One Piece: Are Zoro & Perona in Love? Relationship Explained!

The term “ship” in terms of anime is actually a shortened version of the word “relationship” and represents fan-based relationships between the characters in the series. So, if you think that two characters would be great as a couple, you’re “shipping” them together. As far as One Piece ships are concerned, one of the most often discussed characters in this category is Roronoa Zoro, who is, incidentally, one of the most popular characters in the series as well. In this article, we are not going to focus on Zoro’s romantic life in general but rather on her relationship with one specific character – Perona – as we will tell you whether the two of them are in love or not.

Zoro and Perona are not in love, and their relationship can be described as friendly at best. They started off as enemies when we first saw them, but after spending two years together with Dracule Mihawk, they have become a lot closer and have since become friends or something along the line of friends. But no, they are not in love and will not be a couple.

The rest of this article will explore the potential relationship between Zoro, one of the most popular characters in the series, and Perona, a secondary character whose story is tied to Zoro’s. We will explore Zoro’s and Perona’s personalities in more detail and the nature of their relationship in the world of One Piece. This article won’t contain too many spoilers, but still, be careful how you approach it if you don’t know the whole story.

Zoro is an introvert and a stoic…

Although he often acts as comic relief, Zoro is naturally reserved. He also has a terrible sense of direction, so he can get lost even on straight pathways or when someone points the way. Zoro is either resting or practicing when the crew is at sea. He and Sanji are fierce rivals who frequently argue (verbally and physically) in inappropriate settings. Yet, when they work together (rarely, which is the case), they make a fantastic combination.

With Kuina’s passing, Zoro is determined to become the greatest swordsman in the entire world. Since then, Zoro has committed himself to growing and improving to get closer to his goal. Throughout his adventure, he faces enemies, and after each battle, he reflects and considers what he may do better to have the upper hand. Zoro, like Luffy, has a clear aim in mind, but he also enjoys engaging in combat with other opponents and, whenever he can, ends up stirring up trouble or scandal.

He is exceedingly arrogant and obstinate; every time Chopper tells him to take a break because of the wounds he has from each fight, he simply ignores him and goes about his business as usual, demonstrating his lack of concern for the state of his body as long as he can follow his desire.

As the situation becomes urgent or serious, his great sense of reason makes him the crew’s foundation (such as when Usopp left the crew). Whether he agrees with them or not, he will always back Luffy’s choices, only offering his viewpoint when the others cannot grasp the full significance of the circumstance.

Although recently (and because the Thousand Sunny has a system to achieve it) he has been spotted in the lookout function, his only apparent duty aboard the Going Merry is to use his tremendous strength to raise the anchor. Zoro has a reputation for being extremely tenacious and won’t give up until he has achieved his objective or vanquished his foe. This resolve is demonstrated in the Baratie arc when Zoro battles Mihawk, losing but being pardoned by Mihawk for witnessing someone with such resolve as Luffy. Zoro typically puts his black bandana, which is tied over his left arm, on his head when he prepares to engage in serious combat.

Zoro initially clarifies to Luffy that he is only traveling with him to realize his dream. Still, gradually he started to think differently, even declaring during the battle with Kuma that “Luffy must be the man who will become the Pirate King,” which could be taken as a goal in and of itself. He has consistently shown himself to be the most devoted to Luffy throughout the series, even referring to him as the “Pirate King” after his defeat by Mihawk and in the combat with Kuma. To persuade Kuma not to kill Luffy and his crew, Zoro recently came dangerously close to giving up on

… whereas Perona is the complete opposite

Perona has a lot of self-confidence and is proud. She doesn’t like people telling her what to do, and she doesn’t tolerate people not obeying her. When encountering an injured Zoro, she decides to nurse him, showing an uncharacteristic desire to make friends after her time alone. On this occasion, she also demonstrates that she knows how to be kind. She only likes “nice” things. Her dream is to create a place where all sweet people are turned into zombies ready to obey her.

She likes to joke and bluff, as demonstrated during the fight with Usopp when she pretends she can rip his heart out with her hands. Although the sniper almost dies of fright, she laughs, saying it was fun to make fun of him. In a sense, she is naive, to the point of not realizing that the cockroaches that Usopp threw at her are fake and not doubting even for a second that he can lift a ten-ton heavy hammer. After the time skip, Perona seems to have matured in many ways but is still seen carrying her teddy bear around with her.

Zoro and Perona are just too different to be a functional couple

The relationship between Zoro and Perona has been a dynamic one. The two of them first met when Perona used her Hollows to demoralize Zoro, but at the time, he did not know who she was; when they later met, they were enemies but did not engage initially.

Later, after meeting Zoro in Kuraigana, she decides to cure him, even though they are enemies, and she is not supposed to do it. Despite some initial mistrust, the two establish a solid bond during their two years together. However, Perona often loses patience with him due to his behavior or her bad orientation. After two years have passed, she willingly accompanies Zoro to the Sabaody Islands and faces a group of marines to allow the crew to sail to Fish-Man Island.

Zoro and Perona have since become friends, but there was never any romance between them. They were rivals initially, and some fans might think that rivalry creates romance, but in Zoro’s and Perona’s case, it is simply not true. On top of that, the two of them have very different personalities, so different – in fact – that a relationship between them simply wouldn’t work out. They would not function well as a couple, so it is best that they remain friends and allies as they are now.