The Moment drifted toward Clover Shoals, a sleepy little reef town where coral shaped the coastline like frozen waves, and sunken ships dotted the shallows like grave markers.
It was meant to be a quiet stop — rest, supplies, and repairs.
But the Compass Pirates weren't destined for peace.
Not yet.
Because someone had already taken what little they had left.
And left behind… nothing but tears.
---
A Vanishing Act
Jinx stormed into the cabin, fuming. "She robbed us blind."
Kairos blinked, mid-bite of his breakfast fish. "Who?"
Zoroko held up the evidence: the safe, cracked open cleanly — their berry stash gone. Maps missing. The emergency Den Den Mushi? Disconnected. Lokk's snack stash? Also missing.
Jinx crossed her arms. "Some orange-haired thief hitched a ride last night while we were docked and cleaned us out before sunrise."
"She even took the mirror polish," Lokk moaned.
Kairos stood slowly.
"Did anyone see her?"
Toma stepped in, frowning. "Locals mentioned a girl in a tangerine skirt. Said she paid off a corrupt marine captain's debt and dropped coins for the street kids."
Jinx added bitterly, "She even left a thank-you note."
Kairos read it aloud:
> "Sorry. You looked like good people. I just can't afford to trust anyone right now.
— N"
---
Tracking the Fox
Zoroko scouted the shoreline, following footprints and broken shells.
"She went north. Fast. Alone."
Bonney leaned against a rock, biting into dried seaweed. "That's either desperate… or suicidal."
Kairos frowned. "Let's go get our stuff."
But Toma held out a hand. "Hold on. She didn't just steal. She gave too. Who pays off a crooked marine, feeds orphans, and still cries while stealing?"
He held up a soggy piece of parchment.
The edge of it was smudged — inked with tear stains.
Zoroko's eyes narrowed. "She's running from more than just us."
Kairos looked toward the reef cliffs.
"Then let's see who's chasing her."
---
Nami vs. Kairos
They found her near the cliffside — arguing with a scarred marine captain and a handful of thugs in cheap Navy gear. Her staff was out, her footwork tight.
But she was outnumbered.
She'd bought time for others… and now had no one left for herself.
Kairos didn't hesitate. He jumped in.
"Swap: Pain → Relief."
The bruises on Nami's legs faded instantly — transferred to one of the thugs, who screamed in confusion and collapsed.
Zoroko, Jinx, and Bonney joined the fray.
Steel met wind. Fists met flame. And in the center, Kairos and Nami stood back to back.
"Who the hell are you!?" she shouted.
"Someone you stole from," he grinned. "But we can talk about that after you don't die."
---
After the Fight
They sat under the reef bridge after the thugs fled, bruised but breathing.
Nami kept her distance at first, clutching the bag of berries like a lifeline.
"I'll return it," she said. "I didn't want to. I just— I had to."
Kairos nodded. "Tell me why."
Her fingers trembled.
"My village. Cocoyashi. It's under Arlong's boot. He owns everything. Even the water. Every berry I steal goes to buying our freedom."
She looked up, eyes blazing with pride and shame.
"I don't steal because I want to. I steal because no one ever saved us. So I became the one who could."
Silence followed.
Then Jinx tossed her a cloth-wrapped bun. "You suck at stealing. You left your whole life in the tears on that paper."
Bonney nodded. "You're hungry. Eat."
Lokk chuckled. "You can't steal from pirates and not expect to join them."
Kairos smiled. "You said no one saved you."
He held out his hand.
"Let us try."
---
A New Compass Point
Nami hesitated — then took it.
Her grip was firm, guarded, but real.
"I'm not joining some dream-chasing fools," she warned.
"We're not chasing dreams," Kairos said.
"We're chasing balance."
"And maybe," Bonney added, grinning, "revenge."
As they walked back toward the Moment, Nami whispered, almost too soft to hear:
"...Thank you."