Review answer :

X3Runner : Yes, vaguely. You can look at the cover image of the fic, it's Gohan's costume seen from the back. Regarding Miruko, indeed they will have a quite unique master and student relationship, due to their different characters and Gohan's power. To give you an idea, Miruko and Gohan won't talk directly for the first time until chapter 16, but Miruko and Inspector Naomasa are characters who will return regularly in the story. I thank you again for your reading and I hope you will also like this new chapter!

Civen 434 : I understand your perspective on a hypothetical nerf for Gohan. It's a particularly difficult question to answer when writing a story because if I nerf him so that he gets a challenge -from the other characters in his class and from MHA in general-, it would be very difficult to do it correctly, and I doubt it would be interesting. Instead of nerfing him, I've decided that Gohan will hold back when facing his classmates, and when facing more serious threats, he will fight at full strength. Regarding Super Saiyan 2, theoretically yes, he could destroy a solar system, but well, we haven't seen that in the DBZ manga yet. So no, I assume that Gohan, if transformed, would not destroy the solar system haha. Thank you for your reading and your comment, and I look forward to hearing your thoughts. Happy reading!

Chapter 8 – Titans' clash : Gohan versus Mirio

2 years earlier

As the infernal heat of summer descended upon Tokyo, two teenagers trained in a nearby forest until their bodies collapsed from exhaustion.

The forest was densely populated, with magnificent and gigantic trees dotting the grand landscape. The forest was fifty kilometers from the capital, and few dared to disturb the tranquility of this place.

The Zeitaku forest, also described as the sumptuous forest of a thousand trees... a famous training ground for professional heroes. Legend has it that when superpowers appeared, this place, formerly a rocky wasteland, transformed overnight into this sublime location, unmatched in beauty.

It was here that Son Gohan and his best friend Mirio Togata, accompanied by Aizawa Shota, who would ensure the young people's safety, decided to train. They had been training intensely there for six days already, aiming to break the limits of their bodies...

Son Gohan forced his body to perform a new set of push-ups, ignoring the pain. The entrance exam for UA was scheduled in two years, and Mirio had just been admitted to his tutor's class...

Despite all the power contained in his body and the will housed in his mind, he could never rest on his laurels. Gohan knew he couldn't slack off if he was to become a hero, if he was to embrace the destiny of the planet's protector. It was his duty towards his father and all the people he cherished, to grow into a great and powerful protector, saving the innocent and stopping murderous monsters...

Gohan had dreams and hopes, and he would do everything in his power to achieve them. He wanted to become a hero not only for his family but to protect the people he cherished in this new world.

Aizawa Shota was the first hero the young half-breed had met, and the man had been wonderful to him, saving him from the shadows lurking just after his arrival.

Mirio and Tamaki... They were his friends, people he loved because they shared the same vision of the world and had the same goal, to maintain peace in the world. Gohan had promised Mirio that they would both become professional heroes and form an impressive duo!

Gohan turned his head to his left and met the gaze of his best friend, trembling under the effort. "Are you okay, Mirio?"

The blond finished his set of push-ups, following Son's training regimen, then collapsed to the ground. "I'm exhausted," he gasped between breaths of fresh air, then after about thirty seconds, he got up and continued doing push-ups. "But I can't let myself go, I need to be strong to protect people! And then... I have to catch up to you!"

Mirio's determination and his burning desire to become a great hero were admirable, a true symbol of perseverance because despite all his difficulties, the blond never ceased to break the limits to which his body was subjected.

As he watched him perform a new set of physical exercises, Gohan remembered all the efforts his best friend had to make to progress. While other children his age were playing video games or watching series, Mirio was training with Gohan.

Until he could no longer continue training, then he would come back the next day, asking for even more intense training, because he did not want to stagnate.

"A hero never gives up, he goes through all the trials facing him, no matter how long it takes. Gohan, train me, and let's become together the two greatest heroes that ever existed!"

Son remembered this phrase that Mirio had uttered on the first day of their training, the sparkle in his eyes, the hope shining from his being... That day, Gohan made a solemn promise that he would train Togata, and together, they would form a great duo.

Gohan, reinvigorated after a short break, resumed his training, got up, and began to perfect his fighting style, aiming for a technique that was flawless.

