Immediately after the commotion in Cocoyasi Village, Nami sat at the edge of the island overlooking the sea, hugging her knees.
In front of her was a grave marked by a cross made of two wooden beams.
"Just a little more time, Bellemere. I'm almost at one hundred million Berries."
"Once I have it all, me and everyone in this village…we can live freely!"
Muttering to herself, Nami recalled the figures she had just seen—Usopp and Sanji.
"If they made it here…Luffy must be on his way too."
"Please, Luffy, don't do anything rash. I can't bear to see you get hurt…!"
While she was lost in thought, Nami looked toward Cocoyasi Village and stood up.
More precisely, she stood at seeing a group in white uniforms approaching the village entrance.
"What is that? Why are the Marines here…?"
*
Inside a small two‐story house in Cocoyasi Village.
As Nojiko led in the rest of the Straw Hat Pirates—all except Luffy—Genzo followed behind, and Zoro spoke up.
"Who's the guy with the pinwheel on his hat?"
"Shut up, Marimo. This gentleman is…almost like the village chief, right?"
"That's right, Blondie, and he knows Nami and Nojiko well too."
"I see…But who's that lying on the bed?"
"Ah, that child…"
Before Nojiko could answer, the boy lying on the first‐floor bed opened his eyes.
"Ah! Arlong! I'll kill you with my own hands!"
"W-What the hell!!!"
He rushed at Usopp with a dagger in hand.
Clang!
"Hey, kid, what are you doing? Do you even know Usopp?"
"Who's that? That's Arlong…!"
"No! He's not a Fish-Man!"
Zoro blocked the boy's dagger with his sword, and Nojiko ran over.
"Look carefully—he's just got a long nose. He's human."
"Oh…so you're not Arlong."
"How can you judge a person just by the shape of their nose!"
"True…his nose is as long as Usopp's."
"Quiet, Sanji! Now's not the time to sympathize—pick a side with your crew!"
After that brief commotion, the boy's eyes filled with tears as he spoke.
"My father and the villagers…they were crushed to death by some strange monster from the sea."
"Even the Marines the survivors called were all killed by Fish-Men recently."
"So I planned to kill at least one of those fiends alone and see my dad…but I got beaten by a girl and ran away!"
"And I can't even kill a person. How could someone like me kill a Fish-Man?"
The boy, who had been knocked down by the pole Nami had swung, cried out.
"I'm so angry! I'm so furious I feel like I'm going to die!"
"Hey, kid, the very least you could do is apologize to Usopp for almost killing him!"
"Yeah…if you're that angry, just go die."
"Hey, wait…!"
"Sob, Waaahhh!!!"
Startled by Nojiko's words, Usopp tried to reply, but the boy broke into tears.
"Nami's sister! You're so mean to a kid!"
"I know what it's like—living a life worse than dying for the sake of a better future."
"That's why I hate people who casually talk about dying—life isn't something you should just throw away!"
"Well, that's true, but…"
"So…what am I supposed to do when I'm so furious I can't stand it?"
"…Do you have a mother?"
"Yes…"
"Then go back to her now. She must be worried."
"…Thank you."
"She seems like a good person, just rough around the edges—typical big sister style…"
"You only figured that out now, Usopp? I knew from the start she'd be a big sister with both charm and kindness."
As Usopp finished, Sanji replied, and the boy moved toward the door, glancing up.
"Huh?"
"Ah, sorry kid, I was just…hic…hic!"
"It's okay…excuse me, I'll go through."
The boy was able to pass through the door when the overweight Luffy standing there stepped aside.
"Maybe it's just my imagination, but I think that kid looked at me as worthless but also with pity."
"Captain…think we can't get in there?"
"We could break the door down, but there's no need. They'll hear us outside anyway."
"Right, then…"
Once the boy left, Luffy stood at the door while Zoro sat at the table with Usopp and Sanji beside him.
On the opposite side sat Nojiko, Genzo at her side.
"Let me say this in advance…no matter what you do, Nami can't escape from Arlong."
"I'll tell you how Nami's situation is, so please stop meddling in this village's affairs and leave."
"That's not for us to decide. That's up to the captain."
"Right, Captain?"
