, Pudding-san."
"I hope Sanji-kun won't be too angry with me... I didn't want to create a problem in his restaurant... oh please, don't let be angry…"
"Don't worry, Pudding-san, I'll take care of Sanji."
"I'm really sorry, Reiju-san!"
Pudding bursts into tears and her apology seems sincere. Some almost forget that she has just witnessed a young woman ready to kill for cheating. She gets up and approaches Pudding, handing her a tissue to wipe her tears.
"Pudding-san, can I walk you to your room?"
"Oh, Some-san, that's really nice. I'm sorry I scared you...I..."
"It's nothing, Pudding-san. Come on, I'll take you home. Thanks for the evening, Reiju-san, I'll see you tomorrow."
"Are you going to be okay, Some-chan?"
"Yes, I'll take Pudding-san home and then go to bed."
"Alright."
While she is still crying her eyes out, Pudding walks with Some. Reiju watches them walk away and sighs. She gives orders to the waiters and other employees to restore a good atmosphere to the bar before heading to the restaurant. She needs a drink… When she enters the kitchen, she pours herself a glass of red wine and approaches her little brother who is still cooking. She knows he sensed what just happened at the bar. His brother's observation haki is well established. However, Sanji offers him a smile.
" What… ?"
"Nothing. I knew you would manage. I don't need to intervene for such a small amount."
"A small amount right… I agree if only Pudding-san hadn't… lost control…"
A deep sadness appears on Sanji's face as bad memories rise up within him and also a deep compassion. He prefers not to say anything and returns to concentrating on what he is cooking. Reiju notices this and she too feels bad but not for Pudding but for him…
Near the cottages, Some walks alongside Pudding still in tears, Chuji tries to console her by climbing on her shoulder to affectionately rub her cheek. They arrive at the door of Pudding's room and Some tries to comfort her.
"Pudding-san, I'm sure Reiju-san and Sanji-kun aren't upset."
"I hope not... this place is Sanji-kun's dream, I don't want to ruin everything..."
"Are you that worried about Sanji-kun's reaction?"
Pudding tries to dry her tears and takes deep breaths.
"It took me a long time to make the decision to come here. I missed Sanji-kun a lot so I wanted to find him. And now I've only been here for two days and I'm causing troubles..."
"I can see that you and Sanji-kun get along very well, I'm sure he won't hold it against you."
"You're probably right, Some-san. I'll calm down and tomorrow I'll go and make desserts with him."
"Desserts? Are you a pastry chef?"
"Yes ! It's complementary with Sanji-kun! I always called it destiny."
"Destiny?"
"Mh-mmh!"
Pudding gives Some a radiant smile, her cheeks turn pink and her eyes become little hearts. The young geisha doesn't understand this sudden passion, but she is happy to see that Pudding calms down and stops crying. However, she wonders how cooking and baking are linked to destiny. She makes the connection between the meal and the dessert, but she feels that she is missing some information.
"I'm glad to see you smiling again, Pudding-san! You're right, tomorrow, go make dessert with Sanji-kun and it will make a nice meal!"
"Both of us we'll make food for you, Some-chan! It will be a menu under the theme of love!"
"Of love?"
"Yes, love! Sanji-kun and I are married after all!"
The word married reaches Some's brain and sounds the death knell. It's brutal, so much so that she doesn't react at all. Pudding continues to smile and thanks her once again for her support. She returns Chuji to Some and greets her before going into her room. The little mouse standing in her friend's hands looks at her, who still doesn't react. The young geisha turns around and heads towards her own room. On the way, she says nothing, she walks like a robot with a blank look. When the door to her cottage closes, she goes to her bed and collapses on it, she puts herself in the fetal position and grabs the sheets. Chuji gets next to her face and squeals to get his attention but receives no response.
Married. Sanji is married. He is married…
Some doesn't even realize that tears are streaming down her face and onto her pillow. She doesn't hear the squeals of Chuji who tries to comfort her, in vain... The young woman sees a part of her life flash before her eyes. She sees herself again in Wano, taking her geisha lessons to prepare for her engagement ceremony where she was going to see five strangers for the first time. One of them would have been her husband and would have trapped her in a life she didn't want. But her heart was already taken, she had prayed for a solution, a miracle.
She fists the sheets tighter, her tears intensifying. She thinks of Yamato, her friend who went back to sea while she stayed here because she wanted to write and get closer to Sanji. She thinks about her promise to talk to the cook, however… the word marriage still rings in her head. She suddenly misses Yamato so much, she should have gone back with her. Chuji rubs its friend's cheek, her cries become sobs, she begins to shake and moan in pain.
