Hello ladies and not likely gentlemen, today I bless you with more peak fiction, I'm sure that lots of you have been waiting for, but first… Questions!

Q1: I'm not so sure about Krillin becoming an android, but Kaioken will be used as a main part of hikigaya's skill set in a way i'm sure you didn't see coming, and it won't be forgotten after a saga lol.

Q2: If Hikigaya were to wish himself to be a Sayian, it would be the largest cop out ever, and it would be complete trash in a story writing perspective, Hikigaya is to show the true power of the humans, not the Saiyans.

Q3: About your question with hikigaya's approach to romance towards a certain character it will be built up and is pretty easy to see once you see it, and it won't be just "Y/N-Chan let's get together off screen and have kids in our five year timeskip!" that's not romance, that shonen trying to progress the plot without the slow romantic bits, and that's just not how Hikigaya is and he won't be like that in this story as well.

Q4: I honestly was waiting on that question about his appearance. The wonderful picture that I spent twenty dollars on is actually his appearance towards the end of Dragon Ball before Z. His appearance right now could be described as a bit wild, his hair goes all the way down to his shoulders and he is actually wearing Grandpa gohan's clothes as well since it's the only thing that fitted him at Mt. Paouz, but he plans on changing out soon, likely after fri-pan mountain, and I know that you guys can't see the picture well, due to it being a profile picture, but, his pupils are smaller than Goku and Vegeta's as well, as I edited that little detail in, also I give him those eye wrinkles as well, didn't want him to be a Saiyan with Hikigaya's hair after all!

Q5: Both Bardock and Gine were shown in Z Broly's first movie so Hikigaya would have knowledge of both of them, but it is likely that they cannot come back, as the dragon balls cannot revive someone that has been dead over a year. Also I really appreciate your kind words as well, it motivates me to continue writing this story as well, I hope that you'll be watching till the end!

I'm sure that you're all done waiting for this peak fiction, so I'll go to the author's notes to stop bothering you so you can read… U-unless you want me? … no? ok… Time to start!

This story will mainly be of Hikigaya's POV

'I miss my max coffee...' - Thinking

KAME…HAME…HA! - Using moves or intensive moments

"Can't lose it this time." - Speaking or Yelling

'Whoever said that driving an RV was easy is lying.' he thought nervously as he was trying to adjust everything for his height as the last owner of this happened to be twice as short as him. Apparently Bulma was not a liar because as soon as she and Goku were ready, they decided that Bulma should take a break driving for a while so as to not cause more accidents on the road.

The RV's engine thrummed steadily as Hikigaya gripped the wheel, even as his gaze remained fixed on the open road. He'd never been behind the wheel of something like this before, but the challenge was nothing compared to the thoughts that simmered beneath his carefully controlled expression.

But as his focus drifted back to the road, the thoughts he'd been suppressing since they left the village finally bubbled to the surface. Oolong. The "demon" they'd encountered back there was behind them now, and no one but Hikigaya and the villagers knew what really happened in that fight.

'I enjoyed it,', he thought, his stomach knotting as he replayed the events in his mind. 'I actually enjoyed seeing him scared of me.' Hikigaya did not regret what he had done in order to make sure that Oolong had stayed out of the journey for the Dragon Balls, it was a necessary evil, at least that's what he told himself.

But what he did regret is how it made him feel when he was going against Oolong. Maybe it was the look on his face when he was threatening him, or how desperate he looked, but he knows one thing looking back at it, 'I shouldn't have liked that as much as I did, why?' Hikigaya sighs to himself, knowing how he should have acted rather than what he had done.

'I'm supposed to be better than this,' he thought, resentment bubbling up within him. 'I should have better control of myself next time.' And yet, that part of him—the part that had taken pleasure in Oolong's fear—felt as though it was lurking just beneath the surface, waiting for its next chance to break free.

As Goku was laughing at whatever he had done while Bulma was yelling at him as if they were brother and sister, he looked at them, as Hikigaya clenched his fists, vowing silently that he would not go so far next time, 'I have to be better than this, if not for me, then for them.' As he said that, it was as if something inside of him calmed down as he started to feel better about Oolong, knowing that he would not go so far with them there.

