Chapter 3 : A way out

Son Gohan was fascinated by the "quirks," powers possessed by 80% of the human population. The astonishing diversity of powers opened up a new world of knowledge for him - some quirks were seemingly trivial, others flashy, and a few incredibly powerful. Inquisitive by nature, a trait he inherited from his mother, Gohan wanted to learn about all the different types of quirks.

The most remarkable were the mutant types. Some people had horns or wings, for example, astonishing the young man. In his world, most people lacked powers, and only martial artists mastered ki, but they represented a tiny fraction of the population.

Indeed, most people weren't even sure of ki's existence, thanks to that strange man, Hercules. But he wasn't here, none of the people who knew Gohan were here. A painful fact.

A few days after his hospital admission, the medical staff asked about his power, and he honestly described it, despite initial confusion. He described his power as "Energy," enabling him to fly, shoot energy beams, and enhance his physical strength. This greatly impressed everyone, who called him "lucky," which slightly hurt Gohan. He had worked hard to gain his strength and owed nothing to luck.

He was born with great potential, but had trained for life-or-death battles since his earliest years, striving to be a worthy son to his father. He had accepted this as normal. But here, in this world, no child, regardless of potential, was forced to fight to protect those in need.

They trained their quirks in schools for superheroes. To Gohan, the very idea seemed fanciful - costumed vigilantes dispensing justice to criminals sounded like a child's dream. Yet here, it was the norm, and heroes were considered great people, respectable figures, even role models for new generations.

Despite spending weeks in a boring hospital, the television proved to be a reliable source of information. He learned a lot about quirks and heroes from discussions with the doctor and Aizawa, especially during their outing two days ago.

Gohan found it wonderful that people fought for the safety of the weaker, but also somewhat ridiculous that those acting to save lives without licenses were seen as vigilantes, no better than villains. The very thought was revolting to him. Anyone doing good deserved respect and friendship, especially when fighting monsters daily.

In his world, his father and friends would have befriended anyone with a chivalrous soul. Here, apparently, one had to go through specialized schools, and while Gohan wasn't skeptical, he understood that heroes were all trained with the same rules and values. Molded the same way, and while generally a good thing, it was unfortunate that reliable and correct vigilantes were thrown into prison for doing good.

Society was so focused on heroes that such events had occurred several times during Gohan's hospital stay. However, he understood the necessity of training heroes to a universal code, but lamented discarding those who didn't fit the exact mold.

Being confined to his bed for so long, with nothing to do, Gohan had a lot of time to reflect on the society around him. Despite his young age, he had received the education of a prince. Often forgotten, he was the grandson of King Gyumao, and with his mother renouncing the throne, he would have been next in line. Although not a fan of monarchies, his grandfather was genuinely loved and respected.

Thanks to his upbringing, Gohan was more intelligent and open-minded than other preteens his age. He was pursuing university-level education at just ten years old, a few weeks before he had to fight Cell.

This proved useful in sorting out the information about this society and its model. He found this world fascinating, and its prosperous peace suggested that this societal model was a good thing, yet he had some reservations.

For now, he lived in this world, until he found a way to return home. "If there is a way," a small voice in the back of his mind would sometimes whisper, bringing up painful but brutally true phrases.

Gohan leaned out his window, watching the road traffic in the distance. Just another week and a half, and he would be released. He wasn't exactly a prisoner; he could leave easily if he wanted to, but he didn't know where to go. Piccolo had always told him to be cautious in unfamiliar environments, but not paranoid. He followed these guidelines religiously. His father would have told him to explore everything and befriend anyone deserving.

His injuries were healing well, and his meal from two days ago had given him an energy boost and helped heal his wounds. His tail whipped the air behind him, moving freely when he was alone. When in the company of others, he forced himself to wrap it around his waist like a belt, which was incredibly complicated and slightly painful if he exerted too much force.

Gohan was optimistic; today, he might be able to go out with Aizawa, his doctor had said, but he was advised to remain cautious despite his good recovery. Gohan was happy to hear this; he found Aizawa to be pleasant, albeit a bit clumsy and grumpy, yet intelligent and, although he didn't show it, kind.

