Chapter 485: A Meal of Tears, A Chorus of Sighs
Hancock's state was impossible to ignore; every patron in the restaurant saw it clearly. Even Nami, momentarily stunned, stopped eating to simply watch.
There is an art to eating, and in that art, every person is an artist. To watch another eat is to observe a work of art in motion. Some dine with an elegance that inspires a sense of decorum in those around them. Some eat with such infectious joy that it can lift the spirits of the entire room. And some eat with such deep enjoyment that the food itself seems to become infinitely more delicious just by watching them.
Then there are the ways of eating that cast a pall over the atmosphere: the silence, the tearing of food, the furrowed brow. These actions can create a suffocating tension.
However, there exists one form of this art that is exceptionally rare and deeply moving.
Crying.
Eating while crying. Among the vast spectrum of human emotions, laughter and tears are the most contagious. If someone is laughing beside you—a genuine, joyous laugh—and they continue, it is only a matter of time before you find yourself smiling, then chuckling along.
Tears carry the same power. Some cries are a raw, heart-wrenching agony that makes your own chest ache in sympathy. Other crying is a quiet, desolate affair—a silent stream of tears that simply refuses to stop.
It is often this silent sorrow that strikes the deepest chord in the hearts of others. Few people eat with such an emotion laid bare, but they are not unheard of. And every single one of them leaves an unforgettable impression.
Ren turned a page in his book, then let out a soft sigh. "Hancock..."
Hearing her name, Hancock looked up. Ren closed his book, turned to face her, and offered a gentle smile. "Finally, I get to see your expression after drinking this soup again. It's not bad. Pretty much what I expected."
Tears were streaming down Hancock's face, yet she hadn't made a single sound. She looked at Ren, her voice a soft, trembling whisper. "Mr. Ren... why did you make this soup again?"
Ren considered the question for a moment before answering gently, "I already told you the reason. I wanted to see the look on your face after you drank it. It's a good look, but... you cried much harder back then, didn't you?"
Hancock gritted her teeth, her hands clenching into tight fists at her sides. She stared at Ren and gave a sharp, pained nod.
Ren's smile softened. "Of course, it was also to confirm a theory of mine. This might be the longest I've ever taken to test something."
Hancock's voice was devoid of emotion, a stark contrast to the tears on her face. Lucifer and the others watched Ren, their gazes intense. Even Kizaru tilted his head slightly, a flicker of interest in his half-lidded eyes.
Ren picked up a clean towel he had set aside earlier and walked over to Hancock's table. He leaned down slightly, holding the towel out to her.
"Those who can cry while they eat are the ones who can keep going," he said, his voice kind. "They're the ones who can live a good life... Hancock, you've successfully proven that statement to be true."
Hancock stared at the towel, her lips trembling violently. With a sudden, desperate motion, she snatched it from his hand, pressed it to her face, and finally, broke. The silence shattered as a raw, unrestrained sob tore from her throat. It was no longer a quiet weeping, but a true, soul-deep cry of release.
Ren straightened up and sighed. "See? She's still just a little girl, after all."
"This concubine... is not a little girl!" Hancock mumbled through her tears, her voice thick with emotion.
Ren let out a quiet breath of relief. He had anticipated this reaction. When Hancock had left his restaurant all those years ago, she had gained a measure of freedom. But now... now she had found complete liberation. He had predicted she would finally allow herself to cry out loud.
He glanced around the room and was about to turn away when he noticed that everyone—with the sole exception of Kizaru—was staring at him.
Ren blinked, taken aback. "What's wrong? Why is everyone looking at me like that?"
Pandemonica spoke first, her voice soft but direct. "I think I'm beginning to understand why you're such a successful... heartbreaker, Ren."
The others nodded in solemn agreement.
Yakumo Yukari let out a long, theatrical sigh. "Honestly, even I'm a little moved. After so many years... a familiar taste to evoke the memories, leading to true liberation. Shopkeeper, you truly are the bane of all women."
Yakumo Ran remained silent, but the slight, contemplative sway of her tails said more than words ever could.
A faint, knowing curve graced Yuuka Kazami's lips. "Should I say, as expected of the only human man I deign to acknowledge?"
Nami swallowed hard. "I just feel... that being loved by you must be a very happy thing, Shopkeeper Ren... But... it's also a bit too cunning... How could any girl possibly resist something like that...?"
Aoandon nodded, her expression blank but her eyes wide. "Lady Lucifer, this is much better than the plots in your novels. At least, I think so..."
"Aoandon! I was thinking the exact same thing!"
Lucifer's mouth twitched. "Ah... even though Ren always does these things unintentionally, the destructive power is really quite something..."
Ren's eyelid twitched as he listened to their commentary. He was just helping Hancock find some catharsis. Why did they have to attach all these strange side-effects to his actions?
Hancock, for her part, simply kept her face buried in the towel, her shoulders shaking with silent sobs. If not for the muffled sounds, one might have thought she had suffocated.
Kizaru offered a lazy smile. "Indeed. A man who can create such a dish can't possibly be a bad person."
Nami's mouth twitched. Is it really okay for you, an old man, to be discussing this with a group of beautiful women? And you're a Marine Admiral, for crying out loud! Show some professionalism!
Kizaru let out a satisfied sigh. "Shopkeeper, I'd like to know, can I tell others about this place?"
"Of course. Nami and Hancock aren't my only customers from your world."
"Ooh? Roronoa Zoro, perhaps?"
"Yes, him, and a few others. But since you're an Admiral, it's probably best I don't tell you who they are."
Kizaru chuckled. "No matter, no matter. I have a feeling they're all quite interesting fellows. By the way, Shopkeeper, your ramen is truly delicious."
"Thank you for the compliment."
Nami didn't know why, but she had an overwhelming urge to scream. One of the 'interesting fellows'Kizaru mentioned had just fought him not long ago, and the other'interesting fellows' included a Shichibukai and one of the Four Emperors. Was this really how a Marine was supposed to talk?
Kizaru stretched languidly. "That was a truly satisfying meal. Shopkeeper, can I come here again?"
"Find any door, think of this place, and you can come. As for returning, just open the door again and you'll be back where you started."
"Oh, that's really amazing. Well then, Shopkeeper, this is for the meal." He placed a stack of bills on the counter. "It seems I'll have a wonderful place to relax during my future vacations."
Ren simply smiled and said nothing. Kizaru stood up and ambled toward the door. Just as his hand touched the knob, he paused and turned his head.
"Oh, by the way... for the sake of this fine establishment, I feel it's necessary to give you a little warning, Boa Hancock." His lazy tone sharpened ever so slightly. "You should be prepared to be summoned. However," he added, his smile returning, "I won't be telling the Marines anything about this place. I quite like it here and wouldn't want those stuffy types to ruin the atmosphere."
With that, he turned and walked out the door.
Nami froze. Summon Hancock? From Kizaru's tone, he wasn't asking about the shop... he was talking about an official summons for the Shichibukai!
Something major must have happened
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