-
Chapter 56 — "Goodbye, Mama Bell-mère"
Mixed POV
The morning sun draped Cocoyasi Village in gold, the kind of peaceful glow that makes even the waves whisper quietly. Seagulls danced across the sky, and the scent of grilled fish filled the air.
Bell-mère stood at the porch, hands on hips, glaring at the table.
"Lucy, if you steal another piece of fish before I sit down—"
"Too late!" Lucy chirped, cheeks puffed out and a guilty smile plastered on her face.
Bell-mère sighed. "You're worse than Aqua. And that's saying something."
Aqua raised her head dramatically, halo glimmering. "I am a goddess, thank you! I deserve divine portions!"
"Divine my foot," Bell-mère muttered, smacking Aqua's hand lightly with a wooden spoon. "You're lucky Sunny fixes your messes before I do."
Sunny, leaning by the wall with crossed arms, gave a small grin. "She'd probably flood the whole kitchen if I didn't."
Aqua gasped. "Are you implying I'm clumsy?"
{ego}: "Implying? No, he's outright stating the obvious. Even the author knows it."
[system]: "Aww, don't tease her too much, Master~. She might cry. And then you'll have to kiss her to make it better… like last time~♡."
Sunny coughed, eyes darting away as Nami and Nojiko both turned to him with thin smiles that promised consequences.
Lucy blinked innocently. "Eh? Kissed her?"
"HE DID NOT!" Sunny snapped.
"HE DID TOO!" [system] sang, voice honey-sweet.
{ego}: "Drama alert. Readers, prepare for jealousy levels over 9000."
The girls immediately began talking over each other — Aqua laughing, Nami narrowing her eyes, Lucy pouting so hard her cheeks looked like storm clouds.
Bell-mère watched the chaos unfold and laughed quietly. They're a disaster, she thought, but a beautiful one.
---
Breakfast was noisy, emotional, and somehow comforting.
Zoro ate silently but with visible amusement, while Sanji served plate after plate, sparkling every time a girl said thank you.
Usopp was halfway through one of his "heroic" tales until Bell-mère caught him exaggerating and flicked his forehead.
"Oi! That hurt!"
"That's what you get for lying before breakfast," she said, grinning.
As the meal went on, the realization hung over everyone — this was their last one together for a while.
Sunny noticed Bell-mère watching them all with a small, proud smile. There was no bitterness there, just love.
He quietly walked over, placing down his cup. "Thank you… for taking care of them."
Bell-mère looked at him, surprised. "You make it sound like you're taking them away forever."
Sunny's eyes softened. "I'll bring them back smiling. You have my word."
For a moment, the warmth in Bell-mère's eyes wavered. "You better. Or I'll drag you out of the sea myself."
She punched his chest lightly — not a threat, more of a mother's goodbye.
[system]: "Heh~ She really likes you, Master. But don't get ideas, she's taken~♡."
{ego}: "Wow, System turning into a jealous matchmaker. This story's becoming a soap opera."
---
After breakfast, everyone gathered near the beach.
The sea sparkled like glass, reflecting the clouds.
The Going Merry floated nearby, sails half-raised, sunlight glinting off her polished wood.
Nami hugged Bell-mère tight, burying her face in her mother's shoulder. "I'll come back soon, okay? Don't eat all the tangerines without me."
Bell-mère laughed, rubbing her daughter's hair. "I'll save the best ones. Just don't forget who taught you how to be stubborn."
Aqua approached next — dramatically, of course. "Fear not, Bell-mère! I, the beautiful goddess Aqua, will protect your precious Nami and the world from all evil—"
Bell-mère handed her a towel. "Dry your tears before you trip on your own speech."
Aqua sniffed. "You're so cruel… just like Sunny…"
{ego}: "I can't tell if she's flirting or emotionally malfunctioning."
[system]: "Aww, she's adorable! But Master, don't you dare pat her head again in front of Nami or Lucy, okay? I like having you alive~♡."
Sunny chuckled nervously. "Noted…"
Lucy stayed quiet until Bell-mère turned to her. The girl's usual grin faltered. "I'll make sure everyone laughs, okay?" she said softly.
Bell-mère crouched down and touched her head. "That's all I could ever ask for, Lucy. Keep them smiling."
Lucy nodded, eyes watering before she hugged Bell-mère so tight the older woman nearly fell over.
Zoro smirked at the scene, though even he looked away to hide his own grin.
Sanji was wiping his eyes with a napkin, muttering, "Allergies… yeah… allergies…"
Usopp, of course, started bawling openly. "SO BEAUTIFUL! A MOTHER'S LOVE!"
Bell-mère sighed, but her smile didn't fade. "Alright, enough crying. Go chase your dreams, you idiots."
---
As the crew began to board, Sunny turned back one last time.
The sea breeze lifted his hair, and for a heartbeat, the world stood still.
"Bell-mère," he said quietly, "thank you… for trusting me."
Bell-mère crossed her arms, smiling. "You're a strange one, Sunny. You talk like an old soul."
"Maybe I am."
"Then listen, old soul — don't break my girls' hearts. Or I'll haunt you myself."
[system]: "She means it, Master~♡"
{ego}: "Yeah, that's not a metaphor. She'll actually haunt you. Imagine the fan-art."
The Going Merry's anchor lifted, and the ship began to drift away.
Bell-mère's figure grew smaller on the shore, her hand raised high.
Aqua waved so hard she nearly fell overboard.
Lucy shouted, "BYE, MAMA BELL-MÈRE! WE'LL BRING YOU SOUVENIRS!"
Nami just stood silently beside Sunny, eyes glistening.
Sunny whispered, almost too softly for anyone to hear:
"Thank you for everything, Bell-mère."
[system]: "Goodbyes hurt, don't they? But it's okay~ I'll keep all of this in memory. Every smile, every tear. You're not alone, Master~♡."
{ego}: "…Heh. Even I won't mock that line. Sometimes, stories need their quiet moments."
The wind carried Bell-mère's fading voice across the waves —
"Take care of my kids, Idiot"