The young Kaede watched curiously as the strange boy played aggressively with his toys a short distance away. She didn't know much about him, only catching glimpses now and then as the caretakers tended to keep him separated from the others.
One of the first things she noticed about him was his spiky, palm tree-like hair.
She slowly approached and the wild-haired boy glanced up, asking harshly "What do you want?"
Kaede shrank back shyly. "Um...I just wanted to say hi."
The boy grunted "Okay, hi" and went back to smashing his toys together, ignoring her presence.
Kaede observed him closely as he made the figures battle and crash violently. The boy grinned as one toy's head popped off from the force.
"Die!" he shouted, holding up the intact toy and proceeding to beat the broken one repeatedly until it became more pieces.
Kaede stayed quiet, not sure how to respond to the rough play. She found his intensity both frightening and fascinating.
Kaede's eyes widened slightly as she noticed the boy's furry brown tail waving behind him. So the rumors were true. He was different...like her.
Timidly, she reached out a shaky hand and gently brushed her fingertips against the tail.
Suddenly, the boy whipped around with a fierce scowl, causing Kaede to jump back in fright. "Hey! What's the big idea?" he yelled angrily.
Kaede waved her hands frantically, stammering, "S-sorry, I didn't mean to upset you. It's just...you have a tail."
The boy narrowed his eyes. "Yeah, so what about it?" he grumbled suspiciously.
Kaede fidgeted with her hands nervously. "Well, it's not n-normal and I was just curious..." she trailed off quietly as she noticed the boy's gaze move upward to her horns.
Oh no, here it comes, she thought despairingly. Now he's going to see what a freak I am and hate me like all the other kids do.
She winced as the wild boy stepped toward her and reached out both hands to poke and prod at her horns. "What're these things sticking outta your head anyway?" he asked bluntly.
Kaede's shoulders slumped as she stared at the ground. "You must hate them..." she murmured sadly.
The boy shrugged. "Why would I care about something like that?"
Kaede quickly glanced up, astonished that this boy didn't judge her mutation. "Wait...you really don't hate them?" she asked warily.
"Nah," he replied matter-of-factly, already bored with the conversation.
Kaede's eyes widen in disbelief at seeing someone who didn't bully her for her horns.
She held her hands to her heart, feeling it beat faster. Had she finally found someone she could connect to? She kept staring at the confused boy.
After a few moments of silence, he spoke up impatiently, "Enough of this! Let's battle our toys now!"
Kaede is snapped out of her trance and starts speaking back again more timidly. "Oh, ok..."
The two unusual children sat facing each other, the wild-haired boy having tossed Kaede one of his toys.
He held up his own figure aggressively. "Alright, time to battle! But just so you know, I'm definitely gonna win this," he declared confidently.
Kaede wasn't sure how to play fight with the toys but went along with what the boy wanted.
"Okay, let's start!" he shouted eagerly before immediately smashing his toy against hers forcefully. Kaede yanked her hand back in surprise.
She watched silently as the energetic boy violently bashed the toy she had been holding, cackling wildly. He seemed to forget she was even there as he focused intently on demolishing the figure.
With a sharp twist, he ripped her toy in half. "Haha! I am the winner!" he cheered with a prideful smirk, holding his intact toy up in victory.
Kaede thought he was a little strange, but it didn't bother her. She spoke up meekly "Um, my name's Kaede by the way."
The boy glanced at her briefly. "Oh, okay," he replied dismissively before resuming his rough play.
Kaede tried again "Are you...Goku?" recalling the name she had heard.
At this, the boy scowled. "My name's Kakarot, got it?" he grumbled.
Kaede tilted her head. "Kaka...rot? That's an odd name."
Kakarot by then had already gone back to ignoring her. Kaede still couldn't help but just stare at him.
He had a mean look in his eyes, but none of that malice seemed to be purposefully directed at her. It was strange for someone not to just hate her.
In her mind, she was already determined to befriend this boy no matter what. Maybe if she had a friend she could finally be happy.
Years later...
A helmeted woman walked silently through the sterile metal corridors of the facility.
She left a trail of blood and dismembered body parts in her wake as she sliced apart any guard who crossed her path.
Up ahead, a heavily armed tactical team barricaded the sealed door leading to the surface. Among them was the facility's chief scientist, Kurama.
Kurama's secretary, Kisaragi, came stumbling down the hall, struggling to balance coffee mugs on a tray. In her clumsiness, Kisaragi tripped and fell hard, yelping in pain as the drinks went flying.
"Kisaragi!" Kurama cried out in alarm.
"I'm so sorry Chief Kurama, I messed up again!" Kisaragi squeaked apologetically from the floor as she struggled to her knees.
"Run Kisaragi, get out of here now!" Kurama urged desperately.
"Hey, what's going on here?" she asked in confusion, looking up just as the silent figure stood behind her.
"Just run away, go!" Kurama shouted. But it was too late.
The horned girl approached Kisaragi from behind and viciously twisted her head around 180 degrees with a sickening crack.
Kisaragi's lifeless body slumped to the ground.
"Open fire, shoot her down!" Kurama ordered furiously. The guards unloaded their automatic rifles at the girl called Lucy.
Calmly, Lucy telekinetically lifted Kisaragi's corpse to shield herself from the hail of bullets. With chilling precision, she launched a pen from the dead body into a guard's skull next to Kurama.
As the gunfire ceased, Lucy dropped the mutilated human shield. Kurama yelled, "Keep shooting, take her down!"
But a guard reported, "We're out of ammo, sir!"
Lucy silently strode forward, effortlessly tearing the charging guards apart with her vectors. Their blood spattered Kurama's face.
"We need to retreat!" the remaining troops shouted in terror, fleeing the scene.
Lucy moved to pass Kurama but left a bloody handprint on his back first. He quickly radioed "She's headed to the emergency exit, seal her in!"
Bulkhead doors closed to trap Lucy inside. Yet moments later, an outer partition inexplicably opened to the cliffside.
"What?! Who opened the outer perimeter?" Kurama demanded furiously. But there was no time to uncover that mystery.
"Just get me a sharpshooter team in position!" he ordered. Kurama knew Lucy's telekinetic reach was limited to two meters. A high-caliber sniper shot from a distance could end this once and for all.
Minutes later, Kurama stood alongside a sniper team perched in a towering cliffside watchtower overlooking the compound exterior. Through their high-powered scope, they observed the small horned girl emerge outside, walking slowly towards the cliff's edge.