"Hey, Hachiman," Bulma's voice broke through his thoughts, and he glanced over at her. She had a tired look on her face, most likely dealing with Goku for the past few hours. "Do you think we can make a stop around here soon, I think we are almost coming up to the Diabo Desert, so it would be better if we make camp soon..." she told him then she looked up at his face, then she looked a bit… curious.

"What is it?" Hikigaya wondered why Bulma was looking up at him oddly, "I don't know why I never noticed but… Hachiman, how do you even see with all that hair in your face?" she said in a bit of a teasing way, but she didn't mean anything by it.

Hikigaya absentmindedly tugged at the long strands of hair brushing his shoulders, scowling at the thought of needing a haircut even in this strange new world. He had avoided mirrors ever since he'd ended up in this world, partly because he hadn't come across many, and partly because he wasn't sure he wanted to see the reflection of a version of himself he barely recognized and he was afraid he wouldn't like it.

Hikigaya raised an eyebrow, "To be fair, I don't exactly trust Goku with a pair of scissors, and that's not even talking about my hair." he muttered, looking away to hide the hint of embarrassment creeping into his cheeks.

"Well, I think that is about time you get one," she replied matter-of-factly, "and besides, I've got scissors right here." She reached into one of her capsules and pulled out a small, surprisingly well-stocked toiletry kit, complete with scissors, a comb, and a handheld mirror.

"Um, I don't mean anything by this, but have you ever cut hair before, I don't exactly want to look like a monk by the end of it." he said hoping she had a little experience before she starts chopping.

"Relax," she said, beginning to trim carefully. "You're in the hands of a pro. I cut my dad's hair all the time!"

'I suppose that inspires a bit of confidence.' he thought with a bit of relief, knowing she had some experience. "I haven't had my hair this long since I was a kid," he muttered, as Bulma started sectioning off his hair. "Maybe I should just let it go wild. It fits the whole 'lost in the woods' vibe, don't you think?" he said with a bit of sarcasm.

Bulma rolled her eyes playfully, nudging his head forward. "Yeah, but you're still you," she replied, brushing his bangs aside with an unexpected gentleness. "And if you're going to keep traveling with us, you may as well keep it functional. Besides," she added with a grin, "you're looking like a mop." she said in a cheeky way.

He chuckled at what she had said, "I guess you're not wrong, not that I would know, I haven't seen my reflection in almost a year." as he said that Bulma froze up a little, not knowing why Hikigaya would do that, "How come Hachiman?" she asked, "Not many mirrors at Goku's place I suppose.", he said matter-of-factly, "Didn't you fish with Goku like almost everyday before I met you?" she said, shutting down Hikigaya half lie.

"Well… if I'm being completely honest, I don't really want to see what I look like now." he said with a bit of reluctance, he wasn't sure that she would get his haircut right if he didn't answer with the truth. "Why's that? You're a handsome guy, even if your eyes are a bit scary." she said not really knowing how that would affect Hikigaya.

"I-It's not because of that, it's… for a different reason." Hikigaya said feeling a little flustered, as Bulma chuckles a little bit at his sudden shyness, "Alright I'll stop pushing you, but you're gonna look at your reflection after this, I want to make sure this haircut is ok with you." she said as her word was final.

As the strands fell away, Hikigaya felt an unexpected lightness, like he was shedding more than just hair. The weight of his recent thoughts, the darkness he'd felt creeping in since Oolong, even a bit of the confusion about who he was in this strange place—it all seemed to fade just a little bit, and it was replaced by a sense of clarity.

He glanced over at Bulma as she concentrated on her work, her face set in an uncharacteristically gentle expression. He allowed himself to relax, enjoying the quiet rhythm of the scissors, the simple act of being taken care of—something he hadn't felt in a long time.

"There you go!" Bulma announced, giving his shoulders a playful shake as she finished, brushing the last bits of hair off his collar. She handed him the small mirror, looking pleased. "Back to being a civilized human being."

'Well… I had to see what I looked like eventually.' he thought with some bitterness, but accepted his fate. Hikigaya peered at his reflection, frowning slightly. His hair was shorter, cleaner, no longer wild and unkempt, but... familiar. Just as he remembered it from before. 'Still me.', he thought, surprised by the sense of relief that came with it.

"Thank you Bulma, I really appreciate it." he said with proper gratitude, "Don't mention it." Bulma smiled, a glint of satisfaction in her eyes. She leaned back, her tone softening. "You look like how you should be now, not bad Hachiman."

