The sun was slowly sinking toward the horizon, tinting the sea with shades of orange and pale pink. The wind was soft, almost lazy. The small boat moved quietly, carried by a steady breeze.
Nami sat at the helm, one hand on the rudder, the other holding the map she had taken from the hunters' ship. She studied it in silence, tracing their route with her finger. Yogiri was still at the bow, sitting in the same position as he had been for hours, his knees drawn up, his gaze lost on the passing water.
The silence between them wasn't heavy. It was simply… there.
After a long moment, Nami folded the map and carefully put it away.
"We'll keep sailing for another two or three hours before stopping for the night," she said calmly. "There's a small sheltered cove on the east coast. We'll reach it before it gets completely dark."
Yogiri slightly turned his head toward her.
"Alright."
Nami watched him for a moment, then asked:
"Aren't you tired?"
"No." He paused very briefly, then added, "And you?"
Nami blinked, surprised by the question. A small smile appeared on her lips.
"A little. But I'm fine. It's normal on the first day."
Time passed slowly. The sun kept descending, becoming a red sphere almost touching the sea. The colors of the sky deepened, then gradually faded into violet and dark blue.
By the time they reached the small cove, night had nearly fallen. It was a quiet place, surrounded by low rocks and a few trees leaning toward the water. Nami carefully maneuvered to secure the boat in a sheltered spot.
Once the boat was properly tied, she stretched and let out a long sigh.
"We'll spend the night here. Tomorrow, we'll set off early."
They stepped onto the small pebble beach. Nami lit a fire with dry wood. The flame slowly grew, casting a warm, flickering orange light over their faces.
Yogiri sat cross-legged near the fire. Nami settled across from him and took out some bread and salted fish they had recovered from the looted ship. She handed him a portion.
They ate in silence for a long while. Only the crackling of the fire and the distant sound of the waves could be heard.
Nami eventually broke the quiet.
"You know… it's strange. We left this morning, and we've already been attacked. And you just… said a word. And it was over."
Yogiri chewed his piece of bread slowly before answering.
"They wanted the money." He looked at the fire for a moment, then added in a neutral tone, "Do you want me to let them get closer next time?"
Nami gently shook her head.
"No… that's not it. It's just that I don't want killing to become our only answer. I want to sail. See new places. Not just survive by leaving bodies behind us."
Yogiri stayed silent for a few seconds. He watched the flames, then raised his eyes toward her.
"I understand." His voice was still flat, but there was a faint nuance, as if he was genuinely trying to respond to what she said. "I'll only kill if they attack us. Otherwise… I won't do anything. Is that okay with you?"
Nami looked at him for a long moment. She seemed surprised, then a soft, slightly tired smile appeared on her face.
"Yes. That's fine with me. Thank you, Yogiri."
He simply nodded.
"Alright."
The fire crackled louder. A spark jumped onto the pebbles.
Nami lay down near the fire, a blanket over her.
"Good night, Yogiri."
"Good night."
He remained seated, eyes open, watching the stars and the dark sea. For once, he didn't seem completely distant. He was just… there. With her.
Night fully settled around them. The sky was now filled with stars. The sea murmured softly against the rocks.
The journey continued, slowly.
***
Morning came gently. Light filtered through the trees lining the cove, and seabirds cried in the distance. The fire was now nothing more than warm embers.
Nami woke first. She stretched at length, looked around, then turned her head toward Yogiri. He was still sitting in exactly the same place as the night before, his eyes open.
"You didn't sleep?" she asked, rubbing her eyes.
Yogiri slightly turned his head toward her.
"I did. A little."
Nami raised an eyebrow but didn't press further. She stood up, shook out the blanket, and began packing their things.
"We'll head out soon. The wind is good this morning."
They ate the remaining bread and fish in silence, sitting on the pebbles. Yogiri chewed slowly, unhurried. Nami, meanwhile, watched the sea, already calculating their route in her head.
Once everything was packed, they climbed back aboard. Nami raised the sail with precise movements. The boat slowly left the cove, gliding over the calm water.
Around noon, Nami came to sit beside Yogiri with a water flask.
"Here. Drink a little."
He took the flask and drank a few sips before handing it back.
"Thank you."
Nami smiled slightly.
"You say thank you now? That's new."
Yogiri looked at her for a moment.
"You gave me something to drink. It's normal to say thank you."
She let out a soft, gentle laugh.
"That's true."
A long, comfortable silence settled in. The boat moved peacefully, rocked by the light waves.
After a while, Nami spoke again, her voice more serious:
"Yogiri… with that bounty on your head, we're probably going to run into more hunters. Maybe more of them, maybe better armed. Are you going to keep killing them like yesterday?"
Yogiri watched the sea for a long moment before answering.
"If they attack us, yes." He paused, then added, "Otherwise, I won't do anything. Like I told you last night."
Nami nodded, visibly relieved.
"Alright. I'll try to talk them down first. With my lies and my maps, maybe we can avoid some fights."
