Meteorology knowledge. Seeing the massive stacks of books in the corner made Luffy want to vomit.
Especially when Nami mentioned she had read them all several times and could even recite them.
He was in awe.
Luffy was currently looking at Nami's simplified and summarized notes, and even that was tormenting him, making his eyes blurry.
It was hard to remember.
It was just forcing these characters into his brain. The effect was negligible; it was pure torture.
"The most important thing about reading and memorizing is to do both at the same time," Nami said.
"Huh?" Luffy didn't react at first.
"Speak up! If you want to learn, get the basics down first."
Nami comforted herself with the thought that one should see a task through to the end, but the look she gave Luffy reminded her of her past self.
'Nami, studying is hard work. You have to persevere.'
'That's why you should choose something you like to do. Otherwise, you'll have no motivation and just find it boring.'
'Can't remember? Haha, feeling sleepy, right? I was the same back in Marine school, so I just became a combatant instead.'
'So beautiful! Did you draw this nautical chart, Nami? You'll definitely become a great navigator one day.'
Bellemere... I didn't become a navigator for the Marines. I became the pirates you hated most.
"Remember the bathymetric points and depth contours. The most important things on a nautical chart are drawing the navigation aids and marking the topography and facilities." Nami propped her chin on her hand and looked at Luffy. "What's your goal in learning this nautical knowledge? Just bored?"
"No! I'm doing it to become the Pirate King!" Luffy clenched his fists.
Nami curled her lip.
With her, the best navigator, here, what did Luffy need to learn for?
Wait a minute... Nami's mind stirred.
She was very sensitive about these things, especially now.
"Why this sudden urge to learn nautical knowledge?" Nami stopped her explanation and crossed her arms. "What are you worried about?"
"W-worried?" Luffy looked up, bewildered.
Nami scoffed, but the laughter didn't reach her eyes. "Seems to me you're afraid I'll run off, leaving you idiot pirates without a navigator. That's why you're trying to cram last minute, right?"
"Of course not! Partners are for trusting. Nami, you're a partner I've acknowledged." Luffy grinned. "The navigator of our Straw Hat Pirates!"
"'Our'? Who said I'm definitely one of you?" Nami's heart skipped a beat, and her throat felt a little dry.
This was exactly why she hated getting involved with anyone.
Just like with Carina.
Nami was destined to be a loner. Anyone associated with her would meet with misfortune.
She couldn't quite understand Luffy's thought process. They hadn't known each other long, yet he trusted her so completely? He didn't even question her when she said she'd keep the treasure in the storeroom. Was he really a pirate?
Nami stared at Luffy for a moment.
If it was him... could he drive out the Arlong Pirates?
Nami's voice dropped a few notes. "You say that so easily. Pirates splitting up is pretty common, isn't it? Why are you so sure I'll stay? What if I never planned to stay forever from the beginning? What if I have a reason I have to leave?"
"A reason you have to leave?"
Luffy frowned deeply, his rubbery face scrunching up.
His straightforward mind couldn't fully grasp the meaning behind Nami's words just now.
However, the study time was finally over!
"Why would there be such a reason? If there's a reason, just say it and we'll solve it! Isn't that what partners are for, to help each other?" Luffy stood up, his expression serious.
"Can you help me..."
Just then, with a creak, the cloth covering the table Luffy had accidentally bumped slipped off one corner.
A face-down wooden photo frame was revealed.
"Hey, what's this?"
Luffy's attention was immediately diverted.
He had always found this covered photo frame in Nami's room rather conspicuous.
Before Nami could react, his hand had already reached out, instinctively flipping the frame over.
The photo showed three people with bright, smiling faces.
One was a young Nami with two small pigtails and a round face.
Next to her was a slightly older girl with blue short hair.
And standing between them, their arms linked tightly with hers, was a woman in a Marine uniform, with a sunny, gentle demeanor, grinning widely.
Before Luffy could process it,
Nami snatched the photo frame back!
Then, Luffy saw a face that had instantly drained of all color.
"Nami, what's wrong?"
Even Luffy, dense as he was, could tell Nami was angry. He flailed nervously, and right then, the dreaded voice sounded again.
One hour of sleep, one minute to eat—how much break time could there possibly be?
Nami's body trembled uncontrollably. She bit her lower lip so hard a faint, metallic taste of blood seeped out.
"Get out!"
"Huh? Nami..."
Luffy was startled by her sudden, intense reaction and instinctively took a step back.
"Sorry, I'm not in the mood to teach right now. Can you just... give me a moment alone?"
Nami took a deep breath, one hand slamming the photo frame face-down again.
Luffy scratched his head, completely baffled about what had happened.
Are women really that hard to understand?
Luffy was utterly confused, but he knew there must be something going on with Nami.
Time! There's no time!
BAM—!
The door was slammed shut behind him with such force the whole cabin wall vibrated.
"Nami! We're partners..."
Inside the room, Nami leaned back against the cold door and slowly slid down to sit on the floor.
She couldn't hear anything after that.
For her, the only place she could cry was her own room... though clearly not this room.
On the deck, Usopp was tinkering with a cannon, aiming at the vast sea in the distance.
He heard the noise and turned around.
"Took you that long to get kicked out?" Usopp stopped aiming and looked at Luffy. "What happened?"
"Nami's in a bad mood." The life-or-death countdown sounded in Luffy's ears. He had no time to chat with Usopp.
Before, he would have had the time and inclination to play with Usopp.
Like sticking chopsticks up their nostrils and dancing around weirdly with dustpans.
But his scheduled time with Usopp conflicted with Nami's.
Luffy now needed to think about developing his Devil Fruit abilities.
The Gomu Gomu no Mi could be developed into all sorts of random skills: Slingshot, Whip, Battle Axe, Rocket...
Luffy thought of everything he could.
What else?
He asked offhandedly, "Usopp, what do you want to do as a pirate?"
Usopp laughed, placing his hands on his hips.
"I'm going to become a brave warrior of the sea! Then I'm going to the land of giants, Elbaf, to see the strongest race in the world..."
Giants?
Luffy's eyes lit up instantly.
That's right! He looked down at his own fist.