Chapter 2: An Unexpected Visitor and a Surprised Gift
[Minutes After Aizawa's Call With Nedzu]
[Location: Son Family Household]
After Gohan's and Chi-Chi's little spat and reconciliation, Gohan helped his mum clean the dishes, laughing, splashing water on each other and just having fun as a family. Once they were finished, Gohan went to his room to do a little studying before heading for bed. Chi-Chi was happy her son was helping her, appreciating this bonding moment with her son more.
Minutes after Gohan left to his room, someone or something knocked on the door, surprising Chi-Chi because she wasn't expected any pakages; because it was better for them to just go to the city and buy what they want, or any guests. And with how late it was getting, she became apprehensive to let whoever was on the other side inside her home.
Grabbing one of her trusty frying pans from her kitchen, she slowly approched the door, peeking through the peep hole to see who was on the other side. The first thing she saw was a man in all black, the only thing distinct in colour was the grey scarf that wrapped around his neck, but it was clear it wrapped around him loosely, and there was so much of it, it was able to hide the bottom half of the man's face, making his tired and sucken eyes more distinct.
Opening the door slightly, gripping the frying pan thighter in her hands, ready to strike if the man decides to be a fret. Through the open door, she asked the man who he is and why he came to her home, making sure to sound cordial to not tip him off.
"Good evening, Mrs. Son. I apologise for visiting you at such a late hour. If this was up to me, I would've visisted at a more reasonable hour." The man on the other side greeted, his voice low and it didn't sound threatening, but Chi-Chi still kept the door mostly shut because she didn't trust this man yet, only until he proves himself he isn't here for anything malicious.
"Mind telling me who you are why you're here? I don't like repeating myself." Chi-Chi asked again, showing in her voice she'd close the door on him if he didn't tell her why this man was here.
"My name is Aizawa Shouta. I am a teacher at UA and a pro hero. I was sent here by the principal of UA to speak with you and your about a propersision my boss wants to give to your your son." The man explained, showing his identify to Chi-Chi and the reason for him being here.
Grabbing the ID through the door and inspected it. The ID was like a driver's licence, having his name and birth date, along with his photo ID, which was basically looking into a mirror. The ID also had a little stamp in the top left corner that proved he was a lro hero, but becuase this wasn't hisbpro hero licence, it didn't tell her what hero he was, hir hero name or what agency he was a part of, or even if even was part of one. But this at least proved he is trust worthy is open the door, for now.
Opening the door and immediately apologising for her behaviour, explaining to Aizawa her home has been attacked on multiple occasions and she felt threatened at his sudden arrival. Aizawa waved off Chi-Chi's apology, saying she was doing the logical thing and protected her home. He may not care what other people think of him, but what he can agree on is he doesn't look the part of a hero, looking more like a homeless man than anything else.
Chi-Chi thanks for Aizawa's honesty, letting him inside and offered him a sit at the dining table. Chi-Chi asked if he wanted a drink while they talked, and Aizawa said he would like a black coffee, no added suger. Chi-Chi nodded, bringing out of coffee beans and begins making his drink. She will always offer accommodations to her guests, as long as they are respectful to her, her family and her house.
When Chi-Chi was making his coffee, Aizawa took his time to look around to see if there was anything interesting to keep in mind busy while he wait. He was sitting in what was living of sorts, but it wasn't a living room because it 70% of the house, having a kitchen on the side, a window on the opposite side of the room, the dinner table in the centre, a bathroom to the right of the kitchen and two more doors; seemingly bedroom doors, on the otherside where the front door was. There wasn't much to look at, but who is he to judge on someone's lifestyle. He slept through most days, scare his students for fun, though he can't have that fun now because he had expelled his entire class this year.
After Chi-Chi finished making Aizawa his coffee, passing it to him, he asked where her son was, needing him for this conversation. Chi-Chi said he was in his room studying, then calling out for Gohan, who easily heard his mother's call. When he heard her calling for him, he sat up from his desk and walked to his room and opened it; which was the bedroom door to the right.