"Chu-Chuji… Sanji-kun is…"
"Chuuu…"
Some realizes that Sanji is not available, his heart is taken, he is committed. A woman is already in his life, this woman is Pudding and she... she is there, alone, in tears on her bed, heartbroken. Her dream of a life with Sanji collapses, she who had been so shy each time she spoke to him but at the same time so sincere... She thinks back to the moment when he showed her the wonders of the waters of All blue, this intimate sharing and the pain becomes more and more intense. She who believed that there had been a moment, everything had been one-sided... Sanji has a heart full of kindness and benevolence, he is a ray of sunshine and he had just behaved naturally with her, nothing more... Some suffers and sobs to the point of exhaustion and sleep is almost saving for her, offering her a few hours of respite.
The next morning, Some wakes up with a heavy heart. The events of the day before come back to her like a bad dream. Her realization that Sanji was already married to Pudding seemed even crueler. She sees Pudding's beaming smile again, her love for Sanji is visible in every look and gesture. She remembers Sanji's obvious happiness in Pudding's presence, his love for her is clearly visible. She feels her heart breaking again. She runs a hand over her face, wiping away the tears that had started to fall again. She had illusions, she realizes now. She had gotten caught up in her own dreams and desires, forgetting the reality of the situation. She had hoped that there was a place for her in Sanji's heart, but now she sees clearly that there was never a place for her. Sanji was Pudding's, and Pudding was Sanji's. It was a painful truth, but it was the truth.
Some throws cold water on her face to interrupt her tormented thoughts, deciding to face the situation. At least, she promises to do so. She grabs her waitress outfit and puts her long, wavy pink hair into a ponytail. Taking deep breaths, she heads towards the restaurant. Passing through the back terrace, she comes across Reiju who is drinking coffee. She offers him a smile and hands a cup to Some, who accepts it silently before sitting down with her. The Vinsmoke Princess notices the puffy eyes hidden by the geisha's makeup.
"Did you have trouble sleeping Some-chan?"
"Mhhh… Yes. What happened last night and then I would like to move forward on my first book. I thought about it all night."
The lie seems to pass because Reiju doesn't ask for anything more. Some finishes her coffee and enters the restaurant, wanting to get some work done before heading to the library. She takes care of a table of four people and then goes into the kitchen to collect the dishes. But a vision of horror presents itself to her.
Sanji is in the kitchen and Pudding is there too, in kitchen clothes. They are side by side and seem to radiate happiness. Some's heart skips a beat. Once again, she doesn't react, she freezes, the dishes waiting to be taken in front of her without her doing anything. Pudding's laughter reaches her ears, Sanji's smile, usually so charming, acts like a knife to her. His blue eyes turn towards her and he seems happy to see her. He walks closer until they are just separated by the counter.
"Some-chan! I didn't want to disturb you this morning because I figured you needed some sleep."
"Oh thank you Sanji-kun."
Yes, because this morning Sanji hadn't brought her breakfast to her door like he had done every day since her arrival at All Blue. Sanji's apology is sincere but given the context, Some takes it very sadly, which supports the fact that the cook has been totally focused on his wife for two days. She sings a song in her head and concentrates on her work so as not to cry. The next two hours are hell for her, every time she goes into the kitchen to take the plates, she experiences the complicity of the couple and all the other chefs and clerks love this atmosphere. Some finally breaks down, she leaves the restaurant and runs towards her room.
However, if she had stayed ten more minutes, she would have witnessed an unromantic reality.
In the kitchen, Pudding is preparing chocolate ganache. It's not the most complicated thing to do, but it does require some skill. To have a sufficient quantity for the whole day, two clerks make it with her. The cooks appreciate the presence of Pudding, the little angel that she is warms the heart. Cosette tries a new recipe, she prepares her plate and, to respect tradition before offering the dish at the restaurant, she presents it to Sanji so that he can taste it and validate it or not.
"Sanji-kun, I tried a new recipe!"
"Show me that Cosette!"
Sanji takes the plate and, as he is about to taste it, a violent metallic noise makes everyone jump.
"There are fucking lumps in your ganache! How can you miss something so simple!"
Everyone turns to see Pudding, her face contorted with anger, clutching his spatula until her fingers turn white. In front of her, her clerk is terrified, the bowl of ganache is on the floor and she doesn't understand what is happening. Pudding approaches her and grabs her by the collar before yelling at her:
"Look what you did!" The rule here is not to waste the food! You're going to lick it!"
"B-but… I…"
"Idiot ! Stupid, stupid, stupid!"
"Pudding-chan stop!"
At Sanji's voice, Pudding jumps and her good personality comes to the front. She blinks several times and sees the scene before her: the clerk is in tears, scared and confused at the same time. The young woman realizes that she has lost control again, she lets go of the employee in front of her and places her hands over her mouth.
