One Piece Chapter 77: One Step Towards A Dream

Luffy stares forward with wide eyes and a serious expression beneath his straw hat. “I'M NOT REALLY INTERESTED IN HER PAST.” “I'M FINE.” On a sunny village path lined with palm trees, Zoro walks away while carrying someone over his shoulder. Sanji stands nearby saying “NO, I'M COOL.” A voice calls after them, “TAKE A WALKI YOU'RE NOT GOING TO LISTENI” Zoro replies, “I'M TAKING A WALK.” Sanji smiles knowingly in close-up, “THAT'S JUST THE KIND OF GUY HE IS.” Nami watches with concern, “DON'T MIND HIM.” “WHAT'S WITH HIMI”

Sanji sits against a tree and says, “THOUGH I DOUBT HEARING YOUR STORY WILL CHANGE ANYTHING.” Nami stands facing him as he continues, “BUT WE'LL LISTEN TO WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY.” Close-ups show Sanji yawning with “ME TOO.” and a heart, Usopp shouting “WELL, I, FOR ONE, WILL LISTEN TO UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON.” while Luffy sleeps and snores loudly. Nami smiles softly, “NO WONDER THEY'RE GIVING NAMI SO MUCH TROUBLE…” Luffy glances back and says, “I SEE…”

Nami wakes up at a table, lifting her head with a dazed look. “I FELL ASLEEP…I” Inside a house, she looks around and calls out, “WHERE'D SHE GO…I” “NOJIKOI” A basket of tangerines sits nearby. In a flashback panel, young Nami thinks, “BELLEMERÉ… …JUST A LITTLE MORE.” She smiles while surrounded by piles of oranges, then happily carries a large basket of fruit.

Young Nami rests her chin on her hands with a determined smile. "AS WELL AS MY DREAM..." A smaller panel shows her at a table in Cocoyashi Village, the orange farm visible behind her. "COCOYASHI VILLAGE, THE ORANGE FARM... JUST A LITTLE MORE AND EVERYTHING'LL BE BACK THE WAY IT USED TO BE. FLAP" She studies a large map spread out before her. Nearby panels show her arguing with unseen voices: "THERE'S STILL TONS MORE!" "IT'S JUST ONE BOOK, WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL!I" "LET GO OF ME!" The bottom half erupts into chaos as Genzo grabs young Nami by the collar while she clutches a book titled NAVIGATION. Labels read "NAMI (8 YEARS AGO)" and "GENZO (8 YEARS AGO)". Genzo yells, "YOU DUMB BRAT! A BOOKSTORE'S SUPPOSED TO HAVE A LOT OF BOOKS! HOW MANY TIMES MUST I TELL YOU THAT STEALING IS INEXCUSABLE!" Nami protests, "BUT MY FAMILY'S POOR, I CAN'T HELP IT! CHEAPSKATE!" A background figure watches the scene unfold amid swirling sound effects.

Outside a wooden house, Genzo shouts, "COME OUT ALREADY! YOUR LITTLE CAT BURGLAR'S DONE IT AGAIN!" while a figure stands in the doorway. Bell-mère appears in the foreground, cigarette in mouth, looking annoyed. "BELLEMÈRE! BELLEMÈRE!" Inside, Genzo continues berating young Nami as Bell-mère steps forward. "JEEZ, YOU'RE NOISY. WHAT IS ITI" "YOU STAY QUIET!" "I'M HOME, BELLEMÈRE." "OH, WELCOME HOME, NAMI." Bell-mère confronts Genzo: "DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW MANY TIMES SHE'S DONE THIS NOW!I YOU'RE GETTING A TERRIBLE REPUTATION AMONG THE TOWNSFOLK!" Genzo retorts, "FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE, YOU NEED TO PROPERLY DISCIPLINE HER." A caption identifies her: "NAMI AND NOJIKO'S POSTER MOTHER BELLEMÈRE".

