Chapter 3: The Awesome Ben

The school was in chaos. Not because of a fire drill, an alien invasion, or even an escaped dinosaur (which, let's be honest, was a common Tuesday in this world). No—this was much worse.

The World Martial Arts Tournament had been announced.

Students screamed, cheered, and somewhere in the background, an unnecessary brawl had already broken out between a freshman and the janitor. Everyone was hyped.

Everyone except one student—Ben, even Gohan is pretending some interest.

Erasa, who had been watching him closely (maybe a little too closely), noticed his complete lack of interest. With a bright smile, she leaned in, resting her chin on her hands.

"Alright, time to start a conversation," she thought.

"Hey, Ben, aren't you excited about the tournament?"

Ben barely glanced at her. "Nah, I have better things to do."

Erasa's smile didn't waver. "Better things? Don't you want to see what kind of new techniques Mr. Satan will show off?"

She made sure to add a bit of extra enthusiasm—after all, she wasn't just asking about the tournament. She was trying to get Ben to talk, to notice her.

Ben knew she had a crush on him. It was obvious.

But his past experiences with girls had given him… let's say, severe hesitation.

He had already accidentally broken up with Julie over a phone call while playing Sumo Slammers. He thought he was still dating her until he ran into her one day and she gave him the coldest stare of his life.

So yeah, he wasn't about to assume anything this time.

Instead, he just sighed, cracked his knuckles, and deadpanned, "If I had to guess, he'll come up with a punch and ridiculously call it 'Satan Punch' or 'Hercule Smash'… probably stealing from Hulk."

Videl, who had been listening from a few seats away, narrowed her eyes.

"How did he know about Satan Punch?"

Sharpner, however, puffed up in anger. "Hey! Don't mock Mr. Satan! He saved the world from Cell!"

Ben raised an eyebrow. "Did you actually see it happen?"

Sharpner faltered. "W-Well, no, but—"

"Exactly. You saw a shaky five-minute clip where he got swatted like a fly. No one knows what happened after that."

Erasa gasped. "Wait… does that mean—"

Sharpner waved his hands frantically. "No, no, no! Mr. Satan is a hero! Don't listen to this—this slander!"

Ben smirked. "Oh, don't worry. I'm sure he'll 'show off' something in the tournament. Maybe even Hercule Smash Deluxe Edition."

Somewhere at Hercule Dojo…

Mr. Satan reclined in his massive leather chair, admiring the countless trophies, posters, and magazine covers featuring his magnificent moustachioed face. He sipped a suspiciously neon-colored energy drink labeled "Champion's Juice: Ultimate Power Edition", which, despite its promise of "ultimate power," tasted like expired bubblegum and had the nutritional value of a wet sock.

Suddenly—ACHOO!

The sneeze was so powerful that his drink flew out of his hand, splattering across the wall in what could only be described as "modern art meets bad life choices." A nearby punching bag wobbled violently before crashing to the ground.

Hercule sniffled and grinned. "Hah! Someone must be talkin' about me! Probably praisin' my legendary victories! Maybe they're plannin' a new statue in my honor!"

But then—

A deep, ominous male voice echoed in his head:

"Be glad the world doesn't know the truth about your 'victories,' or you'd be the biggest laughing stock in history."

Before he could react, a second voice—a smug, sarcastic female one—added:

"Be grateful your daughter isn't like you—she actually works hard for her strength."

Hercule's mustache bristled, and his grin twitched. He straightened up, eyes darting around the dojo. "W-Who said that?! Show yourself! I warn ya, I got a black belt in over two hundred martial arts!"

Silence.

Then—a dark chuckle.

"Oh really? Name five."

Hercule gulped. "Uhh… well, there's… um… Hercule-Do… uh… Champion Fist… uh… Super Mega Punch-Karate… uh… uhh…"

The silence became deafening.

Then—

THUD!

His oversized championship belt, the one he had proudly displayed in the center of the dojo for all to see, mysteriously fell to the floor with a heavy crash.

Hercule let out a high-pitched shriek, scrambling onto his desk like a terrified housecat. "A-A GHOST?! NO WAY, I'M TOO HANDSOME TO BE HAUNTED!"

Meanwhile, at Capsule Corp…

BOOM!

A massive explosion shook the Gravity Room as Vegeta sneezed mid-training, accidentally unleashing a blast that nearly took off the ceiling. He wiped his nose aggressively, his scowl deepening.

"Tch. Someone must be talking nonsense about strength again." He crossed his arms, cracking his neck. "Hmph. Weaklings."

Somewhere, deep in space, an alien civilization breathed a sigh of relief that Vegeta's sneeze wasn't aimed at them.

Back at Orange Star High…

Videl sneezed suddenly, catching herself off guard. She rubbed her nose, frowning. "Who's badmouthing me?"

Then, before she could even process it, a strange voice echoed in her head—both male and female, an eerie blend of two tones.

"Nah, nobody's badmouthing you, girl. We just told your father to be glad that you're really a hard worker… unlike him."

