Strange Duo

Martial Arts Tournament, restaurant.

"Crunch, crunch."

"Slurp, slurp."

The dining table had become an unconventional battlefield, though it was merely Son Goku and Vegeta, the two Saiyans, gorging themselves. Stacks of plates and bowls, cleaner than when they had just been washed, piled up high.

Krillin and Android 18 had long since finished and were now just sipping tea. As for Piccolo, that Namekian, could he even handle Earth food? The guy hadn't touched a thing.

"Hey, so this is where you are."

Having finished watching the matches, Son Gohan and Videl arrived at the restaurant, and sure enough, everyone was there.

"Gohan, I've already ordered for you, let's eat together," Son Goku said, poking his head out from behind a mountain of food before diving back into the fray.

"Oh, right."

With the two Saiyans becoming three, the rate at which the food vanished accelerated. It was a pity for the tournament chefs; they were running around in a frantic sweat, preparing dish after dish. How miserable.

"Are Saiyan stomachs... bottomless pits?" Krillin remarked dryly, watching the three of them eat.

You grew up with Son Goku, what do you think? Still, I'm curious how the Son Goku household manages their three meals a day. Relying on that pathetic prize money from the Martial Arts Tournament? Impossible. With a Saiyan's appetite, a mere five hundred thousand wouldn't be enough to keep them fed.

After eating his fill, Son Goku patted his slightly distended belly with a look of satisfaction. "Ha, I'm so full!"

Uh, as a dead man, you can actually feel hunger and fullness?

"Why aren't you eating? Are you on a diet?" Son Gohan asked Videl innocently.

Videl: ... (No thanks, seeing how you guys eat, I already feel stuffed.)

Piccolo, walking at the front, twitched his brow and couldn't help but stop in his tracks. Seeing him halt, the rest of the group stopped as well.

Standing in the path where the group was... er, no, I mean, walking along, two strangely dressed individuals blocked their way.

The taller one had a red face and skin, his expression extremely stern, his hands clasped behind his back like a bodyguard. The shorter one had grayish-blue skin, a friendlier expression than his companion, and his hands hung naturally at his sides. Unlike the other, he was hovering slightly above the ground.

Son Goku: ...

Piccolo: ...

Videl's delicate brows furrowed. "That guy can use the Flight Technique too!"

"Greetings. You must be Son Goku, I presume," the shorter one said calmly to Son Goku.

"You know me?" Son Goku asked, bewildered.

"I have heard of your exploits and would very much like to spar with you. I have also passed the preliminary rounds, and I hope to face you," the shorter one said. "Of course, I cannot guarantee I can defeat you, but I am curious just how strong you really are. Come, let us shake hands."

Seeing the shorter one extend his hand in goodwill, Son Goku reached out to shake it. "I look forward to it."

The moment he touched the man's hand, the playful expression on Son Goku's face shifted instantly.

A strange, eerie smile appeared on the shorter man's face as he let go and laughed, "Just as the rumors say, you possess unfathomable power."

"Farewell." The shorter man turned and left, taking the tall one with him. The tall one hadn't uttered a single word the entire time.

"Who... exactly was that, Goku?" Piccolo asked, staring at their retreating backs.

"Not sure..." Son Goku also watched them go. "But one thing is certain: winning this tournament won't be easy."

"You think so? They were just a couple of weirdos," Krillin said, looking at their backs without sensing anything unusual.

"They don't seem to be from Earth," Piccolo said solemnly.

No kidding. When have you ever seen an Earthling look like that? Just like how you didn't know you were a Namekian for the longest time, right?

"Forget it, let's go. The drawing ceremony is about to start," Krillin said, stuffing his hands into his pockets.

Martial Arts Tournament, backstage area.

"Everyone, all contestants have arrived. We will now draw lots to determine the order of the matches. When you hear your name, please come up to draw," the blond referee announced.

"Oh, Kami, please protect me from drawing any of these guys in the first round," Krillin prayed piously, hands pressed together and eyes closed.

"Isn't Dende the Kami now?" Piccolo remarked seriously.

It seems there are no other experts besides those two. Son Goku scanned his surroundings, coming to a realization. However, when his gaze swept over two bald men—each with a black "M" on their foreheads—Son Goku's brow twitched. Those two had such vicious looks in their eyes.

When he looked at a masked fighter, Son Goku was stunned. Is this guy a contestant too? His height was clearly out of proportion.

This masked fighter was, of course, Son Goten and Trunks in disguise. Unlike the original story, this time Son Goten was on top, with Trunks acting as the lower half. But no matter how those two four-head-tall brats tried to disguise themselves, they couldn't hide their short limbs. Any normal person could tell at a glance that the proportions were completely wrong.

"Now, let the drawing begin in order," the referee said, looking at the chart in his hand.