He found himself smiling back, a small, genuine smile that he allowed to linger, as if it were a sunny day for him. Then Bulma thought something, 'He looks pretty good with a smile on his face…'

"Hey Hachi do you want to get something to ea-" Goku was saying as he looked at Hikigaya, "Wow, you have the same haircut as the time I met you! I think you look better with it than your longer hair." he said cheerfully as Hikigaya feels better about his haircut now that he has gotten the Goku seal of approval.

"Thanks Goku, I'll come out in a bit to get some food with you, but I need to take a shower first alright?" he said good naturedly, "Oh, ok Hachi! I'll see you in a little bit then!" he said as he ran off, probably to get some wild animal to eat for later, not acknowledging the fish that they brought along with them.

"Well, I better hurry up or Goku is going to get impatient, I'll see you in a little bit Bulma." he said as he starts to walk off to the bathroom, without noticing Bulma's expression towards him, 'That haircut really does show off how he looks huh…'

O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O

'I don't think I've had a shower this nice since the other world.' Hikigaya thought as he was basking in the heated shower while washing away all of the stress he had built up over the past eight months, 'I think it's almost my birthday coming up soon…' he pondered, as he was wondering how the people back home we're dealing with his disappearance, but hoping that they are moving on without him just fine.

As he was going out of the shower he decided to look at himself completely to see how much he truly changed. '… I know I already thought that I was pretty muscular but not to this degree, I still think that it's something in the food here, no way I would have been able to look like this in a thousand years, I wonder what they would think of my looks now… they would probably beat me into the ground more with the eye insults to lower my ego…' Hikigaya thought as he chuckled to himself.

He starts walking out and calls to Goku that he's ready to go find some food, after that they set out to look for some animals, but not straying too far from the RV just in case something happens with Bulma. "Hey Hachi, wanna see who catches more food?" Goku said being a little bored since nothing was happening recently for him, "Sure Goku," Hikigaya grins as Goku looks at him with a child like sternness, "And no cheating this time, when I mean more, I mean more animals, not how heavy they are." he said still being a little salty over their last competition.

"ohh, so that's what you want huh, good thing you clarified, I was planning on doing just that, I guess my plan is ruined..." he said with over-exaggerated despair, 'I mean I could just get a ton of bugs and I could win, but that would be petty, plus I rather not get bugs…' he thought, as he shivered at the thought of getting a spider on accident.

"That's right," Goku said, being prideful for thinking of such a genius condition, "Anyways, Just come back to this spot when we are done ok!" Goku said, "Alright Goku, I'll see you soon, I'll call you if I need something." He said as they set off to have their own little competition before a cocky voice called out to them.

"Hey! Let's make this simple, alright? Hand over everything valuable, and you'll get to keep that fancy little RV of yours."

O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O

POV - ? - Diabo Desert

leaning back against a large, sun-bleached boulder, gazing out over the vast, empty desert with a contented sigh. His lips curled into a grin as he was looking over his desert, where he alone was the king. A sea of sand, rock, and sun-baked earth where few dare to tread if they value their life, and that's just the way he liked it.

There were no rules out here, no cops breathing down his neck, and no one to challenge his place as the king of this desolate wasteland of nothingness. "Ahh, this is the life," he sighs contently, crossing his arms behind his head. "Not a bad day, huh?"

A cat-like creature floated nearby, his wide eyes scanning the horizon for any movement, his little blue body twitching with energy. "It's been a while since we've had anyone cross through here, Yamcha. I know you like things quiet, but... don't you think it's getting a little boring without anyone to fight?" The cat-like creature stated towards the desert bandit, "Boring? Nah, it's perfect. It just means everyone around here knows who they're dealing with, Puar. Why mess with the best bandit in the desert?" Yamcha stated vainly toward Puar, stretching out his body.

Puar raised an eyebrow, glancing over at him. "Yeah, but don't you want some... excitement? Maybe a real challenge?" The question hung in the air for a moment, making Yamcha pause. Puar wasn't exactly wrong. Sure, there were the occasional travelers, the lost merchants, the wannabe treasure hunters… and the… women… but very few of them had ever been a match for him. They all folded the moment he showed up with his confident smirk and his Wolf Fang Fist.

