It had been five days since the Straw Hats' run in with the Marines. The ship was running low on some supplies, so the crew decided to stop off at an island called Kyushi to restock and do some shopping. The Thousand Sunny docked at the large coastal town.
Luffy's mouth watered as he took in the sight of the town, the scent of freshly baked goods wafting through the air. He rubbed his belly, a loud growl escaping from his stomach. "Man, I'm starving," he declared, a wide grin on his face. "I can smell food! Let's go get some!"
"I'm down to get food!" Aria exclaimed, feeling eager and hungry herself.
Luffy laughed and grabbed her hand, already heading towards the town, his stomach leading the way. As Luffy dragged Aria through the streets of the town, the rest of the crew followed behind, their eyes also drawn to the mouthwatering smells of the local cuisine.
Zoro smirked, his hand resting on the handle of one of his swords. "Looks like this town's got some good food."
Usopp rubbed his hands together, a look of excitement on his face. "I can't wait to try some of the local specialties."
Nami rolled her eyes, a teasing grin on her lips.
"Of course, you guys are only thinking about your stomachs," she teased. "I, for one, am hoping they have a nice clothing store here. I could use some new outfits."
Robin nodded in agreement.
As the crew made their way through the town, Nami spoke up once more. "Okay, okay, we're here to restock on supplies and have some fun. But we need to be smart about it. We don't want to blow all our money in one place. Each of you will get a spending allowance. So be wise with it," she lectured as she handed out the money to each member of the crew.
Luffy pouted as he received his allowance, holding the money between his fingers and eyeing it with disappointment. "Do we really have to limit our spending?" he complained. "There are so many yummy-looking restaurants and stores! I want to try everything!"
Nami rolled her eyes again, crossing her arms over her chest. "Yes, Luffy, we have to limit our spending," she replied adamantly. "We can't just waltz into town and blow all our money on the first thing we see." She shot a pointed look at Luffy. "And that includes food. You can't just eat your way through town."
Luffy deflated, his pouting increasing. "But I'm hungry!" he whined, his stomach growling loudly once more. "How can I control myself when everything smells so good?"
Nami rolled her eyes again and shook her head. "You'll just have to exercise a little self-control," she said firmly. "I know that's not your strong suit, but you have to try. We only have so much money to spend, and we need to make it last."
Luffy continued to pout, but knew better than to argue with Nami when it came to money. He reluctantly tucked his allowance into his pocket, his mind already beginning to wander back to the food he smelled in the air.
The crew continued walking through the town, the scents of food growing stronger and stronger. Soon, they came across a row of restaurants lined up along the street. Luffy's eyes widened as he saw all the different options available. "There's so much to choose from!" he exclaimed. "How are we supposed to decide where to eat?"
Nami sighed, rolling her eyes. "We can split up and explore the different places. Then we can all meet back here in a few hours."
"Sounds good to me!" Luffy said excitedly, already rubbing his hands together in anticipation.
The crew nodded in agreement, each member looking forward to the chance to try some of the local flavors. They split up into small groups, each heading off in a different direction to explore the local restaurants.
As usual, Luffy and Aria stuck together. They strolled down the street together, their eyes scanning the different restaurants that lined the street. The aroma of various foods wafted through the air, making Luffy's stomach growl loudly. "Man, everything smells so good," he said, his mouth watering. "Where do you wanna go first?"
"Hmm." Aria thought about it as she looked around. Luffy was right, everything did smell really good. But, she knew what Luffy loved the most. "That little restaurant over there looks pretty good!" She said, observing a chalkboard sign in front of it that appeared to have an array of meat options listed.
Luffy's eyes widened as he spotted the sign Aria pointed towards. Meat was his favorite word, besides adventure. "Meats! I want meat!" he exclaimed, his words tinged with excitement as he began to practically salivate. "Let's go there! Now!"
Aria laughed, knowing darn well how much Luffy loved meat. She loved seeing him so excited. "Alright, let's do it." She said.