Aizawa, who was observing the scene from a distance, came back to the two young men with bottles of ice-cold water. The young teacher was proud of the efforts shown but also took the opportunity to observe more closely the fighting style of his adoptive son and his skills as a trainer.

"Here." He simply said as he tossed them the bottles.

Mirio, who had just gotten up, staggered backward and tried to catch the bottle, which slipped from his hands, but fortunately, he managed to catch it immediately. The blond burst out laughing, while Gohan took a sip. "You caught me by surprise, Professor!"

Son gritted his teeth. "I've already told you, you always need to be aware of your surroundings!"

It was a precious lesson taught to him by Piccolo when he had been left alone in the desert at the age of five. As harsh as it might have been, that year had brought him wisdom beyond his young age... and it was priceless.

Mirio grimaced but nodded his head, he was learning slowly but surely. "Yes, you're right. I'll be more careful next time."

Then, the two young men resumed their training until the sun went down. Both were tired, Gohan was sweating but used to these relentless workouts, Mirio, on the other hand, was barely standing.

It was the perfect time for a match...

Turning to his friend, Gohan smiled softly. He met his gaze, exhausted but filled with strong determination, and they shared a brief laugh. They both knew what was coming, what had been happening every evening for the past six days.

"It's time for the match!" Mirio exclaimed, striking an All Might pose, a huge smile on his face, shining despite the fatigue. "I won't lose again!"

Gohan smiled, stepped back, leaned in, and prepared for combat. Mirio quickly mimicked a stance Son had taught him, while Aizawa watched with a small smirk…

Back to the present.

Gohan walked through the immense entrance door, accompanied by all his teammates, immersed in his memories. That particular moment had resurfaced, he wasn't quite sure why, perhaps because it was such a routine yet unique instance from their training sessions?

He still remembered that training match; it was a sweet memory, like all the days he had pushed himself as much as possible to improve. Gohan had rarely transformed into a Super Saiyan since living in this world, only when he was far from civilization, to enjoy more... Spartan training sessions.

The training in the forest with Mirio was an interesting example, as the two young men were able to use the environment to try various angles of attack. Over the four years they had perfected their skills, they had visited several places.

Every year, the two young aspiring heroes went to special, unique training locations, accompanied by Aizawa, who kept an eye on them and ensured their safety. Of course, Gohan was very careful about his friend's safety but did not hesitate to give him a lesson when necessary, so he wouldn't get hurt when facing a villain.

Someone decided to break the Saiyan's solitude. It was Yaoyorozu Momo, who seemed thoughtful, probably preparing for the plan they had been given earlier. She caught the attention of the entire group. "Okay everyone, we are going to follow Son's plan. As planned, he will serve as a distraction, while the retrieval group gets the hostage, who they will hand off to the escape group, while the cover group ensures they can reach the city's entrance. Is everyone clear about their role and the plan?"

Everyone nodded, in agreement with the plan, though some seemed more hesitant. Ojiro then spoke up. "Are you sure you can hold him off long enough, Son? I know you two have known each other for a long time, but All Might said..." He began before being swiftly interrupted by Goku's son.

"Don't worry, if everything goes according to plan, you won't have to fight. Togata is extremely talented, but I can win. I'm counting on you to secure the hostage so that I can focus entirely on the fight."

The plan was simple, and as Yaoyorozu had explained, everyone had their part to play. Gohan wondered if he was too central to the plan, potentially hindering his teammates' learning, but Mirio would likely pursue the escape team to retrieve the fake hostage eventually.

His teammates would certainly face Lemillion in due time. The half-Saiyan sighed and glanced at all his teammates; he could see in their eyes that the defeat of Bakugo, Midoriya, and the others was still on their minds. They were undoubtedly aware of the chasm separating them from UA's Big Three.

Everyone advanced towards the bank and stopped less than a hundred meters away, waiting for the signal to start the exercise. They looked at each other, stomping impatiently, and perhaps a bit apprehensive, then they nodded, ready for the exercise...

"End of preparation time, start of the second confrontation!"

Gohan scanned his immediate surroundings; the fake bank was located in a shopping district, so several buildings surrounded the battle site. A large road crossed the landscape, which could prove convenient if his teammates had the chance to escape without worry. However, they could also flee by taking the dark alleys... it would be longer but more discreet.