"I'm sorry… I'm so sorry… I still… oh my god I'm sorry…"
Sanji approaches Pudding and takes her by the shoulders to shift her to the side. He dips his finger in the ganache on the floor and offers the little clerk a smile. He hands her a clean dishcloth to wipe her tears and give her a few hours of rest. He takes the time to reassure his kitchen before leaving it with Pudding. She begins to have tears in her eyes.
"Sanji-kun, I'm sorry! Really!"
"I know. I don't blame you, Pudding-chan. Go calm down a bit and come back and make desserts afterwards."
"All right! You are so kind, Sanji-kun."
The cook offers her a tender smile and returns to the kitchen to do what he had planned to do: taste Cosette's new dish. However, he can't help but be worried about Pudding as her personality problems are still present...
Some is packing a bag with some clothes and bath products. She has made a decision: for the moment, she no longer wants to be at All Blue, but she doesn't want to give up everything either. She wants to finish her first book and then she would see. But this place, this restaurant, this couple… she must get away from it. Chuji looks at her with concern and also sadness. He sees its friend's lips trembling, her eyes are red and she spends her time wiping them. Some takes care to take her notebooks and a few books as well as a little money and gets on a sailboat.
An hour later, she sits at a table in the library. She wipes her eyes once more, takes a deep breath and finds herself facing a blank page in her notebook. She doesn't write anything for several minutes, massaging her temples, calming her thoughts and emotions, but it's complicated. Sanji's face doesn't leave her mind and she wants to cry again. Chuji approaches her and sits in front of her to try to cheer her up. Some closes her eyes and puts her head in her hands. She thinks seriously while trying to breathe normally, and finally she stands up. She holds out her hand for Chuji to jump on and he looks at her friend.
"Chuji…I don't want to give up everything. I'm writing this first book and then we go back to Wano. There's nothing left to see here so we're going home."
"Chu…."
The little mouse is sad and no longer squeals after that. It feels how heartbroken Some is to the point of thinking that Wano is her home again... That evening, Some didn't return to All Blue, nor in the following days. She had taken a hotel room near the library while she finished her first book.
Her absence doesn't go unnoticed. The day after her departure, Sanji brings breakfast to her room but no one answers, he knocks several times, to no avail. When he returns to the restaurant, he asks Reiju the question and she is as surprised as he is. The cook spends the day looking everywhere around him when he has free time to find the little geisha or Chuji, but she remains absent. Sanji doesn't show it, but he is worried and his stomach is going into knots. He loves Some's presence and not seeing her makes him sad.
Sanji has never really changed in four years. He is stronger than before, his bounty makes him the third most wanted in the world, after his captain Luffy and his friend and rival Zoro. Since discovering All Blue, he has been happier than ever. He can cook whatever he wants, every day he discovers new flavors and creates new dishes. He likes to dive in the water of the Atoll, sometimes he lets his body float and closes his eyes, letting his mind ride the waves. He loves the people he works with, he is happy to have his sister near him and he is proud to have created this restaurant.
Does he feel complete? Not really…
Sanji is missing something and he knows exactly what he needs. He hopes that Pudding's arrival can give him that, but as the days pass, he loses hope. He loves Pudding, he loves her being in the kitchen with him, her desserts are fantastic. She has the particularity of being really cute when she is embarrassed or when she blushes. As soon as Sanji lays his eyes on her, or offers her a smile, or compliments her baking, she turns romantic, her eyes shine with love for him and her heart beats wildly.
Sanji likes the poems Pudding writes for him, he likes her voice, he finds her third eye still beautiful even though she always hides it. He cherishes the moments when she brings him a drink after his shift on the terrace of his own cottage. He shudders when they walk together on the beach and Pudding grabs his arm. He goes crazy when from time to time she comes up behind him to hug him, causing him to have a nosebleed. Pudding is charming, she is caring and loving. He really likes Pudding.
But when Pudding changes her personality against her will, she still wants to kill Sanji.
The trauma inside her is too intense and she hates it. When she's this unempathetic, emotionless, sadistic woman, she sees him as a loser. She laughs in his face, insults him and doesn't care if she's alone with him or in front of his team. Sanji takes it. He never responds or complains. When she becomes herself again, he offers her a smile, he reassures her and makes her understand that it is not her fault. Cosette, Reiju and the others are shocked every time. Their chef, who hit several customers who tried to waste food, touch the waitresses or start a fight, the pirate who is so strong and so strict in the kitchen, says nothing in front of Pudding.
In two minutes, she can scream at someone, throw a knife across the kitchen and break down in apologies, realizing her lack of control.
She's attacked Sanji a dozen times, but he can't blame her. He knows what she went through. More than anything, he understands her... he knows the damage of childhood abuse. Pudding is a victim like him. That's why even though part of her wants to kill him, the other part loves him so much that he only focuses on that. He hangs on to that and tells himself that it's not so bad after all.