He didn't say that out loud. Instead, he shrugged, keeping his tone even. "Hey, we've got it good out here, Puar. We keep to ourselves, people stay clear, and every once in a while, we get a good haul. Can't beat that."

Puar sighed, floating a few feet higher to get a better view of the horizon. "True... but it wouldn't hurt to have a real adventure. Don't you miss, I dunno... fighting someone who actually puts up a fight?" Puar said while looking at Yamcha thinking that his friend is not satisfied with the life he has right now.

Yamcha's smirk faltered for just a second. 'A real adventure, huh?' Puar was right about one thing, deep down, he did miss that thrill. As a child, he'd always dreamed of being a legendary fighter, someone everyone knew and respected, or some super cool baseball player that is praised by everyone. But here he was, the strongest guy in the desert, facing nothing but the occasional weaklings. Was this really all he'd set out to become, just some bandit?

Just then, Puar's ears perked up. "Hey, Yamcha, look! There's an RV over there, just a bit past that ridge I think they might be loaded!"

Yamcha's eyes lit up. Sure enough, in the distance, he could make out the shape of an RV parked near a small clearing, its shiny exterior gleaming under the harsh desert sun. And beside it, two figures stood, talking and moving around casually as if they were not worried about their situation, 'Just a couple of people who probably had no idea what they'd wandered into.' he thought being a little curious of who they are.

He grinned, feeling a spark of anticipation flare up within him. "Well, well. Maybe today won't be so boring after all." Puar, however, looked a little on edge. "I dunno, Yamcha... something feels different about them. They're too… normal. Most people out here look all... lost or exhausted."

Yamcha rolled his eyes, waving off his friend's concern. "Oh, come on, Puar. They're just a couple of travelers who don't know any better. Besides, if they're calm, it just means they don't know what kind of trouble they're in yet. No one out here can match me and my Wolf fanged fists after all!" he said to his friend, not worried about his nervousness.

Puar hesitated, his gaze lingering on the figures in the distance. "If you say so, Yamcha. Just... be careful." Yamcha chuckled, "I'll be fine Puar, when have you known me to lose ever, I'm the strongest remember?" he said to his friend to ease his nerves. Puar hesitated, his gaze lingering on the figures in the distance. "If you say so, Yamcha. Just... be careful."

As they drew closer, he got a better look at the pair. One of them was a young kid, maybe only ten or so, with a wild head of spiky black hair who seemed to be talking to the other figure. The kid's posture was relaxed, confident even, but Yamcha dismissed him almost immediately assuming that since he is just a kid, he will be no threat to either of them. The real prize, he assumed, would be whatever was in that RV.

But the other figure... the other figure made him pause.

The older one was a lean, dark-haired teen with a steady, assessing gaze, his stance casual but somehow... on edge, as if he was expecting something to go wrong at all times. He didn't look frightened or uncertain like most travelers. In fact, his expression was almost bored when he was not talking to the kid, he felt as if he already knew he was there and determined he was no threat. The look of what he thought was confidence in the guy's eyes didn't sit well with him, and it stoked a ember of irritation in Yamcha's gut.

'Who does this guy think he is?' Yamcha thought, narrowing his eyes as they approached. He felt his fingers twitch, itching to prove a point. This guy would learn soon enough who ran things around here as soon as they felt his wolf fanged fists.

Puar noticed his tension and whispered, "Yamcha... you're not underestimating them, are you?" Yamcha scoffed, tossing Puar a smirk. "Don't doubt me, I've got this. If they think they're tough, I'll show them who they're dealing with. No one out here can take on the great desert bandit, Yamcha!" he self-proclaimed.

With that, he stepped forward, calling out to the pair with his most confident, intimidating grin. "Hey! Let's make this simple, alright? Hand over everything valuable, and you'll get to keep that fancy little RV of yours."

The young kid tilted his head, looking… giddy rather than scared, which was odd but not worrying. His dark-haired companion's gaze sharpened, and his expression was… off putting to say the least. There was an edge to those eyes as soon as he looked at them, something that hinted at him being a balance of a human and a… creature. Yamcha felt a strange chill run down his spine, but he shook it off. 'It's nothing that I can't handle, after all I'm the strongest around!'