Having fully visualized the surroundings, he crossed the road to reach the bank. The building was quite large, but fortunately, there was no second floor or basement if All Might's plan was accurate.

Taking a deep breath, Son pushed the door and entered without delay. He could feel Mirio's energy waiting further inside the building... Goku's son quickly crossed the reception but scanned the room with his eyes to have a visual reference if the fight reached this area.

"Mirio!" Gohan called out as he reached the break room, the employees' area. The room was small and confined, with sofas, a television, and bookcases taking up all the space. It was bothersome; enclosed spaces were much more challenging to manage than large open areas.

"Oh... a hero alone..." Mirio's voice declared with a mockingly disdainful air, as he sat on a couch, the fake hostage sitting on a nearby armchair. "Well, if they had given me the ransom, everything would have been much simpler. Your fate will end here, by my hand! Mwahaha, how evil I am!"

Gohan raised an eyebrow, intrigued, then smiled. His friend enjoyed playing roles, even if he wasn't very good at it... that's why he was rejected from the drama class in middle school. "Hand over the hostage here and now!"

Togata laughed and suddenly disappeared, as if he had sunk into the floor, his energy source completely vanishing, preventing the Saiyan from guessing his position. Mirio's superhuman speed was not to be taken lightly, even for an experienced fighter like Son, and an unpleasant surprise had occurred more than once during their training.

Suddenly, the blond burst out of the ground and sliced the air with his fist. Reacting with instinct, Gohan leaped backward, landing in the large central room, with Togata chasing after him. The Saiyan grimaced, realizing he couldn't use his ki without risking destroying the building and thus harming the hostage.

Mirio entered the room a few seconds after him, and then the two young men locked eyes before smiling. Gohan raised his guard, similar to his father's, while Lemillion mirrored his movements as if he were the other side of the mirror.

Then the real fight began. Mirio lunged at Gohan, attempting a powerful horizontal kick at chest level. Son ducked, dodging the attack, and then leaped back, trying to get as far away as possible.

In close combat, Gohan could certainly take a hit, and all of Mirio's blows were dangerous, no matter how high his ki was. Lemillion's great advantage was that he could bypass the guard of any of his opponents and thus deliver a critical blow...

However, the mixed-blood Saiyan's speed, strength, and reflexes were far superior to his opponent's, allowing him to attempt mid-range attacks, which were very effective. If Mirio hid underground and tried to catch him off guard by attacking from blind spots, Son just needed to ensure he had the terrain to his advantage.

If Gohan managed to drive his friend outside the building, he could then unleash as many ki blasts as he wanted without risking the destruction of the bank. Moreover, his teammates could take the opportunity to rescue the hostage and secure them while Gohan kept him at bay.

The young man sighed, turned around, and headed towards the entrance of the building, running at such speed that it would be impossible for any normal person to even catch a glimpse of him. Except Togata, who followed him with his eyes effortlessly and launched himself in his direction, propelling himself through the ground.

"Where are you going, hero?! Abandoning the hostage? Come and face me like a man, or do you only know how to dodge and run away?" he mocked, ending with a villainous laugh worthy of the greatest cinema villains. He was perhaps taking his role a bit too seriously...

Gohan suppressed a laugh and focused. His teammates were ready to enter the building and rescue the hostage... he could feel their energies brimming with vitality, just waiting to act.

Son stopped at the doorstep, turned around, fixed his gaze on his opponent, then smiled. They were almost outside; he just needed to push Mirio to leave the building... "Your speed has improved since the last time..." the young man began while charging a small ki sphere, weak enough not to destroy anything.

Togata smiled, proud of himself, though he internally suspected a sneaky move. "Thank you… it's been several weeks since we've trained together, after all..." He replied while keeping an eye on his opponent, and fortunately for him, he noticed a faint glow coming from his friend's back...

Knowing well what would happen to him if he didn't move immediately, he prepared to disappear into the ground the moment the attack came towards him.

Gohan then suddenly projected the energy ball towards the ground, perfectly dosing the power of his attack, and then the sphere exploded on contact with the floor, producing a thick black smoke throughout the room. The Saiyan smiled, the building shook for a brief moment, but it held, and his plan could finally unfold.

