In Piccolo's earlier conversation with Goku...
Piccolo studied Goku's expression. He had a strong guess what he would want to talk about but waited. Just in case.
"It's Gohan." Goku confirmed Piccolo's guess.
"So it was him in my shop." Piccolo sighed and turned his eyes away. "You moved to town?"
"Yes. Chichi is teaching him about her father's business so when the Ox King retires he can take over. Being her husband I was supposed to be next to inherit but I'm not fit for that stuff." Goku explained with a smile.
Piccolo honestly didn't care about the family bank. Sure he felt better hearing Gohan had a stable job and future to look towards but he also knew what it meant that they were living here. "I'll find a replacement and leave tonight."
"You won't have to." Goku replied.
Piccolo glared slightly at Goku. "What do you mean? I've probably already done enough damage being around him. If he-"
"He already remembers." Goku interrupted, his smile growing bigger.
Piccolo tensed, his fangs bared as he felt the anger burning in his veins. "The hell are you smiling for?! If he remembers, take him to Kami and stop wasting time here with me!"
"He's fine." Goku continued to smile even as Piccolo loomed over him. "He remembers and he's fine. So I don't think you'll have to leave this time."
Piccolo softened slowly as he processed these facts.
"I've already talked to Chichi about it and she wants to block his memories again but… He seems fine this time around. He just wants to see you; in fact he's on his way here. I bet he's even lost Krillin by now." Goku went on. His smile waned slightly. "If I let him keep his memories this time… and let him be close to you again he might figure out everything else too. He'll probably hate me then."
Piccolo thought for a moment. To finally see Gohan again… to return to that small happiness he thought he was denied. It made his heart warm for a moment before he forced it down and focused. "He's on his way here?"
"Yes." Goku answered. "I'm sure he's going to ask a lot of questions so-"
"I won't hide anything if he asks me." Piccolo was stern. He felt Goku was asking him to lie and he wouldn't do that to Gohan. He'd already taken too much from the kid.
"I understand, I'm just asking if you'll let me explain it to him first… before he remembers it himself." Goku requested.
After consideration Piccolo nodded. "Alright. I'll let you tell him, but if you take too long-"
"I'm telling him tonight. If everything goes alright with you, I can convince Chichi that he'll be fine and won't need to be erased again." Goku shuffled with his hands in his pants pockets. Guilt filled his stomach. Gohan was already being forced into society and a more strict lifestyle. If he had a chance to give Gohan what he always wanted, his old true friend… he'd take whatever risk there was to anything else. He said one more thing before leaving. "Don't keep him all night."
Gohan paused at Piccolo's words. That's not Everything. He hadn't the slightest idea what else there could be to explain. He felt everything he needed was answered. After a small thought he smiled. "I don't care."
"You don-" Piccolo's brow twitched in his confusion. "Gohan it's very serious."
"Does someone's life depend on me knowing it?" Gohan asked with a brow raised playfully.
"No but-"
"Then I don't care. The way I see it is I came here and got what I was looking for. You're alive and I can can thank you for saving me. So whatever else there is, you can tell me later. We have all the time in the world now." Gohan smiled brightly.
Piccolo stilled. It was that same smile he had as a child and it softened him. "Either way, your father stopped by earlier and wants to talk to you about it when you get home."
"He was here?" Gohan huffed slightly and crossed his arms. "He was supposed to come with me to talk to you but disappeared before everyone woke up this morning. I guess he wanted to talk to you first?"
"Yes, about the very thing he's going to explain later." Piccolo replied.
"I can understand I guess, along with everything you explained, he's probably just worried." Gohan nodded before his eyes widened. "Oh no, I bet my mother is having quite a few opinions about all of this. He'd never keep it secret from her so she has to know by now."
"Want some coffee?" Piccolo gestured behind the counter, hoping to distract the kid.
"Oh you don't have to do that." Gohan waved off the offer. "That's stock for your shop."
"It's fine, I own the place and can afford to lose a single cup." Piccolo stepped behind the counter and began prepping coffee for Gohan. "Besides I have plenty left over since my best customer didn't show today."
"Oh?" Gohan claimed a stool by the counter. He was curious. Now that he had reunited with his old friend he wanted to learn all about his life. Here he was given a lead into a character in Piccolo's day. "What's he like?"
Piccolo chuckled in his deep tone, almost soft enough for Gohan to miss. "He's quiet, keeps to himself mostly. Likes sugar and cream in his coffee."
"Sounds like a nice guy to me." Gohan grinned.
"He is you, you idiot." Piccolo smirked over his shoulder as the water boiled in the kettle. "Sometimes you're just as dense as Goku."
"O-oh?" Gohan paled slightly before his faced pinked with embarrassment.
"Ever since your friends brought you here, you have showed up every day and consumed at least 4 or 5 cups each time. I was doing just fine before, but now I make bank with a saiyan addicted to my coffee. It hasn't even been a month yet." Piccolo explained.
