He'd heard of the cliché saying, 'If you truly love something let it go and if it's really yours it will return to you.' Hell, he's had countless women saying it to him back then, trying to be stoically brave, convinced he would return to them someday, all they had to do was wait. In the end they all got tired of waiting; he was never anyone's to begin with. He saw some of them around town, arms happily linked with much better husband and father material and bouncing fat tots now. He was sure if he'd returned to his past towns he'll see the same.
The first time it happened he told himself it didn't matter, whatever, still the joy when he spotted the familiar brunette was alarming in its disproportion. The second he couldn't pretend it didn't matter anymore.
Aw shucks. That hurt. Not pretending felt good though.
When Goku finally knew his first concern was of course that there would be no more of Hakkai's cooking and it was a tragedy. He wanted to hit the monkey. Then realized it was a big thing for him too. Nothing tasted good enough for him anymore.
But Goku grew more serious and noted, "I'm sure Hakkai will return. When he's ready."
He stared. Was the monkey trying to comfort him? No way. He wasn't that pathetic. It was all just cheap words. They all knew Hakkai, which was not much. Granted, he knew Hakkai a little better than them, but the more he knew the more he found didn't know him really.
He laughed uneasily. "You squirt. You have no idea what you're talking about."
Goku glowered at him. "I'm not a squirt! And I know at least this much more than you. Hakkai will come back, it's a matter of time. You should know better."
He squirmed under the monkey's intense glare and was simply floored by this unexpected display of maturity.
"Why."
"Because this is home, stupid."