Chapter 64 – "A Pinch of Chaos, A Dash of Fire"
Sunny's POV
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The smell of sizzling butter and grilled fish filled the air like an invisible net, luring every hungry soul in Loguetown's market to one single place. The crowd was massive—cheering, yelling, laughing, waving flags and pans.
And right at the center of it all… stood Sanji, sleeves rolled up, cigarette dangling, fire dancing in his eyes.
Beside him, Nojiko adjusted her apron, calm and graceful like a goddess of flavor. Her blue hair shimmered under the sunlight, her smile enough to make even the rival chefs hesitate.
"Oi, oi, Sunny," Aqua whispered beside me, tilting her head as if bored. "They're taking this cooking thing seriously. It's just fish. I could literally summon one from the ocean in two seconds. UmU~"
I chuckled. "You could, but where's the fun in that?"
Lucy, however, was leaning forward over the counter, eyes gleaming. "No, no, Aqua, this is important. Cooking battles are sacred! Food is passion! Pride! Flames of the soul!"
I blinked. "Lucy… you burned instant ramen once."
Her jaw dropped. "That was a tactical error!"
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🍳 The Great Loguetown Cooking Contest! 🍳
Host: The Legendary Chef Carmen
Prize: The Grand Bluefin Firefish! (A species so rare, it glows red when angry.)
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Usopp stood at the edge of the stage with a giant microphone and a pirate hat way too big for his head.
"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, AND THOSE WHO HAVEN'T EATEN YET—WELCOME TO THE GREATEST COOK-OFF IN EAST BLUE HISTORY!"
His voice cracked mid-sentence, but the crowd cheered anyway. "On the left, we have the one and only BLACK-LEGG SANJI, fighting for love, flavor, and the smiles of all beautiful women!"
"—And Nojiko," Sanji added quickly, twirling his knife. "The radiant muse of my heart, my partner in culinary crime."
Nojiko sweatdropped. "Just don't burn the sauce again, Romeo."
"NEVER!"
Usopp pointed to the right. "And in this corner—CARMEN! The Iron Chef of Loguetown! She's known for cooking fish so good, even the marines beg for leftovers!"
Carmen flipped her pan dramatically, flames flaring behind her. "Prepare yourself, curly-brow! Today, you lose your pride and your fish!"
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Cut to: The Other Side of the Market
Lucy, Aqua, and I were still watching from the crowd when something felt… off. A faint tingle ran up my neck—like someone's gaze was glued to my back.
Aqua's expression shifted instantly. "Someone's watching. And not in the I-admire-your-handsomeness way."
Lucy turned her head, smiling sweetly. "Oh, really? Maybe it's another fangirl of Sunny~ UmU~"
I sighed. "Lucy, I'm telling you, ever since that 'cutest man on the sea' bounty, people stare weirdly at me."
"Can you blame them?" Aqua teased. "You do have a face that could crash economies."
Before I could retort, the crowd suddenly parted—and a familiar voice barked, "You three! Stop right there!"
A tall woman with glasses, short hair, and a determined glare stood in the middle of the street.
Tashigi.
Marine swordswoman, justice-obsessed, terrifyingly earnest.
She pointed her blade directly at me. "You're part of the Straw Hat crew! You're under arrest for—"
Lucy cut her off. "For being too cute?"
Even Aqua snorted. "Oh, she walked right into that one."
Tashigi flushed red. "N-No! For—stop mocking the law!"
Lucy leaned toward me, whispering, "Sunny, can I… tease her a bit more?"
"No."
"Please?"
"No."
"…UmU…"
Before the situation could escalate, a thick cloud of steam rolled into the plaza. The air grew heavy—like the atmosphere itself was holding its breath.
A deep, gruff voice followed: "Straw Hats… I finally found you."
Smoker.
That giant of a man stood on the opposite street, twin cigars blazing, the white smoke around him twisting like living snakes.
Lucy froze mid-grin. "Oh… him again."
Aqua, unimpressed, crossed her arms. "You mean the smoke guy? I can handle him."
Smoker's arm morphed into vapor and lashed forward like a whip—only for it to vanish midair the second it touched Aqua.
Her smile widened. "Didn't I tell you? Water and smoke don't mix, UmU~"
Smoker blinked in confusion. "What the—my power isn't working on you?"
Lucy burst into laughter. "Oh, this is gonna be fun!"
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Meanwhile, Back on the Stage
Usopp: "Wha—wait, are those Marines chasing Sunny again!?"
The crowd gasped as they noticed Smoker's smoke cloud and Lucy's shouting. Carmen's flame erupted sky-high; Sanji's sauce splattered dramatically; Nojiko ducked just in time as a pan flew overhead.
"FOCUS, SANJI!" she yelled.
"I AM FOCUSED! I'M COOKING UNDER PRESSURE!"
"THEN TURN OFF THE FIRE!"
"I CAN'T! IT'S THE PASSION!"
Aqua (yelling from across the plaza): "UmU! He's literally going to burn down Loguetown!"
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The chaos peaked when Lucy jumped onto the execution platform to avoid Smoker's reach, pulling me and Aqua with her.
"Lucy, what are you—"
"Strategic advantage!" she grinned. "Also, great view! UmU~"
Aqua facepalmed. "We're literally standing on the spot where the Pirate King died."
Lucy blinked. "Oh. Oops."
Smoker's smoke rose higher, wrapping around the platform. "End of the line, Straw Hats."
Sunny sighed. "Guess Loguetown isn't as peaceful as I thought."
Lucy smiled wickedly. "At least it's never boring."
Aqua smirked. "Want me to drown him?"
"No, no drowning. Yet."
"Yet?"
"...UmU~"