Videl's eyes widened slightly. "What does that mean?"

"Oh, just some random facts," the voice answered casually, as if reading her thoughts.

A shiver ran down her spine.

Gohan, who had been quietly minding his own business, stiffened the moment he heard Ben's last remark.

He let out a slow, controlled exhale, already sensing where this conversation was headed.

When Sharpner tried to defend Mr. Satan, Gohan instinctively rubbed his temple, bracing himself.

As soon as Ben dropped the "Hercule Smash Deluxe Edition" comment, Gohan's eye subtly twitched.

"Oh no."

He glanced toward Videl, noticing the way her fists clenched ever so slightly. A storm was coming.

Gohan took a sip of his water, mentally preparing for disaster.

Sharpner's smug expression returned as he pointed at Ben. "Alright, big shot. Since you think you're so smart, how about this—today in gym class, you fight Videl! If she beats you, you have to squat like a duck and say, 'Hercule Satan is the best!'"

Ben smirked, unfazed. "And if I win?"

Sharpner hesitated.

Ben's smirk widened. "Then you have to announce over the school microphone that your name, Sharpner, is literally just a pun… on a pencil sharpener."

A few seats away, Gohan, who had been silently reading his book, froze. He slowly lowered it, eyes widening as he processed what he had just heard.

The class fell silent. Somewhere, a distant 'ka-ching' sound rang out from the school's stationery shop.

A student in the back choked on his juice box, while another stared at Sharpner in horror, as if he had just realized something life-altering.

Gohan's lips twitched. He wasn't supposed to laugh at this. He was supposed to be above petty school drama. But… that was good.

Sharpner's eye twitched. "W-What?! No way!"

Ben shrugged. "Oh, so you do realize your name is a pun."

Sharpner stomped forward. "That's not the point! My name is cool!"

Ben smirked. "Oh yeah? What's next? You gonna tell me your long-lost brother is named 'Eraser'?"

Gohan's breath hitched. Oh no. He felt it coming. The moment where the joke crossed from funny to hilariously absurd.

Sharpner hesitated, his mind scrambling for a comeback. But before he could speak—

Pfft—

A laugh. A quiet, suppressed chuckle.

Sharpner's eye twitched as he turned toward the source.

But there was no one.

Instead, sitting on the teacher's desk, was a single, ordinary eraser.

And it was laughing.

Gohan blinked. He even rubbed his eyes, just to be sure. "No way. That's… that's not possible."

It shouldn't have been possible. It was an inanimate object. It had no mouth. No vocal cords. And yet, there it was—shaking ever so slightly, as if suppressing its amusement.

Sharpner's face paled. "D-Did anyone else hear that?"

Ben casually dusted off his sleeve. "Huh. Sounds like even the school supplies think you're losing this one."

Sharpner slowly backed away from the desk. His whole reality was falling apart.

Videl crossed her arms, narrowing her eyes at Ben. She had known him for years, yet something felt off.

Ben was usually laid-back, uninterested in the school's usual drama. He never talked like this—so confident, so dismissive of Hercule's legacy. He had always been a little distant, but now? He was outright mocking her father.

Her fingers twitched slightly. Was he always like this, or was she just noticing now?

Gohan stole a glance at Videl, noticing the subtle tension in her stance. She's taking this more personally than she wants to admit.

"You sure got a big mouth today, Ben," Videl said, eyeing him closely. "I don't remember you being this cocky before."

Ben gave her a lazy smirk. "Maybe you just never paid enough attention. Or maybe you were too busy chewing on Gohan or too focused on Sayaman."

Gohan immediately choked on air.

The class fell silent.

Videl's eyes widened slightly before her face turned red. "W-What?!"

Sharpner blinked. "Wait… what?"

Erasa gasped, looking between Gohan and Videl. "Oh my gosh, Videl! What exactly have you been doing with Gohan?!"

Gohan frantically waved his hands. "N-Nothing! That's not what he meant!"

Videl, still blushing, snapped her head toward Ben. "You! What the hell was that supposed to mean?!"

Ben, realizing what he had accidentally implied, raised his hands in mock surrender. "Hey, hey! That's on you guys for taking it the wrong way!"

Gohan groaned, burying his face in his hands. Why? Why do things like this always happen to me?

Erasa giggled, giving Videl a playful nudge. "I knew you and Gohan had something going on!"

Videl turned even redder. "We don't!"

Ben smirked, watching the chaos unfold. "Huh. Guess I hit a nerve."

Sharpner, seizing the moment, scoffed and stepped between them. "Whatever, Ben! It doesn't matter what you say, because Videl's gonna wipe the floor with you in gym class!"

Ben didn't even blink. "I'm not a mop to wipe the floor with."

The class exploded into laughter.

Gohan slumped over his desk, utterly defeated. "This is actually happening."

Sharpner, fuming, pointed at him. "Y-You know what I meant!"

Videl rubbed her temples, exhaling sharply. "Okay, enough of this. Gym class. I'm ending this nonsense."