The man had been intimidating at first, and Gohan had struggled to tell him his story, hiding much of the fight and its end, but he had still revealed the essentials. He had even confessed to killing Cell, yet the man didn't judge him harshly and seemed to want to befriend him.

Gohan could sense energies, and if the emotions were strong enough, he could perceive them. This was especially precise and familiar if it involved someone he had affection for. This was particularly true for his father and mother; he could perfectly understand their states of mind. However, developing this ability was complex and time-consuming. Otherwise, all he could sense was the level of power, or in this world, something akin to a threat level.

It was strange, but as people here didn't seem to have much, or any, ki, he sensed their level of aggression or threat.

Suddenly, someone knocked on the door, interrupting his thoughts. He wasn't too bothered; he constantly thought about the same subjects. Extending his senses, he scanned the surroundings and detected two nearby energies. One was Aizawa's, which he could identify more easily, having met him three times already, and another, quite energetic, which he didn't recognize.

A smile crept onto his lips; he could leave this place and meet people! He quickly headed towards the door and swung it open with such force that it almost came off its hinges. The grumpy man noticed the sudden door opening and nearly stepped back in surprise.

Gohan had once again failed to control his strength. He released the door handle, still trembling from the force. Maybe he should let others handle doors from now on? "Sorry," he said quickly, with a slight smile.

Behind Aizawa stood a man with an unusual appearance, dressed like a rock 'n' roll fan. He wore a studded black leather jacket, pants, and belt of the same color. He smiled much more than Aizawa, emanating an excitement, an ardor that was noticeable. "Hi! My name is Hizashi Yamada, and like grumpy here, I'm a pro hero, Present Mic!"

"Hello, Mr. Yamada, my name is Son Gohan."

"Polite, huh, not like you, old man," Yamada said towards his old friend, eliciting a tired sigh, typical of Aizawa.

"You two are irrational. Gohan, get dressed, we're going out."

Already aware, the young man immediately rushed into the bathroom and in less than three seconds, returned to the front door, fully dressed in the clothes Eraserhead had given him during their outing.

Aizawa's eyes widened for a moment, surprised by the speed, but what had happened at the restaurant reminded him that it was actually quite normal. "Perfect," he said, turning towards the stairs.

Hizashi, meanwhile, was still surprised by the display. His hair, magically pointing to the sky, shook in the breeze. "Oh my! Listeners, what is this speed?! What's your alter?!" he exclaimed, drawing some disapproving looks.

As they headed towards the exit, Son Gohan simply smiled, a bit embarrassed. He was so eager that he had forgotten to manage his power. Given that he was recovering strength, and due to his battle with Cell, he had benefited from a zenkai boost, the legendary ability to become stronger if a Saiyan narrowly escaped death. It was a bit more complicated for him to fully control his strength, as after all, he had never really needed to lower it to the strict minimum.

He had trained with Goku to manage the percentage of power and control his Super Saiyan form, but the buildings and people of this world were much less sturdy than his home and loved ones. He mentally noted to control himself better but refrained from mentioning it aloud.

Aizawa connected eyes with him, waiting for an answer. He already knew his "alter" from his medical file, but he had never seen it.

Gohan simply created a small energy sphere the size of a tennis ball in his hand and let them observe in silence. Shouta didn't touch the ball, but seemed curious, unlike Hizashi who attempted to touch it.

Gohan instantly made the blue sphere in his hand disappear and gave the hero a solemn look. "Don't touch it, you'll burn your hand," he warned, hoping the conversation on the topic would end. He wasn't aware of Aizawa's best friend's curiosity.

"Wow, listener! I'm curious, can you create more balls like that? Can you throw them?"

Flattered by the attention but embarrassed to be the sole topic of discussion, Gohan decided to cut the conversation about his abilities short. He would say the same thing he told the doctors. "Well, yes, a lot more. I can throw them or shape them into different forms. Energy is all over my body, so I can use it to fly, for example, or to increase my physical strength."

"Wowwwwww! Impressive! We've got a hero in the making here, haven't we, Shouta?!"

The mentioned Shouta grumbled, casting a weary look. "Yeah. Leave him alone now."

