It was another beautiful, sunny day.
Aboard the Going Merry.
Reno, still acting as the crew's helmsman, adjusted course again under Nami's barrage of complaints.
Kaya had started daily training to strengthen her body.
If she wanted to master the Healing Fruit, physical fitness was a must.
She didn't want to hold the crew back.
Makino, meanwhile, continued cooking three meals a day and had recently started brewing liquor in her spare time.
Both Reno and Nami loved her home-brewed drinks—
Which made Makino feel deeply fulfilled. She genuinely enjoyed her role aboard the ship.
Looking at the girls bustling around in their roles, Reno's mood soared.
Ahhh... beautiful women really do brighten the day.
Whenever he was bored, he'd get a little handsy—
And when night came, well... that was when they dove into "advanced nautical study."
Kaya's addition had upgraded their group activities from three-player poker to full-on four-player mahjong.
With the Healing Fruit removing all fatigue, Reno could go all night without slowing down.
Life was bliss.
And so was the pleasure.
Lying on a deck chair, a bored Nami casually scanned the weather patterns around them.
"So, Reno—where's our next destination?" she asked, sipping juice.
"I want to plan out our route in advance."
Reno answered without hesitation:
"Cocoyasi Village."
"Huh? Cocoyasi Village? I know that place, I—"
Nami froze mid-sentence, her face immediately paling.
She stood up stiffly, looking at Reno. Her voice trembled.
"Can we... go somewhere else? There are other islands in the East Blue. I can take you to—"
"Nami."
Reno's voice turned serious.
"Reno, please. We can't go there..."
Nami's voice cracked. Tears welled in her eyes.
Her time with Reno had been some of the happiest days in recent years.
She didn't have to scheme or lie.
Even if he did bully her a little too hard at night, Reno treated her better than anyone else ever had.
After years of drifting between merchant ships and pirate crews, she could tell at a glance who was genuine and who was full of lies.
And Reno... was the real deal.
That was exactly why she couldn't let him go to Cocoyasi.
If Arlong ever saw Reno, he'd try to kill him.
If Reno insisted on going...
Then she'd have no choice but to leave him behind.
And she didn't want that. Not yet.
Reno stared at her agonized expression and sighed inwardly.
Eight years...
In that time, Arlong had become a living nightmare in Nami's heart.
The moment Cocoyasi Village was mentioned, painful memories rushed back like a tidal wave.
"Nami," Reno said solemnly. "You're my woman now.
Anyone who's ever hurt you—I'll make them pay.
Even Arlong."
His eyes radiated determination.
Nami's heart clenched.
But that only made her more scared.
She broke. Her voice cracked.
"You don't understand, Reno!"
"That's Arlong! You can't beat him! Please, just drop it! I'm begging you!"
"I'll give up the 10 million beli—I don't care about the money anymore!!"
Nami's voice rose into a scream as she collapsed to the ground, sobbing uncontrollably.
Flashbacks surged through her mind—
Every villager who had dared to resist Arlong, every friend or family member who had fallen...
Even Bell-mère, her adoptive mother.
After eight years of torment, Arlong was no longer just a pirate.
He was an unbeatable devil.
One she couldn't disobey, let alone defy.
"Nami, what's wrong?!"
Kaya and Makino rushed over, kneeling beside her and helping her sit up.
They had never seen her break down like this.
What could have happened?
Reno crouched beside Nami, gently placing a warm hand on her forehead.
"Nami," he said softly, "I know Arlong terrifies you.
But he's not invincible."
Nami trembled, but slowly looked up at him.
"Arlong only ran to the East Blue because he couldn't survive in the New World," Reno explained.
"There are tons of people stronger than him.
And sure, fish-men are ten times stronger than humans—normal humans.
But look at me."
He flexed his biceps and grinned.
Despite herself, Nami let out a little laugh through her tears.
Even now, he's teasing me...
"Nami," Kaya added seriously, "you have to believe in Reno. He even defeated Captain Kuro!"
Makino chimed in, "And you've been with the captain for days—do you really think he can't handle Arlong?"
Nami's eyes darted between them, her resolve beginning to waver.
Come to think of it... Reno was ridiculously fast.
Fast enough that even Arlong probably couldn't catch him.
"Nami," Reno said gently.
"This time, we're going to Cocoyasi Village—
Not just to kill Arlong...
But so you can be the one to do it."
Nami stared at him, stunned.
Did she hear that right?
As if to confirm it, Reno flipped his palm.
A vibrantly colored, multi-patterned Devil Fruit appeared in his hand.
Makino gasped. "A Devil Fruit?!"
She remembered all too well what had happened to Luffy after eating one.
Could Reno have another?
"Wait... you had a second one this whole time?!" Kaya was just as shocked.
"This one's different," Reno explained calmly.
And then he turned to Nami.
"Nami. If you eat this fruit...
You'll have the power to defeat Arlong yourself."
His voice was calm, but carried an irresistible weight.
And in that moment—
Nami's eyes lit up.