Night had fallen, and outside Nami's house, the pirates had started a small feast. A lively barbecue blazed, with Sanji grilling meat and vegetables over a fire, the skewers sizzling on a heated grate. The crew, waiting eagerly, was as noisy as children—Luffy, Kiri, and Usopp the loudest, clustered around the flames.
"Sanji, is the meat ready? Meat!" Luffy shouted.
"It's cooking. Can't you wait?" Sanji snapped.
"Sanji, I'm starving! Hurry up!" Kiri called.
"Sanji, I'm dying here!" Usopp added.
"You guys kids? Shut up and wait," Sanji barked, scolding the trio's antics with a cold edge. But his tone shifted when he turned to the women, his voice brightening. "Nami-saaan! Silk-chaaan! Almost ready, so hang on!"
"Thanks, Sanji. We'll wait," Silk said.
"Yeees!" Sanji chirped.
The contrast was stark—gruff with the men, fawning over the women. His transparency was almost comical. Usopp and Kiri, watching, muttered in amusement.
"Man, he's obvious," Usopp said.
"Yeah, almost too easy to handle," Kiri said.
"Matches Luffy's simplicity, at least with women," Usopp said.
"Makes things easier for us," Kiri chuckled.
Their banter showed they'd already accepted Sanji, their rapport light despite his quirks. While he shot warm glances at the women, his cooking was swift and skillful, impressing even Kiri and Usopp, who watched in awe.
"What's all the chatter?" Sanji asked.
"Just badmouthing and praising you," Kiri said.
"That so? Thanks. Here, take it," Sanji said, tossing skewers.
"Yesss!" Luffy cheered, diving into the meat. Kiri and Usopp grabbed their shares, eating with gleeful disregard for manners. Sanji, shaped by his restaurant days, sighed at their lack of decorum.
"No manners at all," he muttered. "Now, Nami-saaan! Silk-chaaan! Your love skewers are ready!"
His mood soared as he plated the food for the women, spinning in a goofy, ecstatic dance that bordered on absurd. Silk accepted the plate with a smile. "Thanks. Sorry about our crew—they're a bit odd."
Her casual gratitude hit Sanji like a thunderbolt. Her smile fueled his joy, and he thrust his fists skyward, tears brimming. "I love you!" he bellowed.
"Shut up. Why's he screaming?" Zoro muttered, downing his drink.
Zoro, Yosaku, and Johnny ate while drinking, their conversation lively. Yosaku poured for Johnny, both in high spirits. "Wish you'd seen it, partner. Zoro-aniki and Sanji-aniki were so cool. Any guy would've been floored," Yosaku said.
"Cool, huh? Speaking of, those are some bad wounds," Johnny said, eyeing Zoro.
"Boring story. Luffy, isn't it time to talk? Food's great, but how long we waiting?" Zoro said, deflecting.
Luffy, mouth stuffed with meat, mumbled, "Mmph. Nami-sho."
"Time to talk, he says," Kiri translated.
"How do you get that?" Usopp said, stunned by Kiri's quick interpretation.
Luffy's gaze found Nami, who noticed instantly. He wanted her to speak, but his stuffed mouth garbled his words. Sensing the moment, Kiri spoke gently. "Nami, tell us. Especially if there's something going on."
"Nami," Silk urged softly.
Nami's unease lingered, but she lowered her eyes, her face solemn. Steeling herself, she spoke to the attentive crew. "I don't know where to start… but I need you to see this."
Her mouth was dry, nerves fraying. She reached for the bandage on her left shoulder. She'd shown no one—not even Silk—until reaching Cocoyasi. But confiding in Silk had given her courage to reveal it now. The bandage fell, exposing a tattoo: the mark of Arlong's crew, a symbol of her forced allegiance.
Silence spread, eyes fixed on the tattoo. Nami's voice trembled. "I'm… part of Arlong's crew. A pirate."
Her words were clear, halting the meal. The night's quiet amplified the crackle of the fire. "Eight years ago, they came. Attacked the village, declared it theirs. They've tormented everyone since. They killed my mom, Bell-mere," she said.
Her brief words carried pain, twisting some faces—Usopp and Sanji reacted visibly, joined by Silk, who knew parts of the story. Luffy and Zoro listened intently, Yosaku and Johnny mirroring them. Kiri looked away, his faint smile unreadable.