"I'm glad I could help." Gohan laughed. He watched Piccolo set a cup of coffee on the counter. Cream and sugar were added next before Piccolo leaned on the counter and slowly pushed the cup towards Gohan. "Thank you."
"If it helps, I'm going to do what I can… to keep you from having to forget again." Piccolo spoke as he felt the subtle fear in Gohan.
"You will?" Gohan asked. He could see the honest 'yes' in Piccolo's eyes. He caressed the handle of his cup with his thumb as he looked into the dark liquid, a reflection of piccolo on the surface. "If you'll allow me to admit something, ever since I first saw you here and… started remembering… My mind had been running wild. Needing to figure it out and… to see you again. I feel better. More like myself again knowing that I wasn't going crazy for nothing."
"I'm glad Gohan." Piccolo sighed. They allowed the moment to be silent as Gohan took a sip of his drink.
Gohan watched Piccolo clean up a bit and took a brave sip before speaking again. "How long do you think it will be before I remember everything?"
Piccolo muddled the idea for a second. "That would probably take a while and one hell of a meditation. Although I think Kami could help you too. He was the one who blocked your memories."
"Kami?" Gohan asked.
"I'll talk to him tonight." Piccolo replied. "I'm sure he'll have no issues against it, but you should talk to your father first."
"Right." Gohan downed the last sip of his cup. He stood from his seat and straightened his jacket. "Thank you-"
"Stop saying 'thank you'." Piccolo interrupted as he stepped past the counter and started towards the door. "You owe me nothing."
"But I do!" Gohan rushed himself between Piccolo and the door. His eyes burning with sincerity up into Piccolo's. "I owe you my life and at the very least a few 'thank you's. So… thank you, Mr. Piccolo."
Gohan quickly left as his blood raced. Piccolo was left alone in his shop, his heart fluttering though he denied it. I haven't been called that in years.
After he cleaned and locked up it was a short walk to the church and as always Kami greeted him at the door.
"Welcome back. A bit late today, I do hope there wasn't any trouble at the shop." Kami smiled as he began his usual attempts at small talk. He knew Piccolo would brush it off or snip a quick answer before locking himself into his room. Today he caught hints of a different mood.
"No everything's fine. Today was good." Piccolo release a soft sigh. "I'm going to go meditate for a little while. When I'm done can I ask you something?"
"Of course." Kami perked up.
Piccolo swiftly headed to the back rooms where he spent his spare time outside of the coffee house. Kami was soon approached by Popo. "He seems different today."
"Yes." Kami agreed. "His emotions seem just as tangled as usual but this time he smiled."
"Do you know what he's going to ask?" Popo inquired.
"I have a very good guess that it has something to do with Goku's visit earlier." Kami answered. "This can only be about Gohan."
Gohan carefully closed the large door praying it's creaks would go unheard by his mother. He damn near yelped when his name was mentioned.
"Gohan." Goku spoke up from the stair railing he was leaning against.
"Dad." Gohan sighed. "Sorry I'm late. I know I'm not supposed to be out after dark."
"It's fine." Goku smiled. "I already knew you were going to be gone a while. How are you feeling?"
"I feel fine. How was your day?" Gohan asked now remembering his father's day long absence. Sure he knew he met up with Piccolo but that wouldn't have taken all day to do would it? "Did Krillin finally find you?"
"Yeah, sorry. I had him distract you today." Goku admitted.
"Because you wanted to talk to Piccolo before I did?" Gohan felt his fists tighten slightly. He'd never known his father to act in such a way. He studied Goku's expression as they talked.
"I did." Goku nodded, his voice becoming somber despite his soft smile. "What has he told you?"
"He explained what I asked him to. How he was alive, why I didn't remember the fight, why I had to forget my only friend." Gohan answered. "He also said there was something you wanted to tell me."
"He's right there is." Goku affirmed as he straightened up.
"It's bad isn't it?" Gohan asked as he turned his eyes away.
Goku's shoulders sunk. He let out a heavy sigh, his eyes becoming sad. "It is. It should never have happened."
"Then don't tell me." Gohan forced himself to look up. "I can practically smell the guilt from you and I hate it. I don't want to see you like this."
"You should know what happened." Goku said.
"Then at least wait." Gohan requested. "Don't tell me until I ask you to or until it becomes necessary for me to know."
Goku thought over his son's words. He approached Gohan and hugged him. "If you really don't want to know, I'll respect that. I just want you to understand that I love you, and I'm sorry for what happened."
Gohan felt his heart pound in his chest. He was able to fight back tears as he returned the hug. "I love you too dad."
After receiving a brighter smile from his father, Gohan made way to his room. He dropped onto his bed with a sigh.
"I feel kinda weird." Gohan admitted aloud to himself. Everything in my head says he's my best friend but I barely remember anything about him or our time together.
He began to change into sleepwear when he froze and rifled through his coat pockets. Oh no, I left my book on the counter back at the coffee house.