Disclaimer: I do not own One Piece

Warning: For the whole story, sorry for the scenarios with OOC's. Some statements might be in wrong grammar or some words might be misspelled.

Happy reading!

Chapter 38

"Hey Zoro, how about we reduce its length. I think it would be more suitable for the structure if we do so."

'I guess, I'm kinda used to be with her... Well, we're classmates with the same course so the hell I could escape this.' Zoro sighed.

"Hmm? Zoro, are you listening?" Tashigi poked his forehead as she noticed him spacing out.

"Uhh, yeah... What was it four-eyed?" Flinched the green haired as he snapped.

"Yeah... I mean what?! ... I don't understand but how many times I told you to just call me by name! It's making me uncomfortable every time you call me that way, it's like I'm such a nerd and older than you." She insisted with a pout and crossed arms.

"Okay, okay! Then, what's your plan for this four- I mean-"

"Ughh! There you are again!"

-x-

"Welcome to Noir et Blanc café!" greeted the maid. "What would you like to have?"

"We just want drinks. A cup of coffee espresso and a glass of orange juice please." Robin ordered.

"You really know what I'm about to say, that's my onee-sama!" Nami squeaked after they settled themselves on the table near the transparent glass wall.

"Hey, Robin... Is it okay for you to just let that girl Tashigi to get closer to Zoro?" asked Nami.

"Huh? Hahaha...what do you mean? Is there something between me and that 'muscle head' for you to ask me that question?" Robin giggled not repeating the name.

"Well, you two would look better together... Hmmm, I have a question, if everything's fine with you."

"Go ahead." Robin nodded.

"What if someone asks you out? How would you react?" Nami mischievously asked.

"Hahaha. I know what you're thinking. Well, eh... it depends." She smiled.

"Eh? How?" Nami eyed her showing an extreme interest to how her friend answered her question.

"Excuse me. A cup of coffee espresso and an orange juice?" interrupted the maid while placing the cup and the glass before them.

"Ah yeah. Thanks!" Robin gave the maid a warm smile before she left. "It depends upon him. We're friends and I don't want to break our friendship just for these matters. You know, I've also been through a lot and besides he thinks of me as just a friend to protect in times of danger. That's what he always does." She exclaimed

"Then, what is he for you? A friend or somewhat you see him as someone more than such?" Nami grinned. "Ne, what?"

"Hahaha. What are saying? Of course he's just a close friend and nothing more! Your thoughts must be ridiculous." Robin replied then took a sip on her coffee.

"Liar, I didn't even mention a name and you're now referring to Zoro." Nami tried to scrutinize her.

"Oh? I too did not name anyone! ...But who else is our topic, it's too obvious."

Nami sipped her cold orange juice. "Hmmm... By the way, this is the café where I am working part-time and today's my day off."

"I know."

"Eh?! Really?! What are you? A secret agent? A stalker?" Nami was surprised to how she knew, she didn't talk about her part-time job ever since.

"I'm neither any. Your sister's peeping from the curtain." She pointed the hanging cloth which just moved indicating someone just distorted its static state.

"Ah...hahaha, so you do just have sharp eyes."

-x-

"Ughh! I'm tired!" Zoro stretched his arms and yawned.

"I see, it's now late in the evening." Tashigi informed.

"Huh? What time is it now?" He asked with a surprised tone looking around for a clock.

"Almost midnight. You've been staying in my unit for six hours." She chuckled stretching her fair left arm to show the time on her watch.

"Seriously? That's why I can feel the ache in my stomach. Weren't you hungry?" Asked Zoro as he patted his stomach.

"I'm on a diet. But if you want something to eat, I'll prepare in a minute."

"No, I'm good. Besides it's too late so I'm gonna sleep after I'm home." Zoro stood and gestured to go out.

"Wait, there's something I want to tell you..." Tashigi looked down.

"Huh? What is it now? Are you-"

"I like you!" She blurted.

...

"I know."

"Ah...huh?" She leveled her head with his.

"I know. Is that all? If that's all, then see you." Zoro left the immobile Tashigi.

"He...hey!"

-x-

"Ahhh! I'm the worst!" Zoro screamed while walking towards 'his train station'. "A woman just confessed and it's likely I rejected her indirectly! Tsk!...and... Was that really how a woman confesses?" He monologued. 'Well, I know there are lots of girls who had a crush on me but neither of them ever confessed. Heh..."

...

'Uh... By the way, why am I even bothered? It's not like I have a thing for that four-eyed in any means! She's just a photocopy of Kuina.' He sighed. "Gonna go home and have a nice nap... Where was the train station again?" He scratched the back of his head.

-x-

As usual, Zoro's been going to class late but his first subject professor also comes always as late as him so it doesn't matter.

Today seems different for him. His seatmate, Tashigi would always meet him with a somewhat annoying smile with a hidden desire or whatever he calls it but today after she confessed to him, she didn't even look too see his face.

'It must be awkward, I guess she wasn't really a complete bitch as I've thought. She still has this shame that normal people have.' Zoro thought then sat beside her without saying a word.

"Mornin'" He just uttered out of the blue looking outside through the window next to him with his chin resting on his upright right hand's palm.

"Uh..."

...

"Zo-zoro!" Tashigi called still looking down at her desk.

