Hearing that Goku was changing the original plan, Chi-Chi grew flustered.
"But… we're on the same side!"
Goku cut her off again.
"Winning doesn't really matter to us.
Fighting me seriously—it's for your sake.
Krillin may have lost, but he gave it his all, and he lost with no regrets.
What about you?
Are you really okay throwing the match just to save me some stamina?
We all trained hard together for eight months.
If you give up now without even trying—without proving yourself—won't you regret it?"
Goku expected her to say she wouldn't accept that.
Instead, Chi-Chi's love-struck brain kicked in again.
She replied with unwavering conviction:
"I don't regret it. Of course I don't!
Goku, helping you is more than enough for me.
I'll do whatever you ask!"
Goku: "…"
Krillin, watching nearby, nearly choked.
He was still sore from Jackie Chun's beating, had only just sat up comfortably—
and now he was being emotionally curb-stomped by this public display of affection.
His chest ached again. This is suffering.
Just then, the referee's voice echoed in:
"Will Contestants Son Goku and Chi-Chi please take the stage!"
Krillin quickly urged, "Goku, Chi-Chi! Hurry up—you'll be late!"
Chi-Chi nodded.
"Let's go, Goku! We're gonna be late!
I definitely can't beat you anyway, so I might as well forfeit right away."
But Goku suddenly grabbed her hand.
Chi-Chi's face turned red instantly at the unexpected contact.
She lowered her head shyly. "Goku…?"
Goku looked at her with serious eyes.
"Chi-Chi, I'm asking you—fight me with everything you've got."
Chi-Chi hesitated. "B-but…"
The crowd outside was starting to grow impatient.
Time was running short. Goku took a deep breath and said:
"Chi-Chi, don't you like me?"
Chi-Chi froze. Her already flushed face turned crimson.
She looked like a perfectly ripe apple.
Her feelings for Goku weren't exactly a secret.
But hearing him say it—now—was something else.
Her heart pounded wildly, breath catching in her throat.
She could barely breathe.
Goku looked at her earnestly.
"Chi-Chi… all this time, you've been so good to me.
I've never said it—but I've noticed.
So if you beat me today, then I promise—when I grow up, I'll marry you!"
Chi-Chi trembled.
Her eyes lit up like twin suns.
"Goku… am I dreaming? Is this real?"
The referee's voice cut through the noise again:
"Will Contestants Son Goku and Chi-Chi please enter the ring!"
Goku nodded firmly.
"It's real.
But only if you beat me!"
Chi-Chi nodded hard.
"Okay!"
The two of them walked together toward the stage.
But halfway there, Chi-Chi suddenly hesitated.
'What if I lose?
Will Goku never want to marry me after that?'
But they were already stepping onto the arena.
At that moment, Chi-Chi's feelings were still simple and pure.
She wanted to ask him what would happen if she lost…
But when she looked at Goku's determined face, she couldn't bring herself to speak.
If he didn't say anything about it—
then even if she lost, they could still be together like before. That was enough.
Chi-Chi took a deep breath and steadied herself.
This fight—she would give everything to win Goku's heart.
Both of them finished warming up and took their stances.
The crowd roared with anticipation.
"Let's go!"
"They're both Master Roshi's students—this should be amazing!"
"Right?! And that girl is strong. I'm pumped!"
Jackie Chun was watching as the two faced off and readied themselves.
"These two kids… actually planning to go all-out? Interesting!"
Bulma was surprised too.
'Even though she knows she can't beat him, she's still going to fight with everything she has?
Tch tch… When Chi-Chi gets serious, she really does have the spirit of a martial artist.'
The referee shouted, "Begin!"
Chi-Chi launched forward like a bullet.
She kicked hard at Goku—
and Goku raised his arm to block.
The moment they clashed, Chi-Chi pulled her leg back and followed up with a punch to his face.
Goku lifted his arm again to block.
Then, without hesitation, he launched a kick toward her.
Chi-Chi reacted fast—just before his kick landed, she stomped and leapt into the air.
While still airborne, she swept a powerful kick down at him.
Seeing the force behind it, Goku realized he couldn't block—
he leaned back, dodging just in time.
But the harder a move is, the bigger the opening afterward.
Chi-Chi's missed kick left her wide open mid-air.
Goku didn't hold back.
He stomped down and struck with a sharp elbow—
BAM!
Chi-Chi was sent flying.
Seeing how Goku wasn't pulling his punches at all, the audience gasped.
"What's wrong with this kid?!"
"Fighting a girl and not even going easy?!"
"She's so cute—and she's his junior! How could he hit her like that?!"
"Unforgivable! I'm furious!"
Someone next to him asked, "So what are you gonna do?"
"Nothing. I'm just furious!"
"…"
The fierce back-and-forth between Goku and Chi-Chi showed no signs of either of them holding back.
Bulma winced.
"That blockhead… He really can't go easier on her?"
Then she sighed with a bitter smile.
"But then again…
if he could, he wouldn't be Goku, would he?"