Just as everyone fell into silence—
A loud gurgle gurgle suddenly echoed through the room.
Everyone turned their heads at the same time—
And stared straight at Bulla.
Bulla's face instantly turned red.
She rubbed her stomach awkwardly and said in a small voice,
"Um… can we eat first? I'm so hungry my stomach's about to cave in…"
Chi-Chi snapped out of it like she'd been struck awake.
"Oh my gosh—look at the time! Everyone must be starving, right?!"
She hurriedly stood up, wiping the tears from the corners of her eyes, and said,
"The food's been ready for ages. I'll bring it out!"
Launch and Snow immediately got up as well.
"We'll help bring the dishes!" Launch said.
Future Gohan instinctively tried to stand and help—
But Chi-Chi gently pressed him back down onto the sofa.
"You sit and rest. Let Mom take care of you properly for once."
She turned her head toward everyone and waved them onward.
"Alright, everyone go to the dining room and get seated. We're eating!"
Future Gohan finally realized—
Even though they were still on Mount Paozu,
This timeline's home was far bigger… far more luxurious…
There was even a separate large dining hall.
Bulla and Meiqi cheered at once.
"Food time! Food time!"
Little Gohan, looking very serious, said,
"Bulla, Meiqi—wash your hands before eating. Come with me."
"Oh! Okay okay…"
Violet smiled softly.
"I'll go pick some fresh vegetables from the yard—let's add an extra dish for Gohan."
She turned and walked lightly toward the door, her violet hair glowing like flame beneath the sunset.
Everyone moved into the dining room.
Future Gohan stood up slowly.
Piccolo supported him without drawing attention, steadying him with one hand.
The dining table was already covered in dishes.
Golden pan-fried dumplings.
Bright green stir-fried vegetables.
Glossy braised pork.
And a steaming plate of eggplant braised in soy sauce.
Chi-Chi deliberately seated Future Gohan right beside her.
"Eat more. You're way too thin."
As she spoke, she kept piling food into his bowl.
Future Gohan lowered his head and stared at the mound of food.
His fingers trembled slightly.
It had been too long—
Too long since he'd sat at a table like this.
Too long since he'd eaten a home-cooked meal.
In the apocalypse, food was precious—survival came first.
Taste didn't matter.
He carefully picked up a piece of eggplant and placed it into his mouth.
The familiar flavor exploded on his tongue—
And the tears came instantly, uncontrollable.
This taste…
Mom's taste. Home's taste.
Chi-Chi panicked a little.
"What's wrong? Is it not to your liking?"
Future Gohan shook his head, tears dripping onto the tablecloth.
"N-no… it's delicious… I just…"
His voice choked off.
Chi-Chi's eyes reddened too.
She didn't ask further.
She simply ladled him another bowl of soup.
"Drink some soup. It'll be good for you."
Little Gohan watched the older version of himself cry, then looked at his mother's reddened eyes—
And suddenly, he picked up his favorite chicken drumstick and placed it into Future Gohan's bowl.
"Here. Eat this. If you eat it, you won't be sad anymore."
That simple gesture—
Became the final straw that broke everything.
Future Gohan set down his chopsticks.
With his remaining left hand, he covered his face—
And his shoulders began to shake violently.
Twenty years of loneliness, pain, and loss—
All of it surged out as scalding tears.
Chi-Chi gently pulled him into her arms, patting his back like she was soothing a child.
"Cry. Let it out… it'll be better once it's out…"
"Mom's here… Mom's right here…"
The dining room fell into absolute silence.
Only Future Gohan's restrained sobbing remained.
Bulla fidgeted uneasily.
Meiqi's eyes turned wet.
Even Piccolo—cold as he was—turned his head away.
"I'll go get Senzu Beans. After he eats one, his arm should regenerate…"
Piccolo stood up and left the house, flying straight toward Korin Tower.
After a long time, Future Gohan finally managed to steady himself.
He lifted his head, embarrassed.
"I'm sorry… I'm already this old… I shouldn't be crying…"
"Foolish child."
Chi-Chi cut him off, gently wiping the tears from his face with a handkerchief.
"In front of Mom, you don't need to apologize."
"In Mom's eyes… you'll always be a child."
Launch chose the moment to change the mood.
She placed a piece of braised pork into Future Gohan's bowl.
"Try this. I practiced forever to get the heat just right."
Future Gohan looked at her with gratitude, then ate it.
Rich but not greasy—melting at the first bite.
He said sincerely,
"Thank you, Aunt Launch. Your cooking is still incredible."
"When Dad was alive, he always said Aunt Launch's food tasted the best."
"That's right!"
Launch patted Meiqi's head proudly.
"To take care of this little glutton, I've had to work my butt off!"
Meiqi protested.
"I'm not a glutton! Bulla eats more than me!"
"Nonsense!"
Bulla shot back with her mouth stuffed, speaking through food.
Watching the two girls bicker—
Future Gohan's lips lifted unconsciously.
This kind of lively family warmth…
It was something from twenty years ago.
He'd nearly forgotten what it felt like.
