Chapter 25: Farewell to Cocoyasi – The Orange Trees, Stolen Wallets, and a New Voyage
As night fell, Cocoyasi Village plunged into a long, joyous feast. More and more villagers, learning of the Arlong Pirates' defeat, joined the celebration. It was during this time that Yosaku taught Luffy his legendary party technique: the Nostril Dance.
"Watch closely, Big Bro Luffy! This is the true art of the banquet—" Yosaku, already drunk, raised two chopsticks and lunged forward dramatically. "Nostril Dance!"
"Huh? Like this?" Luffy took the chopsticks curiously. His rubber arm stretched with a whoosh, deftly inserting them into his nostrils amid gasps from the crowd, then wiggled them exaggeratedly.
"That's it, Big Bro Luffy! Exactly like that! Your ability was born for this performance—ahahahaha!" Yosaku roared with laughter at the sight.
"Got it! Ahahaha—this is hilarious! Hey, everyone!" Luffy's goofy grin sent the whole crowd into hysterics.
As Sanji and the villagers brought out more food and drinks, the atmosphere reached its peak. Everyone gathered, toasting to bright futures, clinking glasses, and savoring the feast.
Sol and Luffy were locked in battle over a delicious dish: ham-wrapped melon—thin slices of raw ham draped over perfectly cut melon, so addictive one bite wasn't enough.
"Let go, Sol—this meat's mine!" Luffy pressed his forehead against Sol's, shouting.
"Hmph—no brotherhood at the dinner table! It's every man for himself!" Sol refused to yield, wrestling for the last piece. In the end, Sol's raw strength won, snatching the ham-melon.
"Sanji~! Any more ham-melon? I want more!" Luffy immediately turned to Sanji.
"Gone. That ham came from who-knows-where—I just whipped up what I had. Go find it yourself," Sanji replied, sipping sake.
Luffy grabbed a dozen pieces of meat and wandered off munching, still hunting for more ham-melon.
After eating his fill, Sanji went off to flirt with the village girls. Zoro kept drinking heavily with the villagers. Usopp stood on a high spot, loudly bragging that he had single-handedly defeated all the enemies.
When Sol pushed open the bar door with a bottle of rum in hand, the wood creaked softly.
Nami lay face-down on the treatment bed, handing Dr. Nako a drawing of an orange windmill pattern.
"Doctor, please re-tattoo this design for me." Her voice carried a touch of anticipation.
"Hey, Nami—we meet again." Sol set the bottle on the counter, pulled up a chair, and sat beside the bed. The wooden legs scraped lightly across the floor.
"S-Sol?!" Nami's face flushed instantly. She instinctively tried to cover herself, but being face-down made it impossible. She buried her face in her arms.
Sol's gaze fell on the scar on her shoulder. "It's nothing… just a shame for a girl to carry a scar like that." His fingertip glowed with soft blue magical light.
A warm halo enveloped Nami. The scar on her shoulder healed visibly—new skin forming, smooth and pale as fresh snow.
Nami reached back in shock, fingertips tracing the spot. Her eyes widened. "It's… really completely gone…"
Overcome, she pushed herself up, threw her arms around Sol in a tight hug, and planted a loud kiss on his cheek—then realized her state and frantically flopped back down, ears burning red.
"Th-thanks…" Sol tilted his head back, frantically wiping a nosebleed. "That thank-you… was a little too intense…"
Dr. Nako approached with tattoo tools, pushing up his glasses. "Shall we continue with the tattoo?"
Nami was silent for a moment, eyes fixed on the orange windmill pattern. The sea breeze slipped through the window, making the paper flutter as if the windmill were truly spinning.
"Yeah," she nodded firmly. "Please go ahead, Doctor."
Some time later, the two left the clinic. The tattoo on Nami's arm was now a perfect orange windmill.
"Sol."
"Yeah, Nami?"
Nami boldly linked her arm with his. "I think… I might like you."
Sol blinked, then sighed dramatically, scratching his head in mock distress. "Ah… that's a problem. I'm kind of a playboy, you know."
Nami narrowed her eyes, lips curving slyly. Her fingers tightened on his arm like she was afraid he'd run. "Hmph. Then I'll be the main one."
Sol froze for a second—then burst out laughing, letting her drag him forward. "Hey hey—that doesn't sound negotiable at all?"
"Who's negotiating?" Nami huffed, leaning closer. "You're not getting away."
The next morning, Luffy and the others waited on the ship for Nami. Sol and Usopp were planting three orange trees—dug up the night before with Nami from the best ones in the grove.
Johnny and Yosaku said goodbye to Zoro. "See you, Big Bro Zoro. We've decided to stay and live in this village."
"Is that so? Take good care of yourselves then," Zoro replied, leaning on the railing.
"Yeah, Big Bro Zoro."
Genzo and the villagers stood at the pier. "Nojiko—Nami left over 100 million Berries in the village and isn't taking a single coin with her?"
Nojiko answered, "She said money can always be stolen again—so it's fine! I tried to convince her to take some, but she refused flat-out."
"That's just how she is—once she says something, she never goes back on it," Nojiko sighed, rubbing her forehead.
"She's a silly girl. We're the ones who should be thanking her," the villagers murmured among themselves.
"Hurry and set sail!" Nami's voice rang from afar. Luffy immediately obeyed. "Anyway, let's listen to Nami first."
Usopp watched Nami running toward them in confusion. "What's Nami doing—planning to sprint the whole way?"
The villagers tried to stop her. "Wait, little Nami! We haven't even said thank you properly—we won't let you leave without a word!"
Nami flashed through the crowd like an orange streak, dodging everyone. Then she leaped.
"Sol!"
Just as she reached the ship, Sol caught her mid-air. After a safe landing, Nami lifted her shirt to her navel—clatter clatter—and countless wallets tumbled out.
"Huh? My wallet's gone!"
"Ah—mine too…"
Nami held up a single bill, smiling brightly at everyone. "Well then, everyone—take care! See you!"
"Ah! Little girl!! How dare you—!!"
"You little cat burglar—come back here!"
The villagers shouted a few times from the pier, then happily waved goodbye.
"Take care!"
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