Review answers :
N1cok: Hello, thanks for reading !
X3Runner : Hi there ! Thanks for reading ! I'm happy that you like the next chapter. Indeed, it's really good for Gohan to open up to his close ones, I think it was time for it and for Gohan, he will finaly be at peace with his past. Maybe ? Just kidding, but of course it's an important step that took Gohan.
SirTypealot: Yeah, I do not like Naomasa as a caracter, so I tried to make him a better caracter in the next chapter, as you'll see. It's quite of a mind game, what he was doing when he spoke to Gohan. But, to give you an aswer, he will not tried to get Gohan in jail. It's perfectly pointless for him to do that, what he truly want it understand and make sure Gohan will use his power for the good (in the future). Naomasa will come back in the next chapters and you'll understand his role. As for Gohan's participation in the festival: It's for him not a challenge in terms of fight in anyway, of course he'll win the festival if he go for it, he knew it as we all do. But, Gohan is aware that he might get all the attention from pro heroes, and his classmates no. But, if he do not run in the festival, he might not have a good offer and so become a respectable heroe as he want to become... So, yes, he'll think about it as you'll read in this chapter.
Super98 : Thanks you very much ! Hope you'll like this chapter.
Some1Call4MR-E: Hello. Yes the previous chapter was not a big one in term of memorable moment, but it was important for the flow of the story. Now that his friends and Aizawa are aware of his past, a lot of things are open. As for the dadzawa, yes it's a story of him being a tutor, a father, and in the end a teacher, but the story focus primarly on him being Gohan's new paternal figure in this new world.
Chapter 12: Return to the Hero Academy!
When he woke up on that beautiful sunny Monday morning, contrasting with the torrential climate of the past few days, Izuku Midoriya could only realize that the events at USJ had not calmed down.
All it took was turning on the television and hearing journalists proclaim their fiery speeches about the professional fault committed by the hero academy. It was particularly hard for him to hear such statements from people who were not present to experience this intense battle, where each student and teacher had to fight to survive.
He then remembered all those hours spent on the internet, consuming videos about heroes, learning about each past event, both good and bad. Mostly good, in fact, as the media greatly idealized heroes. Perhaps that was why every mistake was so scrutinized and constituted a real drama... although for this specific occasion, USJ was indeed a horrific drama.
He, for one, would never forget it, those masses of villains throwing themselves at them, seeking to take their lives, a maniacal smile on their lips, while their crazy eyes, mirrors of their barbaric souls, conveyed their bloodlust.
The one who ended the battle was Son Gohan, by defeating the most dangerous of all the villains, most likely their leader, Cell. Midoriya had witnessed the end of the fight, alongside Tsuyu and Mineta, and the power emitted by the two warriors had shocked them and knocked them to the ground, so intense was the pressure.
All Might was strong, but he himself had told Izuku that he could never have defeated Cell... this revelation alone was enough for the young man to understand how insurmountable the gap between him and his classmate was.
He was aware of the efforts he would have to make just to match him, yet he had to continue training, to master his power, in order to reach All Might's level and be a great hero.
However, since witnessing that fight, one question kept haunting him in his short, thunderously rhythmic nights of sleep: "Could I ever become the symbol of peace when Son is so powerful?"
He doubted, doubted so much that he was the right choice for One For All... Gohan would have been a much better candidate, he would have mastered the power quickly and used it to protect society. All Might perhaps should not have passed on his legendary power to him...
Yet he could not give up his dream! He had to give it his all to catch up with his classmate, to become a worthy hero, capable of saving as many people as him and ensuring peace.
Midoriya left his house, a mix of emotions pounding in his heart, and headed towards the train station. When he entered his train, people did not take their eyes off him, staring at his UA uniform, probably thinking a lot of things he didn't want to hear.
The journey passed in a most strange temporal blur, the first minutes flying by at an incredible speed, as if time was dilating, then as soon as the academy appeared in the distance, time froze, and the young man's doubts resurfaced, shattering that thin layer of confidence and determination he struggled to maintain.
Was he worthy?
Eventually, the train stopped, and he disembarked, carried by his flailing legs. Why did walking seem more complicated than facing villains?
He managed to reach the grand gate and passed through it, his unease growing as he spotted journalists and paparazzi, more or less hidden. Usually, he liked the press, enjoyed reading stories and articles about heroes and villains, but now, after hearing them slam UA... he wasn't sure he wanted to see or hear from them anytime soon.
Izuku quickly realized he wasn't the only one feeling unwell; many other students, and even teachers, seemed to be struggling with the recent days, which was unsurprising. The young man didn't like this sight, seeing them all suffer like him. The villains might have lost, but the consequences... let's just say there were memories that would haunt everyone present for a long time.
Walking slowly down the hallway, he spotted a good friend. "Iida!"
The younger brother of Ingenium turned around, happy to see a friendly face, seemingly sharing his concerns about the academy. "Greetings Midoriya. I hope you're doing well today, though I must admit the recent events have affected me, as they have our other comrades."
Nodding, he replied weakly, "Yes... it's true, but I am determined, we must not be discouraged." He declared, regaining some energy; he could not afford to be seen as dejected.
"Exactly, that's the attitude befitting a vice president! Let's head to class without delay; we shouldn't be late!"
"But you know the class doesn't start for another fifteen minutes, and the room is at the end of the hallway?" The heir retorted without thinking, almost forgetting he was speaking to Tenya.
"We must always arrive early!" He exclaimed before picking up the pace and reaching the classroom, heading towards his seat.
Izuku followed and entered the room. There weren't many students, Yaoyorozu was reading, seated at her desk, Todoroki was also there, his expression even graver and darker than usual. Bakugo was sitting, staring out the window with a vacant look, pondering the recent events.
The green-haired boy took his seat and pulled out one of his notebooks, revising his notes on his classmates, waiting for the classes to begin. When he turned to the seventh page and saw his notes on Son, he dove deeper into his reading and added a few details that came to mind.
He hoped his classmate was doing well, even though he was probably resting at home or in the hospital and wouldn't come to UA. Logically, given his injuries, no one could blame him for resting. Izuku hadn't been able to grasp the full extent of the damage, but his classmates' accounts confirmed his fears... all were very concerned for his health, some daring to ask if he might die.
The rest of the class arrived, Uraraka, smiling as usual, like a light dispelling the gloomy fog. She talked a lot, and he struggled to respond, a typical conversation between them. Iida joined them, and they chatted for about ten minutes until a new arrival created a surprise.
Son stood there, a long scar on his face, and a big smile. No one dared to speak, seeing him just a few days after the USJ brought back painful memories.
