Morning.
"Good morning~ Miss Tohru~ Kuina~"
Nami, sporting panda eyes, yawned greatly and sat down at the dining table.
"Good morning, Nami. Breakfast will be ready soon!"
Tohru smiled.
"Good morning, Miss Nami. Didn't you rest well last night?"
Kuina pushed a glass of milk in front of Nami and asked with concern.
"No, it was fine. I was just thinking about some things!"
Nami took a sip of milk and entered a dazed state.
The expression on her face alternated between regret and relief.
After quite a while.
Nami took a deep breath and made her decision.
"Tohru, Kuina, and Sora-san, there's an island nearby. After we finish breakfast, I'll give you directions. Take me there, and then I'll act on my own!"
Nami said.
"Eh eh eh~ Miss Nami, are you leaving?"
Understanding Nami's meaning, Kuina immediately widened her eyes, her face full of reluctance.
"There's no feast that doesn't end. This week's memories are my most precious memories—I'll never forget you all in my lifetime!"
Nami smiled reluctantly.
If possible, she would also want to continue living peacefully like this.
But...
She still carried the fate of her village on her shoulders.
Moreover, having once harbored ulterior motives, she no longer qualified to stay.
"So suddenly? I still have so many topics I wanted to chat with you about, Nami!"
Tohru sighed.
"Let's save it for next time. I've been out for quite a while this time. If I don't go back, my sister will worry!"
Nami made an excuse.
"I see..."
Tohru pursed her lips, but the next second, her eyes suddenly brightened.
"Right! Since that's the case, why don't we take you back!"
"No, no, no, that's... really too much trouble!"
Nami waved her hands repeatedly, panic appearing on her face.
Only she knew just how dangerous Cocoyasi Village currently was.
As long as Arlong's crew existed, that place was the most dangerous in the East Blue.
She absolutely didn't want her friends to be endangered because of her.
"Not troublesome! Not troublesome at all! We're traveling anyway, right, Kobayashi!"
Tohru looked to Sora for confirmation.
"Mm!"
Sora smiled and nodded.
"Great!"
Kuina clapped happily.
"By the way, Nami, you said your hometown is Cocoyasi Village, right? The oranges from your hometown are delicious—I've had them before!"
"Really? Then we definitely must try them!"
Tohru agreed.
"No, no, no. If you want oranges, I can bring them to you. There's no need to go there!"
Nami politely declined.
"What? Nami, are you not welcoming us as guests? Or are you still upset about that 100,000 berry room and board fee? If that's the case, we can pay!"
Sora said with a half-smile.
"No, no, no, of course you're welcome! I'd welcome you, it's just..."
Nami hesitated to speak, breaking out in fragrant sweat from anxiety.
"There's no 'just,' I've seen the map. At this speed, we should arrive at Cocoyasi Village around evening!"
Sora grinned.
"Really?"
"Great!"
Tohru and Kuina high-fived happily.
Only Nami was secretly worried.
Never imagining things would reach this point.
Her entire mental state was confused and muddled.
Her heart fell into fierce internal struggle.
What to do?
What exactly should she do?
Should she come clean to Sora and the others, tell them about Cocoyasi Village's current situation, and make them retreat in the face of difficulty?
This would only create problems for them.
In their past interactions, Nami already knew that Sora and the others would never ignore a friend's suffering.
If they directly confronted Arlong's crew, what would be the result?
Although Sora had displayed mysterious abilities, Nami hadn't seen him fight.
The same went for Tohru. Only Kuina, who might have some strength, was still a child.
Nami absolutely didn't want to see a child risk herself fighting for her sake.
Their side's fighting capacity was unclear.
Looking at Arlong's crew by contrast.
The terror of the fish-men was deeply branded in Nami's heart.
They absolutely couldn't be allowed to come into conflict.
But...
If she didn't come clean, how could she dissuade them?
"Ahhh, honestly..."
Nami worried while pulling at her hair.
Watching the troubled Nami, the corners of Sora's mouth couldn't help but curve upward.
He could roughly guess what Nami was thinking at this moment.
Since Nami hadn't asked, he naturally wouldn't volunteer any information.
Just let the bullets fly a little longer.
Anyway, what needed to be done had long been decided.
Last night's action when Nami snuck into the storage room had decided everything.
If Nami had chosen the treasure, Sora wouldn't have stopped her—he would have let her take the treasure to save her village.
And that would be all. Both sides would be even, and he wouldn't specifically go to Cocoyasi Village to meddle in others' affairs.
Sora wasn't a sucker who would give his heart and soul to Nami just because she was a beauty.
Sincerity for sincerity—that was the basic requirement.
Fortunately, Nami had chosen their friendship.
So things moved toward a different development.
The crisis in Cocoyasi Village was time to be resolved in advance.
Time passed bit by bit.
In the blink of an eye, evening arrived.
The sun set in the west.
The fiery red evening glow illuminated the sea.
"Nami~ Nami~ We can already see the island. Is that Cocoyasi Village?"
Kuina pointed to the small black dot at the end of the horizon and asked.
Clap clap!
Nami slapped her own face, dispelling unnecessary thoughts.
Things had reached this point—the arrow was on the string and had to be fired.
"That's right, that's my hometown, Cocoyasi Village!"
Nami made her decision.
Since Sora and the others' visit couldn't be avoided.
Then she'd find a way to prevent them from being targeted by Arlong's crew.
"Everyone, could I handle the navigation route from here? Let's land on the back side of the island—it's closer to my house!"
Nami asked.
"Of course!"
Sora and the others naturally had no objections to this small request.
"Hehe, the good show is about to begin!"
Sora smiled slightly, pulling his rod sharply the moment the fishing float sank into the sea.
[Ding dong]
[Lucky moment! Congratulations, host, for catching A-rank sword technique—One Blade Throat Cut, Hundred Step Flying Sword!!!]