Reviews answers :
N1cok : Hi, thanks for reading. Yes, indeed I've use the word ''alter'' for ''quirk'' because ''alter'' is the translation we've got in french. I'll look after it in the next few chapter. For the sentence I didn't understand, what is wrong ? If Gohan do not give all he have, he would certainly die.
Dridrius : Thanks for reading. Yeah, I'll will look for the good word in the next chapter, thanks !
Crescentation : Hello, thanks for reading. I'm happy you like the chapter. Indeed, Cell JR will be stronger than his father, but maybe he will be different. It'll be a nice rivalry, and I hope you'll like the caracter when Cell JR come in the story.
X3runner : Hello, thank you for reading! So, yes and no, Gohan will definitely intensify his training in the future of the fic, and there will be a special chapter (the next one, I believe) where he will train specifically with Nejire. Regarding other villains that I could include, yes, I imagine I could incorporate demons into the story considering how Gohan arrived in this universe. It could be interesting to write an arc about it.
Some1Call4Mr-E : Well, to be completely honest, if I told you, I'd spoil the pleasure of reading. However, what I can tell you is that Cell Jr. will be a different character from his father in many aspects, which I'm sure you'll enjoy discovering when the character appears in the story. There will certainly be a fateful confrontation, but how it will unfold, I couldn't say... haha!
Truth is what you make of it : Yes, I do understand, i'll look after it.
SirTypesaLot : Of course, Gohan's classmates did witness what he did to Cell. It's certain that the school will do everything in its power to protect its student and quash rumors, although they may persist. However, as you'll see in this chapter, Gohan will have to face the police regarding his fight, but you can imagine that the circumstances are significantly mitigating. As for Gohan's meeting with Nejire, it happened two years ago when Mirio introduced him to Nejire. It's true that at the time, I could have written one or two more chapters between the time jump and the moment Gohan returns to UA.
Super98 : Thanks you, hope you'll like this chapter !
Chapter 11 – The Price of Being a Hero
Tsukauchi Naomasa rubbed his temples—what a day... and it wasn't over yet. Glancing at his watch and realizing he wouldn't be home for another hour, the detective opened the door to his office and walked over to his leather chair, a tired look on his face.
Anyway, he doubted he was in the mood to go home...
Toshinori... thankfully, his friend was alright, even though he could now only use his Quirk at full capacity for one hour a day. Thank God, no students had perished in the attack, but there had still been significant injuries.
The detective had spent the whole day investigating this infamous organization "the league of villains," and the little he had managed to gather was not significant. However, the villain group had substantial financial resources and a significant influence in the underground society, which was very concerning.
Nonetheless, the most incredible aspect of this attack wasn't All Might's rescue, as the press had reported, no, the truth was far more terrifying. It was a young man, 15-year-old Son Gohan, who had been the real hero and had defeated an overwhelmingly powerful villain, one that even Yagi acknowledged as more powerful than himself.
The fate of Japan, no, the world, was decided during this confrontation, and the damage, both at the UA campus and throughout the city, was very alarming. Never before had a villain attack caused so much destruction in the capital, and it could have potentially caused even more damage, extending beyond the city and potentially affecting the entire country.
Tsukauchi poured himself a small glass of whisky that he kept preciously in a drawer of his desk for the more challenging evenings. Well, he was dealing with something massive, huge, which would change heroic and Japanese society as a whole, for better or worse?
Pulling out his phone, the man hesitated to make a call given the late hour, but he went ahead anyway. The phone rang three times before a grunt was heard on the other end.
"Miruko, it's Naomasa, can you come to my office tonight? I have important information to share with you regarding the investigation on the white lightning."
There was a silence before the woman replied. "I guess we can't discuss this over the phone... very well, I'll be there in about thirty minutes," she declared, hanging up without waiting for a response.
Tsukauchi placed his phone on his desk and sighed before drinking his glass. The heroine was a consummate professional, but in terms of personality, she could be very harsh at times...
Regardless, this long day of work was turning into a very long night... and he hoped that these beginnings of theories would bear fruit. For the sake of Japan, and even the world, he had to redouble his efforts and uncover the truth...
Over twenty-four hours later, South Tokyo Hospital:
"Dad! Noooo!" yelled a young Gohan as, before him, Son Goku placed his hand against the deformed body of Cell.
"My son..." said the brave hero loved by all, looking at his only child with pride. "I'm so proud of you, have no doubt. Tell your mother I love her and I'm sorry... goodbye, my son."
Then, in the space of a second, Son Goku and the monster disappeared as if they had never existed. Gohan stared out at the rocky plain stretching as far as the eye could see, searching for his father, hoping for a miracle that he would return, but no, his energy had evaporated, nowhere to be found...
His father was dead, he had sacrificed himself for his mistakes, because he hadn't been able to defeat Cell quickly enough... but now the nightmare was over, his father would return with the Dragon Balls, and they would be a happy family again...
However, the one who made his return was not at all the man he cherished so much, but the monster who had taken his life...
"CELL!" he screamed, waking up in a sweat, unaware of where he was, his memories mixing in his tired and injured mind as if it had happened just a few minutes ago.
Catching his breath, the young man understood where he was, and everything made sense. Memories of the previous battle at USJ resurfaced, and he trembled, both with anger and fear. Fortunately, he had defeated the monster, and everyone was still alive, but that did not make him feel safe, especially not in this place.
Gohan had hated hospitals since he was ten, their austerity, the omnipresent whiteness, and the feeling of being trapped, instinctively made him grimace, as very bad memories of his arrival surfaced.
