The path leading into the village was narrow, lined with houses marked by time and a certain sense of resignation. Nami walked ahead without turning back, her pace quick but controlled, while Yogiri followed her without asking questions, as if the direction didn't really matter.
As they moved deeper into the village, the atmosphere grew heavier. The few villagers in sight lowered their eyes or looked away, carefully avoiding any contact. No one spoke, and even the usual sounds seemed muted, as if fear itself had become part of daily life.
"Avoid staring at people," Nami murmured without slowing down. "And most importantly, don't talk."
"Alright," Yogiri replied calmly.
They crossed a nearly deserted street where a few figures briefly watched from the shadows of windows before disappearing just as quickly. Yogiri slightly turned his head, noting their reactions without trying to interpret them.
"They're afraid," he said simply.
Nami paused for a brief moment before continuing forward.
"Yeah… and they have every reason to be."
After a short while, she turned toward a small house set apart from the others, more discreet than the rest. Without hesitation, she opened the door and stepped inside, with Yogiri following behind her. The interior was simple but orderly, with a few maps spread across a table and navigation tools carefully arranged, reflecting a structured daily life despite the circumstances.
Nami closed the door behind them and stood still for a moment, as if trying to gather her thoughts before turning toward him.
"We need to make things clear," she said in a lower voice. "What you did earlier… you can't do that here."
Yogiri looked at her without reacting.
"Why?"
The question wasn't provocative, it was asked with disarming simplicity.
Nami clenched her teeth slightly.
"Because they control everything. If one of them disappears, they'll start looking, and when they do, they always find what they're searching for. And when that happens, it's not just you who pays the price."
A brief silence followed her words.
"Alright," he replied.
She frowned slightly, unsettled by his complete lack of resistance.
"Do you at least understand how serious this is?"
"Yes."
"And it doesn't bother you at all?"
"No."
That answer left her speechless for a few seconds. She looked away, letting out a quiet breath, unsure whether her frustration was directed at him… or at the situation itself.
"You're really not normal."
"Probably."
His tone remained neutral, as if it didn't matter.
Nami ran a hand over her face before walking toward the table, trying to regain control.
"Fine… you're staying here for now. You don't go outside, you don't draw attention to yourself, and most importantly… you don't kill anyone."
A brief silence followed.
"Alright."
She watched him for a moment longer, searching for a sign, a hesitation, something that would reveal a hidden intent, but there was nothing. Just that same constant neutrality.
Then, a sudden noise echoed from outside, the sound of several footsteps approaching. Nami froze instantly, her gaze shifting toward the door as her body tensed almost instinctively.
"…They're already here," she murmured.
Yogiri, meanwhile, remained perfectly still, as if it changed nothing.
The footsteps stopped right in front of the house, leaving behind a heavy, almost oppressive silence before three sharp knocks struck the door.
Nami hesitated for a brief moment, then took a deep breath and stepped forward. Her eyes quickly flicked toward Yogiri.
"Don't say anything," she whispered.
She placed her hand on the handle and opened the door.
Two fish-men stood in front of her, their cold, suspicious gazes immediately scanning the interior.
"We're looking for someone," one of them said.
A silence followed.
Nami gave a faint, controlled smile.
"You're always looking for someone."
But this time, her tone lacked a bit of stability.
Behind her, Yogiri Takato waited without showing the slightest concern, as if what came next was nothing more than an insignificant detail.
The two fish-men stood still for a moment, their eyes slowly scanning the room, attentive to every detail with a cold, almost tangible precision.
"We're looking for someone," said the first one, his voice measured.
Nami didn't respond immediately. She remained in the doorway, motionless, as if taking a single step could already change everything.
"You're looking for someone," she finally said calmly.
The second fish-man spoke, firm but deliberate. "One of ours has gone missing. He was patrolling near the beach."
Nami slowly crossed her arms, keeping her eyes on them. "And you think I know anything?"
The first one tilted his head slightly and replied with icy calm, "You hang around this area often, and you ask far too many questions."
Nami let out a faint, almost imperceptible sigh and shrugged lightly. "If I knew something, I wouldn't be here wasting my time."
The man's gaze slowly drifted behind her, toward Yogiri.
"Him," he said simply.
Nami felt the tension rise but didn't show it. She briefly followed their gaze and then looked back at Yogiri. "He's my partner," she said calmly.
Silence fell, heavier than before.
"Your… partner?" repeated the second one, incredulous.
Nami nodded slightly. "Yes. I'm gathering the hundred million berries for Arlong, and he's helping me."
The two fish-men exchanged a quick, unreadable glance, then their eyes returned to Yogiri.
"Since when do you work with someone?" asked the first, his voice low and wary.
Nami slowly shrugged. "Since I realized doing it alone would take too long."
Silence stretched as the first fish-man's gaze returned to Yogiri, studying every move.