Luffy grabbed Aria's hand and led the way towards the meat restaurant. The scent of grilling meat grew stronger with each step, making Luffy's mouth water even more. As they entered the restaurant, Luffy's eyes widened as he took in the menu. It was practically a meat lover's dream come true. He began eagerly studying the list of options, his stomach growling loudly in anticipation. "This is it!" Luffy said, pumping his fist in the air. "I'm gonna have every single meat dish they have here!"
Aria chuckled at his excitement. "And how exactly do you plan to pay for all of that?"
Luffy paused for a moment, his excitement replaced with a hint of uncertainty. "Oh right, money..." he muttered, tapping the pockets of his shorts with his fingers as if he had forgotten about that very important detail.
The host greeted them with a warm smile, eyeing them with curiosity. "Good afternoon! Just the two of you?"
Luffy was too busy eyeing the menu to respond right away, entranced by all the meat options.
Aria chuckled, amused by Luffy's one-track mind. "Yeah, just the two of us."
The host nodded and gestured towards a small table near the back. "Right this way, please."
Luffy finally tore his gaze away from the menu as the host led them to their seats. He couldn't help but keep his eyes on the kitchen, as if the meat dishes would suddenly manifest right in front of him.
Aria took her seat, still chuckling at Luffy's one-track mind. "You really are a meat addict," she teased.
Luffy just grinned, unable to deny the truth. "Meat is life. Life is meat."
Luffy's words only made Aria laugh even harder. Luffy sat down across from her, his eyes still glued to the menu. "I mean, have you seen this menu?" he exclaimed, holding it up. "There's so much meat I don't even know where to start!"
"I know, that's why I picked this place." She grinned.
Luffy's eyes scanned the menu, his finger tracing down the columns of meat dishes. "Hmmm... I want this one... and that one... and oh, this one looks good too!" he muttered, his finger pointing to several different options. "But I can't decide... I need all of it!"
"You know we can't afford the entire menu." Aria laughed. She picked up her menu and began looking it over.
Luffy pouted in frustration. "But I want it all!" he protested, his stomach growling loudly in agreement.
Aria chuckled at his insistence but knew they had to be realistic. "How about we choose a few favorites and share?" she suggested.
Luffy considered her proposal for a moment, still eyeing the menu with lust.
"Alright," he relented. "But we need to have at least five different meats."
Aria chuckled at his determination. "Okay, deal. Let's pick our choices then."
Luffy nodded in agreement, focusing his attention back on the menu. He began muttering to himself as he compared the meat options. "Steak, pork chops, bacon... no, that's not enough..."
"Definitely steak." Aria agreed, as she loved a good steak herself. "Hm, what about this?" She said, pointing to the fajitas.
Luffy quickly followed her gaze to the fajitas option. "Ooh, yeah, that looks good. We'll definitely get that!" He continued muttering to himself as he read through the other options. "Grilled chicken, wings... oh, and beef ribs!"
"Sounds good!" She agreed.
Luffy's eyes lit up at her agreement. "Yes! We're getting all the steaks, the fajitas, chicken, wings, and ribs!" he exclaimed.
He leaned back in his chair, satisfied with their choices. "That should be enough meat, right?"
Aria laughed once again. "Yep, I think so. Just remember, you have to share." She said with a playful smirk.
Luffy groaned in annoyance but knew she was right. "Ugh, yes, I know," he said, rolling his eyes. "But I'm gonna get the lion's share, obviously."
"I would expect nothing less." She agreed, knowing her stomach couldn't even come close to handling the capacity that Luffy's could.
Luffy chuckled at her agreement. "You know me too well," he said with a grin. "I'll try not to hog it all, but no promises."
"Hey! If you hog the steak and fajitas, we'll have to throw hands." She joked.
