The Going Merry swayed gently on the waves, the sound of the ocean filling the quiet moments between conversations. Usopp was sprawled out on the deck, tinkering with his slingshot, while Luffy sat cross-legged near the figurehead, his head tilted back as he stared at the sky.
"Usopp! Hey, Usopp!" Luffy called out from the figurehead, his voice carrying over the gentle breeze. He was perched precariously on the goat's head, arms swinging wildly. "Let's play a game!"
Usopp looked up from his pile of tools. "A game? What kind of game?" he asked, suspicious of whatever Luffy had in mind.
Luffy grinned, his usual boundless energy radiating off him. "A throwing contest! Let's see who can throw something the farthest!"
Usopp adjusted his goggles, a competitive spark in his eyes. "Oh, you're on, Lufy! But you're going up against the Great Captain Usopp, the greatest sharpshooter in the East Blue! Prepare to lose."
Sanji emerged from the galley, balancing a tray of steaming plates in one hand and a cigarette in his mouth. "What's all this racket about? Can't a guy cook in peace?"
"We're about to see who's got the best throwing arm!" Luffy announced, jumping down from the figurehead and grabbing a random object from the deck—a rope coil. "Watch this!"
Before Sanji could protest, Luffy wound up his rubber arm, stretching it far behind him. "Gomu Gomu no… THROW!" he shouted, releasing the rope with such force that it sailed out of sight, vanishing over the horizon.
Usopp gawked. "That's cheating! Your arms stretch!" he yelled, pointing a finger.
"That's not cheating; it's strategy!" Luffy replied with a laugh. "Beat that!"
Usopp scowled, determined not to be outdone. He rummaged through his tools and pulled out a small wrench. "Fine! But I'll prove skill beats weird devil fruit powers any day." He adjusted his stance, took aim, and flung the wrench with all his might.
The wrench arced gracefully through the air, landing with a faint splash several hundred meters away. Usopp crossed his arms, looking smug. "See that? Precision and power. Let's see you beat that without cheating."
Luffy tilted his head. "Not bad, but it didn't go as far as mine."
"That's because you stretched!" Usopp retorted, his voice rising.
A few hours later.
The Going Merry glided gracefully toward the harbor of Cocoyasi Village, its familiar creaks blending harmoniously with the rhythmic lapping of the waves. The village lay nestled along the coast, with its modest homes and scattered coconut trees bathed in the golden glow of late afternoon. Behind it, far in the distance, the shadow of Arlong Park loomed like a dark, unspoken threat.
Luffy leaned over the railing, his straw hat slightly tilted back as he beamed at the sight of land. "Finally, landfall!" he declared, stretching his arms wide. "I've been craving to touch solid ground again!"
Turning toward Nami, he grinned even wider. "Oi, Nami, isn't this your hometown?"
Nami stood near the helm, gazing at the village with an expression that was a mix of nostalgia and quiet resolve. "Yeah," she said. "This is Cocoyasi Village. My home."
Before anyone could respond, a gruff voice came from below deck. "A new island, huh?" Zoro muttered as he stumbled onto the deck, his torso wrapped in bandages. He squinted at the distant shore, clearly disoriented from sleep.
Nami turned sharply, hands on her hips. "What are you doing up here? You're in no shape to be walking around!"
Sanji, always eager to side with her, immediately chimed in. "Exactly, mosshead. Listen to Nami-san and go back to that lumpy mattress before you embarrass yourself."
Zoro's brow furrowed, and he shot Sanji a glare. "You want to start something, you curly-browed idiot?"
Sanji smirked, sliding his hands into his pockets. "Start something with you? In that sorry state? Please. You'd keel over before you could land a single swing, you half-dead marimo."
Zoro bared his teeth in a predatory grin, "I'll kill you, number four!"
Sanji leaned forward, his own grin matching Zoro's intensity. "Try it, cactus-head!"
Before they could escalate further, a sharp whack rang out as Nami slammed her fist onto Sanji's head. "If you're going to start a fight, do it somewhere else!" she snapped.
Zoro burst into laughter. "That's what you get, idiot."
Nami turned her gaze on him next, and another resounding whack landed on Zoro's head. "Don't think you're getting away with it, either!"
Sanji groaned, rubbing the fresh lump on his head, while Zoro muttered something under his breath.
After a few more moments of bickering between the two, Nami let out an exasperated sigh. "We're heading out,"
She turned back to Zoro and Sanji, pointing a finger at them. "And you two—don't cause chaos while we're gone."
"You heard that, mosshead," Sanji quipped, smirking.
"It was meant for you, twirly-brows," Zoro shot back.
Luffy, blissfully ignoring their exchange, grinned and pointed toward the village. "Let's go! I want to see that old man with the spinny thing, or whatever it was."
Usopp adjusted his goggles and raised a finger. "You mean the pinwheel, Luffy."
"Yeah, that," Luffy said, waving dismissively. "Or whatever it's called. Let's just go!"
As the crew disembarked, the humid air of Cocoyasi Village greeted them. The dirt path leading into the village was quiet, save for the occasional rustling of palm fronds in the wind.
As they approached the village center, Luffy's excitement bubbled over. "We're finally here!" he said, his voice echoing slightly. "Let's go meet that old man!"
Nami rolled her eyes, already sensing the chaos to come. "He's not just 'some old man.' His name is Genzo," she corrected.
"Oh, yeah!" Luffy said, snapping his fingers as if he'd just remembered. "That old man Gon!"
"It's Gen—" Nami started, but then stopped herself, pressing her fingers to her temples. "Why do I even bother? You're never going to get it right."
As they entered the village proper, heads began to peek out from behind curtains and doors. Whispers spread like wildfire among the residents.
"It's Nami…"
"She's back…"
One by one, doors slammed shut, and windows were hastily boarded up. Mothers pulled their children inside, and the streets grew eerily silent.
Usopp looked around. "Man, they really have no shame, do they?" he muttered, watching as even the shopkeepers bolted their doors.
Before anyone could comment, Luffy's eyes lit up as he spotted a familiar, "Oh, it's the old man!" he shouted, waving enthusiastically.
Genzo, the village's makeshift lawkeeper, stood with his arms crossed, his trademark pinwheel spinning on his head. His eyes widened as he spotted Nami with some random strangers.
"Luffy, his name isn't 'old man'—it's Genzo," Nami said, her tone tinged with annoyance.
"Right, old man Gon!" Luffy repeated confidently.
Nami groaned, burying her face in her hands. "Why do I even bother?" she muttered. "You'll never get it right…"