Ben stretched his arms behind his head, completely unfazed. "Sure. But if I win, Sharpner has to announce over the school mic that his name is literally a pun on a pencil sharpener."

Sharpner turned pale. Somewhere, the eraser laughed again.

Gohan pressed a hand to his forehead. This is getting out of control.

Erasa giggled, twirling a strand of her hair. "Oh wow, Ben, you're really full of surprises today! I kinda like this confident side of you~"

Ben blinked. "Oh no."

He had seen this pattern before—girl gets interested, Ben breathes, everything spirals into chaos.

"Uh… thanks?" he said cautiously.

Erasa leaned in, eyes glinting with mischief. "Sooo, you think you're gonna beat Videl, huh? That's kinda hot."

Ben nearly choked.

Sharpner groaned. "Oh, come on!"

Videl crossed her arms, glaring.

Gohan, already feeling second-hand embarrassment, shut his book with a sigh. "This is getting out of control."

Ben forced a laugh, hoping to steer things back to sanity. "I mean, yeah. Probably."

Erasa gasped dramatically. "Mmm, confidence. I like that in a guy and especially in you."

And then, before anyone could react—she leaned in and pecked Ben on the cheek. Just inches from his lips.

The entire class short-circuited.

Sharpner's jaw dropped. Someone's pen snapped in half. Gohan visibly twitched. Even the eraser stopped laughing.

Ben froze. His brain officially blue-screened.

Erasa pulled back with a playful smile. "That was just a sample." She winked. "If you win… you get the full version~"

The room exploded.

"WHAT?!" Sharpner shrieked.

Videl looked furious. Like a volcano on the verge of eruption.

But then—she hesitated.

Her fists clenched. Who was she supposed to hit?! Ben? Erasa? Both?

Gohan took this as his cue. He stood up and walked straight out of the classroom. "I refuse to be part of this."

Ben, still frozen, barely managed to whisper, "I—I think I just got threatened and bribed at the same time."

Erasa giggled. "Better give it your all, champ~"

Videl cracked her knuckles. The air sizzled with her anger.

Ben realized something very, very important.

He was so, so dead.

Gohan shut his book and got up. He had seen enough. "I'm leaving before this gets weirder."

"Y-yeah, let's just focus on the fight," Ben muttered, already questioning all his life choices.

Gohan walked toward the door, shaking his head. Somewhere, an eraser is still laughing… "and I hate that I understand why."

Ben chuckled, hands in his pockets. "Guess we'll find out in gym class."

Videl didn't say anything, but for the first time in a long while, she felt uncertain.

The entire class gathered in the gym, eagerly anticipating the fight. Most of them were convinced that Videl would dominate, wiping the floor with Ben. Except for one person.

Gohan.

While others watched with certainty, Gohan observed with curiosity. Something felt different.

At the center of the gym, Videl and Ben stood face to face.

"Okay, tough guy," Videl said, cracking her knuckles. "Let's see if you're all talk or if you can actually back it up."

Without hesitation, she lunged at him—fast, precise, and relentless.

But Ben… effortlessly sidestepped.

Videl frowned and struck again. A punch, a kick, a spinning elbow—each one missing.

Ben didn't even block. He just moved, slipping past her attacks like he could see them before they happened.

This continued for a few moments. Dodge. Sidestep. Pivot.

Ben made it look easy.

The spectators murmured in confusion. "Why wasn't he fighting back? Was he just playing around?"

Videl's frustration boiled over. Her fists clenched. Her teeth grit.

"Stop dodging and hit me!" she snapped.

Ben smirked. "Sorry, I don't hit girls."

That was the final nerve.

Erasa, nodding sagely: "Well, he's right!"

Then, with childlike silliness— "But I'm letting him hit me!"

Sharpner choked on air. "ERASA! YOU'RE RIDICULOUSLY BOLD!"

Erasa tilted her head innocently. "What? I'd even say 'please' if that helps!"

Ben blinked. "Wait, what?"

Videl, utterly offended, spun around. "WHOM ARE YOU EVEN SUPPORTING?!"

But Erasa wasn't listening.

Her eyes suddenly sparkled.

She turned to Ben like he was a rare, limited-edition Dragon Ball figure—signed by Akira Toriyama himself.

"You. Always you."

Sharpner buried his face in his hands. "First, he turns my name into a pun. Now, he takes the girl I'm hitting on."

Erasa gasped. "Excuse me?! I've been hitting on Ben for years—"
She immediately slapped a hand over her mouth.

The gym fell deathly silent.

Then—

"WAIT, SO THAT'S WHY YOU SET THE REWARD?!" a random student shouted.

"If he beats Videl, he gets your 'prize'—but if he loses, I get the reward instead!"

Erasa huffed, flipping her hair. "Like I'm giving you his reward! Even if he loses, I'm still giving it to him!"

The gym blinked.

They had never seen Erasa like this before.
She was always the cool, sweet girl. Always cheerful. Always friendly.

