The waves gently collided against the tired hull of the boat. Aboard, Luffy, Zoro, and Koby sailed toward Orange Town, following the course they had calculated using the compass they had retrieved from the island freed from Morgan's grip. The sun, already high in the sky, bathed the ocean in a golden hue. A soft breeze brushed their faces, pushing the makeshift sail just enough. Despite the warm sea air, the atmosphere suddenly felt heavier, as if the horizon were hiding something important.
Luffy, seated on the edge of the boat, rocked back and forth, eyes sparkling and stomach already growling. He seemed to have regained some of his carefree nature after the battles of the past days. Zoro, standing at the front of the ship, kept his arms crossed over his chest, eyes fixed on the line where sky met sea. As for Koby, he regularly adjusted the sail, checking their heading with the compass and a small notebook where he recorded everything: wind direction, current changes, the relative position of clouds…
"Hey, Koby," Luffy called out as he turned around. "You sure we're heading the right way?"
"Yes, Captain," replied the young man with a focused smile. "Orange Town should be two or three hours away, if the wind stays in our favor."
"Pff," grumbled Zoro, "I just hope we find something to eat. Your compass is nice and all, but my stomach doesn't run on directions."
Luffy burst into loud laughter."Shishishi! Don't worry, Zoro, we'll find food! Once we get a real ship, with a kitchen full of meat, I'll eat as much as I want!"
Koby, amused, gave a small smile. For a few minutes, they drifted along in relative calm, each letting their thoughts wander.
Suddenly, Zoro straightened up. His keen eye had spotted something on the horizon: a sail, rather small, barely bigger than theirs, but distinct enough to stand out against the ocean's shimmer.
"Looks like there's another boat," he said in a calm tone.
"Where?" Luffy exclaimed, jumping up to squint in the direction Zoro pointed.
"Right there," replied the swordsman. "It seems to be drifting…"
Koby grabbed his notebook, trying to jot down the approximate coordinates.
"Indeed, it doesn't seem to be moving much. It's strange for a ship to just drift like that in broad daylight…"
Luffy stared at the vague shape in the distance."Do you think they need help? If so, maybe we should go check it out."
Zoro, skeptical, shrugged."Maybe. Or maybe they're the kind of pirates you don't want to run into."
The young straw-hatted captain laughed again, with his usual carefree tone."Bah, we'll see. Let's go!"
Without waiting for agreement, Luffy shifted the sail. Koby, a little worried, helped him adjust their trajectory toward the strange boat. Zoro sighed but didn't object. After all, he wasn't afraid of potential pirates.
When they got close enough, they finally made out the boat. It was tethered by a rope to a slightly larger ship—not by much, but significantly more intimidating. It flew a pirate flag. On the sail, a skull with a red nose: the emblem of Buggy the Clown.
"Buggy's pirates… I've heard of that guy," Zoro said, looking unimpressed. "But the deck looks deserted."
"Hahahaha, look at that red nose! That's hilarious!" Luffy laughed, amused by the flag.
Koby, less amused, let his gaze glide over the worn planks of the deck. Something about the air felt heavy. An oppressive silence reigned, where a pirate ship should've been buzzing with shouts and crude laughter.
"I'm going to check if there's anything useful," he finally said. "Stay here, I'll be back quickly. Don't leave without me, guys."
Zoro smirked."Where would we go? You're the navigator, idiot."
Koby suppressed a chuckle and stepped onto the ship's deck.
At first glance, the deck seemed empty. Koby glanced around: overturned crates, dirty ropes, and suspicious brown stains. He didn't say a word, didn't even furrow his brow; his breathing remained steady. Each step echoed with the light creak of his shoes. He noticed dents in the railing, as if someone had struck it in a fit of rage.
Then came a noise—faint but distinct. A dull thud, somewhere beneath his feet. He stopped, trying to determine the source before moving forward again. His fingers tightened around his staff—a precaution he had taken before climbing aboard.
He found a hatch leading into the ship. Another thud echoed. He opened the trapdoor and slid down, landing in a moldy-smelling corridor. In the dim light, he caught a metallic glint and a muffled whisper, followed by a groan that left no doubt about its origin. Someone was being abused. He exhaled slowly, aware that what he was about to find might be horrific.
At the far end stood a door and two men who seemed to be guarding it, though their attention was clearly focused on what was happening inside.
Koby paused, silently observing the scene. His pupils flicked between the men and the door. But he didn't utter a single insult, didn't issue a threat. He simply moved forward—silent as a cat.
"Hey!" one of the pirates shouted, noticing him. "Who the hell are you?! An intruder? Hey kid, what are you doing here? Don't tell me you came to play hero? Hehehe, we're gonna take care of you and your pretty little head!"
The first pirate drew a knife. Koby didn't respond. He took another step forward. With a swift, controlled motion, he struck the man's knife-wielding hand with his staff, then delivered a precise blow to his throat. Nothing flashy, nothing overly violent—just surgical precision. The man collapsed, choking. Koby didn't stop; he followed through with an upward motion, striking the second man under the chin hard enough to lift him slightly off the ground.
No doubt the two men were now unable to fight.
Koby stepped forward and opened the door as if it were his own home.
The scene that greeted him made him sigh in relief.
Though the girl he saw was in a terrible state, it seemed he had arrived just in time.
She was still in her undergarments and had not stopped struggling.
He had to admit, the young woman radiated a striking, almost enchanting beauty. Her hair was a fiery orange, with a rounded chest, flat stomach, a narrow waist that flared into wide hips, and long, seemingly endless legs… A very beautiful woman indeed.
