Defending His Honor (OPY100)
“Man,” the sharpshooter was tinkering with some device, scratching his head in that familiar bewildered manner. Chopper was looking at him expectantly, waiting for an explanation to his question. “Um… do you remember when that guy two islands back kidnapped Nami? Remember how Sanji wouldn’t let Luffy finish him off and how angry he was? How bad he beat the guy?”
“Yeah.”
“Do you know why?”
“He said he was defending her honor. Does that mean Zoro was defending Sanji’s honor?”
“Something like that.”
“But why doesn’t Zoro want Sanji to know? Nami was glad when Sanji beat that guy up.”
Ussop chuckled. “Sanji wouldn’t see it like that. He’d probably take it the wrong way.”
“Why doesn’t Zoro just tell him that he was defending his honor?”
Ussop sighed. “They’d probably fight about it anyway.”
Chopper sighed as well. “I still don’t understand.”
Sanji frowned as he listened from the other side of the door. He put his spent cigarette out on his sole and eyed Zoro as he slept unknowingly on the lawn deck.
The incident they were referring to had occurred well over two weeks ago, and this was the first he’d heard anything about this. It made sense now, though, how during the week following the swordsman had been looking at him strangely, and then finally cornered him in the kitchen one night, spilling out awkward words and a confession that had the chef reeling. Sanji had been understandably freaked out and quickly turned Zoro down. He later consoled himself that it was probably a joke and, if not, he probably had a good reason to be suspicious.
Defending my honor, huh? He lit another cigarette.
Now he wasn’t so sure.