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In the days that followed, Nami and Nojiko often found themselves chatting away at any free moment. With the recent acquisition of the Mind-Mind Fruit, Nojiko had taken to communicating with Nami through telepathy, a newfound ability that still surprised both of them with its ease and intimacy.
This form of silent conversation came with unexpected benefits. Not only did it allow them to share their thoughts privately, but it also meant that even Allen, with his advanced Observation Haki, couldn't catch a single word. He was left outside their bubble of sisterly secrets and occasional laughter, hearing only their shared giggles.
Meanwhile, Nami continued her little nightly mischief, creeping up on Nojiko as she prepared for bed and insistently dragging her into her own room to talk. This sisterly bonding happened every night without fail, while Allen, though a little irked, held back his own annoyance with Nojiko until the daytime. In this way, their lives settled into an odd but content rhythm, a brief sanctuary as Allen's wounds gradually mended, his strength returning with each passing day.
Then, one lazy afternoon, Nami came charging into the room with a bundle of papers clutched tightly in her hands, her eyes bright and a little frantic.
"Allen, you're wanted!" she shouted, though her voice was just a bit shaky.
In her rush, she almost tripped, and in the process, her face reddened. She quickly tossed the papers onto a table, her embarrassment overtaking her initial excitement as she bolted out of the room.
Curious, Allen wandered over to the table, picking up the papers she had left. It was a freshly printed batch of Navy wanted posters, and right at the top was his own face, a clear, sharp image staring back at him. Underneath his name, the Navy had stamped a modest bounty: 50 million Berries.
"What in the world is Sengoku thinking? Only 50 million Berries?" Allen muttered, feeling a mix of irritation and disbelief.
After dealing with Colonel Nezumi and sparing the lower-ranking marines, he had been braced for the Navy's attention. He'd even been constantly using his Observation Haki to monitor the area, prepared to slip away at the first sign of a Navy presence.
But after all his efforts, this was his reward? A mere 50 million Berries?
It was almost insulting.
Lowering his poster, his gaze fell on the next one, and a familiar face greeted him: Luffy, with his iconic grin beaming from the page.
In the original story, Luffy had earned his bounty after defeating Arlong and after Zoro's fight with Nezumi. Yet this time, with both Arlong and Nezumi dead at Allen's hands, how had Luffy still ended up with a bounty?
The answer was obvious—the mysterious force that kept the world's "storyline" intact. The reality-altering force that corrected events.
Allen pondered the strangeness of it all before noticing Nami seated outside, lost in thought. Her head rested on one hand, her eyes staring into the distance, as if the future were just there, within her grasp, but elusive.
"Nami?"
His voice jolted her from her thoughts, and her cheeks instantly flushed as she remembered the scene she'd just walked in on.
"Oh, Allen! You scared me! What is it?" she said, her words coming out a little too fast, betraying her flustered state.
Allen didn't need Nojiko's telepathy to guess what she was thinking. He knew Nami well enough to sense her growing restlessness. After all, they had been in the village for quite some time now.
The time had come to move on.
"Tomorrow, we set sail," he said, his voice steady.
Nami's eyes widened, a mixture of surprise and joy lighting up her face. She had spent so much time helping the villagers that she had put her own dream on hold. Despite this, she'd never dared to bring it up, choosing to wait for Allen and Nojiko's decision.
But now, he was the one suggesting it.
"Really?" she asked, her eyes practically shining as she looked up at him, as though she could hardly believe it.
"Of course. You've waited long enough for this. Let me take care of the preparations," he replied with a reassuring smile, gently ruffling her hair.
Nami's face grew redder, but she didn't pull away. Instead, she shifted slightly, the light resistance of her head seeming more like playful hesitation than a true attempt to escape his touch.
Meanwhile, Nojiko stood off to the side, watching their exchange with a small, knowing smile. She didn't appear jealous—just amused, as if she had been waiting for this moment as well.
"I'll go tell Ajian and the others!" Nami said suddenly, snapping back to reality. She rushed outside, her face still glowing from excitement.
That evening, the village gathered once again for a farewell banquet. The last celebration had been to mark their newfound freedom from Arlong, but tonight was bittersweet. They were saying goodbye to two of their own.
The banquet was grander than the last, with even more food and drink laid out, but the air was heavy with a quiet sadness. Although the villagers ate and drank, laughter was scarce, and most people stared at their plates, lost in thought.
Allen stood, raising a cup.
"Thank you, all of you, for looking after Nami and Nojiko all these years. I'll take over from here. Let's drink to that—and I'll bring them back for a visit someday!"
The villagers lifted their cups and drank with him, though their hearts remained heavy.
They had grown attached to Nami and Nojiko, and while they felt grateful for Allen's presence, they couldn't help but worry about the future. With Allen leaving, who would protect them if another pirate came?
"Everyone," Ajian's voice rang out, calm and reassuring. "Allen isn't originally from Cocoyasi Village. It's natural that he'd want to continue his journey. We're lucky he passed through here and freed us from Arlong."
He glanced around, his gaze settling on the villagers one by one. "As for Nami and Nojiko, they have their own dreams. Let's respect their choices. And Allen… take good care of them."
As the only law officer in the village, Ajian's words held authority. He had always looked out for the villagers, and now, as he urged them to send off their beloved Nami and Nojiko, the villagers slowly found themselves nodding in agreement.
Nami and Nojiko, who rarely drank, allowed themselves to indulge, drinking until they could barely stand. At the end of the night, Allen carried each of them home.
The following morning, with the first rays of dawn, Allen gently woke Nami and Nojiko. Together, they made their way through the village, backpacks slung over their shoulders. The village was still quiet, the streets empty in the early morning light.
Down by the dock, a small boat waited for them—a simple craft that barely rivaled Mihawk's meager raft in its bare-bones construction.
Nami and Nojiko paused, looking back toward the village. Nami's gaze was steady, filled with determination, but Nojiko's eyes lingered, her first farewell to her home in over a decade. The quiet morning air held her final memories of the village, and she took it all in with a mixture of sadness and excitement.
Allen, sensing the weight of the moment, placed a comforting arm around each of them.
"It's time," he said gently, guiding them onto the boat. They took their seats, their backs to the village as Allen set the sails and picked up the oars.
The boat drifted slowly, carried by the wind and the gentle pull of the current, leaving Cocoyasi Village behind.
"Let's go," Allen said, a slight smile on his face. "Our next stop: Loguetown."
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