A sniper aimed above. "She won't survive a 50 cal round, vectors or not," he assured Kurama.
"Target the back of her head," Kurama ordered.
"Ready when you are, sir."
Down below, Lucy stopped at the edge of the cliff, sensing she'd reached a dead end. Kurama saw his chance. "Take the shot, now!"
The deafening rifle boom was heard as the sniper took the shot. But in the instant before impact, Lucy began turning her head. The heavy bullet only grazed the side of her metal headgear. The force ripped the helmet off, finally freeing her long rose-colored hair.
"Damn it, she's still alive!" Kurama slammed his fist down in frustration. But the damage was done. Lucy's body tipped over the cliff's edge, plunging towards the crashing waves far below.
At a train station in Kamakura, Yuka realized the person she was waiting for had already departed. She decided to start walking until she came to a set of stone stairs.
Looking up at a staircase, she spots a familiar young man gazing at the ocean view. "You're Kouta, aren't you?" Yuka calls out as she approaches him.
The young man turns, puzzled. "What? Um, well..."
"I'm Yuka, your cousin!" she declares with a smile. "I missed you at the station so I've been searching everywhere!"
"Oh, Yuka!" Kouta replies in recognition. "Sorry about that."
Yuka leads him down the stairs towards the beach. "How did you know to find me here?" Kouta asks.
"You always loved the ocean view from that spot. I remembered," Yuka explains.
They stopped at the beach they played at as children. "The scenery looks the same as when we were kids," Kouta remarks.
Yuka nods. "We used to come here with your little sister Kanae too. Remember?"
A flash of sadness crosses Kouta's face at the mention of his late sister. He recalls a memory of Kanae excitedly showing him seashells she collected as a gift, only for him to dismiss them.
Yuka spots a lone naked girl standing silently in the shallow water nearby. "Kouta, look over there," Yuka says in astonishment. Kouta turns and his eyes go wide at the strange sight.
The girl turns around and looks at them and timidly murmurs, "Nyu?"
Confused, Kouta tries to speak to her. "Excuse me?"
Startled, she yells, "Nyu...nyu!" before trying to run away and falling down crying like a lost child.
Yuka tells Kouta, "Quick, give her your shirt and pants!"
"Huh, why me?" Kouta asks embarrassed.
"Just do it, she needs something to wear!"
As Yuka dresses the girl, she notices her head injury and the horns protruding from her skull.
"No way, they're really attached to her head!" Yuka murmurs.
Kouta stares intensely at the horns until an inexplicable flash of memory strikes him. An angry girl yelled "Liar!"
"Kouta, you alright?"
Kouta snaps out of it "Y-yeah, I'm fine!"
Yuka seemed to think nothing of it and continued talking. "I've been trying to tell you that I think we should take her to your place."
Kouta looks at Yuka confused. "What do you mean my place?"
Yuka explained, "The place you're moving into, because we can't leave her like this."
Kouta looked back at the injured girl. "Uh, sure"
Yuka smiles gently at the girl. "It's alright, you're safe now, okay?" But the silent horned girl only returns her gaze, as Kouta watches her intently, troubled by a nagging sense of familiarity.
Yuka and Kouta slowly guided the timid horned girl along the sidewalk, unsure what to make of this strange new companion. She seemed oblivious to their curious glances, distracted by the passing scenery.
"So where do you think she came from?" Yuka wondered aloud.
Kouta shook his head helplessly. "No idea, it's all so strange."
The group finally reached a steep flight of stairs heading downwards. A lone man walked ahead of them going down the steps. Yuka and Kouta paid him no mind, focused on the confused girl between them.
The strange girl still looked around vacantly, not paying attention to what was in front of her. Distracted, she suddenly lost her footing on the first step down. Yuka and Kouta's eyes widened in alarm.
"Kouta, catch her quick!" Yuka cried out.
Kouta lunged to grab her flailing arm but only grasped air. She let out a terrified scream as she plunged towards the hard concrete steps below.
The stranger ahead heard the commotion and whirled around to see the girl plummeting towards him. Acting fast, he reached out his arms and caught the girl safely.
"Whoa, gotcha!" he exclaimed as the shaken girl stared up at him with wide, confused eyes. "You could've really gotten hurt."
"Nyu?" she uttered in confusion.
Yuka and Kouta rushed down to them. "Thank you so much, I don't know what happened!" Yuka said gratefully.
"That could have ended badly, you saved her," added Kouta.
The kind stranger just smiled broadly. "No problem at all! She really should be more careful though." He set the girl down gently. He seemed unfazed by the whole odd situation.
As the stranger set the girl down gently, Yuka stared intently at their good Samaritan. Something about his carefree smile seemed so familiar...
The man seemed to recognize her too. "Yuka? Wow, it's been way too long! What a surprise running into you here!"
Yuka's mind raced. Could it really be him after all this time...?
Kouta glanced between them confusedly. "You two know each other?"
The stranger turned to Kouta with a nostalgic smile. "Kouta! Wow, it's been ages. Good to see you again!"
"Huh? You know me too?" Kouta asked, bewildered.
Yuka slowly reached out and unwound the bandages wrapped around the man's head, revealing his unique hairstyle. She gasped, hands flying to her mouth.
"It's...it's really you! Goku!" Yuka exclaimed in disbelief.
Goku stood before her now, taller but still sporting that same carefree grin. His wild hair was just as unruly as ever. There was no mistaking him. It had been three long years since she last saw him.
Goku grinned sheepishly. "Yup, it's me! Long time no see, Yuka!"
He hadn't expected to run into Yuka and Kouta so soon after arriving. Speaking of Kouta, Goku saw he was there too, staring at Goku in confusion. That was even more surprising, considering the last time Goku saw Kouta was at the festival eight years ago.
Kouta shook his head apologetically. "Sorry, I still don't remember you."
"Aw man, that's too bad," Goku said. "But hey, it has been a long time, so I understand."
Yuka looked him up and down. "You've gotten so tall now!"
Goku laughed and rubbed the back of his head. "I guess I did grow up a little."
Suddenly, Yuka's expression hardened as she remembered how Goku had mysteriously vanished all those years ago without explaining anything. She had been waiting years to confront Goku, and now he was in front of her.
She pointed an accusing finger at him. "You have a LOT of explaining to do! Where have you been all this time? And just what happened back then? Start talking, now!"
Yuka glared at Goku expectantly but he didn't respond, distracted by something else. "Hello?! Are you even listening to me?" she huffed in annoyance.