"What is it, mum?" Before Gohan even opened his his bedroom door, he felt the third energy signiture in the living room, which was strange but he figured it was why his mum was calling him. Probably to introduce him to them. Opening the door to ask what his mother wanted him, his eyes met the stranger's sitting across from his mother.
"Mum, who is this? Is he an old friend of dad?" Gohan asked, thinking this person might be someone his dad met during one of his many adventures across the planet, but Chi-Chi just asked him to sit down so she can explain.
"Gohan, this Aizawa Shouta. He is a teacher at UA, and he came here to talk about an appotunity given to you by the principle of UA. Mr Aizawa, this is my son, Gohan. " Chi-Chi introduced each other, Gohan sitting down next to his mother.
"So, would you mind explaining what this opportunity entails?" Chi-Chi asked, curious to what this opportunity her son is being given was.
"Yes. But before I can talk about that, I think it I'd best if I reveal something very important first begore we proceed with what I came here foe." Aizawa said and Chi-Chi was curious while Gohan was closely listening in, also curious about what this man wanted to say.
"Alright, well I am sure it isn't something big to be worried about. Right Gohan?" Chi-Chi said, not expecting anything big from the man, it isn't like he know her family's actions, right?
"Well, if you insist." He said, taking a slow sip from his cup, artificially putting in tension to entertain him more.
Once he finished taking his long sip, he looked straight into Gohan's eyes eyes,
"I know you were the on to defeat Cell." Aizawa said, freezing the son family from shock and a small sparkle of horror.
Gohan was the one who was able to recover before his mother, asking what he was talking about, saying to claim he never even fought Cell, kwt alone defeat the monster, because Mr. Satan was the man who defeated Cell, but Aizawa cut the boy off.
"Yes. But before I can talk about that, I think it I'd best if I reveal something very important first begore we proceed with what I came here foe." Aizawa said and Chi-Chi was curious while Gohan was closely listening in, also curious about what this man wanted to say.
"Alright, well I am sure it isn't something big to be worried about. Right Gohan?" Chi-Chi said, not expecting anything big from the man, it isn't like he know her family's actions, right?
"W...what? How, and who?" Gohan asked and Aizawa said what not many knows his secrets, but enough.
"The only people who are in on this secret are me, my boss, Principle Nedzu, the higher ups of the HPSC, the top 10 heroes of most country across the world; some keep the secret from their heroes. Various important and influential politicians across the planet and the king of Earth himself." Aizawa listed the people he was told who knew Gohan's true intentity and the actions he performed.
"Wait, does that mean someone has been spying on us?! Are you here to interigate us on behave of the HPSC?!" Chi-Chi yelled, ready to pounce on the man.
Aizawa told her to first calm down, as he told her he hasn't, isn't or will ever be associated with the HSPC, let alone work for them as their little puppet doing their dirty work. How they know about Gohan's identity is in the air, and how his own boss, knows he doesn't know either, but knowing the rat, he probably saved a copy of the live recording of the Cell games that was soon replaced with that god awful video with those bobble head puppets, which helped him discover Gero's destroyed lab and what was basically two, almost completely burnt paper of his research.
"If the HPSC knows about my son, why haven't they try and reach out to us? Why haven't they told us about the knowledge they have?" Chi-Chi asked and Aizawa scoffed, saying she shouldn't put so much trust in an association that is plagued with corruption and the desire to control heroes.
Chi-Chi understood the man's distrust if what he said was all true, but why wouldn't the HPSC tell her son they at least knew, because if they knew, they should know others know aswell, and wpuld try and get into contact with then firt. The HSPC should know such a possibility might be a problem for them. Either they are very incompetent to the point of stupidty or they are very secretive about what they keep inside their walls.
"Well whatever your opinion is on them, it doesn't take away the fact that they know about my son, yet they didn't try to contact us!" Chi-Chi said, slightly raising her voice from the knowledge about her son is being passed around without her or her son's consent.
Gohan was also mad, but for a different reason. People having this knowledge about him would threatened and throw his life into inescapable chaos. He was just 11 years old kid, but every time he manages to get his life under control, to have a normal life, the universe goes out to it way to turn it upside down and throw it all into the trash. New villains to fight or the sudden death of someone close to him. People knowing about his action, people with actual political power and influence who could easily put it out to the public, could turn his normal life completely into the bin forever. It was hard to process what Aizawa said let alone accepting it.
