Life With You

Part 38: Reunion

And just like that, Gohan's worst day turned into the best day ever! His Dad was coming back! A day Gohan thought would never happen was happening in thirty days!!

"WHOO-HOO!!!!" Gohan spiraled in the air startling a flock of birds.

He was on his way home after letting Krillin and Piccolo know Goku is returning. Both were excited about Goku's return. Krillin didn't have high hopes of finishing in a suitable place to earn money. He retired from fighting after the Cell Game and settled down. If Krillin wasn't going to finish in a suitable place, Gohan thought 18 will. After him, his Dad, Vegeta and Piccolo, Gohan thought 18 should finish in fifth place and get a million dollars.

The only damper in sharing the news of Goku's return was Krillin and Piccolo's reaction to his Saiyaman uniform. What did they know about style? Krillin and Piccolo lived away from people on an island and Kami's Temple. Piccolo also had Nail and Kami in him. They wouldn't know anything about fashion.

Gohan did have another problem. How will he tell his mother? She will be thrilled Dad is returning but will she let him participate in the tournament? To truly prepare, Gohan needed to remove himself from school. He's strong but Gohan knew his Dad trained in the afterlife. He might be strong to beat Cell and Gohan... well, he knew he was still strong to beat Cell but even he knew, he slacked on his training. With Earth peaceful, Gohan didn't engage in grueling training. He exercised to keep in shape. Sometimes, when he left to hunt for the family, he would transform into a Super Saiyan and gave himself a private session. Sometimes when he visited Piccolo, they would spar. That.... was a while ago.

I might have lost a step or two but I'll be ready in thirty days to give Dad a suitable fight. Dad knows it's just for fun and will hold back. He'll take it lightly. Vegeta won't and that's a huge problem.

Gohan wasn't comfortable with Vegeta entering the Tenkaichi Boudaki. The elder Saiyan never stopped training. Whenever Gohan visited, Vegeta was always in the gravity room. He was stronger than seven years ago. It might be a struggle to defeat him and with his Dad coming back......

I need to take a leave of absence from school to be ready but Mom will flip out. She'll never let me leave school for thirty days. She doesn't want anything getting in the way of my education.

His Mom begrudgingly tolerated Gohan taking time away from studying to be Saiyaman. No way would she agree with thirty days. Gohan remembered how his Mom reacted when Dad wanted to take him from his studying to fight the Artificial Humans. That was the ugliest fight he saw from his parents and it had an unfortunate end with Mom hurt for weeks. That incident wouldn't repeat itself but Gohan knew he had to tell his Mom he needed to step away from school. In the past, others did it for him. Now, he had to tell his mother and it was scary.

I gotta find a way to tell Mom. Dad's expecting a good fight from me.

He's late. ChiChi expected Gohan two hours ago. He was on time Monday and Tuesday. Today's Wednesday. Before, she thought Gohan was patrolling Satan City. Now she knew he spent his Mondays and Wednesdays with Leska. Gohan was hurt but ChiChi thought Leska made the right choice. Gohan, being a teen and going through the emotions of a first crush, Gohan wouldn't see it that way.

Unless he's with her now.

Teen emotions changed like the weather. Perhaps Gohan was over it and back to only being friends with Leska. Whatever the reason, ChiChi vowed to find out when Gohan returns. She wasn't going to allow him to keep secrets from her. She didn't need secrets or surprises with all she had to deal with. She had enough after her talk with her father earlier today.