"Hmm?" He turned his head to look at her.

"About what I said... I really mean it! That's why-"

"Uh."

'Why is he so calm answering me like that!' She was fidgeting like a middle schooler. "That's why..."

"That's why?" The green haired answered emotionlessly then folded his arms to make them like pillows for his usual napping gesture.

"That's why... I want to go out with you!" She looked at him with courage only to see the man with an uninterested look.

"Mmm..." Zoro turned his head too look at the window, making the back part of his neck visible to Tashigi. "I'm sorry, but I'm going out with someone else." He replied. 'Crap! What kind of bluff was that!' Zoro carefully hid his expressions.

"Eh? But who?" Her eyes widened.

"Nami." 'This is bad! I hope Nami will not kill me.'

-x-

"Uh... *coughs* uh!" Nami coughed. "I think I swallowed my toothpaste. Uh-huh!" She coughed again then continued brushing her teeth.

-x-

"Eh...I think you're lying!" Tashigi gave an unconvinced tone of voice making her return to her usual 'annoying' self.

"You thought so? Nami and I were kissing a lot in private. Do you think we friends do that with just the two of us? If you don't believe you can call that friends with benefits or whatsoever you like but just be sure to make it sound good." Zoro didn't move an inch. 'This is really the worst lie I ever said so far! But this is the ultimate attack I can think of so she won't push herself anymore over me.'

...

"B-but still... How many times I've considered that you really have someone you're dating, but still I can't give up on my urge to go out with you!" Tashigi said a bit louder that some of their classmates looked at them.

Zoro startled by what he just heard resulting to him standing and accidentally hit his right knee to the edge of his chair sending charges like that of an electric shock that made him fall from his seat instead. "Ahh, that tickles!" Despite the pain, he still made himself sound cool though without a reason.

"Z-zoro! Are you okay?" Tashigi wore a worried expression.

'You were the reason why I fell so don't show me that kind of look, idiot!' He took his seat closing his eyes to hide the pain or more likely the numb he's still feeling. "Hah. I'm fine. I was just surprised our prof still came almost 50 minutes late, if I were him I wouldn't come." Their teacher made his alibi complete.

"Yeah you're right." Tashigi just agreed also noticing the arrival of their sensei while getting his notes in the subject in case a ten-minute quiz is announced for her to take an immediate scan.

Zoro sighed. 'I was really taken aback by what she just said despite me saying I'm going out with Nami and we're kissing a lot. But what's the worst was the word 'urge'... Isn't that something a bitch would say?'

He got his phone and texted...

"Nami..." He sent.

"Help." He sent.

-x-

Zoro asked Nami to meet him at his flat.

"De, what was it that you're going to ask me for that you even skipped your morning classes? Good for me that my first subject starts in the afternoon...Right, don't forget the fee for bothering me okay?" Nami's eyes twinkled making them signs of bellies.

"Let's get inside." Zoro told her also ensuring if Tashigi followed him, she would see Nami entering his room and only the two of them so it would make sense to her. "But first let me borrow your phone." Zoro locked the door as Nami settled herself on the white couch facing the unplugged tv set.

"Here." Nami handed her phone.

"What's Robin's name here?"

"Robin? You have her number right? Why not call or text her with your number, in that case-"

"Just tell me."

"Onee-sama."

Zoro typed...

"If you'll happen to see Tashigi and asks about me and Zoro, don't answer. Just tell her I'm with Zoro now in his flat." - sent to Onee-sama.

"Bothering fee plus...help fee plus...phone fee plus..."

"Here, I'm- Uh! Are you always bringing with you your calculator?! Tsk! You're so hopeless." Zoro sighed.

Nami kept her phone on her bag after she read what Zoro used her phone for. "What's with the message?"

"Okay, first listen carefully so you understand what's going on." Zoro sighed then started telling her everything.

...

"I see now. That's the greatest taboo you ever did to me." Nami pouted looking away.

"That's why I'm sorry. So, what should we do? Shall we kiss in front of her?"

"Idiot!" Nami stood. "I swore to my future bank account that only my husband to be shall steal my first kiss! And yuck! I can't even imagine you being my husband and worst of all to be the father of my kawaii children! Hmmph!" She crossed her arms.

"Yuck? You even have a crush on me." Zoro smirked.

"Wha-?! Why bring that one up?!" Nami blushed. "And hey! Don't be too cocky, just so you know that was in the past so use the past tense!" She picked his earlobe with the earings and stretched it with all she could.

"Ah-houch! Okay, I give up! I give up, Nami-sama!" Zoro apologetically said gently touching his reddened ear.

Nami calmed down. "Let me think of a plan."

*sighs* I'm actually thinking of a plan.

Minna-sama, gomen! It took me really so long to update. Reasons? If you're curious then I'll tell you. One, I hadn't been watching the anime nor read its manga. It really got boring to me (sorry to say this) but now that my cute Chopper will be appearing frequently, it should make me come back to life! Another, might be as well I need you my dear readers-sama to review a lot and support me with this so-so fic also it would help me generate ideas fast and to have a quick update. Last, I had also been busy and sometimes forgot that I have a fic to finish. Hontouni gomensai! *slams head on the floor*

If some of you were worried, don't worry I'm still alive and writing.

Minna wa daisuki!

Review kudasai! :-)