But a small, hidden part of him felt a thrill—a whisper that maybe, just maybe, this one would be different.

O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O

POV - Hikigaya Hachiman - Diabo Desert

'Yamcha looks more different than I thought he would, but I can notice that cocky attitude from anywhere.' Hikigaya pondered with a bit of amusement. He turned to Goku and Goku turned to Hikigaya, "You thinking what I'm thinking Goku?" he said while grinning, "I think I am Hachi…" he said while also grinning, "Rock paper scissors for the big guy?"

'W-what is going on with them…' Yamcha thought while looking at the odd scene going on before him as Goku and Hikigaya were playing rock paper scissors… and from what he was seeing it looked like the dark haired teen won.

"Oh come on Hachi! You always win rock paper scissors." Goku said while pouting at Hikigaya's teasing expression, "It's not my fault that you make it so eas-" "WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON!" Yamcha yelled, getting irritated at the scene before him.

Then Goku looked at him as if he's stupid, "we're playing to see who gets to fight you, you seem stronger than the other bandits we came across, but Hachi always cheats to get the better fight…" he says being annoyed at Hikigaya. "As if a half-pint like you could take on the great desert bandit Yamcha!" he said, as both of the companions looked at each other, shrugging, "You still got to take on the cat Goku, he seems kinda strong too you know." he said trying to make peace with Goku before they fight.

'What is wrong with these people, do they have a death wish or something?' Yamcha thought bewildered but nevertheless confident in his abilities. "So I'm gonna assume that neither of you plan on giving up your valuables huh? That's fine with me I've been itching for a fight for a while anyways!" he said confidently. "Yeah Yamcha will defeat you like it's nothing!" Puar said, being Yamcha's personal cheerleader.

Yamcha got into his fighting stance, while Puar turned into a T-Rex due to his training as a shapeshifter. Goku was looking more excited now knowing that his opponent can change into dinosaurs which Hikigaya could only assume made him more happy about his fight. So Goku immediately went off to fight Puar, which he had reciprocated as well, only leaving Hikigaya, and Yamcha.

The desert heat radiated off the rocks as Yamcha and Hikigaya squared off. Yamcha cracked his knuckles, his confident smirk firmly in place. "You could've just handed over your stuff, y'know. But hey, if you wanna fight, I'm more than happy to give you a lesson." Hikigaya simply shrugged, his gaze level and unfazed. "Lesson? I think know a bit more than you do in the brain department, Mr. Wannabe Bandit." he said casually.

The casual response only served to irritate Yamcha further. He shot forward, wasting no time as he unleashed a flurry of punches, each one aiming to break through Hikigaya's defense. Hikigaya's eyes narrowed, his movements precise as he dodged and deflected the blows, reading Yamcha's rhythm with complete attention.

'He's pretty fast with those blows of his,' Hachiman noted as he sidestepped another punch, his mind racing through potential counters. 'But he's cocky as usual. Overconfidence makes people predictable like getting blown up by a Saibaman.' he thought with a bit of amusement, 'When he comes with us, I have to fix that part of him so that he doesn't die in Z.'

Yamcha's attacks had started to grow even faster, which Hikigaya was starting to have trouble with, 'Let's see how long he can keep dodging and blocking…' he thought, grinning. Shifting his weight, Yamcha threw a kick, aiming to catch Hikigaya off balance then make him give up all of his valuables.

But Hikigaya anticipated the move, hopping back just in time and countering with a quick jab to Yamcha's ribs. Yamcha stumbled slightly, surprised by the force behind Hachiman's punch, but quickly recovered. 'Sorry Yamcha, but Goku has already done that move, you doing it won't have the same result.'

"Not bad," Yamcha admitted, his grin tightening. "Guess you're not just talk.", Hikigaya eyed him oddly, "I never said I was strong, Goku is about twice as strong as I usually am.", that surprised Yamcha, 'I know that we're on equal ground with each other, but if I had to take on that kid I would have lost? I don't believe it, he's just saying that.' he thought irritated.

Without missing a beat, he lunged forward again, this time using his Wolf Fang Fist. His hands and feet became a blur, each strike sharp and precise as he closed in on Hachiman with animalistic intensity. Hikigaya's focus sharpened as he shifted to full defense, parrying and blocking as best he could, though the relentless pace of Yamcha's technique kept him on his toes.

