Does Hibari love Koby in One Piece? Explained

In the most recent episodes of the One Piece anime series, a number of new characters have been introduced, most of whom belong to SWORD and are under the leadership of Monkey D. Garp. Among these new characters is Hibari, a Marine Commander who is currently stationed on Hachinosu Island as part of the SWORD team attempting to rescue Koby from the clutches of the Blackbeard Pirates.

During the raid on Hachinosu Island and even before, it was evident that Hibari had a strong bond with Koby. She even pleaded with other SWORD members to assist in rescuing him. While their close friendship was apparent, some fans are now questioning if there may be romantic feelings between Hibari and Koby in One Piece due to the portrayal of their relationship.

Explaining Hibari’s Feelings for Koby in One Piece

Although not explicitly confirmed in the mainline series, supplementary information and the story of One Piece strongly imply that Hibari has romantic feelings for Koby. As demonstrated in the mainline anime, they share a close relationship and Hibari has shown great concern for Koby’s well-being, even expressing gratitude for his past actions.

Despite their close relationship, there is no evidence to suggest that Hibari loves Koby based on these aspects alone. Similarly, their interactions on Hachinosu Island do not strongly imply romantic feelings on either side.

Fortunately, during the SBS question corner for One Piece volume 107, numerous inquiries were made about the pair, shedding light on their relationship. This additional information, provided directly from the series’ creator, author, and illustrator Eiichiro Oda, strongly suggests that the answer to the question “Does Hibari have feelings for Koby?”is a definite yes.

Hibari and Koby’s Past

In the 107th volume of the SBS corner, a reader posed a direct question to Oda, asking if Hibari has romantic feelings for Koby. Oda, in his usual fashion, did not provide a straightforward answer but instead reflected on the reader’s use of an old expression to convey being “in love.”A translator’s note accompanying the question clarified that the term used referred to a young, innocent type of love, which seems fitting given Hibari and Koby’s ages.

Oda’s response to the question seems to suggest that he is “dense and doesn’t quite comprehend”the situation. This has been interpreted by fans as a commentary on Hibari’s feelings towards Koby. This aligns with Oda’s consistent answer to similar inquiries, where he often admits to not fully grasping the romantic aspects of his characters in One Piece.

Oda also mentions this phrase in a subsequent question, inquiring about the specifics of Hibari’s bear plushie. He reveals that it is a good luck charm she received as a child and that Koby had once rescued her on the battlefield, resulting in the loss of the bear. A few days later, Koby was spotted injured and being reprimanded by one of his superiors. In his hand was Hibari’s beloved bear.

Upon discovering that he had returned to the battlefield in search of Hibari’s treasure, she was overwhelmed with tears of happiness and appreciation. Oda had also revealed that she had affectionately named the bear “Koby-senpai,”but he remained oblivious to her feelings and was unsure if she had romantic feelings for him.

In summation

Hibari does indeed love Koby in One Piece (Image via Toei Animation)

Based on the evidence presented, it can be concluded that Hibari has strong feelings for Koby. Their shared history and Hibari’s attachment to her bear, which was rescued by Koby, are clear indications of her love for him, as seen in the mainline anime series. However, it should be noted that Oda’s series is not focused on romance, so it remains uncertain whether or not the two will actually become a couple.

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