"Hi everyone! How are you doing?" He asked cheerfully, fully aware they were probably not feeling well. Gohan just hoped his classmates wouldn't run away in fear, fearing him for the rest of the year...
The young man had gathered all his willpower and courage to face the day in the best possible way. He knew he would have to answer for a lot, to both his classmates and his teachers. He couldn't run away or dodge the questions. Goku would have done his best to smile and reassure others, and Gohan would follow his father's example.
Ashido Mina, usually very talkative, had stopped chatting with Kaminari and stared at the Saiyan as if he were a ghost. "Son... how can you even stand up?" She breathed, her lips curling into a thin smile.
Many of the students nodded, sharing Mina's concern. However, they were all glad to see him healthy, because for those who had seen him right after the battle, when his body was terribly bloodied, they wondered if he would ever return to class.
Bakugo, in silence, pondered another question. How could he stand up? Wasn't it obvious? A man as powerful as him wouldn't stay lying down for days in a bed. The real question was how he had reached such power? Why was he a mere student when he already had the level of a pro? Was he even more powerful than All Might?
Son's mere presence was a reminder of his inferiority and the progress he would need to make soon to surpass him. One day, he would reach his level and prove his worth!
Son smiled then; honestly, he was doing rather well, only a handful of minor injuries remained, but he was perfectly capable of walking. "I heal quickly?" He asked rhetorically, before laughing awkwardly.
"Man..." Kirishima started, a tear welling in his eye. "That was so manly."
Gohan raised an eyebrow, thoughtful, before finally understanding that the redhead was referring to his battle against Cell. Suddenly, he found himself even more uncomfortable, not knowing how to respond to the compliment.
Tenya, who had been listening quietly to the conversation, decided to speak for the first time. "I must admit, Son, your actions were those of a hero, and I fear that without you, we could certainly not have faced that formidable villain... I apologize for not being able to support you during that encounter!"
Goku's son widened his eyes, expecting to receive only fear or outright rejection, yet his classmates showed concern and understanding towards him. Iida's chivalrous spirit could only touch him deeply, greatly alleviating his worst fears.
"Thank you, Iida..." The half-Saiyan said slowly, keeping his emotions in check. "But I think I was the only one who could confront Cell and defeat him, it was up to me to do it. I would never have wanted any of you to face such a monster. I'm sorry it happened, I thought he was dead."
A marked silence followed his statement, each person taking time to absorb the information. Todoroki seemed very thoughtful, so much so that it was readable on his normally impassive face.
Midoriya listened to every word with rapt attention, his hands trembling, a shiver running through his body. It was clear that the villain had known Gohan for a long time; the monster had confirmed it, and everyone had heard that. What they had also heard was this story about a portal that had brought Gohan and Cell 'into this world,' but perhaps that was just an auditory illusion?
"You don't have to apologize, Son. You defeated that villain when no one else could, not even All Might," declared Yaoyorozu, but the young man felt she wanted to say something more.
At the back of the class, paralyzed with fear, Mineta and Koda didn't move and looked at Gohan as if he were a monster, an abomination of nature. He was too powerful, just like the villain; how could there even be someone more powerful than All Might?! And even if he had fought and defeated a villain, what was to stop this demigod from doing whatever he wanted with them?!
What some thought to be a reassuring aura emanating from him, they perceived as an aura of death, an illogical power. Every time they met his gaze, they were breathless, and just thinking about him was enough to make them tremble.
Mineta couldn't even look at him or hear him speak; the events at USJ, the fights against the villains... it was too much to bear. But what had he gotten himself into? Minoru had always thought that heroes were just cool, and that women liked that. His reasoning wasn't really more advanced than that, but did he still want to become a hero after experiencing such a moment of horror?
Gohan noticed the fearful looks directed at him, and he could say nothing as he lost himself in thought. It hurt him to see his classmates fear him; most seemed indeed affected by the USJ and his fight but did not fear him. However, Mineta and Koda seemed to see him as a monster, and they wore that particularly alarming look, reminding him of what he felt when he faced Frieza for the first time.
Gohan's smile vanished, and he finally allowed his legs to move, heading slowly towards his seat, no one taking their eyes off him. Sitting down gently, not wanting to destroy the chair, he wondered how he could change the minds of his two worried classmates.
However, he could sense a suppressed curiosity in the eyes of his classmates, probably because they dared not speak. Honestly, if he could keep silent and avoid answering questions, he would take advantage of it until they decided to confront him. He would have to talk a bit about his past one day because he knew his colleagues had questions, and what Cell had said could not go unnoticed for long.
However, that was a question for another time, as the classroom door opened, revealing a tired Aizawa who was anything but eager to start his class. Regardless, he headed towards his desk, hoping this day would be normal, for once.
"Good morning, professor!" the class exclaimed, grateful to see the man in good health.
Shota let a small smirk appear, pleased to see his students eager to start the day well, and that their motivations to become heroes did not seem to be in question.
"Well, you're as noisy as ever in the morning. That's good; you're going to need it, after all, you'll be returning to combat soon!"
Silence. No one dared to speak for a few seconds, shocked by such a revelation and its implications… some worried about a possible new villain attack, like Midoriya, while others were just intrigued by the announcement, like Bakugo.
Once the shock had settled, the students began to discuss with some apprehension. Aizawa allowed them to do so for about ten seconds, gauging their reaction and whether they were prepared for a new challenge. Apparently, they were...
"So it's time to prepare for the UA Sports Festival!"
Gohan smiled; he knew well that the festival was approaching in a month, and it would be a good opportunity for his classmates to showcase themselves, to shine, and to find a professional hero willing to offer them an internship.
However, for the Saiyan, appearing in front of the whole of Japan didn't inspire as good a feeling as one might think. To be honest, he doubted what real benefit it would bring him. He already knew what patrolling and fighting street villains were like, his work as a vigilante and his past had well prepared him for that.
Yet, he wasn't sure if he wanted to participate because it would put him in the spotlight more than others. Objectively, he was much stronger than his classmates and would attract the attention of most pro heroes, so his classmates might not get many offers. That wasn't fair since he didn't really need an internship.
Nevertheless, Gohan was aware that he still had a lot to learn about heroism and being a good person. While his classmates debated the potential security breach and therefore an attack, he got lost in his thoughts.
He needed to think about it calmly, alone.
However… if another major attack targeted UA again, or him personally, Goku's son had to be ready and increase his power more than he had in previous years. He had maintained a decent training regimen, focusing more on ki control and his combat style, rather than brute strength, although he had also made some progress in that area.
Whether he participated in the festival or not, he would have to train like the others...
The hours passed, and during that time, the young man mentally prepared his training schedule.