She then noticed Goku was staring intently at the girl they had found, specifically at her unusual horns. Yuka waved her hand in front of his face trying to get his attention.
"Goku! Snap out of it!"
After a few seconds, Goku broke out of his trance, smiling awkwardly. "Oh, uh, sorry about that! Guess I got a little distracted for a second there."
In his head, Goku thought, "That's weird, it's like I blanked out for a moment there."
He walked up to the confused girl to inspect her horns more closely. She whimpered "Nyu?" as he gently felt along them.
"Hmm, I can't say I recognize this girl. Is she a new friend of yours?" Goku asked.
Kouta explained "We found her alone and naked at the beach. We were going to take her back to my place for now."
"Where's that?" asked Goku.
"At the restaurant, remember?" Yuka replied.
Goku's face lit up. "Oh yeah! That's actually where I was headed just now too!"
"Why don't you come along with us then?" Kouta offered.
Goku nodded eagerly. "Sounds great!"
Yuka pinched the bridge of her nose in frustration. "Fine, but don't think you're getting out of answering my questions! As soon as we get there, you're telling me everything!"
Goku just kept smiling. "No problem, let's get going!"
After more walking, they finally arrived at the old restaurant turned house. Goku looked around the empty area. "So where is everybody?"
"The restaurant closed down after a...certain event 3 years ago," Yuka explained delicately.
"Aw, that's too bad. I liked the food here," said Goku.
Kouta asked, "So this place is where I'll be staying now?"
Yuka nodded "My mom says as long as you clean up every day, you don't have to pay rent."
"How many rooms are in this house anyway?" Kouta wondered.
"I think around ten if I remember right," replied Yuka.
Meanwhile, Goku stood face to face with the mysterious horned girl, peering at her intently. She gazed back with large, ruby eyes brimming with innocent confusion.
"So what's your name?" Goku asked, scratching his head.
The girl merely tilted her head quizzically. "Nyu?" she responded in a small, tentative voice.
"Nyu?" Goku repeated, raising an eyebrow. "Is that really your name?"
The girl responded more enthusiastically, "Nyu nyu!"
Goku chuckled and rubbed his chin. "Huh, well it's nice to meet you Nyu! I'm Goku."
He paused, pondering this peculiar girl. "So where are you from anyway, Nyu?"
"Nyu..." Nyu murmured vaguely, blinking slowly as if deep in thought.
Goku waited patiently for elaboration, but none came. "Hmm, are you saying you're from some place called Nyu?" he finally asked.
Nyu simply stared back blankly.
"Heh, that's a pretty funny coincidence if the place you're from has the exact same name as you!" Goku remarked with a grin. But Nyu just tilted her head, not comprehending.
As he looked closely at the girl, Goku had felt the same vague sense of familiarity ever since he laid his eyes on her, though he couldn't place where he might know her from.
"Hmm, I know I've never met her, but still...something about her is so..." He scrunched his face, mind racing to pinpoint the nagging feeling of recognition.
"Goku! Come inside already!" Yuka's irritated voice suddenly rang out, interrupting his thoughts.
Goku turned his head. "Coming!" He looked back and gently grasped Nyu's shoulder. "Let's head in with the others, okay?"
Nyu nodded, murmuring "Nyu" as she let Goku guide her into the house. But all the while, Goku's mind was distracted, still trying to unravel this strange yet familiar girl's mysteries.
Inside the house, Yuka and Kouta chatted casually in the living room. Meanwhile, Goku kept a close eye on the ditzy Nyu as she wandered around vacantly exploring.
Suddenly, Nyu started squirming and whimpering uncomfortably "Nyuuu!"
Goku approached her, concerned. "Hm? What's the matter, Nyu?"
Kouta raised an eyebrow. "She has a name?"
"Yeah, when I asked her, she said it was Nyu so that's what I've been calling her," Goku explained.
Yuka gave him an exasperated look. "Maybe because Nyu is the only thing she can say?"
Kouta shrugged. "Well, it works fine as a name for now anyway."
Just then, Nyu sank to the floor with a look of immense relief on her face. "Nyuuuuu~" she sighed contently.
Goku smiled obliviously. "There you go! Feel better now Nyu?"
Yuka's eyes widened in alarm as she suddenly stepped back. "Wait, what is she doing?!" She gasped as Nyu began peeing uncontrollably on the floor.
Goku scratched his head in confusion. "Uh, where did all that water come from?"
Yuka face-palmed. "Oh my gosh Goku, she just peed right there on the floor!"
After Nyu's little accident, Yuka sighed deeply. "Alright, I'm going to get her cleaned up. Can you guys please take care of this mess?"
Goku and Kouta got to work wiping up Nyu's little accident while Yuka bathed her. When they returned, Nyu was wearing new clothes.
Kouta frowned slightly. "You didn't have to give her my clothes..."
Yuka just smiled innocently. "So, is anyone hungry? I got some rice balls we can share!"
Right then, an incredibly loud rumbling noise echoed through the room, frightening Nyu who hid behind Yuka with a whimper.
Kouta looked around bewildered "What was that weird sound?"
Goku chuckled awkwardly, patting his growling stomach. "Heh, those rice balls sound great! I'm starving over here!"
Kouta looked dumbfounded. "Geez..."
Yuka sighed knowingly. It seems Goku still has the same appetite after all these years. "Some things haven't changed with you, Goku. Alright, let's go eat!"
Later, everyone had taken a seat at the wooden dining table, Yuka had arranged a platter of rice balls for everyone to eat.
Goku was practically salivating, eyeing the wrapped food hungrily. He immediately snatched one up with both hands.
"Oh boy, these smell amazing!" Goku exclaimed. Without hesitation, he crammed the entire foil-wrapped ball into his mouth. The crinkling metal muffled his voice as he chomped down in confusion. "Huh? What's wrong with this thing?"
Yuka only let a loud groan in response.
Kouta shook his head with a sigh. "Goku, you're supposed to peel off the wrapping...before you eat them."
"Ohh..." Goku peeled off the foil to reveal the rice inside. "That makes more sense!"
In one giant gulp, he swallowed the riceball whole, barely pausing to enjoy the flavor. "Mmm, sho delishush!" he exclaimed through bulging cheeks.
Before Yuka could react, Goku rapidly snatched up the remaining rice balls, voraciously stuffing his face. Flecks of chewed rice flew as he demolished the entire platter in seconds.
Kouta watched in disbelief as Goku consumed the food that was supposed to be for everyone. "Do you even taste the food before you inhale it?" he remarked.
