บท 5: Training (1)
I grabbed some clothes for the night and headed downstairs for dinner. The one thing I was looking forward to more than anything was eating. I had polished off Mom's lunch way before meeting up with Videl and Erasa, and now my stomach was practically growling in protest.
As I descended the stairs, the aroma hit me like a punch, and I couldn't help but grin. "Hehe, this smells amazing!" I wiped the drool from my mouth with my forearm, my excitement growing with every step.
Plopping down at the table, I felt like a kid on Christmas, practically bouncing in my seat as I stared eagerly at the spread in front of me.
"Gohan, are you really that hungry?" Videl asked, raising an eyebrow. She was still getting used to how animated I could get. Sure, she was hungry too, but I was acting like I'd never seen food before.
"Just let him be," Erasa laughed softly. She and Videl were sprawled out on the sofa, both looking tired from the day's events. "After all that training, he's probably starving." Her eyes landed on the heavy turtle shell strapped to my back. "But how are you even walking with that thing? It looks like it weighs a ton."
I shrugged, trying to play it cool. "Eh, it's not as bad as it looks," I said, though it had definitely been a challenge.
Thud. Launch set down a large bowl of food in front of me, her usual kind smile brightening her face. "Dinner's almost ready, but can you wait just a little longer? I'll go get the others."
I sighed, trying to hide my impatience. "Alright," I muttered, giving in. "But who else is here besides Master Roshi?"I asked, raising an eyebrow. It hadn't occurred to me that there'd be more people.
"You'll see," Launch said sweetly before heading upstairs.
It wasn't long before I saw the others. Puar, Oolong, and Master Roshi came down the stairs, with Puar floating ahead of the group.
"Hi! You must be Goku's son, right?" Puar greeted me cheerfully, hovering closer. "You look just like him!"
Oolong, on the other hand, froze, his eyes wide. "G-Goku's kid?!" he squealed, his pig nose twitching. "What're you doin' here, kid?"
I smiled, but my tone was more serious. "I'm here to train. Those androids won't handle themselves."
As we sat down for dinner, the others watched in disbelief as I ate... and ate... and ate. Videl and Erasa had never seen me eat before, and judging by their wide-eyed stares, they weren't prepared. Oolong, however, looked horrified.
'He's probably thinking if the food runs out, I'll eat him next,' I chuckled to myself.
When we finished eating, the fatigue hit us all. Master Roshi showed us to the second bedroom. There was only one futon, and since we were all kids, it was decided Videl, Erasa, and I would share the room. Oolong and Puar got demoted to the living room, but they didn't complain much. Master Roshi had two futons in his room—one for himself and one for Launch. I couldn't help but snicker at how disappointed he probably was about that.
The girls seemed a little awkward about sharing a room with me, but sleeping with Oolong and Puar wasn't exactly a better option. So they settled on staying in the bedroom.
As we lay down, I noticed Videl and Erasa had each grabbed onto one of my arms. My face flushed with a mix of embarrassment and confusion. "Hey... aren't you guys a little too close?" I tried to sound casual, though my face was burning.
"It's kinda cold..." Videl mumbled, her cheeks pink as she avoided eye contact.
Erasa, however, was grinning like she was having the time of her life. "What, Gohan, you don't like it?" she teased, nudging me playfully.
I let out a long sigh, too tired to argue. Closing my eyes, I let sleep take over, hoping tomorrow would be a bit less awkward.
The next morning...
"Snooooore..." The three of us were out cold, with Videl and Erasa basically sprawled across me. It felt like they had claimed my arms as their personal pillows.
Suddenly, the door creaked open, and Master Roshi tiptoed in. His eyes widened when he saw the scene. 'Kuuuuh, look at this kid! Even I'm jealous!' Master Roshi thought, gritting his teeth in frustration.
BAM BAM BAM!
Master Roshi pounded on the doorframe, filling the room with an earsplitting racket. "Wake up! Time to rise and shine!" His loud voice shattered the peaceful slumber we were in.
Groggy and disoriented, we all sat up, blinking at the sudden burst of noise. We quickly got dressed and made our way downstairs, where breakfast was already waiting.
"I slept really well!" Erasa said cheerfully, stretching her arms. "It was my first time sharing a bed with a boy." Her tone was playful, and she giggled as she sat up.
Videl, still half-asleep, blinked a few times before her face turned a soft shade of pink. "Me too," she admitted, her voice quieter than usual. She rubbed the back of her neck, avoiding eye contact. "It's... not something I've ever done before."
Erasa's eyes sparkled with curiosity. "Oh, come on, Videl! You're acting all shy now?" she teased, nudging her friend gently. "I thought you'd be used to stuff like this—being all tough and fearless."
Videl crossed her arms and huffed, trying to maintain her usual confident demeanor, but the blush on her cheeks betrayed her. "I'm not shy!" she protested, though her voice wavered a little. "It's just... different, okay?"
Erasa chuckled, but before she could tease Videl further, she shot a glance downstairs. "We should hurry, or Gohan's going to gulp down all the breakfast."
After eating, Master Roshi took us on a tour of the house. As we followed him, he led us into a room filled with capsules, neatly arranged in rows on shelves. These small, cylindrical objects, no bigger than a finger, could store almost anything—cars, planes, entire houses—you name it. All with the press of a button.
Master Roshi grinned as he showed us the collection. "You're probably wondering why I've got so many of these lying around, right?" he said, noticing the surprised looks on our faces.