At Aizawa's house, after class.
Gohan had just returned home and placed his bag on his bed. Shota hadn't come back yet and wouldn't for a couple more hours, as the man was patrolling the city until early evening, leaving him alone in the house.
Alone with his questions. Gohan took out his vigilante costume and laid it beside him. He had spent the last few days recovering from the battle, but now he needed to start hunting for information on this league of villains.
Cell wasn't the sole leader of this malevolent organization, and if he remained loyal, or at least did not betray his pact with the other leader, it could only mean one thing: an enemy as powerful, if not more so, was about to emerge.
He couldn't allow that, couldn't accept another disaster like the USJ, which had brought catastrophe to the city. According to the information, there were nearly 273 deaths due to the earthquakes and the subsequent flood, while more than 10,000 people were injured. They might have survived the disasters, but some would be marked for life...
Because of that battle, because of himself. If he had been able to intercept the threat and detect it earlier, then he could have confronted Cell in an area uninhabited by humans, thus minimizing innocent casualties.
Gohan felt guilty, even though he was aware that he wasn't really responsible for the deceased, because he wanted to save as many people as possible. Son Goku would never have allowed such a thing to happen; he would have saved the day, saved the people, and defeated the villain before things got out of hand. But his son wasn't as skilled as him... Goku symbolized so much, he was more than his father, he was a real hero who sometimes seemed so hard to equal.
That's why he donned his vigilante outfit that night, feeling it his duty to find and dismantle this villain alliance.
His patrol was relatively peaceful; there weren't many dangerous villains active, mainly some thieves or racketeers, likely because the main villains had been captured at USJ.
This left him time to inspect the city and look for possible hideouts or strongholds of the villains. He highly doubted the villains had settled in his city, given they had an effective teleportation quirk, but he couldn't rule out the possibility. Tokyo was a vast metropolis, and evil would always try to infiltrate the city.
Gohan allowed himself a short break to eat and focus on his task. As usual, he had taken a tour through a large forest and had chosen a deer as his meal for the night.
He returned to the city with his food and settled on a rooftop, admiring the stars while biting into the raw meat. It was these peaceful moments he cherished most and for which he protected the world, so everyone could live in peace, happily. He knew it was naive, but it was a noble goal, and he would give his life to ensure peace on this beautiful planet.
Slightly distracted during his meal, he didn't notice a pair of red eyes watching him from the neighboring roof. Miruko simply watched this famous and efficient yet outlaw vigilante eat alone. She couldn't get a clear view of his face as he wore dark clothing and a long scarf, but it was enough to give her a more precise image of who he might be.
She then watched him dash away at a speed that her eyes struggled to follow, until he became just a white blur in the distance. It was foolish that such talent was merely a student at UA, because yes, she was almost certain that Son Gohan and the white flash were the same person...
Now, it was up to her to gather information and evidence. However, it wasn't urgent; she first wanted to observe Son Gohan, the student, during the sports festival more closely. This way, she could be sure they were the same person, although her instincts were already convinced.
She allowed herself a small smile, thinking that this year's festival might be minimally interesting. She hated such competitions because the level wasn't very high, but with this guy, there would be a show and interesting things to consider. She would attend the stadium in person, a first since she was a student.
She stood up and continued her night patrol, looking forward to attending this year's festival.
Several hours later:
Gohan returned home, disheartened, grimacing. He hadn't found anything significant, at least nothing truly interesting. He had spotted a group of Yakuza, but they hadn't yet done anything blatantly wrong that would justify an attack on sight, so he ignored them.
This particular group of Yakuza had been around for a long time and hadn't been very problematic in recent years. Gohan had stopped some of their operations, but it was nothing extraordinary, mainly gun sales or drug trafficking.
However, for some weeks, or even months, this organization had remained silent and showed no signs of life, as if they were preparing for a major operation. It was particularly worrisome, but he would keep an eye on them and stop them as soon as they did anything wrong.
Regarding the villain alliance, he hadn't found much, just some rumors when he eavesdropped on two drunk thugs in a dark alley. According to them, the alliance was at a standstill, and the remaining small-time villains who had survived USJ had chosen to leave the group.
This was good news, as it weakened the alliance in terms of sheer strength, but it wasn't very significant since they hadn't lost any leaders other than Cell. However, it meant that villains would re-emerge in the city to commit their petty crimes, whereas they had previously been discreet, preparing for USJ.
Gohan opened the door to the house and noticed Aizawa slumped on the couch, a bottle of orange juice dangling loosely from his hand. The young man smiled affectionately at his guardian and headed to the kitchen to store the food from the animal he had hunted after his patrol, to stock up and ensure a solid cover.
After doing so, he woke the man up to tell him to go to bed, then Gohan went to sleep himself. It must have been midnight or a bit later when he fell asleep.
Upon waking, he found himself in a similar routine as the day before, attending classes, taking notes, returning home, sneaking out for a round in the city as a vigilante, then going back to sleep.
He continued this routine for days until the weekend finally arrived!
When he got home on Friday evening, he gently placed his school bag on the ground and prepared a small bag of spare clothes for his destination. He had decided to train seriously over the weekend and patrol during the week.
Pleased with the few clothes he had taken, he headed straight to Mirio's and knocked on the door quickly. The young blond rushed out of his room, his game controller in hand, and smiled when he saw Gohan.
"There you are, you finally noticed that I beat the record on Heroes Fighting V! Are you here for your revenge?! Come on, I'm waiting for you, challenger!"
Gohan burst out laughing at his best friend's superb acting skills and just showed him his bag. "I actually planned a training weekend abroad, and I wanted to know if you wanted to come with me. But yeah, I saw you beat the record, and know that I'll catch up soon."
Togata seemed very tempted by the idea of a training weekend but couldn't drop everything. "Sorry, Gohan, but I've got a busy weekend with Sir. We have a lot of patrolling to do, the villains are getting active again…" He said seriously with a slight smile of disappointment.
"Oh, I understand," the Saiyan replied quickly. "It's a shame we can't train together for the sports festival. Stopping villains is more important, and I know you're going to do a great job this weekend."
"Thanks, buddy. Do you want to come in for a cold drink? It's starting to get hot."
Gohan declined the offer with a shake of his head. "No thanks, I appreciate it. Hey, is Tamaki available for a training weekend?"
The blond thought for a moment. "Nah, he's not home. He went to visit his grandparents. Anyway, he never liked the hardcore training we did, hahaha."
Gohan joined in his friend's laughter but quickly checked the time on his phone. He then placed his hand on his friend's shoulder. "I can imagine. Well, in that case, I'll go solo. See you Monday!"
