In Zeno Calendar Year 3120, the wild cherry blossoms on Mount Paozu bloomed again. That year's flowering season came earlier than usual; pink-white petals carpeted the mountainside from February through the end of March. The sea breeze carried them to the beach by Turtle Hermit House, where they settled on the shoulders and hair of the disciples during morning training, on the orange flag embroidered with the character "Turtle" at the dojo entrance, and on Goku's graying hair.
Goku sat in the old rattan chair at the dojo entrance, its surface worn smooth with age, holding a bowl of seafood porridge. His hair had turned completely white, and his tail hung through the wicker behind the chair, occasionally swaying gently. A crooked "Turtle" was carved into the bottom of the bowl. The carving had worn blurry, but it was still visible. Vegeta sat beside him, likewise holding a bowl of porridge, with equally graying hair and an equally faded orange gi. In the open space between them, the youngest children in the dojo practiced the separate movements of a straight punch, their commands crisp and childish.
In recent years, Goku had spoken less than before. It was not that he did not want to speak; whenever he wanted to say something, he could always see the answer in the eyes of those beside him. Vegeta, on the other hand, spoke more than he used to, though most of those extra words were complaints that the new generation's punching form lacked proper force. But Goku knew—he knew that every extra thing Vegeta said was said in his place.
"Vegeta."
"Yeah."
"Today, I want to go up to the summit."
"You went yesterday."
"Yesterday I watched the sunrise. Today I want to watch the sunset."
Vegeta set his bowl on the armrest