The young Saiyan closed his eyes for a moment, exhaling and inhaling, calming the erratic beating of his heart. Piccolo had taught him, so long ago, that a warrior must remain calm, maintain composure, and coolly analyze the situation. That's what he did, albeit with difficulty.
He had defeated Cell at USJ, under the eyes of all his friends, classmates, and teachers, including his adoptive father. A terrible shiver ran down his spine; he would have to explain to everyone who Cell was and his connection to him...
Already feeling a dreadful terror at revealing more of his past to his close friends, whom he considered his family, let alone to his classmates and teachers, most of whom were almost strangers...
Why, when everything was going well in his life... why did his past have to catch up with him? He would have given anything to see his mother, his father, Bulma, Piccolo, even Vegeta, but of all people, it was Cell, his father's killer, the worst monster he had ever fought, who had resurfaced from the depths of his existence...
Gohan felt tears well up in his eyes, and he held them back as best he could, even though he was alone, he had to be strong, not give in to sadness and panic. Everything was going to be okay, he repeated to himself, managing to calm down with difficulty, without being able to think of anything else.
He had defeated Cell, fueled by his desire to protect, and perhaps also by his selfishness, because he did not want to lose another loved one; he never wanted to suffer like before. He loved this world and his friends too much for his will to falter, but he had come close to losing too many times; he had danced with death during that fight, and it had almost taken him in its embrace.
The Saiyan decided to get up from his bed, walk, look out the window to gauge the extent of the damage, and then examine his own injuries. He removed the medical equipment attached to his body, the beeping of the monitor annoying him immensely.
He got out of bed, his legs aching, begging him to lie back down, but he was too accustomed to pain for it to destabilize him. He walked towards the window and opened it, allowing the cool spring breeze to enter the room, then he looked apprehensively at the urban landscape.
There was no doubt that the fight had shaken the city, perhaps even the country...
And it was true, at a single glance, he noticed fragile buildings collapsed, others with broken windows, if they still managed to stand. Small houses were in a damaged state, most of them, although some were completely destroyed. It looked as though the city had been struck by a natural disaster, earthquakes, and floods, with incredible amounts of water in the streets, almost reaching the car bodies...
At this apocalyptic sight, Gohan was seized with remorse and regret, feeling partly guilty for the destruction of the city. His fight was so violent that it had repercussions on the city he was "protecting"...
The worst thing was to think that there were certainly people injured... or dead... because of the earthquakes. Watching the rain that continuously flowed, Gohan bit his lip in anger, his thoughts drifting to terrible scenes caused by his fault and Cell.
He remained standing, lost in his thoughts for several minutes, before moving towards the bathroom to observe his injuries. He felt pain all over his body, but nothing seemed broken, or it had been healed before he woke up. He didn't even know how long he had slept...
When he entered the bathroom, he turned on the tap and let water run over his face, regaining some energy. He then turned to face the mirror...
He removed the little clothing he had and examined his injuries. His entire body was covered in minor burns, cuts of varying depths caused by Cell's sword, and bruises... but the worst injury was on his face.
Cell had left him another parting gift, he thought darkly. There was a long gash about ten centimeters long, starting above his eyebrow and ending just above his mouth. If he were in the mood for jokes, he would have found that it gave him a warrior-like appearance, but in his current state, it was another indelible mark of his battle with Cell, his second.
The scar on his shoulder symbolizing the first battle...
He had far too many scars, dating from his childhood, the confrontations with Vegeta and Nappa on Earth, but also against Frieza and, the most horrible, the wounds caused by Cell.
At just 15 years old, he was the most powerful warrior in the universe, yet he carried so many years of experience…
The young Saiyan returned to his bed and sat on it, sleep evading him. He hoped all his friends were alright and that they wouldn't bear any lasting injuries from their encounter with the villains.
He hoped Nejire wouldn't hate him, that one day he could speak to her again because he couldn't imagine his life without her kindness. He could only blame himself that she had been hurt by Cell; he wasn't strong enough to protect her even though it was his duty. Cell's mere presence was his fault, so in a way, he was responsible for the injuries she suffered.
He could never forget how close she came to death and how completely powerless he was to prevent it.
Suddenly, as he was lost in thought, the door opened, and a familiar man entered, his expression weary and somber.
"Gohan..." Shota exhaled upon seeing him awake for the first time after 48 hours of unconsciousness.
He observed the young man for a few seconds before walking towards the bed, where Gohan sat, offering a weak smile at the sight of his adoptive father.
"Hey," he said, feeling a surge of joy at seeing no major injuries on him but also a bit of apprehension about the possibility of his guardian immediately discussing the fight. "You're okay."
Aizawa gently embraced his boy, careful not to hurt him. Seeing him come so close to death, without being able to protect him as he had promised when he took him under his care, filled him with immense sorrow. "I'm sorry..."
Gohan's eyes widened in surprise; he had never expected to hear such words. It made no sense for him to apologize since he wasn't responsible for anything. "You don't have to apologize," the Saiyan replied with more force and conviction than he intended.
"I couldn't protect you... Even though it's been my role since I adopted you, you've had to face these kinds of monsters all your life, and I could do nothing to help. I was powerless," the man confessed, expressing the feelings he had harbored for the past two days.
Gohan remained silent but tightened his grip, silently suffering from being the reason for his guardian's guilt. Aizawa was not a man who often opened up, but since he had met Gohan, he occasionally expressed some of his emotions in a more serene, freer manner.