Yuka shouted in exasperation, "Goku! How could you eat everything without saving some for us!?"
"Oops, heh sorry about that..." Goku mumbled through his bulging, grain-speckled cheeks. He swallowed loudly and grinned at them sheepishly.
Kouta leaned towards Yuka and whispered, "Are you sure we know him? He seems a little..."
Yuka nodded firmly. "Yes...this is definitely him."
Meanwhile, Nyu was struggling to even hold her rice ball properly, squishing it on her face into a sticky mess.
Goku advised "Here Nyu, you gotta eat it like this-" and promptly demonstrated by grabbing the ball and popping it straight into his mouth.
"Goku!" Yuka scolded. Nyu didn't seem to mind, giggling at his antics.
"Sorry!" Goku frantically said while waving his arms in front of him.
Kouta turned to Yuka with a puzzled expression. "So how exactly do we know this Goku guy again?"
Yuka explained "Don't you remember? You first introduced us at the festival over eight years ago."
In her head, Yuka found it very strange that Kouta had zero recollection of meeting Goku before, considering he was the one who brought Goku to them originally.
Kouta scratched his head, thinking hard but ultimately shaking his head apologetically. "Oh...I really don't remember anything about that festival day."
"Well the last time I saw Goku was 3 years ago, by total coincidence right here at this restaurant when it was still open," Yuka continued. "I recognized him from the festival before."
While they were talking, Goku and Nyu were distracted, not really listening to the conversation.
Yuka suddenly called out loudly, "Hey Goku! I want to know where exactly you've been all this time anyway!"
Goku looked over "Huh? Oh, I've been away training."
"Training?" Yuka put her hands on her hips. "Training for what exactly?" She didn't know what Goku's excuse was going to be but this was definitely not it. What type of training makes you disappear for three years?
"With Kami," Goku clarified. "I have to beat this really strong dude soon."
Yuka and Kouta exchanged confused glances. "Kami?" Kouta whispered. "Is he talking about religious training or something?"
Yuka sighed. Getting any kind of straight answer out of Goku was going to be like pulling teeth.
She glared at him, jabbing her finger angrily. "You still have more explaining to do, Goku! Don't play dumb with me!"
Goku blinked, looking lost. "Huh? About what exactly?"
Yuka's frustration mounted exponentially. How could he not remember after disappearing on her like that years ago? Or maybe he is hiding something.
Yuka shook her head in frustration. "Are you serious!? Don't you remember what happened at the restaurant that day?"
Goku just scratched his head cluelessly.
She reminded him sharply, "I woke up in the forest with you and then you disappeared before you could explain anything!" Yuka then continued angrily. "Then I found out my mom was in the hospital and I had been missing for days!"
Goku held up his hands apologetically. "Oh yeah, sorry about rushing off that day. I was in a big hurry."
"In a hurry for what? Training with God?" Yuka asked sarcastically, throwing her hands up. "I want the real truth!"
Sensing the rising tension, Kouta gently interjected, "Yuka, let's try to stay calm here..."
Yuka took a deep breath, then asked Goku quietly, "Just tell me...did I...?" She made a throat-slitting gesture, unable to voice her deepest fear out loud.
Goku tilted his head, not following. "Huh? Get a sore throat? Do you need some water or something?"
Yuka growled as her anger came back and slammed her hands on the table. Goku flinched back nervously.
Kouta raised his hands. "Okay, I think we all just need to relax a little bit." Turning to Yuka he said gently, "We can pick this up again later when everyone has cooled down."
In his mind though, Kouta was very confused by Yuka's intense reaction and the topic. He made a mental note to ask her for clarification later.
Yuka clenched her fists tightly, then finally pinched the bridge of her nose, exhaling. "You're right...Goku, let's talk one-on-one later so you can fully explain yourself."
Goku nodded slowly. "Uh, okay sure..."
An awkward tense silence fell over the table in the wake of the confrontation.
Kouta spoke up, trying to change the subject. "So, um, Goku. Where are you living these days anyway?"
Goku thought for a moment. "Hmm well, I was planning to go back to the forest and stay in my old shack out there."
Yuka looked shocked. "Don't tell me you're still just living out in the wilderness like an animal!"
Goku shrugged nonchalantly. "Yeah, it's just temporary though. Not sure how long I'll need to stick around this city yet."
Yuka let out an exasperated sigh, shaking her head. "Goku, you don't have to keep roughing it out in the forest. This is a really big house, there's plenty of extra space here."
Goku's eyes lit up happily. "Really? You mean I could move in and live here with you guys too?"
"Of course!" Yuka said. "What do you think about moving in with us?"
Goku smiled happily. "That sounds awesome!
Yuka nodded. "It's settled then." She knew this would also allow her to keep a close eye on Goku now.
In a high-tech simulation room, a man named Bando effortlessly takes out four armed target drones with perfect headshots.
Observing in the control room, a SAT officer remarks "Incredible, he acquired and took down all four targets simultaneously."
The simulation operator nods "It would take a real monster to defeat Bando in one-on-one combat."
"A monster, eh?" the officer muses.
The operator sighs "Though I could do without his unruly personality."
In the next training scenario, Bando violently guns down hostage targets along with the enemies, disregarding collateral damage.
The operator slams his fists down angrily. "Bando! Take this seriously, damn it!"
Bando rips off his VR headset and glares up at the control room. "What's the point of shooting at the crap that doesn't scream or bleed?! This is getting old! I need real targets!"
The operator yells "You psychopath!"
But the officer remains calm and detached. "I understand your frustration."
Later, Bando leans on a railing venting his anger. "This is bullshit. I'm done with these useless drills."
Just then, the operator and officer approach him. "A dangerous escaped convict murdered several guards this morning. We need you to hunt her down and eliminate her immediately using any force necessary," the officer instructs.
Bando's eyes light up. "You want me to just straight up kill her on sight? No questions asked?"
The officer replies coldly "That is correct."
"Hah! Just go out and cap her dead, huh?" Bando says as he starts laughing.
Later that day, as the rain pattered outside, Yuka and Kouta sat talking privately in an empty room.
Kouta asked, "So what was all that really intense stuff you were saying earlier to Goku at the table? I'm still kind of confused about it."
Yuka sighed, staring down at her tightly clasped hands resting in her lap. "It's complicated..."
"Can you try to explain it to me?" Kouta asked.
Yuka nodded slowly, taking a moment to gather her thoughts. "Well...three years ago there was some kind of incident here at the restaurant. Later, my mom told me it was just an accidental gas explosion. But that's not at all how I remember it."