But today…

They saw a different Erasa.

And reality itself struggled to keep up.

Her stance tightened. She charged again, but there was something different now—anger.

Ben chuckled. "Hey, why are you mad? Is it because I told you the truth?"

Before Videl could explode, Erasa casually chimed in, smiling. "Oh, Ben, no one's mad at you for telling the truth!"

Sharpner groaned. "That's the problem! He keeps telling the truth, and reality can't handle it!"

The gym collectively nodded. Even the walls seemed to shudder at the sheer absurdity unfolding.

Gohan, watching intently, felt something stir in his mind. "Was Ben just lucky, or… was he reading her?"

Videl's moves were predictable to him and his friends. But Ben? He moved like he had already seen the fight play out before it even started.

As Gohan watched Ben effortlessly dodge Videl's attacks, a memory surfaced—one from just a few days ago.

Flashback

Dressed as the Great Saiyaman, Gohan was in the middle of a rescue mission, freeing a kidnapped baby dinosaur from a group of poachers.

High above the city, Videl was watching.

She had been suspicious of Saiyaman for a while now. Something about him seemed off. His moves, his voice—it was familiar.

"I know he's a fraud," she thought, determined to expose him.

When she saw him untying the dinosaur's restraints, she saw her chance.

"Gotcha!"

She lunged at him from above.

Saiyaman turned at the last second, but it was too late.

SMACK!

In an instant, Videl crashed right into him—her legs wrapped around his shoulders, and her crotch landed directly on his face.

Gohan froze.

His entire face turned red—redder than Jeice from the Ginyu Force—but thankfully, his helmet hid it.

Videl, on the other hand, didn't even realize what happened at first.

Still gripping his head, she declared, "Aha! I got you, fraud!"

But when she noticed the awkward silence—and the fact that she was basically straddling his face in mid-air—her own cheeks burned.

With a yelp, she pushed off him and landed a few feet away.

"W-what are you doing, pervert?!" she shouted, flustered.

Gohan, still stunned, waved his hands defensively. "I—! You—! That was—!"

Before he could finish, Videl stormed off, her face as red as his.

Present Day

Gohan snapped out of the memory, shaking his head. "Why did I remember that now?"

Somewhere in the bleachers, a student started questioning reality. "Wait… is he dodging, or is she just missing?"

A kid with glasses gasped. "Has he… has he already fought this battle before?!"

Another student leaned forward, whispering in awe, "Is he time-traveling?"

A nerdy student furiously took notes. "This can only mean one thing… ultra instinct!"

Gohan sighed. "It's not Ultra Instinct. But it is… something" then he questioned "hey what is ultra instinct?"

Meanwhile, Sharpner had a different reaction. He clenched his fists, veins popping. "WHY IS THIS HAPPENING?!"

Ben dodged another strike, completely unfazed. "You sure you're the strongest in this school?"

Videl growled. "Shut up!"

One student gasped. "Did… did Videl just miss five times in a row?!"

"Six," another corrected.

"I lost count after ten."

A janitor, who just so happened to be cleaning nearby, leaned in. "Back in my day, we called that 'gettin' humbled'."

The gym teacher watched all of this unfold with a single thought: "This is why I don't get paid enough."

Finally, Videl threw another punch—only for Ben to casually lean back, causing her fist to whoosh past his face.

Ben whistled. "Yikes, that was close. You almost messed up my hair."

Erasa clasped her hands together, smiling. "You know, Ben, you look handsome even with messy hair."

Ben blinked. His entire brain short-circuited.

Existential crisis: Activated.

Meanwhile, Sharpner stared at the scene, his eye twitching violently. "I CAN'T KEEP Up WITH THIS REALITY ANYMORE!"

Videl blinked.

Ben didn't have messy hair.

It was already perfect.

…Which meant—

Her punch hadn't even grazed him.

For the first time in her life, Videl missed completely. Not because her opponent dodged—but because she was never even close to landing a hit.

She stared at him in disbelief.

Ben smirked. "Getting tired?"

The entire gym collectively leaned forward.

Then—

Somewhere—

Far away—

A lone eraser… began to laugh.

Gohan sighed. "It's happening again…"

Meanwhile, Videl continued her relentless assault on Ben.

Her fists cut through the air like bullets, her kicks faster than most could see.

But Ben? He moved like he had a built-in dodge button.

A lean here. A casual sidestep there. At one point, he straight-up moonwalked out of the way.

Then, Videl's fist finally connected.

A solid punch to Ben's gut.

He staggered back a few steps.

Sharpner exploded with excitement. "Yeah! That's right, Videl! Show him what happens when you mock Hercule!"

Ben simply straightened up.

Completely.
Unfazed.

Then, he turned to Sharpner, smirking. "You're squealing like a little girl who just got her first kiss… over a single punch?"

Sharpner's face turned tomato red. "H-Hey! Shut up!"

Erasa clutched her chest like she had just witnessed the climax of the greatest romance drama ever written.

