Water 7 — Inside a Water-Barbecue Specialty Shop.
"Wow!!!"
Luffy, Shirogai, Nami, and Usopp had formed a small group.
After spending the day admiring the magnificent canals and shimmering architecture of Water 7, they decided to enjoy one of the city's specialties — the famous Water-Barbecue.
On the wooden dining table, the aroma of sizzling meat filled the air.
"This meat is so good! The texture's unbelievably tender!"
Luffy's cheeks puffed up as he stuffed bite after bite into his mouth, barely pausing to breathe.
"Uh, customer… please, slow down! You might choke!"
The worried shop owner stared, horrified that Luffy might actually die of overeating right in his restaurant.
"Gulp!"
With one massive swallow, Luffy cleared his mouth, his stomach expanding slightly.
"Hehe! I've been eating like this since I was a kid! Cook, your barbecue's amazing!"
"Ah!!"
The man nearly dropped his jaw. He had never seen a human eat like that.
"Haha, don't worry. Bring out more barbecue — this is a tip."
Shirogai smiled, flicking a gold coin to the boss.
"Right away! More barbecue coming up!"
The man grinned wide, quickly scurrying off.
"Luffy, eat slower! We haven't even had a bite yet!"
Nami scolded, glaring at him before taking a small, refined taste of the Water-Meat — one of Water 7's specialties.
"Ah…" Nami's eyes lit up immediately. "Delicious!"
"Really? I'm trying it!"
Usopp quickly grabbed a skewer and took a huge bite. "Whoa! This is amazing! Shirogai, hurry up before Luffy eats it all!"
But by the time Usopp turned back, most of the plate was already empty — Luffy had devoured nearly everything.
"Luffy, you glutton! Leave some for us!"
Usopp tried holding Luffy's mouth shut while stealing some meat from his plate.
"Usopp, you thief! I'm not full yet!"
Luffy stretched his neck, reclaiming the meat with a loud snap of his jaws.
"Damn it! Just one bite!" Usopp grumbled, staring at his empty fork.
Just then, the boss returned with another massive plate piled high with freshly grilled meat.
"Fresh barbecue! Enjoy!"
Luffy's eyes sparkled like stars. "So much! Hehehe!"
"Hey! Don't even think about it, Luffy! You've already eaten enough!"
"No way! I'm not full yet! Whoever grabs it, it's theirs!"
"Damn it, Luffy — bring it on!"
Their loud clash drew stares from nearby diners.
"Hehe…" some women giggled, covering their mouths as the two idiots fought over food.
"How embarrassing… you two morons…"
Nami's face turned crimson. Furious, she punched both of them into the floor.
Bang! Bang!
Their heads embedded into the wooden planks.
"We were wrong!!"
Moments later, both idiots, teary-eyed with massive bumps on their heads, bowed to Nami.
Nami sighed, facepalming. "Eat properly! No fighting!"
"Yes, ma'am!!" they both shouted.
Shirogai leaned back in his chair, watching with a calm smile. "Haha… it's always fun with you guys."
That was exactly why Shirogai had joined the Straw Hats — life aboard Luffy's ship was never dull. For someone like him, who had once been from planet 'Earth', it was everything.
"Shirogai, what have you been up to lately?" Nami asked curiously.
"What I've been doing?" He tilted his head, thinking for a moment, then replied with a smirk,
"Fighting, intimidating, planting some ideas… building up new forces."
"Uh…" Nami blinked. Somehow, she understood every word, but together, they made no sense.
"Fighting?" Usopp asked between bites. "Shirogai, I thought you hated fighting!"
"I do." Shirogai chuckled lightly. "Oh, by the way — I ran into your father at sea."
"My… father…"
Usopp froze mid-chew, lowering his fork slowly.
"Yeah," Shirogai said softly, "Yasopp's doing well. He asked me to tell you… he's sorry. For not being there when you and your mom needed him most."
Usopp's eyes reddened. He bit into the meat hard, muttering,
"Hmph! Even if he wasn't there, I took good care of Mom! I'm going to be the strongest warrior at sea — I don't need him!"
His mother's death had left a scar that time hadn't fully healed, and though Usopp rarely said it, the resentment was still there.
"That's right," Shirogai continued, smiling gently, "he told me he's proud — and ashamed that his son's already surpassed him. He said he'll work harder to live up to you."
Hearing that, Usopp's sadness vanished. He puffed up proudly, nose high.
"Of course! I'll be stronger — and more famous than him!"
"Hehe, so you met Shanks and the others, huh?"
Luffy laughed between bites. "How are they doing? Haven't seen them in ages!"
Shirogai smiled, grabbing another piece of meat. "They're doing fine. They miss you — but they're busy. The New World doesn't rest."
"That's too bad!" Luffy said, still eating. "But it's fine! I'll meet them again — after I become Pirate King!"
Nami blinked. "Wait — the Red-Haired Shanks? You actually met him, Shirogai?! Was that near Water 7?"
Shirogai grinned. "No. In the New World — the latter half of the Grand Line."
"What?!" Nami slammed her hands on the table, eyes wide. "You went to the New World in just a few days?! How?!"
Shirogai chuckled. "I have Kizaru's Glint-Glint Fruit. Speed isn't much of an issue."
Then he pointed past Nami. "Also, you're… kinda drawing attention."
Nami glanced back and saw several diners staring, whispering. Her face turned red as she coughed. "Ahem! Eat your food, everyone!"
The group burst into laughter, the warmth of their bond filling the room.
Even amidst chaos, noise, and ridiculous antics, for Shirogai — this was home.
_____
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