As he turned to leave, he heard Mirio call out to him. "Wait up, I just had a great idea! Nejire is training alone for the festival; I'm sure she'd want to join you for your training. Especially since she's never been able to come before, but this time, she'll probably want to!"
Gohan immediately turned towards his friend, his eyes wide. A weekend alone with Nejire, away from all civilization... the idea was tempting, especially since they could help each other. He had never really trained with her before; she was proficient enough in aerial combat that he could teach her flying, but maybe he could teach her martial arts?
Perhaps she could give him a tip or two on how to fly better or stabilize his position in the air?
The idea was incredibly interesting, but he was a bit apprehensive about being alone with her. He was so happy when she was around; his heart beat so much faster, and every moment felt joyously miraculous.
But he had never, ever been completely alone with her before... He wasn't sure if he could handle it, yet a big part of him wanted to go for it, to ask her, to take the chance. If she couldn't come, so be it; otherwise, it would be a golden opportunity to spend time with her and improve together.
"Yeah, you're right, Mirio. I'll call her."
Togata smiled and clapped Gohan on the back. "Well, problem solved! I'm going back to rest; I have a long weekend ahead!"
Mirio returned to his house, leaving Son alone in the middle of the street. The young man gathered his courage and silenced his imagination, then dialed his friend's number. He had to wait until the third ring before she picked up.
"Hello? Is that you, Gohan?"
"Yes. Uh, I wanted to ask if you wanted to come train with me."
"Training?! That's super cool, it's perfect because I was training for the sports festival! It's going to be so much fun, we've never really trained together before."
"Yeah!"
"So, where do we meet to train? Tomorrow morning in the forest next to the city? I know you train there with Mirio from time to time."
Gohan paused for the first time in the conversation. She might not have anything planned and she wanted to train; now, all that was left was to tell her that he wanted to train abroad under somewhat extreme conditions. With Mirio, it had never been a problem, but maybe she wouldn't want to leave the country for intense training?
"I had planned something else actually... I want to go to Siberia, the conditions there will push us to give our all to withstand the cold."
"Wow, actually going abroad, that's crazy, but okay, let me pack my bag. Where shall we meet?"
"At Yavin Park, in an hour, is that okay?"
"Okay! Don't be late!" she exclaimed joyfully before hanging up a few seconds later, to the young man's great surprise.
Gohan gripped his bag and smiled; this weekend was going to be amazing! He then lost himself in thought as he slowly made his way to the meeting point.
At Nejire's:
Receiving a call from Gohan was quite rare; he genuinely preferred face-to-face conversations, especially since he seemed to have serious issues with technology in general, which always amused Hado. Nevertheless, when she finally hung up, she jumped for joy, gaining a splendid view of the neighborhood, as it felt almost unreal.
She had never imagined such an outing with him, not even in her wildest dreams. She knew, though, that he trained under... extreme conditions, but his power was such that he needed to push himself to the limit. However, he had asked her, specifically, to come and train, which meant he saw her as an excellent training partner!
This was incredible news, and she needed to quickly prepare her things; a few winter clothes would suffice, knowing full well that her poor coats would never withstand the biting cold of Siberia.
She generally didn't fear winter, but going to this region known for its chill... it was a small price to pay to spend time with her friend. She could already imagine learning martial arts techniques from him and sharing stories of his extraordinary past by the fire. In the end, it was a small price to pay.
She eventually landed in her garden and expertly caught herself, then opened the patio door, heading quickly to her room. Her parents had lived in Sapporo since her father landed a very lucrative job two years ago, and since then, she had been living in the old family home.
Her father continued to pay the rent for her, which was now just a drop in the bucket on his new salary, and Nejire was glad her family could live in better conditions, but it had meant increased loneliness.
Sometimes, when she came home, she could believe her mother was still working in the living room on her illustrations, while her father complained about the failure of his latest novel. For two years, that view had disappeared, and she wandered through the house, getting lost looking at old photos.
Her sadness was fleeting; after all, she had to work hard to become a great heroine! She also saw her family during the holidays...
It was just that the large three-bedroom house felt so daunting when there was no life animating it... Without Mirio, Tamaki, and Gohan, her life would be so much less exciting, so empty and boring. They were more than friends, like brothers, their bond strengthened by the camaraderie of heroism. She couldn't imagine a day without them, especially since she had been living alone in Tokyo.
Suppressing her unusually somber thoughts, she grabbed a bag and stuffed a pair of warm clothes inside, to better endure the journey. It was only for two days, but they would be very important to her, and she wanted to look her best, even in the freezing cold. But with Gohan, nothing could cool her down.
Once her bag was ready, she stepped out and locked the house, casting one last weary glance. Training in her garden was quite ironic once one had experienced UA's quality facilities.
Yavin Park was about twenty minutes away from her home, on the outskirts of the city. Nejire knew Gohan's passion for flowers and animals, a curiosity she shared toward nature's magnificence. Being captivated by intoxicatingly colored flowers, getting lost in their diversity...
She perfectly understood why he found it beautiful, especially since he was not familiar with all the species living in Japan and around the world. He always asked questions about the species he did not know, to the point where it had thrown Togata and Amajiki off several times because they could not find the answers.
However, Nejire's curious nature allowed her to share Gohan's endless thirst for knowledge, the desire to learn more, understand, and analyze his surroundings. She wasn't as academically gifted as him, tending to get scattered and thus losing sight of the topic at hand.
Gohan, on the other hand, always managed to focus entirely on a subject, extracting everything he could from it, to the point where she found a fascination tinged with envy in it.
Her thoughts stopped, however, when she finally reached Yavin Natural Park, on the city's edge. She walked through the park for a few minutes, following the path, even taking a short break to sit on an oak wooden bench along the way. This park was seldom visited due to its location, at least during the week, making it a perfect meeting spot for some privacy and peace.
Some rumors suggested that professional heroes brought their dates here, away from prying journalists, but she doubted it; the place was somewhat well-known, and it wasn't hard to snoop on people from afar.
So she stayed there for about ten minutes, watching the clouds, while a few passersby strolled along the tourist trail. It was peaceful, as if recent events hadn't touched this beautiful place. Yet, one only needed to turn their head to notice the few trees uprooted by the terrible battle.
Suddenly, the sound of a pair of boots landing next to her disrupted her serene observation. Without even turning her head, she knew right away who it could be. Only Gohan had the tendency to land like that, discreetly, keeping his voice calm and soothing.
"You're finally here!" she exclaimed as she got up from the bench, meeting his gaze. He stood there, a sheepish expression on his face, his gentle smile revealing the determination in his jet-black eyes.