But Koby didn't let himself be distracted. Though not immune to her charm, he had other priorities.
The young woman was fighting off a man. Clearly, he was trying to force her into submission. She resisted with all her strength, her body already bruised. The assailant, too absorbed in his vile act, didn't notice Koby… The rest was easy to guess—the man collapsed, knocked out by a blow to the head.
"Need a hand?" Koby asked calmly, as if it were a simple formality.
The young woman froze for a moment, her chest still heaving from terror. Her wide-open eyes landed first on the unconscious man at her feet, then on Koby, who stood with calm assurance, his staff still in hand. She struggled to catch her breath, her throat tight with fear. Her lips parted, but no sound came out at first.
She had been fighting back for five whole minutes. She knew the man was losing patience, and sooner or later, he would have forced her to submit—one way or another. But she refused to simply give in.
The relief she felt now was hard to describe. She looked at the young man who had just saved her—a young man with pink hair and eyes of the same shade. A little over 1.75 meters tall, with a lean but strong build, and above all, a calm, serene gaze that radiated both kindness and quiet determination.
"I… I…" she finally managed to whisper in a strangled voice.
Understanding her distress, Koby gently nodded. He didn't need to raise his voice or make grand gestures to reassure her; his presence alone was enough. The dim glow of the wall lamp cast his shadow across the planks, revealing a silhouette both slender and solid.
"You're safe now," he said softly, after a few seconds of tense silence.
She searched his eyes again—nearly translucent pink—and saw neither judgment nor desire in them. Only deep calm. Her breathing slowly began to steady. Her mind, still foggy from the struggle, screamed at her to flee, but her instinct told her that this boy meant her no harm.
"I…" she stammered, feeling heat rise to her cheeks without knowing why.
Her legs trembled, worn out from minutes of resistance. A wave of dizziness hit her. Before she could collapse, Koby placed a light hand on her arm, just firm enough to help her stay upright, without restraining her.
Lifting her head, the young woman realized she was nearly naked. A deep blush colored her face. Sensing her discomfort, Koby, without saying a word, removed his own jacket and handed it to her, turning his gaze slightly away to respect her modesty.
"Put this on," he suggested gently.
She obeyed, trembling, then looked down, whispering a faint "thank you."
"Who… who are you…?" she finally asked, her voice hesitant.
He tilted his head slightly, as if surprised that she was speaking.
"Koby," he answered simply. "And you?"
She hesitated. Her lips quivered before she managed to say in a broken voice:
"Nami…"
Just saying her name seemed to unlock a measure of trust. She realized how close she had come to the unthinkable, and against all odds, it was this strange boy—seemingly fragile—who had saved her from the worst humiliation.
Koby watched her for a moment, making sure she was stable. Then, with a nod, he gestured for her to walk with him, step by step, toward the exit. Her fingers clung to the fabric of the oversized shirt that reached mid-thigh. Her breath was still shallow, but a faint sense of safety was beginning to take root within her.
"I'm taking you back to my boat," he said. "It's not much, but you'll be safer there."
As they neared the exit, the salty air met her senses. Nami closed her eyes for a moment, breathing in the fresh air with a sense of indescribable relief.
"Outside, two of my companions are waiting," Koby explained in a low voice. "They're like me. Don't be afraid, alright?"
She nodded silently, unable to form any coherent sentence. Her heart was still pounding from the terror she had endured.
When the daylight welcomed them on the deck, Nami had to squint. The sun, high in the sky, cast its rays over the dirtied planks. Just a few meters away, Luffy and Zoro stood ready. Luffy's straw hat fluttered slightly in the breeze, while Zoro kept a hand on one of his swords, ever vigilant.
Luffy was the first to approach with a quick step, his hat tilted back slightly. He immediately noticed the young woman clinging to Koby, recognizing the gravity of the situation at a glance. Yet instead of expressing anger or sadness, he radiated the sunny optimism that defined him: his smile widened, and his usually energetic voice took on an unusual gentleness.
"Hey, Koby, you sure took your time. We almost left without you—shishishi!"
Despite the obvious trauma that had just played out, Luffy chose to approach it with a light-hearted kindness. Through this levity, he was trying to ease the tension and spare the young woman from any added burden. Koby, seeing the captain's radiant smile, immediately understood his intent: don't dwell in darkness—offer a bit of human warmth.
"Knowing you," Koby replied with a knowing smile, "you would've just let the sea take you while you waited to die."
Luffy burst out laughing, nodding with mock offense. At the same time, he gave Nami a brief glance, as if to ensure she wasn't overwhelmed by the banter. His brilliant smile wasn't out of place—it was simply his way of lightening the mood.
Still shaky, Nami let Koby guide her to the gangplank connecting the ship to their modest rowboat. For a moment, she feared she wouldn't have the strength to climb down.
At the edge, she was surprised when Koby lifted her firmly and jumped with her into the waiting boat. Once they were all aboard, the salty breeze tousled Nami's orange hair. She turned one last time toward the ship, as if to make sure that nightmare truly belonged to the past.
"Let's set sail," Luffy declared, grabbing the oar to release the boat.
Zoro kept an eye on the horizon, while Koby settled beside Nami. She was still breathing heavily, but strangely, Koby's presence helped her feel a little safer. The gentle rocking of the boat, combined with the warm rays of the sun, made her realize she was finally safe.
Her eyes glistened with tears, quickly wiped away by a blink of her lashes.
"I don't know how… how to thank you," she finally whispered, her voice steadier now.
Koby gave her a soft glance and a slight smile that radiated kindness.
"You're alive. That's all that matters."