Strange... I could've sworn I went to bed last night."
A soft ocean breeze tickled his skin. The air was warm, salty, and... far too clean. The 24-year-old Pakistani man slowly stirred from unconsciousness, eyes fluttering open to a bright blue sky framed by wooden beams and a slowly spinning ceiling fan.
He blinked, confused.
"This isn't my ceiling."
He sat up abruptly, but everything felt off. His body was... small? Light? His muscles were defined but compact — like a gymnast, not the slightly flabby office worker he remembered being. His head itched and he reached up instinctively, only to find smooth, bare skin. No hair.
"What the hell?" He scrambled to his feet and rushed to the nearby mirror hanging on the wooden wall.
And there he saw it. The pale bald head. The six incense dots on his forehead. The orange gi hanging loosely on his short frame.
"No way... no no no way!"
His breathing quickened, but before full panic could set in — the pain hit.
"Agh!" He clutched his head, falling to his knees as a torrent of memories invaded his mind. Training under Master Roshi. Meeting Goku as a child. Fighting in the World Martial Arts Tournaments. Dying at the hands of Tambourine. Reviving. Training again. Facing off against Piccolo. And now... living peacefully at Kami House.
"Krillin..." he whispered, eyes wide. "I'm Krillin."
The memories — they weren't just visuals. They came with emotions. With instincts. With muscle memory. He felt the strength in his limbs. The flow of ki. The sense of danger in his gut. It was overwhelming... but not unpleasant.
He sat there for a few minutes, just breathing. Thinking. Processing.
"Okay. So I've been reincarnated or transmigrated into the Dragon Ball world. And not as Goku, not as Vegeta, but... Krillin. Bald, funny, pervy Krillin. But also — one of Earth's strongest humans. This... this might be a blessing."
He stood up slowly, still adjusting to the surreal reality.
"And if I remember right... today's the beginning of the Saiyan Saga. Goku's bringing his son, Gohan, to Kami House. Which means... Raditz is coming. Today."
A wave of anxiety washed over him.
"Damn... I'm in that episode."
---
Later that Morning – Kami House
The pink house on the tiny island was just as he remembered it from the anime. It felt strange seeing it in full 3D — real birds chirping, real waves splashing gently around the shore. Krillin — or rather, the man now living as Krillin — walked barefoot across the warm sand. His footsteps were light. Balanced. Controlled.
"Yo, Krillin!" a voice called out. It was Master Roshi, sitting in his usual beach chair with sunglasses and a drink in hand.
"H-hey, Master Roshi," he replied, trying to sound casual.
"You're up early," Roshi noted, grinning. "You sure you didn't sneak a peek at Bulma's swimsuit catalog last night?"
He gave an awkward chuckle. "N-no, just... couldn't sleep."
Roshi laughed. "Ah, the excitement! Today's a big day. Goku's bringing his boy over. Wonder what the little tyke looks like."
Krillin nodded, trying to keep his thoughts steady. "So it's confirmed. The timeline's intact... for now."
---
Noon – The Get-Together Begins
As the sun climbed higher, the island began to fill with familiar faces. Bulma arrived first in a hover car, wearing a breezy summer outfit and sunglasses.
"Hey Krillin," she called out, waving. "Did you get shorter?"
He smirked. "Funny. Pretty sure you're the one who got taller."
Next came Launch, in her blonde, chaotic form, holding a plate of rice balls.
"Food's here, punks!" she shouted, tossing the plate onto the table and sneezing a second later — transforming into her calm, blue-haired self.
"Oh dear... did I bring enough?" she asked sweetly.
Krillin couldn't help but chuckle. "Classic Launch."
Then Yamcha and Puar showed up, followed by Chi-Chi and Ox-King — but the real moment of awe came when they all turned to the sky.
A familiar voice rang out, cheerful and pure.
"Hey guys!"
Goku descended, riding Nimbus, with a shy little boy on his shoulders. Gohan.
Everyone gathered around, admiring the boy and teasing Goku about being a dad. The atmosphere was warm, full of laughter and nostalgic banter. But Krillin... he was only half there.
"It's happening any minute now."
Then — he felt it.
A cold, suffocating pressure slammed down from above. A ki signature far too powerful to be Earth-born. He looked up sharply.
So did Goku.
The sky darkened slightly. A black silhouette appeared high above them. Long wild hair. A scouter over his left eye. Armor with shoulder pads.
Raditz.
He descended slowly, like a hawk circling its prey. Landing with a heavy thud on the sand, he took a long look around before focusing on Goku.
"Kakarot," he said, voice deep and menacing. "So this is where you've been hiding."
Goku blinked. "Kakarot? Who are you?"
Krillin took a cautious step forward, his body tensing.
Raditz chuckled. "I'm your brother. And I've come to bring you back. Or destroy you."
The group fell silent. Gohan clung to Goku's leg, sensing the danger.
Goku frowned. "You're lying."
"I'm not," Raditz said calmly. "You are not from this planet, Kakarot. You were sent here as an infant. Your job was to wipe this world clean of life. But instead..." He looked around, sneering. "You became soft. Weak. A disgrace to our Saiyan blood."
Krillin stepped forward, placing himself beside Goku. "I don't care who you are. You're not taking him anywhere."
Raditz turned, his scouter beeping slightly. "Hmm. Power level... 206. Pathetic."
Krillin's eyes narrowed. "You're not gonna be laughing for long."
The storm was just beginning.