Gohan noticed the dynamic between the two: one was the silent, calm, and thoughtful type, while the other was loud and smiling. The yin and the yang. He found them amusing to watch but took advantage of the walk to analyze the hospital's surroundings, missing no details, fully aware of his environment and its risks. That was most important.

Quickly, they reached the car, dubbed the 'Aizawa-mobile' by Present Mic. Once aboard the old car, they set off to a place Gohan hadn't seen yet, a highway. Well, he had seen it before arriving in the city and thus at the hospital, as he had walked near the major road. But this was the first time he could observe the infrastructure while being fully conscious.

Aizawa and Yamada talked loudly in the front of the car, occasionally asking for his opinion but quickly deciding not to include him in the conversation when they saw him curiously observing the surroundings.

"It's beautiful," Gohan simply stated, looking at the vast fields and expanses in the distance.

Yamada turned around, raising an eyebrow, following what his young listener was pointing at. "Yeah, it's pretty nice around here," he said, pushing his sunglasses back up his nose. Soon, Yamada and Aizawa would have to move to Tokyo, further northeast, to work at UA. Maybe they would take Gohan with them. Probably, even.

Aizawa noticed how much Gohan seemed interested in nature. The other day, he had pestered him to know the names of the flowers in the hospital garden, and today, he was admiring the distant landscape. Aizawa preferred the city, and at night if possible, but he also enjoyed country getaways, though they were rare. It had a certain charm, he had to admit, being able to watch nature follow its course in peace.

"It seems you like nature," he stated calmly, keeping his eyes on the road. They still had a half-hour drive to the "extra fun" activity Hizashi had suggested.

"Of course," Gohan replied instantly, recalling the words of his friend Android 16. "It's because I love nature that I want to protect it."

"Being a hero for a good reason! But personally, I prefer the city!" said Yamada, searching for pleasant music on the radio, preferably something that matched the calm and relaxing atmosphere of the car ride.

"Oh, and why?"

Aizawa coughed and chuckled softly. "He's afraid of insects."

"Vegeta was afraid of worms… that gives him something in common with him, even though they are nothing alike," Gohan thought before bursting into laughter, remembering the day he visited the Saiyan scared by little critters while he was a great fighter…

Aizawa laughed, or as much as he could with his calm and detached character, while Hizashi shuddered at the mention of insects. He hated them with every fiber of his being and hoped never to see them again, but he knew it was inevitable. At least in the city, he didn't have to constantly deal with those creatures!

Deciding to change the subject, he turned up the radio volume and listened for a few minutes. "So, listener, what are your favorite types of music?"

Gohan stopped looking at the landscape and turned his face towards Present Mic, unsure of what to answer. He didn't often listen to music, in fact, it was extremely rare. When he was younger, he liked listening to electro and forced Piccolo to watch him dance, cutting off his meditation. But after Trunks' arrival and therefore his father's return, he spent three years intensively training and studying with his mother. They went out and had fun, of course, but he no longer had time to dance and listen to music as before.

"I don't listen to it often, but I would like to be able to do it more," he admitted, feeling a wave of nostalgia.

"Don't worry! We will listen to lots of music on the way! So..." He began, searching for a more... rhythmic radio station. "Deathcore radio. Yay!"

What followed made Aizawa grimace, but he couldn't turn off the music because he was too focused on the road. Gohan was ecstatic; he loved this music, feeling a real excitement listening to it. It was raw and unrefined, but the dynamic and sustained rhythm allowed him to quickly get into the mood.

The next twenty minutes passed in a deafening noise, where Gohan and Yamada discussed the technical details of the music without any difficulty. From what little he could hear, the boy seemed to know his stuff, despite rarely listening to music.

Finally, and to Shouta's great relief, they reached a parking lot. "Here we are! An amusement park! Super fun!" exclaimed Hizashi as he got out of the 'Aizawa-mobile.'

It had been a long time since Gohan had been on a ride, he had to admit, and he was eager to have a little fun. For now, he was pumped up by the 'metal' music of his new friend, and the idea of moving a bit was great. He doubted he would feel great thrills, but it was welcome.

"Ahaha! I knew it was a good idea to come here!" said Present Mic, turning to his best friend. "So, listeners, what shall we do first? Roller coasters? Bumper cars? Or the main attraction? The Hardcore Speed?"