The young man felt terrible, but his guardian couldn't protect him from physical threats; the Saiyan was far too powerful for that. However, the true vulnerability of the warrior was his mental state.
Aizawa had always looked after his well-being, his happiness, ensuring he made friends and enjoyed life, providing everything he needed to grow and overcome his depression. Gohan owed a lot to his guardian and couldn't bear to see the man suffer because of him.
"It's not your fault; you've always protected me! If I managed to defeat Cell, it was thanks to you and my friends. I found the strength to fight him and conquer my fear because I care about each of you," Gohan declared, a spark shining in his eyes.
Shota looked at the boy, burdened with regrets and remorse. He knew his adoptive son had a harrowing past, but as time passed, they lived in pleasant peace, and he watched him grow into a young man of merit.
Knowing he had to face a villain as terrifying and powerful as Cell was downright frightening. Aizawa didn't know his adoptive son's past; he had figured that if the boy wanted a fresh start, he wouldn't probe into his previous life. That was before the battle a few days ago.
Aizawa gazed at his adoptive son, thoughtful, then finally spoke, his voice solemn. "Gohan, you need to tell me your story."
Gohan looked at his guardian and exhaled. He had absolute trust in him, eternal respect. He had always been there for him, his paternal figure since his father's death, the man who protected him and allowed him to grow in peace with himself.
If there was one man capable of understanding his story and supporting him, it was him. So Gohan made a decision. He couldn't hide his past, what he had experienced in his childhood, any longer; he had to tell him.
"Okay..." the young man said softly, gathering his strength, also searching for where to begin his story. "I don't come from... here."
"What do you mean?"
"I'm not from this world," Gohan said before pausing, wondering if what he was sharing was even remotely believable. "Five years ago, I fought Cell with my father and friends, but during the fight... some kind of portal swallowed me, and I ended up in Japan. I... I don't come from this world, where I'm from, dinosaurs are still alive, and aliens exist."
Aizawa remained silent for a brief moment that felt like an eternity to Gohan. What he had just heard was incredible, unthinkable, irrational, defying any existing logic, yet despite this, he believed the boy. As insane as it sounded, it could explain many things...
He had always known the boy was different, unique, and that he hadn't had a normal childhood, but he never imagined he came from another world... or dimension.
"I'm a Saiyan," Gohan declared, breaking the icy silence that had settled. "I'm an alien; my father was a Saiyan, and my mother was a normal Earthling. In my world, Quirks don't exist, only ki, the power I use, which all living forms can harness."
Shota remained silent, listening intently, thoughtfully, gathering all the information to understand better. However, one question was burning inside him... "How did you get here?"
Goku's son thought carefully, seeking the best words. He felt a natural stress and apprehension about discussing it, despite all the trust he had in his guardian. Revealing his entire past, his entire being, was a daunting task requiring immense courage.
Yet, another part of him felt relieved to no longer lie, to no longer remain silent, to share and speak of his past. He trusted Aizawa; he knew he would accept his past, even as fears gradually crept into his mind.
"My father, in his childhood, destroyed an evil army that sought to take over the planet. In this Red Ribbon Army, there was a mad scientist, Dr. Gero, who, to seek revenge, created increasingly powerful androids to kill my father. Decades later, he came back to attack us. Among his creations… there was Cell, who became so powerful that we couldn't stop him."
Gohan took a brief pause, breathing in and out slowly, calming his erratic heartbeat. He tried to make his explanation as clear as possible, avoiding the complexities of Trunks' time travel or the previous battles with Frieza. He would share that part of his life later; for now, the most important thing was to explain who Cell was…
"Cell is a blend of various warriors and beings from the universe, a 'perfect' fighter, but he was arrogant. He gave us several days to prepare for a tournament against him, which he called the Cell Games." The young man explained, a shiver running through his entire body as he uttered the name of that cursed tournament where his life changed.
Aizawa was stunned. He had heard many things in his hero career, but this surpassed all logic. Yet, he believed Gohan. What he said might seem inconceivable, but it was the truth. His adoptive son had gone through so many trials… and he certainly only knew a small part of them.
"My father and I trained for this battle for an entire year in a special room where time flows differently, and then we rested until the fight. Those days were so peaceful, as if Cell wasn't so dangerous. I had good times with my family, then the day of the tournament came. My father challenged Cell first… but he lost, and then it was my turn."
"You fought against Cell..." Aizawa murmured. He already knew this, but hearing the whole truth about it left him almost paralyzed. He could feel his son's distress, his fear, his trembling as he recalled that terrible battle.
How could anyone let a child fight against such a powerful monster? Weren't there other warriors, other heroes, worthy to face the beast? Aizawa felt a silent anger towards Gohan's father, but a small voice whispered that if the boy was the last hope, then he had to fight.
Yet, as pragmatic as he was, imagining a child fighting against a monster as terrifying as Cell... It was simply horrific.
"Yes." The half-Saiyan breathed out, his emotions beginning to overwhelm him. "I couldn't bring myself to fight, I didn't understand why he wanted to fight, he just wanted to kill and destroy for pleasure. I wanted to end the battle, but Cell didn't, and to force me to fight, he tortured my father and my friends. I... I transformed into a Super Saiyan and made him suffer, I had the upper hand, I was dominating then…" He stopped abruptly, tears in his eyes.
