CHAPTER 4: Nami
A small boat drifted gently across the sea. On it sat an orange-haired young girl, her eyes fixed on a freshly drawn map. She hummed a cheerful tune, her mood light and full of hope.
Every so often, her gaze flicked to a pile of boxes and sacks in one corner. She smiled, a bright and genuine grin that reflected the dreams in her heart.
"Just a little more… a few million berries left. I'll save you all. I promise."
Her whisper carried over the quiet sea breeze, full of determination and longing.
But just then, the boat shook slightly—too gently for a wave.
Startled, she turned her head.
Standing there was a boy—no, a man—in a straw hat, red vest, blue shorts. His presence felt both familiar and strange, like déjà vu mixed with danger.
Her eyes widened. Her voice came out in a scramble of words.
"Y-you! How are you here?! When did you get on the boat?!"
Luffy chuckled at her flustered expression.
"You were the one who shouted 'be careful,' weren't you?"
Nami's heart skipped. Her face flushed slightly.
Technically, she wasn't the only one who shouted back then, but… since he believed it, why not take the credit?
And more importantly—he had a huge sack slung over his shoulder, bulging with treasure.
If she saved his life, shouldn't he repay her with gratitude? Like, say... all the treasure?
Hands on hips, she puffed out her chest and struck a confident pose.
"Yes, of course I did! I saved you. If you're here to repay me, then handing over that big sack behind you would settle the debt nicely."
Luffy smirked. This girl was clever, bold, and just a little too greedy to be dangerous.
Without a word, he tossed the heavy sack onto the deck. It hit with a loud thud, spilling its contents in a glittering cascade of jewels, gold, and rare artifacts.
Nami's eyes lit up like lanterns. She dived toward the pile, hugging the treasure like it was her long-lost lover.
"Tens of millions…" she mentally appraised.
But then she froze. Slowly, she turned her head and gave Luffy a sheepish grin.
"Hehe… sorry. I moved instinctively."
She didn't want to provoke the kind of guy who could eat a mace to the face and not even flinch.
Luffy laughed lightly. "So you're a little money gremlin, huh?"
He leaned casually against the railing. "I don't mind giving it to you, but I have one condition."
Her expression shifted—first joy, then guarded suspicion.
"…What condition?"
A beat later, her cheeks flushed again.
"W-wait, no! Iyaah! I'm not that kind of girl!"
Luffy deadpanned. "What are you thinking, you little pervert?"
Nami coughed violently to cover her embarrassment. "Ahem. I mean—what exactly is the condition?"
He looked at her with curiosity, as if reading her like a book.
"I saw you working on a map. It looked freshly drawn. You're skilled, aren't you?"
She blinked, caught off guard.
"I need a navigator. I want to head to the Grand Line. I'll pay you upfront with that treasure. What do you say?"
Nami's grip tightened around the treasure sack. Her face turned serious.
"…Are you a pirate?"
Luffy paused. That question struck deeper than she realized.
Was he?
To the current him, "Pirate King" sounded almost silly. With his powers, even becoming the overlord of the universe felt mundane. He wasn't a puppet of Joy Boy anymore. The old Luffy's body was his now, but his soul was different.
Still, he understood the nature of this world—Marine or Pirate, Justice or Evil.
But he… he was something else. He stood for Freedom.
With a gentle smile that made Nami's heart flutter again, he answered truthfully:
"Right now? No. But who knows in the future? I can tell you hate pirates. But does that mean we can't work together?"
She was caught off guard.
Her heart thudded as she looked at him. So charming… too dangerous… stay focused, Nami! You have a mission!
Trying to hide her flustered expression, she nodded.
"Fine. But I have conditions too! One: payment is upfront. Two: if you do become a pirate, I reserve the right to walk away."
Luffy chuckled but didn't respond.
"Take my treasure, Nami… but you're not going anywhere. You've already boarded my ship, even if you don't know it yet."
Nami noticed his chuckle and felt a strange shiver. Still hugging the sack, she moved it to a corner of the boat and began hiding it in one of her secret compartments. She kept sneaking glances at him, but when he didn't react, she relaxed again.
"Even his silence is charming… ugh, control yourself!"
Eventually, she sat down and began counting the treasure piece by piece, giggling quietly to herself.
Luffy, meanwhile, took off his straw hat and lay down, arms behind his head, watching her with mild amusement.
"So, why are you so obsessed with money? Bad childhood?"
Nami's hands paused… but she said nothing, resuming her counting.
Luffy shrugged and yawned. "Wake me when we hit land."
Moments later, he was asleep, a soft snoring sound escaping his lips.
Nami finished counting and hid the treasure. Then she sat nearby, stealing occasional glances at the sleeping boy.
"…So handsome," she whispered, then slapped her cheeks.
"Snap out of it, Nami! You have goals! Focus!"
But her resolve didn't last long.
"…Still… I wanna collect him too. Along with my treasure."
If Luffy were awake, he might have smirked.
To be on par with treasure in Nami's heart? Now that was true protagonist-level charm.