Aizawa groaned, already regretting his decision. Why had he listened to his friend?! It was too late to back out now, but he had not come for himself, so he let the young Saiyan choose.

Gohan looked curious, and as they entered the Wild West-style park, he admired all the rides, not missing any details. He could hear the joyful screams of children and their parents having fun, just like when he used to have fun with his father. An image came to his mind, and he had to use all his strength not to think about it at the moment. Mr. Aizawa and Mr. Yamada had come to please him, and it would be selfish to show sadness or sorrow in front of them.

"This one," he said simply, stretching.

The two adults looked at each other, uncertain. "That's the loop! Be careful, it goes ultra-fast!" warned the blond kindly, but he didn't know how slow it seemed to the young man.

"Yeah, let's go! Mr. Aizawa, are you coming?" asked Gohan, accompanied by Yamada, while the nocturnal hero did not move from his spot. He froze at the question, and after a few seconds, he sighed and joined them.

The waiting was rather short, just about ten minutes. There weren't many people on that Thursday, so they might as well enjoy it. Moreover, the park would be crowded in just a few days, with the summer vacations approaching. Shouta noticed how easily Gohan could talk to people, easily making friends with Hizashi, but he still seemed on his guard.

If Shouta wasn't a pro hero, he would have missed many micro-expressions and small gestures from Goku's son. He observed everything he could see with a strategic eye, and he only relaxed once he was completely sure there was no danger. He glanced at the other pro heroes around, but he didn't pay them much attention. He didn't seem to trust them to ensure his safety. Aizawa said nothing but kept this information in mind.

Then it was finally their turn. They boarded the fake cart and fastened their seatbelts, also grabbing the iron bar in front of them. The fake train started slowly, but its speed quickly increased, reaching over fifty kilometers per hour in a few seconds. Then, after a short straight line, it was time for the first loop. Yamada was screaming happily, while Gohan raised his arms in the air, amused by the slow speed, as Aizawa grimaced, not enjoying his body being moved at such a speed in multiple directions.

After a series of even more violent loops, the ride ended, leaving a pallid Aizawa, even more than usual, and two happy goofballs. "Wow! That was cool!" exclaimed Present Mic. "So, ready for a second round, listener?"

Gohan turned to him, smiling, and nodded vigorously. "Yeah!"

The crazy duo headed towards another activity, leaving behind an Aizawa who needed time to recover. He sat on a free bench and grabbed his water bottle, taking a big gulp.

This outing was going well so far, and although he didn't enjoy the crowds or the attractions much, the boy he was looking after seemed to enjoy it. That was the most important thing, that he could relax and think about something else. The young man's smile was contagious, and Aizawa found himself smiling back at him a couple of times since they had gotten out of the car.

"Oh, Aizawa!" exclaimed a female voice a bit further away. "Oh no, not her!"

Unfortunately for Shouta, she had arrived before he had the chance to leave. There was no escape! He would have to face this ordeal alone... She sat down on the bench next to him, giving him a kind smile.

"Hello, Fukukado."

"Call me Emi!"

"No."

"Yes!"

Aizawa sighed, already tired of this conversation. It had been several months since he last saw her, and he was all the better for it. She normally worked on the other side of the country... what was she doing in Kyoto?

"What are you doing here?"

She looked at him, her smile never fading. "Well, you know, since I became a teacher, I've got quite a lot of holidays! So I came here to relax, and bam, I run into you! It's a sign of fate! Let's get married!"

She hadn't changed in six months, and he wasn't sure if that was a good thing. He didn't show it, but he was particularly sad when she left to teach on the other side of the country. Hizashi had shown him his dismay, and it was because of that idiot that she was convinced she would marry him one day.

"No." He whispered, watching her laugh, her long turquoise hair falling over her shoulders. She was dressed in a rather colorful outfit, compared to him who was, as usual, dressed in black from head to toe.

"But why? Let's start a home full of laughter and children!"

And there she went again with her delusions... Shouta grimaced, tired. The only thing missing now was for Hizashi and Gohan to come back; no doubt they would get along well. Too well, even.

As if fate wanted to strike him down, his best friend, accompanied by the boy, returned. "Oh, it's you, Emi! How are you?!"