It was too hard to talk about, even years later, his emotions were overwhelming, and the tears prevented him from thinking clearly, from explaining clearly to his guardian. He just couldn't relive that moment…
As the first tears began to flow, the hospital room transformed into the very arena of the Cell Games, and Gohan found himself paralyzed, as if under a curse, unable to think beyond the immense terror anchoring him in place.
Suddenly, Aizawa embraced him, diminishing the fear, easing the pain. The arena of misery vanished as quickly as it had appeared, and his guardian was there with him, reminding him that he was not alone in confronting his past, that he had a family, that he could rely on him.
Gohan embraced Aizawa in return and remained silent, unable to continue his story, but Aizawa had already understood what had happened. Poor child, what he had endured...
Minutes passed, then time seemed to freeze in that very moment, in that cold hospital room now filled with comforting warmth, slowly dispelling the darkness surrounding Gohan's locked heart.
Yes, Gohan thought, I am not alone. No matter what the future held, he knew he could count on Aizawa to help, comfort him, and show him the path to becoming the great hero his parents would have wanted him to be.
Aware of the challenges ahead, Gohan dried his tears and smiled, not to mask his fear but to show his enthusiasm, his optimism. All the darkness, the malevolent shadows of villains from his past, were definitively conquered.
He would no longer be shackled by his past, by the villains who had traumatized him in his childhood. He would fight all forms of evil that stood in his way and become the greatest hero, the worthy protector this planet needed.
Gohan released Aizawa and looked at him with a big smile, no words were needed for their feelings to be understood. "Come on, it's time to go home!" Gohan exclaimed, getting up from the bed.
Shota stood up and lingered for a moment, fearful for his son, but seeing him regain his strength and zest for life made him realize that the future would be brighter, and despite the obstacles ahead, this boy would become the greatest hero society had ever known.
Aizawa took a step forward as his son opened the door, a beam of light entering the room and dazzling the man with its brilliance. "I'm going to sign the papers so we can go home."
One day later, at the Aizawa residence:
Gohan and Shota were watching an old espionage and secret agent movie from the early 2010s named James Bond. They were having a good time, and as usual, the young Saiyan was indulging in candies and chocolates while his guardian was half asleep.
"Oh no! How is he going to defuse the bomb?!" Gohan exclaimed, completely engrossed in the film, an adrenaline rush coursing through his veins.
Aizawa grimaced and grunted. "By the power of the script."
Suddenly, as their discussion about the film's plot grew more animated, Aizawa's phone rang, interrupting the duo. Very few people had the taciturn hero's number, so the caller must have been someone important.
"Who is it?" Gohan asked simply as his guardian picked up the phone.
Shota's face lost the serenity it had, and the man glanced briefly at his adoptive son. He sighed and brought the device to his ear. "This is Shota Aizawa."
The voice on the other end spoke briefly, and the hero nodded before speaking again. "Yes, of course. We'll be there shortly. Goodbye."
Gohan waited for the call to end before asking his questions, and judging by his tutor's weary look—well, wearier than usual—he immediately understood that it was something serious.
"What's going on?"
Shota looked at him, uncertain, but finally spoke. "It's the police. Now that you're awake and able to talk, they want to ask you some questions. We're lucky they gave you a day to recover."
The young man didn't respond but paused the movie, aware that he wouldn't be returning home quickly. He inhaled, calming himself as much as he could. He was just going to explain to the police that he had fought Cell when he was younger, and that the villain was after him...
"Let's go," he declared, standing up.
His guardian got up more slowly, putting on a jacket that was lying on the living room table. "Yes."
They quickly got into the car, covering the distance to the police station in about fifteen minutes, the irregular traffic not helping them arrive any faster. Nonetheless, they arrived at the station in the mid-morning, and the sight that greeted the duo was not the most cheerful.
The police building had sustained significant damage; a portion of the roof was missing, and the windows were also in a poor state. Damages caused by the battle at USJ... not just to this building, but to the entire city...
Gohan opened the car door and stepped out calmly, masking the nascent fear within him. He disliked answering questions, even if they pertained to Cell, but if it could aid the investigators in learning more about the villains' alliance, then it could only be beneficial for him.
Since his return from the hospital, he hadn't resumed his hero activities. He noticed the media's surprise, but he needed rest to heal his injuries and prepare for the next battle. True, Cell was dead, but he had mentioned an old man who had given him power, and if the monster had obeyed such a man, there must have been a reason. Gohan needed to investigate alongside the police and UA to stop the threat as quickly as possible.
"Before we go in, the investigator who will be questioning you is named Naomasa, his Quirk allows him to know if people are telling the truth or lying to him."
The sudden revelation left the young man frozen in surprise, his gaze slowly turning to his guardian, worry evident in his ebony eyes. Gohan had not considered this possibility...
He would have to rely on luck and hope that the detective only questioned him about USJ and not his past...
"Okay," Gohan said weakly before hastening to the door, pushing it with all the vigor he had.
Shota entered right after his son, familiar with the place since this was where he delivered defeated criminals. The man headed to the reception without delay, the quicker it was done, the sooner they could return. Aizawa wanted to rest a bit before going back to work tonight, and Gohan needed time to fully heal.
"Hello, we're here for the USJ case," he said to the receptionist.
"Oh, you arrived quickly, Detective Naomasa will be pleased to receive you in his office. Please, it's the third door on the right."
"Thank you," the hero replied before heading toward the office, accompanied by Son.
The closer they got to the office, the more time seemed to freeze, halting as the pressure became overwhelming. Gohan began to oddly run out of air, his breathing growing more rapid, mimicking the rhythm of his heartbeats.
