❁ Fruit Tart ❁ and ☾︎ Tomo ☽︎

A few days after the crew left Drum Island,

Unfortunately, Luffy ate most of the food on the ship so, Luffy and Usopp are forced to do some fishing.

While they're fishing, the ship goes through a "hot spot" in the sea. Their vision is obscured for a few minutes by the steam.

When they got through the steam, for some reason the boys ended catching something, well more like "someone". It was Mr. 2, also known as Bon Clay.

Rin swiftly sneak into the kitchen without catching Bon Clay's attention. Rin sees Sanji in the kitchen.

Sanji is searching for any food that Luffy have not yet eaten. Unfortunately, he didn't seem to find any, feeling frustrated he didn't even realize Rin entered the kitchen.

"You ok?" Rin asked.

"Huh? Oh Rin-chan.." Sanji said. "Yeah, I'm fine."

"Can't find any food huh..?" Rin said.

"..."

"Luffy has always been like that..." Rin muttered.

'Reckless and always hungry....' Rin thought.

She noticed Sanji looks somewhat troubled. "If you're worried about everyone's meals, I'm sure they can hold out for few days..."

"I know.. I'm... just not a fan of seeing people go hungry..." Sanji said.

'Is it because of his past...?' Rin thought.

The silence continues until Rin decided to ask "... Hey, can I show you a magic trick?"

Sanji didn't really understand what Rin is trying to do but he still says "Sure.. I guess..?"

"Turn around." Rin said.

"?" Again, Sanji didn't know or understand what Rin is trying to do but he still do as told.

'Alright, what should I buy...?' Rin thought as she opens the system's shop. 'I guess I should just buy the usual ingredients. Some meat, veggies, fruits, flour, eggs, etc.'

She puts the ingredients on the table and told Sanji to turn around.

"?!" Sanji seemed surprised by the amount of ingredients that suddenly appears. "Where did you get all of this?" He asked Rin.

"I.. I know someone that can send various things-" Rin stopped.

'Oh who am I kidding... Let's just tell the real truth, I should tell them sooner than later...' Rin thought.

Rin took a deep breath before explaining "My friend "Tomo" brought it to me."

"Your friend?" Sanji asked.

"Um... This may sound weird but... Tomo has been with me from the start.. I'll properly introduce you to her later... with everybody else." Rin said.

"..."

Seeing how nervous and anxious Rin's acting Sanji said "It's fine Rin-chan, I'm sure you're overthinking again. Everyone kept a secret or two so it's fine to take your time and you can share it when you're ready."

"..." Rin smiled and said "Thank you Sanji.."

"Your welcome." Sanji said before he starts organizing the ingredients Rin bought.

Rin tried to help but Sanji insist doing it himself, instead he ask Rin to tell him if there's anything she wants to eat.

After thinking for a while,

"Oh- Fruit tarts!" Rin suddenly said. "The mini ones you make back at Baratie, can you make those?" Rin asked.

"Sure!" Sanji answered. "Now that I think about it, you ordered fruit tarts when you first came to eat at Baratie." He said while preparing the ingredients for everyone's meal and Rin's fruit tarts.

"You're right! I'm surprise you still remember that." Rin said.

Rin and Sanji continues to chat while Sanji is cooking.

•

•

•

After Bon Clay left,

Sanji calls everyone to eat lunch. The crew were surprised by the various meals on the table since the food were supposed to be gone due to a "certain someone".

Luffy went straight to eating without asking any question and Zoro quietly joined his captain.

"I thought you guys ran out of food." Vivi said.

"We did. Where did you get all this food from?" Nami asked Sanji.

"..." Sanji didn't answer and look at Rin first.

Rin nodded, took a deep breath and said "M-my friend brought it..."

"Your friend?" Usopp asked.

"..." Rin wanted to answer but then decided to show them Tomo first.

"Tomo.. you can... show yourself.." Rin said in a low voice.

"..."

Tomo appears by Rin's side which makes them more surprise.

"..." Tomo wondered what to say. "... My name's Tomo, and... um..." She look at Rin for help.

"... Tomo... has a special ability that can make her appear and disappear just like she did just now." Rin said. "Actually, she can do more. She can store many items, she can bring you many things as long as you give her an appropriate amount of money and..." Rin paused for a second. "She's been helping me for a long time."

"Is she a devil fruit user?" Chopper asked.

Rin hesitated to tell the truth but she don't want to lie or even tell a twisted truth.

"No. She's not a devil fruit user." Rin said as calmly as she could.

The crew look at each other in confusion.

Seeing how confused everyone is, Rin said "Tomo's ability.. I don't know "how" she has them but I'm guessing it's because she's special."

'As to "why" she had them is because she's a system that supposed to help me.' Rin thought.

"So... Why are you introducing her to us, all of the sudden?" Nami asked.

"I... To tell you the truth... Luffy.. I wa.. joi.. rew..." Rin mumbled at the end.

"Hm? What?" Luffy asked, curious as to what Rin tries to say.

"I-I... want to..." Rin paused. "I know I've been staying on this ship for quite a while even though I said I'm only coming along for a bit but... What if I say... I want to join your crew?" Rin asked while looking downward. She's felt too scared to look at any of them.

Before she knew it, Luffy is already in front of her.

"Rin." Luffy said.

Rin didn't look up, instead she smile and said "If you don't want me to go with you, you can just leave me at Alabasta. I'll find a ship and go my way."

"Rin?" Luffy said.

"..." Rin still didn't look up.

Since Rin didn't raise her head, Luffy crouch down to look at Rin in the face.

Shocked by the sudden eye contact, Rin look away.

"I thought you already joined my crew?" Luffy said with all seriousness.

"Eh?" Rin look at Luffy. "Since when?!"

"Hm...." Luffy looks like he's thinking. "From the start?" He answered.

"?" Now, it's Rin that looked confuse. "Huh?" She look at the rest of the crew as if she's trying to find an answer from them.

"Weren't you already a part of the crew?" Nami asked.

"I thought you board this ship because Luffy asked you to." Zoro said.

Sanji just shrugs his shoulder while Usopp and Chopper seem confused as to what's happening.

•

•

•

After a bit of talking, Rin realizes everyone already thinks of her as a "nakama", and now she's dying from embarrassment.

"I honestly didn't know you guys already thought of me as a part of this pirate crew. I was nervous and worried for nothing. I shouldn't have said anything..." Rin said nervously.

"You still need to talk about me to them though." Tomo said.

"... You're right... and I'm glad you guys accepts Tomo." Rin said.

"No problem. This crew needs more girls." Nami said.

They all continues to chat while they feast on the meals.

•

•

•

𝚘𝚠𝚘