Aizawa was a man who is able to easily read people, easily reading their emotion through their eyes, facial expression, body movements and behaviours. Because of this, he could tell from seeing and even feeling the tension of room, the son family was panicking over this situation, especially Gohan who was on the edge of a panic attack, so to help their growing tension and being suffercated from it, both metaphorically or litrally, he move the conversation to the reason he was here for.
"Well as much as I would love to talk shit about the HPSC and out idiotic politicians, why don't we focus on why I came here for." Aizawa said, pulling a envelope out from his scarf, but then his brain caught up, asking why he even had one on his scarf, but then it obvious why.
("Fucking rat.") Aizawa sighed, placing the envelope onto the table and pushing it to Chi-Chi, who took it and read it.
"That is a recommendation letter to our recommendation exams. Normally you would need to have a meeting with Nedzu to obtain a letter like this, but he decided to just give one to you because he just can. But if you want to talk with him yourself about why, you are happy to book a meeting with him." Aizawa said and Chi-Chi opened the envelope, reading the letter inside.
While she read the letter, Gohan asked why he was even given this letter, besides defeating Cell, how did he impress the Principle enough that he doesn't need to make a meeting for such a privilege thing.
"Like I know. That rat is very unpredictable and likes to keep his cards to himself. Best chance for you to know is with that meeting." Aizawa sighed from stress, already getting a headache the more he thinks of his boss.
Gohan just sweatdropped at the name he gave the principle of the biggest hero school in Japan.
"Alright, do you mind giving us more information about this recommendation exam. What is it?" Chi-Chi asked, Aizawa taking another sip from his coffee and began explaining.
"Well first, the recommendation exams is like our normal exams. You partixipate and if you pass, hou become a student at UA. But with the recommendation exams, only 20 children are picked, each recommended by pro heroes or others that are close eith heroes." Aizawa explained, intrigue the Son's.
" The exams starts a month before the normal one, so to give the one who failed a chance to get in through the normal exam. In this exam, the applicants will go through various trials, but for legal reasons, I cannot say what they are and because they change every year, so I really don't know what the Rat got planned for next year." Aizawa said, taking another sip to help with his headache, if that even possible.
"Alright, but are there any benefits Gohan will get by going into UA through the recommendation exams instead of the normals exams?" Chi-Chi, wondering if her son can benefit from this exam from the other.
"Not many, because the benefits the kids get are from their association with the pro heroes that recommend them." Aizawa said, not seeing a reason to beat around the bush and answered Chi-Chi's question bluntly.
Chi-Chi didn't respond for a few moments, like she was thinking for a response, till she finally spoke, telling him that for her, she may just take the regular exams, but the choice isn't hers to make, but her son's, turning to Gohan. She asked Gohan if he wanted to apply for the recommendation exam or even if he wanted to choose UA at all. Gohan didn't know what to say, as he thought about the situation he was put into.
If he went into the recommendation exams, he would easily breeze past it, which means a lot of eyes on him, which is not what he wanted. He could hold back so much that he would still get in, but he would also not be too showy. But the principle knew about his powers, which meant he would know he would hold back. But then again, the recommendation exam might be better because the normal exams would have hundreds if not thousands of examinees in one area, so there would be so many, many eyes on him.
All this thinking of having so many eyes brought his mind back to his previous panic attack. He doesn't have stage fright, but for his whole life, he wanted a life like everyone else. He wanted to study, go to school, go college, get a job, and everything everyone does. But with every corner he makes in life, something always happens to throw a qrench in it to bring him further away from a normal life.
First is when he was 4 1/2, when his uncle came from space, whipped Krillin into Kame house, punched his father hard enough to leave him on the ground and then kidnapping him. After that, he was shouted at and thrown into his uncle's space pod, only escaping when watched his dad and Mr. Piccolo effortlessly fight Raditz. He was then knocked out by Raditz with a kick, which he can still feel in his neck, unless that was when his neck was snapped.
Before he woke up, he was kidnapped again by Mr. Piccolo, dropped him into a pond, then threw him into a plataue, left on top of another, where he was left to defend himself for six months as a 4 year old.