She shuddered involuntarily, hugging herself tightly as fragmented memories of that day flashed through her mind. "It's hard to put into words, but I have this really strong, vivid feeling that I should have died that day. Yet somehow I survived."
Kouta looked thoughtful. "So you think getting answers from Goku will help you make sense of it all?"
"I did, but..." Yuka trailed off.
Kouta gave her a sympathetic look. "I'm not sure Goku is the most reliable source for something that serious. Are you saying you'd believe him if he told you that you actually died that day? How could that be possible?"
Yuka sighed deeply. "I don't know...You're probably right. Maybe I should just stop dwelling on this."
As Yuka and Kouta sat together, Kouta picked up a bag he had brought with him and started rummaging through it.
Suddenly, the door burst open and Goku stumbled into the room with Nyu close behind.
"Oh, there you guys are!" Goku said. "Whatcha up to?"
Kouta set his bag aside. "We were just talking. Did you need something, Goku?"
"Nah, we were just exploring the house and got a little lost," Goku admitted with his usual carefree grin.
Yuka shook her head. Trust Goku to accidentally interrupt their private conversation.
She happened to glance behind him and finally noticed his tail was missing.
"Hey Goku, did you finally stop wearing that silly tail all the time?" Yuka asked.
Goku looked confused. "Huh? What do you mean?"
"That brown furry belt you always used to have wrapped around you back then," Yuka explained. "I figured you'd get tired of that costume piece eventually."
"Well, that wasn't just a costume," Goku clarified. "That was my actual tail. It got cut off during a fight though. It probably won't ever grow back now."
Yuka stared at him bewildered. "So after all this time you still insist it was real?"
Kouta was still rummaging through a bag. "Well, Nyu has horns. It's not impossible someone could have a tail"
This left Yuka in more thought than before. What if Goku was telling the truth? She decided to stop thinking about it for now before she started to go crazy.
Goku peered curiously at Kouta's bag. "So what's in there anyway?"
Kouta replied, "Oh, just some personal stuff I brought with me."
Nyu suddenly reached into the backpack and pulled out a small box. But she immediately dropped it, causing a pink seashell to tumble out onto the floor.
Kouta quickly picked the shell up and gazed at it nostalgically.
Yuka leaned in for a closer look, immediately recognizing the object. "Isn't that the seashell from our childhood trip to the beach together way back when?" she asked softly.
Kouta nodded, his voice tinged with sadness. "Yeah..."
Kouta's expression became somber. "It wasn't long after that my sister got sick and passed away." He tightly clutched the shell, a lone memento of happier times.
Yuka looked confused, but Goku was the first to speak up. "Sick? But I thought your sister was murdered?"
Kouta's head jerked towards Goku, eyes wide with shock. "What?! Why the hell would you say something like that?"
Goku looked taken aback by the sudden anger directed at him. "Well...that's what I remember Yuka telling me years ago. That your sister and dad were both murdered."
Kouta grew increasingly agitated. Turning to Yuka, he asked, "Why on earth would you tell him something like that, Yuka? Kanae died from illness, not murder!"
Yuka tried to calm the situation. "Look, I told him a very long time ago. It wasn't right for Goku to just blurt that out."
She shot Goku a pointed stare. "Whether your sister was sick or not, some things shouldn't be said so thoughtlessly."
Goku just scratched his head, perplexed by the whole conversation.
"But Yuka, didn't you tell me it happened after the-" Goku started to say before Yuka angrily cut him off.
"Goku, that's enough!" Yuka said sharply.
Kouta was becoming visibly shaken, staring down at his treasured seashell and trying to process Goku's words.
Just then, Nyu grabbed the seashell from Kouta's hands.
"Huh? What is it, Nyu?" Kouta asked.
Nyu gazed intensely at the shell as if coming to some realization. Then to everyone's shock, she snapped the shell cleanly in half and grinned widely, looking very pleased with herself.
Kouta shot to his feet furiously. "What the hell is wrong with you?! Why would you break that?!" He grabbed Nyu roughly by the shirt, making her whimper.
Yuka rushed over and pushed Kouta back. "Kouta, stop!"
Goku spoke up trying to defuse the situation. "Hey, I'm sure she didn't mean any real harm by it."
But Kouta was beyond reason now. He angrily confronted the cowering Nyu. "Of course, you'd defend her, Goku! You never think before you act or speak!"
Yuka tried to restrain him. "Kouta stop! This isn't helping!"
Kouta shook off Yuka's grip and glared at the cowering Nyu. "You think this was some kind of joke?! Did you find that funny?!"
"That's enough!" Yuka yelled, grabbing Kouta again. "Nyu couldn't have understood what that shell meant!"
Goku also tried to step in. "C'mon now, let's everyone just take a minute to—"
But Kouta viciously shoved Goku back. "Stay the hell out of this!" Turning back to Nyu, he shouted "Get out of my sight, now!"
"Kouta, wait!" Yuka pleaded desperately.
But Kouta was beyond consoling. As Nyu sank to her knees weeping, he shouted again, "I said get out!"
Yuka tried again to restrain him. "Kouta, you need to stop this!"
But Kouta was beyond reason. "Get out! I mean it!"
Nyu's lips quivered as she burst into tears. Dropping the broken seashell pieces, and sprinted for the door.
"Nyu, hold on!" Goku called after her, but she was already gone, fleeing into the rainy night.
After Nyu fled into the night, Kouta stood trembling with emotion. "What the hell was she thinking, breaking it like that?!"
Yuka spoke gently. "I think in her own way, she understood that seashell made you sad. She was just trying to help, not realizing its importance."
Kouta fell silent, considering Yuka's words.
"Wherever Kanae is now, I know she wouldn't want to see you consumed by bitterness," Yuka continued. "Her memory should bring you joy, not just pain."
Kouta's shoulders slumped as his anger drained away. Yuka was right. This wasn't how he should honor his sister.
Just then, Goku abruptly piped up, "It's okay guys, I'll go track down Nyu real quick and bring her back here."
Yuka looked unsure. "Are you certain about that? Maybe I should come help search..."
But Goku was already bounding for the front door. "Nah, I got this handled! I'll find her in no time, don't worry!"
"Goku, wait!" Yuka called after him, but he had already dashed out into the stormy night.
Yuka hurried out onto the front step after him, peering out into the pouring rain. "Goku?! Where are you?" She scanned the dark, empty street frantically. No sign of him or Nyu anywhere.