"I'm in great shape! Look at all these attractions! We're going to have so much fun all together, and... who is this child?" she declared, only pausing for breath when she noticed Gohan.

The boy stepped forward, smiling gently at the woman who seemed as energetic as Present Mic. He introduced himself quickly, but she turned immediately back to the grumpy man.

"Oh... you're taking care of a child?! I didn't know that!"

Sweat began to trickle down Aizawa's temple as he stood up abruptly. There was only one thing left to do, and with a bit of luck, he could divert her attention away from him, if only for a moment.

"How about... we go on an attraction?" He found himself saying, though he had no other choice.

Emi jumped to her feet, as surprised as Yamada. "Great, I decide!" she exclaimed, surely seeking the most terrifying one for her "future husband." They walked for a few minutes, following her, until they arrived in front of an attraction that looked quite sinister. "Ahaha! The house of terror!"

Gohan raised an eyebrow, unimpressed at first, and glanced at the others to gauge their reactions. Aizawa seemed weary, Yamada was grinning stupidly, probably scheming something nefarious with a sly gleam in his eyes. As for the lady whose name he didn't know, she was grinning ear to ear, grabbing Shouta's limp arm.

"Gohan, listener! You and I will stay here, okay?"

"But why?" The young man retorted immediately, seeing no reason why he couldn't join.

"What if I bought you an ice cream, what do you say?" Present Mic said, pointing to a stand not far away, instantly winning the young friend's agreement.

"Hizashi...!" Aizawa exclaimed, feeling betrayed as Emi dragged him into the attraction. He suddenly feared being completely isolated with this woman. But he disappeared into the dark mansion amidst the sadistic laughter of his best friend.

They didn't see the two for the next fifteen minutes. Yamada ordered two XXL ice creams, his chocolate-flavored, and Gohan's cherry-flavored. Unlike Shouta, Hizashi hadn't yet seen the young man eat. In just about ten seconds, the entirety of the ice cream, including the cone, had vanished... and he seemed to have taken his time. Present Mic's glasses slipped again, and he stared, mouth agape.

"So, who is that lady, Mr. Yamada?" Son asked, wiping his lips.

"She's a longtime friend, since our graduation from high school, Shouta and I have worked with her numerous times. Our agencies were next to each other! And so... a 'friendship' developed between her and Shouta, but he doesn't want to admit it!"

Son raised an eyebrow, he didn't really think his friend liked the woman, but he could be mistaken, he was still learning about the man. "Uh... are you sure? I mean, he didn't seem happy that we left him alone with her."

"Ah! But you see, it's because he's afraid of making a mistake! You have to help me get them to spend time together today!"

Mr. Yamada's infectious TV presenter-style smile touched Gohan. The friendship between the two men was very solid, and although it wasn't his business, Hizashi was seeking his friend's happiness. Goku's son could only nod, smiling in return.

"Alright! I'm in."

Yamada was very pleased with this response and stood up to order two more ice creams, with caramel topping. "My boy, we're going to be the best of friends!"

Moved by this sudden display, the young man's smile became more genuine. He was actually having a great time, away from the hospital and his somber thoughts. "You shouldn't be having fun, you should be looking for a way back!" the little voice aggressively whispered, but he decided not to listen and enjoy the sunny afternoon instead.

After a while discussing the best attractions and how they might have been built, the joyful duo found Aizawa at the entrance of the house of terror. For the first time in his life, the man seemed to have a slight blush on his cheeks, smiling so brightly it could eclipse the sun behind him.

Yamada interrupted a passerby and asked them to take a photo of the four of them. It took a lot of scheming for the two pranksters to place Shouta next to his sweet Emi, but they finally succeeded. Hizashi gave an understanding wink to the blissful woman, and Gohan smiled at the camera. Emi wrapped her arms around Aizawa at the last moment, and he stared at the woman in disbelief.

Present Mic swore to make tons of copies and to keep one at his place, and to force his friend to have one too.

The quartet then moved towards the flagship attraction: The Hardcore Speed! A roller coaster going at 80km/h, known for its brutality, but that wasn't what worried the grumpy hero...

