"Today was another fulfilling day!"
Gohan looked at the darkening sky and sighed with deep emotion.
After saying that, Gohan hummed a little tune as he went to look for tonight's prey.
"Hmm hmm ha hey, use the nunchucks, hmm hmm ha hey..."
Halfway through humming, Gohan suddenly sensed someone watching him from behind, so he stopped in his tracks.
"H-he noticed me?"
Piccolo, hiding behind a small peak, was startled.
He had come over today to sneak a look at Gohan.
Although Piccolo seemed cold on the surface, he actually cared a great deal about Gohan.
Before this, he had secretly come to check on Gohan several times.
As for why he had to sneak around! First, he wanted Gohan to learn to take care of himself. Second, he was the Great Demon King. If Krillin and the others found out he was looking after Gohan like a woman, they would laugh themselves silly.
Gohan smiled and started walking again.
"Phew..."
Seeing this, Piccolo immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
"Looks like he didn't notice me!"
The next morning.
As soon as Gohan woke up, he saw Piccolo sitting nearby.
Beside Piccolo lay a freshly killed, enormous fish.
"U-Uncle Piccolo!"
Gohan was startled by Piccolo's sudden appearance.
He did like Piccolo as a character, but his green skin and face looked rather scary.
Especially when you saw him right after waking up.
Besides, Gohan had only been in this world for a few days and still wasn't used to Piccolo's appearance.
"You're awake!"
Piccolo glanced at Gohan and said flatly.
"Mm!"
Gohan nodded.
"Uncle Piccolo, why did you come over so early today?"
"I came to see how your martial arts training is going!"
"My martial arts?"
"That's right! After you finish breakfast, I'll spar with you."
"F-fight!"
"That's right. Don't worry, I won't use my full strength!"
Gohan gave an awkward laugh.
Even if you used your full strength, you still couldn't beat me!
"Then, Uncle Piccolo, I'll go wash my face first, and then I'll grill this fish!"
"Fine!"
Piccolo nodded.
A while later, Gohan finished grilling the fish and ate the whole thing.
"Gohan, are you ready?"
"Don't rush me, Uncle Piccolo. I just ate, so I need to sit for a while and digest!"
"..."
Piccolo was speechless.
As a Namekian who only needed to drink water, it was hard for him to understand that humans needed time to digest their meals.
A little while later, Gohan got to his feet.
"Ready?"
Gohan nodded.
"Then go ahead and attack me!"
"Okay!"
Gohan grinned.
Piccolo snorted, looking completely unconcerned.
As far as he was concerned, no matter how much Gohan had improved, he still couldn't be a match for him.
"Whoosh..."
Just then, Piccolo felt a gust of wind sweep past him.
He broke into a cold sweat and spun around, only to see Gohan smiling at him.
"Uncle Piccolo!"
"When did you... get behind me?"
"Just now. What's wrong, Uncle Piccolo?"
"N-nothing!"
As he spoke, Piccolo's expression immediately turned serious.
He hadn't expected Gohan's speed to have improved so much in just a few days.
"Oh! Then, Uncle Piccolo, I'm going to attack for real now?"
"For real?"
"Yeah! I was worried you weren't ready, Uncle Piccolo, so I just went around behind you."
"Go ahead. If you can beat me, I'll let you go home for a day!"
"Go home?"
"That's right. Didn't you want to go home before?"
It was more comfortable at home, but if he went back, Chi-Chi would definitely make him study.
"Um... Uncle Piccolo, actually, I don't really want to go back right now."
"You don't want to go back?"
Gohan nodded.
"Uncle Piccolo, if I beat you, how about you take me to see Uncle Krillin?"
"What's so special about seeing that little bald guy?"
Piccolo snorted.
A few seconds later, he agreed anyway.
"Fine. As long as you beat me, I'll take you to see them!"
Gohan smiled and nodded.
"Then can we keep fighting?"
"Sure!"
Gohan replied.
"Whoosh..."
Piccolo's fists shot toward Gohan like the wind.
Gohan shifted slightly and easily dodged Piccolo's attack.
"Damn it!"
Piccolo shouted angrily and kicked forward with his right foot.
Gohan sidestepped, dodging Piccolo's attack again.
"H-how is this possible?!"
Piccolo stared in disbelief.
He hadn't used his full strength in his first attack, but he had definitely put everything into that last kick.
Just then, Gohan suddenly appeared in front of him, raised his right foot, and kicked him in the body.
Piccolo cried out as the kick sent him tumbling off the peak and crashing heavily to the ground.
A moment later, Piccolo clutched his chest with his right hand and slowly got back to his feet.
"Huff, huff..."
Piccolo panted heavily, his face looking grim.
Gohan had only kicked him once, but it felt as though all his internal organs had been knocked out of place.
"H-how did this kid get so strong?"
"Whoosh..."
"Thud..."
Just then, Gohan flew down from the small peak and landed in front of Piccolo.
"Uncle Piccolo, do we still need to keep fighting?"
Gohan asked Piccolo with his hands in his pockets.
Piccolo clenched his teeth.
"Gohan, when did you get so strong?"
"Over the past few days, I guess!"
Piccolo had secretly watched Gohan throughout the half-year he had been training.
If Gohan lied, Piccolo would easily see through it.
Piccolo stared at him after hearing that.
He began to suspect Gohan's identity.
Although Gohan had grown less timid after training for half a year, the Gohan standing before him was far too composed. He was like a completely different person from the Gohan he had known before.
Still... Gohan was just as respectful toward him as ever.
"Could he have hit his head?"
Piccolo wondered to himself.
"Um... Gohan, have you hurt your head while training these past few days?"
"My head?"
"Mm!"
"No!"
Gohan shook his head.
"What's wrong, Uncle Piccolo?"
"N-nothing! Then, Gohan, how did you get so strong so suddenly?"
"Push-ups!"
"Push-ups?"
"Yeah! I did tens of thousands of push-ups yesterday!"
A bead of cold sweat appeared on Piccolo's forehead.
He did push-ups regularly too. Without a weighted suit, he could easily do tens of thousands of them.
But that kind of training didn't seem to increase his strength by much.
Before you continue