"Oh My GOSH!" she squealed, practically vibrating. "Did you see that?! He just took that punch like it was nothing! Like—like a total action movie hero! So cool!"

Her eyes sparkled as she grabbed the nearest student and shook them. "What if—WHAT IF—he's secretly some kind of legendary martial arts prodigy?! Or—OR—maybe a lost prince from another world?!"

The student she was shaking turned green. "P-please… let go…"

But Erasa was too far gone. She twirled dramatically, hugging herself. "Strong, mysterious, and snarky? Ugh, it's too much!"

Sharpner groaned. "Oh, come on!"

Gohan, watching this unfold, pinched the bridge of his nose. "Why is this my life…?"

Ben casually turned back to Videl, tilting his head. "You know, I didn't even try."

Videl's eye twitched. "You dare to mock me?"

Ben shrugged. "Mock? No, I'm just stating the obvious. But hey—props for landing one."

His smirk widened. "Alright, since you're so eager, I'll entertain you… just a little."

Videl gritted her teeth and rushed forward again.

She threw another punch—Ben dodged effortlessly.

She faked a high kick and swept low at his legs.

Ben? He casually hopped over it.

"Not bad," he admitted, hands in his pockets. "For a beginner."

Videl growled. "Stop dodging and fight me seriously!"

Ben smirked. "You sure? 'Cause if I do, you won't land a single hit."

Videl lunged forward, unleashing a barrage of punches and kicks.

To the crowd, she was blindingly fast.

To Ben?

It was like watching a snail tell a tortoise to hurry up.

No—scratch that.

It was like a snail giving motivational speeches about the importance of speed… to a rock.

Ben dodged everything with lazy precision, weaving between her attacks like he had all the time in the world.

He even glanced at his watch.

Then, with a casual sigh—"You done yet?"

A simple tilt here. A step back there. At one point, he even yawned mid-dodge.

The crowd watching was dead silent.

Sharpner, who had been cheering like a hype man at a concert, now had his jaw hanging open.

"Is he… playing with her?" one student whispered.

Gohan, watching from the sidelines, narrowed his eyes. "He's not just dodging… he's predicting."

Videl, beyond frustrated, threw a wild punch.

Ben caught her fist.

The moment he did—Videl froze.

His grip wasn't even tight, but… she couldn't pull away.

Ben smiled. "See? Told ya."

Then, with a flick of his wrist, he spun her around like a confused ballerina.

Videl stumbled forward. "Wha—?!"

She barely regained her footing, panting, sweat trickling down her forehead.

Ben gave her a cocky grin. "You done?"

Videl glared. "Not even close."

But deep down…

For the first time in her life…

She felt completely outmatched.

Ben smirked, lowering himself slightly, bringing his lips near Videl's ear.

"You know… I'm actually impressed." His voice was softer now, almost teasing—but laced with an unsettling sincerity. "You really are a hard worker. Not like your father—who steals credit from others."

Videl's eyes widened.

Her body tensed.

She jerked back, glaring at him. "What did you just say?!"

Ben stood back up, stretching lazily. "Nothing you don't already know."

Her fists clenched so tightly that her knuckles turned white.

For years, she had ignored the whispers. The rumors. The creeping doubts in the back of her mind.

She had convinced herself that her father truly was the world's greatest champion.

But hearing it from Ben—so blunt, so certain—it stung.

Her frustration exploded. With a growl, she lunged at him again.

Ben sighed. "Still not getting it, huh?"

"It was almost disappointing."

As soon as she got close—whoop!

He sidestepped casually, hands still in his pockets.

Then, with the grace of a man who's done this way too many times, he stuck out a foot—sweeping her legs out from under her.

THUD!

Videl hit the ground, flat on her back, staring up at the fluorescent gym ceiling.

The world spun for a moment.

Ben peeked down at her, arms crossed, looking as unbothered as a cat in a sunbeam.

"I'll give you this," he admitted. "You don't give up easily."

Videl growled, shoving herself back up. "Damn right, I don't!"

Ben smirked, cocking his head. "Good. Then maybe—just maybe—one day, you'll actually land a hit on me."

Silence.

The entire class erupted into whispers.

Sharpner's jaw was practically unhinged. Erasa looked like she had just seen a ghost.

One student blinked. "Did he just—"

Another whispered, "Bro doesn't fear death."

Gohan, watching from the sidelines, felt a strange sense of déjà vu.

The heavy silence in the gym was only broken by one sound—

Ben yawning.

"Alright, so when do we get to the fun part?"

Videl clenched her fists, still seething from the loss. Ben had made it look so effortless, and now, he was casually dismantling everything she believed in.

Erasa, always the peacemaker—and suddenly very, very interested—stepped in. "Hey, Ben, did you know martial arts?"

Ben stretched lazily, cracking his neck. "Nope. Never trained a day in my life."

The entire class did a double take.

"WHAT?!"

"Really?!" Erasa gasped, eyes practically sparkling. "But Videl's been training since she was a kid, and you still beat her so easily?!"