"Of course, Zoro. That is…ugh!"
"What's wrong, Luffy?"
"Zoro, my, my…stomach…!"
Gurgle…
Right after answering Zoro, a strange sound came from Luffy's gut.
"Hic…Hic…finally—there's a reaction!"
"Luffy, you don't mean that reaction is…"
"I'll be right back! You guys keep talking in my place!"
"We know this already, so we don't need to hear it, but still—not now…!"
After Luffy said that and hurried out, there was a moment of silence before Genzo spoke.
"Is your captain always like that?"
"Usually he's not…he's just more off today than normal."
"He'll meet Nami face to face and decide what to do, whether he hears your story or not."
"You really all trust the kid you call captain that much?"
"Of course—you trust him because he's the captain."
When Nojiko heard Zoro say that and saw the unwavering look in their eyes, she spoke.
Then Nojiko met Genzo's gaze and began.
"What I'm about to tell you about Nami started eight years ago, and it's a story for everyone in this village."
"First…you need to know about our family relationships."
As Nojiko said this, her mind drifted back to the past.
*
"Got you! You little thief cat!"
"Let me go, mister! It's just a book I stole!"
Eight years ago in Cocoyasi Village.
Genzo, still wearing his pinwheel hat, had grabbed a little girl's wrist.
The girl was shouting at him while he held a book under his arm on the other side.
The girl was ten-year-old Nami, with bright orange hair.
"Nami, it doesn't matter if it's one book or ten—you don't steal!"
"But we're poor! If I don't steal, I can't have anything!"
"Not this time. I'm going to tell Bellemere and give you a proper scolding…!"
"Geez, shut up!"
"Bellemere!"
A woman with purple hair appeared at the doorway of the house where Genzo and Nami stood.
She had neatly shaved the side of her hair and tied the rest at the back; this was Bellemere.
Seeing Nami lifted by Genzo, Bellemere said,
"Welcome home, Nami."
"I'm home, Bellemere!"
"Bellemere! Nami tried to steal something again! I won't let it slide this time!"
"What's the big deal? You and I did the same when we were kids."
"You haven't changed at all! That means Nami can act like you…!"
"Thanks as always, Genzo. I'll count on you this time, too."
"Here, Nami."
"Okay, Bellemere!"
"Nami! Someone's calling…!"
"Ouch! My wrist hurts, mister!"
"I-I'm sorry, Nami! I didn't mean to hold you so tight…!"
"Thanks for letting go, mister! See you later!"
"See you later, Genzo!"
"A mother‐daughter duo…!"
Leaving Genzo shouting behind, Nami and Bellemere went inside.
"Thank you, Bellemere. I really wanted that navigation book!"
"Nami, why didn't you tell me?"
"Well…we're poor…"
"Nami…"
As Nami spoke, Bellemere's expression hardened—and then 12-year-old Nojiko appeared and said,
"The problem wasn't stealing, Nami—it was getting caught. If it were me, I'd steal without getting caught."
"Eek! I'll never get caught next time, just like Nojiko!"
"But stealing is wrong!"
Bellemere lightly bumped both girls on the forehead with her fists.
"Ouch!"
"I didn't even steal anything this time!"
"Nojiko, Nami…these days the weather's good so the tangerine harvest on all the islands is huge."
"Prices have dropped and no one can sell them…you get it?"
"Yes, Ma'am."
After a moment's silence following Bellemere's words, she spoke again,
"Nami…by the way, are you interested in navigation?"
"My dream, Bellemere, is to make maps."
"Nojiko was right. I want to learn navigation and travel the seas."
"And with the experiences I gain, I'll combine them with my navigation to create a true world map!"
"That's an amazing dream, Nami."
"Just wait and see—the moment I finish the world map, you two will be the first to see it!"
Nojiko smiled warmly at Nami's words, and both girls beamed at Bellemere.
From that day forward, this peaceful little family spent their days together in harmony, even if they weren't wealthy.
They sometimes quarreled like any family but quickly made up and returned to peace, such as when,
"I don't want to wear this! It's so old!"
"It's fine, Nami. I've mended all the tears."
"But this was Nojiko's dress to begin with!"