"Sanji! Why are you flirting with that customer at the bar! Do you think a woman as refined as she wants a loser like you? Boohahaha, what an idiot!"
Uncontrolled comments like that he receives several times a day and even though he knows it's not Pudding's fault, they act like a kick in the stomach. But fifteen minutes later, the young woman clings to his arm and declares:
"You're so nice Sanji-kun, will you dance with me?"
"Of course I want to dance with you, my dove! ~"
And as his eyes become little hearts, he forgets the previous incident, letting himself be overcome by the joy of dancing with Pudding in the middle of All Blue. Sitting at the bar, Reiju watches the scene and she doesn't smile at all. She drinks a cosmopolitan without much conviction and says nothing when she is joined by Cosette.
"Don't get me wrong, I feel bad for Pudding-chan, it's horrible to be torn in two like this but... Sanji-kun, he..."
"He doesn't deserve this. But he's too devoted to women to say no. He is convinced that by just loving her, he will create her happiness. But Pudding will never change and my little brother is too nice to go through this."
"It's not their fault... but it's so toxic. Sanji-kun doesn't say anything but I find him more tired than usual..."
"Yes, I noticed too."
"Is there anything we can do, Reiju-san?"
"No, it's up to him to do what is necessary."
Cosette looks down, watching her boss and friend dancing with the Charlotte's daughter, a radiant and sincere smile on their faces, enjoying the moment. Reiju knows that every time Pudding is in her good alter, they share an idyll and the reality is much more complex.
Sanji would never blame Pudding for anything. For almost two weeks, he endured mockery, insults, objects thrown in his direction and Pudding's angry blows at his employees. He kept his guideline of being empathetic towards her, smiling at her and remaining tender. He continues to hope that she will fill the last void in him. But even Sanji has a limit.
This limit is broken one evening when he smokes at the beach. He is sitting in the sand, his tie is next to him and he has removed the top two buttons of his shirt. He looks at the starry sky and thinks of Some. He is conviced now that the young woman has left. He's not crazy, he made the connection between Pudding's arrival and Some's departure and he quickly understood that perhaps she had feelings for him. He pulls hard on his cigarette and feels his heart pinch, a little voice in his head whispers to him that he is in the wrong path but he cannot understand it how. He is brought out of his thoughts by Pudding who comes to sit next to him. She wears a light white dress and places her hand on Sanji's. Immediately he becomes all perky, almost bleeding from the nose and only having eyes for her.
"My Pudding-chwan!" How romantic it is, you and me by the sea with the stars above us! ~"
"Y-yes! It is really nice ! You seemed lost in thought Sanji-kun…"
"Ah… yes I was wondering why Some-chan left so suddenly without saying goodbye. I'm worried, I hope she's okay..."
Sanji's concern towards Some triggers a feeling of jealousy in Pudding. He just has to flirt with a woman or talk about one for the Charlotte's daughter to feel offended. She loves Sanji and she wants him to be only hers, this feeling of jealousy is so intense that it's enough to trigger her personality switch. She suddenly jumps on him and tackles him to the ground. Because she is a woman, Sanji doesn't try to defend himself. He comes face to face with Pudding's murderous face, she smiles sadistically and starts laughing in his face.
"Of course Some-chan is gone! No one wants to be around you! Seriously what do you have to offer a woman? You have nothing for yourself!"
"Pudding-chan…"
She makes fun of him more by pinching his cheek, treating him like a kid and laughing even more.
"Look at your face, you look like nothing! No woman wants you, idiot! If I wasn't here, you'd be alone! You make me feel so sorry that I stay with you, but apart from me, no one loves you! Who wants to love a man like you? Besides, you're not even a man!
"Pudding-chan… please pull yourself together…"
"And what are you going to do? Cry? That's it, show how pathetic and weak you are, show your lack of manliness! You don't even deserve this place! All Blue is too good for you, and no woman will love you. Never!"
Sanji doesn't respond, he closes his eyes and waits for Pudding to finish lashing out. It's not her, it's not her fault. Pudding is sweet, she's nice, she came here to hold his hand and she loves him. But, this time, he can't take it, the words are so violent that a stab in his heart would have hurt less. He bites his tongue to not show that he is touched because he doesn't want Pudding to blame herself. Once again, the storm passes and the young woman changes personality, she realizes the words she has just said and immediately panics.
