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Sanji barely had time to brace himself before he was shoved backward, stumbling into Luffy and Nami. His breath hitched, but strong hands caught his shoulders, steadying him. “Oi, Sanji! You okay?” Luffy’s voice was light, but there was a sharpness in his eyes. Sanji exhaled, his fingers curling into fists as he looked up to see them where they stood. Ichiji, Niji, and Yonji. The three of them loomed just a few paces away, standing like they owned the place. The polished metal of their battle suits gleamed under the midday sun, their smug faces twisted with amusement. “Well, well,” Niji said, cocking his head. “Of all places, He’s here and actually alive.” “What a joke,” Yonji scoffed. “Playing as a pirate now, huh?”Sanji’s heart clenched, but his face didn’t betray it. He had spent too long letting them get to him. Still, their presence alone was enough to make his skin crawl, and the worst part? He could feel that old fear slithering in the back of his mind, whispering that he wasn’t enough. That he was still the weakest of them.Before he could speak, Nami stepped forward, eyes blazing. “What the hell do you want from our chef?”Ichiji barely spared her a glance. “Nothing from you,” he said coldly, then smirked at Sanji. “We’re just surprised. You actually made it this far, considering what a failure you are.”Niji laughed. “Yeah, must be nice having strong friends to hide behind.” His gaze flicked to Luffy, and something predatory crossed his face. Sanji’s teeth clenched, but before he could move, Luffy stepped past him. “You guys are annoying,” Luffy said simply. The wind shifted. Sanji knew that tone. Knew that feeling. The air felt heavier. A pressure rolled over them like an unseen wave, and even Ichiji’s smug expression faltered for half a second.“Who the hell do you think you are?” Yonji growled. “This is family business—” “I don’t care,” Luffy interrupted. “Sanji’s my crew. If you’re gonna mess with him, you’re messing with me.”For the first time, Sanji saw a flicker of hesitation in his brothers' expressions. And something in his chest uncoiled.They had never, not once, come for him like this. Fought for him. Stood beside him without conditions.He felt Nami shift closer, her knuckles white. “He’s not alone,” she snapped. “So get lost.”The silence stretched.Sanji exhaled slowly, lifting his head. He met Ichiji’s gaze, and for once, he wasn’t drowning in it. The fear was still there, but it was smaller now. It was just a ghost of a past that no longer ruled him.
He rolled his shoulders, stepping forward. “Didn’t think I’d see you bastards here,” he muttered, his voice level. “But I’m not running. So if you wanna do something, let’s go.” The three of them tensed. And then Niji grinned. “Tch. Fine by me.” He moved. And Sanji met him head-on. His foot shot forward, Niji’s fist cocked back— “WAIT A SECOND!” Luffy’s sudden outburst shattered the tension. Everyone froze mid-motion. Sanji was mid-kick. Niji’s punch hovered inches from impact. Ichiji and Yonji were already shifting forward, while Nami had started reaching for her Clima-Tact. But now? They were all just… standing there. Stuck in awkward, half-baked battle stances. A beat of silence. Ichiji slowly turned his head. “…What?” Nami, still tense, glanced at Luffy. “What’s wrong?” Luffy was frowning, eyes darting between the Vinsmokes like he was trying to solve some grand mystery. He tilted his head. Then, suddenly, he lifted a finger— And pointed straight at Niji. “You…” Luffy squinted. “You look familiar.” Silence. Sanji, Ichiji, and Yonji all turned their heads toward Niji at the exact same time. Niji blinked. “…Hah?” Sanji groaned. “Luffy, what the hell are you talking about?” Luffy didn’t answer immediately. He was still squinting, brows furrowed, completely ignoring the rising irritation around him. Ichiji exhaled sharply, adjusting his gloves. “This is idiotic. Forget it.”But Niji, despite himself, frowned. “…Wait. What do you mean ‘familiar’?”Luffy just kept staring, eyes narrowing. “I dunno.” He scratched his cheek. “It’s like…” He gestured vaguely at Niji’s face. “You remind me of someone, but I can’t put my finger on it.” Yonji snorted. “Tch. What’s that supposed to mean?” “Who cares?” Ichiji said flatly. “Let’s just—” “No, hold on,” Niji