And here's the last one. Theme is Smile. Hope you enjoyed this collection. :)

Day Seven

What It Meant

In the moment, he hadn't realized his slip-up. His father's way to convince the Elder Kaioshin to help them was wrong in and of itself, but hearing him suggest getting Videl involved in his perverted deal was just too much.

"No way!" Gohan had protested vehemently, his face flushed in outrage. "I'm not letting that old man touch my girlfriend!"

Now sitting across from the Elder Kaioshin hours later, he was supposed to be focusing on unlocking his hidden potential, but an image kept popping in his head, again and again.

It was the look in her eyes, right as he was saying goodbye and she was trusting him to save the world ━ and her smile.

Videl wasn't his girlfriend. They were just friends. Yes, he'd really enjoyed spending time with her while teaching her how to fly, and yes, he definitely lost it when that scum Spopovitch was torturing her in the ring.

The memory made him scowl. Spopovitch may have met a very painful and morbid end, Gohan still wished he could've made the bastard pay himself for what he put Videl through. Not kill him, of course, just make him really, really regret even laying a finger on her.

Videl wasn't his girlfriend, but Gohan would be lying if he said that the thought didn't appeal to him. The way he'd snapped during her match at the tournament, the way he wanted to protect her and avenge her, it made him realize Videl wasn't just a friend to him. These feelings were new and confusing, but there were there alright.

And that smile, and the look in her eyes at that moment. That image kept flashing in his mind. Why couldn't he stop thinking about it? What was it about her smile in that moment that made him unable to get it out of his head?

She accepted who he was. She understood why he had lied to her when she asked him if he was the Gold Fighter. She gently pushed him to admit he was the one who killed Cell and saved the world, and she called him a hero. And then she smiled at him and told him to go and save the world again.

Gohan sighed softly as the memory replayed in his mind for the umpteenth time. He glanced up at the Elder who seemed asleep even though his arms were still raised as part of the ritual.

He may be mistaken, but… What he saw in her eyes, in that smile…

Videl liked him back, didn't she?