"Oh my g-god… Sanji-kun…"
"…"
"Sanji-kun, I… oh no! No no no! I don't think that at all! It's not true what I said, I… Oh no I-I…"
Pudding feels really bad, she's shaking and tears start to flow. She moves away from Sanji and watches him stand up, he pats his shirt and pants to remove the sand and offers his hand to the young woman. She hesitates to take it but does so anyway to use it as support and get up. Once again, Sanji offers her a gentle smile and he reassures her by saying that it's not serious... he wishes her a good night and heads towards his cottage. Once on his terrace, his shaking hands take his cigarette pack and clutches one between his lips. He takes his lighter and tries to light it with difficulty. The young man leans on the railing of his terrace, his head bowed. Reiju choses this time to introduce herself and immediately understands what happened just by the atmosphere. She tells herself that once again, he will take it but no... tonight it's of limit. The eldest feels her heart tighten when she sees the tears rolling down her little brother's cheeks. She doesn't hesitate and sticks to his back, hugging him.
Reiju spends the night with him to comfort him. If there's one thing she hates above all, it's seeing Sanji in pain.
The next day, Reiju decides to take a step back from the situation. She suggests to Sanji to go get him spices on the archipelago and Cosette takes the opportunity to ask her to bring her a certain recipe book from the library. Of course her little brother gets busy in the kitchen as if nothing had happened the previous night. While she spent it reassuring him and paying him compliments so that he regained his confidence, but it's not that simple. However, she notices that Pudding is very embarrassed and she prepares her desserts in silence.
The eldest Vinsmoke jumps on a sailboat, a list of spices and the name of the book in hand. She tells herself that getting the book first is easier and during the trip she thinks about this Sanji-Pudding problem. She can't do anything on her own, it's up to him to resolve the situation otherwise he would suffer for the rest of his life. But Reiju is tired, she doesn't want her brother to be unhappy, he's too nice for that. Sanji is full of love and compassion, but he always puts others before himself. For her, he deserves someone who takes care of him, who can give him love and stability.
Arriving on land, she stretches while sighing, she hates this situation. Reiju enters the large library, impressed by the quantity of books available to her. While she is looking for a section where she could find kitchen books, her eye is drawn to a head of pink hair at a table. Her eyes open wide when she recognizes Some, she can't believe it... The young woman is still around. She also didn't understand why she left without saying goodbye and she asked herself a lot of questions to try to find out what could have happened to the young geisha. But seeing her there will finally gives her answers. Reiju smiles and approaches the table where Some is located. The young woman looks up at this newcomer and is just as surprised as she is. She is still embarrassed to see the maitre d' because she suspects that she must surely justify herself. But against all odds, Reiju remains very warm and non-intrusive.
"Some-chan! We haven't seen you at All Blue's for several days."
"Yes I took a hotel room, I want to finish my first book before returning to Wano."
"You going back there?"
Some looks away, a slight blush appears on her cheeks. Reiju doesn't miss it and realizes that something is definitely wrong with the young woman. She decides to pretend nothing happened so she can get information.
"I'm going to miss you, I really liked your presence at the restaurant and your dances were a success!"
"I'm going to miss you too, Reiju-san. Say goodbye to Sanji-kun for me."
"I will."
"And his wife too." Ends Some on a slightly lower tone.
Reiju's eternal cocky smile appears on her face. All the pieces of the puzzle come together in her head. Finally she understands why the young woman left overnight. Although she wants to clear up the situation, she decides to have a little fun.
"It's true that they never signed a divorce paper so officially they are still married."
"What do you mean divorced?" Some asks too suddenly for it to sound worried.
"Their marriage is a farce... it was first of all a political marriage to conclude an alliance between Big Mom's crew and the Germa Kingdom, my family."
"So it wasn't a choice...?"
Reiju's smile changes to a more compassionate expression and pulls up a chair to sit at the same table as Some. Chuji grabs a small cookie to nibble on, also curious. The young woman from Wano puts down her pencil and focuses on her eldest in front of her, she didn't think the story could be complicated when Sanji is someone so simple.
"Sanji and Pudding were never loved by their respective families. They were even rather mistreated... Pudding was considered as a monster because of her third eye and Sanji because he was too weak..."
"Weak ? But it has…"
"The third highest bounty in the world? Rather ironic, right?"
"And Pudding is very beautiful despite her difference."
"She is... yet her mother saw her as a failure of offspring just like my father with Sanji. So when it came to marriage, they especially didn't want to marry off their good children."
"Sanji-kun and Pudding-san didn't know each other?"
"They had never seen each other."
Some swallowed hard, what a distressing situation. Very common in Wano where women are married without even asking their opinion just for the sake of an alliance between the lord of the family. Under Kaido's rule, most of his soldiers and pirates had taken the woman or women of their choice as wives. No one dared to object given the situation.
"I didn't know you and Sanji-kun had brothers, he never talked about them…"
"No big surprise, the story with our brothers is more... complicated and hard for Sanji."
"The alliance between your two families has been concluded?"
"Wow absolutely not!" Reiju replies with a little laugh filled with nostalgia.