Yamcha could see the strain in Hikigaya's movements, and his smirk widened. "You can't keep up with this!" To prove his point, Yamcha struck faster, pushing Hikigaya back toward a rocky ledge. With a final burst of speed, Yamcha spun and delivered a powerful kick that connected squarely with Hikigaya's chest, 'Ah, this isn't gonna feel good in the morning.', The impact reverberated through Hikigaya's body, and before he knew it, he was airborne, hurtling backward.

He slammed into the side of a large boulder, the rock splintering around him as he crashed into it. Dust billowed into the air. The world spun for a moment as Hikigaya slumped against the rocks, dust and small stones raining down around him. His mind raced, processing the hit. 'That… stung but it's not that bad, Goku did worse when he's serious.'

Yamcha felt a surge of triumph. "Told you I'd teach you a lesson," he muttered, watching the dust settle with a satisfied grin. But as the dust cleared, Yamcha's smirk faded. Hikigaya was standing, his hand dusting off his clothes nonchalantly as he stepped forward, his expression as calm as ever.

"Impressive," Hikigaya remarked, rolling his shoulders. "Given your cocky demeanor, I thought that you were all talk, let me rectify that right now, what was your name… ah yes Yamcha." he said seriously as he came towards him.

Yamcha clenched his jaw, anger flaring. 'How is he still standing after that!' His mind raced as he watched Hikigaya approach with the same calm, measured pace. No traveler he'd fought had ever shrugged off an attack like that before. But Yamcha wasn't about to back down.

"You must have hit your head too hard if you're still coming at me," Yamcha growled, lunging forward with renewed determination. He tightened his fists, pouring everything he had into his Wolf Fang Fist, the technique's power surging as he aimed directly for Hikigaya's head.

Hikigaya's eyes narrowed. This time, he let Yamcha close the distance, observing the speed and angle of his attack. Just as Yamcha's fist flew toward him, Hikigaya shifted his stance and sidestepped, his hand darting out to redirect Yamcha's momentum, 'You're getting sloppy Yamcha…' he thought while grinning.

And then, with a swift, calculated movement, Hikigaya brought his elbow down, catching Yamcha in the ribs. The force of the impact was solid, and Yamcha stumbled, his breath leaving him in a gasp. Before he could recover, Hikigaya spun and landed a kick to Yamcha's midsection, sending him crashing into the ground.

Yamcha groaned, his body pressed into the dirt as the cracks spidered out from the impact. He could feel the sting of bruises forming, his head pounding slightly as he pushed himself up, staring at Hikigaya in shock who was just standing there waiting for him to get up. 'This guy... he's actually scary good.'

Hikigaya stayed calm, his gaze steady as he waited for Yamcha to stand. He didn't want to feel the same adrenaline-fueled rush he'd felt with Oolong, he was keeping himself in check, his movements controlled and precise. This was a fight, not a thrill. And he wasn't about to lose control here when he needed him for later.

Yamcha managed to get to his feet, his eyes narrowing. "You've got some moves, I'll give you that," he muttered, wiping a trickle of blood from the corner of his mouth. "What's your name, I'll have to remember it when I take everything away from you!" he stated pridefully.

"Hikigaya, Hikigaya Hachiman." he stated as he went back into his fighting pose. With renewed intensity, he charged, this time aiming to throw Hikigaya off with a series of rapid feints before launching into a barrage of punches and kicks. Hikigaya felt the wind of each strike as he dodged and countered, his movements steady and fluid.

Meanwhile, Goku and Puar were fighting, but that would honestly be putting it lightly as Goku was not going seriously against Puar, mostly just playing around with him, though they started to slow down as they realized the intensity of Hikigaya and Yamcha's fight.

"Yamcha really met his match, huh?" Puar muttered, dodging one of Goku's punches with a quick transformation. Goku grinned, as he was trying to hit Puar. "Yeah, this is great! Hachi's really strong!"

Back in the fight, Yamcha grew increasingly frustrated as Hikigaya's defense remained solid, every counter landing with measured precision. Hikigaya could see the frustration in Yamcha's eyes, the subtle shifts in his stance as his patience frayed. 'He's going to get frustrated enough to finally try and land a finishing blow on me, I need to take advantage of that.' he thought as he started to enact his plan into goading Yamcha to do his finishing blow.