Luffy chuckled, knowing she was probably joking... probably. "Alright, alright," he said, holding up his hands in surrender. "I promise to save you some steak and fajitas. But I'm not sharing any wings or ribs!" He gave her a playful glare, his eyes filled with mischief.
Aria leaned over the table slightly, a mischievous gleam in her eye. "Oh, I think you're gonna share them."
Luffy's eyes widened at her tone, sensing the challenge in her voice. He leaned forward as well, a cocky grin on his face. "Oh yeah? And what makes you think that?" he asked, raising an eyebrow. "You think I'm just gonna give up my wings and ribs without a fight?" he retorted, folding his arms across his chest.
"Oh, I think I could convince you to share." Aria said, crossing her legs.
Luffy eyed her skeptically, not quite believing her confidence. "And how do you plan on doing that?" he asked, challenge in his tone.
Aria's smirk widened into a sly smile. "I have my ways." She leaned back in her chair, the air between them growing even more charged with their banter.
Luffy's grin widened at her vague answer, his interest piqued. "Oh really?" he said, leaning in and resting his chin on his hands. "And what kind of ways are those, huh?"
Aria chuckled at his question, enjoying the playful banter. "That's for me to know and you to find out," she teased, a playful sparkle in her eyes.
Luffy's grin grew wider at her response, his competitive spirit flaring up. "Is that a challenge?" he asked, a hint of excitement in his voice.
"Maybe it is," Aria replied playfully.
Luffy's excitement grew at her challenge, his eyes sparkling with determination. "Game on!" he declared, his competitive nature kicking in.
The air between them was electric with anticipation as they stared each other down. The waiter approached them at that moment, interrupting their banter. "Are you two ready to order?" he asked, sensing the playful energy between them.
Luffy quickly recovered from the interruption and responded to the waiter with excitement. "Yes, we'll have the steaks, the steak fajitas, grilled chicken, wings, and ribs, please."
The waiter nodded, noting down the order and then giving them a knowing smile. "Quite the appetite you have there!" he said to Luffy.
Luffy grinned at the waiter, not at all ashamed of his enormous appetite. "Yup, I could eat a whole herd of cattle if I had to!" he said, patting his stomach.
Aria chuckled at Luffy's enthusiasm for food, shaking her head fondly. "He's not exaggerating," she told the waiter. "His stomach is like a black hole. Nothing is ever enough."
The waiter chuckled at Aria's comment, amused at the description. "Well, I'll be sure to let the kitchen know," he said. "Now, what would you two like to drink?"
"I'll take an iced tea, please." Aria said.
The waiter nodded and then turned to Luffy. "And for you, sir?" he asked, anticipating an equally hungry answer.
"I'll take a large glass of milk!" Luffy announced, pounding his fist on the table with enthusiasm.
The waiter chuckled at Luffy's choice of beverage but noted it down before heading off to the kitchen to place the order.
As the waiter disappeared, Aria turned back to Luffy, shaking her head with a fond smile. "Milk? Really?"
Luffy shrugged, unapologetic about his choice. "What can I say? I'm a man of simple tastes. Meat and milk, that's all I need," he said, grinning widely.
Aria couldn't help but laugh.
"You laugh, but it's the perfect combination! Meat for strength, milk for strong bones," Luffy declared, flexing his biceps.
Aria couldn't help but roll her eyes, but she couldn't deny the charm in his simplicity. "Alright, captain," she teased. "Just remember, too much dairy can give you gas."
Luffy dismissed her comment with a wave of his hand. "Oh, psh. I don't get gas. My digestive system can handle anything!" he declared confidently, puffing out his chest.
As they continued waiting for their food, the waiter soon returned with their drinks, a glass of iced tea for Aria and a large glass of milk for Luffy.
"Here you are," he said, placing the drinks down. "Your food should be out shortly."
"Thanks so much!" Aria said.
Luffy reached out for his glass of milk, grabbing it with enthusiasm. "Can't wait!" he exclaimed, already salivating at the thought of all the food that was coming their way.
