"Huh? A dimensional gate? Don't tell me you're one of those 'Infinite Loopers' from light novels—someone with a system who jumps between anime and game worlds! I love that genre!" Shizuka stared at Son Goku, her eyes sparkling with the excitement of a fan meeting her favorite protagonist.
"Well… something like that. I can travel to different two-dimensional worlds, but I wouldn't call myself a 'Looper,'" Goku admitted, slightly taken aback that such concepts existed here too.
Saeko's brow furrowed. "So, in your perspective, are we merely characters from a two-dimensional story?"
"Really?" the other four gasped in unison.
Goku offered a gentle smile. "Don't get hung up on that. If you had the means to travel to story worlds, their inhabitants would seem two-dimensional to you. For all I know, the Earth I come from is just a comic book on someone else's shelf."
"That… is a reasonable point," Saya conceded, and the others visibly relaxed, the philosophical tension dissolving.
"If we go with you," Saya pressed, her analytical mind seeking parameters, "can we return?"
"Of course. As long as you have enough energy points to activate the gate."
Reassured, the group—while still grappling with the incredible—quickly agreed. They weren't ordinary schoolgirls; they were survivors. The promise of seeing another world, once their immediate crisis was resolved, held a powerful allure. With their bus totaled, they proceeded on foot toward the Takagi estate. The remote road was blessedly clear of the undead. To pass the time, Goku regaled them with tales of his own world, his battles, and his victory over the Demon King Piccolo, leaving them wide-eyed and even more curious about the world of Dragon Ball.
As dusk painted the sky, the first shambling figures appeared near the roadside—a grim sign they were approaching the city's outskirts. Soon, a silent, desolate town sprawled before them.
On the main street, Goku and Saeko took the lead, their senses alert. Rei guarded the rear, while Shizuka, Saya, and Taeko were kept safely in the middle.
"I'm so hungry… Can we find something to eat?" Shizuka pleaded, rubbing her stomach.
"I recall a supermarket down that side street," Saya said, pointing to the right.
"Sustenance first," Goku agreed. A Senzu Bean meant he could go without, but the others needed food.
"There it is!" Saya indicated a modest supermarket ahead.
"Allow me." Goku slipped inside. Moments later, after the brief sounds of scuffles, his voice called out, "Clear!"
The five girls hurried in, making a beeline for the shelves. Just as they began gathering supplies, a raucous clatter of boots echoed at the entrance.
"Boss! Jackpot! We won't starve!"
"Whoa, boss! Look! Food and fine ladies!"
"Women… the best treasure in a dead world."
Six men with garish dyed hair and crude tattoos swaggered in, their eyes sliding right past Goku to leer at the girls. "Damn, they're hot… Look at that figure. Drives a man wild."
"Hey, kid! Keeping all five for yourself? That's greedy. Share the wealth," the leader sneered, twirling a police-issue pistol.
The girls' expressions soured instantly. "Goku-san," Saya said, her voice cold with disdain. "These maggots are polluting the air. Remove them."
"Remove us? You've got a mouth on you—" BANG! The leader abruptly fired at Goku.
"Goku-san!" the girls cried out, startled by the sudden violence.
"When you shoot at me," Goku said calmly, unclenching his fist, "someone tends to die." A deformed bullet clinked onto the tile floor.
"I-Impossible…!" The six thugs stared, their bravado evaporating.
"Catching a bullet… so cool…" Taeko whispered, her eyes shining. Rei murmured, "He truly is beyond human."
"Bullshit! Everyone, light him up!" the leader roared. In a panic, all six opened fire, emptying their magazines in a deafening roar until their pistols clicked on empty chambers.
Goku's hands were a blur. When the echoes faded, he opened his palms, revealing a small pile of crumpled lead.
"H-he's a monster! Run!" One man broke, spinning to flee. Goku flicked a finger. A bullet shot from his hand like a pellet, punching through the runner's back. He crumpled to the ground, motionless.
"M-mercy! We were blind! Spare us!" The remaining five dropped to their knees, kowtowing frantically.
Goku didn't waste words. He threw a single, controlled punch in their direction. The compressed air from the blow hit them like a cannonball, launching the five thugs through the supermarket entrance and onto the road outside, where they lay still.
"Ara… that was a bit harsh," Shizuka mumbled around a bite of sausage.
"I strangely agree," Rei nodded.
"Now look what you did!" Saya snapped, hands on her hips, glaring at the mess near the doorway. "We just cleaned this area! How are we supposed to eat here now?"
"Then let's skip eating here. It's getting late; we should secure shelter first. You can eat your fill there," Goku suggested, deftly changing the subject as he eyed the unpleasant scene.
"A place to stay? I know one! A nice apartment…" Shizuka perked up immediately at the mention of rest.
"Your boyfriend's place?" Saya teased, a glint in her eye.
"No! No-no-no!" Shizuka waved her hands, her cheeks flushing. "It's a female friend's place! She's a flight attendant, always abroad. She gave me a key to air it out sometimes."
Goku nodded slowly, a playful grin forming. "Hmm… so, Mizushina-sensei prefers the company of women?"
"Eh?! Really?!" The other girls turned synchronized stares of surprise on Shizuka.
"Th-that's not it at all! I'm not… I mean…" Shizuka stammered, flustered and sweating.
"Idiot! Don't say such rude things to a lady!" Rei chided, thumping Goku lightly on the head.
"An apartment. Is the location defensible?" Saeko asked, bringing them back on track.
"It's a standalone rental by the river. Quiet. There's a konbini nearby," Shizuka explained, then spread her arms wide. "And her car is there too! It's huge, like an armored vehicle!"
"Perfect. Lead the way," Goku said, his interest piqued. A memory, faint and almost dreamlike, surfaced—scenes of laughter and steamy bathroom windows. Could this be it? he wondered, a hopeful thrill running through him. The end of an era?
When they reached the well-kept apartment, the girls issued a stern, unified "No peeking!" before filing into the bathroom. As the sound of running water, laughter, and splashing filled the apartment, Goku fought a mighty internal battle. The temptation was immense, but he shook his head firmly. Principles. I have principles. With a determined sigh, he turned his attention to the room's safe, prying it open to find a small arsenal of rare firearms inside.
He became engrossed in examining the weapons, and about thirty minutes had passed when a soft, sweet fragrance washed over him.
"Go~ku~kun~"
Shizuka's voice, warm and husky, whispered right by his ear. Before he could turn, her soft lips found his, silencing him in a sudden, gentle kiss.
Uh-oh, Goku thought, a wave of exhilaration crashing over him. I think I'm being reverse-raided…