One Piece: With Sign-in System

Ron and Zoro sat atop the wreckage of the shattered ship, engaged in a long conversation. They talked about the dojo and Koushirou, confirming that everything was generally fine back home.

When Ron mentioned that Kuina had already reached the level of a Great Swordsman, Zoro's face darkened.

"Tch, I really can't face her like this."

Afterward, Ron had a chat with Luffy.

Upon learning that Sabo was alive and now part of the Revolutionary Army, and that Ace had joined the Whitebeard Pirates, Luffy was beyond excited.

"I can't wait for the day the four of us reunite on the seas! Hehehe!"

…

Later that night…

On the rooftop of the floating restaurant Baratie, Nami sat beside Ron, who was lying down with his hands behind his head.

Above them, the night sky was a blanket of stars.

"Hey, Nami, how old are you now?"

"18."

"Already 18, huh..." Ron mused. "I still remember when I first met you—you were just a stubborn little crybaby. And now… you've grown up a lot, haven't you?"

Hearing this, Nami instinctively glanced down at herself.

Her cheeks turned a shade of red for no apparent reason.

She quickly changed the subject.

"How are Robin and Conis? Are they doing well?" she asked.

Ron smiled. "Better than you'd imagine."

"That's good to hear," Nami said, her eyes softening.

She leaned back slightly, gazing up at the stars.

"The orange tree you gave me is still on our ship. Conis and Robin take care of it carefully. I don't think they've forgotten about you either."

Hearing this, Ron saw a flicker of nostalgia in Nami's expression.

Memories of those warm, gentle days resurfaced in her mind.

Her eyes became misty.

"...Are you crying?"

"Of course not!"

She quickly wiped at her eyes with her sleeve.

Ron chuckled softly.

The ocean breeze carried a faint chill, rustling his dark hair as he remained stretched out, relaxed and at peace.

"Have you made up your mind yet?"

Nami turned her head to look at him, puzzled.

"Eh?"

"Are you ready to set sail?" Ron asked. "As a navigator."

A brief silence followed. Then, Nami nodded gently.

"Yeah..."

Ron's voice was calm. "Do you think Luffy and the others are the right crew for you?"

Nami hesitated for a moment, her gaze flickering.

"I... I don't know yet," she admitted. "But I feel like they're different from other pirates."

She looked up at the sky.

"Luffy and Zoro... they remind me of you, Ron. The way you travel, the way you see the world… it's not just about being pirates. It's about something more."

Her voice grew softer.

"They chase after freedom and adventure—purely, wholeheartedly."

Ron smiled.

"That's true."

…

The first light of dawn stretched across the distant horizon.

The sky was at the cusp of morning.

"Nami... Nami..."

A voice called out near her ear, pulling her from the depths of sleep.

"Mmm… morning already…?"

Her eyelids fluttered open, still hazy with sleep.

As her vision gradually cleared, she found herself face-to-face with someone—so close that she could feel their breath.

Her eyes widened.

"R-Ron?"

Ron smirked. "Yo, good morning. Did you sleep well?"

"I... I guess," she mumbled.

"Then you might want to get off me first."

Nami blinked, confused. Then she glanced down—only to realize that, at some point during the night, she'd ended up half-sprawled over him.

Her face instantly flushed red.

Hurriedly, she scrambled to sit up, distancing herself.

Ron pushed himself up into a sitting position, rolling his neck until it cracked audibly.

Nami's blush deepened.

Did she really... fall asleep on him the whole night without even realizing it?

"I, uh..."

Before she could find an excuse, Ron stood up and stretched, turning toward the rising sun.

"It's about time I head out."

Nami's expression stiffened. "Eh? Already?"

"Yeah. There are still things I need to take care of, and I can't keep Robin and the others waiting too long."

As he spoke, Ron reached into the air—into seemingly empty space—and pulled out a long sheathed sword. He handed it to her.

"This blade is called 'Mokuro.' Give it to Zoro for me. Tell him I'm just lending it to him. A swordsman aiming to be the greatest in the world shouldn't be running around without a proper sword. He can return it to me the next time we meet on the Grand Line."

Nami took the sword, gripping it tightly. She wanted to say something but hesitated.

"...See you on the Grand Line, Nami."

With that, Ron's body lifted off the ground.

A streak of black light shot into the sky—

And in the blink of an eye, he was gone.

Nami stood there, clutching the sword, her gaze lingering on the empty sky.

She had let the chance slip by again.

Last night, if she had just said the words, he would have taken her with him.

She wanted to go with him. She really wanted to go with him.

So why...

Why didn't she say anything?

Even she couldn't explain it.

But maybe—

Maybe it was because this unpredictable, challenging, and dangerous voyage was what she truly longed for.

…

Before Leaving the East Blue...

There was one more place Ron decided to visit—

Loguetown.

When he arrived, he stumbled upon a skirmish—a group of Marines capturing a crew of pirates.

At first, he had no intention of interfering.

But then—

A panicked voice from one of the pirates caught his attention.

"W-Wait! That's the 140 million bounty swordswoman of the 'Calamity from the Skies Crew'?! Shit!"

"Why the hell is she with the Marines?!"

Panic spread among the pirates like wildfire.

Then, a furious female voice snapped back at them.

"I am not some 'Calamity from the Skies' swordswoman! That title belongs to Kuina of the Shimotsuki Clan! My name is Tashigi, and I am a Marine Officer!"

"Yeah, right! You're totally her! Look at this bounty poster—same face, same everything! You just put on some glasses to trick people!"

"Exactly! It's her!"

Ron raised an eyebrow.

Oh?

A woman who looked exactly like Kuina?

So, it was her—the Marine from the original story, Tashigi.

The pirates had mistaken her for Kuina.

Ron found the whole situation rather amusing.

He remained at a distance, using Observation Haki to tune into the conversation.

"I'm telling you, I'm not Kuina! We just look similar! We're completely different people!"

Tashigi glared at the group of panicked pirates.

"Then you must be her long-lost twin sister or something! What a twist—one became a Marine, and the other turned into a legendary outlaw!"

One of the pirates, wielding a longsword, smirked at her.

"I said I'm not related to her!"

Tashigi looked like she was on the verge of losing her mind.