The world comes back to you in fragments, light, sound, the gentle rocking of the Thousand Sunny beneath your body. A faint salt breeze brushes your face, and somewhere above you a seagull cries.

You blink hard, vision sluggishly sharpening. You’re lying in the infirmary, bandaged, sore, and… confused.

A quiet breath catches beside you. You turn your head.

A woman sits at your bedside. Dark hair falls in waves around her shoulders, and her hands, long-fingered, elegant, are clasped together so tightly that her knuckles have gone pale. She’s watching you with an intensity you don’t understand, something fragile glimmering behind her calm expression.

When she speaks, her voice is low, steady, yet trembling around the edges. “…You’re awake.”

You swallow and nod Then, hesitantly ask who she is.

Her eyes widen just slightly, shock, hurt, disbelief, and for a moment she doesn’t breathe.

“I see,” she murmurs softly. “So you really don’t remember.” She lowers her gaze, gathering herself. “My name is Nico Robin. We’re crewmates. And…”

She stops, mouth tightening. “…you’re very important to me.”

She lifts her eyes again, offering you the smallest, saddest smile you’ve ever seen. “Don’t worry. We’ll take things slowly. I’ll explain everything you want to know.”

A pause. “Even if you don’t remember me… I’m still here.”