When they finally reached the office door, the young man saw it as a hurdle to overcome, to scale with all his might, gathering his will and courage. He cast a brief glance at his guardian, who gave him a small smile, and Gohan decided to knock on the door, ready to face this challenge and emerge victorious.
"Come in!" exclaimed a relatively calm and composed voice from inside.
Gohan nodded and opened the door, entering the inspector's office. The room was simple and plain, with obviously a wooden desk and a computer, a chest of drawers on the side, and some small paintings and drawings on the walls. He felt almost welcomed into a small home, and the smell of cookies enhanced this impression.
Tsukauchi, sitting simply at his desk, put his computer to sleep and examined the duo who had just entered his office. Eraserhead was as usual, although he seemed even more serious than during his patrols, probably because he was accompanying his adoptive son... The young Gohan, for his part, was exactly as All Might had described, a young man with an imposing physique and a gaze that showed a certain seriousness, an increased attention to every unusual detail.
What shocked the inspector the most was the long, very recent scar running across the face of the half-Saiyan... it was a wound that was immediately visible and contrasted with the young age of its owner. With just one look, Naomasa knew he was dealing with someone different, extraordinary, this young man was not just a simple adolescent in training at UA...
The man smiled at them and gestured towards the two chairs in front of him. "Please, have a seat. Would you like something to drink? Coffee, tea, water?"
Aizawa and Son sat down, and a heavy atmosphere settled in, oppressive, suffocating. "No, thank you."
"Alright, that's fine then. I just want to ask you some questions about what happened at USJ," the detective said calmly, taking a notebook and his black fountain pen. "Gohan, can you, please, tell me how the attack started from your point of view?"
Gohan thought for a moment and answered. "While Thirteen was finishing her speech, I sensed a multitude of energies appear in the middle of USJ. I quickly understood that these were villains... then a much more powerful energy appeared. It was Cell. He attacked us quickly and was too fast for me to react. I was scared; I thought he was dead."
Tsukauchi took as many notes as he could, Gohan's classmates had told him essentially the same thing, but the young man was the only one to know this villain before the attack, and according to the students present on site, Cell mainly wanted the Saiyan.
"Excuse me for interrupting, but I'd like you to tell me more about Cell. Who was he, where did he come from, and how did you know each other?"
A crushing silence filled the room, and no one dared to move, Gohan's eyes brimming with infinite sadness, and the inspector almost lost himself in them. Such a look at such a young age, what had he endured to be so physically and mentally marked?
"I faced Cell five years ago. He wanted to kill my family and test his strength against my father, so he challenged us. My father fought Cell but lost, and he let me take over. I then fought Cell and thought I had killed him. I believed I had killed him, but he miraculously survived, telling me he had been trapped in the glaciers for months until an old man in a mask and his doctor freed him. He told me he had made a pact, an alliance with this group of villains… I think that's how he obtained his new powers."
Tsukauchi's blood ran cold and his fingers began to tremble, horror coursing through his body. "An old man in a mask and new powers?" He asked again, seeking confirmation. He knew the young man was telling the truth, but he needed to hear it one more time, as if his Quirk wasn't enough...
Gohan stared at the inspector and realized something was wrong, the man's fingers were trembling and his eyes were filled with shock. As he had suspected, the villains with whom Cell had allied could only be very powerful villains…
"Yes, he talked about an old man in a mask and a doctor." He confirmed, analyzing the policeman's behavior.
The inspector quickly noted the boy's response, but he could never forget such information, for if what he was thinking was true, then All For One was surely still alive… and with All Might injured, and no hero capable of confronting the King of Evil…
Naomasa swallowed hard and focused on what Gohan was saying, he couldn't miss out on his interrogation… especially if all his theories could prove true. "Alright... Could you tell me about your fight with Cell now? Go into details, please, every piece of information could help us better understand what happened."
Goku's son took a deep breath and did his best to calm himself and gather his courage. So far, so good, and there was no reason for that to change.
"Then, Cell tried to kill Mr. Aizawa but I managed to prevent it by shielding him with my body. He then called another villain named Shigaraki, and another black portal, the same one that allowed the villains to enter USJ, made everyone disappear, except for Cell, Mr. Aizawa, and me… then, we fought in the air, and Cell revealed that he had several new powers. The first allowed him to predict my attacks, and the second allowed him to steal the life energy of the people he touches."
Tsukauchi froze again, there was no longer any doubt, if this monster indeed had several powers, then All For One was behind this villains' alliance. The situation was dire…
"Alright… your classmates told me, Hado and Amajiki, that you and Cell continued your fight until Miss Hado intervened and was injured during the confrontation. Amajiki told me he took her to safety and administered first aid. Togata told me you confronted Cell in a final assault and eliminated him. Do you have anything to add?"
Gohan paused for a few seconds before responding. "No, I had to kill Cell. If I hadn't done it, his attack would have killed us all."
Naomasa nodded, understanding the young man's situation and the choice he had to make. "I'm sorry that a young man your age had to face such a villain. I understand the necessity of killing Cell, and you should know that since it was in self-defense, you are not at risk. However… killing is one of the hero's prohibitions, never forget that."
Gohan replied with a serious look, he knew perfectly well that a hero should never kill, but in the case of Cell, it had to be done, if only because the threat was too significant. During his hero activities, he always stopped villains because Gohan hated to kill, but sometimes, in cases like Cell or Frieza, when the lives of hundreds of millions of individuals are at stake, sometimes the decision to eliminate the villain must be made.
