knots and kisses

Chapter 2

Sanji sat on the edge of his bed, dressed in his school uniform, tying his shoelaces. In the corner of his room, atop a beautifully ornate wooden stand, was Goldie, a goldfish in a bowl. Sanji had a special fondness for Goldie, who had been with him for a few years now.

The fishbowl was adorned with a tiny treasure chest and colorful pebbles, providing a small but cozy home for the finned resident. "Good morning, Goldie," Sanji chirped, his voice soft and affectionate.

"Did you sleep well, buddy?" He leaned in and tapped the side of the bowl gently, which caused ripples to dance across the water's surface. Goldie swam up to the side of the bowl. The fish looked at Sanji with its curious black eyes, as if it understood the morning routine.

Sanji reached for a small bag of crumbs that he had saved from yesterday's sweet gift he received from Nami. He crumbled the cookie into smaller pieces and sprinkled them into the bowl. Goldie darted around, nibbling at the cookie bits with enthusiasm.

"There you go, Goldie," Sanji said, grinning as he watched his pet feast. "You're spoiled, you know that?" He chuckled, continuing the one-sided conversation as he watched the fish enjoy its treat.

"Nami made those. The girl with orange hair just like the color of your scales, Goldie. You know what's weird is that she had a note inside the box that said, 'For you, Curly.' I never heard her say that before. Do you think she's making fun of me?" Sanji wondered.

As Sanji fed Goldie, a soft voice drifted in from the hallway. "Sanji, dear, it's time for breakfast," called out his mother.

"Coming, Mama!" Sanji replied, but he couldn't resist staying a little longer with Goldie. "I'll be back, Goldie. Don't go causing any trouble while I'm away."

Goldie swam up to the surface, as if acknowledging Sanji's words, and they shared a brief moment of connection. Reluctantly, Sanji rose from his seat and patted the bowl affectionately before heading out of the room. He knew that Goldie would be waiting for him, just as he always did.

In the dining room, the aroma of freshly cooked pancakes and the sound of sizzling bacon filled the air. Sanji took his seat, greeted by his father and his older sister, Reiju, who was busy pouring maple syrup onto her pancakes.

Sanji's mother set a plate of freshly made pancakes in front of him. As she poured him a glass of orange juice, she asked, "How's your new school, Sanji? Do you ever think about going back to homeschooling like your brothers?"

Sanji took a bite of the delicious pancake and grinned, shaking his head. "Nah, Mama, I like my new school."

Sora's concern lingered, but she smiled in understanding, knowing her son was growing up. "Alright, as long as you're happy, that's what matters."

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꒰ Zoro's POV ꒱

I arrived at school with a surge of excitement coursing through my veins. It was sports day, a time for friendly competition and camaraderie. The courtyard was a sea of colorful athletic wear, jerseys, running shoes, and headbands, with everyone ready to dive into the day's activities. That's when I noticed Curly, standing amidst the vibrant crowd.

I approached him with a bemused frown. "Oi, you do realize today is sports day, right?"

Curly blinked in surprise. "I forgot about it."