"Sorry, I thought I was on time," he said with a nervous chuckle. He was eager to depart, to fly towards adventure, training, self-improvement, and also... to spend time with Nejire.
She smiled, bursting with joy, a surge of vitality coursing through her body. "So, when and how are we going?"
He paused for a moment, having thought about the question during the journey. Usually, he allowed Mirio to ride on his back, and in a matter of seconds, they arrived at their destination without any trouble. However, Nejire could fly, and quite well at that, so he figured flying to the frozen tundras would be a good idea.
They would probably take a couple of hours, which was relatively impressive since his friend used a power other than his ki to fly.
"Well, we're going to fly!" he declared with a broad smile, pointing to the sky. Hado stared at him in disbelief for a moment before bursting into laughter, recognizing his typical response.
"I knew you'd say something like that, but um, I need to fly too, right?"
Nice try, he thought, but when training with him, even the journey was a test. "Of course, let's go!"
Nejire suppressed the slight fear she felt deep inside, apprehensive about going so far, and though she was enduring, it was quite a flight to Russia... but she couldn't afford to be weak, especially if she wanted to train with him; this was her opportunity to show her strength.
"Then let's go!"
With those words, they took off, leaving behind a cloud of earth and dust as their bodies sliced through the wind, defying the laws of gravity. The sense of freedom was pure joy, the fresh spring air their companion, the rest of humanity's codes and laws disappearing, mimicking the tiny black dots they could see from the ground.
Gohan smiled, feeling in his element, merging with the flight, in an aerial ballet of unparalleled beauty. Nothing could match his agility in the skies; he moved as a god would, what would require a titanic effort from others seemed so basic to him.
Nejire admired him like she had never admired anyone else, the greatest of all heroes, her hero, was him and no one else. Soaring through the sky like two fighter jets racing, they traveled for an undefined time, as if their presence had cracked the space-time continuum.
The ocean and its magnificence stretched as far as the eye could see, the delicate reflection of the sun shimmering on it. Approaching the water, she left behind undulating waves, her heart pounding. She had never traveled so far with her power... yet, she felt no fatigue, her unattainable endurance as freedom and joy overwhelmed her other feelings and sensations.
Gohan watched her, always benevolent and cheerful, living in the moment, cherishing it as if it could end at any moment. Nejire gained altitude and came within speaking distance, her smile stretching to her ears.
"Do you do this all the time to go train?" she asked, noticing the sparkle in his eyes, indicating he had once again lost himself in thought.
"Yes, flying always feels amazing. This planet is so beautiful... you know, in recent years I've visited many places, but I feel like I'll always find somewhere even more beautiful than the last."
She understood that feeling, yet she hadn't had the chance to travel much herself. A thought crossed her mind, bringing a gentle smile to her face. "Then let's travel the world together! I'm sure we'll find the most beautiful place on earth together! And it will be so much fun!"
A slight blush appeared on the Saiyan's cheeks, who chuckled softly, accustomed to her unquenchable enthusiasm. "That would be amazing... let's do it!"
"Awesome! Where shall we go first? What's your favorite destination? How do you find it compared to other countries, like Japan?"
Gohan thought for a moment. "How about visiting South America? I haven't been there often. I'd say my favorite place is where we're going now, Siberia. I enjoy the peace and relaxation it offers; you'll see, it's very refreshing! But I would say Japan remains my home, no matter what."
Hado continued to fly, a gentle silence enveloping them as she rapidly pondered their conversation. Traveling the world with him, what a fantastic dream that could become reality! She was so excited, but for now, she was about to discover Siberia and its icy expanses.
The rest of the journey was very pleasant, with both discussing potential destinations for their future trip, not worrying about anything else for the moment. Gohan was relaxed, in his element with her, the usual stress he might feel seemed to have vanished, leaving only a feeling of serenity.
Goku's son had made it his mission to become stronger to be ready to face any potential new threats. He had learned his lesson. He had thought Cell would never return, that he was dead, but Gohan had been gravely mistaken. Thus, a new enemy, whether related to the League of Villains or not, could pose a serious threat to society.
But as he freely flew in the sky with his dear friend, his dark thoughts dissipated, as if she was chasing them away.
Eventually, the duo landed some tens of kilometers from Siberia, the biting cold greeting them. Son could see her shivering slightly, though she made an effort to hide it. The Saiyan grabbed his own bag and handed her a padded jacket, warm enough to withstand the day's cold in that region.
"Here, take this jacket."
"And you? Won't you need it?"
A smile crossed his lips. "I have my energy."
"So, what are we going to do for our training?"
A coat of white energy then enveloped the young man, warming his body. "I need to improve my physical strength and combat style. I think a few hours of exercises will help, then we can have some sparring matches to identify any weaknesses we might have."
Nejire smiled and nodded. She knew that once his exercises were done, he would lower his level so they could have a decent duel, otherwise, it wouldn't be a constructive fight.
"But for now, let's race to Siberia. There's about fifty kilometers left before we get there."
Hado stretched and gathered all her endurance. She had little chance of winning a race against him, but if she gave it her all, maybe she could achieve a not-too-shabby result. "Let's go!" she declared before taking off, catching him by surprise.
Gohan launched himself too, moving with grace and knowledge in this environment so inhospitable for humans. Everything here was his playground, the snow and its deadly caress, the large leafless trees, while significant mountain peaks stretched on the horizon, as far as the eye could see. He felt welcome, in the palace of his dreams.
He continued the race with Nejire, catching up and overtaking her multiple times. However, he gave her a chance to arrive first by matching her speed, otherwise, it wouldn't be a fun challenge.
After seven minutes, they finished covering the distance separating them from the deep cold, losing all traces of civilization miles away, leaving only them. The young woman then surprised him by using a shock wave to propel herself directly to the finish line, blowing Gohan a few meters back, astonished by the sudden attack, his energy mimicking the flow of the wave and merging with the ice around him.
The wave seemed to rebound off the nearby trees, using them as a mirror to better amplify the area damage... The effect put into this attack differed from her other shock waves, which were usually more powerful, more focused, and directed towards a specific point, not over a radius of several meters.
He leaped forward and crossed the imaginary line, where his friend waited. She taunted him with her gaze and her playful smile, making him turn his head, a slight blush on his cheeks. "You didn't expect that!"
"Definitely not!" he exclaimed with a small laugh. "You got me good, well done."
Nejire did something that worried him: she blushed. He didn't know why; she was never embarrassed by a compliment usually, but now, he could see a different feeling crossing the sublime sparkle of her eyes. He just couldn't put a word on what it was…
"I'm working on a new signature attack for the professional license exam. It's only in its early stages, but I wanted to see what it was worth."
