Back in the kitchen.
While most of the chefs were still reeling from Krieg's swift defeat at the hands of Nami, one man remained unbothered.
Sanji.
He wasn't watching the commotion outside—because he was far too busy dealing with a woman who just wouldn't leave him alone.
"Miss Carmen," Sanji sighed for what felt like the hundredth time. "I've told you already. I'm working. I don't have time for a cooking battle right now."
Under normal circumstances, Sanji—lover of all women—would never reject such a fiery and bold beauty.
But he had standards.
Customers were waiting. Orders were piling up. A professional chef could not abandon his post, no matter how alluring the temptation.
Carmen, the woman blocking his way, was a well-known chef in East Blue.
Her style? Bold. Explosive pink hair styled in a flamboyant burst. A bright yellow headband tied across her forehead. Her figure? Voluptuous and striking, a solid D-cup at the very least.
From the moment you looked at her, two words came to mind: Hot-blooded.
And she wasn't backing down.
"No way! I've waited ten years for this. You're not slipping away again!" she barked, arms crossed defiantly.
Ten years ago, she'd seen Sanji cook just once—one dish.
That one moment had utterly destroyed her pride as a chef.
From that day forward, she made it her life's mission to beat Sanji in a cooking duel.
She'd spent ten years chasing him across the sea, training relentlessly, entering cooking competitions wherever she went, hoping—just hoping—that he'd hear her name and show up.
And now, here he was. Finally.
No way was she letting this chance slip.
"Hurry up in there, Sanji! Big order for Table 3!" Paddy shouted from the kitchen doorway.
He spotted Carmen and sighed in exasperation.
"Miss Carmen, I get it, really—but now's not the time. We've got a full house. Let Sanji work."
"Yeah, yeah," Sanji sighed. "I promise—once we close for the night, I'll give you the match you've been begging for. But not like this. Not when I'm in the middle of dinner rush."
"And what would it mean if you won while I'm distracted? Would that really count?"
His calm logic slowly disarmed her anger.
After a long pause, Carmen finally exhaled and gave a small nod.
"You're right. I'll wait. But only until closing. You'd better not run."
"Deal," Sanji agreed with a chuckle.
"…Fine. I'll help you serve in the meantime," she muttered, snatching a serving tray.
Dining Hall, Table 3.
Nami, Kaya, Nojiko, and Makino were happily chatting away about girl stuff.
Meanwhile, Reno leaned back in his chair, bored out of his mind.
The restaurant was now packed wall to wall with patrons. Night had fallen, and Baratie was buzzing with laughter, music, and the smell of sizzling gourmet meals.
Reno wasn't complaining.
As much as he loved Makino and Nojiko's cooking, they were still amateurs.
Baratie was a haven for real culinary art.
Before the chaos of meeting Mihawk descended, Reno was determined to indulge in a proper meal.
Food first. Duel later.
"That's it! Our food is coming!" Nami chirped, eyes sparkling like twin stars.
Silverware in hand, she was practically drooling.
Reno looked too.
But unlike Nami, his eyes weren't on the food…
They were on the person delivering it.
"Carmen…?!" Reno blinked in surprise.
He hadn't expected to see her here.
Though her role in the original story was minor, she was still a canon beauty—a fiery culinary genius devoted to chasing Sanji for a decade just to challenge his cooking.
Reno didn't care why she was here.
The moment he saw her, he knew—
She was his.
"Thank you for waiting," Carmen said, placing each dish with practiced grace. "Please enjoy your meal."
She smiled politely, then turned and walked back toward the kitchen.
Nami's eyes widened.
"Smells… amazing!" she squealed. "I'm digging in!"
The other girls eagerly followed suit.
As they devoured the spread, Kaya leaned closer to Reno and whispered, "Reno-oniichan… don't tell me you're interested in that chef?"
Her voice wasn't exactly quiet.
Nami, who had just taken a bite, froze mid-chew.
"WHAT?!"
She glared at Reno, cheeks puffed out angrily.
"You're already trying to charm someone else?! We just got here!"
Makino and Nojiko quickly ducked their heads and pretended not to hear anything.
Nami had always been the only one bold enough to confront Reno like that.
Reno raised his hands in mock surrender.
"I didn't even say a word," he replied with a wry smile.
But Nami was right.
She was exactly his type.
He wasn't interested in just any pretty face—East Blue was full of beautiful women.
But Carmen? Carmen was part of the story. A rare gem with narrative value.
He couldn't let her slip away.
Even if he had to stir up some flames in the kitchen.