The eldest Vinsmoke explains the marriage fiasco. The arrival of part of the Straw Hat crew to save their cook. She says that she and Sanji knew that the Charlotte family was going to betray and kill them, starting with Pudding who was to assassinate Sanji when declaring them husband and wife. Reiju explains that Pudding had failed to pull the trigger and that despite Sanji's hatred towards the rest of his family, he had saved them. Some was touched by this heroic act of Sanji, she recognized the deep kindness of the man she had always known. Passionate about this story, she realizes that she had her idea for her next book... what ends up making Some smile is that after being saved by his crew, Sanji had arrived in Wano and it's there that they had met. However, even if their marriage is a farce, that doesn't necessary mean that…
"But they love each other despite everything…
"Yes and no... You've noticed since the incident at the poker game that Pudding has several personalities. Well her aggressive personality has been too influenced by Big Mom's violence, it's irreversible and this personality hates Sanji deep down and wants to kill him. Her other personality has indeed fallen in love with Sanji but is it really love? Sanji was the first to tell her she was beautiful, he became Prince Charming in her eyes and I'm sure you understand that Prince Charming as a companion doesn't exist."
"Yes…poor Pudding…"
"Sanji feels a lot of tenderness for Pudding. He loves her a lot, it's true. But is he in love with her? I don't think so... I think my brother wants to fall in love with a woman in a simple way and that he needs someone as kind and tender as him."
Some starts to smile following Reiju's explanation before pulling herself together by shaking her head, ashamed to feel relief but Reiju smiles more.
"It's okay to be a little happy Some-chan, the situation suits you."
"No! It's a sad story! I feel bad for Sanji-kun and Pudding-san."
"However, you are more relaxed than earlier Some-chan." She said, pressing hard on the chan to tease her.
"No I-...this marriage is r-really sad..."
Reiju is ecstatic at Some's embarrassment and especially at the way she tries to hide it. The elder Vinsmoke has a vicious smile and rests her chin on her hand. That reaction, the fact that she left when Pudding arrived, she knows what that means.
"Some-chan, are you in love with my little brother?"
"Heh?"
The young geisha's face turns as red as a ripe tomato. She mumbles something before lowering her head. To make things worse, Chuji starts dancing happily on Some's notebook, which confirms to Reiju the answer she was expecting. She offers Some a tender smile and places her hand on the top of the youngest's.
"Do you really want to go back to Wano and miss out on a man as awesome as my little brother?"
"…N-no."
"So ignore the situation with Pudding or have empathy for her if you want. The situation will resolve itself even if Sanji is an idiot when it comes to women and then approach him."
Some can't think of anything to answer at the moment, she doesn't even know how to look at Reiju. Her hand tenses under the one placed on the top of her. Chuji comes closer to her and tries to comfort her, the little mouse squeals happily to support Reiju's words and finally Some nods in agreement. The eldest Vinsmoke is delighted, she gets up and turns to her friend.
"What do you say about coming with me to go shopping on the little island next door? I have to bring back some herbs and spices for cooking and then we go back to All Blue."
"Do you really think this is a good idea...?"
"A lot of people miss you, Some-chan."
"All right."
She is filled with hesitation but Some gets up anyway, she puts her things in a bag and decides to follow her friend. The two women spend the afternoon in the markets. Reiju tells her a little about the events of Whole Cake Island, the marriage and the attitude of Judge and the three brothers towards Sanji. She remains vague, not wanting to be too intrusive in Sanji's private life, believing that it is up to him to talk about it. She explains to Some how she helped her brother escape when they were kids and that she only saw him again after he became a pirate. The young geisha learns that Sanji has always been kind and that he puts others before himself. Reiju tells him that she wishes someone would treat him the way he treats people and Some realizes that she could never hurt him...
After collecting her things from her hotel room, Some returns to All Blue with Reiju after two weeks of absence.
The ride home was calm, almost relaxing. Some felt both relieved to be back and anxious to see everyone again, especially Sanji.
When they arrived, the restaurant was already in rush. Some hesitated to enter, his heart racing. Reiju gave her an encouraging smile and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, as if to let her know that she was not alone. When Some finally pushed open the door, a breeze of delicious, familiar smells greeted her. She walked timidly towards the kitchen, feeling curious eyes looking up on her. Pudding was decorating cakes and at the movement of the door she turns around and froze for a moment when she saw Some.
Time seemed to stand still for a moment, then Pudding smiles warmly and rushes towards Some. She takes her in her arms, a sincere embrace that expressed all the joy of finding her. Some is disturbed and she wants to free herself from this embrace. However, Reiju's words returned to her mind. She remembered that Pudding is a victim, that she is Sanji's wife only on paper and that she should ignore the situation. So, she let herself go. The other staff members gathered around them, displaying welcoming smiles. Cosette even expressed her emotion in a cry of joy.