"And him… where does he come from?"
Yogiri turned his head slightly, calmly. "I got lost."
The silence settled immediately. The answer was simple, too simple, but no one took offense.
"You get lost and end up here?" asked the fish-man suspiciously.
"Yes," replied Yogiri, in a neutral tone.
Nami spoke again, her voice slightly sharper, trying to control the rising tension in her shoulders. "What does it matter? As long as he does the work, it's none of your concern."
The second fish-man responded, cold and measured. "Everything concerns us."
The silence that followed was heavier than any before. Then the first took a slow step forward. "We're going to check."
Nami didn't move immediately, her gaze fixed on him, resolute. "There's nothing to check," she said.
"Step aside," he replied, firmer this time, leaving no room for refusal.
After a brief moment of hesitation, Nami moved slightly, just enough to let them enter.
The two fish-men stepped inside and swept the room with methodical precision, pausing on each object before naturally returning their attention to Yogiri.
One of them approached, moving slowly and deliberately, stopping a few steps away.
"Where were you this morning?" he asked.
"On the beach," Yogiri replied calmly.
"Alone?"
"Yes."
Silence stretched. Then the fish-man continued, "Did you see anyone?"
Yogiri paused for a brief, imperceptible moment, then said simply, "Yes."
Nami's gaze tightened slightly. "Who?" she asked, almost to herself.
Yogiri raised his eyes to the fish-man. "You."
A suspended moment. Silence fell, heavy and oppressive.
The fish-man squinted slightly. "Be careful what you say."
"Alright," Yogiri answered, still neutral, still calm.
The second one stepped slightly closer. "There's something off about him," he murmured.
"I can see that," replied the first.
They remained like that for a few more seconds, as if trying to understand without ever succeeding. Finally, the first stepped back and said, "We'll be back."
His gaze shifted to Nami. "And if your 'partner' causes trouble… it will fall on you."
Nami held his gaze. "As usual," she said calmly.
They left the house without hurrying. Their steps faded slowly until they disappeared completely.
The silence returned, heavier than ever. Nami stayed still for a few seconds, making sure they were really gone, then slowly relaxed her shoulders.
She turned to Yogiri. "…My partner?"
"That's what you said," he replied.
She briefly closed her eyes. "You could have made a little effort," she murmured.
"I answered," he said simply.
Silence fell. This time, Nami looked at him longer, more intently. "From now on… think before you speak."
"Alright," he answered.
"And don't say anything about the beach."
"Alright."
She remained quiet for a moment, then added softly, "If this goes badly… I won't be able to cover you."
Yogiri didn't respond, as if it didn't matter. But for the first time, this silence truly weighed on her.
***
Time passed slowly. The sun had begun to sink, its golden light sliding over the sea and the beach, but inside the house, the silence remained heavy and oppressive. Nami and Yogiri stayed still, listening only to the faint sound of the waves and the wind passing through the shutters.
Arlong's fish-men had resumed their search. They combed through the village methodically, moving from house to house, checking every alley and corner. Their comrade—the one who had gone missing—remained nowhere to be found. Every step they took seemed to lead to nothing, and worry began to show on their faces.
"He's not here," one of them muttered as he retraced his steps, his brow slightly furrowed.
"He has to be somewhere," replied the second, his voice deeper, though lacking conviction. "It's impossible for him to vanish without leaving a trace."
Their patience, previously cold and unyielding, began to wear thin. Their eyes occasionally met, filled with a silent tension, as if the mere fact of not finding their companion put them in danger themselves.
Meanwhile, Nami and Yogiri remained in the shadow of the house. As time passed, Nami felt the pressure mounting, but she showed nothing. She simply observed Yogiri, her expression calm but alert. Every sound from outside made her flinch slightly, but Yogiri did not move. He stayed where he was, motionless, as if unaffected by the growing anxiety around them.
The fish-men slowly searched the area. Their steps echoed on the ground, but no voices betrayed their frustration. They checked again and again, inspecting houses and alleys, yet the silence persisted. Their comrade remained nowhere nearby.
"We should inform Arlong," the first muttered, as if speaking to himself.
"Not yet," replied the other. "We have to find him first. He can't be far."
But time continued to pass, and the more they searched, the clearer it became that their companion was nowhere close. The worry in their eyes mingled with a silent anger. They were not used to losing someone, and this absence, as inexplicable as it was, began to weigh heavily on their shoulders.
Inside, Nami felt a slight tension building in her chest. She knew the moment they discovered Yogiri and her could come at any second. But for now, time seemed suspended, and none of the fish-men suspected that the danger they feared was no longer there.
The sun continued its descent, painting the sea in shades of orange and red. The waves maintained their steady rhythm, indifferent to the human tension reigning over the beach and the village. And as the hours passed, the fish-men continued their search, slowly, without success, unaware that the threat they were seeking was already gone.