Aria watched him with an amused smile, both charmed and slightly grossed out by his thirst. "You really do love your milk, don't you?"
Luffy just nodded, his focus fully on guzzling down the milk. "It's not just milk. It's the nectar of the gods. A liquid so divine, it should be worshipped," he said with exaggerated reverence.
Aria couldn't help but laugh at his over-the-top declaration.
Not long after, the waiter returned to their table, laden with a mountain of meat. There were steaming steaks, sizzling fajitas, juicy grilled chicken, golden chicken wings, and sticky barbecue ribs.
Luffy's eyes nearly popped out of his head as he took in the spread. "Meat. Glorious meat! We've truly been blessed," he said, rubbing his hands together in anticipation.
Aria's eyes widened at the sheer amount of food that was placed before them. "That's...a lot of meat," she managed to say, her voice tinged with both fascination and a bit of concern.
Luffy, meanwhile, was practically salivating, his mouth watering so much that drool was pooling at the corner of his lip. "We'll start with the steak," he announced, picking up his fork and knife and digging in.
Aria chuckled at his eagerness.
The pair ate in silence for a few minutes, both fully engrossed in the meaty feast. Every so often, Luffy would let out a satisfied moan, clearly relishing the flavors. Aria watched him with a mix of affection and amusement, marveling at his boundless zeal for something as simple as food.
"This steak is amazing!" She said as her eyes lit up.
Luffy nodded in agreement, his mouth too chock full of steak to speak. After swallowing his food, he grinned widely. "I swear, I could eat steak every day for the rest of my life and never get tired of it," he declared, reaching for a chicken wing.
The two continued munching away, working their way through the various meat dishes. Luffy ate with such fervor that some of the sauce from the ribs got smeared across his cheek. Aria couldn't help but chuckle as she watched him. "You've got a little something on your cheek," she said, pointing to the sauce smudge.
Luffy touched his cheek and then licked the sauce off his finger. "Delicious," he asserted, going back to his food.
After a while, Aria leaned back in her chair, her stomach pleasantly full. "I don't think I can eat another bite," she said, patting her stomach. Luffy, on the other hand, didn't seem anywhere near done. He was still working on the ribs, savoring every bite with childlike glee.
Next, Luffy attacked the fajitas with equal gusto, wrapping the sizzling hot meat, peppers and onions in a tortilla and devouring it in one big bite. "Mmmmmm," he mumbled between bites, practically rolling his eyes back in exaggerated ecstasy.
After about 20 minutes, Luffy pushed the final plate away, letting out a long satisfied sigh.
"That was...that was the best meal ever," he said, patting his stomach. "I'm gonna remember this day forever. And then I'm gonna dream about this meat in my sleep."
"It was pretty darn good." Aria agreed.
Luffy nodded emphatically. He was satisfied and happy, his stomach full and his taste buds tingling with joy.
"Definitely worth every berry," he said, then suddenly, his expression became more serious. "Speaking of berries...about paying for this..."
Aria couldn't help but chuckle at his sudden change of tone. "Don't worry. I've got it covered," she assured him, pulling money from her pocket. "We had an agreed budget, remember?"
Luffy's face brightened considerably. "Oh right. The budget. I forgot about that," he said, scratching the back of his head. "I was about to offer to sell my kidney in exchange for this meal."
Aria laughed heartily at his comment. "Well, lucky for you, you'll still have both your kidneys and I've got the cash."
Luffy beamed with gratitude. "Thanks, Aria." Then he leaned forward, his eyes sparkling with a hint of mischief. "But what if I decide I want seconds...?"
"Hey, don't push your luck." She smirked.
Soon enough, the two paid their bill and left. They stepped out of the restaurant into the bustling town square. It was late afternoon and the sky was vibrant shades of orange and pink, and the golden sun painted hues of light across the buildings.
Luffy let out a satisfied sigh and stretched his arms. The fresh air and the setting sun felt good on their skin.
