Chapter 6
Compared to the ever-bustling deck, you prefer the dining hall, which is only lively during mealtimes, except for your room.
Shanks has no intention of mistreating you, but ever since he learned that Hongo would worry about you because of your illness, you've been staying in the kitchen during their parties, helping Lu or assisting the interns who come to the kitchen to get things when Lu isn't there.
You've only been on board for half a month, but you've already developed the habit of helping out in the kitchen after dinner, to the point that you'll unconsciously head to the kitchen whenever you go for a walk outside your room.
It seems that only by doing something can you feel at ease staying on this ship.
Noticing that your obsession with the kitchen stems from your unease, and despite not being good at dealing with women, I still comfort you, telling you not to worry about whether Shanks will kick you off the ship.
Unfortunately, you and Lu's thinking didn't align, and you misunderstood his words of comfort as meaning something else entirely.
"Please rest assured, I would never dare to tamper with the food you are given."
Upon hearing this, Lu knew that the two of you were not on the same wavelength at all, so he left you in the kitchen to pass the time. When he left, he also told you not to be too lenient with the crew members who came to steal food at night.
You agreed to what Lu said, but whether you can actually do it is another matter.
You like to stay in the kitchen, where there's usually no one else around. Most importantly, you won't run into Lyme while you're in the kitchen, and you won't feel his gaze either.
But just because you're avoiding limes doesn't mean limes should avoid you. Like right now, as you're finishing taking stock of the ingredients and getting ready to go back to your room for a shower, you run into limes who've come to the kitchen looking for food.
Saying they're looking for food isn't quite accurate; they've always eaten whatever they see. As for you, you were an unexpected addition to their nighttime food-hunting journey.
What are you doing here?
Lyme was wearing sunglasses, which made it impossible to see his expression, but his tone was as stiff as the impression he gave you.
Perhaps because the person was right in front of you, the gaze that usually makes you feel uncomfortable wasn't as intense.
"I'm checking the ingredients. Mr. Lime, are you hungry?"
You truthfully explained why you were still there, and Lym frowned slightly at your words. Unaware of what you had said that upset Lym, and still pondering what to say to break the awkward silence, Lym proactively revealed the reason for his displeasure.
"Just call me Lem."
"The case is solved" is a polite expression.
"Okay, Lyme."
After a brief exchange, the kitchen fell into endless silence again. If it were anyone else, you might have been able to say a few words. But since the person who came was Lime, whom you didn't get along with very well, you just wanted to leave the kitchen immediately and let Lime do what he wanted.
That's just wishful thinking on your part. Considering you'll be on the ship for a while, it's more practical to build good relationships with the people there. With that in mind, you take the initiative to strike up a conversation with Lyme.
"Are you hungry? If you don't mind my cooking, I can make you something to eat."
It was a rather strange suggestion. Not only did you feel that way, but Lyme, sitting opposite you, also looked confused. This reaction made you regret bringing up a topic that might have made you even more embarrassed.
Fortunately, Lyme didn't reject you outright, but instead continued the conversation along the lines of your topic.
"...What can you do?"
"Anything that isn't too complicated is fine. Oh, I think we have some rice left over. Maybe you'd like some fried rice?"
Faced with your suggestion, Lem was silent for a while, his gaze on you becoming somewhat confused, before finally replying with a single affirmative syllable.
You've seen night diners who come looking for a late-night snack, most of whom sit in the cafeteria waiting for their food. You assumed Lyme would be one of those diners. But he wasn't; he followed you into the kitchen.
You did consider persuading Lyme to leave the kitchen, but considering Lyme's inexplicable attention to you, you thought he might be afraid you would poison the food, so you gave up the idea of asking him to leave.
Cooled rice, devoid of moisture, is perfect for fried rice, especially well-cooked rice, which is separate and won't stick to the pan. However, plain egg fried rice is too monotonous; you might think of scallions and other side dishes from the refrigerator.
Before setting off, you turned and asked Lym for his opinion.
Would you mind if I added green onions and bacon?
Lem, who hadn't expected you to turn around and ask for his opinion, stood there stunned for a few seconds before replying with your simple words.
"Won't."
So you open the refrigerator and search for the ingredients you need. You see the chili sauce that Lu made and remember that the people on the ship like to eat strongly flavored food.
You turn around again and unexpectedly meet Lym's gaze. Having learned from his recent experience, he is no longer surprised by your sudden turn or conversation.
"Would you like it spicy?"
"Add it, just put it anywhere."
You actually wanted to ask more clearly about the dosage of Lyme's "whatever." But seeing the unreadable expression on Lyme's face and the obvious change in his tone, you swallowed your question.
Considering you want to help but can't hold a regular kitchen knife steadily, Lu found you a lightweight and easy-to-handle knife, solving your problem of not being able to hold it steadily.
I chopped the scallions and bacon by feel, and the pan on the stove was almost hot. I heated the oil, added the ingredients in order, and finally, by feel, added the chili sauce that Lime had mentioned "by the way."
Throughout the entire cooking process, Lime stood behind you without leaving your side for a moment. Because you were busy, you didn't pay much attention to Lime's concern for you, until the fried rice with its wok-fried aroma was successfully cooked, and you, who hadn't cooked in a long time, felt relieved.
"My cooking skills are not as good as Lu's, so I'm sorry if it doesn't suit your taste."
Lime took the fried rice without saying a word. He glanced at the fried rice in his hand, then looked back at your face.