Not long after, Piccolo returned with Senzu Beans.
Future Gohan ate one—
And the severed arm regenerated before everyone's eyes.
His body restored in seconds.
Everyone looked at him, stunned—then overjoyed.
Little Gohan's eyes widened.
"That's amazing! I didn't know Senzu Beans could do that—your arm grew back!"
Future Gohan clenched the newly restored fist.
A flash of joy lit his eyes.
"Thank you, Uncle Piccolo. With this arm, I can become even stronger."
Chi-Chi spoke gently,
"Alright. Don't think too much. Eat first."
Meiqi suddenly leaned in, grinning.
"Future Gohan—let's compete and see who can eat faster!"
"Me too! Me too!" Bulla echoed immediately.
In the blink of an eye—
Future Gohan ate dozens of bowls of rice through tears.
The dishes were cleared again and again.
Launch, Snow, Chi-Chi, and Violet nearly ran their legs off just bringing food.
At long last, the meal ended.
Night had already fallen.
Launch tried again and again—
But still couldn't reach Bulma.
She said apologetically,
"I couldn't contact Bulma. Her number doesn't show any signal at all."
"Looks like we can only wait for her to contact us."
Chi-Chi turned to Future Gohan and said softly,
"In that case, Gohan—stay here tonight."
"You must miss your father a lot, right?"
"Stay a few days. Your dad should be back soon."
"Then you two can finally reunite as father and son."
Future Gohan lowered his head.
"No… I can't stay."
"Bulma is still in the future."
"Without me, she probably can't even find food."
"And Bulma told me… time is terrifying."
"Once you interfere with time, terrible consequences can happen."
"This world and my world are already completely different."
"I don't know whether my arrival has caused changes in my original world…"
"I have to go back as soon as possible."
No matter how warm the feast—
An ending still came.
In the end—
Gohan boarded the time machine and left this timeline.
But before he left, Chi-Chi and Launch prepared a massive amount of supplies for him.
The most—by far—
Were the boxed meals Chi-Chi specially made with her own hands.
Holding those Capsule supplies in his palms—
Future Gohan's eyes turned wet again.
Because that wasn't just food.
That was his mother's love.
After Future Gohan left, Piccolo said grimly,
"Future Gohan's ki is no weaker than Goku's."
"And even after becoming a Super Saiyan, he still couldn't defeat the Androids."
"So even if our Goku doesn't die from illness in this world…"
"We can't place all our hopes on him alone."
"To face the Androids in the future—everyone has to train harder."
He turned to the three little Saiyans.
"Starting tomorrow—training intensity doubles."
Meiqi's face went pale.
"You've gotta be kidding… even harder? We're just kids!"
But Gohan and Bulla both nodded seriously.
"Yes!"
"Understood!"
Launch crossed her arms.
"Piccolo's right. We need to tell everyone about this."
"Make them prepare. Make them train."
Chi-Chi nodded as well.
"That's right."
"But it's too late tonight. We'll inform everyone tomorrow."
She then looked at Piccolo.
"When you notify Krillin and the others tomorrow…"
"Tell Raditz too."
"He's still a Saiyan."
"His talent is far above ordinary Earthlings."
"Tell him to train properly as well."
Piccolo nodded.
"Got it."
He turned and left.
"Thank you for your hard work."
Piccolo had just stepped out—
Then he turned back and glanced at the three kids again.
"Tomorrow, all three of you get up on time, eat breakfast on schedule."
"I'll notify everyone early, then come train you on time."
"No staying up late."
The three kids weren't depressed at all.
Instead, they responded with surprising enthusiasm.
"Roger!"
Piccolo finally nodded in satisfaction, then flew off into the night.
Snow stared blankly.
"This is unbelievable…"
"Piccolo only trained them for a little over a month…"
"And they went from clueless little kids…"
"To obedient little workhorses."
"They're only five, and you don't even need to coax them to sleep anymore."
Chi-Chi nodded.
"Yeah… after Piccolo came, their life skills improved a lot too."
Launch stretched lazily.
"It's really late. Let's go sleep too."
"We'll wash the dishes tomorrow."
"Mm."
Chi-Chi and Snow nodded together.
But Violet was still thinking, not responding.
Snow poked her curiously.
"Hey, Violet. What are you thinking about?"
Violet lifted her head.
"You all forgot, didn't you?"
"I used to be an officer in the Red Ribbon Army."
"I've heard of Dr. Gero."
The moment she said that—
Everyone's expression changed.
Chi-Chi's eyes lit up.
"You know where Dr. Gero's lab is?"
Violet shook her head.
"His lab is extremely secret."
"Even when I was serving, I didn't know where it was."
"But even if I don't know…"
"For us, finding him shouldn't be difficult."
"At worst—"
"We gather the Dragon Balls and wish for Shenron to tell us."
Snow's eyes brightened.
"Right! We can do that!"
"And it's not just a good idea—this might be the best one."
Chi-Chi's excitement rose.
"Violet… that's brilliant."
"But no matter what, we'll act tomorrow."
"It's too late tonight."
"My face is getting oily—I'm going to sleep first."
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