Together

After leaving the bowling area Luffy and Kidd's group parted ways. 

"See you in the Treasure Race, Strawhat! Be prepared to watch me win!" 

"In your dreams, Jaggy! That treasure is mine!" 

Luffy grinned while glaring. Kidd returned a grin before walking away. He stopped and glanced at Hancock. The two looked at each other for a bit before flipping each other off. Kidd and Killer then left the two alone. Luffy turned to Hancock. 

"So what's next?" 

He wore an excited smile which made Hancock's chest tighten up. 

"How about some food? I'm sure you're hungry after all that playing?" 

Luffy's eyes lit up. 

"You know me so well, Hancock!" 

"Of course." 

Hancock wore a proud expression. After walking for a while, they arrived at a restaurant named "Golden Tongue". 

"Wow, this place is packed." 

Luffy muttered after walking inside. Just as he said, the restaurant was filled with people. All the seats were filled and the restaurant staff were busy trying to serve everybody. 

"The food here must be incredible since there's so many people." 

Luffy started looking around. 

"I don't see any empty tables..." 

While he was looking around, Hancock's figure vanished. 

"Luffy~!" 

He turned his head and saw Hancock sitting at a table. 

"Oh, you found one Hancock!" 

Luffy headed over to the table. 

"Good work." 

He sat down at the table with a huge grin. 

"Hm?" 

Something dropped on the table in front of him. It was a piece of wood. 

"What's this?" 

"Someone probably accidentally broke their plate and threw a piece of it after getting angry." 

Hancock quickly said. 

"Really?" 

Luffy picked up the wood. 

"You're right. There are some red stains on it." 

He threw the wood away. Meanwhile, above him were three men whose upper bodies were embedded in the ceiling. 

"Alright, let's order some food!" 

Luffy lifted his arm up. 

"Somebody take my order!" 

"We'll be right there." 

A waitress ran to Luffy's table. Her eyes widened when she saw that it was him and Hancock. 

"H-How may I serve you?" 

Her voice was shaky and her eyes were all over the place. Luffy didn't notice and started looking at the menu. 

"I want everything." 

"Come on again?" 

"I want everything on the menu." 

"Sir, are you—" 

"He said he wants everything. What's so hard to understand?" 

Hancock glared at the waitress which caused her to step back. 

"I-I understand. We'll get right on it!" 

The waitress sprinted from the table while Hancock's eyes were glued on her. 

(Why are two big names like that randomly together?!) 

The waitress was on the verge of tears. Meanwhile, Hancock looked at Luffy with a bright smile. 

"Are you having fun, Luffy?" 

"Yeah, a lot. The bowling with Jaggy was pretty fun. If the food here is great, then the day will be even better." 

Luffy spoke with a grin while holding a knife and fork. 

"Don't worry, Luffy. I'm sure the food will be great." 

Hancock glanced at the waitress who had just handed in their order. 

"If it isn't, then it will be the last meal this place serves." 

A chill ran down the spine of the waitress when her eyes met Hancock's. 

"Why? Are they gonna be out of business or something?" 

Luffy asked with an innocent tone. Hancock smiled at him again. 

"Yes, something like that." 

"Really? That would suck for them." 

Luffy started frowning. 

"I-I was just joking! I'm sure they'll be fine." 

Hancock quickly said. 

"Oh, so it was a joke?" 

Hancock nodded. 

"I wasn't being serious." 

Hancock lied as naturally as she breathed. 

After some time, Luffy's food was brought over to the table. In typical Luffy fashion, he devoured the food as soon as it hit the table. 

"Huh? Where did the plate go?" 

The waitress wore a confused expression. She placed more food and would be missing a plate every now and again. She was unable to figure out what happened. 

To put it simply, Luffy ate the plate. 

"Hm? You're not eating, Hancock?" 

"No, I'm fine with watching you eat." 

"Are you sure? There's no need to hold back, there's enough for everybody." 

(No, there isn't! You cleared out the kitchen!) 

The waitress shouted in her mind while wearing a business smile. Hancock shook her head and placed her elbows on the table before resting her chin in her hands. 