"And then, he jumped out of fear at the sight of the fake ghost! Ahahaha!" The heroine burst out laughing, as her two allies laughed at Aizawa's expense. "I'm sure he would have hugged me if he could!"

"That's not true." The man retorted, turning his head to look away, unaccustomed to such public embarrassment. He would have his revenge sooner or later!

After a few minutes' walk, they found themselves in front of the impressive ride. The queue was long, meaning a never-ending conversation. Gohan's eyes widened as he stared at the Wild West-style décor, asking the three adults for details. Aizawa was glad the conversation wasn't revolving around him, so he joined in, but it was really Present Mic who was the loudest. Some people recognized them in the crowd, but among the trio of professionals, only the two flashiest were recognized.

After fifteen minutes, and having exhausted the young scholar's stock of questions, Hizashi had the brilliant idea to announce loudly: "Shouta and I are going to be pros at UA!"

"Wow! That's incredible, I thought you didn't like kids, Aizawa…"

He grimaced and then sighed. "I tolerate them now."

A sparkle appeared in Emi's eyes, and she got a bit too close to him. "So, you do want kids! I knew it! Let's get married!"

Gohan watched the scene, amazed at the courage it took to ask such a thing so naturally. Well, considering how his own parents got married, he didn't have much to say, but he couldn't help but respect this woman's fervor and determination. Moreover, it wasn't a joke; it was sincere, he could feel her energy emanating.

"No." Aizawa calmly refused, moving away, but it was in vain as she moved even closer, and the corridor became increasingly cramped. His tired eyes turned towards his best friend, who pretended to comment on the decor, earning fake attention from Gohan.

He was trapped! No escape in sight, it was going to end like in that dreadful haunted house. He hadn't flinched out of fear, it was an accident! Unfortunately, this dramatic event would forever be etched in his memory.

After an interminable ten minutes during which Emi animatedly declared how wonderful their large family life would be, the queue finally ended. Aizawa felt an immense joy, sincerely convinced that he could avoid sitting next to her during the ride, which was expected to be... tumultuous.

They then boarded a false-rusty cart, Ms. Joke sat all the way to the left, waiting with a titanic smile for her 'lover' to come to her side. Aizawa attempted to escape and push Gohan in his place, but the boy was as firmly rooted to the ground as an iron bar. The half-breed gave a knowing look to Present Mic, who took advantage of the momentary surprise to push the man next to his 'betrothed'.

Aizawa cursed but stopped struggling, fully understanding that his best friend had betrayed him, no longer harboring any doubts in his wounded mind. Emi welcomed him with a broad smile, and as usual, he feigned disinterest, satisfied with his hard and unapproachable appearance. After a couple of seconds, the last two members of the improvised group settled in.

Yamada screamed with joy as the ride began, ready for five minutes of extreme speed. Gohan smiled calmly, although the new speed initially made him raise an eyebrow. Aizawa shuddered, he did not like being shaken at all, but riding the ride pleased everyone, especially the kid... Emi mocked him and didn't miss any of his grimaces, briefly reminding him of the haunted house episode.

There was a loop so abrupt that Aizawa almost hiccuped, wondering if a villain had ever put him in such discomfort. The answer was no, so far. Gohan seemed to be having fun, and a childlike smile engraved his features when his jet-black eyes met Aizawa's. Ceasing to worry about the ride for a few seconds, he noticed for the first time a mischievous smile on Gohan's face, simply joyful, living the moment to the fullest.

This brief but intense moment ended, and they exited the 'unbearable' cart for Aizawa, and the 'fun' cart for the others. He quickly regained his balance but did not fail to notice his legs trembling under the pressure; it had been a long time. Emi cheerfully patted his back, blowing what he guessed to be kind words.

Yamada and Son discussed joyfully, gladly enjoying the moment. The scene was mundane for an external spectator, but for the taciturn hero, it was a beautiful painting, full of hope for the future. The child could one day overcome his trauma if he was surrounded by loving people.

The rest of the outing did not last long, perhaps forty-five minutes to an hour, but it was much less tumultuous. They all talked together, getting to know the others, especially Gohan, who showed himself joking and more open than on their previous outing. It was a good sign. The look of fear had partially disappeared from his young yet so experienced eyes.