"We have a bit more time to kill before we have to meet back up with the others." Aria said.
Luffy looked around, taking in the unfamiliar surroundings. "What do you want to do?" He asked Aria, his eyes landing on a small carnival-like area in the town square. "Hey, what's that over there?"
Aria followed his gaze and saw the carnival-like area he was pointing at. It was a collection of various games and activities that people were playing. "Looks like some kind of carnival," she said, a smile tugging at the corner of her lips.
Luffy's eyes lit up with excitement. "A carnival? Let's check it out!" Before Aria could say anything, he grabbed her hand and pulled her towards the attractions.
The two of them strolled through the fair, taking in the sights and sounds. The air was filled with laughter and the smells of popcorn and cotton candy. There were various games like darts, ring tosses, and balloon popping, each with a prize that one could win. Aria's eyes widened in fascination when she saw a booth with fluffy stuffed animals as the prizes.
Luffy, on the other hand, was drawn to a shooting game booth. The prize for that was a giant stuffed lion, and Luffy's competitive side was triggered. He turned to Aria with a determined look. "I'm going to win that lion. Watch me."
Aria chuckled and shook her head, leaning against a nearby railing and watching him with amusement as he stepped up to the game booth. The game booth attendant, a young man in his early twenties, gave Luffy a knowing grin as he approached. "Step right up, young man. Care to try your luck at our shooting game? It's only 50 berries per try."
Luffy chuckled and reached into his pocket, pulling out 50 berries. "I'm not here to try my luck. I'm here to win," he said confidently, handing the attendant the money.
The attendant chuckled in response. "Well, good luck then. The goal is to hit as many moving targets as you can. The more you hit, the bigger the prize, especially if you hit all twelve." He gestured to the rows of targets, all of which were in various positions and sizes and moved at different speeds.
Luffy took his position behind the booth, his hands steady as he picked up the toy gun. He aimed and shot quickly, hitting targets one after the other with ease.
"One.. Two... Three..." Luffy counted aloud as he hit each target, his aim true and precise.
The attendant watched in awe as Luffy continued to hit target after target. The small crowd that had gathered around the booth started to murmur amongst themselves, impressed by Luffy's sharp aim and effortless skill.
"Seven... Eight... Nine..." Luffy's concentration was unwavering, his eyes narrowed in focus. He hit the last few targets with a final burst of speed, and then he stopped, lowering the toy gun. He turned to Aria with a cocky grin. "See? Easy."
The attendant's mouth was agape as he watched Luffy, clearly impressed by his shooting skills. He quickly snapped out of it and handed over the giant stuffed lion. "W-Well, uh, you did it. You hit all the targets. Here's your prize," he said as he handed over the giant stuffed lion to Luffy.
Luffy accepted the giant stuffed lion with a satisfied grin. "Told ya I could do it," he said to Aria as he walked over to her, the stuffed lion in tow. "How do you like my prize?"
Aria laughed, shaking her head in amusement. "It's a very impressive stuffed lion," she said, reaching out to touch the fluffy mane. "You sure do have a way with winning stuffed animals." She joked.
Luffy chuckled, feeling proud of his achievement. "What can I say? I'm just built this way." He puffed his chest out and posed, showing off his strength along with the giant stuffed lion.
Aria couldn't help but laugh again, shaking her head in amusement at his antics. "You're so full of yourself," she said, poking him in the side playfully.
Luffy laughed, swatting her hand away. "Hey, it's not bragging if it's true!" He wrapped an arm around her and pulled her close to his side, holding the giant stuffed lion in his other arm.
Aria leaned into his side. "You're such a showoff," she said, resting her head on his shoulder.
"And you love it," he said, grinning as he squeezed her closer to him. "Besides, I did it for you." He held up the giant stuffed lion, brandishing it like a trophy.