"I'm fine, really. I enjoy watching you eat." 

She flashed a radiant smile. 

"I love that happy look on your face when you're eating. It's enough to satisfy any hunger or thirst." 

Luffy's hands stopped. He paused and looked at Hancock with a deep gaze. For some reason, her smile made him feel warm inside. His chest tightened as he looked into her eyes. 

(Hm?) 

The waitress that was nearby wore a confused expression. 

(He stopped eating? I never thought he....) 

Her thoughts trailed off as she looked at Hancock's face. 

"So beautiful..." 

She mumbled absentmindedly. 

(I mean, she's called the most beautiful woman in the world, but I don't know....This kind of beauty feels more down to earth but also something only certain women can achieve.) 

She looked over at Luffy. He was staring at Hancock with a blank expression. That's when the waitress came to a realization. 

(I see! It's love! The reason why she's so beautiful is because she's looking at the person she loves! That's the beauty only a woman in love can possess!) 

Her thoughts halted for a bit. 

(Wait....) 

She looked at Luffy and Hancock again. 

(Boa Hancock and Strawhat Luffy are a couple?!) 

Her body stiffened and her eyes peeled open. 

"No way...." 

She mumbled while still in shock. 

"I see. Then I'll keep eating." 

Luffy spoke after a while. Hancock nodded while still smiling. Luffy resumed eating but he was eating a bit slower. The food lasted 3 seconds on the plates instead of 1 like earlier. The movements of his fork and knife were now a bit clumsy. 

(Oh my god! I was right!) 

The waitress noticed the difference in Luffy and covered her mouth in shock. 

(This is big news! The world would plunge in chaos if this gets out!...Wait, but they're in public. Don't they care about rumours? Maybe they don't care?!) 

The waitress's eyes started to water. 

(What deep love! Despite all the trouble their love could cause, they don't care. They aren't afraid to declare their love to the world! What devotion! What passion! What love!) 

".....Why is she crying?" 

Luffy asked while watching the waitress crying with her back turn. 

"There are some strange people in this world, Luffy." 

Hancock was dismissive. After a while of eating, Luffy had grown 10x wider. 

"Did you enjoy your meal, Luffy?" 

Luffy nodded. 

"It was delicious." 

"I'm glad you enjoy it." 

"...Hey, are you sure you don't want anything to eat?" 

"I'm fine." 

Hancock stood up and took a piece of rice stuck on Luffy's lip. 

"I had my fill." 

She put the rice in her mouth with a smile. Luffy stared blankly at her for a bit before nodding. 

"I see. That's good." 

Hancock nodded. In her mind— 

(Why did I do that?!) 

She was panicking while looking down. 

(I mean it was just there and I did it without thinking! Ahh! Luffy must think I'm an improper woman!) 

She slowly peeked at Luffy. He was looking at her intently. 

(See?! He's upset!) 

She opened her mouth to speak. 

"As I thought..." 

Luffy spoke before her. He placed his hand over his heart. 

"My heart is only like this when I'm with you." 

"Huh?" 

"It's different than when I'm having fun with my crew, when I'm in a life-and-death battle, or even when eating Sanji's cooking." 

He stretched his hand and held Hancock's. 

"My heart only beats like this when I'm with you." 

He showed her a smile overflowing with adoration. 

"I really like you, Hancock. There's no doubt about that." 

Hancock's face became flushed, and her heart felt like it was trying to burst out of her chest. She gently gripped Luffy's hand. 

"I like you too, Luffy. More than anybody else in the world...I love being with you." 

Luffy started grinning. 

"I'm glad." 

Hancock nodded. As for the waitress who was eavesdropping. 

"Oh, so beautiful!" 

She was writing while tears flowed down her cheeks. 

"They're so beautiful together they broke my writer's block! I'm gonna use them as references for my new romance novel! I'll title it "A Wave of Love"! A story of a lowly- pirate raising up in status in order to wed the Queen of the Pirates!" 

Her tears flowed harder the faster her pen moved. 

"Hancock...What's up with her?" 

Luffy and Hancock looked at her from their table. Hancock shrugged. 

"Some people just don't know how to control themselves. I can't relate though."