Mount Paozu
"Another bottomless pit to feed?!" Chi-Chi stared at Nappa in horror.
"Uh… Mom, it's not like you have to cook for him," Gohan said helplessly.
"No way! Even if I don't cook, someone still has to buy the food. And I can't afford it!" Chi-Chi snapped.
"Uh… well… little sister-in-law, how about we find a way to earn some money?" Raditz offered awkwardly.
Even he was starting to feel embarrassed.
Nappa, on the other hand, was just confused. He couldn't understand why Raditz and Gohan seemed so terrified of this woman whose power level was so… unimpressive.
"Earn money? Hmph… at least you're more proactive than Goku. But jobs aren't easy to come by," Chi-Chi said, frowning.
"All right, all right, Mom you forgot I get dividends from Aunt Bulma's company. We have more than enough money. You don't need to worry," Gohan quickly cut in.
Yeah, right putting two hot-headed Saiyans into the workforce? Disaster waiting to happen.
"Gohan, you're already four years old, right? You promised me you'd start school when you turned three. Don't think I forgot!" Chi-Chi said in a low, dangerous voice.
Gohan's mouth twitched. "Mom… can't we just"
"No! You're just a little kid. If you don't go to school, what do you plan to do? Rebel? You're starting tomorrow!" Chi-Chi bellowed, yanking Gohan by the ear.
"Okay, okay! I'll go! Ow! My ear's gonna fall off!" Gohan cried dramatically, trying to break free.
Raditz began tiptoeing toward the door, hoping to slip away unnoticed.
"Stop right there! Even if Gohan has his dividends, you two can't just freeload. Starting tomorrow, water-fetching, firewood chopping, and farming will all be your jobs. Oh, and Goku did you hear me?!" Chi-Chi's eyes locked on Raditz like a predator spotting prey.
"Yes, ma'am! No problem leave it to me and Nappa! Come on, let's go, Nappa!" Raditz grabbed the still-bewildered Nappa and bolted outside.
"Phew… finally escaped," Raditz muttered, wiping cold sweat from his forehead.
"Raditz… why are you all so afraid of her? Her power level is higher than most Earthlings, sure, but nowhere near yours," Nappa asked, puzzled.
"Nappa, you just don't understand. Give it a few days you'll see. Super Saiyans aren't scary. Super Saiyan mothers are terrifying. You fetch water, I'll chop wood," Raditz said solemnly, handing him a huge water bucket.
"Wait… is this part of training?" Nappa asked.
"…You could say that."
"Then I'll go right now!" Nappa's eyes lit up with determination as he took off into the sky.
"Give it time, Nappa… you'll realize what we Saiyans really lack is a peaceful heart," Raditz murmured, heading toward the forest.
Meanwhile, Goku had collected all seven Dragon Balls in a single day.
Last time Gohan had used them, he was barely three years old. Now, at four, the Dragon Balls had recharged, and everyone killed by Nappa was revived.
The city, however, still needed rebuilding not that Goku cared. He was broke.
Day Three
"This uniform is so uncomfortable," Gohan grumbled, tugging at his school clothes.
"Comfortable or not, you're wearing it," Chi-Chi said firmly.
"…Fine."
Taking his bearings, Gohan blasted off into the sky.
"Don't forget when you get there, walk. Don't scare your classmates!" Chi-Chi shouted after him.
"Got it, Mom!"
Chi-Chi watched him go, shaking her head with a fond smile.
"You think I can't see right through you, you little rascal? But no matter how smart you are, kids your age should be doing kid things. Go make friends, enjoy school."
Three thousand kilometers away, South City.
A luxurious-looking elementary school: South Central Academy.
"So this is the place?" From high above, Gohan looked down at the crowd of uniformed kids swarming the entrance.
He had no interest in kindergarten, so Chi-Chi had applied for an early admission test and, unsurprisingly, Gohan had aced it, earning a full scholarship to one of the best private schools in the city.
Normally, kids didn't start elementary until age six.
"Hey, kid where are your parents? Why are you here alone?" the security guard at the gate asked.
"I hitched a ride on a neighbor's plane. My house is in Mount Paozu it's far. My parents didn't come," Gohan replied casually.
"Tch, some parents… so irresponsible. All right, let me see your student ID. I'll take you to your class," the guard said, still grumbling as he escorted Gohan.
"Hi, I'm Videl!" said the girl sitting next to him as soon as he sat down.
"Huh? What are the odds?" Gohan blinked, startled.
"You… know me?" Videl asked, tilting her head.
"Nope. Nice to meet you, I'm Son Gohan," he said politely.
Inwardly, he marveled at the coincidence.
He never expected to meet Videl this early. In the normal timeline, he'd still be in preschool right now.
Looking at the cute, tiny Videl before him, he made a mental note.
A childhood sweetheart? No… I'm actually younger than her right now. But still growing up together doesn't sound bad. Videl… hurry up and grow!
And so began Gohan's grueling life as an elementary school student.
After reviving everyone killed by Nappa, Goku returned to Mount Paozu only to be greeted by buckets brimming with water and a mountain of firewood.
"Whoa… impressive," he said.
Right then, Raditz came trudging up, hauling an entire tree on his shoulder.
"Kakarot, Chi-Chi told us to do it. We didn't dare say no," Raditz sighed.
"Haha, perfect! With you guys doing it, I don't have to. I'm heading to the gravity chamber!" Goku grinned.
"I'm coming too"
Before they reached the house, Nappa flew in carrying the last bucket of water.
"Huh? He's actually this obedient?" Goku said, surprised.
"Think he dares not to be?" Raditz smirked.
"Fair point."
"Come on, Nappa you're joining us too!" Goku called.
"Really?!" Nappa's eyes lit up.
"Yeah, relax make yourself at home," Raditz said, waving him over.
"On my way!" Nappa dashed forward eagerly.
Raditz had already told him about the wonders of the gravity chamber.
The three of them went in and began training.
6 p.m.
"Phew… that Videl sure is clingy," Gohan muttered when he got home, feeling like a huge weight had been lifted off his shoulders.
If Mr. Satan hadn't picked her up after school, who knew how long she'd have stuck to him.
Unlike the confident, sharp Videl of the future, the current version was just an endlessly curious little girl following Gohan around nonstop.
Thanks to his training, Gohan's height already surpassed most kids his age and even some older ones. His features were starting to sharpen, and his bare arms showed toned muscle.
In class, he was the prodigy there wasn't a question he couldn't answer. Which only made Videl even more curious about him.
"You're back? Wash up for dinner! How was school? Did you have fun?" Chi-Chi asked brightly.
"Mom… it was torture. A whole day surrounded by immature brats," Gohan grumbled.
He made up his mind then and there he had to find a way to skip school. And he couldn't let Chi-Chi find out.
"This is what kids are supposed to do. You want to skip school? Over my dead body," Chi-Chi said firmly.
"I'm starving," Gohan said pitifully.
"Come on then, dinner's ready Shiro cooked."
Shiro was the automated cooking robot Gohan had gotten from Capsule Corp. The dishwashing model was called Kuro.
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