Genzo continues, "IT'S PRECISELY BECAUSE OF THAT ATTITUDE OF YOURS THAT SHE'S...!" Bell-mère brushes it off. "OH WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL, SHE'S STILL JUST A KID. I'M SURE YOU MUST'VE SHOPLIFTED ONCE OR TWICE TOO WHEN YOU WERE A KID, RIGHTI" Genzo blushes furiously. "WHAT'S THISI YOUR FACE IS ALL RED." "DON'T SAY SUCH IDIOTIC THINGS!" Nami peeks out, adding, "WITH MY BODY. I DON'T HAVE ANY MONEY ON ME RIGHT NOW SO I'LL PAY YOU BACK NEXT TIME..." Later, young Nami stands alone holding the Navigation book, smiling brightly. "BUT I WANTED THIS BOOK NO MATTER WHAT!" "I'M SORRY, BELLEMÈRE."

Nojiko (8 years ago) teases Nami. "IF IT WERE ME, I'D HAVE STOLEN IT WITHOUT GETTING CAUGHT." "YOU'RE SUCH A KLUTZ, NAMI!" Nami replies, "THEN WHY DIDN'T YOU JUST TELL MEI IF YOU WANTED IT SO MUCH," while Bell-mère listens nearby. The family gathers inside as Bell-mère scolds them. "OF COURSE I WOULD HAVE. I DO HAVE ENOUGH MONEY SAVED AWAY TO BUY AT LEAST A BOOK OR TWO." "BUT YOU WOULDN'T HAVE BOUGHT IT FOR ME EVEN IF I SAID SOMETHING!" Nami protests, "I WAS ONLY JOKING!" Nojiko adds, "STEALING IS WRONG!" The scene shifts to the three of them on the porch. Bell-mère explains, "IN ANY CASE, THE WEATHER'S BEEN UNUSUALLY GOOD THESE DAYS SO ALL THE ORANGE FARMS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO HARVEST PLENTY OF ORANGES. THAT'S WHY THEY'RE SO CHEAP LATELY AND WHY WE'RE HARDLY SELLING ANY." Nami answers quietly, "YEAH..."

Inside a wooden house, three young girls sit at a table. The short-haired girl studies a navigation book while the others watch. "YUP." "'CAUSE IT'S YOUR DREAM, RIGHTI" "YUP, AND I'M STUDYING NAVIGATION SKILLS RIGHT NOW." "THAT'S AMAZING." "OHH, SO THIS IS A MAP OF ISLANDI YOU'VE ALREADY MOVED ON FROM DRAWING TERRESTRIAL MAPS TO SEA CHARTSI" The short-haired girl beams with excitement, eyes closed and smiling widely. "AND THEN MAKE THE WORLD MAP OF THE WORLD BASED ON WHAT I SAW WITH MY OWN EYES!" She continues, "I'M GOING TO SAIL AROUND THE WHOLE WORLD USING MY NAVIGATION SKILLS," with motion lines and "ぶ、ぶっ!!" for emphasis. In the next panel a different short-haired figure with an earring holds up a detailed map of the island, cigarette in mouth. "THEN I GUESS THE MAP YOU DREW TODAY OF THIS ISLAND IS JUST ONE STEP TOWARDS THAT DREAM!" "A MAP OF THE WORLD, HUHI I'LL LOOK FORWARD TO IT!" with "ぴらっ!" sound effect.

At the dining table Bellemere serves food while the girls eat. "HA, THERE'S NO NEED FOR YOU TO BE SO CONCERNED WITH YOUR LOOKS JUST YET. IT'S IMPORTANT FOR KIDS TO EAT A LOT!" "I DON'T NEED TO EAT SO MUCH EITHER." "UMM..." "BUT I'M EATING MY ORANGES, AREN'T II BESIDES, I'M ON A DIET RIGHT NOW." "BELLEMERE, YOU DON'T SEEM TO BE EATING MUCH THESE DAYS." Bellemere smiles confidently, cigarette lit. "LIKE I SAID, YOU KIDS SHOULD NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE BEAUTIFYING POWER OF AN ORANGE! I MAY BE 30 BUT IT'S THANKS TO THE ORANGES THAT I'M STILL ABLE TO HAVE SUCH SMOOTH SKIN." The short-haired girl reacts with shock. "WHAT, IS THAT TRUE!I" "IT'S BECAUSE WE'RE POOR THAT YOU DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TO EAT, RIGHT!I" "THAT'S JUST A LIE!" Bellemere laughs heartily while holding up a shirt that reads "I AM LI ON" with "A BELLEMERE BRAND HAUTE COUTURE!" "LOOK, NAMI! IT'S FINISHED!" "JUST SHUT UP AND EAT!" "BUT YOUR HANDS ARE YELLOW." with impact lines and "ハッ" sound.