An alarm sounded throughout the bank, probably the smoke detectors… Water started to pour down, threatening to dissipate the smoke. Gohan grimaced, he couldn't afford to waste time, not for himself, nor for his allies!

"Now!" He shouted as loudly as possible so his teammates could retrieve the hostage and get out of there. A sigh of relief left his lips when he felt their energies heading towards the break room.

Mirio emerged from the bowels of the earth, unaware of the havoc caused by the energy ball. As soon as he surfaced, the smoke stung his eyes and burned his lungs, he couldn't stay longer in this room! Thinking fast about the distance separating him from Gohan and his hostage, he finally understood the maneuver performed by his friend, and a tired smile crept onto his face. He had been thoroughly outplayed…

Behind him, Gohan emerged from behind the smoke, dissipating it as the palm of his hand came to rest just in front of his chest. Their eyes met for a millisecond, but that was enough to convey what was coming.

That look, Mirio had seen it several times before, it was the one that said "I'm taking the upper hand"... and it was too late to react, to activate his power and flee, he was trapped!

"Aaaaaah!" Gohan screamed as a powerful kiai took command of the duel, propelling Lemillion out of the building, under the force of the shock wave. He went through a window, obtaining some shards of glass tearing his hero costume, and consequently, his skin.

Mirio managed to activate his power, preventing his body from taking more damage than necessary, then he quickly deactivated it, rising to the surface. He could finally notice his surroundings, and he sighed in frustration, now in a tricky situation… The attack had propelled him to the middle of the large road, far from his hostage, whom he could no longer protect and watch over as well as if he were inside the bank.

Gohan's teammates were certainly waiting for this exact moment to retrieve the hostage and flee as far as possible with them, allowing Son to fight without restriction or fear.

Mirio noticed Gohan landing five meters from his position and took advantage of this brief respite to examine his minor injuries. A thin cut was visible at the brow, nothing deep, but enough to let a little blood flow down to his left eye, obstructing his vision.

Several cuts were scattered across his body, caused by the broken glass when he went through the window. And his costume showed some minor tears. Lemillion was perfectly capable of fighting, but he should never have let his guard down and taken that attack, a result of his still overly permissive reflexes.

Despite intense physical training and serious martial arts learning, his mastery of his Quirk was still improvable…

Gohan looked at him with a serious expression, fully focused on the fight, attentive to Mirio's next attack. Now that he had the terrain to his advantage and could unleash more of his power, Lemillion had to get serious.

"It's clever of you to have ejected me from the building; now I'm in a tough spot!" Mirio declared before smiling gently.

Son raised an eyebrow, examining his friend's wounds, and then responded. "Sorry about the cuts, I wanted to push you out the entrance door, not throw you through the window..."

"It's nothing, I should never have been caught by that, but now… it's time to fight seriously, right? Once I've defeated you, I'll retrieve the fake hostage your teammates have rescued!"

"Then let's fight..."

Gohan took two steps back, furrowed his brows, and then decided to finally increase his energy to a reasonable level. His body tensed and his muscles suddenly bulged as an immense white ki blaze surrounded him, bursting with a determination that seemed unique to him.

Son's battle cry tore through the sky as his energy rose higher and higher, threatening to bring down the nearby houses. Under the weight of the released pressure, the road cracked, mimicking the shape of a crevasse, snaking for a hundred meters while Mirio gasped in surprise…

The incredible scene continued for a good ten seconds, as the cry became more and more piercing, chilling Mirio's blood... The energy swirled, bright, incandescent, swirling, then gradually recentering until it completely surrounded Gohan's body.

Then there was silence. No one dared to speak or move in the seconds that followed, regardless of the distance. Gohan's teammates, fleeing with the fake hostages, stopped their frantic race while the spectators in the observation room admired the released power.

One thing was certain, this intense battle would only end when one of the two lay face down on the ground.

Togata, recovered and still on his feet despite the shockwave, smiled foolishly, excited by the impending fight. He had only felt this power once before, but it was truly an indescribable sensation to be face-to-face with a warrior of this caliber.

Gohan smiled at Mirio and then leaped towards him, going on the offensive, his white aura forming like a protective cape. His fist sliced through the air and headed at full speed towards Mirio's stomach, who reacted just in time to make that part of his body permeable.

