Kouta pushed aside the gloomy thoughts in his heart.
Turning to Aken, he asked, "Hey, Uncle Aken, why do you always wear a windmill on your head? Can I have it?"
"The windmill?"
Aken paused, then reached up to touch the pinwheel on his head, lost in thought.
Sensing something off, Kouta followed up, "Uncle Aken, what's wrong? Is it hard to part with?"
"It's not that I don't want to give it to you," Aken replied after a moment, "It's just that this windmill holds a special meaning for someone."
"Someone?"
"Yeah. A strong and brave person."
By now, Kouta already knew who he meant, but he still played dumb.
"And who might that be?"
Aken turned toward the orange grove behind the village and began to tell Nami's story.
When he spoke of Nami and the windmill, he smiled gently. When he mentioned her joining the Arlong Pirates, hatred surfaced in his eyes. And when he described the times she returned to the village covered in wounds, his face showed nothing but pain.
Under the oppression of the Arlong Pirates, Nami had become the sole light in the villagers' hearts.
They had always known why she joined the Arlong Pirates. They knew the reason she returned injured every time she went out.
But there was nothing they could do. They couldn't help her.
All they could do was stay out of her way—let her believe she could really buy back the village from Arlong.
Even though they all knew deep down that it was just a hopeless dream.
But to Nami, it was her only sliver of hope.
And that hope couldn't be destroyed by them. If it had to break, then let it break slowly.
Because if even Nami lost hope, then their only light would be gone too.
Aken shook off the hatred on his face and looked around at the smiling villagers on the street.
He smiled too.
It felt like everything had gone back to the way it was before Arlong came.
"Yeah, it's all over now."
With Arlong gone, Nami would surely be happy.
She wouldn't have to sail for money anymore.
She wouldn't have to draw those damned maps for Arlong anymore.
She could go back to being the little princess of Cocoyasi Village.
She could laugh when she wanted to, cry when she needed to, and never again be forced to act strong.
Thinking of this, Aken glanced gratefully at Kuina.
"I really don't know how to thank them..."
He shook his head and pushed those thoughts aside, then turned to Kouta.
"Oh right, I never asked. What do you want the windmill for?"
Kouta grinned at the spinning pinwheel on his head.
"I was just curious, really. But since I've been thinking about our flag, I figured, why not just use the windmill as our emblem?"
He had seen the pinwheel and thought of Windmill Village, the hometown of the main character of this world—Monkey D. Luffy.
Why not just use a windmill?
Certainly better than using a hammer and sickle... or five stars.
He was familiar with those symbols, sure, but they'd definitely be censored.
Besides, a windmill represents courage, diligence, progress, loyalty, joy, agility, and love.
It symbolizes a love for the sky and the dreamlike happiness of fairy tales.
And that was exactly what he longed for.
He wished for himself and those he cherished to be like the windmill.
Forever free of sorrow, pain, and disaster.
Forever living in happiness, peace, and health.
"I see," Aken said after a brief pause. He removed the pinwheel and handed it to Kouta.
"Here, take it."
But Kouta didn't accept it. Instead, he smiled at Aken.
"Forget it, Uncle Aken. I just needed it as a reference for the flag."
"To you, it's just a toy. But to Nami, it holds precious memories."
He paused, then added, "And besides, what kind of man steals a little girl's childhood keepsake?"
Seeing the sincerity in Kouta's eyes, Aken reattached the windmill to his hat.
To be fair, he wasn't exactly unwilling to part with it. It was just a simple pinwheel.
And Nami was grown up now. She didn't smile at the sight of it like she used to.
Now, it was just a symbol of remembrance for him.
He hoped that every time Nami came back, she'd be able to spin away all her sorrow, and just keep smiling.
"In that case, let me find some cloth and draw you a windmill flag myself. How about that?"
Kouta lit up.
"Oh no, I couldn't possibly ask you to do that!"
But his face was already beaming.
"Then I'll leave it to you, Uncle Aken!"
He was genuinely happy.
And no, it wasn't just because he couldn't draw to save his life.
"It's nothing," Aken said warmly. "Being able to paint a pirate flag for the heroes of Cocoyasi Village? That's an honor."
"Well then, if there's nothing else, I'll get started."
It was obvious he was more excited than Kouta. Probably because he was glad to finally be able to do something for them.
Kouta thanked him again, then watched him walk away, raising his gourd of wine for a sip.
"Nice."
Then he leaned back like an old man basking in the sun.
Even in the noon light, spring sunshine felt amazing.
...
By dusk, the setting sun cast its warm light across the village.
Bonfires were piled high in the middle of the village road.
Roasted meats, fruits, and all kinds of seafood surrounded the fires.
The villagers, finally freed from their oppression, dropped all pretenses.
Some sobbed. Some laughed. Others shouted like madmen.
They had to let it out.
Meanwhile, the trio of Ahua were pulled into the celebration by the village youth, joining in the simple, joyful dances around the flames.
By one fire, Kouta sat cross-legged on the ground, sipping from his gourd.
Kuina leaned against his shoulder, her flushed cheeks glowing in the firelight as she watched the crowd.
She loved this kind of feast.
Though she had been busy since noon, she didn't feel tired at all. Instead, she felt truly fulfilled.
Even someone who never drank like her had broken that rule today with a few cups.
Kuina looked up at Kouta through hazy eyes.
"Hey, Kouta."
He turned, smiling at her adorable expression. "What is it?"
"Do you think I should have a title?"
"A title?"
She tilted her head, thinking hard.
"Hmm…"
She frowned in frustration, unable to come up with anything.
Then she looked up at Kouta, her big eyes gleaming with a hint of mischief and plea.
Grabbing his arm, she shook it playfully.
"I can't think of anything, Kouta. Why don't you pick one for me?"
"Alright, alright, stop shaking me or I'll fall apart."
Kouta chuckled. "Well, we've founded the Free Pirates, and our flag is a windmill."
"Hmm…"
He stroked his chin, then his eyes lit up.
"Then you'll be the Goddess of Freedom!"
The moment he said it, he burst out laughing.
"Hahaha…"
Kuina didn't understand why he found it so funny.
But seeing him laugh, she couldn't help but laugh with him.
"The Goddess of Freedom, huh? Sounds kinda nice... ε=(?ο｀*))) sigh~"
*********
Hey everyone! I'll be dropping an extra 1 chapter once we hit 200, 400 power stones! If you're enjoying the story, don't forget to spend some power stones. I'd really appreciate the support. Thanks a bunch!