"Oh really?" Aria raised an eyebrow, feigning skepticism. "And how does this giant stuffed lion benefit me, exactly?"
Luffy thought for a moment, then grinned. "Well, you can cuddle with it when I'm not around." He placed the giant stuffed lion into her arms, and it was so big it almost obscured her face. "I'm sure you'll find a place for it. Or you could just keep it in my room." He added this last part jokingly.
"Except you share your room with the guys." She laughed. "I'm sure they'd love that." She smirked as she tried to imagine the other men's reactions.
Luffy laughed at the thought, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "Yeah, I guess they would be pretty annoyed, huh?" He laughed even harder, imagining Zoro's scowling face and Sanji's horrified expression.
Aria continued to try to imagine the scene, and laughed. "I can just picture the expression on Zoro's face if he found a giant stuffed lion in his bunk."
His eyes still filled with amusement, Luffy chuckled loudly, the mental image of Zoro's reaction making him laugh even harder. "Oh man, I can see it now. He would definitely be pissed," he said between laughs.
As Luffy and Aria continued through the marketplace, laughing and carrying on, they suddenly heard a familiar voice call out to them. "Hey you two!"
Both Luffy and Aria stopped in their tracks as they heard Zoro's voice behind them. They turned around to see Zoro, Usopp and Chopper waving to them from a few feet away.
"Hey guys! What are you up to?" Luffy called out, grinning as he and Aria walked over to them.
Usopp's eyes widened when he saw the giant stuffed lion in Aria's arms. "Whoa, wow! Where did you get that huge thing?"
Aria laughed, adjusting the massive stuffed animal in her arms. "Luffy won it at a shooting booth."
Zoro raised an eyebrow, looking at Luffy skeptically. "You won that thing by shooting a toy gun? How many shots did it take you?"
Luffy puffed out his chest, looking proud of himself. "Only twelve shots. It was easy. I'm just that good!"
Usopp whistled, clearly impressed. "Twelve shots, huh? That's pretty impressive, I have to admit." He looked at the giant stuffed animal again, still amazed by its size.
Meanwhile, Chopper's eyes were wide with amazement. "That's a really big lion! Can I touch it?"
"Of course you can, Chopper!" Aria replied, her tone warm and affectionate.
Chopper immediately perked up, his eyes lighting up with excitement. He ran up to the stuffed lion, his tiny hooves reaching up to it. He gently touched its nose, feeling the softness of the fabric. "It's so soft and fluffy!" he squeaked, clearly enchanted by the giant stuffed animal.
"Isn't it cute?!" She beamed. "I think I'll name him Leo."
Luffy chuckled, watching as Chopper, Usopp and Aria marveled at the giant stuffed animal. It was moments like these, where the crew bonded and joked around, that he cherished the most. "You guys are so easily amused," he said with a grin. "It's just a stuffed animal, but you're acting like it's the coolest thing in the world."
Usopp rolled his eyes at Luffy's comment. "Oh, come on, like you weren't just as excited when you first won it."
Aria leaned in closer to Usopp. "Oh, he totally was." She laughed.
Luffy's face flushed slightly, realizing that Aria had ratted him out. "Hey, I wasn't that excited! I just thought it was cool, that's all."
Zoro chuckled, enjoying the banter between the two. "Oh, yeah? I bet you were grinning like an idiot when you won that thing."
Luffy shot a glare at Zoro, but he couldn't deny the truth in his words. "Okay, fine, I was excited. But who wouldn't be? Winning a giant stuffed animal is pretty damn awesome."
Chopper had been quietly nuzzling the stuffed animal's fur, but he perked up at Luffy's comment. "It really is awesome though! And it's so cuddly!"
"Yes!" Aria agreed. "Plus, with how big it is, it'll make the perfect pillow or cushion when we're lounging on the lawn deck."
