Trunks and Gohan parted ways. Each flew home.

  Trunks landed outside his house. Inside, Bulma was brewing coffee. She turned. Saw him.

  "Mom, I'm back!"

  "Wow. One day and you grew five centimeters."

  She set a cup in front of him. He took a sip.

  "I heard Perilla's voice. Saw you and Gohan destroy Seventeen and Eighteen. Is it real?"

  "Yeah. But Perilla didn't blur our faces. We're probably going to deal with a lot of attention now."

  "It's fine. How did you two get so strong in one day? And what happened to your height?"

  Trunks explained. The Time Chamber. The training. Everything.

  Bulma leaned back. Sipped her coffee. "So the Lookout has a room like that... incredible."

  Her gaze grew distant. "She really is like him."

  "Like who?"

  "Perilla reminds me of Goku. If your Uncle Goku hadn't died from that virus, the Androids would've been beaten years ago."

  "Gohan said the same thing. Was Uncle Goku really that amazing?"

  "Yes. Just like Perilla, he created miracles. No matter how hopeless things got, if Goku was there, he'd turn it around."

  Bulma's mind drifted. The first time she'd met little Goku. A boy with a tail. She hadn't realized what he'd become.

  She stood. Walked to the Time Machine. Ran her hand along its metal shell. "I was going to send you and Gohan to the past. Save Goku with the heart medicine. But now... we don't need to."

  "We still should, Mom. I want to meet him. Uncle Goku. Everyone keeps talking about him. I want to see for myself."

  Bulma smiled. "Alright. The machine's almost done anyway. Would be a waste not to use it. But charging will take years. Especially with the power grid in ruins."

  "I can wait."

  They talked. Laughed.

  Neither noticed the small drone outside the window. Shaped like a mosquito. Watching.

  Gohan landed at his home. "Mom!"

  Chi-Chi was washing dishes. She froze. The plate slipped from her hands. Shattered.

  She spun. Threw herself at him.

  Gohan stiffened. Then saw the wrinkles on her face. The gray in her hair. How long was I gone? She's aged so much.

  "Gohan! You're back! I had a nightmare—you were killed by the Androids—but you're safe! You're safe!"

  He patted her back. "I'm fine, Mom. The Androids are gone. Earth is safe now."

  "Gone? But I thought—the voice said there's a new Kami—but how—"

  Gohan guided her to a chair. Explained everything. The Time Chamber. Perilla's training. Breaking through to Super Saiyan 2.

  "So for all these years, Trunks and I were stuck. Spinning in circles. But Perilla helped us break through in just one year. She's amazing."

  Chi-Chi studied her son's face. "Gohan. This Perilla girl. She's cute, isn't she?"

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  "How did you—yeah, she has silver hair. Red eyes. She's like an angel."

  "I see..."

  "Mom? What do you mean, 'I see'?"

  Chi-Chi shook her head. This boy's as dense as his father. She'd had to make the first move on Goku. Otherwise, they'd never have gotten together.

  And now Gohan had clearly fallen for this girl. Made sense. At Goku's age, Gohan had already been born. But her son had spent his entire youth fighting. No time for romance.

  Of course he'd fall for the first girl who understood him. Helped him. Fought beside him.

  But he didn't even realize it.

  And from what Gohan said, Perilla's personality was like Goku's too.

  Two people with zero romantic awareness. This is going to be a disaster.

  "Nothing. Just... Gohan, you should spend more time with Perilla. Talk to her."

  "Of course. She's incredibly knowledgeable. Talking with her helps my training and my studies."

  "I mean... talk about other things too."

  "Other things? Like what?"

  Chi-Chi sighed. Gave up. "Never mind. Talk about whatever you want."

  At least they have shared interests. That's something.

  She'd loved martial arts too. That's how she'd fallen for Goku. But after becoming a housewife, reality set in. Bills. Food. Survival. And Goku had been clueless about money.

  But Gohan and Perilla wouldn't have that problem. Perilla could create food from nothing.

  The only issue: Gohan would never make a move.

  Oh well. Young people's problems are theirs to solve.

  At least the Androids were gone. She didn't have to fear for his life anymore.

  The next morning—

  Gohan prepared to leave. Chi-Chi stopped him. Handed him a folded gi.

  "This was your father's. I mended it. It should fit you now."

  Gohan changed. Stepped out.

  Chi-Chi's breath caught. He looks just like Goku.

  "Can Dad be revived?"

  Gohan bit his lip. "I asked Perilla. She said... if someone dies by accident, their body is restored in the afterlife. The Namekian Dragon Balls could bring them back. But Dad died from a virus. His body was already damaged. Even if we revived him, the virus would still be there. So..."

  He couldn't finish.

  "It's okay. I knew. The Dragon Balls can't reverse natural death. But you've inherited his legacy. That's enough. Now go."

  "Right. Bye, Mom."

  He took off.

  Chi-Chi watched until he disappeared. Then went inside. Closed the door.

  Pulled a photo from her pocket. The three of them. Smiling. Happy.

  She sank to her knees. Sobbed.

  Gohan glanced back at the house. Mom's strong. But I know she cries when I'm not around. Looking at Dad's photo. Probably doing it right now.

  He turned away. Flew toward the Lookout.