"That was quite incredible, I had never seen that kind of shock wave before…" he breathed, sincerity flowing in his voice.
"Ah! I'll explain everything to you!" she began with her immense smile, her eyes almost shining, matching the vigor of her curiosity and knowledge. "Normally, I concentrate my waves at a specific point to maximize power, but the other day during a class exercise, I thought it might be handy to improve the amplitude of my waves, even if it loses power to gain in range. What do you think? Was it strong enough?"
Objectively, the attack was relatively powerful, enough to knock out medium-strength villains, but it would only destabilize stronger opponents like him. "I think it's pretty good, there's potential! You just need to improve the power while maintaining that amplitude!"
And they discussed ways to improve her technique for tens of minutes, lulled by the sound of snow falling softly from the sky. Gohan began his exercises, continuing to examine ways to enhance his friend's technique, but he had to start working more seriously on his training.
The duo agreed to hold training matches in three hours, giving them time to train separately.
Gohan needed to drastically improve his strength; for this, he gave his body no respite, performing increasingly intense exercises without any break. His Saiyan body could handle this kind of training regimen; it was a viable way to increase his brute strength. A lighter training regime had allowed him to maintain his muscle mass, as he had done in recent years, which had helped him enhance his ki control.
After a couple of hours, he felt his arms give out, and he collapsed into the snow, letting himself gaze at the snowflakes in a hypnotic trance. He loved this place; whenever he needed to isolate himself, to ponder darker thoughts, he found his refuge here. Bringing Nejire along... it was a good idea; they knew each other very well, and he was happy to spend time with her.
The young man got up and continued his training, getting into an advanced plank position, challenging his muscles. He held the position as long as he could, collapsing then getting up, over and over, never giving up.
He could feel his body screaming in pain, but he knew it was for the best—for his friends and the planet—if he became stronger. He was the strongest being in the world, its protector against monsters like Cell. He could not afford to neglect his training.
Goku would have been proud to see him continue his training, pushing beyond his limits to become a great hero. This thought continually fueled Gohan's will to keep pushing, as well as the image of his loved ones at peace. That feeling of joy, of completeness, was what he wanted to protect above all, to never again experience death and desolation.
After another couple of hours, he finally got up, feeling exhaustion set in. It wasn't time to rest yet, not after such a brief training session. He allowed himself a ten-minute break, enough time to check on how Nejire was doing.
His friend was doing well; her shockwaves were spreading across the area, and he felt them even several tens of meters behind him. Gohan saw her giving everything she had to improve, to perform at the sports festival, and to become better than yesterday.
Nejire hovered three meters above the ground, her hands joined to send massive shockwaves around, making the trees and snow tremble in a beautiful display. Despite the harsh climate, it was she who stood dominant, a few droplets of sweat running down her beautiful face.
Watching her made the young Saiyan's heart beat faster; simply calling her beautiful would be an understatement. In his eyes, there was nothing more sublime than her during training, and although he remained static, his feet sinking into the snow, he felt no biting cold.
How could he feel the cold while watching the most beautiful woman on Earth, her magnificence only matched by her poise... No, it was impossible for him to take his eyes off his friend, and he didn't even try to fight it, knowing that training with her would inevitably leave him captivated by her charms.
Eventually, Nejire noticed him and smiled, another of her radiant, brilliant smiles... He smiled back, and she landed in front of him, just a meter away, warming his cheeks with her proximity. He wasn't quite sure what was happening to him at that moment; was it because he had just realized he had been watching her for several minutes, simply captivated by her grace?
"Hey! How long have you been watching my training? Is it time for the match?"
"Yes... It's time for the match," he said, struggling to maintain eye contact with her, but the sparkle in her eyes was so whirlwind, so ecstatic, that it was hard not to get lost in them.
"Great!" she exclaimed, all smiles. "Let's start!"
With those words, she floated into the sky, while Gohan took his stance, still surprised by the turn of events. The young Saiyan warrior was ready to receive an attack; he could end the fight in a few seconds, but that wouldn't be instructive or fun, so he lowered his power level to match his companion's.
Nejire joined her two hands in front and sent a volley of shockwaves, the first two more concentrated, prompting Gohan to dodge to his right, only to find, as he expected, a massive shockwave welcoming him. Leaping backward, he found himself smiling, a rush of adrenaline flowing through his veins, enjoying the training.
After an acrobatic flip, he landed ten meters back, thus avoiding the brunt of the attack. "My turn!" he shouted, joining his hands together, forming like the jaws of a dragon. "Kamehameha!"
The bluish wave of energy rushed towards the young woman, who, though surprised, dodged it at the last second by using her quirk to propel herself to the right. She dared a teasing smile and spiraled through the skies, looking for the ideal angle of attack, but a very alarming sound alerted her. She immediately turned around, panicked, and faced Gohan's ki blast, hurtling towards her, just a few meters away.
Anxious, she reacted based on her experience, knowing that if she wanted to counter this attack, she had to use one of her new signature moves. Nejire extended one arm forward, facing the kamehameha, while her other hand was positioned behind her, in a balance perfected by numerous hours of training.
Gohan continued to fuel his kamehameha with ki, guiding it like a missile ready to unleash its full power, but when he expected his opponent to dodge, she took him by surprise by adopting a strange stance.
He could never have imagined what was about to happen…
"Balance shock wave!" she declared as two shockwaves emanated from her hands; the one behind her unleashed an area shockwave, while the other was immensely more concentrated than any Gohan had had the pleasure to witness.
The two attacks met, clashed, and battled in a deluge of raw energy, then Gohan's blue ki was pushed back into the distance, fading away like a shooting star, with only a final flash marking its demise.
The half-Saiyan remained dumbfounded at such a display of power, his arms falling to his sides, allowing him to admire the end of the confrontation. Hado smiled, and her gaze met her friend's, her pride evident in her blue-tinted eyes.
Fatigued by the attack, which had drained all her endurance, Nejire could no longer maintain her energy to stay in the air, consequently, she felt herself falling in free fall. It was the first time she attempted such a move in combat, previous attempts had always failed, but in the heat of action, and with her new mass shockwave ability, she succeeded!
As she plummeted towards the snowy ground, she smiled, proud to have repelled the attack with her new signature move. Sure, she hadn't defeated Gohan in a fight, but she had proven her strength to him, and just for that, she was very proud.
Without him, she wouldn't have found the necessary motivation to push herself so much, so quickly, to learn a new move in a single day. Gohan was a huge source of motivation, a symbol of kindness and strength, a true hero always there to save those in need.
