Chapter 1
West Blue, Ohara Island
In the woods near the coast, a gentle sea breeze carried the salty scent of the ocean. Eight-year-old Nico Robin sat on a tree stump, wearing a somewhat tattered red dress. Her short black hair swayed in the wind. Even at this age, there was no denying that Nico Robin was a strikingly beautiful little girl.
For her, reading was the best way to escape all her troubles. She opened the book she had borrowed from the Tree of Knowledge library and became completely absorbed in it, unaware that several sneaky boys were creeping closer.
"There's that monster! Get her!"
"Get off this island, you freak!"
"Yeah, disappear, Devil Child!"
Robin's father had died long ago, and her only remaining parent—her mother—was a wanted criminal by the World Government. To evade pursuit and chase the truth of history, her mother had gone to sea, leaving young Robin alone in the care of her uncle's family. Living as an unwanted burden, Robin was despised not only by her uncle's household but by nearly everyone on the island. The fact that she had eaten a Devil Fruit and gained strange powers only made things worse—the local children treated her like a real monster.
The boys cursed loudly while hurling sticks and stones. Robin curled up on the ground, clutching her book tightly. Her body was already covered in bruises and cuts from the rocks. Tears welled in her eyes, but she bit her lip, refusing to let them fall.
Seeing that she didn't fight back, the boys laughed triumphantly and grew even bolder.
"ALL OF YOU—STOP RIGHT THERE!"
A furious shout suddenly rang out, startling flocks of birds into the sky. The boys turned and saw a short-haired boy with brown eyes charging toward them, his face twisted with rage.
"It's Allen! Run!"
Terror flashed across the bullies' faces. They dropped their sticks and stones and fled in panic.
"Robin, are you okay?!" Allen rushed to her side, worry written all over his face.
"I-I'm fine…" Robin answered weakly, forcing a small smile.
Helping her to her feet, Allen clenched his fists when he saw the wounds covering her body. "Next time I catch them, I swear I'll beat them black and blue!"
"Allen-nii, please don't go after them," Robin pleaded anxiously. "Next time I'll just hide, okay? If you get hurt because of me… I'll never talk to you again."
She remembered all too clearly what had happened last time Allen stood up for her—he had been brutally beaten by the boys' parents. On the entire island, aside from Dr. Clover and the scholars of Ohara, Allen was the only one who was ever kind to her. She didn't want him to suffer because of her.
"…Fine, I won't go after them," Allen relented with a sigh. Then, trying to lighten the mood, he pulled out a small paper bag and said mysteriously, "Guess what I brought you?"
"I can't guess!" Robin replied, her eyes already sparkling with anticipation.
"Hehe… it's a cream bun!" Allen opened the bag excitedly. The sweet, milky scent wafted out, revealing a golden, fluffy pastry inside.
Robin's gaze locked onto the bun instantly; she couldn't help but drool a little. It wasn't that she was greedy—it was just that at her uncle's house, her stingy aunt only gave her two hard black breads a day, and even those had to be earned by washing clothes, doing dishes, and cleaning.
Seeing how cute she looked, Allen grinned and handed her the entire bun.
"Allen-nii, aren't you going to eat any?" she asked as she took it.
He waved it off. "I already ate one on the way here."
"Then… itadakimasu!" Robin took a big bite. The soft, sweet cream filling melted in her mouth. She really was starving—two stale breads a day weren't nearly enough for a growing child, especially when her aunt forced her to do heavy chores.
Watching her devour the bun made Allen happier than anything, even though he was holding back his own drool. Truth be told, he hadn't eaten a thing. That cream bun was the reward he'd earned after chopping firewood all morning for a rich man in town.
A little while later…
"Allen-nii, I'm full… I can't eat any more. The rest is for you," Robin said, handing back more than half the bun. She had realized he was lying about eating earlier.
Allen smiled helplessly. "You're too smart for your own good." He took the bun and started wolfing it down.
"Heehee~" Robin giggled happily as she watched him eat just as eagerly.
After finishing the bun, the two walked leisurely along the beach. Whenever Robin found a particularly pretty seashell, she carefully picked it up.
"Why do you collect those?" Allen asked curiously.
"It's a secret~" Robin answered with a playful smile. In truth, she was planning to string them into a bracelet to give him later.
"Then I'll help you find more!" Allen didn't press further and started hunting for beautiful shells too.
As the sunset painted their faces in warm light, the moment felt gentle and almost romantic. In that brief window of time, the two children forgot all their worries and simply enjoyed pure, innocent happiness.
As dusk fell, they said goodbye. Robin headed toward her uncle's house. While passing through the residential area, she looked enviously at children who could act spoiled around their parents. Walking alone down the street, she kept her head low, clutching her book tightly as disgusted glares and mocking insults followed her.
Finally reaching the house, she pushed open the door.
"I'm home… Sorry I'm late, Aunt Roji…"
The house was empty.
On the table was a note from her aunt: they had gone out to celebrate her cousin's birthday. The note reminded Robin to wash the dishes, do the laundry, and clean the house after eating—and not to use too much jam on her bread.
Dinner, as always, was two hard black breads. Obediently, Robin spread just a tiny bit of sweet jam on them.
After eating, she began her chores—washing dishes, scrubbing clothes… and when she started mopping the floor, she finally couldn't hold it in anymore.
Tears rolled down her cheeks as she cried silently.