Gaino and Laiya completed their mission ahead of schedule and returned to Planet Vegeta, leaving all the Saiyans on the planet stunned. They were the first team to return from a mission, and they had completed it ahead of schedule.
They had finished in four years a mission that others could barely complete in five, setting a new record for Saiyan missions.
The team with the best completion time had been the one Laiya's father belonged to. It included Laiya's parents and the warrior Bardock. Bardock had originally been a high-class warrior, but after Gaino's parents died on a mission, Bum had brought him into his team. Bardock had advanced rapidly in Bum's elite team and showed the potential to surpass even Bum and the other elite warriors. This had taken them all by surprise.
Laiya's parents had completed their mission in the record time of four years and eight months. Their achievement had already stunned King Vegeta, but Gaino and the others had finished in just four years, breaking his parents' record. How could that not leave everyone astounded?
Gaino and Laiya went to the mission registration office and told the Saiyan on duty that they had completed their mission. Then they flew home.
When the Saiyans who had once looked down on Gaino saw him and Laiya streak across Planet Vegeta, they thought, I never expected Gaino to learn to sense ki after going on just two missions. Judging by how fast he's flying, his battle power must be pretty high now. That was what they thought.
But who could have known that Gaino had become a peak they couldn't even see, no matter how high they looked? To him, they were like ants beneath an elephant.
Gaino and Laiya quickly flew home and slowly floated down.
Together, Gaino and Laiya called out, "Mom! Dad! We're back from our mission! We completed it! Come out and see us!"
Bum and Tasha hurried to the door after hearing them. They'd heard someone calling "Mom" and "Dad" inside, but weren't sure if it was their children.
After listening carefully for a while, Tasha said, "Bum, I can hear Gaino and Laiya. Do you hear them too?"
Bum said, "You must miss our son and daughter so much you're imagining things. They're still on their mission! How could they be back so soon? You must be hearing things."
"No, listen carefully. Those are Gaino and Laiya's voices."
Bum put down what he was holding and strained to listen. Sure enough, someone was calling for them. "You're right, it's Gaino and Laiya! You weren't hearing things. Come on, let's go see!"
Bum and Tasha hurried to the door. Gaino and Laiya stood together, grinning at them.
Bum stared at Gaino and Laiya. "I-is that really you? I'm not seeing things, am I?"
"N-no, you're not seeing things. It's Gaino and Laiya. They're back!"
Gaino said, "Mom, Dad, your favorite son and daughter are home, and you're leaving us standing outside!"
Laiya chimed in, "Exactly! You don't even believe your own children are back. Are you really our loving parents?"
Bum and Tasha were sure after hearing them say that.
It had to be their son and daughter. Those two little rascals often talked to them like that.
Tasha punched Bum. "Didn't you hear what our son and daughter said? Hurry up and let them in! Why are you just standing there?"
"Oh, right, right, right! Look at me, I'm so happy I can hardly believe Gaino and Laiya finished their mission and came back so soon."
Bum stepped in front of Gaino and looked him up and down. Then he went over to Laiya, examined her from every angle, and said, "You're both fine. Looks like the mission went smoothly!"
"Of course! I'm the daughter of an elite warrior, after all!" Laiya said.
Bum burst out laughing. "That's right! My daughter's the best!"
Tasha came up beside Bum and pinched him hard at the waist. He bared his teeth, his face twisting into an indescribable expression.
"What are you bragging about? Why are you leaving our son and daughter standing here? Let them inside already."
Seeing Bum's expression, Gaino and Laiya both stifled their laughter.
Bum said, "Honey, let go! Not in front of the kids. At least let me, as the head of the family, show some concern for our son and daughter!"
"Now that you've shown your concern, let's go inside," Tasha said.
"Right, right, let's go inside. Otherwise, your mother's going to get angry."
Gaino said, "Dad, that can't happen! Mom's so nice. How could she ever get angry? Isn't that right, Mom?"
When Tasha saw Gaino's gaze, she immediately smiled maternally at him. "That's right, my little Gaino. Mom has the best temper. How could I ever lose it?"
Laiya asked, "Mom, are you happy that Gaino and I are back?"
"Of course I'm happy! I can hardly believe you finished your mission and came back so soon. All right, let's go inside first. Later, you can tell me all about what happened over the past few years."
"Okay, let's go in! Once we're inside, I'll tell you and Dad all about everything Gaino and I went through these past few years."
After they entered the house, Laiya eagerly began telling Bum and Tasha about everything that had happened over the years.
When Laiya told them about the times they'd been in danger, Bum and Tasha's hearts clenched. Only once the danger had passed could they finally relax.
When Laiya got to the interesting parts, she gestured excitedly, describing everything so vividly that Bum and Tasha discovered a side to their daughter they'd never seen before.
At the end, she told them about the battle with Slug. When she said she'd driven Slug away, Laiya grew smug, as if she were saying, See how amazing I am? Mom, Dad, hurry up and praise me!
Bum and Tasha looked incredulous. Laiya had actually defeated Slug, the Demon Clan King who was as famous as Frieza.
Bum asked, "Laiya, is that true?"
"Of course it is! If you don't believe me, you can ask Gaino."
Bum and Tasha looked at Gaino. He said, "It's true. Laiya drove Slug away."
"Then Laiya must be even stronger than the King," Bum said.
Laiya corrected him. "I'm not just stronger than the King. He's nothing in my eyes now."
Gaino promptly backed her up. "That's right."
They heard Bum and Tasha swallow hard. They were completely dumbfounded. Just how had Laiya and the others trained over the past few years to become so strong?
Seeing his parents' expressions, Gaino said gently, "No matter how much Laiya and I change, we're still your children, aren't we?"
"Right, right, Gaino's right. Gaino and Laiya will always be our children," Bum said.
"Well, your son and daughter are hungry now. Mom, Dad, shouldn't you make us a feast?"
"How could I forget? Bum, hurry up! Let's go make Gaino and Laiya something to eat."
Watching his parents walk into the kitchen, Gaino said, "Home really is the best. It feels so warm."