The cries of seagulls floated in from beyond the horizon, where fish leaped from the sea, scattering shimmering ripples.
It was April, the season of blooming flowers and warming weather.
Dr. Omori's southern island residence was at its most pleasant this time of year.
As evening fell, the vast horizon blazed with stunning clouds of fiery red. Tights had been lounging on a beach chair reading, trying to gather inspiration after a bout of writer's block. The unexpected arrival of Yamiru, Son Goku, and her sister Bulma turned out to be a delightful surprise. The group chatted leisurely on the breezy shore, enjoying the cool sea air.
Dr. Omori eventually invited them all to stay as guests, and Yamiru readily agreed.
"Not searching for the Dragon Balls anymore?"
Although Son Goku had been happily playing with crabs and shrimp along the shoreline, he seemed puzzled by the idea of staying overnight.
Yamiru chuckled. "There are only two left. We can afford to take it easy."
Son Goku nodded in understanding.
"Dragon Balls?" Tights asked in surprise, recalling a legend Yamiru had mentioned before. "Are you saying those mythical objects that can grant wishes actually exist? Is that what your trip is all about?"
"Yep!" Son Goku exclaimed cheerfully.
Bulma then rummaged through Goku's pack and pulled out a gleaming orange orb. Holding it up to her sister, she said, "Look! This is one of them. I found it in our warehouse at home."
Tights marveled at the shiny orb adorned with two stars.
Goku emptied his bag, causing the other Dragon Balls to roll onto the tatami mat. The Four-Star, Five-Star, and Seven-Star Dragon Balls all joined the Two-Star Ball, glowing softly in unison as if breathing.
"They're gorgeous," Tights said, kneeling to inspect them. "So you're using some kind of gadget to find the rest, right? There's no way you're just stumbling upon them by chance."
"Smart as always," Yamiru replied with a grin.
"Dad made this Dragon Radar," Bulma explained, pulling it out and pressing a button. The radar zoomed out, showing their current position in the center — marked by a red triangle — alongside four golden blips indicating their gathered Dragon Balls. Scattered across the display were three additional blinking dots representing the remaining ones.
"That's so convenient," Tights remarked. "Typical Dad."
"I could've made it, too!" Bulma piped up proudly.
Tights smiled before turning to Yamiru. "Do you really believe in the legend? Or is this just an excuse for an adventurous journey?"
"If it were just for the journey, I wouldn't be flying. Walking would've been more immersive," Yamiru joked. "Legends often have a kernel of truth. Even if the whole thing isn't real, there's usually something to them. Besides, didn't you once say that chasing dreams itself is a way to fulfill them?"
Tights laughed. "I was just being poetic. Novelists are like that."
Yamiru shrugged. "No joke. I do have a wish, and it's better to realize it sooner rather than later."
If it's delayed too long, even the Namekian Dragon Balls might not suffice, let alone the Earth's. As for the Super Dragon Balls, it's best not to dwell on such far-off dreams.
"What kind of wish is that important?" Tights asked, intrigued.
"You'll find out eventually," Yamiru said, keeping it a secret for now.
Tights's expression shifted subtly as she seemed to contemplate something. Yamiru noticed and asked, "What's on your mind?"
"I'll join you guys on your search for the Dragon Balls," Tights suddenly announced, her eyes sparkling. "I've been struggling with writer's block, and Jaco hardly visits anymore now that he has a girlfriend. Traveling to find objects that grant wishes sounds like the perfect source of inspiration!"
"You've been to outer space with Jaco?" Yamiru asked in awe.
Tights smirked. "Jealous, aren't you? Ordinary Earthling."
Yamiru played along. "So jealous!"
The two were chatting so animatedly that they forgot about everyone else. Meanwhile, Dr. Omori returned with plates of simple food, only to wear a sour expression at their apparent camaraderie.
Glancing outside at the darkening evening, Bulma was watching Son Goku with fascination. He was using his tail skillfully to toy with a giant crab.
Wait — tail?
"Something's wrong!" Dr. Omori cried in alarm. "Son Goku's tail — how did it grow back?"
Yamiru, who had been happily chatting with Tights, glanced up at Goku's tail and casually remarked, "It's just a tail growing back. That's normal, isn't it? Like when your nails grow long after being cut."
