Deep in the night, in a small forest near Cocoyashi Village in the East Blue, a man and a woman searched for something.
"You super idiot! That was over a hundred million Beri! How could you just lose a huge sack of money like that?!" Nami walked ahead, using the soft light of the full silver moon hanging high in the sky to barely see the path in the forest.
"I remember throwing it around here. How can it be gone?" Hearing Nami call him an idiot again, Tom felt depressed. But since he was at fault, he couldn't argue back.
Tom had thrown the sack containing over a hundred million Beri, looted from Arlong's base, far away during the fight. It should have landed in this area. But now, after searching with Nami for a good while…
The truth was, when Tom threw the money, the large sack happened to hit Luffy on the head. Thinking meat had fallen from the sky, Luffy discovered the bag didn't contain meat and promptly threw it away again.
Unknowingly, Luffy had screwed Tom over once more.
Thus, Tom tragically couldn't find the money.
"That money belongs to the people of this island. We have to find it," Nami said seriously to Tom behind her.
"Aren't we looking right now? You're so naggy," Tom honestly felt Nami was like a menopausal aunt, chattering nonstop.
"You owe me a huge debt, and you lost the islanders' money. If we can't find it, that debt goes on your tab." Nami slowed her pace, waiting for the somewhat exhausted Tom to catch up.
"Didn't you plan to leave your hundred million Beri for the village? That's more than enough for them. They're not the type to waste it all." Tom curled his lips, adopting a give-up attitude. He already owed Nami several hundred million—figured he'd never repay it in this lifetime. Worrying about it was pointless, so he didn't take Nami's words to heart at all.
"You went through a lot of trouble to get that money back for me." Nami's tone gradually softened, remembering what Nojiko had told her about Tom returning half-dead before collapsing.
"It was nothing. Don't worry about it." As soon as Tom said this, a smile began to form on Nami's face—only to vanish as he continued. "Since I helped you so much, you can't yell at me or hit me anymore. Also, when I'm talking, you can't interrupt or play tricks."
Nami's smile froze, her pretty brows twitching as she lightly punched Tom's face. "Do you understand my attitude now?"
Seeing Nami about to explode, Tom immediately shut up.
Walking side by side, occasionally chatting, they unknowingly arrived at the spot where Tom had given Nami mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.
"Do you remember what you did to me here?" Nami's face was slightly red, hidden by the night.
"Of course I remember. I saved your life here." Tom's words nearly drove Nami crazy. She really wanted to kick him flying.
But before Nami could say more, Tom's eyes lit up, spotting something of interest. Following his gaze, she saw a dark-green venomous snake not far away, its triangular eyes locked onto them.
Most importantly, the snake was coiled around a large sack. Tom immediately recognized it—it was the same snake that had bitten and poisoned him before. The sack contained the money he'd looted from the Arlong Pirates.
The dark-green venomous snake slithered toward Tom, flicking its tongue.
"Daring to provoke me? Last time I was just careless. Now, it's time for revenge." Seeing the snake raise its head and sway before him, Tom stepped forward, cracking his knuckles.
"What are you doing?!" The sight of a snake reminded Nami of being taken advantage of by Tom here last time, making her whole body uncomfortable. If not for the money, she might have already left.
"I'm just hungry. I'm going to catch it and roast it." Tom licked his lips. As he spoke, the venomous snake lunged through the air. He easily sidestepped, sending the snake flying toward Nami behind him.
Nami had meant to tell Tom to just grab the money, but before she could speak, she saw fangs coming at her. Her face went pale as she let out a scream.
"You've seen this snake before. Still so scared? You're so…" Tom reached out and grabbed the snake by the throat, holding its head up to Nami's face and shaking it. "See? Easy to handle. Last time it bit me. Now that I think about it, it's unbelievable, hahaha!"
"You almost died from its poison last time. How can you laugh about it?" Nami looked at Tom with black lines on her head. Turning her gaze, she found the snake's head almost touching her face. Her complexion immediately turned from white to green. Seeing Tom still laughing happily, she finally couldn't take it anymore. Just as she was about to scold him, the snake suddenly flicked its tongue, the crimson tip almost touching her face. Her vision went black and she fainted.
"Fainted again? What's with this woman?" Tom, one hand holding the snake, scratched his head with the other, looked at the fallen Nami, then at the snake in his hand, and said happily, "Great! Now no one can stop me from roasting this snake!"
