Seven Months of Training Flew By

A moment later, they hauled Son Mirai out of the water.

He had already taken off the Turtle Shell and was staring at the sea, his face as still as water.

Master Roshi scolded him. "Son Mirai, what was that about?

If you sank to the bottom and couldn't get back up, you should've taken off the Turtle Shell right away!

You nearly drowned!"

Goku also examined the Turtle Shell curiously and asked, "Son Mirai, was it tied too tightly? Was it hard to take off?"

Son Mirai shook his head. "No!"

"Then what happened?" Master Roshi asked.

Son Mirai glanced at the heavy Turtle Shell and said, unwilling to accept it, "I didn't expect that just switching to a slightly thicker Turtle Shell would make me sink straight to the bottom.

I wasn't willing to give up, but no matter what I did, even using all my strength, I couldn't get back up..."

Master Roshi's face darkened.

"You stubborn fool!"

"No matter how strong you are, you still need a foothold!

You nearly drowned, you know?

Don't be so reckless next time!"

Son Mirai nodded. "I understand."

But what he was still thinking was, The fact that I sank to the bottom and couldn't get back up proves I'm still nowhere near strong enough.

Besides, he knew what he was doing. He wasn't going to drown, because he still had a trump card.

One Kamehameha blast would've propelled him back up. He just hadn't been pushed to that point yet.

Krillin seemed to have witnessed Son Mirai's limit, and let out a deep sigh of relief.

Thank goodness he sank to the bottom. I finally saw his limit!

The days that followed went on as usual, with much the same training: farm work, construction work, or delivering milk.

Master Roshi gradually increased the weight of everyone's Turtle Shell according to what each of them could handle.

Goku and Krillin were exhausted every day, but they gritted their teeth and persevered, determined to focus wholeheartedly on improving their strength.

Even Son Mirai, who took joy in training, had finally learned what it meant to work hard.

Time passed.

Before they knew it, the three of them had gotten used to such grueling training.

Even Krillin had become thoroughly at ease with the routine.

He never complained while plowing the fields, was never late delivering milk, and went all-out on roadwork, doing the work of two dump trucks by himself.

The hornets couldn't even sting the three of them anymore while they were tied to ropes...

Only their academic studies were going terribly.

Master Roshi had to step things up, even teaching them English.

Goku raised his hand and asked, "Teacher, what does 'no money, no love' mean?"

Krillin laughed. "That's easy. If you don't have money, nobody loves you!"

Master Roshi smiled faintly and explained, "It should mean, 'Bro, it's time to clock out.'"

Goku looked puzzled. "What does that mean?"

Krillin was shocked.

"No way. You can interpret it like that?"

Master Roshi nodded. "You've got to be flexible, understand?"

Watching Master Roshi teach nonsense with a perfectly straight face, Son Mirai couldn't help but marvel, "Teacher, I had no idea you were such a natural!"

Master Roshi scratched his head and laughed. "Ha ha ha, of course!

Life is colorful, after all. You've got to know how to find your own happiness!"

Son Mirai thought that made a lot of sense. "You're right, Teacher!

I'd like to take two days off to visit my girlfriend in West City."

Master Roshi didn't object.

Son Mirai had been a real workaholic at first, but after Master Roshi's guidance, he'd changed a little.

Especially since he'd started taking a day or two off each month to relax. He was actually much happier for it.

That was Master Roshi's philosophy: training wasn't just for the sake of training. It was meant to help them live well.

Making time to date was something Son Mirai should've been doing anyway.

It was a very good thing that, despite training so obsessively, he hadn't become fixated on getting stronger and could still make time to relax.

Master Roshi immediately said, "West City's too far to go for just one day. That'd be too rushed, so take two days off."

Son Mirai's face lit up, and he nodded. "Two days? Then can I leave today?"

Master Roshi nodded with a smile. "Of course."

He sidled up to Son Mirai with a lecherous grin and asked, "You can't wait to see your girlfriend, can you, kid?"

Son Mirai smiled faintly, tacitly agreeing.

In truth, it was because Bulma's father had been busy, so construction on the Gravity Chamber had kept stopping and starting.

But just now, Bulma's father had called.

He'd said the Gravity Chamber was finished, and Son Mirai couldn't wait to go check it out.

He didn't want to wait another day, so he wanted to leave today.

But if he went to see Bulma without actually spending time with her, she'd get angry, and the consequences would be serious.

He'd have to have dinner with Bulma and watch a movie first. Then he'd have time to train in the Gravity Chamber all night.

With two days off, he'd be able to get a good feel for the Gravity Chamber no matter what.

Master Roshi turned to Goku and Krillin. "By the way, Krillin and Goku can take two days off too. Everyone needs to relax once in a while."

Krillin and Goku both raised their hands happily.

Goku said, "Great! Two days off? Then I'm going to eat lots of delicious food!"

Krillin laughed. "Tomorrow, I'm going to sleep in. The next day, I'll spend the whole day fishing!"

"I want to fish too. I'm really good at grilling fish!" Goku said.

Krillin nodded. "Sounds good. Let's go together the morning after tomorrow!"

Master Roshi raised a hand to stop their celebration and continued, "There's something else I need to tell you."

"What?"

The three of them drew closer to Master Roshi and listened carefully.

Master Roshi said, "There's one month left until the World Martial Arts Tournament, and I don't have anything left to teach you."

Krillin and Goku were both startled.

"What?"

"Teacher, how can there be nothing left to teach us? You haven't even taught us any fighting techniques yet!" Krillin said.

Master Roshi explained, "The basic training of the Turtle School is all included in these seven months of training.

Without even realizing it, you've trained your eyes, hands, feet, minds,

and every part of your bodies until they're incredibly strong.

As for fighting techniques and moves, they're simply different ways of applying that training against an opponent.

Martial arts training isn't about trying to win. It's about not losing to yourself.

So, based on the fundamentals you've practiced, you can create moves of your own."

Krillin stared at his hands, muttering,

"C-can I really create my own moves?"

Son Mirai looked at Krillin and said, "Of course you can.

Krillin, you're the most quick-witted. I'm sure you can come up with an amazing special move!"

Krillin grinned. "Really? Thanks!

Just you wait. I'll come up with a move even stronger than the Kamehameha!"

In Son Mirai's eyes, the Destructo Disc was powerful, but it was the kind of move that could only be used for a sneak attack.

The Kamehameha, on the other hand, was the Turtle School's signature ultimate move: simple, brutal, and effective.

It was a move that defeated enemies through sheer power.

It didn't just defeat enemies; it was also the best way to prove your own strength.

Son Mirai said, "If you think you can come up with a move even stronger than the Kamehameha, you're bragging a little!"

Krillin: "..."

"Don't be such a downer. You've got to have a dream!"

Goku and Master Roshi burst out laughing at the same time.

"Ha ha ha..."

Just then, Launch stood at the entrance to Kame House, waving to them and calling out,

"Dinner's ready! Come and eat!"

Son Mirai called over to Master Roshi and the others. "I'm going to have dinner with Bulma tonight, so I'll head out first!"

Goku said with a smile, "Son Mirai, then I'll have your share of dinner!"

"No problem!" Son Mirai nodded, then left.

Master Roshi looked at Krillin and reminded him, "Krillin, don't put in any pepper, understand?"

Krillin immediately nodded. "Got it!"