"Some-chaaaaaaaaan!" Where have you been?"
"I was focused on writing my book, Cosette-chan. I didn't see the time passing, I'm sorry…"
Sanji, who is preparing dishes with a clerk explaining to him how to do it properly, turned his head at the announcement of Some's arrival. His gaze met the young woman's, and for a moment, time seems to stand still. Then, a tender smile appears on his lips, illuminating his face. He approachs Some cautiously, walking on eggshells so as not to trigger Pudding's second personality and also because he feels guilty that she was gone. Their eyes met, loaded with so much repressed emotion. Some feels her heartbeat speed up, overwhelmed by a multitude of feelings.
"Some-chan... It's good to see you again," Sanji whispered shyly.
"Thank you, Sanji-kun."
Some smiles, feeling tears welling up in her eyes, but she holds it back. And in this moment of reunion, a glimmer of hope is born in his heart. Maybe everything would be different this time.
Employees spent the evening asking Some questions. The young woman had kept silent about her discovery of the marriage between Sanji and Pudding, not having the necessary context. She had only talked about her desire to write and the fact that she had studied literature during those two weeks. The day team had finished their shift and continued the evening at the bar, asking lots of questions about Some's book. Sanji didn't want to interrupt the attention that was swirling around her, telling himself that she had never had any and that it must do her good. Instead, he had retreated to his personal cottage.
He comes out of his bathroom, a towel on his shoulders to hold back his damp hair. He puts on a black long-sleeved t-shirt and white soft pants. He dries his hair, puts some cologne on him and lights a cigarette before grabbing his recipe notebook to write down new ideas. He likes this part of the night, after working all day. This moment of calm and solitude relaxes him. He hopes that the night shift won't call him, proof that there is no problem. Two knocks on his door bring him out of his thoughts and he walks towards the door to open it. Pudding's smiling face appears and immediately he feels himself melting. He folds his hands near his face which blushes, his eyes become little hearts and his voice changes to sound almost stupid.
"My Pudding-chwan! ~ The most beautiful flower! What did I do to earn your visit? ~"
"I tried a new recipe for chocolate and pistachio cake, I want you to taste it first Sanji-kun!"
"Of course my dove! Come in! ~"
Sanji steps aside to let Pudding into his house. She places the plate she was carrying on the kitchen counter and watches Sanji take out two cups and make some tea. The young woman contemplates him with passion, fascinated by him. Her heart races every time she looks at the man she thinks she loves. The cook turns around and places the two steaming cups between them. He grabs the plate where the two chocolate cakes rest and takes a bite. His face expresses surprise before lighting up. He takes another piece and smiles more, his cheeks turning pink.
"It's incredibly good Pudding-chan! You are really good with chocolate!"
"Thank you very much Sanji-kun!"
They exchange smiles of complicity and devour their cake while exchanging little laughs and compliments. Sanji licks his index finger to remove all traces of chocolate and sets his eyes on Pudding.
"Your desserts are very popular at the restaurant!"
"Yes, I understood that they were ordered a lot."
"You managed to make refined desserts that perfectly finished the dishes I made. There is a guideline in the menu, everything is in harmony!"
"Yes I agree."
Pudding swirls her spoon in her tea, a genuine smile on her face. The compliments of the man in front of her warm her. The only man who has paid her compliments, whether it's about her or about her talent as a pastry chef, or about her eye... So, of course, she is given to the maximum to make desserts that highlight Sanji's cuisine, giving the perfect finishing touch. She places her hand on that of the cook and declares in a soft voice:
"It's normal there is harmony when we cook together. After all…we are married."
She expects to see Sanji become all perky once again but instead his face freezes before slowly distorting with sadness. He looks down and stubs out his cigarette in the ashtray. A sigh of unease escapes from his mouth and he gently removes his hand from Pudding's. In reality, Sanji has just triggered something.
"Pudding-chan…I don't think we're actually married…"
"What do you mean?"
"This wedding happened and I was ready to be your husband to make you happy but, Pudding-chan…"
Pudding doesn't understand Sanji's sudden attitude, he is rejecting her. The young man nervously runs his hand through his hair and continues:
"Did you imagine your wedding like this, Pudding-chan? Forced by your parents so as not to harm successful children?"
"No… but in the end, what does that change? Sanji-kun, I… today I love you."
Sanji blushes at these words, he looks away and he can't stop his body from heating up. But at the same time, this statement is just an illusion.
"Really, Pudding-chan?"
"Of course! You are a wonderful man, Sanji-kun!"
"But I'm not a man for you."
"W-What… I don't understand, Sanji-kun. You said if it made me happy then you were willing to not return to your crew. Today, there are no more constraints, no more alliances, no more politics. Just you and me and this place."