"This is just pathetic. I've been hit harder by children than by you, to be honest with you, I haven't even gone all out with you this entire time. I've made sure that I wouldn't go so far as to kill you." he said with a dark grin, but he made sure that it was out of earshot of Goku and Puar.

'What did he just SAY!' he thought with a rage he himself didn't know he had. "OH YEAH THEN TRY AND DODGE THIS ASSHOLE, WOLF FANGED FIST FULL POWER!" Finally, with a fierce shout, Yamcha lunged forward in one last attempt, putting all his strength into a punch that had made an apparition of a wolf within his own fist, all just so he could punch Hikigaya into the next dimension.

'Hook, Line, and Sinker.'

Just as Yamcha's fist shot forward, nearing Hikigaya's face just centimeters away, he sidestepped.

'W-WAIT WHAT!' Yamcha had thought in terror as he was already in full motion, hikigaya's hand coming up to redirect Yamcha's arm, throwing him off balance. In one fluid motion, Hikigaya delivered a powerful punch to Yamcha's side, the force knocking him back. Yamcha staggered, but before he could regain his footing, Hikigaya spun and delivered a swift kick to Yamcha's midsection, sending him crashing into the ground once more.

This time, the impact sent cracks rippling through the earth beneath Yamcha, dust rising in a cloud around him. With that, Yamcha is winded and dazed, while Hikigaya stood above him as the victor of their fight.

His earlier confidence was replaced by disbelief at what just happened to him, 'did I just lose to this guy of all people…' he thought depressed, "I almost lost you know," he said, 'W-what?'Yamcha thought in bewilderment, "If you were to hit me with that attack I would probably be dead from how strong it was, I knew that I had to get you angry so that you would lose sight of the fight, you're stronger than I am right now."

'Why is he saying this to me, I lost, he should be killing me right now.' he thought confused at his opponents words. "You're a really strong guy Yamcha. That's why I want to fight you again sometime, you made me stronger from this fight and I would like to see more out of you as well, that attack of yours, it was quite something. I could only hope to replicate something like it." Hikigaya praised Yamcha for his attack.

"...Geez I go and try to rob you, you beat my ass then praise me, what kind of weirdo are you dude." Hikigaya chuckled more at that then he would like to admit, he could honestly see himself saying the same thing as well, if he were in his shoes.

"I've grown an appreciation toward strong fighters that test my strength, like you and Goku, a while ago I couldn't even survive the attack that had hit me into that boulder, and now I can just shrug it off, I realized how much hard work rewards in this world and I've grown to love it, I used to think that their was always a limit to how much you can do, but now I want to see just how far I can push it." Hikigaya stated towards Yamcha.

'If my old self was looking at me right now he would probably call me a normie, but that's fine, I still hold onto my hopes of having something genuine and I will find a way home so I can achieve that goal of mine with them.' Hikigaya thought nostalgically as he recalled his friends and family in the other world.

From the sidelines, Bulma's voice cut through the air, sharp and impatient. "Hachiman! Goku! What on earth are you two doing?" At the sound of her voice, Yamcha froze, his eyes widening as he spotted Bulma standing nearby, hands on her hips with an exasperated look. His face turned ashen.

He scrambled to his feet, glancing between Hikigaya and Bulma with a look of pure panic. "Uh... uh, it's nothing!" he stammered, his tone trembling slightly. He grabbed Puar by the arm, dragging his companion away behind a small rock as if that were enough to stop Bulma from seeing him.

Hikigaya blinked, watching as Yamcha and Puar hid behind the small rock. He turned to Goku, who was scratching his head in confusion. "Well, that was weird," Goku said, tilting his head.

"Yeah," Hikigaya muttered as he walked to where Bulma was, "Hey Bulma, can you go back inside real quick, maybe we can figure out why he thinks that hiding behind a small rock would be a good place to. "Umm sure Hachiman, go for it I guess." she thought confused as to what just happened while she was inside of the RV.

He walks over to Yamcha and Puar, "I-Is she gone now." he said fearfully, "yes she's gone back inside Yamcha, but what's the deal with that." Hikigaya thought confused 'I don't recall him ever being scared of Bulma, what's up with that?' he thought, "Yamcha has always been scared of wom-" "S-Shut up Puar, he doesn't need to know that!" he said embarrassed.