Mirio's leg aimed directly at Gohan's head, but Son ducked, dodging the attack, and with a swift movement, he tried to deliver a powerful headbutt to Togata.

Lemillion just in time activated his power over his entire body, taking a moment of respite as he sought refuge underground. Tilting his body in the right direction, he allowed his body to regain its physical mass and thus emerge from the ground like an ultra-fast rocket.

Agile and swift, he sliced through the air, fist forward, attempting to deliver an uppercut where Son Gohan should logically be. He met only air! Son was waiting a bit further away, floating in the sky, with two glowing energy spheres in his palms.

Mirio's eyes widened as he realized what was coming, and he crashed to the ground as quickly as possible, ready to dodge the iridescent spheres. A droplet of sweat trickled down his forehead to his chin as all his senses went on high alert. Yet, the adrenaline flowing through him made him savor this unique moment, where he could win and show his best friend all his progress!

Gohan launched his energy balls at Mirio, who dodged them by performing consecutive backflips, each instinctive evasion corresponding to an energy sphere digging into the ground, like a meteor slicing the sky with its splendor!

Seeing his attack was futile, Gohan dove from the sky towards Mirio, foot forward like a spear. Mirio stood still, a serious look on his face, waiting for the right moment to strike...

Gohan's foot passed through his opponent and embedded itself in the ground, bending the earth in half like a mere piece of cardboard, the ground roaring under the brutality of the attack. Mirio smiled, seeing that his power had saved him from a disabling blow once again.

Seeing this as his only chance to end the fight quickly, Lemillion decided to go on the offensive, aiming for Son's only weak point. With a battle cry, he used the earth split in two as a support and lunged forward, his hand wide open, ready to grab anything.

Gohan gasped in surprise at the sudden attack and crossed his arms in defense, protecting his face, but his eyes followed Mirio's hand and he realized he had made a monumental mistake...

"I got it!" Mirio exclaimed as he gripped Gohan's tail as tightly as possible, large droplets of sweat mixing with the dried blood of his cuts. "Give up! I've won!"

"No!" Gohan said weakly as he crouched on the ground, his strength sapped after this cunning but very wise attack. He was in a terrible position, now at the mercy of his opponent's power...

Gohan's breathing became heavier, and his eyelids began to close on their own as he could no longer maintain his strength. It was at this precise moment that Gohan felt filled with pride for the progress Mirio had made in recent weeks, he had advanced so much on his own to demonstrate his power...

A small laugh escaped Gohan's mouth as a second wind swept through him, a surge of energy invigorating him, pushing him to continue the fight despite the unfavorable situation. "I won't lose!" Gohan shouted as he stood up, to Lemillion's astonishment.

He was weakened, and his vision progressively blurred until he could see nothing and passed out due to the lack of energy coursing through his body... however, he still had a bit of time to turn the tide and regain the upper hand in the battle!

His teammates hadn't yet reached the escape zone! He needed to buy time! He had to win, for them, so their efforts and their trust in him would be rewarded!

Gohan screamed and let his energy burst forth, fluctuating between white and gold, while Mirio, although shocked by the turn of events, remained upright and strong, despite the confusion. It was the battle of two great warriors!

The heat stifled Mirio's breath, feeling as if he was completely surrounded by a force compressing him. The blond began to sweat profusely, but he held on, it was his only chance to win, and he couldn't give up! He needed to maintain hope and defeat Gohan to show him the accomplished fighter he had become!

Gohan continued to unleash his energy while his eyes gradually changed color, becoming teal, and his black hair stood up like a flame. He didn't have the strength to transform into a Super Saiyan, but he could still try to make Mirio release him due to the power he was radiating!

Togata grimaced, his grip weakening as the heat and lack of oxygen made it difficult to maintain his hold. Disheartened, the young man released the Saiyan's tail, activated his Quirk, and took refuge underground.

The blond smiled first out of weariness, then finally, with determination... He would have to use his ultimate new technique to win, which he wanted to keep secret for the element of surprise... oh well!

Gohan collapsed to the ground just then, his eyes returning to their usual jet-black color, and his hair falling back into its palm tree-like shape, mimicking his father. The Saiyan gasped heavily, turning onto his back, gazing at the blue sky as he recovered.

