"What's wrong, Gohan?"
Chi-Chi asked when she noticed Gohan staring blankly.
"N-Nothing… it's just been a long time since I've been home."
"Is that so?" Chi-Chi smiled. "Then Mommy will make you something delicious right away!"
"Mhm."
Gohan nodded obediently.
Seeing this, Chi-Chi happily rushed into the kitchen.
The Ox-King leaned closer to Goku and whispered,
"Goku, Fortuneteller Baba said Gohan has already surpassed you. Is that true?"
"Yep."
Goku nodded without hesitation.
"Then what do you plan to do? Let him keep training, or make him study?"
"I don't know. I'll let Gohan decide."
"I see…" The Ox-King sighed. "But judging by Chi-Chi's expression, she's determined to make him study."
"Yeah…"
Goku scratched his head helplessly.
He had tried to persuade Chi-Chi before, but she always insisted that the world was peaceful and that Gohan's future depended on studying hard, becoming successful, and earning good money.
The Ox-King sighed again.
In truth, just like Goku, he also hoped Gohan would continue training.
Not long after, Chi-Chi finished cooking.
The dining table was completely covered with food.
"All right! Goku, Gohan, Dad—time to eat!"
"Okay!"
The Ox-King sat down with Goku and Gohan.
"Chi-Chi, can we start?" Goku asked.
"Mhm."
As soon as she nodded, bowls and chopsticks flew into action.
"Crunch, crunch, crunch—"
"Clang, clang, clang—"
Plates emptied at an astonishing speed.
Chi-Chi watched with a satisfied smile.
"Gohan," she said casually, "now that you're back, it's time for you to start studying again."
"Cough—cough!"
Gohan instantly choked.
"Gohan!"
Chi-Chi hurriedly handed him a glass of water.
After gulping it down, Gohan finally caught his breath.
"Are you okay?"
"I-I'm fine! Mom, tomorrow I have to fight the Saiyans with Dad. How about we talk about studying the day after tomorrow?"
Chi-Chi's expression turned serious.
"Gohan, did Piccolo influence you to stop studying?"
"No! I just want to fight alongside Dad tomorrow!"
"Be good, Gohan. Fighting is for adults. Your father can handle tomorrow by himself. Fighting is dangerous—what if you get hurt?"
"But Dad gets hurt too!"
"That's different. Your father is strong. Minor injuries don't matter. Right, Goku?"
"…Mhm."
Goku nodded awkwardly, then added, "But Chi-Chi, tomorrow's battle concerns Earth. And Gohan is stronger than me now. I think studying can wait."
"Absolutely not!"
Chi-Chi slammed the table.
"Ever since you died, Piccolo took Gohan away for a whole year! He hasn't studied at all! If we don't start now, he'll fall even further behind!"
"But Chi-Chi—"
"That's right, Chi-Chi," the Ox-King joined in. "Tomorrow's battle is really important."
Chi-Chi fell silent for a moment.
"…Fine."
She finally nodded.
"But you must guarantee Gohan's safety. Otherwise, I won't agree."
"Mhm!"
Goku nodded immediately.
After dinner, under Chi-Chi's supervision, Gohan returned to his room to study.
He sat gloomily at his desk, twirling a pencil.
He had over one hundred million battle power, yet here he was—doing homework.
Sure enough, the strongest being in the universe was still his mother.
After sulking for a while, Gohan tried his luck.
"System… your great master is suffering here. Shouldn't you help me?"
"Great?"
"Ahem!" Gohan coughed shamelessly. "Details don't matter. Freeing your master does!"
"Praise me, and I'll help."
"…You are the strongest system I've ever seen."
"Low-key, low-key!"
The System laughed smugly.
"In that case, I'll give you the Cloning Technique."
"Cloning Technique?"
"Yes. You can use a strand of hair to create a clone that studies in your place."
"That's useful. But will I know what it learns?"
"Of course. Once you retrieve the hair, all the clone's memories will return to you."
"Perfect!"
"Shall I transmit it now?"
"Yes."
A flood of memories surged into Gohan's mind.
He plucked a strand of hair, blew on it, and—
Poof.
A clone identical to him appeared.
"You stay here and study for me," Gohan said.
The clone nodded seriously.
Satisfied, Gohan vanished using Instant Transmission.
Mountains
Gohan appeared on a familiar peak.
"Gohan!"
Piccolo stood up.
"Didn't you go home with Goku?" Piccolo asked. "Why are you here?"
"I snuck out."
"…You snuck out?"
"My mom won't let me train."
Piccolo snorted.
"And Goku?"
"He couldn't do anything either."
"I see." Piccolo nodded. "Nervous about tomorrow?"
"Nope. Dad said those two Saiyans aren't Super Saiyans."
"Mhm."
Piccolo nodded.
The two trained together for a while.
The Next Morning
After breakfast, Gohan met up with Goku, Krillin, and the others.
"Goku," Krillin asked, "are you going first, or is Gohan?"
Goku smiled.
"Gohan's stronger than me now. If he goes first, I might not get a turn. Besides, I want to test those Saiyans myself."
"I figured," Krillin laughed.
Goku turned to Gohan.
"No objections?"
Gohan nodded seriously.
With his current strength, Nappa and Vegeta could be defeated with one finger.
"Goku," Yamcha said, "we want to fight too."
"You guys?"
"Yeah. We trained hard for a year. Even if we can't win, you're all here!"
"Alright," Goku agreed.
Just then—
Two Saiyan space pods entered Earth's atmosphere.
They belonged to Nappa and Vegeta.
...
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