Nami's explanation wasn't polished, muddled by anxiety and confusion, but once started, words flowed. "I became a thief targeting pirates because of a deal with them. One billion beli, and they'd free the village. For eight years, I stole from pirates. Faced danger, thought of running. But I couldn't abandon them."
Her voice softened, tinged with despair. "Talking to Silk, I realized I was wrong. They never planned to free us. They'd take the money and keep me and the village."
"How do you know?" Luffy asked.
Nami gave a bitter smile. "I confronted him. Didn't ask outright, but probed. His reaction changed—dodging, deflecting. That's proof enough. He bribes the Marines, has connections. He doesn't need to act himself."
Hugging her knees, she stared distantly. Eight years of effort, all for freedom, seemed wasted. Continuing felt impossible, yet it drove her to speak. Her emptiness and sorrow reached them. All she wanted was liberation from Arlong's grip. The strong Nami they knew now seemed an ordinary girl, her gestures and voice revealing her breaking point.
"I tried everything. For eight years, I couldn't kill him. So I thought money was the only way. But even that's gone. I'm out of options," she said, sighing, her exhaustion raw.
"Luffy," she said.
"Hm?" he replied.
"You said to tell you if it got heavy," she said.
"Yeah," he said.
"I've always wanted to tell you. To have you listen," she said, her gaze locking onto his.
Luffy met her eyes unflinchingly. "No one I asked could beat them—Marines, bounty hunters, pirates. So I didn't want to tell you. I thought you'd lose, maybe die," she said, her voice rising with emotion, then forced calm. The crew watched, tension mounting. Nami gave a faint smile. "Will you hear my true feelings?"
"Yeah," Luffy nodded instantly.
Relieved, Nami exhaled, shifting to pull a small knife from her waistband. Usopp and Sanji flinched, alarmed by the danger. "Nami-san, calm down! Don't do anything rash!" Sanji cried.
"Nami, what are you doing? Don't think crazy!" Usopp said.
Slowly, she raised the knife, its tip aimed at herself. Ignoring their panic, she swung, stabbing her left shoulder—Arlong's mark. The blade sank deep, a furious rejection of her chains. Blood sprayed, dripping down her arm. Her breathing hitched, pain searing, but her focus was elsewhere.
"I thought I had to do it alone. No one's ever defied them and lived. I believed I had to handle it myself. Still do. No one can beat them—not even you, no matter how strong. Not against a Grand Line monster," she said, voice shaking. "But…"
She looked up at Luffy. "Luffy…"
Her voice broke, weak and fragile. "Help me."
A single tear traced her cheek, silent, unnoticed by her. Its quiet presence seared into the crew's minds. Without a word, Luffy stood, ignoring the food, and approached her. Lifting his straw hat, he placed it roughly on her head, tilting it to shade her face. Nami, startled, held it, looking up at him.
Luffy turned away, saying nothing, and walked a few steps. Stopping, he inhaled deeply and roared at the starry sky, "Of course!!!"
Nami froze, then understood. That hat was Luffy's treasure, worth his life or more, tied to stories she'd heard. He'd entrusted it to her. Tears poured out, unstoppable. His words and act were undeniable—she could trust him. Even if they failed, dying together held no fear. She'd chosen right, grateful for meeting them.
Sobbing, Nami was pulled into Silk's embrace, thankful for her earlier support. Luffy walked on, the crew rising silently, abandoning the feast. They knew their destination without words. Silk patted Nami's back, standing with her sword in hand. Luffy spoke, the crew responding in unison.
"Let's go."
"Yeah."
Brief, unspoken understanding guided them from the house, purpose clear. Nami remained, but Nojiko emerged from the tangerine orchard, having watched quietly. She rushed to Nami, hugging her, eyeing the bleeding shoulder with concern. "Nami, you…"
"Nojiko… can you bandage my shoulder?" Nami asked, tears falling but smiling.
"Huh?" Nojiko said.
"I have to go," Nami said, her smile radiant with joy.
Nojiko, stunned, had never seen this expression. "I want to go with them. To the end, by their side," Nami said.
Nojiko, speechless, understood her resolve. Refusing would hurt Nami more. Deciding instantly, she ran to fetch medical supplies. Nami was changing, shedding her childhood bravado to rely on others for freedom. Hope flickered in them both.
The night deepened, silence cloaking the village. A quiet battle was about to begin.
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