Videl was dumbfounded. Her mind had checked out after watching some glowing monkey-guy teleporting behind a robber and taking him out in an instant with one soft chop. If she hadn't been in a trance, she might've noticed the dejected Golden Fighter leaving the shop, and she might've been able to stop him for questioning. But she was far too stunned for any of that. She needed to lie down.

Nobody would mind if she showed up a few hours late to school that day, right?

After changing back into his regular form and attire, Gohan started walking to school. He decided to take his time and try to clear his head before getting there, hoping he'd feel a bit better by the time he arrived.

Truth be told, he really wasn't feeling up to interacting with his peers today, but he figured he didn't have a choice. He was the one who wanted to attend public high school in the first place; what would his mom think if he just skipped? He sighed and shoved his hands in his pockets. This was gonna be a long day.

Gohan walked into the class a split second before the bell rang. Normally he'd be panicking in this situation, but he wasn't really invested in his surroundings right then. He made his way to his seat slowly with the slightest hint of a slouch. He felt awful, but he would prefer nobody know about it. He liked to keep his negative emotions to himself.

"Gohan!" Erasa broke into a wide smile as the boy in question sat next to her. "You're okay!"

"Whoa, Brains!" Sharpener looked up from his aggressively masculine compact to study Gohan's head. "There's not even a scratch on you! You should join the boxing club, we're always looking for people who can take a punch!"

Gohan put on his most convincing smile before greeting his new friends. He knew they couldn't see it behind his mask, but he figured it'd help him sound more cheerful. "I don't think I'd be very good at boxing." he laughed nervously. "Besides, I just got lucky yesterday!" After everyone's reactions, he'd gathered that a 'normal' person would've been hurt by that pitch, and decided now was as good a time as any to start playing along.

He tried to avoid Sharpener's questioning gaze and his eyes landed on the empty seat beside Erasa. He frowned a bit. That's funny, I thought for sure she'd get here before me considering how slow I walked. "Where's Videl?"

"She's probably out fighting crime or something." Erasa shrugged. "I wouldn't worry too much about it."

"She's WHAT?!"

"Mr. Son! Is there something you'd like to share with the class?"

Gohan's face was aflame. "N-no, sir, Mr. Lehr!" He hid his face behind a textbook and Erasa giggled before answering Gohan's outburst in a hushed voice.

"Videl is Satan City's own crime-fighter!"

"But isn't that dangerous?!"

"Don't worry, Videl's incredibly strong!" Erasa beamed. "She's almost as strong as her dad!"

This did nothing to ease Gohan's worries. Hercule may be strong for a human, but he's nothing compared to a couple criminals with guns! And if Videl's the same level as he is…

Erasa saw the look in Gohan's eyes and punched his arm playfully. "C'mon, stop worrying so much! She's been doing this for years and she's no worse for wear."

Gohan was still unconvinced, but he decided to drop the subject. He stared intently at nothing as he tried to remember Videl's ki-signature and search it out. He had to admit that it was considerably higher than the average human's, which he took as a sign that she was a skilled fighter. He couldn't remember Hercule's signature to compare them.

After confirming that there weren't any spiking ki-signatures in the area, Gohan decided it was best to just trust Videl in whatever she was doing. Erasa had a point in that Videl had been handling herself just fine for quite a while.

Videl was beside herself. She'd been lying in bed for a few hours now going over what had happened that morning. She'd be lying, however, if she said she was skipping school solely because of her shock. No, it was more like a combination of that and her overwhelming fatigue that led her to stay home. Finally though, after missing half the school day, she decided it was time to get up and go. After all, she doubted being left alone with her thoughts was helping her any.

Videl rolled out of bed grudgingly and stepped into the bathroom, turning on the shower before turning it back off, deciding against it. No, I'll probably get lost in thought again. Better just get dressed...

