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It was a complete sea of people, the grounds more crowded than she had ever seen in these past few days.
Gine and the gang were back in their original spots they've had throughout the tournament. They as a group all came out to root and support Kakarot. Bulma gave him a freshly washed gi just for the match, Gine and Launch cooked him an enormous breakfast, while Oolong and Puar saved their usual spots for them to watch. Yamcha even managed to sneak out of the hospital on crutches to watch, and wasn't going to let a broken leg stop him for cheering his friend. She was happy that her son was such a star to these people. To her, they were truer friends than anything a Saiyan could've ever hoped for. How had Kakarot been blessed to have such companions?
When they got there, Gine, Krillin, and the rest of the gang wished Kakarot the best of luck as he went into the temple. Chi-chi even gave him a big smooch in front of them all which left Kakarot a shade of red in embarrassment. At the gang's viewing spot, Roshi had just finished a telepathic argument with Crane, ending with something to do about waistline issues. He had even informed them that everyone was placing bets on the match of Kakarot against that Tien. So far, odds seemed to be split evenly between the two. Gine wasn't sure how she'd feel about that, with some human nearly as strong as a Saiyan, let alone one she had a bone to pick with.
Now they were being squeezed in on all sides of their spots by the influx of people who came just to see the final match. Oolong and Puar had managed to keep these spots for the gang to arrive but just barely, as everyone was somehow driven with some infliction of getting as close to the wall as possible to be next to the ring and clamor over each other for it. And it wasn't just their area, throughout the entire grounds they were all pushing and shoving to get a good spot, some even breaking out into fights themselves. The view of the spectator stands around the arena looked to Gine more like a mosaic of people that rippled and waved like living water.
It also gave her an uncomfortable reminder of just how crowded it was on their last day on Planet Vegeta, just like this. But this was tens if not hundreds of times more crowded than that, far antsier for being crammed into one place; like the Saiyans were. And it somehow made her feel like looking up towards the sun, as if expecting to see Frieza's command ship looming over them, ready to blow the planet up and kill them all.
She caught a glimpse of Gohan looking at her and talking to her, but she couldn't hear him. The noise of the mass of spectators drowning out his voice, and her mind drifting further into the memory. As if Frieza was actually up there, high up above and ready to kill them.
Kill her, and her family. Just like that day. That day that changed her life forever, that day when-
"Gine?" Gohan's voice rang inside her head, like it was her own thought but was his voice. And it was loud. She snapped her head towards him, startled.
He looked concerned, but there was also had a hint of understanding on his face.
Gohan took Gine's hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze, he looked her in the eye. "Deep breaths, Gine..." She heard his voice again over the noise of the crowds, but she saw that his lips were not moving. "Frieza is not here, you and Kakarot are safe."
Gine's mouth feel agape for a moment. She was at first amazed by how Gohan was speaking to her telepathically! But then what he was saying registered in her mind. He knew what was happening, how the crowds were affecting her and what they reminded her of.
She then somehow felt violated, that her own private thoughts were being read by someone else. Even if that someone was Gohan, the man who saved her and her son's life in every way someone could be saved, Gine felt like she was losing some sort of agency to her being. She wasn't sure if he was looking into her brain or her thoughts were loud enough for him to pick up, but-
"You were shaking." Gohan said aloud, trying to speak aloud but not enough for Bulma and the others to hear.
"What?" Gine said, perplexed.
"You were shaking, as if you were about to have a panic attack." He elaborated.
Gine became aware that indeed her hands were trembling slightly, and her chest ached like she had been hyperventilating.
"And no, your thoughts were powerful enough for me and Master Roshi to feel." Gohan added gently, "I did not mean to make you feel like I was prying into your mind. I just wanted to remind you that you and your son are safe."
Gine looked at him with love and thanks, with a little twinge of embarrassment too when she looked over at Roshi to see him discreetly looking at her with concern.
Without further encouragement, Gine closed her eyes and shook her head gently. As if trying to wriggle away that horrid memory and ground herself back into the present. She opened her eyes again and focused on Gohan again.
"Thank you." She said genuinely. Whatever he did, he was right. She wasn't going to dwell on what she was thinking about here. She, along with everyone present, came to see her son fight and to vie for the title of the world's strongest. So she will focus on that instead.
But then she had to ask, "How did you do that, by the way?"
Gohan chuckled. "It's not too difficult actually, like giving your own thoughts some ki to be projected into other's minds with your voice."
"Huh, really?" Gine said more to herself than to Gohan. Even something as intangible as synapses could have ki?
"Indeed, they can." Gohan said as if on que after that thought. Gine whipped around at him, almost angrily.
"And I can teach you how to put up a guard for your mind so no one can read it." He said, again on cue.
Gine didn't know what to make of it and just looked on to the ring. She'll want to learn that trick too sometime.
The referee stepped out onto the ring, looking sharper and more prepared than he did these past few days. When he held up his microphone to begin, a buzz of excitement immediately went through the crowds.
"The final match of the world martial arts tournament is about to begin!" The announcer spoke.
With the addition of almost a thousand spectators, the wall of sound from the cheering made Gine feel like she couldn't hear her own brain.
"We began with a hundred-and-eighty-two fighters gathered from around the world, eight of which advanced to the quarterfinals, and now two are left standing, one of which will become the new Master of Martial Arts, not to mention walk away with a cool 500,000 Zeni! Not bad for a few days' work, wouldn't you say? Who will it be? While you ponder that, let me provide a little background on our contestants. First up, Tien Shinhan!"
Tien appeared from behind the fighter's court wall and stepped into the ring. The crowd gave him a mix of fanatic praise and leering jeers, but he didn't seem to notice or care.
"This skilled performer has become the fighter to watch during the tournament. Prized pupil of the Crane Hermit, Master Shen, it is widely regarded that Tien Shinhan's abilities rival, if not surpass those of his master. We've already witnessed an incredible display of his strength as he left Yamcha with a broken leg and forced previous champion Jacky Chun out of the semifinals. Combine that with the fact that his average fight time is thirty-two point seven seconds, how he managed to fight with a broken rib and STILL win, then you have a glimpse into the awesome power that is Tien Shinhan!"
More cheers and boos came from the spectators, and the whole gang gave their very vocal disapproval. Gine briefly glanced over at Yamcha, who wore a formal suit and looked nothing out-of-place save for his casted leg, and he starred at Tien with nothing but contempt. Gine shared his hatred as she looked at him too and smirked to see he still stepped gingerly with his broken rib.
Then the announcer pointed
back towards the temple.
"Our second contestant is Son Kakarot!"
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Want to read more?
The next 10+ chapters are already available on my Patreon!
By joining, you'll get:
📖 Early access to future chapters
🗳️ Polls to shape the story
🎁 Exclusive content for Patrons
🔥 Bonus scenes & content you won't find anywhere else
👀 Don't fall behind—others are already ahead!
👉 patreon.com/FanfictionTakashi
(If link doesn't show, just search on Google: FanfictionTakashi Patreon)