However, as soon as they left the park, that look suddenly returned, and he began to watch for any change, any external information. Shouta couldn't believe it; ten years old but so cautious. No... it wasn't fear, it was a methodical and complete analysis of every detail, almost strategic. As if he was preparing for a surprise assault at every moment.

Emi left them and went her own way, but not before marking her phone number on the face of her future 'husband' with a marker.

The return trip was relatively calm, except for the abominable music of Hizashi, who was the only sane man to listen to hardcore German metal and to be totally relaxed. Despite being his best friend, he remained fundamentally different from Aizawa, and that was certainly the reason for their friendship.

Yamada was a ray of sunshine, joyful and social, and although he often received silence during his radio presentations, he continued to retry, no matter the gravity or the ridicule. It was one of his greatest qualities. Aizawa, on the other hand, was often in a bad mood, only wishing to sleep after a good night's work. He was grumpy and did not seek attention, supposedly because he did not want villains to know his power, but mostly because he did not like it.

Their strange dynamic had worked for nearly ten years; they were best friends at UA, forming an inseparable trio until that terrible day when they lost their third comrade. This event had a strong impact on young Shouta and closed him off, but Hizashi never left him alone; he had pushed the darkness away from him.

So, Hizashi could sometimes be horribly annoying, like today, but Aizawa would never let him down. They had been watching over each other for so long... When he saw his best friend and the boy he intended to protect, a thin smile adorned his features. It was a good day, after all.

Gohan was very happy; he had met two new friends, with unique characters, and for the first time since his arrival here, he did not feel the emptiness that threatened his heart. Every moment had been either touching or amusing, not leaving him time to feel sorrow.

Mr. Aizawa had taken care of him, in his own way, and had paid attention to his feelings and happiness. He was the first hero he had met, and probably the most remarkable despite his silence and facade. Son did not know if the man spent time with him out of pity or because he genuinely wanted to know him, but in any case, he was there when needed.

And in that, he was now a close friend.

He would not forget this day anytime soon and would engrave it in his memory as a joyful and comforting memory, chasing away the doubts and sufferings that invaded his dreams and daily life. He missed each of his friends, but maybe Aizawa could help him better understand why he was here.

"Mr. Aizawa is a remarkable hero."

The distant view of the hospital revealed itself, and a shiver ran down his body; he would be alone again, in misunderstanding. This place, it was his greatest fear, his greatest disgust, and he did not wish to approach it.

He kept his calm, remembering Piccolo's words about what a true warrior was, and that he could not panic. But his brief lapse was noticed by the two men, who exchanged their doubts with a look. No matter, he had to return, whatever the cost, because where would he go if he ran away from this place?

"L'Aizawa-mobile" parked a bit away, and they walked quietly to the garden. Perhaps it was the only pleasant place that allowed for reverie, the beauty of the plants and their originality contrasting with the uniform white walls. Gohan marveled again at their splendor, admiring them as if he saw them for the first time, devouring every detail with his eyes. He quickly questioned Present Mic about the names of flowers, but received a silence as resounding as that of Eraserhead.

The two suddenly seemed serious, which surprised the young boy, cutting short his observation. He stared at the two men, expecting something, feeling a certain pressure in their energies.

Aizawa coughed and spoke. "When will you be fully healed?"

"Well, I'm doing pretty well, the doctor recommends a week of rest, and I should be able to leave. Well..."

"Good. In a few weeks, this idiot and I are moving to Tokyo." He began, pointing at Present Mic.

Ah, the information took his breath away, and if they left and he never saw them again? The man was his only friend here; he did not want to see him disappear as suddenly as he had appeared.

"You're going to leave...?" He questioned, as if each word cost him.

Aizawa sighed and seemed to force a smile on his features. "Yes, and I wanted to know if you wanted to accompany us."

Surprise.

Shock.

And finally, the most important emotion: joy.

A place to go, people to follow, a reason to move, perhaps answers to his questions plaguing his mind. Gohan stared at the man, his black eyes letting his surprise filter through, as he tried to keep his emotions and feelings under control since his arrival maybe out of fear, maybe out of rage, but until now, he had not wanted to fully reveal his emotions.