Ben smirked, crossing his arms. "It's pretty simple. She's predictable."

He shrugged, as if stating the obvious. "She's got strength, sure, but fighting petty criminals all the time stopped her from actually improving."

Videl gritted her teeth. "Tch—!"

Ben wagged a finger. "And that, right there, is why you lost."

Everyone leaned in, expecting some ancient martial wisdom.

Ben just chuckled. "I keep my head cool. But she?" He tilted his head toward Videl. "She threw a temper tantrum like a kid. I should know—I used to do the same thing when I was ten."

The gym erupted in hushed whispers.

Videl's face burned.

Meanwhile, Erasa was practically SWOONING.

Her hands clasped together, her eyes shimmering like an anime protagonist falling in love.

"Wow, Ben, that's sooo cool!" She leaned in, grinning. "You must be, like, super strong then, huh?"

Sharpner furrowed his brows. "Hey, hey, whose side are you on?!"

Erasa ignored him completely.

Instead, she giggled, twirling a strand of hair. "Ben, you should totally enter the World Martial Arts Tournament!"

Ben scoffed. "Nah. I already told you—I'm not a martial artist. And if you call those ridiculous moves 'fighting,' then you probably haven't seen a real battle."

Erasa sighed dreamily. "So mysterious…"

Sharpner deadpanned. "I hate this guy."

Ben crossed his arms. "Son Goku. Krillin. Tien. Jackie Chun. Now those guys impressed me. I rewatched their matches a few days ago—absolute legends."

Sharpner, still trying to defend his hero, scoffed. "Aren't Goku, Krillin, and Tien just tricksters? That's what Mr. Satan always says."

Ben smirked. "Sharpy, are you really asking me that after I just outclassed Videl? Are you dense?"

He tapped his temple mockingly. "Use your sharpener to sharpen your brain, man."

The class burst into laughter.

Laughter echoed across the gym. A few students even fell off the bleachers. Someone in the back wheezed, "HE TURNED HIS NAME INTO A ROAST!"

Sharpner, face burning, clenched his fists. "W-Who even ARE you?!"

Ben just shrugged. "A guy who knows how to think."

Even Videl had to suppress a smirk.

"Flawless Victory."

Sharpner's face turned so red it looked like he was about to go Kaio-Ken.

Ben stretched lazily. "Look, I'm not saying your dad didn't do anything, Videl. He was there. He existed. That's something."

Sharpner crossed his arms. "Yeah? And where were you when Cell attacked?"

Ben thought for a second. "Probably watching cartoons while eating popcorn along with an unhealthy amount of butter."

Gohan raised an eyebrow. "How much?"

Ben, completely deadpan: "40% of my bloodstream."

The gym stayed silent.

Then—

"KYAAAAA~!"

The shriek came from Erasa, who was now looking at Ben like he was the last VIP ticket to a boy band concert.

"Oh my gosh, Ben, you're so cool!" Erasa squealed, bouncing on her heels. "You're strong, you're smart, and you watch cartoons?! That's, like, the perfect guy—AND YOU'RE 40% BUTTER?!"

She inched closer, hands clasped together, eyes practically sparkling. "S-So, um… do you have a girlfriend?"

Ben blinked. "No."

Erasa squealed louder, throwing her arms in the air. "THEN MAKE ME YOURS!"

Ben barely had a second to process before Erasa grinned and whispered, "This is the full version, just as I promised."

Then—

SHE CUFFED HIS FACE AND PRESSED HER LIPS AGAINST HIS.

The entire world short-circuited.

Like it had been hit by a solar storm.

Across the Earth…

Capsule Corp – Gravity Room

Vegeta was in the middle of an intense 500x gravity training session. Sweat dripped down his forehead as he delivered a rapid series of punches—

Then suddenly—

BZZZZZT!

THE GRAVITY MACHINE SHUT DOWN.

Vegeta stumbled mid-punch and faceplanted into the floor.

"WHAT THE HELL?!" he roared, slamming his fist into the ground.

Bulma's voice came through the speakers. "Vegeta, the power just flickered! Did you break something again?!"

Vegeta snarled. "I DID NOTHING! THE WHOLE DAMN PLANET JUST GLITCHED!"

Kame House

Master Roshi was watching his daily workout tapes when suddenly, the TV screen distorted like an old VHS tape.

Static.

Then the TV shut off.

"NOOOOOO!" Roshi screamed. "WHO DID THIS?! WHO RUINED MY EVENING?!"

Dende's Lookout

Dende and Mr. Popo were watering the flowers when the sky momentarily flickered.

Dende frowned, eyes scanning the horizon. "That… that wasn't normal."

Mr. Popo, staring into the void, simply nodded. "A great disturbance has occurred."

Back at School – Total System Failure

The entire gymnasium froze.

Dead silence.

Then—

Sharpner looked like a shocked crow.

Mouth gaping.

Eyes bulging.

His whole existence rebooting.

Videl?

Her brain blue-screened.

