“What’s this?” Nami asked curiously as she looked at the small screen in Kai’s hand.
“Another one of your weird inventions?”
“You could say that.” Kai adjusted his glasses.
“This device is tracking the location of Marine Branch 16.”
Nami’s pupils shrank slightly as realization hit her.
“Don’t tell me you’re planning to…”
Kai shrugged casually.
“Exactly what you’re thinking.”
Then he glanced toward the large bags piled up in the living room.
“More importantly, you dug all the treasure out.
Are you leaving it for the villagers?”
Nami nodded and looked toward the family photo resting quietly on the cabinet.
“Arlong and his crew ruled this place for eight years.
The villagers handed over almost all their money during that time.”
“So I’m leaving these tens of millions of Berries behind for them.”
“It’s my way of giving something back.”
After all, the villagers had never abandoned her.
Not once.
“Treasure…” Kai suddenly froze, sweat rolling down the side of his face.
“I just realized something important!”
“What is it?”
“The treasure in Arlong Park!” Kai said with a pained expression.
“There had to be a fortune hidden there, but I blew the entire place up…”
After eight years of extorting people, there was no way Arlong’s crew hadn’t hoarded massive wealth.
At the very least, there had to be hundreds of millions of Berries buried in there.
That was real money!
Nami’s voice instantly rose an octave.
“You forgot something that important?!”
Her heart practically bled at the thought.
So much money…
Gone just like that.
The pain was unbearable.
Do you know how much stuff that could buy?!
“This is why reckless people shouldn’t handle finances,” she grumbled angrily.
“Next time something like this happens, tell me before you blow everything up!”
Kai coughed awkwardly.
“Well…
maybe we should tell Genzo and the others.
There’s probably still treasure buried under the rubble.”
Nami sighed helplessly.
“That’s about the only thing we can do now.”
“Come on.
It’s time to go.”
“Luffy and the others are probably getting impatient.”
Before leaving, she turned back for one last look at Bellemere’s photograph.
A gentle smile appeared on her face.
“I’m leaving now.”
“You don’t have to worry about me anymore.
I’ve found a group of reliable companions…
and a very dependable…
boyfriend.”
Her cheeks warmed slightly.
Things between them had progressed quickly.
Maybe too quickly.
But she could feel his sincerity.
Still, she wanted a little more time before completely entrusting herself to him.
Finally, she whispered softly:
“Mom…
I’ll take good care of myself.”
“So goodbye.”
With lingering reluctance, Nami took one final look at the room before turning away.
The moment she stepped through the doorway, it felt as if someone gently pushed her forward from behind.
She froze.
Slowly, she turned back toward the room.
There was no one there.
“…Is this your way of supporting me?”
“Thank you, Mom.”
“What’s wrong?” Kai asked, noticing her sudden pause.
At the same time, he glanced toward the room as well.
For a brief instant, the data display in his glasses had fluctuated wildly.
The magnetic field inside the room had suddenly shifted for just a moment.
“Nothing.” Nami shook her head, then grabbed Kai’s hand and started running.
“Come on!”
From today onward, her life would finally change.
A breeze swept gently through the orange grove, carrying what felt like a final farewell.
Soft.
Warm.
Reluctant to let go.
…
“Huh?” Usopp stared at the two of them jumping frantically onto the Going Merry.
“Why are you running like someone’s chasing you?”
Nami rolled her eyes and shook out her clothes.
Dozens of wallets spilled onto the deck.
“Wait…
you stole their wallets?!”
Kai could only laugh helplessly.
“You really are unbelievable.”
“You little thief!
Give our stuff back!”
“You better take care of yourself out there!”
“Cocoyasi Village will always welcome you home!”
The villagers’ shouting slowly turned into warm blessings.
Hearing those voices, Nami felt warmth spread through her chest.
All her sacrifices over the years had been worth it.
“Kai!” Genzo shouted from the shore.
Kai walked to the back of the ship and yelled back:
“There’s probably still treasure buried beneath the ruins of Arlong Park!
You should search the area!”
“And Nami also left behind a lot of…”
Before he could finish, Nami grabbed him and dragged him away.
“Don’t say unnecessary things!”
Her face burned with embarrassment.
If everyone found out now, she’d die from shame.
“Hurry up!
Full speed ahead!”
Watching the two bickering aboard the Going Merry, Genzo’s eyes softened.
Bellemere…
Nami had finally found her own path.
All they could do now was quietly wish them happiness from afar.
“I’m guessing Nami left all the money she saved over the years behind for the village,” Nojiko said with a sigh.
“That’s probably why she rushed out to sea so quickly.”
She was afraid the villagers would refuse to accept it otherwise.
“That girl…” Genzo shook his head helplessly.
But what could he even say?
This was his daughter’s heartfelt gift.
He couldn’t reject it.
“Alright then,” he muttered.
“We’ll use the money to rebuild Cocoyasi Village.”
“So when Nami comes home someday, she’ll see a completely different place.”
The thought filled him with renewed energy.
“Come on, everyone!
Let’s tear through the ruins of Arlong Park and dig everything up!”
“Yeah!!”
Watching the men run off enthusiastically, Nojiko smiled softly before looking toward the distant black dot disappearing into the sea.
“Nami…”
“Take care of yourself.”