Yuka let out an exasperated groan, gripping her hair in frustration. "You have got to be kidding me! Not again!"
Kouta came up behind her, also glancing around confused. "Wait, where did Goku go?"
Yuka just stared out into the rainy darkness. "He's disappeared," she said bitterly.
She then marched back inside to grab an umbrella before returning to the front door.
Kouta watched. "Yuka, what are you doing now?"
Yuka's expression was one of determination. "I'm going to find them both myself. I don't trust Goku to actually track down Nyu."
In her head, another thought lingered. "And I don't trust Goku not to just vanish again."
Kouta reached out a hand, conflicted. "Yuka, maybe you should wait until the storm passes..."
But Yuka was already stepping out the door, umbrella in hand. "I'll be back once I've found them. Don't wait up for me if it gets too late."
With that, she strode off resolutely into the rainy night. Kouta watched her go with concern before slowly closing the door.
Goku had already taken to the skies, soaring above the houses as rain poured down around him. His thoughts drifted back to what Kouta had said earlier about his sister dying from illness rather than murder.
He remembered clearly that Yuka had told him Kanae was murdered, but she didn't back him up when he mentioned it. Did that mean he had gotten the story wrong somehow? If Kouta's sister really died of sickness, that could be a problem. It meant he couldn't bring her back with the dragon balls.
Shaking his head, Goku refocused his thoughts on finding Nyu. "She couldn't have gotten too far on foot yet," he muttered to himself. Closing his eyes briefly while still aloft, Goku concentrated on sensing Nyu's energy signal through the storm.
"Aha, there she is!" Goku exclaimed as he locked onto her aura, not too far away. With the location now fixed in his mind, he accelerated through the rainy sky towards the coast.
Down below on the dark beach, Nyu sat alone with tears streaming down her face, blending with the falling raindrops. She held her palms up, feeling the cold rain pattering against her skin.
Suddenly, she heard approaching footsteps crunching through the wet sand behind her. Nyu turned to see Goku standing there, his gi completely drenched.
"There you are! Man, you sure can run pretty fast when you want to," Goku said with a gentle smile. He slowly walked over and crouched down to meet her eyes directly.
"But you really shouldn't be out here all alone, it's dangerous," he said in a soothing tone. "I know you didn't mean any harm by what happened back there. Kouta's just really upset right now, but that will pass."
Nyu nodded timidly and took his hand. As she leaned into Goku's chest, he patted her head in a comforting way.
"Don't worry, everything will be alright," Goku said as he stood up, still holding Nyu close. "Let's get you back home now."
Suddenly, someone tried to smash him from behind with the butt of a rifle. Without turning around, Goku casually raised his free arm and effortlessly blocked the blow from behind.
Nyu cried out "Nyu! Nyu!" in fear, clinging to Goku tighter.
Goku glanced back in confusion at the two heavily armed, masked men who had tried to ambush them. "Huh? What's going on?"
The man called Bando chuckled darkly as his initial surprise wore off. "Tough guy, eh? Too bad for you, asshole, that luck just ran out." He aimed his rifle directly at Goku's face.
Instead of panicking, Goku calmly approached, and with one hand, he pushed the rifle barrel aside. "Hey, you shouldn't point dangerous things at people. Someone could get hurt."
Bando was momentarily shocked by Goku's complete lack of fear. "Are you fucking stupid or something?! That's the whole damn point! And just who the hell do you think you are getting in my face when I got a loaded gun on you?!"
Goku frowned disapprovingly. "Look, I don't know what's going on here, but I need to get my friend somewhere safe."
He gestured to the frightened Nyu still held against his chest.
Bando grinned wickedly. "Yeah, that's gonna be a bit of a problem. See, I got direct orders to put a bullet in your girlfriend's brain, no questions asked."
Goku's eyes widened in alarm. "What?! Why would you want to hurt Nyu?" He stepped protectively in front of her.
Bando cocked his rifle ominously, his trigger finger twitching. "Doesn't matter why. Now step aside before you get ventilated too."
Goku's expression turned serious as he realized the gravity of the situation. "I won't let you lay one finger on her," he declared firmly.
Bando scowled, incensed by the defiance. "Cocky little bastard, aren't ya! Now you've really pissed me off!"
He turned to his partner Satou. "Remind me, they gave us clearance to kill any witnesses too, right?"
Satou hesitated, clearly uneasy. "Uh, no sir. Those weren't the exact orders. We'd need authorization from HQ for that."
Bando snapped angrily. "Then I'll just beat the living shit out of this punk instead!" He then charged at Goku, swinging his rifle like a club.
With lightning reflexes, Goku effortlessly caught the barrel in one hand, stopping it cold. Bando threw a wild, frustrated punch, but Goku blocked it just as easily with his forearm before delivering a swift, precise jab to Bando's stomach.
Bando staggered back, utterly winded and cursing. He clutched his abdomen in agony. "Damn you! I'll kill you for that, you little shit!"
But Goku remained composed, shifting smoothly into a fighting stance between Bando and Nyu. "Please, just leave us alone. I don't want to fight you, but I won't let you hurt my friend no matter what."
Bando's pride stung bitterly from being trounced by this seemingly average boy. He thought to himself, "How the hell is this kid beating me like it's nothing?!"
Finally, Bando snarled in blind fury, "Fuck orders, I'm gonna blast both you assholes into pieces!"
He swiftly raised his rifle at Goku again. Satou muttered uncertainly, "I don't think we should..."
But Bando whipped the gun furiously toward Satou, cutting him off. "Shut the fuck up already! Either make yourself useful for once or you'll be the one with bullets in your skull!"
Satou reluctantly took aim at Goku, though it was clear he wanted no part in this. "Sorry kid, nothing personal..." he muttered half-heartedly.
Bando grinned wickedly, savoring his moment of twisted power over them. "Heh, gotta admit, you're an interesting one, boy. Maybe we should've been sent to kill you instead. Either way, you're already dead!"
Though furious, Bando had to respect the kid had the balls to challenge him like this. His gaze flicked back to the whimpering girl cowering behind Goku. How pathetic. Though the boy didn't fit the description, maybe he was the actual target instead of her.
Didn't matter now. He was going to enjoy slaughtering them both.
"Ready...aim..." Bando and Satou unleashed a thunderous storm of hot lead upon Goku. But quicker than the bullets themselves, Goku's arms became a blur snatching each one seamlessly from the air.
Nyu whimpered and wailed "Nyu! Nyu!" while hiding behind Goku, covering her ears from the deafening gun-thunder.