He had to explode his energy to the heavens, and he didn't know where he had found the strength to overcome the pain... but he had finally done it. As his eyes drifted over the shapes of the clouds, his thoughts drifted too...

Mirio... he had managed to withstand the heat and the crushing pressure that followed Gohan's massive power surge. True, he hadn't managed to reach the Super Saiyan stage due to the massive debilitating pain inflicted by his tail, but there was a good chance that one day, Mirio would be able to stand on equal footing even when Gohan transformed into a Super Saiyan...

However, the fight wasn't over yet, and Goku's son became fully aware of this when Mirio emerged from the depths of the earth, breathless and with slightly burned hands, a broad smile of determination on his face, his eyes reflecting his courage.

Gohan, lying on the ground, caught Mirio's gaze and smiled in return... yes, this battle was not over yet! Drawing from his reserves, he sprang up and raised his arms in guard, as Piccolo had taught him in his childhood.

Togata laughed, clearly amused by something, then his eyes, full of courage, met Gohan's, a mirror of his unwavering determination. "You know... I've never seen you this tired before! What were you doing before I came back?!"

Gohan laughed at the silly joke. "Watching the clouds?" He tried weakly before finally focusing fully. He scanned the energies of his teammates and noticed that they were halfway to the escape point... Gohan just needed to hold Mirio off for a few more minutes.

A pleasant silence followed, then Mirio broke it, signaling the return of hostilities. "I think it's time to show you my new technique: Phantom Power!"

"Alright… I'm ready!" Gohan brought his hands together in front of him and started the most beautiful of melodies... "Ka... Me... Ha... Me..."

It was time to end this confrontation, they both thought as they gathered their strength...

Mirio ran towards Gohan before disappearing into the ground, reappearing with great speed, using the split rock pieces as a means of propulsion to gain speed until his body was almost invisible to the human eye.

Moving with great agility, combining brute strength with his formidable ability to propel himself at high speed, no one could discern the moving body at supersonic speed, leaving behind only an unrecognizable white and red blur... the sublime colors of his costume and cape.

Once he reached his peak speed, the hero propelled himself forward one last time, shouting with all his might, "Phantom Power!"

Seeing his ultra-fast opponent's silhouette coming at him, Gohan finally released his lineage's signature attack... "HAAAAAAAAAAA!"

The massive blue energy beam clashed directly with Mirio's permeable body, which plunged into the beam at extreme speed! Both heroes screamed with all their might, then Mirio made a decisive breakthrough, overcoming the phenomenal kamehameha and sending his overpowering fist crashing into Gohan's face.

The fist made direct contact with the Saiyan's nose, which was shaken by the power of such an attack amplified by the latent weakness caused by his injured tail... His entire body trembled as he felt himself falling backward, his energy flow still pouring from his hands...

Mirio, now vulnerable after his ultimate technique, was hit hard by the energy wave and sent flying about fifteen meters away, a severely damaged concrete block stopping his flight. The young man hit the concrete full force and embedded himself in it, a terrible groan of pain escaping his lips.

Gohan, for his part, was still on the ground, his vision blurred as his nose subjected him to immense wave-like pain. His Saiyan tail, still horribly bruised from the earlier strong grip, caused him to lose balance... He thought the pain would go away immediately... this Saiyan tail was certainly his greatest weakness.

As Lemillion admired the completely destroyed road, reduced to a pile of rubble and a vast crevasse, he smiled before losing consciousness. Gohan, forcing his legs to stand after the intense shock that hit his body, could only stay upright for a few seconds before falling again.

Mirio's Phantom Power wasn't just a high-speed punch; it was much more technical than that... By propelling himself repeatedly, Mirio's body gained such power that the punch caused a pulverizing shockwave upon contact, causing the entire body of the target to tremble...

Such an attack could defeat any opponent and penetrate any guard...

Son collapsed to the ground, his eyes closing, as a thought crossed his numbed mind... Mirio had unimaginable potential... and he was proud to be his friend and teammate!

Gohan too succumbed to unconsciousness, bringing an end to match two...

