An Opportunity (Sanji x Nami)

Chapter 6: Feelings

On the coast, the gentle lapping of the waves and a light breeze decorated the calm atmosphere of dusk. There, near the almost deserted port, a young man was seen holding a smoking cigarette between his lips. His golden hair swayed with the wind, which helped to disguise his melancholic gaze towards the horizon.

After taking a deep drag on the cigarette and feeling the smoke deeply penetrate his lungs, he was surprised to realize that "his beloved redhead" was just a few steps away from him.

- Sanji-kun - she called out, her breath agitated - I've been looking for you everywhere - she added, trying to catch her breath and directing her gaze towards the small boat a few meters away, quickly deducing that he was planning to leave. This worried her and made her wonder why he hadn't said goodbye. He had never acted like this before, and it was troubling. Something was definitely wrong.

- I'm sorry, Nami-san. It's just... it's time for me to go - he said softly, avoiding eye contact.

- Tell me why you came - she demanded with an expression of both anger and worry. For some reason, her sister's words echoed in her mind: "He came to confess his feelings." If that was the case, why hadn't he said anything? Was that what was troubling him? Could something have changed?

- I came to see how you were - he lied - You know I care a lot about you.

- Tell me the truth, Sanji-kun - she said, annoyed and concerned - You could have just called. I don't like it when you're evasive.

- It's just... it's nothing important - he said, slowly putting out his cigarette with the sole of his shoe, still unable to look her directly in the eyes.

Nami was deeply worried. She could sense that the blond was putting up an invisible barrier between them, and it distressed her. Determined, she firmly grasped his left arm, surprising him and allowing her to see his tired, hollow eyes more clearly.

- You can trust me - she said, moving a little closer, looking him straight in the eyes and feeling a slight tremor from him.

He felt cornered. Under different circumstances, he would have felt elated just by the redhead's touch, but at that moment, joy was intertwined with pain, creating an urgent need to distance himself.

However, looking into those brown, troubled eyes, a current of emotion surged through him, sending shivers down his spine and making his heart pound painfully against his ribs. His breathing was no different; it felt like the air was scorching him from the inside, making him breathe rapidly.

It was clear that his mind couldn't handle all those emotions. He loved her so much that it devastated him to think she could never reciprocate. He wanted to tell her, but he didn't want to make her uncomfortable. He was so confused that his eyes couldn't help but reveal his internal struggle to the navigator, who, seeing her dear nakama's state, felt an urgent need to hug him. To her, he looked like a troubled child in need of comfort, whatever the cause of his distress.

Noticing the redhead's intentions, he closed his eyes and sighed deeply. It made no sense to keep hiding it, and he didn't want to keep lying to her. He knew the consequences well, but maybe, just maybe, if he told her, he could stop feeling all this inner anguish. Still, he wondered if he could allow himself to be selfish just this once.

- Nami-san - he said, stepping back a little - I came... I want... I want to tell you... - it was very difficult, and with each passing second, he felt even more nervous - I... Nami-san, I... I love you* - he finished, closing his eyes with a sigh.

Silence.

She couldn't move a muscle. Those words had hit her in a different way. Since she had met him, he had always flirted with her, whether in a gentlemanly manner or in his "perverted mode." However, whenever he said he loved her, she couldn't help but feel like just one of the many women he praised. It was unnecessary to say she hadn't taken it seriously, and over time, it had seemed routine and insignificant.

However, he had never said he loved her before. She felt completely disoriented, as she had never imagined that, and it still seemed unbelievable. It was clear that the cook was troubled, but she hadn't thought it was because of that. She wondered if his feelings were real, but the answer was almost obvious; "Sanji-kun" wouldn't lie about that. She knew he cared for her in a special way. They were nakama.

- I'm sorry for making you uncomfortable, Nami-san - he said, defeated, turning his back as he slowly walked toward the dock - Forget it, take care - he said, waving his right hand without looking back.

His silence had been more than clear; it was easy to deduce that he wouldn't want to hurt him and that she wouldn't get any hopeful response from him. She thought the redhead's heart belonged to someone else.

It was the first time she felt this way. She couldn't move a muscle willingly and felt continuous chills shaking her legs, barely able to support her. Her cheeks, hands, and abdomen tingled intensely, and her heart galloped wildly in her chest. Her mouth felt dry, unlike her eyes, which began to gather small tears.

She loved him, yes, she loved him a lot. They had shared so many adventures as nakama, during which he had won her affection gradually with each of his actions. However... she wasn't sure if she could reciprocate his feelings. That confused her. She wondered if she was responsible for his state and if that was why she felt this way. Was it her fault?

She wanted to tell him not to leave, to wait, to not want to see him suffer because of her, but all traces of energy had drained from her body, filling her with an immense urge to cry.

She didn't stop him. She watched as he untied the boat from the dock, saw him board, and watched as his blonde hair grew smaller and smaller on the horizon. A horizon that carried away a setting sun. Unbeknownst to her, the star had abandoned her, leaving her devastated on the shore, with only the shining moon as company.

She couldn't even describe the feelings overwhelming her at that moment. Her head and chest ached; her sleepy eyes kept shedding tears; her hands trembled, and her legs finally lost all their strength, allowing her to find solace in the sand.

She felt like a witch, a villain, a fool; and she didn't know why. It was so different from the dream she had that night. She felt extremely guilty. She wrapped her arms around her legs, hiding her face, and comforting herself.

Minutes passed, and her body couldn't endure the physical and emotional exhaustion reverberating throughout her being, so Morpheus embraced her, allowing her to rest from such a grueling battle for a few hours.

To be continued...

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Notes:

* Sanji has always told Nami that he likes her (daisuke), but this time he says he loves her (aishiteru).

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Well...

I hope you liked the chapter. I really put all my effort into making it expressive and conveying everything needed for this moment. I had in mind this chapter from the beginning of the story.

Thank you for following the story. 

Bye :3