interrupted, his brow twitching. “What’s that supposed to mean? ‘Familiar’ how?? ?” Luffy kept staring. “Hmm.” The seconds dragged. Sanji was grinding his teeth. “Luffy, focus. ” But now? Niji looked genuinely irritated. “You—” He pointed at himself. “You don’t even know who I am?” Luffy shrugged. “I mean, I know you’re Sanji’s brother, but…” He tilted his head. “I swear I’ve seen your face somewhere before.” Niji’s eye twitched violently. “IF YOU DONT RECOGNIZE ME THEN YOU DONT KNOW ME, IDIOT!” Suddenly, Luffy snapped his fingers. “Ohhh! That’s where I know you from!” Everyone in the scene, Sanji, Ichiji, Yonji, and Nami quickly turned to look at Niji in perfect synchronization. Niji blinked. “...What?” Luffy grinned, pointing straight at him. “We slept together!” The silence was deafening. Sanji choked on his own breath. Nami’s jaw dropped. Ichiji actually stopped mid-adjusting his gloves. Yonji’s entire body tensed like he just witnessed a murder. And Niji? His brain short-circuited. “— WHAT!? ” Niji all but screeched, stepping forward with enough force that the ground nearly cracked. “WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT!?” Luffy tilted his head. “Huh? You don’t remember?” “I— NO! ” Sanji looked beyond horrified. “WHAT DO YOU MEAN ‘YOU SLEPT TOGETHER’!?” Ichiji, for the first time, looked vaguely unsettled. “…Explain.” Niji was red. But it wasn’t out of embarrassment, It was frustration (and a bit of shame) . “I’M WAITING FOR THAT TOO!” Luffy tapped his chin, thinking. “Right, right! It was a few islands ago! When we stopped for supplies—”“And you slept with HIM!?” Sanji shrieked.Luffy ignored him, continuing. “There was, like, a big party going on. Lots of food, lots of music… and lots of people.” He squinted at Niji again. “You were there, huh? That’s why you looked familiar!” Niji’s whole body tensed. He looked like he was going to combust. “That doesn’t mean we—”
“But we totally did,” Luffy nodded, completely confident.
Sanji looked like he was about to die on the spot. “WHAT—”
Yonji finally found his voice. “…This is a joke, right?” Nami, who had been silently processing, turned to Niji, raising an eyebrow. “…Did you actually sleep with Luffy?” “ NO! ” Niji barked, looking offended. “WHY THE HELL WOULD I—” Luffy blinked at him. “But we did?” Niji turned back, livid. “WHEN!?”
Luffy thought for a moment, then casually dropped, “I think after we drank a lot?” Niji froze. Sanji, Ichiji, and Yonji all narrowed their eyes at him.
“…Wait,” Sanji said slowly. “You don’t remember?”
Niji was completely stiff, eyes darting wildly as if trying to physically escape this conversation. “I—I would’ve remembered something like that! ” Luffy just shrugged. “I mean, I remember it.” Everyone’s gazes snapped back to Niji. Yonji coughed. “Bro…??” There was a pause. Ichiji crossed his arms. “So?” Niji was losing it. “I—YOU CAN’T JUST SAY STUFF LIKE THAT! WHO EVEN ARE YOU!? ” Luffy just grinned. “Your one-night stand?” Niji let out a strangled noise and physically launched himself at Luffy. Luffy laughed as he dodged Niji’s first wild punch, only for Niji to instantly follow up with a crackling, electrified jab. Luffy took it straight to the stomach—And didn’t even flinch. “Oh yeah,” Luffy grinned, “you tried that in bed, too. Didn’t work.” Niji malfunctioned. “STOP THAT!!” he roared, electricity surging as he full-on tackled Luffy to the ground. Ichiji and Yonji, for once in their lives, felt like they didn’t want to be part of this fight. “Okay, enough,” Ichiji muttered, already regretting being here as he grabbed Niji’s arm. Yonji, following the older’s steps, grabbed Niji’s other arm. “Dude, we gotta go, you’re losing it—” Meanwhile, Nami and Sanji were having the opposite problem. “Luffy, get off him!” Nami scolded, trying to yank Luffy away from Niji. “Stop making it worse!” Sanji groaned, shoving at Luffy’s shoulder. “But he started it!” Luffy argued, still grinning as Niji thrashed under him. “I’M GOING TO KILL YOU!” The air was thick with a comedic tension, the aftermath of the chaos still hanging heavily over the group.Luffy was bruised and battered, sat on the dirt ground, nursing his hits while Niji readjusted his bent and dented limbs.It was the others who had jumped in to stop the fight, and somehow, that only made the situation worse.