Nami held up a sundress that looked just her size.
The dress showed patches where it had been repaired, and Nojiko said,
"That dress was already secondhand when you got it, Nami!"
"I want new clothes!"
"You're my sister! You're two years younger, so it makes sense you'd get my hand-me-downs!"
Watching them bicker, Bellemere turned toward the shoe rack as if it were nothing unusual.
"I'm off to work now. You two behave yourselves at home…"
"We're not even blood sisters!"
At Nami's outburst at Nojiko, she widened her eyes and clenched her teeth,
"We're not related by blood—what sister nonsense!"
"Nami!!!"
Smack!
Turning back inside, Bellemere slapped Nami's cheek with her palm.
Nami staggered backward, and Nojiko looked at Bellemere in shock.
"What do you mean, not related by blood…?"
"I'm talking to Nami, Nojiko!"
"Blood doesn't matter! From now on, don't ever say such foolish things to family again!"
"Bellemere, you…you're not even her real mother!"
"…What?"
"If we weren't here, you wouldn't have to pinch pennies like this—you'd live in comfort!"
"I bet you'd be happier if you'd found us from a rich family in the first place!!!"
"W-Wait, Nami!"
Nami ran out the door, and Bellemere watched her go before sinking to her knees.
"Nami, I…"
"Are you okay, Bellemere?"
"Nojiko…"
"You know…what Nami said just now wasn't from her heart."
"…Yes, I know."
Bellemere stroked Nojiko's hair and continued,
"I wasn't very mature as a mother—I'm sorry too, Nojiko."
"Don't apologize. I'm just so proud to have such an amazing woman as our mother."
"Thank you, Nojiko. Could you bring Nami back?"
"I will!"
"Thanks. I'll have dinner ready."
Meanwhile, in the main street of Cocoyasi Village,
Genzo sat on a desk in a building, looking down at Nami seated beside him.
"So you ran away from home?"
"Yes. Bellemere would be better off without someone like me."
"Why do you think that?"
"Because Bellemere is poor because of Nojiko and me, and the villagers hate us more because we steal things…"
"Who says they hate you?"
"They get angry when we steal!"
"Do they say 'good job' when you steal?"
"Adults discipline children who do wrong! How can you raise someone properly if you don't scold them when they misbehave?"
After Genzo shouted and a moment of silence, he spoke again,
"Bellemere was the village's troublemaker when she was your age. The adults here all remember her."
"Bellemere did that…?"
"Yes. Did you really think we would hate you for behaving just like her?"
"And when she grew up, she left the island and joined the Marines. The whole village was shocked when they heard."
"The Marines…?"
"Yes. But eight years ago during a storm, she returned to the village in her Marine uniform, bleeding."
"Holding two kids—one with blue hair and one with orange hair—in her arms."
Genzo looked at Nami as he remembered that moment.
He and the villagers had confronted Bellemere holding those two children in the storm.
"Bellemere! Why is your uniform covered in blood?"
"How badly are you hurt?"
"Who are those children?"
"It's me…so find a doctor quickly!"
"Okay, Bellemere! If we treat you fast, you'll…!"
"No, Genzo! Save these children first!"
"You're hurt too! Let us treat you with them…!"
"I'll be fine! Please…"
"Bellemere…!"
"Please save these children!!!"
"Those two Bellemere was holding were you and Nojiko."
"She said she found you both under the pier."
"It doesn't matter where she found you."
"What matters is that you two became family bound by a bond stronger than blood."
"Bellemere…"
"Nami!"
"Nojiko!"
As they spoke, Nojiko called to Nami.
Nami ran into her sister's arms, and Genzo said,
"You're here, Nojiko. Bellemere's waiting at home—go to her."
"Okay, mister. I'll go to Bellemere…"
"Pirates! It's a Fish-Man pirate crew!!!"
…!
At that moment, one of the villagers shouted.
As Genzo and the others reacted in shock, a boat had docked at the village, and Fish-Men disembarked.
"Pathetic humans! From now on, this island is ours!"
"Starting with this village, all the nearby islands will belong to our Fish-Man pirates!!!"
Waaaahhhhh!!!