Gohan felt sick. It was halfway through third period now and Videl still hadn't shown up. His stomach lurched with each ringing of the bell. What if she got hurt? What if she's in trouble right now? What if she's dead?! He shook his head vigorously. Calm down, Gohan! Her not being here doesn't necessarily mean she's fighting crime. She's probably just sick or something! His nerves disagreed.

"Hey, Brains. Still worried about Videl?" Sharpener looked to Gohan with some combination of amusement and...concern(?) in his eyes. "Don't be. She can handle herself."

The bell rang and the trio stood. "Yeah, I guess you're right…"

"So, Gohan!" Erasa shouldered her bag. "Wanna eat lunch with us again?"

Gohan considered objecting, but he decided against it. He wasn't really feeling that hungry anyway. "Sure, I'd love to!"

When Videl had gotten to the office, the receptionist told her that her class had been eating lunch. She thanked the worker and hurried off to the courtyard where she knew her friends usually ate. She looked forward to conversing with her with them, hoping it'd cheer her up.

"So, Gohan," Erasa began, "I can't help but notice you're still wearing that nurse mask. Still sick?"

"Sure, I guess-"

Gohan nearly jumped out of his skin when he saw Videl approaching his spot under the tree. He couldn't help his face from breaking into the goofiest grin imaginable. She's okay! I knew I was worried for nothing!

Erasa jumped from her spot. "Videl! You were gone an awfully long time." She grinned slyly. "Were you hanging out with a special someone?"

"Of course not, Erasa." Videl flipped a pigtail behind her shoulder and frowned. "I just got kinda held up by something."

"About time you got here." Sharpener smirked and pointed to Gohan with his thumb. "This one's been worried sick about you ever since Erasa told him you fought crime. I thought he was gonna pass out!"

Said teen blushed madly at suddenly being called out and turned away from the group. Was it so wrong to be concerned about his new friend?! "WELL, uh, fighting crime is DANGERous, y'know?!" His voice was unsteady.

Erasa and Sharpener laughed boisterously as Videl just stood there, slightly confused. Worried? Doesn't this kid know who I am? She glared at Gohan, who continued to look away. Still, it does feel kinda nice knowing someone was worrying about me. Maybe being friends with him wouldn't be so bad…. She was suddenly reminded of something.

"I saw him today." Erasa sat back in her previous spot and Videl plopped down next to her. "The Golden Fighter, I mean. I ran into him during an armed robbery this morning."

Just like that, Erasa stopped laughing and sat bolt upright. "Wow, you saw him?!" She added as an afterthought, "was he hot?!"

Videl rolled her eyes. "I don't know Erasa, I was too busy staring at his tail to notice his face."

"So he really does have a tail!" Erasa was bouncing a bit in excitement.

Sharpener was towing the line between skepticism and interest. "No way!"

Videl held her hand up to Sharpener. "No, it's true! He also had these big ol' fangs, and fur all over his body!"

Gohan was on the verge of a panic attack. WHAT?! Videl was there?! I didn't see - or sense - her at all! Was I really that distracted?!

Videl noticed his extremely uncomfortable demeanor and decided to write it off as disbelief. For now.

"But that's not even the weirdest part." Videl's expression hardened and she looked down. "He basically teleported behind the criminals and took each of them out with a single blow. He didn't even break a sweat!"

"No way!" Sharpener's eyes were wide as dinner plates.

Erasa clasped her hands together. "Oh my God, he's like a real-life superhero!"

Superhero, huh? Gohan rubbed his chin. That gives me an idea…

The rest of the school day passed surprisingly uneventfully, and before Gohan knew it he was headed to the city's outskirts to take off. "Nimbus!"

In a matter of seconds, the yellow cloud was stationed in front of the hybrid teen who'd called it. Gohan hopped on and shoved his mask in his pocket, revealing a giddy smile. "To Capsule Corp.!"

im debating whether or not i should have saiyamans helmet cover his fangs. what do you guys think?