Some time later, Nami slowly woke up. A large sack of money lay beside her. She saw Tom sitting by a campfire with his back to her, doing something.
"What are you doing?" she asked.
"Why did you have to wake up now? Do you want me to share?" Tom turned around with a look of heartache, offering her the half-eaten roasted snake. "Fine. I'm not stingy. You can have a bite."
"Who wants to eat that? You big idiot!" Nami, waking up to the sight of a curled, charred snake, completely lost her appetite.
"No taste at all. A rare chance for a beach barbecue. Good that you don't want it. I'm not full yet." Tom was secretly delighted she refused and quickly finished the rest.
Hearing Tom, Nami realized they were at the beach. The cool, damp sea breeze on her face felt refreshing and comfortable.
After eating, Tom still seemed unsatisfied. He walked to the shore, took out his fishing rod, and prepared to catch fish.
Soon, Tom returned with several fish. One looked especially strange—round like the moon, with a faint silver hue.
"What kind of fish is this?" Nami asked curiously.
"A False Moon Fish." Tom handed it to her. "Look closely. Don't be fooled by its appearance."
Nami examined it carefully and realized it wasn't perfectly round. Most of it was pale yellow, with a dark outer layer that created the illusion at night.
"This fish tastes great. I really want to swallow it right now." Tom quickly began roasting it.
Too bad Sanji wasn't there. Tom's cooking skill didn't even count as amateur, so he could only make do.
They sat by the campfire. One stared blankly at the flames; the other stared eagerly at the fish.
"Since you treated me to a meal yesterday, here." Tom hesitated, then handed the fish to Nami.
Nami remembered the night in Syrup Village when Tom had offered her a fish, only for Luffy to swallow it whole. She couldn't help smiling.
"What are you laughing at?" Tom asked, taking a bite.
Nami shook her head and smiled, taking a bite herself. She looked surprised and took another bite.
Strange. This fish had no taste at all.
As she wondered, Tom said, "You can't eat a False Moon Fish like that. You have to take a big bite and swallow it whole."
Nami followed his instructions. At first it felt normal, but soon a rich aroma filled her mouth.
"The fish contains a substance that initially suppresses taste. After that, the flavor explodes. The more you eat at once, the stronger it is. Just watch out for bones," Tom explained.
"You really know a lot about fish," Nami said cheerfully.
"Of course. I'm a professional fisherman." Tom paused. "But once we reach the Grand Line, I might not recognize every fish."
"Your dream… it's not just to be a fisherman, is it?" Nami sat beside him. "I've had a dream since I was little—to sail the world and draw my own world map."
Tom noticed her eyes shining with something he'd never seen before—hope, confidence, and longing for the future.
"My dream?" Tom lay back, gazing at the star-filled sky. "I adapted to a fisherman's life because I like the world's strange creatures."
"Luffy once said I'm the hardest-working person in the crew. Do you know why?"
"Because you're a reckless idiot," Nami replied.
"That's not it," Tom said. "I once gave up my dream."
"I'm far behind you all. That's why I push myself. I won't run away again."
Tom spread his arms, letting the sea breeze wash over him. "I'll move forward step by step."
Nami felt he was different now.
"What?" Tom suddenly grinned. "While you were talking, I stole these from you."
"You thief!" Tom stared at the four brilliant diamonds in her hand.
"You said these were to make me happy. Stealing from you makes me happy," Nami teased.
"Give them back!" Tom lunged.
"You cheapskate!" They wrestled playfully by the fire.
Elsewhere, Luffy met Nojiko at Bellemere's grave.
"If you make Nami lose her smile, I'll never forgive you," Nojiko warned.
"Understood!" Luffy replied seriously, meat still in his mouth.
The next morning, Nami left all the money behind and ran to the port.
"Nojiko!" Tom arrived late.
"Take care of my sister," Nojiko said.
"I will," Tom promised.
"Set sail!" Nami shouted.
She leapt onto the Going Merry as the villagers realized their wallets were gone.
"Take care, everyone!" Nami laughed.
Standing at the ship's edge, she smiled brightly.
"Goodbye!"
At Bellemere's grave, a windmill spun gently as the ship sailed into the distance.
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T/N :
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