"I know," said Gohan calmly, but as surprising as it may seem, he had no remorse, killing Cell was his duty and the right thing to do. Every life is precious and deserves a second chance, that's what Goku taught him, and he would never forget it.
Tsukauchi was surprised by Gohan's gaze, although he had his ideas about who this young man really was, seeing such serenity, such seriousness on such a young face, could only testify to an extraordinary life.
The man sighed and nodded, it was time to release this young man, he had obtained the information he needed about the USJ attack, but perhaps he would be called to meet Gohan again in the near future…
Finishing his note, the inspector closed his notebook. "We've dealt with the main issue today. Gohan, I thank you for your availability and seriousness, your testimony will help us a lot. I hope we will see each other soon."
The young Saiyan nodded and waited for Tsukauchi to signal him to stand up. Once the inspector did, he stood up without delay, eager to go home and not think about this dark affair anymore. Aizawa placed a hand on his shoulder and gave him a comforting smile, giving some energy back to his tired body.
"You're welcome."
"I thank you both for your cooperation, and I wish you a good day," said the inspector calmly before opening the door for them, aware that the two did not want to spend more time discussing with him.
They all shook hands, and then the duo left, heading home, while Naomasa returned to his desk chair, dozens of hypotheses occupying his keen mind... One thing was for sure, whoever this Gohan was, he was out of the ordinary, a serious, kind, but especially powerful young man...
Tsukauchi sat down and placed his hand on his forehead, thinking. He grabbed his phone a few minutes later and called Miruko.
The heroine answered only after several rings, growling at whoever dared to call her during her rest hours. "Who is it?!"
"Here Naomasa. Miruko, how would you feel about attending the UA Sports Festival in a month?"
He heard a brief sigh of fatigue. "Why should I watch that? It's just kids participating in trials and fighting each other. Meanwhile, I could be working, and I don't need an intern, I prefer to work alone."
"I know that, but if I'm asking you to go, it's for the investigation. I've interviewed Son Gohan, and I'd like you to observe him during the tournament. I think we have our man, and I'll be there too to see his power with my own eyes."
The woman paused briefly before responding. "I'll go. This kid had better be what we think he is, Naomasa, because I hate this kind of weak competition. If that's all, I'm going to hang up."
The inspector smiled, alone in his office. "That's perfect. See you soon." He declared before ending the conversation.
Grabbing his notebook full of notes, he began to write as fast as his wrist allowed...
Toriyama Boulevard, just after 1 p.m.
Mirio, Tamaki, and Nejire had been walking around town for a little over an hour, the trio having met up to buy a video game "Heroes Fighting V". This game was the latest in a very popular series in Japan, and the whole group of friends was eager to play it and train to win as many matches as possible.
"I'm so happy to have the game!" exclaimed Nejire as the group continued to walk along the boulevard.
"I'm sure I'll manage to beat Gohan this time!" Mirio said, clapping his hands, a big smile on his face.
Amajiki, for his part, was slightly behind, his face thoughtful. "I know you want to surprise Gohan, but maybe he wants to be alone for a while..."
Surprising everyone, Togata nodded. "That's possible, he must feel bad that we were involved in the fight... but we can't let him think that! We're his friends, no matter the adversity!"
"Exactly!" Hado then exclaimed, raising her hand to the sky. Since the battle at USJ, she had been able to have several sessions with Recovery Girl, and as a result, she was feeling much better, although she still suffered from rib pain.
Tamaki watched his two cheerful companions smile and be positive, and he wanted to be as certain as they were, but unlike the other two, he knew Gohan could feel a lot of guilt, and he wasn't sure if it was right to go see him now. However, Mirio was always right, so he would follow his opinion.
Nejire gave him a gentle smile, which was her secret, and Tamaki ended up completely yielding, despite his fears, he wanted to go too...
As they continued their way towards the neighborhood where they lived, Hado looked at the game box they had specially purchased for today.
She had looked forward to this day, when they would all be together and have fun in a good atmosphere, but she had never imagined that they would end up having to face Gohan's remorse and doubts.
Without even seeing him, she knew he must be blaming himself because they all participated in the fight, and she got injured. She knew him well; he was too kind for his own good, always doing his best to make them happy, because she knew, she knew he had experienced horrible things.
She had known this for a long time; it was enough just to catch his sweet-melancholic gaze when he thought about or briefly mentioned his past, tinged with sad pride. Nejire had always suspected that he had been through complicated times, like by instinct, she only needed one look and one exchange to understand that he was different from them, from their society.
Until the USJ, she only knew what she had been able to guess, but how could she forget Cell's words, his venomous speech. "Oh, are you sure? I'll kill her, and kill everyone you love, just like I killed your father!"
Hado sighed, and her eyes were filled with sadness, those words had been looping in her mind for days, impossible to think of anything else. Now that she knew, everything became clearer, Gohan's sadness, his doubts, his hesitations, his determination to keep them close to him.
She remembered perfectly when she had helped him create his hero costume, without fully understanding it... she had just followed her instinct, wanting to see him smile, happy.
In her eyes, he had always been a hero, his reassuring physique, his soothing smiles, and his innate kindness, but also his seriousness and determination. She loved him for that, and she was fully aware of it, he was the kind of amazing man, who shone brightly, whom it was impossible to look away from without losing all bearings.