I nodded, amazed at the sheer quantity. "Yeah, it's like you were preparing for an apocalypse."
Roshi chuckled. "Well, let's just say I've had a lot of experience with... certain appetites. You know how Goku used to eat. When he stayed here, I made sure to keep plenty of food, tools, and supplies in these capsules. That kid could eat enough for a small army, and I didn't want to run out. It kind of became a habit."
"You've really thought of everything, haven't you, Master?" I said, thinking how useful these capsules could be.
Roshi gave a sly grin, crossing his arms. "You learn a thing or two living as long as I have, kid. Never underestimate the power of a well-packed capsule."
"But anyway, let's start training!" Master Roshi said, his voice filled with enthusiasm as he clapped his hands together.
"You girls, do the same exercises as yesterday!" he instructed, pointing at Videl and Erasa, who nodded in unison, though they looked a little less excited at the prospect.
Then he turned to me, his expression more serious. "And you, Gohan, follow my lead!"
Without hesitation, Master Roshi launched into a series of martial arts moves, his body moving with a swiftness and accuracy that seemed unbelievable for someone his age. The smooth flow of his stances, paired with rapid and powerful transitions, made it clear—this wasn't just for show; he was putting me to the test.
I did my best to keep up, but the heavy turtle shell strapped to my back felt like an anchor. Each movement was a struggle; my muscles burned with every twist, pivot, and stance.
"Faster, Gohan! Flow like water, strike like lightning!" Master Roshi barked, his voice full of vigor.
I gritted my teeth, focusing intently on each movement. Sweat poured down my face, and the shell on my back made every action feel like a battle against gravity. My legs began to tremble, my back strained under the extra weight, and I found myself panting for air.
Meanwhile, Videl and Erasa were busy with their own training—simple stretches, push-ups, and basic stances. Erasa kept glancing over and smiling at me encouragingly, while Videl looked determined, refusing to let herself fall behind.
"Come on, Gohan! You're doing amazing!" Erasa called out, her voice still bright despite her own fatigue.
Videl looked over, her brow knitted with concern. "You okay there, Gohan?" she asked, trying to sound nonchalant, but the worry in her eyes was unmistakable.
I forced a smile, even though my legs felt like they were about to give out. "Yeah... I'm fine! Just... taking it easy!" I managed, even though keeping up with Master Roshi was proving nearly impossible.
"Hey, you two! Get back to your own training!" Master Roshi called out, snapping their focus back to their exercises.
The old man wasn't letting up for a second. "That turtle shell isn't just a prop, kid! It's there to push you past your limits!" he shouted, not even pausing in his own movements.
I nodded, more for myself than anyone else, and focused on Roshi's precise motions—the way he balanced his weight, the snap of his punches, the absolute control in every stance. I knew this kind of training was necessary. True martial arts wasn't just about raw power or instinct—it was about discipline, mastery, and the kind of strength that came from perfecting even the smallest technique. Each movement had to be fluid yet powerful, balanced yet impactful.
As time went on, I felt my body gradually begin to adapt. My muscles screamed in protest, but I pushed onward, each movement becoming a bit more precise, a bit more natural. There was still a long journey ahead, but I knew this training was crucial—exactly what I needed to face all the threats in this world. I didn't know what lay ahead, but I understood one thing: solid foundations were what I needed most right now.
Day after day, the routine was the same—each morning started with the sound of Master Roshi's voice waking us up at the crack of dawn. I would strap on that heavy turtle shell and train relentlessly, refining my fists, perfecting my posture, and sharpening my movements. Each strike, each stance, and each shift in balance was broken down and corrected until it felt like second nature. Master Roshi pushed me to the limits, insisting on precision and control in every action.
The repetition was grueling, yet it brought a strange sense of satisfaction. Every punch and kick I threw felt just a bit sharper than the day before, each movement flowing more smoothly, my body responding faster and more instinctively. I could feel myself getting stronger—not just in raw power, but in the finer details, in my understanding of true martial arts.
At a certain point, every new movement I saw began to break down in my mind. Each posture made sense in a way it hadn't before, and every motion held a clear purpose. It was as though my body and mind were finally working in perfect harmony.
The girls had their own exercises—Erasa's cheerful encouragement filled the air, her laughter lightening the weight of our efforts, while Videl's determination drove her to push herself to her limits. They were growing too, in their own ways—building resilience, strength, and confidence.
It came as a surprise to me. I hadn't expected Erasa to hold on as much as she did. I knew Videl was talented; I knew her well beforehand. But Erasa showed more grit than I expected. She was pretty impressive—and honestly, kind of cute.
Between the intense training sessions, there were brief but welcomed moments of rest. Meals became events in themselves. Master Roshi's collection of capsules kept us well-fed, and each meal was a feast as I tried to replace all the energy burned during training. We'd sit together, sharing stories and laughter—sometimes at Master Roshi's old tales, sometimes at the antics of Puar and Oolong.
And then there was sleep—when exhaustion finally took over, and we collapsed onto our futons. My body ached, my muscles throbbed, and there were times I questioned whether I could get up and do it all again the next day. But each morning, I rose with the sun, ready to face whatever training came my way.
Eat, train, sleep. A simple routine, but one with purpose. Slowly, I could feel myself becoming more capable, laying down the foundations I needed to face the challenges ahead. This cycle wasn't just monotonous; it was transformative—each repetition a crucial step toward being ready for whatever lay beyond this peaceful island.
"Just wait, androids—two years from now, you won't stand a chance against me!"
6 Months later...
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