Infirmary, three hours later:

When Goku's son awoke, he felt incredibly heavy, his head suffering from a terrible migraine. His eyes opened, and he became aware of his surroundings, then he let out a terrible sigh, not of pain, but of panic.

He was in the infirmary, which he initially thought was a hospital, and hospitals, he hated them from the bottom of his heart, and it was one of the few things he could not stand. The omnipresent white view and the heavy chains oppressing his body and soul…

For a second, he saw himself in the hospital, four years ago, bandaged all over his body and lost… Fortunately, Son managed to calm down when he noticed his friend Togata lying in a bed close to him, and all recent memories came back to him.

It was a battle… epic, to say the least! Gohan smiled gently, ignoring the pain and sat up, getting a better view of the room. He was not alone in the room, a bit further away, he could distinguish Todoroki and Iida in beds, bandaged as well… Tamaki's match must have been very brutal to send those two to the infirmary.

Realizing he was not alone, Gohan took the opportunity to lie back down, wanting to enjoy the sweet silence to reflect on the fight he had with his best friend. Mirio wanted to prove himself, he wanted to show his value in combat… to him.

Despite years of training together, Mirio had only won a handful of times out of a good hundred confrontations. Yet, the blond had never stopped getting up and asking for another match, or a way to improve. He was persistent, determined, strong, clever, genuinely a good person, and he possessed immense talent.

Mirio Togata was like a big brother to Gohan, a role model, a model of friendship, heroism, and a model as a man. That huge smile always on his lips, no matter the situation, reminded him so much of his father's smile. The so comforting smile of Son Goku.

Perhaps that's why he had become so attached to Mirio. Honestly, Son Gohan was just happy to be so close to Mirio Togata.

This fight meant so much, but most importantly, it showed Gohan the progress his best friend and future teammate had made. It showed him the power he possessed as a hero, as a warrior.

Gohan had nothing more to teach Mirio, whether it was his fighting style or the mastery of his powers, Togata had achieved it. Sure, in terms of brute strength, Son was the most powerful man in the galaxy, but he considered Lemillion to be a formidable opponent.

During the holidays before the start to UA, Mirio had refused to train with Gohan, declaring he wanted to train alone, to test his limits by himself. Son had accepted and found himself alone and idle for weeks, as apart from some outings with his three friends, he had nothing planned for the holidays.

So Gohan had worked as a vigilante much more than in previous years. Meanwhile, Mirio had pushed his limits and created that powerful technique...

In just one month and fifteen days, his friend had created and mastered a new technique, to show him his progress... What an incredible fighter...!

"So, you finally woke up?" Togata asked, yawning, a lock of hair falling in front of his eyes... of course, his hair could no longer be as impeccable after that duel.

"Hey..." Gohan murmured, noticing his voice was hoarse. He grabbed a bottle of water near his bed and took a big gulp. "Are you okay?" He asked, worried about the possible injuries he might have caused his friend.

"I'm in top shape! I have a few small cuts, but nothing serious, just, my hands are going to hurt for a few more days, then I'll be as good as new!" Mirio exclaimed, gesticulating, showing his slightly burned hands.

The half-blooded Saiyan winced, feeling a heavy remorse, maybe he should have held back a bit more in his kamehameha? But that would have disrespected all the effort Mirio had put in, and he wanted to fight him seriously. "Sorry about your hands."

Togata smiled ear to ear, that famous smile. "Sorry about your nose! I never managed to knock you out before! Did you see my Poweeeeeeeer?!" He declared before breaking into endless laughter.

Gohan nodded and laughed along, the ultimate technique of Mirio had to include his characteristic battle cry. His Saiyan tail detached and he moved it at will, looking at it thoughtfully...

Just one grip had been enough to weaken him and completely drain his strength, to the point where he was no longer able to transform into a Super Saiyan. He was well aware of the seriousness of this fact, and he absolutely had to toughen it up, overcome the pain like the brief moment he had managed in the battle.

As soon as he returned home, he would make sure that his Saiyan tail would never cause defeat again, because if he ever met a villain powerful enough... he could lose because of it, and he couldn't forgive himself for his negligence.

Ceasing to worry, he turned his attention back to Mirio's conversation, who was narrating his intensive training in the UA gyms to create his technique. It was very interesting, until someone entered the infirmary.

