The Road Home

In space, the golden light faded.

Dad and I appeared outside Earth's atmosphere.

Through the glass of my spacesuit, I looked down at the blue planet below.

It was the first home I had after crossing over.

"Whew... Earth still feels the best," Dad said, letting out a long breath.

"Obviously," I said irritably. "Namek was nothing but wilderness and lava. It'd be weird if it felt good."

"Not entirely, right? There was also—"

"Frieza, who wanted to kill you?"

Dad scratched his head and grinned. "I just meant... that battle was exhilarating. The feeling of surpassing your limits was incredible."

I looked at his goofy smile, completely speechless.

Dad, your body is practically wrecked, and you're still savoring the fight. You really are the universe's number one battle maniac.

"Oh, right, Gohan," Dad suddenly said. "Let's go home and see your mom."

"Let's find Krillin and the others first," I said. "They should be back too."

"You're right."

Golden aura flared around us again as we descended toward Earth.

In the clearing on Mount Paozu, Son Goku's spaceship sat silently.

The hatch opened, and several familiar figures stepped out—Krillin, Tien Shinhan, Yajirobe, Piccolo, and Vegeta.

"Namek really was destroyed..." Krillin said as he looked at the sky.

"Gohan! Goku!" Krillin's eyes widened when he saw us descend from the sky. "You're okay?!"

"Of course we are!" Dad said with a grin. "How about you guys?"

"We're all fine." Krillin sighed in relief, then asked, "What about Frieza?"

Dad's smile faded slightly. "He was defeated."

"What?!" Vegeta's expression changed dramatically. "You defeated Frieza?!"

"Yeah. But Namek was about to explode, so we had to retreat first. Frieza should have been swallowed by the explosion."

Vegeta's expression was incomparably complicated. Shock, unwillingness, confusion, and even a trace of... relief?

The King was defeated by Dad. Vegeta's greatest nightmare in this life was just gone. I'd be stunned too if I were him.

Piccolo glanced at me and said nothing. There seemed to be something new in his eyes—something I couldn't understand.

Uncle Piccolo... what was he thinking?

"Vegeta," Dad called out to him.

"What?"

"It's good that you're okay," Dad said with a smile. "Whether you're the Saiyan prince or whatever else, as long as you're alive, that's a good thing."

Vegeta froze for a moment.

"...Hmph."

He turned and walked away, though his steps seemed somewhat hesitant.

Vegeta really is way too tsundere.

Piccolo looked at me and fell silent for a moment. "You... got stronger too."

"Yeah." I nodded. "Training always brings improvement."

Piccolo said nothing. He only looked at me.

That gaze... was like he had seen through something.

"...Your mom will worry," Piccolo suddenly said.

"...What?"

"Chi-Chi will worry about your studies." Piccolo coughed. "You were supposed to start middle school soon."

The corner of my mouth twitched.

Teacher Piccolo, since when did you start worrying about that? Aren't you Namek's combat type?

"...Got it, Uncle Piccolo."

Piccolo nodded and turned to leave.

"Gohan! Goku!"

A familiar voice rang out.

Chi-Chi.

Tears shimmered in her eyes.

"You... you really came back..."

"Haha, Chi-Chi—" Dad had just started to say something.

"You've got some nerve talking!" Chi-Chi planted her hands on her hips. "You were gone for months! And you didn't even make one phone call!"

"I-I'm sorry..."

"You think saying sorry is enough?!" Chi-Chi turned to me. "What about Gohan's studies?!"

I hurriedly stepped forward. "Mom, it wasn't Dad's fault. I wanted to go myself."

"You've got some nerve talking too!" Chi-Chi glared at me. "How old are you?! What do you know?! What if something happened to you?!"

"But, Mom..."

"No buts!" Chi-Chi wiped away her tears. "You're not allowed to do anything so dangerous again! Do you hear me?!"

I fell silent for a moment.

"I understand, Mom."

Chi-Chi froze for a moment, and a flash of heartache passed through her eyes.

"...Come home. I made dinner."

"Okay!" Dad's eyes lit up.

"Oh, right, Vegeta." Dad suddenly asked, "Do you want to come with us?"

Everyone froze.

Vegeta froze too.

"...What did you say?"

"I mean, you don't have anywhere to go either, right? Why not stay at our place for a few days?"

Vegeta's expression became even more complicated.

(Kakarot is inviting me? His enemy?)

"No." He said coldly. "I'll figure something out on my own."

With that, he turned and left, his back vanishing into the distance.

(Vegeta really is way too tsundere.)

"Alright, let's go!" Dad grabbed my hand. "Let's go home and eat!"

The little house on Mount Paozu was filled with the familiar scent of home-cooked food.

Chi-Chi stood at the kitchen entrance, watching us.

"Wash your hands and eat."

"Coming!" Dad rushed toward the bathroom.

I stood where I was, looking at this home.

(I'm back. Finally back.)

(The nightmare on Namek is over.)

(But... a new nightmare is brewing.)

(Three years from now... the Androids... Cell...)

(I have to find a way to get everyone prepared in advance.)

(But I can't just say, "I'm a transmigrator.")

(They'd think I was crazy.)

(The most painful thing about being a transmigrator... is knowing the future but being unable to say it outright.)

"Gohan? What are you spacing out for?" Chi-Chi asked.

"Nothing." I quickly said. "I was just thinking... about what to do next."

"What to do next?" Dad came out after washing his hands, smiling. "Of course, we take a good rest for a while! Then I'll spend time with Chi-Chi and Gohan!"

I looked at him.

(You're really that optimistic? You're not thinking about the crisis three years from now at all?)

(Still... maybe that's fine.)

(At least this moment is peaceful.)

"Oh, right, Gohan." Dad suddenly said, "How does your body feel? How did you transform?"

"Anger," I said. "When I saw Piccolo being bullied, I..."

"I understand." Dad nodded. "Anger is the key. But be careful after transforming. That power is very strong."

"I know," I said. "I'll be careful."

"And now you're a Super Saiyan too..." Dad smiled. "We can fight together now."

I looked at his smile, my feelings complicated.

(Dad, you're still saying things like that...)

(When you can't even turn Super Saiyan for the time being...)

(Still...)

(At least father and son can grow stronger together.)

(No, that's wrong. Only I can grow stronger.)

(For now, Dad can only watch.)

(Hehe.)

"Gohan?"

"Yeah?"

"What are you thinking about?"

"...Nothing. Let's eat."

I picked up my chopsticks.

Grabbed a piece of meat.

And put it in my mouth.

(The taste of home. So good.)

Outside the window, the stars glittered brilliantly.

Somewhere unknown, a mysterious presence sensed something.

"This aura... interesting..."

"Super Saiyan..."

"It seems... Earth has become interesting."

An omen of Cell was quietly brewing in the depths of the universe.

But that was another story.