As the crew continued walking through the marketplace, they all suddenly heard the sound of music and laughter coming from a nearby tavern. The sound was lively and inviting. They all turned to look in the direction of the sound. Luffy's eyes widened with surprise and excitement at the sound of music and laughter. He immediately started heading towards the tavern. "Hey, guys, let's go check out that tavern!" he exclaimed, already starting to walk in that direction without waiting for the crew to respond.
Zoro and the others chuckled at Luffy's eagerness, but they all followed along behind him. They were all curious about the lively tavern too. As they approached the tavern, the smell of ale and roasted meats wafted out through the open door, making their mouths water. The sound of music and lively chatter grew louder and louder as they got closer.
The crew reached the door to the tavern, and Luffy pushed it open. They were immediately hit with a wave of warmth and light from inside the building. The interior of the tavern was dimly lit with oil lamps and lanterns, casting a warm glow over the rough wooden tables and chairs that were scattered around. The walls were made of thick, dark wood, and a long, polished bar took up the entire back wall.
"Ohh, this place is cool!" Aria said, taking in her surroundings, the giant stuffed lion still in her arms.
The air was filled with the sound of music and laughter, as several musicians were playing traditional folk music on a small stage in the corner. A few patrons were dancing along to the music, and the room was filled with the chattering of people enjoying drinks and food.
"This place looks great," Usopp said as they all entered.
Zoro immediately made his way over to the bar, eyeing the various bottles of alcohol behind it. As Zoro waited for the bartender to notice him, he looked at the wall behind the bar and saw several bounty fliers tacked on to it. His eyes were immediately drawn to a particular flyer in the middle. As he looked closer, his eyes widened as he saw Aria's face on the flyer, along with her full name, 'Montgomery Aria', and the words 'Wanted Alive'."
Zoro froze for a moment, shocked at what he was seeing. He didn't even realize he hadn't ordered anything yet, his eyes glued to the wanted flyer as the bartender finally took notice of him.
The bartender looked at Zoro curiously. "You gonna order something or what?" he asked, noticing that Zoro was staring intently at the wanted flyers behind him.
Zoro tore his eyes away from the wanted fliers and turned to the bartender. "Yeah, I'll have a mug of ale," he said, still glancing occasionally back at the wall behind the bar.
The bartender grabbed a large mug from underneath the bar and began to fill it with ale. As Zoro waited for the bartender to fill his mug, Luffy, Usopp and Chopper approached and stood by him. They all began to notice the posters on the wall behind the bar, and they all fell silent as they realized what they were looking at.
Luffy's eyes widened as he noticed Aria's face on one of the wanted fliers. The picture showed her on the Thousand Sunny, her blonde hair blowing in the wind as she smiled. He recognized her immediately, but he didn't expect to see her face on a wanted flyer.
Usopp and Chopper's eyes widened too as they saw Aria's face on the poster, and they both looked at Zoro, who was still staring at the flyer with a look of disbelief.
The bartender placed the filled mug of ale in front of Zoro and then glanced over at the wanted fliers himself. He smiled at the shocked expressions on the crew's faces. "Looking for someone?" he teased.
Zoro ignored the bartender and continued staring at the flyer in shock. "This can't be right. What the hell?" he muttered.
Luffy's hand tightened into a fist. "Why the hell is Aria on a wanted poster?" he asked, his voice low and dangerous.
Zoro and the others looked at Luffy, knowing that his protective instincts were kicking in.
Aria, who had been at the other corner of the tavern watching the musicians with awe, turned around to see what the others were up to. She noticed Luffy, Zoro, Usopp and Chopper standing at the bar. Her eyebrow raised as she wondered what she had just missed. Why did that look upset all of a sudden?
Just then, Luffy turned to Aria, his gaze hard and serious. "Come here," he said, beckoning her over to where they were standing by the bar.
Aria walked over to join the group, wondering what was going on. "What's going on?" she asked curiously.
Without a word, Luffy showed her the wanted flyer that Zoro had been looking at. Aria looked down at it, her eyes widening in disbelief. "Is...is that me?" she stuttered out. "Why am I on a wanted poster?" she asked, her voice shaking slightly.
