The Sweetest Dish

#17 Dismal Dishes! Sanji's Self-Reflection

A series of ingredients were scattered on the counters of Baratie's kitchen, as the restaurant's sou chef was the only living soul working. Sanji had woken up early to prepare a special lunch for Hana, her favorite dishes laid out before him like an artist's palette. His heart raced with anticipation, and he felt a sudden urge to whistle a tune as he began chopping vegetables with precision.

"Alright," he muttered under his breath, "A little bit of this, a little bit of that... Perfect." His eyes twinkled as he expertly assembled the Bento Box, each compartment filled with love-infused culinary delights. Before sealing the box, he scribbled a cute and flirty note on a small piece of paper:

"Mon amour Hana, Just like the exquisite flavors in your lunch, my thoughts of you add a special spice to my day. May your afternoon be as delightful as the smile you bring to my face. Yours deliciously, Sanji"

"Operation: Surprise Hana is in full effect," he whispered, feeling giddy and light-hearted as he carefully tucked the note inside the box like a secret treasure and placed the Bento Box in the break room refrigerator. Satisfied with his handiwork, he closed the fridge door and walked away, eagerly awaiting her arrival at Baratie.

As Hana entered the restaurant, the gentle sway of her hips made Sanji's pulse quicken. He tried his best to maintain a calm facade, but his heart pounded like a timpani drum.

"Good morning, Hana," he said, feigning nonchalance, "You look lovely today."

"Thank you. You don't look so bad, yourself," she replied, a knowing glint in her eye. She enjoyed teasing him and watching him struggle with his feelings for her while trying to maintain a professional demeanor.

"By the way," he continued, "I noticed there's something for you in the break room fridge." He offered her a casual smile, doing his best to hide the excitement bubbling underneath the surface.

"Really?" Hana raised an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued. "Well, I'll have to check it out then."

"Please do," Sanji said, trying to sound casual as he busied himself with other tasks, his mind racing with thoughts of Hana discovering the Bento Box.

As she walked away, he couldn't help but steal a glance in her direction, praying that his surprise would bring a smile to her face and possibly, just possibly, soften her heart towards him. Oh, how he longed to make her happy, even if it meant doing so from a distance. But for now, all he could do was wait and hope that his carefully crafted lunch would speak the words he couldn't quite bring himself to say.

Hana entered the break room, her curiosity piqued by Sanji's mysterious comment. A heavenly scent greeted her as soon as she opened the refrigerator door, and there it was – a beautifully arranged Bento Box with her name elegantly written on top. Her heart skipped a beat as she took in the artfully prepared dishes, each one a testament to Sanji's culinary mastery.

"Wow," she whispered to herself, feeling both flattered and touched by the gesture. She carefully pulled out the cute and flirty note nestled between the sushi rolls, her cheeks warming as she read Sanji's heartfelt words. Slipping the note into her pocket, she couldn't help but let out a small giggle, thinking about how hard he had tried to maintain his facade earlier. It was almost endearing.

As Hana exited the break room, lost in thought, the love note slipped unnoticed from her pocket, fluttering to the floor like a forgotten piece of confetti.

Meanwhile, the staff gathered around as Patty unfolded the morning newspaper, eager to read the anticipated review from the renowned food critic,

Beaurigard L'Epicier. Sanji, trying to appear nonchalant, glanced over to Hana.