Hikigaya went into a deadpan, 'Seriously, the biggest womanizer in Z is afraid of women, what kind of shitty gag is this?' he thought annoyed at the circumstances in front of him. 'Now it's gonna be harder to convince him to join up with us, how the hell did he get with Bulma then.'

"Look, Yamcha," Hikigaya began, his tone more measured. "This desert may be your territory, but there's a bigger world out there. And I'm sure that you had that same feeling I did when I fought you, that thrill to keep fighting more challenging opponents?" Yamcha blinked, caught off guard. "What are you getting at?"

"I'm saying," Hikigaya continued, "that you've got potential. Traveling with us, you'd be facing stronger opponents than anyone you'd find in this desert. You're good, but you're not going to improve by fighting the same weaklings over and over." Hikigaya said, trying to appeal to Yamcha's wish to get stronger.

Yamcha frowned, considering Hikigaya's words. He hated to admit it, but there was a certain truth in what he was saying. His skills had plateaued out here, his victories feeling… meaningless. If he wanted to become truly powerful, he needed to get out of this desert.

Puar, who'd been listening from a safe distance, floated closer. "Yamcha, maybe he's right," he whispered. "I mean, think about it… if you travel with them, you could get even stronger!", then Yamcha whispered back, "Y-yeah I know that, but he has a w-women on board, how am I gonna get stronger if she's around me, I'll die of fear!" Yamcha whispered back at Puar loudly with Hikigaya being on standby watching the whole thing go down.

"Maybe this is your chance to get over your fear as well, Yamcha! You can't just be afraid of women for the rest of your life you know!" What Puar told him were the facts and he had to face them. He eventually wanted to get a girlfriend, but how would he do that if he was always afraid of them?

Yamcha's gaze flickered between Puar and Hikigaya, his pride warring with his desire to become stronger and to finally get over his fear of women. Finally, he let out a resigned sigh, shaking his head with a rueful smile. "You're a strange guy, you know that? But... I guess I wouldn't mind seeing what the world has to offer." Goku, who'd been watching the exchange with wide-eyed curiosity, beamed. "Great! More people to spar with!" he said excitedly as he ran back to the RV.

"Is it finally over Hachiman…" Just then, Bulma came into view, her hands on her hips as she took in the scene with a raised eyebrow. "What's going on here?" she asked, glancing from Hikigaya to Yamcha.

Yamcha's face went pale as his eyes met Bulma's and he decided to hide behind Hikigaya for cover. With a sigh he tells Bulma the situation, "Bulma, meet Yamcha. He's agreed to come along with us in order to get stronger and to overcome his fear of women. Try not to be too forward with him or he'll probably run away from you alright." he said as Bulma sighs at his explanation, "well, as long as he doesn't steal the dragon balls I'm ok with it." she said as she walked back into the RV to get out of the heat.

'That's… not the reaction I had hoped for from her, I thought she would be more head over heels for him, maybe it's something that needs to be built up overtime?' he ponders as he looks towards Yamcha and Puar.

"Welcome to your adventure, be ready to be asked by Goku to spar with you, and for Bulma to probably yell a lot." he said nonchalantly as they all boarded the RV, getting ready for their next adventure to the second to last Dragon Ball.

Hikigaya Hachiman [9] - (10) -Temp - Controlled Ambition

Son Goku [15 - 16] - Past Month Traveling With And Constantly Sparring With Hikigaya

Yamcha [9] - Normal Power Level

Yamcha's Wolf Fanged Fist Full Power [25] - Yamcha's Final Attack - One Use

Author's notes

I think that this is my favorite chapter so far, the fighting in it was pretty fun to see written out and showcases how powerful Hikigaya is to be able to take on Yamcha with difficulty, and still defeat him. Keep this in mind if you're a bit weirded out by how Hikigaya was able to defeat Yamcha, he's spared with Goku over a thousand times, while Yamcha was plateauing by only fighting lost travelers and due to that, he never built up better combat experience. Although if Yamcha had more experience as of late, then Hikigaya would have likely died to his final attack, but as of now, Hikigaya is only a little bit stronger than Yamcha as of now if you are wondering where he places in strength. Anyways I hope you enjoyed, XeF4 out!