During the fight against Cell, she couldn't do anything, not even hinder the monster; she was too weak, and she had put Gohan in danger… Training with him, getting closer to him, being his friend, these were always joyful moments that made her feel good. Facing him was also showing her strength and that she was worthy of being his training partner.
Suddenly, she felt a pair of muscular arms catch her mid-flight, preventing a fall of several meters. It was him, he was smiling at her, and she could see great joy in his eyes, even pride. His jet-black eyes conveyed so many emotions that she couldn't assimilate them all, but she loved their beauty, that joy. Seeing him smile, regaining his usual happiness after that terrible fight... It was magnificent.
Gohan gently landed on the ground, and with a wave of his hand, cleared all the snow from the surroundings, leaving firm ground as far as the eye could see. He gently set her down, still ecstatic. "That was amazing!" he then exclaimed. "You repelled my kamehameha."
Even though he was holding back, his attack was powerful enough that Nejire shouldn't have been able to repel it into space but rather avoid it at best. The mere fact that she managed to defend herself from such an onslaught showed her immense talent, and had she used this technique on anyone else, it would have been an assured victory.
No ordinary villain could have withstood such power... For even from his position, he had felt the earth tremble following the collision of their two forces, and that strength... it left him electrified.
His Saiyan blood was boiling, and while he hated feeling such emotions, here, with his friend, he enjoyed fighting, testing his strength, and being by her side. It wasn't the same as with his other friend, Mirio, because even though he enjoyed training with him, he didn't experience this kind of intense pleasure in the confrontation, an urge to always delve deeper into the exchange.
Now, Gohan fully understood why his father and Vegeta loved training so much, in their own way; they surely felt similar sensations…
"Thank you," Nejire whispered, her eyes almost closing as fatigue overwhelmed her, the penetrating cold being the only thing keeping her awake. Son gave her a small smile and sat next to her, knowing she had used up all her endurance and needed a few hours of rest.
He looked up at the sun's position; it must have been around three or four in the afternoon, and at this season, they only had one or two hours before nightfall when they would need to prepare. He looked at his friend and a question alarmed him. He could warm himself with his ki at night, but her… how would she endure the cold?
She was strong, skilled, but her power offered no support here. It would have been the same with Mirio, but he was used to this kind of extreme training and had equipment.
So, the question was… where would Nejire sleep? Gohan had brought a tent in his bag, big enough for two people, as he liked his comfort… and that's when the realization hit Gohan!
Hado had brought a sleeping bag, but it wouldn't be nearly enough against Siberia's climate… and since he could use his ki as a heat source…
If he couldn't find another solution, he would have to share his tent with her. And right now, with his feelings so stirred up…
Regardless, he moved closer to his friend and used his ki as a heat source so she could rest for a couple of hours. Nejire gave him a weak smile and snuggled up to him, likely too exhausted to think further about what she was doing, and because he was objectively the only source of heat in the area.
Nejire took advantage of this moment to rest her head against his shoulder, enjoying the soothing warmth. Gohan blushed but let her, considering it the only logical thing to do for now. Thus, they spent half an hour in this sweet silence, one sleeping, the other observing the distance, lost in thought.
Finally, reality caught up with Gohan, who remembered the necessities for survival in the heart of Siberia. He gently woke his friend and went to set up the tent, well aware that they would have to spend the night together… that was enough to make his cheeks flush; he was a very pure young man but not naive enough to deny his feelings and emotions.
It didn't take him long to set up the tent, his expertise in the matter helping him finish the job in no time. Once done, he approached the forest and collected a large pile of branches to start a campfire.
Now, all that was missing was a good meal, so prey he would quickly hunt down. A Saiyan never joked about a good dinner, especially not after a day of training like this one, and besides, nothing was better than a good meal.
Usually, he hunted wolves. Not very tasty, but it sufficed to fill his stomach after training. However, there was a problem: Nejire was human, and as such, wolf meat wasn't exactly edible. Gohan had quickly learned to consider the edibility of meals that his Saiyan stomach could digest, a human could not.
There were other prey to hunt in the taiga, including boars and elks. Well-cooked, their meat would be delicious...
Determined to feast on a boar, the young man retraced his steps, looking for his friend. Nejire was warming up by the fire, momentarily using her shockwaves to fan the flames when it started to die down.
"Hey, are you okay?" he asked in a calm voice, before extending his ki around, warming up the area by several degrees.
"Yes! We just need to eat and sleep for tomorrow's training! Are we going to do the same as today? Or are we trying a different method?"
Gohan smiled and extended his hand forward. "Come on, we need to hunt tonight's meal. And for tomorrow, we'll just push ourselves to the limit until nightfall, and then we'll head back to Japan. The return journey is a challenge."
Hado maintained her composure, but honestly, training all day and then taking a long, grueling flight back to Japan would be very challenging. UA had pushed her to her limits over the last few years, and she never shied away from a challenge, especially since that was her very reason for being here, in Siberia.
She grabbed his extended hand, enjoying the warmth, and followed Gohan as he flew toward the taiga.
"Even though the population has grown over the last thirty years, the majority of the region is still wild," he said, stating the obvious. "So, there's a lot of life in the taiga, and hunting there is frankly easier than one might think."
"And what are we going to eat?"
"A boar? Or an elk. Wolves and bears are very hard to digest, and it could make you sick for several days."
"And you, it doesn't affect you to eat them? Oh, wait, does your ki help you not get sick after meals? And how do you know it's bad for your health? Have you eaten it?!"
It was an explanation he hadn't particularly considered... he had always assumed his heritage explained the ease with which he fought off any illness, and that a Saiyan's body was naturally prepared for battle.
Who knows, maybe Yamcha or Krillin could eat such animals without any problem, which would mean that ki helps to prevent illness. It made sense, after all...
"Honestly, I can eat them without any problem. But that wasn't the case for Mirio..." he said as they landed near a stream.
"Tell me!" she almost commanded, a spark flashing in her eyes. If she could hear this story, she could use it to tease Mirio during class.
"Oh, it was two years ago, I think. We were on a trip to the USA, and the first night, I went out and hunted a bear. Mr. Aizawa and Mirio ate it, and they were sick for three days... almost half of our training week! If you had seen his face after eating, it looked like he had seen a ghost."
To punctuate his story, he tried his best to mimic his friend's face from memory, which turned out more like a grimace that a drunken man might make at a baby. Magnificent, indeed.
Nejire burst into laughter, picturing the traumatic experience it must have been for Mirio and his teacher. Now, she had new material for teasing when Mirio got too cocky during the 3-A training sessions.
Their brief flight abruptly ended when the duo spotted a solitary boar, an easy prey. Actually, it was more Gohan who noticed it and pointed it out, accustomed to hunting in these inhospitable lands.