Nejire couldn't blame him; she had been injured by her own fault because she had fought against a villain far beyond her power, but she had fought for what she considered right. Gohan shouldn't harbor any regrets, and she would make that clear to him when she arrived at his place with the video game.
With Mirio and Tamaki, they would surely have a good time!
Determined, she quickened her pace, forcing Mirio and Tamaki to run after her, in a scene that was most joyful and typical of recent days.
The group arrived at Gohan's place about fifteen minutes later, Nejire holding the game preciously, as if it were a unique and miracle-making copy. She turned to notice that Mirio and Tamaki had just caught up with her.
"You're too fast..." Amajiki murmured, not really in the mood to run.
Togata patted his friend's back and laughed. "A good run never hurts!"
"Here we go!" Hado exclaimed as she knocked on the door, feeling a slight apprehension.
It took a good ten seconds before the door opened, revealing a very tired-looking Aizawa. He gave them his usual cold glance, which warmed slightly when he realized they were his son's friends.
"You're disturbing my nap," the taciturn man simply said, letting them in.
"Sorry!" the group exclaimed in unison, waking the sleeper even more, who grunted and pointed up the stairs.
"He's in his room. Don't make too much noise."
The three nodded, taking in the information. Unfortunately for the poor man, sleep would only return once they had left his house. The group quickly headed to the room, while Shota watched them with a slight, satisfied smile, knowing they would likely lift the boy's spirits.
So much for his nap...
Mirio stared at the door for a few seconds, his two friends wondering what he was up to, but they instinctively knew. The blonde turned swiftly to them and smiled before just poking his head through the door, using his power.
Gohan was holding a book, staring at the words without truly reading them, lost in thought... He was so deep in reflection that he hadn't thought to scan the energies present in his house, or even to turn down his music.
That's why he froze in horror when he saw his best friend's embedded face, staring at him for several seconds before realizing it was one of Mirio's ridiculous jokes. He calmed down and got up, walking slowly to the door, his hand hesitating on the knob.
He could also sense Nejire and Tamaki's energy... As much as he felt still confident enough to face Mirio and Tamaki, he trembled at the thought of seeing Hado's beautiful face so soon after the battle.
He inhaled and swung the door open in one motion, knowing he had to face it, and he shouldn't run from problems. Piccolo had taught him to act with courage and wisdom, and he would not betray those teachings.
The half-Saiyan smiled gently, happy to see them despite his regrets. Mirio and Tamaki smiled back, and that reassured him enough to finally look at Nejire.
It was the sparkle in her eyes, a stained glass of her pure emotions, that greeted him, and he could only read joy in them, the warmth emanating from her reignited the flickering flame inside Gohan. Any doubts or apprehensions he felt subtly evaporated, leaving only the desire to see her, to hear her soft voice, her melodic laughter.
The young woman's smile was mesmerizing, almost blinding, making the hallway behind her seem to disappear. That beautiful moment out of time, he returned to the present, no longer knowing how to describe what he felt.
"Hi…" He finally managed to say, gathering all his concentration to let the words leave his mouth.
"Hi!" She replied, still as full of positive energy. She looked at him for a few more moments, her gaze lingering on the long scar now on his face. "Wow, it suits you!"
The young man didn't fully grasp the meaning of these words, looking down at his casual clothes, before he followed her gaze. She was talking about the scar…
He didn't like this wound, just like the one on his shoulder, marks of his brutal and bloody past that he preferred to forget. However, she had the charm to make him doubt this subject, after all, a warrior should be proud of his scars, right?
"Oh, thank you." He said, a bit embarrassed, before turning to his other two friends, who were waiting a bit behind. "Come in, come in."
After these words, the group entered the young man's room. Objectively, it was clean, but for the semi-hygienic maniac that Goku's son was, he felt ashamed when a poor garment was lying on the floor.
The others didn't care much, and they settled in as usual. Nejire immediately headed towards the TV and the console, the game in hand. "Look what we brought!" She exclaimed, brandishing the game, almost forgotten. "It's Heroes Fighting V! The special edition with Miruko and Ingenium as additional content!"
"Wow!" He immediately exclaimed, a big smile on his face. He had completely forgotten that the game was released today… and that they had planned to play it. Interestingly, Gohan was ranked in the top 100 players of the previous edition, in online rankings.
"Yep!" Said Mirio, sitting in the armchair, a mischievous smile. "We went to buy it a little earlier! Don't think you can escape your certain defeat!"
The Saiyan raised an eyebrow, thoughtful. "I don't doubt it! But… we're all going to lose against Tamaki, you know that, right?"
Amajiki, who had sat on the desk chair, widened his eyes in horror, even within his close circle of friends, he didn't like being the center of attention. Especially since he was only ranked 12th worldwide in the previous edition…
"No… that's not true!"
Hado laughed at the scene, with Gohan and Mirio joining in, knowing full well that the brunette was unbeatable at fighting games. The next hour passed in a blur, each trying different characters for this new game, but they were mostly disappointed and stuck with their old main characters.
Gohan played Present Mic, Mirio preferred All Might, of course, Tamaki used Best Jeanist, and Nejire tried to play Miruko.
In short, they peacefully enjoyed themselves for an hour, as if the events at USJ had never happened. They pretended it had never occurred, but Gohan could sense their doubts, their questions they dared not ask.
He knew they wanted to know, but they didn't ask because they respected his wish to keep it secret, they understood to some extent that his past was not happy, and they did not push to satisfy their curiosity.
They were really great friends... to protect him so much from himself, from his own fears, for so many years. They trusted him, and he, in return, only partially reciprocated that unwavering trust.
