The gentle rustling of leaves filled the air as the midday sun filtered through the thick canopy of the Tree of Omniscience. Ohara, a peaceful island of scholars, was always quiet, its inhabitants more concerned with studying ancient texts than with the trivialities of everyday life. But two young figures disrupted the usual calm that day, their voices carrying across the otherwise silent library.
"William! You're supposed to be reading, not napping," Nico Robin's voice echoed through the library, filled with mock severity.
William, slouched over an open book with his arms folded beneath his head, peeked up with a lazy grin. His sandy blonde hair was tousled, and his bright green eyes sparkled with mischief. "C'mon, Robin! You've been dragging me through all these dusty old books for hours. Can't we take a break?" he asked, his voice filled with a mix of playfulness and exasperation.
At eight years old, Robin was already far more serious than most children her age. With her arms crossed, she gave William a pointed look. "These books aren't just 'old,' they hold the secrets of the world. You should care more about learning them before we get in trouble."
William groaned, sitting up straight. He was seven—one year younger than her—but he never seemed to act his age. "I care! I care a lot! Just… in small doses." He stretched his arms out with a yawn. "Besides, knowing all these ancient secrets won't help when the island needs someone to stand up to bullies. That's why I'm around."
Robin's expression softened for a brief moment. She didn't have any friends except for William. No one else on the island wanted to be around her. Most of the other children called her a monster because of her strange powers—the Hana Hana no Mi had given her the ability to sprout extra limbs wherever she wanted, which only deepened the rumors and fear surrounding her.
But William had never cared. To him, she was just Robin.
"You'll get yourself into serious trouble one day, William," Robin said, her lips curling into a small, mischievous smile. "And when you do, I'll be there to read your obituary."
William laughed, a loud, carefree sound that echoed through the library. "Always with the dark humor, huh? Don't worry, I'll make sure my obituary says something cool like, 'Kael D. William, the bravest hero to ever live, died saving a kitten from a burning building!'"
"More likely you'll trip over your own feet and fall into the fire," Robin said in her usual deadpan tone, but the glint in her eyes betrayed her amusement.
William winked. "Then you just make sure to tell people that I died a hero and write about my heroic deeds!"
Robin rolled her eyes, but she couldn't help the small smile tugging at her lips. Despite her tendency to keep others at a distance, William had always managed to break through her barriers. He was reckless, loud, and completely unbothered by the weight of the world that pressed down on both of them.
"You don't take anything seriously, do you?" Robin asked, raising an eyebrow.
William leaned on the table with his usual cocky grin. "Oh, I take some things seriously. Like making sure you don't become some creepy old bookworm with no friends."
Robin tilted her head, her expression softening. "And you think you're going to stop that?"
William nodded dramatically. "It's a tough job, but someone's gotta do it."
The two shared a comfortable silence for a moment, their bond evident in the easy way they teased each other. They had always been like this—two sides of the same coin. Where Robin was reserved and intellectual, William was outgoing and impulsive. But that was what made their friendship so strong. He was the shield to her mind, always ready to stand up for her, while she guided him with her wisdom, keeping him from acting too rashly.
As the sun dipped lower in the sky, casting long shadows across the library, William's playful expression grew more serious. "Hey, Robin, you know I've got your back, right?"
Robin blinked, caught off guard by the sudden shift in tone. "Of course," she said softly. "But why do you say that?"
He shrugged, looking out the window at the peaceful village below. "I don't know. I just… I feel like something big is coming. Something dangerous. And when it does, I don't want you to face it alone."
"I know," Robin said quietly. "I feel it too."
The weight of her words hung in the air, a dark cloud forming over the peaceful island of Ohara. But for now, they were just two children, sitting in a library filled with ancient knowledge and the laughter of a friendship that had yet to be tested by the cruelties of the world.
With a playful punch to William's arm, Robin stood, gathering her books. "Let's get back to work before you fall asleep again."
William grinned, rubbing his arm. "Anything for you, boss." He gave a mock salute before picking up a book of his own, flipping through it lazily.
As the day turned to night and the stars twinkled overhead, the two friends sat side by side in the quiet library. The bond they shared, forged in the peaceful days of Ohara, would soon be put to the ultimate test. But for now, in this moment, they were just Kael D. William and Nico Robin, two kids with the world ahead of them.
And that was all they needed.