Then, when the Saiyans came to earth, he watched the people he was told about being his dad's close friends and the strongest people die effortlessly against to Saiyans. Yamcha being blown up, Tien dying from energy exertion, Chaotzu self-destruction and Mr. Piccolo sacrificing himself because he froze.
Then there was namek, when once he, Krillin and Bulma landed, they were attacked by Frieza force soldiers, destroying their ship, leaving them stranded on Namek. Then the Ginyu force arrived, getting his neck snapped, then after being forced to fight his father's body being controlled by a body stealing alien, had to fight a futile battle against Frieza, watching Krillin get both stabbed, blown up and watching Mr. Piccolo nearly dying a second time; so soon after reviving him, then for the first time being yelled at by his dad.
Then that is not including the whole fiacso with the androids and Cell. But with all these events, it showed he can never have a normal life, or a life that can be called normal. Gohan couldn't hold back the small chuckle that left his mouth, as he finally realised how stupid he was being. How childish he was being, which is ironic. How can he have a normal life when he was half alien, his friends are a slug man alien who used to be a demon and a god, a bald and noseless dwarf monm, the smartest and richest women on the planet, while also and being the strongest being in the universe.
"Gohan, are you okay? Is everything alright?" Chi-Chi asked, watching Gohan's face turn from a blank stare to a smile, then saw him chuckling and putting his hand into his head.
"Hehe, yeah, I'm fine mum. I just, had a realisation. That's all." He said, as he gave his mother a smile very familiar to their family.
"So, what will your decision be, Gohan?" Aizawa asked, getting the boy's attention.
Gohan looked into Aizawa's eyes, seeing nothing sinister behind them, but looking into them made him look away, down to his hands, as he unconciously clentch and unclentch them, feeling a fraction of his power flow through them, then feeling it flow through his body. It was like his father was there. And if he wanted to make his father proud, he needed to do what he promised his mother before.
Looking back up to Aizawa, now confident to look the man into eyes, giving him a smile matching his confidence, told him he will be happy to apply for the recommendation exams, because it will help him become a hero. Chi-Chi smile, happy with the choice Gohan's made; even if he refused, she would atill be happy, and Aizawa gave his own smile, the first one he made since he arrived.
"Well, I guess this wasn't a waste of time. Alright, I will be heading off. My shift starts soon, so I'll hope to see you during the exam. Make sure you have someone recommend you before you fully apply, alright?" Aizawa said, Gohan saying he understood the requirements he still needed to fill in.
Aizawa nodded; fully satified, walking away from the table, leaving his coffee cup with them and heading towards the door, ready to leave. Before he left though, he turned to Gohan and looked at him for a few second befor he asked the boy a very crucial question he wanted to know,
"Oh, and before I go. I want to ask you something Gohan. Why do you want to become a hero." Gohan was caught off guard, but he knew what his answer is, giving Aizawa that confident smile again.
"I do want to become a hero, but I also want to become something more. I want to become a protector of the planet. Using my powers to protevr the earth from destruction, taking up my father's mantle and always striving become stronger and better so I can keep the earth protected incase someone stronger than Cell appears." Gohan proclaimed, showing he was not afraid of the dream he replaced the empty hole the want for a normal life left.
"Good answer. Good luck with the exam. Like you need it." Aizawa said, finally leaving the family home so he can get back home to get ready for his hero duties.
"Well, Gohan, it seems you made quite the impression on a UA teacher. And I'm so proud of you! Your father would be so proud!" Chi-Chi chirped, hugging her son who hugged her back.
Once they separated, Gohan asked who they were going to ask to recommend him to UA. Chi-Chi thought for a second, as she remembered what Aizawa said about who knew about Gohan's true power and her mind went to the top heroes.
"Aha, why don't we choose one of the top ten heroes to recommend you? They know about your powers, and they can help spread your hero career further." Chi-Chi offered, and Gohan believed this was a good idea.
"I guess, but what if they already chose someone to recommend to UA. I don't want to rip someone's chance just because I am stronger." Gohan said, and Chi-Chi gave him a creepy grin.