After defeating Arlong, the villagers of Cocoyasi Village and the neighboring villages gathered for a grand feast.
The celebration lasted for three days and three nights, finally ending only when everyone was too exhausted to continue.
The next morning, under the bright sunlight and a soft sea breeze, many villagers gathered by the coast to see off the Straw Hat Pirates.
On the Going Merry, Sanji looked around and frowned. "Miss Nami? She's not coming, is she?"
Sandy shrugged. "How would I know?"
Luffy, still in a cheerful mood from the feast, asked with a mouth full of food, "Sanji, where's that ham and melon?!"
Everyone ignored him, while Usopp muttered, "Nami probably won't come. Her village is free now, and she doesn't really have a reason to go out to sea with us again…"
Sanji clutched his head dramatically. "No way! If Nami doesn't come, I'll lose 98.72% of my purpose in life on this ship!"
Then, as if struck by realization, Sanji pointed accusingly at Zoro. "It's you! You must've said something to her, didn't you? That's why she's not coming!"
Zoro blinked. "Why the hell would I do that?"
"Because you're jealous of our deep love!"
"Are you an idiot?"
"What did you say!?"
"Do you wanna fight!?"
Sandy sighed and leaned against the rail, holding a chicken leg in one hand and a small bottle of wine in the other. "Damn, these two again…"
Usopp shouted, "Hey, Sandy! Where'd you get that food?!"
Before Sandy could answer, a familiar voice echoed from the shore—
"Set sail!"
Everyone turned.
Nami was sprinting toward the ship.
Usopp tilted his head. "What does she mean by that?"
Luffy grinned. "It means set sail!"
Moments later, Nami leaped off the dock with an incredible jump.
Sandy nearly dropped his wine. "Holy crap—if she were in Olympics, she'd win the long jump championship!"
The villagers watched in awe.
"Is Nami saying goodbye like this?"
"No, she wouldn't leave so suddenly!"
"What's she doing now—wait, is she lifting her shirt!?"
Sure enough, Nami tugged up her top just enough for her wallet to clatter out, then pulled out a large bill, kissed it, and waved.
"Everyone, take care!"
Usopp, Zoro, and Sandy all froze with dark lines on their faces.
"This woman…" Sandy muttered.
From the shore, the villagers erupted.
"You little thief cat, come back here and return our wallets!"
"Nami, you can't just say goodbye like that!"
"Take care, Nami! We'll miss you!"
...
Soon, the Going Merry had sailed far from Cocoyasi Village.
The echoes of the feast still lingered in their minds. Though they hadn't stayed long, everyone had grown attached to the place.
Sandy glanced at Nami lounging on a bench reading a newspaper. The memory of that night flickered in his mind. The thought made him both nostalgic and uneasy.
Nami noticed his gaze but ignored it, focusing on the paper—until several sheets fluttered out and landed on the deck.
Everyone leaned in curiously.
Sandy froze when he saw one of them.
It was a Wanted Poster—of him.
The photo was perfect—Sandy holding his Sward swept hair back, looking suave and cool. It had been taken back at the Baratie when he was chatting with Dracule Mihawk.
But the bounty below made his blood run cold.
250 Belly.
Zoro squinted. "What's wrong, Sandy?"
Usopp shouted, "Whoa! Luffy's first bounty—thirty million Belly! That's huge!"
Luffy grinned ear to ear. "Thirty million! Hahaha! Hey, Sandy, did you get one too?"
Zoro grabbed Sandy's poster, took one look, and burst out laughing.
"Pfft—hahaha! What the hell did you do to deserve this?"
Nami turned her poster over, confused. "Sanji, what's wrong? You look like Sandy right now…"
It turned out Sanji's wanted photo was a disaster—his mouth hung open, his eyes lifeless, and his curly eyebrows drooping.
Compared to his real self, it was tragic.
As for Sandy—his photo looked amazing, but the bounty amount…
250 Belly.
Two. Hundred. Fifty.
Sandy's soul left his body. "It's… it's not even enough to buy a shoe!"
Sanji's bounty was 8 million Belly, but his ugly photo made him collapse to his knees in horror.
Zoro's was 10 million, Usopp's 5 million, and Nami—none at all.
The mood on deck split instantly.
Luffy, Zoro, and Usopp were thrilled.
Sanji was traumatized.
Sandy was emotionally destroyed.
Sandy crouched in the corner, drawing little circles on the deck.
"Why… only 250 Belly…" he muttered. "If I ever meet other pirates, I'll die of shame."
Then his eyes darkened. "It must've been that damn Captain Nezumi!"
He shot up. "Nami! Turn the ship around! I'm going back to kill that rat bastard! How dare he give me this ridiculous bounty!"
Usopp grabbed him. "Sandy, calm down! At least you have a bounty—look, I barely got one!"
Sandy glared. "Before I kill Nezumi, I'll kill you first!"
"Ahh! Somebody help! Sandy's gonna murder me!"
"Hahahahaha!"
Laughter filled the Going Merry as the ship drifted farther across the sparkling sea.