Zoro's expression remained serious. "That's what we're trying to figure out," he said gruffly. "They want you alive and are offering a bounty for your capture."
Usopp's eyes widened, horrified at the revelation. "A bounty on Aria? That's insane!"
Chopper chimed in nervously, his eyes wide. "What kind of bounty are they offering for her?"
Zoro glanced back down at the flyer and grimaced. "100 million berries," he said, his voice grim. The others looked stunned.
"One hundred million?" Usopp repeated, his mouth agape.
"That's an insanely high bounty," Chopper said, his eyes wide.
Luffy clenched his fists, a deadly look in his eyes. "No one's taking her," he said in a low voice.
"Damn right," Zoro said, his voice firm. "We're not letting anyone lay a hand on her."
Usopp suddenly piped up, looking worried. "Guys, we should probably get back to the others and let them know about this."
Luffy nodded in agreement, his expression dark. "You're right," he said. "Let's go."
Luffy, Zoro, Usopp, Chopper and Aria walked silently down the bustling streets of the town, their minds racing at the news they had just received. They weaved through the crowd, keeping an eye out for their crewmates. As they walked, Luffy's fists clenched and unclenched by his sides. Zoro's eyes scanned the surroundings, his hand rested on his swords. Usopp, Chopper and Aria followed closely behind, their faces etched with worry.
"Where are the others?" Usopp muttered as they passed by a group of people in a crowded square.
"They should be around here somewhere," Zoro grumbled, looking around.
Just then, Luffy's gaze zeroed in on something in the distance. "There!" he yelled as he pointed a finger.
The group turned to look in the direction Luffy was pointing, and they saw the rest of the Straw Hats at the other end of the square, huddled together and engrossed in conversation. Without a word, the group quickly made their way over to the rest of the crew. As they approached, they saw Nami, Sanji, Brook, Jinbe, Robin and Franky all standing together, chatting.
Luffy led the group as they approached, his gait serious and purposeful. The rest of the crew looked up as they drew closer, noticing the solemn expressions on their faces.
"Luffy? What's going on? You guys look serious," Nami asked, her brow furrowing in concern.
Luffy didn't answer, but simply held up the wanted poster they had seen at the bar. Sanji's eyes widened as he saw the picture of Aria.
"Wait...is that Aria on a wanted poster?" Jinbe asked, his eyes widening.
"Yeah, it is," Zoro said gruffly. "They want her alive and are offering a bounty of 100 million berries."
The rest of the crew's eyes widened in surprise. "One hundred million berries? That's insane!" Franky exclaimed.
"I wonder who put out the bounty," Usopp said, scratching his head.
"They know my full name too. I don't know how they know that." Aria said, her voice serious.
"Whoever put the bounty out is definitely not messing around," Chopper said, his eyes wide with concern.
"And they must have some pretty good intel to have your full name," Robin added, her eyes narrowing.
There was a moment of silence as the crew digested the news, their minds racing with questions and concern.
Finally, Sanji spoke up. "What are we gonna do?"
Everyone turned to Luffy for an answer, and he was quiet for a moment as he considered his words. "We're gonna keep moving forward," he replied, his voice firm. "We're not gonna let the Marines take Aria away. Period."
The rest of the crew nodded in agreement, their faces serious. No one was going to let anything happen to Aria.
"But we need to be careful," Nami chimed in. "The Marines are clearly after us, and they're not going to give up easily."
"That photo," Aria said, looking at the flyer. "That was taken recently. It was after we encountered the Marines previously."
"Which means they probably have people watching us," Sanji said, a hint of worry in his voice.
Aria nodded, sharing the same thought.
"We need to be on high alert from now on," Jinbe added, his eyes scanning their surroundings.
"Yeah, we can't let our guard down," Luffy agreed. "We have to be prepared for anything."