Bellemere speaks while getting ready. "NOW THEN, TIME TO TEND TO THE ORANGES." "I HAVE TO WEAR SECONDHAND CLOTHES TOO! YOU'RE MY YOUNGER SISTER SO IT'S ONLY NATURAL THAT YOU GET MY HAND-ME-DOWNS!" "I WANNA WEAR NEW CLOTHES TOO!" Nojiko replies, "WELL THERE'S NOTHING WE CAN DO ABOUT IT. YOU ARE 2 YEARS YOUNGER THAN ME." Nami glares. "I DON'T WANT IT. IT'S JUST A HAND-ME-DOWN FROM NOJIKO AGAIN." Bellemere turns with a serious expression, sweat drop visible. "WHAT!I WELL I WISH I N..." Nami shouts angrily, "BUT IT'S NOT LIKE WE'RE REALLY SISTERS! WE AREN'T EVEN CONNECTED BY BLOOD!" In a sudden motion Bellemere strikes Nami across the face with a loud impact, sending her flying. "NAMI!" with large "ガン" and "!!!!I" effects.

Bellemere stands furious, eyes wide and shouting. "DON'T EVER SAY SUCH A STUPID THING EVER AGAIN! THERE'S NOTHING SO SPECIAL ABOUT THAT!" Nami runs down the hallway, tears visible. "BELLE-MERE..." "SO WHAT IF YOU TWO AREN'T CONNECTED BY BLOOD!I" In the next room Bellemere continues smoking. "THEN YOU'D BE ABLE TO EAT PROPER MEALS! AND BUY CLOTHES YOU LIKE! AND YOU COULD LIVE THE WAY YOU WANT!" Nami turns away. "WHY NOT!I YOU'RE NOT MY REAL MOM EITHER! I BET YOU WISH WE WEREN'T AROUND!" Bellemere and Nojiko stand in silence with "......" Bellemere sweats nervously. Nami cries out with a tear-streaked face, "I... I WISH I WERE ADOPTED BY A RICH FAMILY!" with heavy emotion lines.

Inside the house, young Bellemere snaps at the arguing sisters, "STOP IT, YOU TWO!" Nojiko shouts back, "IF YOU HATE THIS FAMILY SO MUCH, THEN WHY DON'T YOU JUST LEAVE!" Nami yells, "I DON'T KNOW YOU ANYMORE!" Bellemere sighs, "FINE, DO WHAT YOU WANT!" and "I SEE..." Nami storms off declaring "FINE, I WILL LEAVE!" while Nojiko watches in shock. Later, Bellemere sits smoking and tells Genzo it was just the heat of the moment. Nojiko finds Nami outside, gently pats her head and says, "NOJIKO... YOU'RE SUCH A PRUDENT CHILD..." Nami looks up tearfully and admits, "I UNDERSTAND... I GUESS I WASN'T VERY ADULT-LIKE..."

Nojiko smiles and says, "OK! I'LL BE WAITING FOR YOU WITH A DELICIOUS DINNER. COULD YOU BRING BACK NAMII" In Cocoyashi Village, villagers bustle under palm trees and banners reading "COCO-YASHI VILLAGE" as a fishmonger carries a basket. Genzo laughs loudly at the Marine office doorway, "HAHA, AIN'T THAT SIMPLE! YOU THINK COMING TO THE VILLAGE CENTER FROM OUTSIDE THE VILLAGE IS RUNNING AWAY!I THAT'S RIGHT! I RAN AWAY FROM HOME! SO THAT'S WHY YOU CAME TO MY HOMEI" Young Nami sits inside looking down.