But his barriers fell, and a big smile adorned his face, the fear surrounding him in its black mist was dispelled.

"Yes! I'd be happy to." Finally exclaimed Gohan, to whom everything seemed less heavy, less frightening. Even the hospital ceased to be so intimidating because he now knew that he was no longer alone in this world, it was not his parents, Mr. Piccolo, or any of his close friends, but it was still someone he was beginning to respect.

That day, Aizawa became his hero.

The man approached him and awkwardly placed his hand on his shoulder, with a smile wider and more relieved than what he was used to giving. He was happy, a bright and soothing happiness, and he felt serene, whatever the future held, he was convinced he had made the right decision.

Gohan hugged Aizawa, holding back his tears from flowing. The man seemed slightly surprised but tried not to show it, it was more than he expected, so he wrapped his arms around the boy, not exactly sure how to proceed.

They remained in silence for a while, Yamada watching calmly from a little further away, keeping his peace.

After a few dozen seconds, Aizawa gave some words of encouragement to the boy, telling him it was time to return to his hospital room. They walked there in a pleasant and peaceful silence, there was no need to speak to fill the gaps.

It was at the doorstep of his room that they all stopped, Gohan grabbed the handle and opened the room, but he was not greeted by the heavy and suffocating breath that usually met him. He was no longer afraid of this place, less than before anyway. He turned around and smiled at Aizawa and Yamada, then he entered the room.

After a short discussion, the two adults left the room and left Gohan alone. He had a lot to think about, and he also needed to rest after a day as emotionally charged as this one.

The rays of the setting sun filtered through the window as Gohan changed, putting on a night outfit. The meal came soon after, and he devoured it in two bites, watching a wildlife documentary on a national channel. The animals of this world captivated him; they were so numerous and different, like the inhabitants of the planet.

His world was much more uniform, with many small minor towns, and only four large ones, at each end of the world. Deserts and rocky wastelands were very common and often ended up hosting battles between powerful warriors.

Here, there was an incredibly diverse culture, and no place was alike. He had not yet had the pleasure of exploring everything by himself, but he would not be long in doing so, his curiosity was too great.

When night came, he could not find sleep, due to the excitement running through his body, this day was so crazy... nothing incredibly amazing, no battles against genocidal aliens, but simply getting out of the hospital and meeting new people was pleasant.

He decided to meditate, so he sat on the floor, legs crossed, and reflected.

Since he had arrived on this planet, his human contacts had been minimal, just with the doctors who came to examine him; sometimes they would chat a bit, but the doctor always left. When Eraserhead entered his life, he was alone and didn't know what to do, loneliness was eating at him, but the man inquired about his state.

Gohan hadn't really known what to tell him in his investigation, aside from the most basic and essential, the things he couldn't lie about. The traces of his battle against Cell marked his body, but not this planet or this society. So, he had explained things as simply as possible, hoping that once the hero learned that Cell was dead, he would move on.

However, he came back, friendly and just to spend time with him, which touched him deeply. Perhaps he had just felt pity for him, but the fact was he had been there when Gohan needed him. He had taken him out of the hospital and shown him the city.

This outing had marked him, as it was the first time he could see the world through his own eyes and not through television. He was accompanied by the hero, who took care to show him things so he could understand.

Gohan hadn't found the motivation to leave the hospital out of fear; he could have left and not returned, but he was scared. Mr. Piccolo would have been ashamed, but he wasn't there, like Goku. Deprived of guidance and information, he had wallowed in his bed. What was the point in moving if he had no goal, no will?

The more he thought about his situation, the less he understood it. Why and how had he arrived here? He had asked the doctors, and even Aizawa, what had happened on the day he arrived in this world, but nothing out of the ordinary had come up. Everything was calm.

Then Aizawa came back with Yamada, and Gohan had a good day, without thinking about his past, nor even why he was there. He just lived in the moment, and he appreciated it. Meeting people so joyful and peaceful... it was like before, restful.

Now that he was leaving with the man in a few days, he felt a bit more liberated; he didn't have answers to his questions, but he at least had a place to go, and maybe by following Shouta, he would find some of that happiness he cherished so much.

He just hoped the future would be bright.

To be continued...