Tights glanced at Yamiru's hands, grabbed one, and examined it. "They are a bit long. Let me cut them for you." She went off to find a nail clipper.
Yamiru called out toward the outside, "Bulma, can you check if the moon is full tonight?"
Two years ago, Bulma had witnessed Goku's transformation into a Great Ape. Yamiru trusted her intelligence and memory, knowing she wouldn't forget such a unique alien trait.
Bulma's voice quickly responded, "Don't worry, it's not a full moon!" She clearly understood why Yamiru had asked.
"Full moon?" Goku, whose tail was caught by a giant crab, slumped to the ground in defeat. Hearing Bulma's words, he looked up at the sky, puzzled. "What does that have to do with anything?"
Bulma, young and unfiltered, explained directly, "Don't you know? If you have a tail and see a full moon, you'll turn into a giant ape. It's really scary and dangerous."
"Scary…" Goku was stunned for a moment but quickly shrugged it off. "Oh, well, not much I can do about it."
Inside the house, Tights called the two kids in for dinner.
As Yamiru ate, his gaze alternated between the ravenous Goku and the quiet Bulma. What he didn't notice was that Tights was discreetly observing him, realizing that his attention was on the two children.
After dinner, Yamiru seemed lost in thought, sitting alone in the living room.
"Not helping with the dishes is quite rude, isn't it?" Tights sat beside him and began clipping his nails, her tone casual. "What are you thinking about?"
"Oh, I was just lost in thought. Are the dishes done? My apologies." Yamiru offered his hands obediently. "I was thinking about a special technique I've just conceptualized… Honestly, I'm starting to admire my own brilliance. But I'm not sure if it'll work. I'll need to test it."
Snip. Snip. Tights clipped his nails and asked curiously, "What are you rambling about?"
Yamiru grinned. "You'll see soon enough. If it works, it'll be amazing."
Snip. Tights cut another nail and asked, "What about Goku's tail? Shouldn't we get rid of it?"
Yamiru raised a finger, winking. "That's exactly—"
Tights grabbed his hand. "Stop moving. I'm not done yet." Yamiru obediently let her continue.
"It's not a full moon yet, so there's no rush. Besides, if he accidentally transforms, I'm confident I can handle cutting off his tail mid-transformation."
"Wow, you're really something now, huh?" Tights teased, blowing the nail clippings off his fingertips.
"What do you think I've been doing for the past two years at Mount Paozu? Why else would I travel all that way to train under Gohan?" Yamiru said, raising an eyebrow.
---
Just as Yamiru said, there was no rush to find the Dragon Balls.
The two young adults, along with two children, enjoyed several carefree days on Dr. Omori's island.
At Yamiru's current level, pure hard training had diminishing returns. He had sensed that he had reached a bottleneck.
Thus, apart from daily exercises to stay active, Yamiru reduced his training intensity. This change was natural, following his instincts. Forcing progress when at a standstill could harm long-term growth.
The Turtle School's philosophy was clear: Work hard, but rest plenty.
This applied not only to daily practice but also as a guiding principle for a martial artist's lifelong journey.
At the right stage, do what is appropriate for that stage.
Forcing oneself to push past clear limits, obsessing over breakthroughs without rest, could harm both the mind and body.
Reaching one's limits was the body's way of saying, "It's time to rest."
As a qualified martial artist of the Turtle School, Yamiru naturally recognized this and acted accordingly.
So, on Dr. Omori's island, he spent time chatting with Tights, taking small boats to the mainland, and strolling through coastal towns. The relaxation was blissful.
Despite living on Dragon Ball Earth for years, Yamiru's time integrating into modern urban life was brief. He had been too busy either lost on his path or struggling forward, barely avoiding setbacks that could have crushed him. Finally taking a proper break to explore felt refreshing, though his naivety often made him seem like a country bumpkin.
Luckily, Goku, the bigger bumpkin, made him look better by comparison. Yamiru contentedly patted Goku's head.
"Ah! It's so cold!"
Goku yelped as Yamiru ruffled his hair. He was walking on Yamiru's left, holding an ice cream cone. The cold made him fluff up, with both his hair and tail standing on end.