After the Fish-Men's roar, the villagers gathered, and Bellemere shouted,
"Someone send a wire to the Marines!"
"There's only about thirty of them! Hold out until the Marines get here!"
"Got it, Bellemere!"
"Everyone, pick up weapons! If you don't fight, you'll die!"
As the villagers charged with their weapons, Genzo held Nami and Nojiko inside the building.
"Nami, Nojiko—no matter what happens, don't come out. Hide here!"
With those words, Genzo turned, drew his sword, and charged at the Fish-Men with the villagers.
"Is this the best you can do against us?"
Graaah!
"You're weak human scum! Show them the difference in strength!"
But the villagers fell one by one under the Fish-Men's weapons and fists.
It started with a few but quickly grew as more fell.
When the fighting ended, all the villagers lay on the ground, and Bellemere, still fighting, was grabbed by the collar by Arlong.
"You pirate…scum…!"
"From now on, we'll collect protection money from you every month."
"Fifty thousand Berries per adult, twenty thousand per child. Those who can't pay will die!"
"If you take that much money…what will the people here eat?"
"That's your problem, human woman. Whether you catch fish or forage for plants isn't our concern."
"By the way, I have no intention of letting that defiant woman you're carrying live. Killing one rebellious human will keep other villages in line."
"No, don't kill her, Bellemere!"
"Don't you dare!"
"Nami, Nojiko…!"
"Are those your brats?"
At Arlong's words, Nami and Nojiko burst from the building where Genzo waited.
Seeing them, Arlong threw Bellemere to the ground as the girls clung to her.
"I'm sorry, kids…actually I wanted to buy you all the books and clothes you wanted!"
"I'm sorry Mommy couldn't do anything for you!"
"I'm sorry, Bellemere! The stuff about taking you from a rich family was a lie!"
"Bellemere was a Marine, right? So get rid of these guys!"
"Nami and I can't live without you, Bellemere!"
Hearing Nami and Nojiko's words, Bellemere lifted her head and said to Arlong,
"Hands off my children."
"If you die quietly, I might consider it."
"Fine."
"Hey, get the kids away from her!"
At Arlong's command, Kuroobi and Hatchi grabbed Nami and Nojiko's arms and pulled them away.
"Don't die, Bellemere! Let go!"
"You promised you'd show me your world map!"
As Arlong pressed his fingertip to Bellemere's head, she looked at her daughters being taken away.
She remembered eight years ago, when she was a Marine caught in a typhoon.
Bleeding from her uniform, she was lying on the ground when she looked up at a child who appeared before her.
The child was Nojiko holding the baby Nami in her arms.
"A sister…?"
"No, but I couldn't just leave you."
"Even in this storm…you kept smiling."
Waaah~!
Hearing Nojiko's words, Bellemere pushed herself up and saw the baby Nami smiling brightly in Nojiko's arms.
"You really are smiling…without knowing anything…"
"Hehehehe…yes."
"You, little…!"
"Waaahhh!!!"
Nojiko laughed while holding baby Nami, but then both collapsed to the ground.
The bleeding Bellemere held the fallen Nojiko and crying Nami as she returned to Cocoyasi Village.
Thanks to the villagers, Bellemere survived the storm and woke up the next morning.
"Bellemere, what did you say?"
"I told you, Genzo, that I would become these children's mother."
Bands wrapped around Bellemere's head and body as she spoke before Genzo and the villagers.
Before her, Nojiko, now conscious, held baby Nami sleeping soundly.
"Your body may be grown, but you act like a child! How can someone like you raise a child?"
"I'm twenty-two! And I decided I'd raise these children!"
"Is that really okay?"
"Just trust me…I'll raise them into fine people."
After saying that, Bellemere saw the faces of young Nojiko and baby Nami looking up at her.
"I was wrong, Bellemere! You can't die!"
"Please save her! I'll do anything, just don't let them kill her!"
Now, Bellemere saw tears in Nami and Nojiko's eyes, overlapping with her memories.
Remembering that time, Bellemere spoke to her daughters,
"My daughters…I truly love you!"
Boom!
At that moment, a thunderous sound erupted from Arlong's fingertip on Bellemere's head.
Simultaneously, Bellemere collapsed to the ground.