Fist clenched.

Face red.

Processing error 404.

The students?

Every single one of them had turned into statues.

Meanwhile, Ben's Mind…

[WARNING: CRITICAL SYSTEM ERROR]
[PROCESSING…]

Ben's brain had officially crashed.

One second, he was just standing there. The next—Erasa's lips were suddenly on his.

The sweet scent of her perfume, the soft press of her hands against his face—it was like the entire world blinked out of existence, leaving only the sensation of her kiss.

Then, she pulled back, smiling like she'd just won the lottery.

"Mwah~! There! Now you're mine, Ben~!" she chirped, completely unfazed by the sudden turn of events.

Ben blinked, struggling to process what had just happened. "…"

"…Did I just… get hacked?"

Erasa's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Then let's cure it!"

Before he could react, she kissed him again—this time deeper, more insistent. Without even realizing it, Ben's mind went blank, and he found himself reciprocating the kiss. His body seemed to act on its own, drawing him closer to her. The kiss deepened, lasting for a full minute, as time itself seemed to slow down.

Ben had no idea what was happening, but in that moment, he couldn't bring himself to pull away.

Absolute Chaos Ensues

has stopped working.

has completely crashed.

Students are SCREAMING.

Reality itself is struggling to keep up.

Somewhere in the chaos, tiny Raditz clones are flying around Gohan's head, chanting "KAKABRAT! KAKABRAT!" in high-pitched voices.

And Erasa?

She just twirled away happily, humming a love song.

Ben touched his lips, still stunned. "…Did I just…?"

Sharpner finally came back to life.

He pointed a shaking finger at Ben. "D-DID YOU JUST—"

Before he could finish, the school's power cut out.

Lights flickered.

Reality cracked.

After a seemingly forever hard reboot

Videl nearly choked. "YOU'VE LOST YOUR MIND."

Erasa spun dramatically, hair flipping like she was in a romance anime. "Videl, I have never been more sane."

Videl pinched the bridge of her nose. "He literally just called my dad a fraud."

Erasa shrugged dreamily. "Yeah, but he did it so coolly~"

Ben, watching the chaos unfold, smirked. "This is a first."

Erasa leaned forward eagerly. "So, does that mean you'll make me yours?"

Ben embarrassed. "I mean, I could…"

Erasa looked like she was about to ascend to another dimension.

Videl's eye twitched. "ARE YOU SERIOUSLY ENTERTAINING THIS?!"

Ben just shrugged. "I mean, she asked."

Erasa grabbed Videl's shoulders, shaking her. "Videl, I need him!"

Videl pried her off. "What you need is a therapist."

Erasa crossed her arms. "Hey! You have Gohan!"

Videl turned red. "THAT'S NOT THE POINT!"

Ben, hands in his pockets, just grinned. "You guys have the weirdest friendship dynamic I've ever seen."

Videl groaned. "This was going to be a long day."

Gohan sighed in relief as the conversation miraculously drifted away from his dad and his friends. Finally, he was safe—until Ben, in his infinite wisdom, blurted out, "Hey! Isn't Gohan the son of that martial arts champion, Son Goku?"

The world froze. Birds stopped mid-flight. The gym teacher dropped his clipboard. Somewhere in the distance, a dramatic wind howled.

Erasa gasped so hard she nearly inhaled her own ponytail. "Wait—WHAT?! You're THE Son Goku's son?!"

Gohan's soul momentarily left his body. He considered denying it, maybe pretending to be an entirely different Gohan, but his face betrayed him. Defeated, he gave a weak nod.

Before the interrogation could escalate into a full-blown press conference, the school bell rang, a divine intervention in the form of a loud, echoing BRRRIIIINNGG!

Without hesitation, Gohan activated Ultra Instinct—okay, maybe just his gym-class sprinting skills—and vanished in a blur, leaving behind only a dust cloud and a confused audience.

Erasa blinked. "Did he just instant transmission out of here?"

Sharpner crossed his arms and scoffed. "Nah. That was just a coward's escape technique."

Ben smirked, pushing up imaginary glasses like an evil mastermind. "Oh? And here I thought you were the expert on cowardice, Sharpner."

Sharpner flinched. "…What do you mean by that?"

Ben clapped his hands dramatically. "Come with me to the announcement room. You need to make a formal declaration that your name is a pun!"

Sharpner's brain short-circuited. "Wait—WHAT?! That's not a rule!"

"Oh, but it is!" Ben produced a completely fake rulebook, flipping it open to a random page. "Article 57, Section B: 'All students with names that are terrible puns must publicly acknowledge their pun-ness before the school body.'"

Sharpner turned white as a sheet. "THAT CAN'T BE REAL!"

Ben grinned. "Oh, it's real. Just like your fear."

Sharpner let out a battle cry and BOLTED. He ran faster than burter from ginyu force, accidentally knocking over three students, one janitor, and an entire lunch table on his way out.

From the hallway, someone screamed, "HE JUST HIT MACH SPEED—CALL NASA!"

