A year and a half later...
Holding a newspaper, I sighed: "In the end, it happened just like I predicted..."
In the newspaper, it talked about me, Nami, and even Nojiko.
They said the three of us went to an island and killed all natives of that island.
Labeling us as highly dangerous and putting a fat bounty on our heads.
I held three wanted posters.
Nami, The Invisible Thief, also known as Lady of the Fire Fist: 20 million Belly.
Nojiko, The Genius Mechanic: 16 million Belly.
Noah, The Killer Magician: 39 million Belly.
A total of 75 million Belly. A huge bounty for a group of three people from the East Blue.
"Noah!!"
From afar, I heard Nami's voice.
Getting up from the rock I was sitting on, I walked over to her.
"Did you see?" She asked, resting her hands on her knees.
Looking at her, I replied: "If it's about the lies they told about us and how they put a bounty on the three of us, then yes, I saw it."
"Those bastards... All because we didn't want to join the Marines?" She clenched her fists, which were soon surrounded by flames.
"Well, I said this could happen, didn't I?" I replied.
"Yes, but..." She wanted to argue, but couldn't.
"Nami, we both know how rotten they are. Let's not waste time on this." I spat with contempt.
"I still feel like they set us up." Nami said angrily: "When we got to that island, those damn World Nobles had already ordered all the men and children to be killed, kidnapped the beautiful women, and killed the ones they thought were ugly. In the end, those bastards dare to say we were the ones who did it?"
"Honestly, it took a month for them to blame us. I'm even surprised they didn't do it earlier." I said.
"Actually, during that half month, they tried to contact us, they wanted to use that as a threat, but Nojiko hung up and didn't tell you." Nami said and explained, maybe thinking I would get upset: "But, Noah, she did it for us, she didn't imagine they would really do that. She..."
"Don't worry, I understand." I smiled a little, but said coldly: "They weren't going to give up that easily. But it doesn't matter, does it?"
"Are we leaving?" Her eyes sparkled.
"Yes, we can't stay here any longer, if we do, we'll put everyone on this island in danger." I said, adding: "Actually, it lasted longer than I expected, I even turned 15."
"Hehe, I'll be 18 soon. Jealous, huh?" She teased me.
"Maybe." I changed the subject: "Let's call Mater and Merida. We need to get everything ready before we leave."
"Yes, Nojiko already started." Nami said.
From her shoulder, Cri-Kee jumped onto mine.
"Merida must be in the usual place, as for Mater..." She said: "He's running in the sea again. He just doesn't learn."
"Well, even though he ate a Devil Fruit, if he starts to sink, he can still transform into the Black Pearl." I replied.
"Noah... Sigh, it's because you always spoil him like that, that he never learns." She gave me an accusatory look.
"Well, Nojiko-nee can now make fuel for him, we don't have to worry about him running out and sinking in the sea anymore." I said, stifling a laugh.
If it weren't for Mater having transformed into the Black Pearl in time, he would have sunk and wouldn't have been able to come back...
After that, Pegasus took over by force and didn't let Mater go out for a whole month.
Putting that aside for now, we arrived home.
Well... Now it was different from the small house we used to live in.
After Arlong was gone, Nami used part of her money to build a bigger house.
As for the money Arlong stole over the years... It all returned to its rightful owners, and as incredible as it may seem, Nami didn't want a single coin from that money.
By the way, a few days later, Marine ships arrived.
In fact, they acted as if they hadn't come with a purpose in mind and were only doing a check-up to see if everything was okay.
Seriously, with three warships?
Anyway, when they couldn't find Arlong, they still stayed around the area, appearing one last time before leaving.
"By now, they must already know it was you who killed Arlong, Noah." Nami said beside me.
"Me? I never killed him." I shamelessly denied.
"Lie more, I like it." She snorted.
"You've arrived." At the door, Nojiko, now almost 19 years old, welcomed us.
"Well, there's no way not to come." I said: "If we take too long, we'll have to deal with some annoying marines, after all."
"Isn't it just a few marines? I can handle a thousand of them by myself!" Nami flexed her arm, striking a brave pose.