Bulma, on the other hand, walked to Tights's right, delicately licking her strawberry chocolate ice cream. Her gaze toward Goku, across the two adults, was filled with disdain. What an idiot.
The group wandered into a café at the street corner.
"Two years ago, we talked here, didn't we?" Tights said with a smile at the entrance. "You had someone with you back then — the one you rescued from the pirate ship, right?"
"His name was Zanpa," Yamiru nodded. "I'm not sure if he made it back home safely... He said he wanted to become a professional fight manager, though. I wonder if he's found a fighter he likes."
Tights smiled and suggested, "Aren't you amazing? Why don't you let him be your manager? I heard professional fighters make a lot of money."
Yamiru shook his head with a smile.
"Let's go inside." Tights walked into the café's revolving door, turning back with a smile. "Remember, 'Next time we have the chance, you'll tell me more stories', that's what we promised two years ago, right?"
Yamiru stood there, stunned for a moment, then smiled and followed her inside. "Yeah, so does this count as fulfilling the promise we made two years ago?"
The four of them sat down at the café.
Goku took a sip of coffee, frowned at the bitter taste, and refused to drink any more.
Bulma, surprised, couldn't believe there was something this gluttonous idiot didn't want to eat.
"You were so serious and gloomy two years ago," she rested her chin on the table, "I didn't dare ask about your situation. But now, you seem much better. So can you finally talk about what happened? Why, when you should have already been at Mount Paozu, were you captured by those bad people?"
Yamiru stayed silent, holding his coffee cup. Suddenly, he asked, "Bulma, did you bring the watch band that Jiora used?"
"Huh?" Bulma, who had been waiting for the story, was caught off guard by his sudden question. "No… It's at home."
Yamiru nodded. "Could you please go get it? I might need it later. Let Goku use the Nimbus to fly you back, and you'll be back in no time."
"Aren't you coming?" Bulma asked, confused.
Yamiru smiled faintly, but the smile faded quickly. He stared calmly into the coffee cup. "I don't like to go backward in the middle of a journey."
"Alright." Bulma nodded, jumping to her feet. Goku followed her toward the door.
"Goku, take the radar with you, and don't get lost on the way back," Yamiru reminded.
Once the two kids left, Tights raised an eyebrow, smiling. "Is your pride that strong? You don't want the kids to see that side of you?"
Her smile caught Yamiru off guard.
"It's not that… Well, maybe a little," Yamiru said, taking a sip of his coffee. He then began to slowly recount the hardships he faced under the Crane Hermit and Tao Pai Pai.
As he spoke, he realized that the brutal memories, which he thought he had long forgotten, were still fresh in his mind — clear as if they had just happened yesterday. The images of the innocent people who died at Tao Pai Pai's hands, the desperate pleas for help as they were tortured, their eyes filled with both anguish and hatred, were vivid and alive.
After two or three years, Yamiru's heart ached once again.
"It wasn't your fault…"
He wasn't sure how long he had been speaking, but at some point, Tights had tightly grasped his hand, looking into his eyes with deep sincerity. "It wasn't your fault, understand? Those people were indeed pitiful, but their deaths, their suffering, shouldn't fall on your shoulders. Don't blame yourself like this. Your situation back then was no different from theirs. The one at fault was the person you spoke of — the one named Tao Pai Pai."
Yamiru wanted to rub his red eyes, but his hands were firmly held by Tights.
"Cry if you need to," Tights said softly, not letting go. "If you want to cry, it's okay. I won't laugh at you."
Yamiru replied, "Who's crying? It's just the coffee is a little strong."
He gathered his composure and looked down at the coffee cup.
His hands, holding the cup, were covered by Tights's soft, warm hands. The coffee had long since cooled, but their hands were still warm — almost scalding. In fact, a visible heat was rising from them.
Tights was stunned to realize that the warmth in her palm wasn't just an illusion.
Instinctively, she let go of his hand, and she saw a faint white glow emanating from Yamiru's hands.
"I told you before about Ki," Yamiru winked at her. "It's real, I wasn't lying, was I?"
"Ugh, you're so annoying." Tights sighed in relief.
---
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