If Nami or Nojiko had said they wanted to go to sea, Bellemere probably would have given them a thorough scolding on the spot.
But when it came to Yang Cheng, Bellemere found it hard to say no.
Of the three, Nojiko might have been the oldest, but ever since they were little, Yang Cheng had always been the most mature.
Now Yang Cheng was even stronger than she was, his own mother. And when the Arlong Pirates had attacked, if he hadn't turned the tide, the fate of Cocoyasi Village and their family would have been unimaginable.
A young eagle would always have its day to spread its wings. Bellemere also knew perfectly well that, as Momousagi had said before, the East Blue was too small. Staying here forever would only bury Yang Cheng's talent.
"Our village doesn't have any skilled shipwrights, but leave this to me. In half a month, I'll have a ship and supplies ready for you to set sail."
Her son wanted to venture out to sea and become a true man of the ocean. Bellemere knew she couldn't stop him, so all she could do was give him as much help as possible in pursuing his dream.
She had known quite a few shipwrights back when she was in the Navy, so she planned to call in some favors to have a ship built for Yang Cheng.
Neither Yang Cheng nor Bellemere told Nami and Nojiko about his plans to leave just yet, keeping it quiet by unspoken agreement.
To spend more time with his family before leaving, Yang Cheng stopped his usual relentless, day-and-night training over the next half month, doing only some basic daily exercises.
During the day, he helped Bellemere tend the Orange Grove, took Nojiko fishing and hunting, and drew nautical charts and bought new clothes with Nami.
Leaving Bellemere aside, Nojiko and Nami wore huge smiles almost all day long during that time.
The Arlong Pirates had been driven away, and their family had become rich.
More importantly, the sisters felt that Yang Cheng had become quite the generous benefactor lately.
In the past, if Yang Cheng had taken them to buy clothes, Bellemere, who had always been frugal, would probably have called it a waste.
But lately, no matter what Yang Cheng bought them, Bellemere never scolded them.
The changes in Yang Cheng and Bellemere gave Nojiko a vague sense that something was wrong, but the innocent Nami thought it must be because their family had become so rich.
Only after half a month had passed, when the small-to-medium-sized sailboat Bellemere had commissioned from a friend was finished, did Yang Cheng explain his plans to go to sea to Nojiko and Nami.
Nojiko, who had already suspected something, was heartbroken at the thought of parting with Yang Cheng. In the end, though, she held back her sadness and put on a brave face as his "big sister," offering him encouragement.
Nami, on the other hand, was having none of it.
She clung to Yang Cheng and refused to let go, tears pouring from her big, beautiful eyes like a flood bursting through a dam, all while sobbing that he was a liar.
"Nami, you said your dream was to draw a map of the whole world, right?
"But if you stay in Cocoyasi Village forever, that dream will never come true. It's the same for me.
"I'll head out to sea first and become a big brother you can be proud of. Then, when the day comes for you to set sail, you'll be able to throw your weight around out there using my name.
"Don't you think there's something romantic about us meeting again out on the ocean someday, Nami?"
Only after Yang Cheng coaxed her with every sweet promise he could think of did Nami finally smile through her tears.
"Then what if I tell people your name someday, but they don't believe I know you?"
Nami never doubted that Yang Cheng would one day become famous across the seas, because he had already beaten the bad guys even Bellemere couldn't defeat.
She had heard that those Fish-Man pirates called the Arlong Pirates were major pirates throughout the East Blue.
If Yang Cheng could already defeat the strongest pirates in the East Blue, he was sure to become even more amazing in the future.
"In that case, why don't you come up with an impressive nickname for me, Nami?
"Whether you're a pirate, a marine, or a bounty hunter, you need a memorable nickname when you're making your way on the seas, right?"
Nami was clearly delighted that Yang Cheng had asked her to give him a nickname. After thinking it over for a while, she broke into a huge smile and said, "Our family grows oranges, and I really like oranges too.
"So how about we make your nickname 'Orange Killer'?"
Hearing the nickname Nami had come up with, Bellemere and Nojiko burst out laughing behind her.
At their laughter, Nami puffed out her cheeks and said unhappily, "What's so funny? It's a great nickname! Isn't it, Yang Cheng?"
"Ah... yes, I think... it should be... pretty good!"
Seeing Nami's lips about to turn down, Yang Cheng immediately changed his tune and wholeheartedly affirmed her outstanding talent for naming things.
He had no choice. He had only just managed to soothe the little girl, and if she started crying again, Yang Cheng would be in trouble.
Still, "Orange"...? Was she treating him like Ukyo Tachibana...?
Seeing Yang Cheng accept the nickname she had chosen, Nami turned toward Bellemere and Nojiko with a smug look.
"Then it's a promise. Someday, I'll make the name 'Orange Slayer' resound across the entire ocean."
"Not 'Orange Slayer'! It's 'Orange Killer.' 'Orange Slayer' doesn't sound cute at all."
Yang Cheng: (´▽｀) Little sister, we're heading out to make our way on the seas. Of course a nickname should sound mighty and imposing. What does cute have to do with anything?
But when he thought about the Four Emperors, famous throughout the Grand Line, whose nicknames were things like Whitebeard, Red-Hair, and Big Mom, Yang Cheng suddenly felt that "Orange Killer" wasn't entirely unacceptable either.
After making all kinds of promises to Nami and sealing them with pinky swears, Yang Cheng finally boarded his ship and departed amid farewells from his family and the people of Cocoyasi Village.
Looking at Bellemere, who had a cigarette between her lips and a smile on her face but ultimately couldn't keep her tears from falling, Genzo spoke up beside her. "Nami and Nojiko had so much to say to Yang Cheng. Don't you have anything you want to tell him?"
"I'm that child's mother. I won't let him see my weak side."
Seeing Bellemere stubbornly cling to her pride, Genzo shook his head without a word. He had always known how desperately she tried to save face.
Meanwhile, after leaving Cocoyasi Village, Yang Cheng was aboard his ship sorting through his sup-
plies when a letter fell out from among his clothes. The handwriting on it belonged to Bellemere.
(Slacker's diary: I've been under a lot of stress lately, so last night I went out with a friend for a foot massage. Who knew we'd both request the same massage therapist?
But that guy got there ahead of me in the end. Absolutely infuriating (｀へ´)!
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