The man, wearing only black, looking tired and slightly worried, emerged from his horrible orange sleeping bag. Aizawa appeared and looked at Gohan, examining every inch of his body, a glint of concern in his usually cold eyes. "You're okay." He stated, before pulling out a CD from his pocket. "I brought you this, and I think you'll find it interesting too, Togata. It's the recording of Amajiki's fight against Team 3."

Gohan reached out and took the CD, curious to watch the entire match and find out how Tamaki had fared against some of the best students in his class. No doubt it would be very interesting to watch, especially since Mirio was present.

"Ah yes, also. Hado and Amajiki should be here soon, classes end in about ten minutes… You can come to my house to watch the match all together and do a full analysis, of course."

"I'm in!" exclaimed Togata, clapping his hands together, then wincing as he remembered his burns.

Gohan nodded, very happy at the idea of seeing his close friends again and going home to have a good time watching Tamaki's match. It would surely be fun since they were all together!

Aizawa sat on a wooden chair next to his adoptive son, and the three men talked quietly for several minutes. Shota was proud of his son's fight but also very impressed by Togata's progress, which had exceeded his expectations.

The conversation was pleasant, then the infirmary's entrance door opened again, letting in two familiar people. Nejire Hado, accompanied by a worried Tamaki Amajiki, joined their two injured friends.

"Hey Gohan! Are you okay? Does your nose hurt? Do you want me to put some ice on it? Do you want a glass of water?" she launched as she scrutinized Gohan with her eyes.

The young man smiled. "I'm fine, don't worry! I don't need anything… but it's nice of you to have asked."

A brief moment passed during which Tamaki talked with Mirio, while Nejire inspected every small injury on Gohan's body. Hado found a chair nearby and sat down, tapping her foot loudly, painfully awakening Son's migraine. "Did you know how worried I was? Why did you fight so violently?! And you, Mirio! Look how you hurt his nose!"

Togata was suddenly scared by Hado's harsh and strangely severe look and raised his hands in the air as a sign of reconciliation, while Tamaki hid behind the infirmary's entrance door, worried about Hado's sudden anger. Even Aizawa was surprised but said nothing for now, only intervening if he deemed it necessary.

Gohan, with surprising courage, placed his hand on Nejire's shoulder and looked her straight in the eyes, then smiled gently, as comforting as he could. She certainly understood what the fight represented, but he noticed her concern, and he just wanted to reassure her.

"I'm really sorry for worrying you, I promise you won't have to worry about me anymore." He finally said before removing his hand from her shoulder, totally unaware of the gesture he had just made. "I swear."

He simply looked at his precious friend and made her a promise with all his sincerity, one that would calm her. He never wanted to make her feel worried again, he wanted her to be at ease and not to be afraid for him...

Nejire looked him straight in the eyes and nodded, the promise was sealed.

Gohan didn't know that in two days, this promise would already be broken, and darkness would make its appearance again, shackling his heart and his hopes for peace.

Aizawa, despite the darkness he had previously faced during his short life, could not foresee how the coming days would be a real hell for his family.

Mirio didn't know what terrible fear would cross his entire being, while Tamaki couldn't imagine what horror was brewing in the nascent shadow…

No one knew what was coming. Gohan didn't know that in two days, he would face his deepest nightmare... the most visceral and violent of them all.

To be continued...

A/N : So, did you enjoy the chapter? I hope I have accurately translated the intensity of the fight, maintaining its pace and clarity. The most important thing in an action scene, in my opinion, is to get to the essence, to describe the actions concisely and clearly, and to maintain a consistent rhythm.

I know that when this chapter was originally released, the fact that Mirio and Gohan ended their confrontation in a draw had shocked some readers. Yes, Gohan is immensely powerful, but he is not invulnerable. I think that Mirio has a truly powerful ability because he can directly touch his opponent, bypassing their defenses... So Gohan is holding back in this chapter, yes, but he is still fighting seriously. I hope the outcome of the fight doesn't seem far-fetched haha.

Anyway, the next chapter will be released on March 21 if all goes well; I can't rule out potential delays, as my personal life is very busy, but I will do my best to publish around the 21st. I thank you all for your reading; your feedback in reviews always warms my heart, so please do not hesitate to share your thoughts.