Jango stared at Kuro, his shoulders slumped in dejection.
'After getting duped by some self-proclaimed East Blue overlord, he'd been stuck hauling bricks at the Marine 16th Branch construction site. A pirate with a nine-million-Berry bounty, reduced to manual labor. How could he not feel dejected?'
But Kuro... he was a different story entirely. The man who'd been captured right alongside him stood there in a sharp suit and polished leather shoes, his posture impeccable. There was a faint smile on his lips and a sharp clarity in his eyes that Jango hadn't seen even back in their pirate days.
And what truly stung, what made his own grimy state feel all the more insulting, was the hair. Captain Kuro was using hair gel.
'Seriouly... he's using hair gel?'
He felt a surge of indignation. As a performer, even he wasn't looking as sharp as the man in front of him. They were captured together, so why the difference? Jango pressed a hand to the jazz hat Kuro had brought for him this morning, a hat he hadn't worn in ages. With his other hand on his stomach, he fell into a familiar dance pose he hadn't performed in ages, certainly not at the construction site.
The old rhythm flowed back into him as he began to moonwalk, his feet gliding smoothly backward. After a few steps, he twisted his head around to face his old captain. "So, Captain," he said, his voice laced with disbelief. "What construction site did you get assigned to?"
He paused. "They even give you holidays?"
"..."
Kuro remained silent, a hint of awkwardness flickering across his face.
It was true. Thanks to his Stealth Walk technique, he'd been invited to be an instructor for the Marine 16th Branch cadets after his capture. He'd hesitated at first, but then one thing led to another. After a Marine Admiral's arrival, the Tyrant Kuma incident, the Alabasta incident, and the subsequent Marine 16th Branch commendation ceremony, he had officially pledged allegiance to the Marine 16th Branch, becoming a full-fledged instructor.
But before Kuro could adjust his glasses and reply, Jango, still stepping to an invisible rhythm, tilted his head to take in the bustling Cocoyashi Village. "Forget it," Jango cut in, "let's not talk so much anymore. After working for so many days, let me enjoy myself first! Captain!"
With that, Jango glided away on his dance steps, heading happily toward the liveliest part of Cocoyashi Town.
Kuro watched him go with a helpless sigh. He couldn't blame Jango. As a captain, he knew he'd already betrayed his crew. He adjusted his glasses again and followed his former first mate. 'Still,' he thought, 'some things never change.'
He hadn't taken more than a few steps when a voice called out.
"Captain Kuro~! A little help over here!" Jango, already wearing a pair of heart-shaped sunglasses and stuffing his face, turned and shouted from a food stall. "I don't have any money, and these guys think I'm trying to dine and dash!"
A dozen pairs of eyes fell on Kuro. His expression soured as he walked over to the stall. Just as he was about to speak, the chef leaned over the counter.
"Oh, Instructor Kuro?" the young man in the chef's uniform said, his eyes wide with surprise. "Is this guy trying to skip out on his bill a friend of yours?"
"Instructor Kuro?" Jango, who hadn't eaten something like this in a while and was still stuffing it into his mouth in big gulps, tilted his head, looking at Kuro with confusion.
Kuro frowned, a flicker of recognition in his eyes. "Jager?" he said, looking at the young chef. "You're..."
"This is my family's stall. I'm helping out since it's a holiday," Jager said, scratching his head sheepishly. He then looked at Jango and puffed out his chest. "Since he's a friend of yours, Instructor, he's a friend of mine! Eat as much as you like! Would you like some too, Instructor Kuro?"
"Well..." Kuro, who had no interest initially, found his curiosity piqued now that he knew it was his student's stall. "I'll have a portion as well."
"Please wait a moment!" Hearing his instructor wanted to try his food, Jager suddenly grew animated. He cinched the bandana on his forehead with a look of intense concentration. "It seems I'll have to get serious. I'll let Instructor Kuro witness my cooking!"
Before Kuro could react, Jager's entire demeanor shifted, taking on the gravitas of a master chef. A moment later, he returned.
"Done!" Jager declared, presenting a plate of grilled squid to Kuro with a solemn expression. "The legendary Goa Kingdom Royal Family's Secret Iron-Plate Grilled Squid, from the most beautiful country in the East Blue! Please, enjoy!"
The dramatic presentation, the solemn expression, the sheer culinary aura...
Kuro was speechless.
If he hadn't just heard that many stalls at the docks raving about the legendary "Goa Kingdom Royal Family's Secret" other recipes, he might have actually been fooled. It's just grilled squid, isn't it?'
Of course, Kuro didn't expect anything special. After all, this was just a grilled squid stand. 'If it didn't sell grilled squid, what would it sell?' he mused.
Before he could take the plate, Jango leaned in, tore off a piece, and popped it into his mouth. He frowned. "Isn't this the same as mine?"
"Please, even if you know, don't say it out loud!" Jager, who had been posing handsomely like a master chef, visibly deflated, staring at Jango. "I was planning to let Instructor Kuro see my effort so my training would be a little easier later!"
Kuro felt a vein throb in his temple, but he took the plate of squid and placed a few Berries on the counter. "Keep the change," he said flatly.
"No need, Instructor. Consider it my treat for you two!" Jager picked up the money, then promptly pushed it back, hurriedly calling out, "If you really feel bad about it, just let me rest a bit more during training later!"
"In that case, I'll accept it!" Kuro adjusted his glasses, a faint smile playing on his lips as he looked at Jager.
The smile made Jager's face light up. He thought his bribe had worked and was about to celebrate, but Kuro was already turning away.
Kuro took the squid and walked slowly from the stall, Jango trailing curiously beside him. "Don't worry," he said calmly as he walked. "I'll be sure to 'treat' you well during training. I'll even throw in an extra hour, free of charge."
Jager's smile froze.
With a look of utter despair, he shouted at Kuro's retreating back, "No! Instructor Kuro, please just pay the bill! I'm not treating you, okay?!"
But Kuro didn't seem to hear his student's cries. He continued on with Jango, elegantly savoring the grilled squid with that same faint smile, looking to be in a very pleasant mood.
Jango watched him for a moment, a mix of surprise and confusion on his face. "Captain," he said finally. "You've changed."
"Perhaps," Kuro said, pausing to adjust his glasses. "I've found a new captain worth following." He looked calmly at Jango. "A man who is destined for great things on these seas. So, have you given my offer any thought, Jango?"
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