Sanji was pacing in tight circles, his fingers curling into fists with every step. “I can’t believe this is happening. You-” He pointed at Luffy. “-don’t know when to shut up! And you ” he spun on Niji “could’ve just let it go! It would've been better if we fought!!” Nami stood nearby, her arms crossed tightly over her chest as she shot glares between the two. “This is insane. You two are acting like children. We’re supposed to be here for something important, and all you’re doing is causing chaos.” Luffy winced as he gingerly touched his swollen cheek, courtesy of Nami’s lightning-fast slap. “Ouch, Nami! That was a little harsh, don’t you think?” “You deserved it!” Nami snapped, then huffed. “Seriously, Luffy, you just—” she gestured to Niji like he was some exotic biohazard, “—had to bring up some drunken party night?” Niji, now nursing a bruise on his forehead from an accidental punch Ichiji threw while trying to separate them, glared at Luffy. “I don’t remember anything! I told you, I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about.” “Oh, you remember,” Luffy said, still grinning through his swollen lip. “You just don’t wanna admit it.” “I swear I don’t remember!” Niji growled, his voice rising. He looked like he was on the verge of exploding. Yonji, standing off to the side with his arms crossed, raised an eyebrow. “You two need to stop before the whole island hears you. Seriously though, You let this guy sleep with you Niji?” He winced, adjusting his gloves where Luffy had inadvertently elbowed him while trying to avoid Niji's punches. Ichiji was staring down at his hands, as if regretting having to get involved in breaking up the mess. “I don’t care who slept with who,” he said, sounding exasperated. “This is all a waste of time, I don’t even have the energy to fight anymore.” Sanji snapped. “A waste of time?! We’re over here talking about Luffy’s one-night stand with Niji, and you’re telling me it’s a waste of time?” Luffy raised his hand like he was still in school. “Wait! What’s a one-night stand?” “Shut up, Luffy,” Nami groaned, rubbing her temples. “Do you not see what’s happening right now? Everyone’s confused and frustrated, and you’re still acting like this is some weird game.” Meanwhile, Niji was pacing, running his hands through his hair in frustration. “This is insane! I never— never —did anything like that! There’s no way in hell I—” “Refuse it all you want but I remember it! you were all over me at that party!” Luffy said, his brow furrowed like he was trying to remember the details. Niji froze, eyes wide, his brain clearly malfunctioning at the absurdity of the claim. “I— Did Not ?!?!” He looked at Ichiji and Yonji, hoping for some support. “Back me up here, guys!” Ichiji’s response was a terse grunt. “If you’re really that stupid to forget something like that, then that’s on you, Niji.” Yonji smirked, clearly trying to hide his amusement as he kicked the dirt "I can't really think of anything to back you up with.” Sanji couldn’t take it anymore. “You guys are insane! What is even happening right now?!” “Hey!” Luffy interjected, raising his hand. “I didn’t make this weird, okay? Niji’s the one who made it weird by not remembering!” Niji’s fists clenched, his body trembling with barely contained rage. “I didn’t make it weird. You made it weird, you idiot!” He turned to Ichiji, his voice shaking with frustration. “Tell me you’re hearing this.” Ichiji sighed, clearly done with the entire conversation. “Honestly, at this point, I’m starting to believe Luffy more than you.” “I don’t remember!” Niji cried out, his voice reaching a near hysterical pitch. Luffy scratched his head and grinned. “It’s cool, Niji. It happens. I mean, I didn’t remember either, but it was fun, right?” Niji opened his mouth to retort, but before he could get the words out, Sanji’s hand shot up. “If either of you says another word about this, I swear I’ll—” “Okay, okay,” Nami interrupted, waving her hands in exasperation. “This isn’t getting us anywhere. Can we all just agree that whatever happened–or didn’t happen- let’s leave it behind? No more of this !” The group went silent, all staring at each other. Eventually, Yonji smirked, shaking his head. “We’re a mess right now. If you two aren’t gonna fight each other, at least stop dragging everyone else into your nonsense.” Sanji turned to Luffy and Niji. “No more talking about this. Ever.” Both Luffy and Niji stood there, still looking completely bewildered, but somehow agreeing to the truce, if only for the sake of everyone else’s sanity. “Fine,” Niji muttered, his voice tight. “But I’m not letting him forget this anytime soon.” “I didn’t forget anything!” Luffy grinned, his bruised face somehow looking more mischievous than apologetic. “We’re still cool, right?” Niji shot him a glare that could kill. “I’ll never be ‘cool’ with you, Straw Hat.” “Perfect!” Luffy clapped his hands together, completely oblivious to the storm he’d just walked away from. “So, we’re good.” Before anyone could say anything else, Ichiji and Yonji, clearly done with the spectacle, started dragging their respective acquaintance away. Nami grabbed Luffy by the collar and yanked him forward with surprising strength, while Ichiji practically hoisted Niji up by the arm, pulling him back. “ Hey —” Niji snarled, but his protest was cut off when Ichiji simply flicked him in the forehead. The sound was like a small slap of annoyance. “Shut up, Niji,” Ichiji grumbled. “Let’s go. I’m not dealing with this anymore.” “I’m going to kill him,” Niji growled, but it was more out of sheer embarrassment now than real anger. He resisted being dragged, but there was little he could do with the grip on his arm. Sanji, meanwhile, was feeling like his brain was about to short-circuit, rubbed his temples. “I swear to god, if I have to see them again…” Looking at Nami scolding Luffy and turning back to glance at his brothers he disowned himself from, Sanji couldn’t help but mutter to himself, “Please, no more family reunions… If I see them again, I might go insane.”