Yogiri turned his head toward her.
"You're good at that?"
Nami smiled, a bit proud.
"Pretty much, yes. I spent six years lying to Arlong just to survive. I should be able to handle a few bounty hunters."
The wind picked up slightly. Nami stood to adjust the sail. Yogiri watched her without moving, but his eyes followed her movements with calm attention.
When she sat back down, she unfolded the map they had taken and placed it between them.
"I've been thinking. We're not going to stay near the coast forever. We're heading for Loguetown."
Yogiri tilted his head slightly.
"Loguetown?"
"Yes. It's the last town before the Grand Line. We can find a better ship there, supplies, and maybe some information about the route ahead. It's also a place where a lot of pirates and bounty hunters pass through. It could be dangerous… but it's necessary if we really want to sail."
Yogiri looked at the map for a moment, then nodded.
"Alright. We're going to Loguetown."
Nami rolled up the map and put it away.
"It'll take several days. We'll follow the coast a bit longer, then cross a more open stretch."
The afternoon passed slowly. The sun began to sink once more. No other ships appeared on the horizon. The sea remained calm.
Yogiri stayed seated at the bow, his two blue strands of hair drifting in the wind. Nami, at the helm, occasionally glanced at him.
For the first time, the silence between them no longer felt empty. It was starting to feel like something shared.
The boat continued on its way toward Loguetown.
The journey to Loguetown had lasted four days. Four days of calm seas, light winds, and shared silences. They had only crossed paths with one distant ship, which never came close. Yogiri hadn't said anything. Neither had Nami.
On the fifth morning, the city finally appeared on the horizon.
Loguetown stood like a gateway between the East Blue and the Grand Line. Its white and colorful buildings stretched along the coast, dominated by the great execution square where Gold Roger had been killed twenty years earlier. Ships of all sizes were moored in the harbor, flags fluttered in the wind, and the air already carried a mix of fresh fish, spices, and salt.
Nami carefully maneuvered their small boat toward an empty dock. Once it was securely tied, she jumped onto the pier and stretched at length, arms raised toward the sky.
"Finally… we're here."
Yogiri stepped down as well, slowly, and stood beside her. He looked around without any particular expression, his two blue strands of hair lightly stirred by the harbor breeze.
Nami took a deep breath, a nearly excited smile on her face.
"Loguetown… This is where everything really begins for a lot of people. The last town before the Grand Line. Let's walk around a bit, alright? I need to see the city, feel the atmosphere, scout out shops and useful information."
She turned to him, her eyes bright.
"You're coming with me? Not to kill anyone. Just… to walk. To look."
Yogiri looked at her for a moment, then nodded.
"Alright. I'll come."
They left the boat moored and made their way into the lively streets of Loguetown.
The city was alive. Merchants shouted their prices, sailors stepped off ships laughing, children ran between the stalls. The smell of warm bread and ripe fruit filled the air. Nami walked with a light step, looking everywhere: the maps displayed in a shop window, the weapons at a blacksmith's, the clothes at a tailor's.
Yogiri followed a few steps behind, hands in his pockets. He didn't speak much, but he observed. His eyes moved over the people, the buildings, the Marine flags fluttering in the distance. He seemed neither impressed nor worried. Just… present.
Nami stopped in front of the main square. At its center stood the scaffold where Roger had been executed twenty years earlier. A small crowd had gathered; some took pictures, others told the story in hushed voices.
"This is it," Nami murmured, almost respectfully. "This is where the Pirate King died. And where many dreams began."
She stayed silent for a moment, then resumed walking, more slowly this time.
They continued through the narrow streets. Nami entered a small marine chart shop. She spent long minutes flipping through maps, comparing prices, asking the vendor about the currents near Reverse Mountain. Yogiri stayed by the door, leaning against the wall, not fully stepping inside. He watched Nami talk, without interrupting.
When she came out, she held a small roll of charts under her arm, looking satisfied.
"It's expensive, but it's worth it. We'll need good maps for the Grand Line."
Yogiri nodded.
"You look happy."
Nami smiled.
"Yeah. A little. It's the first time I can buy maps without lying to someone to get them. It's… nice."
They continued their walk. They passed a fish market, then a noisy tavern where pirates and Marines drank side by side in a fragile truce. Nami carefully avoided places too crowded with Marines.
At one point, she stopped by a small fountain and sat on its edge. Yogiri remained standing beside her.
"You know," she said softly, "I didn't think I'd come here one day with someone like you. But… I'm glad you're here. Even if you don't talk much."
Yogiri looked at her for a moment.
"I'm glad I'm here too."
Nami blinked, surprised by the simple, direct answer. A small smile appeared on her lips.
"That's good."
The sun was high in the sky. The city kept moving around them—loud, lively, full of promise and danger.
They stayed a while longer by the fountain, enjoying the relative calm of their walk.
Loguetown was waiting for them. And with it, everything that would come next.