The Marine captain questions young Nami: "WELL, SHE HAS TO USE UP ALL HER MONEY TO TAKE CARE OF US... AND THE OTHER VILLAGERS DON'T LIKE HER BECAUSE OF US. HMI AND WHY DO YOU THINK THATI I'M SURE BELLEMERE WOULD BE A LOT HAPPY IF WE WEREN'T AROUND." Nami replies, "IT'S NOTHING SO SURPRISING. TO THE OTHER VILLAGERS, SHE STILL IS A HELL-RAISER." The captain laughs, "DON'T WORRY! BELLEMERE WAS QUITE A FAMOUS LITTLE HELL-RAISER TOO IN THIS VILLAGE WHEN SHE WAS YOUNG! HAHAHA! SO YOU'VE FINALLY REACHED THE AGE WHERE YOU THINK ABOUT HOW OTHERS FEEL!" In flashback, the captain recalls, "IT WAS DURING A TERRIBLE STORM... I'LL NEVER FORGET THAT DAY. WE ALL COULDN'T BELIEVE OUR EYES. AND CAME BACK AS A FINE MARINE, BUT WHEN THAT BELLEMERE LEFT THE VILLAGE, A MARINE!I"

During the raging storm, exhausted Bellemere carries two feverish children while shouting, "THEY'VE BEEN DREADFULLY EXHAUSTED BY THE STORM! CALL A DOCTOR! THEY'VE GOT TERRIBLE FEVERS! SHE HAS CHILDREN WITH HER! WHOSE KIDS ARE THOSEI LOOK! IT IS BELLEMERE!" A Marine yells, "PLEASE SAVE THEM NO MATTER WHAT! ENOUGH ABOUT ME! JUST GO! DON'T LET THOSE KIDS DIE! ALRIGHT, I'LL TREAT THEM RIGHT AWAY! BUT YOU'VE GOT SERIOUS WOUNDS YOURSE..." Later the captain explains, "APPARENTLY, SHE WAS ON THE VERGE OF DEATH ON A BATTLEFIELD SOMEWHERE BACK THEN. THAT'S JUST A LIE. WHAT...! BUT I THOUGHT BELLEMERE FOUND ME UNDER A BRIDGE... THOSE CHILDREN... WERE YOU WHEN YOU WERE JUST A BABY AND A 3 YEAR OLD NOJIKO."

In the ruined village, a young girl with short hair stands amid the wreckage. A voice asks, "IS THAT YOUR SISTERI" She answers, "NO." Narration continues: "WHAT APPEARED BEFORE HER WAS NOJIKO CARRYING YOU IN HER ARMS. JUST WHEN SHE THOUGHT SHE MIGHT AS WELL SHUT HER EYES AND DIE ALREADY, THAT'S WHEN SHE LOST HER DESIRE TO DIE." The girl, revealed as young Nami, stares in shock. Nearby, young Nojiko grins widely with a bloodied face, laughing "HAHAHA..." while pointing and saying "SHE DOESN'T KNOW THE SLIGHTEST THING ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON... SHE'S SMILING..." In the present, a Marine captain with a scar grabs young Nami's arm and says, "NOW GO HOME. YOU'RE HERE FOR YOU." Inside a building, Genzo shouts, "NAMI! I KNEW YOU'D BE HERE!" An angry man with a mustache declares, "THE THREE OF YOU, SHARE A CONNECTION DEEPER THAN BLOOD."

Shock spreads among the villagers as they spot the massive pirate ship approaching the shore. Someone yells, "IT CAN'T BE! ARLONG!I IT'S THE ARLONG PIRATES!" A man with an umbrella gapes in horror. A massive close-up shows Arlong roaring with jaws wide open, the sound effect "PIIIIRAAATES!" and "わあああ" filling the panel. The ship crashes onto the beach with a huge "SHA HA HA HA HA!" laugh from Arlong, his name visible on the sail as the vessel smashes through palm trees and beach umbrellas, sending debris flying.

Nojiko and young Nami watch anxiously from the sidelines as Genzo sweats and shouts, "BUT BELLE-MÈRE'S WAITING FOR US AT HOME...! GO HIDE IN THE FOREST BEHIND HERE! NAMI! NOJIKO! IT'S TOO DANGEROUS FOR YOU TO STAY HERE!" Arlong's massive form looms over the villagers, blades and weapons raised by his fish-man crew. He bellows, "GREETINGS, MY BELOVED PATHETIC HUMANS! FROM THIS MOMENT HEREON, THIS VILLAGE... NAY, THIS ENTIRE ISLAND SHALL BE UNDER MY CONTROL!" The impact of his declaration sends shockwaves through the scene as his crew cheers behind him.

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