Was it fair to them not to speak, not to reveal who he truly was? Probably not, and he knew it, the only reason he didn't speak up was the fear of rejection, that they would choose to no longer be friends.
Afraid of losing this connection that was so precious to him, yet he felt bad for not saying anything, he had always told himself that one day, maybe he would tell them. Had that day finally come?
As they finished a fight, with Tamaki emerging as the grand victor, he put down his controller and delved even deeper into his thoughts. The others seemed to notice that he had become somewhat disinterested in the game, attributing it to his loss.
Two more hours passed, more slowly this time, with Mirio chaining victories with his All Might, which Nejire supposed was too unbalanced in the game, while Tamaki lost confidence in his abilities.
Gohan remained strangely silent, he who was usually a good sport, and this began to seriously intrigue his friends. He simply gave them a small smile, and they resumed the game.
Another couple of hours passed, where they switched to a racing game, and had a bit more fun.
Gohan watched them play without trying to win, then after the sixth race, he put his controller on the table, drawing everyone's attention.
He had made his decision. He was going to speak up. Ever since he confided in Aizawa, he had started to feel even more remorse than before because his tutor had accepted his past, so why not his close friends? He knew they would most likely have no problem with his past, but he had to firmly fight his fears and apprehensions.
"Hey, guys… I'd like to talk."
"You want to talk to us?" asked Togata, showing a bit of surprise, which the other two immediately mirrored.
A sort of overwhelming pressure soon filled the air as the Saiyan gathered his words, the last rays of the sun fading behind him. "Yes. I haven't talked much about my past life before arriving in Tokyo because I preferred to keep it to myself. But I know you all have questions, for a while now, and I never really answered. It's not fair to you to hide who I am."
"You don't have to..." Tamaki said weakly, who, despite natural curiosity, didn't want to force his friend to reveal more of his past life if he didn't want to.
Mirio remained silent, solemnly nodding his head. If Gohan was ready to talk, then he would listen. Nejire, on the other hand, didn't take her eyes off the Saiyan, attentive. She knew a bit more than the others because of the fight against Cell, but she wanted to know more.
"I think I owe it to you to talk about it. We've been friends for years now, and since I lost my family, you've always been there for me. I don't think I can continue to hide the truth from you, not after what happened at USJ."
A brief silence followed as Gohan took a breath. "To start... I'm not from here."
"Not from here?" Hado exclaimed, not really understanding the meaning of the word. "Not from Japan?"
Goku's son looked her in the eyes and drew courage from her gaze to make his revelation. "No, not from this world... I come from another dimension."
Everyone was stunned by such a declaration, and they stared at Gohan as if he were making a bad joke. How could such a thing be possible? Yet, the serious look in their friend's eyes and the absence of a smile confirmed it wasn't a joke.
"I don't understand… how?" Amajiki ventured to ask, still in shock, unable to believe it, but he trusted Gohan, and he knew his friend wasn't crazy.
Nejire and Mirio were absolutely thunderstruck by surprise, a multitude of questions bombarding their curious minds. Togata had always known his friend was incredibly powerful and different from him, but hearing him say he came from another dimension... that was quite unbelievable.
"It's complicated to explain... the world I come from is completely different, most people don't have powers, only ki, which I use, is the universal power for everyone who masters martial arts. But, five years ago, I faced Cell, and during the fight, a strange hole swallowed me up and released me here, in this world. I still don't understand how or why I'm here... but I've accepted it."
"As incredible as it may seem, that explains a lot in the end," declared a strangely calm Mirio. The reality was that he had slightly suspected such a possibility but always dismissed it, thinking it was almost impossible.
"Maybe... but I still can't believe it..." Tamaki breathed out, astonished by such a revelation. If Gohan was telling the truth, then parallel dimensions existed. This overturned his view of the world!
Nejire, equally surprised and shocked as Tamaki, still managed to take a step back on this information. It explained so much about his personality and the trials he had to go through, he was delivered alone to a new world, a new society, just after losing his family...
"It's incredible, but I believe you!" she exclaimed, not taking her eyes off him.
Gohan heaved a sigh of relief, his friends had accepted the idea that he might come from another dimension, however inconceivable it might seem. He was happy to see that they seemed to take the news quite well, Tamaki was shocked, yes, but he knew it was the truth.
"Thank you, friends! I was afraid to talk to you, I was afraid you would think I'm crazy... I'm so glad," he said, smiling, although small discreet tears appeared at the corners of his eyes.
"You're our friend, Gohan, we'll always be there for you!" said Mirio, placing his hand on his best friend's shoulder, his radiant smile.
Tamaki nodded, as did Nejire, his three close friends understood and supported him, now they knew the truth about his past, at least a significant part of his being. He would surely share the rest one day soon, but for now, relief was the predominant feeling.
Holding back his tears of joy and relief, he smiled at his friends, realizing he was not alone and had never truly been.
The four aspiring heroes then resumed their gaming afternoon in high spirits, each one clearly more relaxed and happy to see that everything would be alright. Warm laughter and cries of frustration from a losing Mirio set the rhythm for the late afternoon.
Meanwhile, downstairs, Aizawa couldn't have his traditional, almost legendary, Sunday nap. Poor man… it was either Emi, Hizashi, or Gohan's friends who came to snatch away his precious dream.
Tomorrow will certainly be a long day, the man thought as he heard Mirio complaining from the living room. The sports festival is coming...
To be continued…