Chapter 482: Celebration

"We’re free!!"

The villagers of Cocoyasi shouted in unison, their voices echoing across the sea. Joy exploded in the streets as tears mixed with laughter. After years under Arlong’s cruel rule, their chains had finally shattered.

The banquet of freedom lasted three whole days. Laughter, dancing, and heartfelt reunions filled every corner of the village. Music rang out long into the nights, and even those who rarely smiled before could now laugh with ease.

Of course, no one enjoyed the feast more than Luffy, who nearly emptied the entire village’s food rreserves single-handedly. Usopp boasted about their heroics, exaggerating every tale until the kids clung to his every word. Zoro dozed off wherever he could find a quiet patch of shade.

As for me—being a vampire—I didn’t need much food. I do start to crave some blood. Not that it is must-need; it more like how we eat something just because it’s delicious.

On the morning of the fourth day, with the sun rising over the sea, the energy had shifted.

Inside a modest home at the edge of the village, Nami packed the last of her belongings. Her room was neat, stripped of all personal traces except the tangerine tree still planted in the backyard.

Just then, the door creaked open. Nojiko stepped in quietly, folding her arms as she leaned against the frame.

"So... leaving today?"

Nami glanced over her shoulder and nodded. "Yeah. Luffy’s bound to get a bounty soon, and with that comes attention. It’d be dangerous to stay here."

Nojiko raised an eyebrow. "Which captain are you talking about?"

Nami let out a soft snort. "I only have one captain now."

"Oh?" Nojiko grinned. "Just wondering if you meant Luffy... or Alex. You follow orders from both."

Nami rolled her eyes. "There’s no official rank between them. Luffy’s the captain of the crew—he always has been. Alex may give commands, but Luffy’s the one who holds us together. Would Zoro, Usopp, or even Alex have joined him if he weren’t? Though Alex keeps saying he is not a official crew member."

"True," Nojiko said. "But that doesn’t explain the blush on your face whenever Alex talks to you."

Nami fumbled with a folded shirt, her face instantly turning red. "W-W-What do you mean?! There’s nothing going on!"

Nojiko walked closer and gently placed a hand on Nami’s shoulder. "You don’t have to pretend with me. Just remember—if you’re going to share your life with a crew, you have to be honest with yourself too. Love among crewmates isn’t uncommon, but hiding it? That creates distance."

Nami’s hand tightened around the shirt. For a long moment, she said nothing. Then, she quietly resumed packing.

Ten minutes later, she stepped out into the early morning light, a large travel bag slung over her shoulder. I stood a short distance away, leaning lazily against a fence post.

"That’s all?" I asked, eyeing her bag.

"Yeah. Let’s go."

•••

We climbed the hill toward the Going Merry, the salty sea breeze tugging at our clothes. The deck came into view, and with it, the familiar voices of our crewmates.

"So," I said, "your dream came true."

Nami smiled, the wind lifting her orange hair. "It did."

"Well, then we’ve got nothing left to do here."

Nami’s smile faded slightly, replaced by concern. "I’m more worried about you. You broke into a Marine base. I bet the bounty they’ll place on your head won’t be small."

I laughed. "Maybe. I’m just curious how high it’ll be. Think I’ll beat Luffy’s?"

"I wonder if they’ll dig up your background. What’ll they find, I wonder?"

I shrugged. "Nothing they could believe, that’s for sure."

Just then, Luffy bounded over, arms waving. "Hey! So where to next?"

"We need a cook, right?" Nami said, slipping into her navigator’s role like a second skin. "I’ll guide us to the floating sea restaurant nearby. But first—Alex! Unfurl the sails. At my signal!"

With a little skip in her step, Nami hopped off the ship and disappeared into the village again.

Zoro, just waking up, squinted at her. "What’s she up to?"

"Don’t worry," I said, turning the rudder. "She’ll be back."

Back in the village, Genzo paced anxiously. "They’re leaving too soon! We haven’t even said goodbye!"

He turned just in time to spot Nami weaving through the crowd with speed and grace, using her old pickpocketing skills one last time. When she reached the end of the dock, she launched herself into the air.

She landed on the deck of the Going Merry with a thud, lifted her shirt—

—and a rain of stolen wallets fell from her waistband.

"Goodbye, everyone!" she called, flashing a bright, mischievous grin.

Genzo stood at the pier, shaking a fist in mock outrage. "You little—!"

But even he couldn’t help the smile that crept across his face. The entire village erupted into cheers, waving their arms as the ship pulled away.

"Hah! That was wild," Usopp sighed, collapsing beside the mast.

"What do you mean?" Luffy asked, tilting his head.

Usopp looked at him like he’d grown another head. "We fought a pirate crew whose captain had a twenty million bounty! You don’t think that’s crazy?"

"They weren’t that tough," Zoro grunted. "Aside from Arlong, the rest were pushovers."

"You say that, but you were bleeding for two days," Usopp muttered.

Zoro ignored him and turned to Nami, who was tying down some ropes with expert precision. "So, navigator, where exactly are we headed?"

Nami looked back at him, the sun shining behind her. "To the Baratie. It’s a floating restaurant where we might find a cook crazy enough to join us."

Luffy raised his fist. "Let’s gooooo!"

~~~