Finally, both guns clicked empty. The soldiers stared dumbfounded as Goku stood calmly before them, bullets piled around his feet, utterly unscathed.
"That's...that's not possible!" Satou exclaimed, his rifle slipping from nerveless fingers.
Bando's face contorted in rage and disbelief. "Just what the hell are you?! You damn monster!"
Goku casually dropped the mangled bullets. "My name is Goku. I suggest you guys leave." His friendly tone held an unmistakable edge.
Bando just stared back silently, unsure what to even do next. Then suddenly he swung his rifle barrel back towards the terrified Nyu.
Goku yelled, "Stop!" He leaped forward at blinding speed, knocking the barrel aside just as Bando fired.
Bando had anticipated this, however. He smirked and, quick as a viper, whipped out a pistol with his other hand. Jamming it into Goku's stomach point blank, he shouted "Got you now, you little shit!"
Bando's finger squeezed the trigger, but to his utter shock, Goku seemed to phase out of existence and the shot passed through only empty air.
The brute whirled around, but too late. Goku reappeared directly behind him in the same instant and delivered a precise knife-hand chop to the back of his neck.
The man's eyes rolled back as he collapsed face-first into the wet sand, out cold. The other soldier backpedaled in terror, shocked at seeing his battle-hardened partner dismantled so easily.
Goku stood over Bando's unconscious form, his expression serious. "Attacking defenseless people isn't right. Just be glad I held back."
Satou shuddered at the implied warning. Who or what had they provoked tonight? This was no child before them.
Goku started to turn to the cowering Satou. Satou stammered "W-wait! Please-"
"Easy now, I'm not going to hurt you. I just want to understand what's going on here." Goku approached the terrified Satou, holding his hands out peacefully.
"I don't know much, they just gave us orders!"
Meanwhile, Nyu was curiously poking at the unconscious Bando sprawled on the ground. She leaped back in fright as his eyes suddenly shot open.
"Nyu?" she muttered in confusion, tilting her head as Bando slowly dragged himself to his feet.
Satou kept babbling nervously to Goku. "Please, I was just following commands. I can leave now, right?"
Goku's face turned deadly serious, causing Satou to shrink back in fear. But then Goku said, "Sure, you can go."
Satou scrambled to his feet and fled into the night.
As Goku watched him run off, his serious expression returned as he sensed something. "What is this energy I'm detecting?" he muttered. "It feels strong..."
Unbeknownst to Goku, far away Piccolo Jr had been covertly observing the entire violent confrontation. "Not bad Goku, but you won't get far against me with such softness," Piccolo Jr remarked to himself, smirking.
He knew this wasn't anywhere close to the full extent of Goku's power, especially when fighting normal humans. He would need to keep observing his fights.
Piccolo's smirk widened sinisterly. "I hope for your sake that's not the extent of your strength, or I'll rip you to pieces without hesitation."
With that chilling promise lingering in the air, Piccolo Jr turned to prepare to fly off.
A small bark suddenly caught his attention. He turned to see a young girl curled up inside a makeshift shelter.
The girl quickly tried to shush her small dog, but it was too late. Piccolo's piercing gaze fixed on her, while she stared back silently in wide-eyed fear. Rain poured down heavily around them.
Piccolo simply scoffed dismissively at the shivering child before launching back into the sky. No human was worth his attention or effort.
The girl named Mayu watched Piccolo's receding form, rubbing her eyes in disbelief. Had she really just seen a strange green-skinned man hovering there? Why was he making violent threats against someone?
Mayu hugged her dog Wanta tightly, grateful the ominous being had ignored them. She wondered if she should tell someone about the encounter, but who would believe such an account?
As the sinister energy faded, Goku's eyes widened in realization. "That aura just now...could it be?"
Goku's expression morphed into a smirk. "So he knows I'm here now, does he? I look forward to seeing how strong he is now."
Goku's thoughts went back to getting Nyu home safely now. "Alright Nyu, let's head..." But as he turned, Nyu was no longer there.
"Nyu?" Goku called out, scanning the empty beach in confusion. Where could she have disappeared so quickly?
Damn, he had been so distracted sensing that other ominous presence that he didn't realize Nyu's energy had vanished too. Not to mention that the other guy was also gone. Goku had to move fast.
Satou sprinted wildly along the rain-soaked beach, desperately calling into his radio. "This is Bando team, do you copy? We failed to apprehend the target!"
The radio crackled before a stern voice responded. "This is headquarters, report. What the hell is going on out there?"
Satou panted into the receiver, "I'm saying we attempted to apprehend a female matching the target's description but failed!"
"What do you mean you failed?" Headquarters demanded. "Did the target girl attack your team?"
"No!" Satou yelled frantically. "There was some boy with her protecting the target. He fought us both off single-handed. Bando is down!"
"Are you telling me some punk kid was able to take out two trained SAT operatives?!" Headquarters shouted in disbelief.
"This boy wasn't normal!" Satou insisted loudly, glancing around nervously. "Just send someone over for god sake!"
A furious Bando was dragging a crying Nyu to a secluded area.
"That freak caught bullets with his bare hands! If I can't kill him, I'll settle for ending you instead, girl!" Bando snarled venomously.
"Nyu! Nyu!" Nyu wailed and pleaded helplessly.
Bando backhanded her across the face. "Shut the hell up!"
Bando reached a deserted spot and threw Nyu roughly to the ground. "Hope that spiky-haired punk enjoys finding your corpse!"
Bando aimed his rifle point-blank at the sobbing girl. Just as he pulled the trigger, a spray of hot blood erupted, but not from Nyu.
Bando stared in agony and shock at the bleeding stump where his arm used to be. Clutching the spurting wound, he screamed curses at Nyu. "What the hell are you?!"
The girl slowly rose to her feet, an icy coldness now in her gaze. Strange invisible forces seemed to swirl around her as immense power awakened within.
Bando desperately fumbled to grab his fallen gun with his remaining hand. "Oh, come on! Give me a damn break already!" he yelled in frustration.
Goku tried sensing Nyu's familiar energy signature but was puzzled when he couldn't find it. "That's really strange..."
He searched again, this time detecting a faint but distinctly sinister aura that reminded him vaguely of Nyu. "No, that dark energy can't be her...but it does seem familiar somehow..."
With a mighty leap, Goku took to the skies, determined to track them down. "Just hang on Nyu, I'm coming!"
Meanwhile, the merciless Lucy stood over the now-helpless Bando.
