"We, we didn't think of that," Krillin said nervously.
"Yeah, we were worried too, but somehow it never occurred to us that we could do this. Sigh." Yamcha came over and wanted to pat Son Gohan on the shoulder, but didn't dare.
"Gohan, we were wrong," Piccolo said.
Son Gohan stood up and looked over everyone's faces one by one.
They felt guilty, but this time, they didn't try to avoid it.
They looked ready to let Son Gohan scold them.
Son Gohan took a deep breath and said calmly, "Let's leave it at that. I've already yelled at you, so we'll call it even."
"..."
He turned and walked over to Chiaotzu.
Chiaotzu was even shorter than Krillin.
But he'd been floating in the air the whole time, so Son Gohan didn't need to crouch.
"Chiaotzu, long time no see."
"It has been a long time, Gohan."
"Gohan, didn't you used to have your tail cut off?"
Chiaotzu tilted his head and looked at the furry tail behind Son Gohan.
"It grew back. I think it looks pretty cool, so I left it alone."
"I think it looks pretty cool too."
"Good eye." Son Gohan gave him a thumbs-up.
He turned to the uncles and asked, "Are you all working for King Enma now?"
Piccolo answered, "The others came to help out because there are too many souls in the Other World right now. I didn't want to help, so I'm a free agent. Otherwise, I'd have been stuck in King Yemma's Palace just now too."
"I see."
Son Gohan nodded and continued, "I'd like to ask you all something. If— and I mean if— there were a way to come back to life, would you want to?"
"Come back to life?" It was a word that felt both