Perhaps you have a prejudice against Lyme. After all, judging from the time you've spent with him, he hasn't shown any obvious liking or dislike towards you; perhaps he's just observing, or rather, watching?
Even so, you feel you need to remind Lem not to give you too much attention. Even without malice, you, who are not good at dealing with the opposite sex, will find it bothersome.
A tactful reminder shouldn't be a problem, right? With that thought in mind, you raised your hand to touch your right cheek and casually struck up a conversation with Lyme.
Is there something on my face?
Belatedly realizing what was happening, Lyme turned his head away, averting his gaze from your face.
"No."
Watching Inleim's long, golden hair sway slightly with his movements, you can't help but think of your own hair. You didn't have time to take care of it while you were with Crocodile, and it's been even worse since you joined the Red-Haired Pirates. It's time to get a haircut.
As his thoughts drifted to another question, Lime, holding the fried rice, remembered the missing etiquette, maintained his current posture, and looked towards a deserted corner to thank you.
"Thank you for the fried rice."
You were surprised when Lyme showed you this unexpected courtesy. But no one dislikes having their work recognized, and you're no exception. Thinking this, you smiled back at Lyme.
"You're welcome."
After the conversation ended, the kitchen returned to its initial silence. Lime, holding the fried rice, didn't leave; instead, she stood in the kitchen and ate it as you grew increasingly uneasy.
If possible, you'd like Lyme to eat out. Being alone indoors with a strange man is really awkward, let alone with someone you have a misunderstanding about.
Realizing that you are the outsider and Lyme is a member of the ship, you sighed inwardly and went to the stove to prepare the cooking utensils.
Lu doesn't mind if you use the kitchen ingredients and tools to cook for yourself, but it's polite to clean up after using other people's things, and you can do that.
For a moment, the only sounds in the kitchen were the running water washing the pots and the occasional clinking of the spoon against the plate as Lime fryed rice.
Because you didn't use many things, you finished washing them in no time. Surprisingly, what would normally take you ten minutes to eat, Lime finished eating while you were washing the things.
This presents you with a new dilemma, as you're ready to leave after washing the dishes. In this situation, you might have to help Lime wash the dishes so he can leave the kitchen first.
As for why there wasn't an option for Lyme to wash the dishes and you to leave first, it's because you didn't have the guts.
Just as you're hesitating about how to say it, Lem, realizing something, speaks first and breaks your predicament.
I'll wash the dishes myself.
The cool, clear male voice sounds incredibly pleasant to you right now. If the timing and role weren't so inappropriate, you might even want to praise him as a "good boy."
Suppressing your joy at being able to leave the unpleasant kitchen, you nod and speak to Lyme in an uncertain tone.
"Then I'll be going now...?"
Lyme nodded at you as he walked to the sink, and you breathed a sigh of relief. Just as you were about to take your right step, Lyme called out to you.
"that--"
"What's wrong?"
Turning around, you met Lym's astonished face. As if he had seen something he shouldn't have, Lym quickly looked away and thanked you in a muffled voice.
"The fried rice was delicious, thank you."
Hearing gratitude from Lem again, the inexplicable tension and wariness towards Lem that I felt after boarding the ship lessened somewhat with his thanks.
"I'm glad you like it."
After confirming that Lim had no intention of talking to you anymore, you quickly walked out of the kitchen to the sound of running water, leaving Lim in the kitchen to wash the dishes he had used.
As you stepped out of the kitchen, you saw the moon in the night sky. Tonight, the moon was crescent-shaped, but its reflection on the sea didn't dim. If you could, you'd like to look at it a little longer. But upon hearing footsteps in the distance, you abandoned your lingering thoughts and hurried towards your room.
That's why he completely missed the opportunity to meet Beckman.
-
Rem's impression of you changed from "a woman interested in the boss" to "a woman connected to the Seven Warlords of the Sea" in just one sentence.
How simple can a woman who marries a pirate be? Let's leave aside Jesus's wife, your husband is a Shichibukai, the ruthless Crocodile.
Similarly, Rem doesn't think you're as simple as you seem. Call him suspicious or hostile, as a member of the Red-Haired Pirates, he has a duty to monitor you to prevent you from harming anyone on the ship.
But you didn't. Not only could you not hold a kitchen knife, but you'd also tremble at the slightest sound from the people on the ship. You lacked strength, and while you had some courage... well, not much. I suspect you spent all your courage begging the boss for protection.
So Lyme was surprised to see you in the kitchen. But he wasn't surprised either, because he already knew from Lu that you'd been spending a lot of time in the kitchen lately.
Anyone with eyes could see that you were afraid of everyone on the ship, and that's why you offered to cook for them.
Judging from how you handle the ingredients, your cooking is not bad, and in fact it is not bad at all; you even added too little spice.
Even so, your fried rice still impressed Lyme.
But is the fried rice really what's most memorable?
Lyme, having washed the dishes and casually set them aside, fell into deep thought. He recalled your silhouette standing before the stove, your smiling face that made your eyes crinkle upwards, and your shyly asking if there was anything on your face.
Even though he had just finished a bowl of fried rice, Lim felt his stomach was still hungry. Not only his stomach, but his mouth, which had previously tasted bland, was also craving water.
Driven by his body's instinct, Lyme drank three cups of water before the discomfort in his stomach and mouth was somewhat relieved.
He's pretty sure you didn't poison him when you cooked, or add any ingredients that would make him feel uncomfortable.
what does that mean?
The chili sauce was too spicy.
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