"You bitch!" he spat defiantly, glaring up at her with raw hatred.
In a final act of stubborn defiance, Bando tried raising his mangled arm as if to shoot at her. But with an invisible force, Lucy snapped the limb completely.
Bando's agonized screams echoed down the empty beach. "Fucking stupid bitch!" he shrieked furiously. "Just you wait! Wait and see what happens! I won't forget you! I'll come back to find you!"
Lucy narrowed her cold eyes at his tirade. With two swift vectors, she stabbed deeply into Bando's eyes, destroying the soft tissue.
Now blinded and writhing in unspeakable pain, Bando thrashed wildly. "I'll kill you! Damn you, I'll kill you!"
But Lucy just stared down at him impassively, unmoved by his screams. "Fun's over," she said flatly.
She extended her vectors, preparing to strangle the life from Bando's body. But suddenly, something he yelled out made her freeze.
"I'll fucking slaughter you and that bastard Goku too!" Bando screamed wildly.
Lucy's eyes widened in shock. How could this man possibly know that name!? She gripped her head as a sudden pain shot through her skull.
Stumbling back from Bando, she sank to her knees with a cry. When she looked up again, the coldness in her eyes was replaced by innocence.
"Nyu?" she whimpered in confusion.
Bando was still thrashing blindly, screaming curses. "Why don't you finish me off if you're so tough? Come back and end this!"
Nyu's expression shifted from confusion to outright terror as she took in Bando's mutilated, bloody form. She turned and fled in a panic.
Bando continued thrashing blindly on the beach, screaming curses into the night.
"Hey! Where the hell did you go?! Come back here!"
Suddenly a timid voice spoke up. "Um, excuse me, sir. What happened to you?"
Bando whipped his head towards the source. "I'll fucking kill you! I swear I'll slaughter you! Come back here!"
The young girl, Mayu, took a wary step back from the bloodied man's vicious threats. "Please sir, you're badly hurt..."
But Bando wasn't listening, continuing to flail his mangled limbs wildly, no doubt worsening his blood loss.
Mayu steeled her nerves and shouted, "Stop moving around!"
Her yell finally got through to Bando, making him pause his thrashing. "Who the hell are you?" he demanded.
Mayu cautiously moved closer, keeping her dog Wanta between them. "My name's Mayu. You're injured and need help."
Before Bando could protest, she quickly tied a makeshift tourniquet rope around his severed arm, trying to slow the bleeding.
Once it was secured, Mayu spoke gently. "Alright, I'm going to call an ambulance now. Please try not to move if you can avoid it."
As Mayu hurried off with Wanta to find a phone, Bando lay still, finally spent. The fight had gone out of him completely. In the distance, a helicopter could be heard approaching. Likely his cleanup crew.
Bando pounded the sand with his remaining fist, utterly defeated. "Shit..." he muttered bitterly, left alone with nothing but pain and dark thoughts of revenge.
Back at Maple House, the rain poured down relentlessly outside. Inside, Kouta sat alone in the dim side room, staring at the broken seashell lying on the table.
With a sigh, he got up and lingered in the hallway, lost in thought. Yuka's strange words from earlier still troubled him.
A knock at the front door jarred Kouta from his contemplation. Thinking it must be Yuka returning with Nyu and Goku, he smiled and hurried to open it.
"Hey, quit fooling around out there! Come on in, you know it's not loc-" Kouta began jokingly before stopping short.
Instead of his friends, two older gentlemen stood at the door. One was middle-aged and the other with gray hair.
The younger one peered past Kouta curiously. "Hmm, this place seems familiar, doesn't it?"
The other nodded thoughtfully. "Yes, I didn't think anyone would live here though."
Though bothered by their probing, Kouta tried to remain casual. "Oh yeah, I just moved in here today actually. Can I help you gentlemen with something?"
The first detective flashed his badge authoritatively. "We're with the local police. If you'll cooperate for a moment, we'd like your assistance with an ongoing investigation."
Nyu ran through the pouring rain, scared and disoriented. As she neared Maple House, a familiar voice suddenly called out from behind.
"Nyu! Over here!" Goku yelled, spotting her.
The shivering girl quickly changed course and ran to Goku, hugging him tightly in relief.
He gently patted her sopping wet head. "There you are! Let's get you back home, okay?"
Goku scooped Nyu up and cradled her against his chest. Then with a mighty leap he rocketed into the air, making Nyu whimper in surprise as she clung to him.
"It's alright, just hold on," Goku reassured as he soared swiftly through the stormy sky with Nyu.
His thoughts drifted back to the strange dark energy he had sensed from her earlier. Right now Nyu's aura felt normal, but what was that ominous power from before?
It had reminded him so much of Nyu, yet also felt fundamentally malicious and inhuman. He was deeply troubled by the implications.
Goku could see Maple House coming into view ahead through the rain. He poured on more speed, eager to get Nyu back safe.
After the strange detectives finally left, Kouta watched them depart warily from the door. They had been asking about Nyu specifically, which troubled him. Not trusting them, he lied and claimed no knowledge of her when shown a photo.
Once they were out the gate, Kouta grabbed an umbrella with the intention of going to find Yuka, Nyu and Goku himself.
He hurried outside into the rain and opened the gate, stopping short in surprise. There was Goku, cradling a shivering Nyu in his arms.
"Goku! You found Nyu," Kouta said with relief. But after scanning the area aroudn them, he asked "Is Yuka with you too?"
Goku shook his head. "No, isn't she here?"
Kouta frowned anxiously. "She left a while ago to go search when you both ran off."
Goku just smiled reassuringly. "Oh, well I can sense her getting close by. She'll probably be here any minute."
Kouta raised an eyebrow at the odd phrasing but brushed it off. "Well I'm glad you both are safe at least. Let's get inside before you catch cold."
Goku nodded and carried the shivering Nyu carefully indoors. Kouta secured the door behind them, hoping Yuka would return soon. It had been a long and chaotic night for them all.
Alright, Happy Halloween!
Ok if you are ready this again. I went back and made the changes I wanted too. Though, not as much changes as originally planned. I've decided to leave those parts for the next chapter. Instead, I just made the story more detailed, as well as adding more context. This definitely has more words then before.
Also at the beginning of this story, you see I did a little backstory with Goku and Kaede. Looking back on the first 3 chapters, I realized I didn't build more of a relationship with them. I might to go back in the future to make that part more detailed as well.
So Goku finally reunites with old friends and even meets Nyu. But what will happen when he meets Lucy? Find out next chapter.