Ben dusted off his hands. "Another job well done."

Then, before he could celebrate, something GRABBED onto his arm. He turned his head slowly.

It was Erasa.

She was glued to him. Not metaphorically. Literally. There was an unsettling amount of superglue involved.

Her eyes sparkled. "Do you know how long I've waited for this moment?" she whispered dramatically.

Ben blinked. "Uhh… for me to destroy Sharpner's dignity?"

"No, dummy. For YOU!"

Ben hesitated. "Is… is this a hostage situation?"

Erasa sighed dreamily. "We're officially a couple now! Isn't it romantic?"

Ben blinked again. "You literally used superglue on my arm."

"Well, yeah," Erasa shrugged. "What if you tried to escape? I'm not making the same mistake Gohan did."

Ben stared at her. Then at the glue. Then back at her.

"…Does this mean I can copy your homework?" he asked cautiously.

Erasa giggled. "Of course not, silly! But I'll write 'I love Ben' on all my assignments!"

Ben sighed. "Worth a shot."

Meanwhile, Sharpner was still running. He would not stop until he reached another country.

Possibly another dimension.

And Gohan? Gohan was long gone. He had vanished like a ghost, never to be seen again.

At least until next period.

A few days later, Videl stormed up to Gohan, her fists clenched with pure determination.

"Alright, I figured it out! You're the Great Saiyaman!"

Gohan flinched. "W-WHAT?! WHO TOLD YOU?!"

Videl crossed her arms. "Your terrible disguise, obviously. You have the same voice, the same stupid poses, and the same habit of tripping over your own cape."

Gohan turned red. "Okay, fair… but why are you confronting me about it?"

Videl smirked. "Because you're going to train me!"

Gohan blinked. "Wait… what? Why do you want me to train you?"

Videl's eyes burned with fiery resolve. "To defeat Ben."

"…To what now?"

Right on cue, Ben and Erasa appeared out of nowhere, as if they had been summoned by the sheer force of nonsense.

Ben pointed dramatically at Gohan. "See?! Didn't I tell you she's been chewing on Gohan?"

Videl's eye twitched. "NO, YOU IDIOT! I'm asking him to train me!"

Ben frowned. "To defeat me?"

Videl clenched her fists. "HOW DO YOU EVEN KNOW THAT?!"

Ben smirked, leaning back with a knowing nod. "Oh, come on, it's obvious. I humiliated you a few days ago, and ever since, you've been acting like a certain prince who lost a fight and refuses to let it go."

Gohan's eyes widened. "Wait… that reminds me of…"

Meanwhile, at Capsule Corp…

Vegeta was mid-training, throwing powerful punches at a gravity-enhanced training bot. Suddenly, he sneezed so hard he accidentally fired a ki blast, blowing a hole through the wall.

Bulma poked her head in. "Vegeta! What the hell?! Who's talking about you now?!"

Vegeta growled, rubbing his nose. "Tch. Probably Kakarot. Or worse… another fool daring to compare me to some weakling!"

Bulma smirked. "Or maybe another person just got their ego shattered."

Vegeta's eye twitched. Somewhere, someone was disrespecting him. And he would find out who.

Back at School…

Ben smirked, crossing his arms. "Well, at least you're finally doing something useful instead of stalking Saiyaman."

Videl glared at him. "I am NOT stalking him! I just want to know who's behind that mask!"

Ben raised an eyebrow. "And then what? Hold a parade in his honor? Maybe a 'Great Saiyaman Fan Club' with matching capes and cringe-worthy poses?"

Videl's eye twitched. "NO!"

Ben smirked. "Oh, right. You'll probably drag him to an interrogation room, force him to confess his deepest secrets, and then—"

"SHUT UP!" Videl snapped, her face red.

Meanwhile, Erasa was giggling like a hyena. "Oh, Videl, just admit it! You totally have a thing for Saiyaman~"

Videl's face turned even redder. "I DO NOT!"

Ben's words were sharper than a Destructo Disc.

"Denial is the first stage, Videl. Acceptance comes next. Before you know it, you'll be writing love letters, sneaking chocolates into his locker… maybe even knitting matching capes for your Saiyaman-themed wedding."

Gohan, groaned internally: "Oh man, he's sharper than Krillin's Destructo Disc…"

Videl's eye twitched dangerously. "I SWEAR TO KAMI—"

Erasa clapped her hands together. "Awww, can I be the maid of honor?!"

Ben smirked. "Better start practicing your poses for the wedding photos."

Videl let out a guttural scream and punched a nearby tree—
Which promptly exploded into sawdust.

Ben whistled. "Yup. Hopeless romantic, right there."

Erasa giggled. "Totally adorable."

Meanwhile, the forest collectively prayed for its survival.

Videl stormed off, leaving a trail of destruction behind her.

Ben leaned toward Erasa. "Think we should tell her she's been flirting with Gohan this whole time?"

Erasa smirked. "Nope. Let's give it a few more days of chaos."

4/4/2025

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