Hado had never hunted, never having the need or desire since she could find everything she was interested in at the local butcher's shop... but she had to admit she was excited to experience it, her curious nature taking over. Killing an animal for pure pleasure was not right, it was absurd, but in their specific case, it was about feeding themselves, so there was no regret to be had.
Gohan pointed at the animal and gave a faint smile. "Are you ready?" he asked as he began to lower his energy to a minimum, crouching to hide behind a tree, with Nejire at his heels.
"Yes, what do we do? Attack head-on with our powers?"
He paused briefly, then nodded. "On my signal, we must strike quickly, before it has time to understand or suffer."
Then, with an experienced leap, Gohan darted towards the boar, which didn't even have time to comprehend what was about to happen. As he was about to deliver a fatal punch, an ultra-condensed shockwave shot out in front of him and abruptly ended the hunt, breaking the boar's neck in a second.
The young man turned his head towards her, surprised, not by the speed of the attack but by the fact that she had executed it. His friend, however, just smiled, though he could note a brief flash of guilt when she glanced at the creature. That simple smile after the hunt gave her a Saiyan aura that Gohan would never have associated with Nejire, but it only intensified the strong sense of attraction he felt for her.
He didn't particularly enjoy hunting, to be honest, but at that moment, his Saiyan instincts almost overwhelmed him, reminding him of his warrior lineage. After all, hunting was necessary and allowed him to maintain his tracking and stalking skills.
He subtly thought he would like to hunt with her again. He then picked up the boar and carried it over his shoulder before leaping into the air.
Nejire watched him work and followed suit, a light smile on her face. She didn't know what had gotten into her, attacking the animal when her friend was about to end its life, but she couldn't resist the urge to surprise him... and also experience hunting for herself, using her power to take an animal's life.
The return journey was pleasantly calm, and they made it back to their campsite without any issues. Gohan set about creating a campfire with wood branches and a ki sphere, while Nejire continued to practice her new technique quietly, a few dozen meters away.
Practicing her new technique had tired her out significantly, but she had quickly regained her strength. For this, she could thank her power, which stored energy during her sleep and every moment of rest. Even though her power was strong, the level of commitment required to master it was immense, especially during her first year at UA.
Before the academy, she never really had the opportunity to use her power regularly and thus improve her control and endurance. It had now become one of her key strengths.
"Dinner's ready if you want to eat," Gohan announced as the sun began to set significantly. "We need to eat early and sleep early to make the most of the sunlight tomorrow."
"I'm coming! I hope you haven't eaten everything, I'm starving!"
They sat down by the fire, Gohan immediately biting into a huge thigh, while regularly glancing at his friend, wanting to ensure she ate enough. He was, to say the least, surprised.
He knew she ate well after training; Mirio and Tamaki had shared some amusing dinner anecdotes following a tough workout. But seeing it for himself nearly unsettled him, though it made sense that she needed to replenish her energy stores.
"Hey Gohan, do you plan to train like this every weekend until the festival starts?" she asked between bites.
He swallowed and replied with a small smile. "Yes, I need to get stronger and fast! I've relied too much on my laurels in recent years, at least in terms of physical strength. I mean, I spend all my time refining my ki control to avoid collateral damage... I feel like I've neglected my training in the end, considering what happened."
Nejire remained unusually silent for a good fifteen seconds. "Tell me, do you want to get stronger because you're afraid one of your old enemies will attack again? I know you're still thinking about what happened at USJ... Me too, you know, I don't think I'll ever be able to forget what happened. It's not your fault, you couldn't have known he was still alive!"
As if the biting cold of Siberia was just a mild autumn breeze, Gohan paled at Hado's remark, and that's because she raised an important fear. A fear that, even if he didn't dare to voice it out loud, had haunted him since his confrontation with Cell.
"When he attacked you, I thought for a moment that you were dead… I've never felt so angry, at him, at myself, for not being strong enough to protect you, to protect all of you. I could never bear the pain of losing you because… because you are the most extraordinary girl I know."
She tightened her grip, preventing tears from reaching her eyes. They remained like that for an indefinite moment, in comforting silence, Gohan taking the time he needed to gather his strength and determination to conquer his inner demons.
Expressing what was on his heart, he then declared, still embracing her with his strong arms, "I will protect all of you, I will become stronger and the best hero I can be. Not just to defeat villains, but to prove myself worthy of your trust in me. I swear I'll always be there for you!"
Those words, a promise made by the strongest man in the universe, brought a tear to Nejire's eye, so intense was the emotion. He had always been there for her since they met, his jokes, just his way of being her friend… how could she ever doubt that he wasn't already the greatest of heroes in their worlds. She had always known he was a great hero, but since the USJ incident, he wasn't just her friend or a hero: he was her hero, the man who would always be there for her, as she would always be there for him.
Caught up in the adrenaline, she took Gohan's face between her hands, looking deep into his jet-black eyes, reading the greatest determination she had ever felt. Then, in a bold move, even for her, she leaned towards him, her lips touching his with a rare gentleness.
He didn't resist, despite the overwhelming amazement he felt, feeling like he was in one of his wildest dreams. He closed his eyes and let himself be drawn into one of the most beautiful moments of his young but already lengthy life. Nejire's lips were soft, delicate, yet firm, engaging and adventurous as she had always been.
She deepened the contact, letting out all the emotions and feelings she had harbored for months, this deep attachment, undoubtedly love, and the fact that he meant so much to her, allowed her, despite her inexperience, to find the courage to continue their exchange.
After those few seconds that seemed like an eternity in the dance of happiness they felt, the contact ended as their lips parted. Gohan looked at her, a mix of excitement, joy, and astonishment as he fully realized what had just happened.
"Nejire..." he whispered, still in shock, while the young woman blushed, fully realizing the significance of her actions. But she had no regrets; for months, she had wanted to kiss him, to share her feelings, but each time, she couldn't find the words, her voice silenced by her hesitations.
Her courage had faltered, but now, she knew that Gohan would always be by her side, and that he felt the same way about her.
She smiled, unsure of what to say, letting her eyes reflect her feelings, her soul. He said nothing in return but continued to hold her in his embrace, offering his warmth, and this time, he initiated the kiss.
With only the soft glow of the campfire for light, snowflakes gently falling around them, they shared a romantic kiss, surrounded by nature, far from others, yet close to their true selves...
Gohan finally felt ready to move forward, hand in hand with the girl he loved, ready to face whatever challenges might come their way. Even if villains sought to destroy his home, this world that had welcomed him, he knew he would be stronger than them because Nejire's faith was with him.
To be continued…