"I know that, but if possible, I'd like to avoid it." Nojiko believed every word Nami said.
Well, how could not believe it?
After a year and a half of training, mainly Armament and Observation Haki, as well as having assimilated [Violet Parr], Nami's strength skyrocketed, along with her confidence. Not to mention the Devil Fruit, Mera Mera no Mi.
"Tsk, I bet that annoying Ace must have heard about us." Nami grumbled, upset at remembering something.
"Haha, you reap what you sow. Who told you to steal from a pirate like him?" Nojiko laughed, not being the least bit sympathetic.
"But how was I supposed to imagine that from just some random pirate, he'd become someone in such a short time with a bounty of 150 million Belly, even learning how to use Haki?"
"You took his Devil Fruit and he had to get strong in another way." I said: "I feel like he was basically destined to be someone powerful, with or without the Devil Fruit. Actually, he should be thanking you."
"Thank me?" Nami looked confused: "Why thank me?"
"Even if I told you, you wouldn't believe it~" I replied.
"Tsk, so annoying~" She stuck out her tongue, heading toward the stairs: "I'm going to pack my bags."
"Wait."
Before I could go up too, Nojiko stopped in front of me with her arms crossed.
"Yes?" I asked: "Did I do something wrong?"
"Did you already tell her?" She asked.
"Tell her what?"
"Don't play dumb, you know what I'm talking about." She raised an eyebrow.
"Sigh~"
"Not yet, but I will talk to her. Don't worry." I replied.
"Seriously, how can someone as brave as you sometimes be such a coward?" She shook her head.
"I have no excuse."
She gestured to me: "Okay, okay, go pack your things, I'll go call Merida, I bet you haven't called her yet."
"Yes, if possible, call Mater too." I replied.
"Okay, I'll do that." She agreed.
--
--
Later, after we had gathered all our things, now with Merida and Mater by our side, the people of Cocoyasi Village surrounded us.
Chabo in particular had teary eyes. His mother, Chizuru, had her hands resting on his shoulder.
"Do you really have to go?" Chabo asked with his tearful voice.
"Yes, Chabo, we can't stay anymore." Nojiko answered in a gentle tone: "But don't worry, this isn't a 'Goodbye', it's a 'See you later.'"
"Noah, you have to protect them!" Genzo placed his hands on my shoulders, looking up into my eyes, then lowering his head: "Please."
"I would do it even if you didn't ask, Genzo-san, don't worry, they mean everything to me." I replied.
"Good, good, good." He laughed afterward.
But his laugh came with tears.
The truth was, no one liked farewells. Especially not farewells with people you care about and love.
"Take care."
"Eat at the right time."
"D-Don't forget to call."
"Noah, Nami, Merida, Pegasus, and also Mater, take care!"
"What do you mean, also? Hey, I'm an essential part of this group, okay? Don't forget I'm Mater, the amazing car that drives on water~!" Mater rolled back and forth, drawing some laughter.
"Yes, Mater, you're amazing!"
"We love you, Mater!"
"Stop it, stop it, you're making me all shy now."
"Hahahaha!"
Even while laughing, they were still crying.
The truth was, they understood that it wouldn't be easy to see us again.
Only a fool would believe that with such a high bounty, we could just keep wandering around so peacefully.
Well... I actually could.
'But I'm not gonna say~'
Haha, I'm evil.
"Noah!"
As I was walking with Nami and the others, suddenly, everyone shouted my name and caught me by surprise.
What I saw made my jaw hit the floor.
Everyone did dogeza and then shouted: "Thank you for saving us!!"
"..."
My eyes filled with tears.
'Damn it! Didn't we have a tactical agreement that I would never reveal what I did and you guys would never mention it?'
"You bastards, I love you!" I shouted.
"Hahaha! I told you he was going to cry!"
"Noah, stay safe!"
"You're a man, you have to protect them!"
"Noah, we'll miss you!"
I turned around, wiping my tears on the sleeve of my shirt.
'Damn, those onion-throwing ninjas got me again!'
Nojiko and Nami placed a hand on each of my shoulders.
And so, I walked away with them.