Pudding is sincere in what she says, she goes around the kitchen counter and wraps her arms around Sanji's neck, he lets herself do so without flinching but still doesn't smile. Then she begins to lose her smile too, worry overwhelming her.
"Sanji-kun…"
"I'm not good for you, Pudding-chan. I want to be, I want to make you happy and be the husband you dream of but I can't. You change your personality and almost kill me as soon as my back is turned. I know it's not your fault and I feel sorry for you but... I am convinced that I am the one who is triggering these switches"
"Sanji-kun, I swear to you that I never wanted to say these words to you!"
"I know it, my sweet flower, I know it… but this conflict that you have, it will not stop as long as I am near you. You will always want to kill me and demean me..."
"But...I...being away from you is so much more painful."
"I'm not the only man who will love you, Pudding-chan. Others will find you beautiful, others will love your eyes, others will take care of you without being forced to marry them under threat."
Tears begin to fall from Pudding's eyes, Sanji slowly brushes aside her bangs to gaze at her third eye. He finds her so beautiful. His thumbs start to wipe away the tears rolling down her cheeks to try to calm her down but it doesn't work. With a heavy heart, he feels Pudding grip his t-shirt and sob against him.
"I tried Sanji-kun... I really tried... I separated myself from my family, I tried a lot of things to calm the hatred in me and I was somewhat successful, but since I've been here ... I'm so scared that you'll be mad at me that I can't control my switches anymore... but I really tried to just be myself the way I am now..."
"I know, Pudding. I saw it. That's why we can't be together, you'll never be in peace as long as I'm here. And then I don't think you feel love for me. I know what it feels like to be loved for the first time when all our lives we have been told that it would be better not to have been born. I'm not Prince Charming... I'm just a man who was forced to marry you for a shitty alliance."
"A really wonderful man."
A slight smile appears on Sanji's face, he ends up wrapping his arms around Pudding to comfort her. He understands the pain she feels, her illusion collapses, all this magical and imaginary world that she has created is crushed by the harsh reality.
"You left your family, Pudding-chan, I think you've done the hard part. The world is big and now open, explore it. Maybe you don't want to bake or maybe you want to but do it for you. Take care of yourself. You know, one day my sister said to me: the world is big Sanji, you are bound to make friends and meet people who will love you. And she's right. There are people waiting for you, Pudding-chan."
The young woman collapses to her knees following his words but Sanji doesn't let her fall, he follows her as she falls and keeps her in his arms. He holds her close, gently caresses her hair and bites his lips to not burst into tears too. What he does is hard, rejecting a woman... he never thought he would do that in his life. But he knows that what he just said is the truth and Pudding knows it too. Until now, she kept her eyes shut; she wanted to try to make this marriage a success. She wanted to be the woman Sanji was waiting for and she believed he was the husband she needed. But no... He's right, their marriage is based on an alliance between two vile beings, her mother, Big Mom, and his father, Judge Vinsmoke. She had been ordered to kill him during their wedding, he had been threatened that everyone he loved would die if he refused the marriage. They had been forced, torn from their dream just because they were bad products...
Pudding grieves for many minutes against Sanji, his t-shirt is now soaked and he still grits his teeth to keep from breaking down in pain. However, she eventually stands up and wipes her tears herself. She grabs Sanji's hands in hers and looks him in the eyes, her lips trembling, she finally declares:
"You're right… I'm not a woman for you either. You deserve a woman who takes care of you, who gives you the compliments you are entitled to, who supports you, who is as kind as you and who has as much love to give as you do. There is someone for you waiting for you in this world."
"Who knows…"
"I am sure! But Sanji-kun I still want to remember you forever as my first husband. And I will never forget that."
"Pudding-chan…"
The young woman gets up, she doesn't want to waste time. While she has found some energy despite her grief, she wants to take the opportunity to gather her things. She approaches the door and, as she places her hand on the doorknob, she feels her other hand being grabbed. She turns around and notices that Sanji has red cheeks. He walks over to her and leans in before kissing her gently on the cheek. Pudding feels her heart warm as the cook tells her:
"I have a lot of affection for you, Pudding-chan, and I wish you the best. If you ever need help, call and I'll come."
"Sanji-kun…"
"Farewell, my beautiful goddess."
Pudding's eyes glow again as Sanji lets go of her hand. He watches her run away from his house and later, his observation haki allows him to sense that she is leaving All Blue Atoll. He collapses on his bed, his heart in pieces, his lips tremble and he cowers. He grabs a cigarette but not finding his lighter, he throws it. Making this decision was the hardest of his life but despite the the pain, he knows he made the right one. He closes his eyes and his last thought before sleeping is of Pudding.
He wishes Pudding to be happy.