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“Where ya goin’, Goku!?” Krillin shouts over the sound of the rain. “We were just catching up!”
I smile at my friends as I look over my shoulder. It has been a long time, but one of the most important lessons I learned on Kami’s lookout is to always keep your mind at peace. On a drizzling day like this, nothing sounded more peaceful than a little stroll along Papaya Island.
Okay, maybe I’m also a little curious about the competition.
“It’ll be a quick walk,” I promise with a smile. “I’ll catch ya in the preliminaries!”
The rain is falling harder now, but the sound of the droplets hitting my umbrella is soothing.
I glance to the left of me. I see King Chappa walking with Man-Wolf and Pamput. I wonder if they remember me. We nod in passing and I continue down the wet tiles.
I stop and stare at a woman who is shielding herself from the rain by using a pamphlet. I smile to myself. Doesn’t she know it’s not doing much to keep her dry?
Silly.
I approach her and stand beside her. She glances up, wondering why the rain has suddenly stopped. Her eyes widen at the sight of an umbrella, and then her eyes grow even bigger when she turns to face me.
“Hi,” I say quietly. “Not a good day to forget your umbrella, huh?”
She stares at me without a word.
I blink.
Then turn red.
Why is she looking at me like she knows me?
“Excuse me…” I try again. “Do I know you from somewhere?”
Now I’m the one with wide eyes as she finally opens her mouth. “How dare you, Son Goku!”
She growls like Dr. Brief’s cat and turns to leave.
Something is telling me not to let her go.
Very gently, I grab her wrist.
...and she slams me down.
With my back on the soaked tiles, I’m looking up at her as she’s looking down at me. Her face is as red as mine, but I think hers comes from anger.
Is it strange that I think she looks so cute?
Especially when I’m sure she wants to beat me up?
“Whoa,” I chuckle. “Save that for the tournament. I’m going to have to watch out for you.”
She opens her mouth, then closes it. I think her brain is working on saying something. She opens her mouth again.
“You really don’t remember me, do you?”
Ohhh. Believe me. I will never forget a girl like you - if we had met.
“No… I’m sorry. Would you mind telling me your name?”
She growls again.
I feel my nose running.
I quickly wipe it with the back of my hand.
It’s red.
...Why is my nose bleeding like Master Roshi’s!?
“Can you please stop doing that?”
“Doing what!?” she snaps and my whole body twitches.
“Stop makin’ those noises and talking to me like that! You’re giving me a nosebleed!”
She places her hands on her hips. I am seeing for the first time that she is wearing the same navy robe as me to cover her fighting clothes.
“Not my fault you’re so easy to take down.”
I guess she thinks my nose bleed is coming from her attack that landed me on these tiles.
I’ll take it.
“Well, miss, I’m saving my strength for the preliminaries.”
“Hmph.” She crosses her arms over her chest and looks up at the sky. The clouds have parted and there is no more rain. “Looks like you haven’t been up to much the last few years.”
The last few years?
Did I know her when she was younger?
I squint as I look up at her face that is staring at me once again.
Black bangs, large chocolate eyes, those cute lips…
Ah, man. I have seen her before…
Think, Goku, think…
“Sometimes rain is nice,” she mumbles to herself. “We don’t see much of it on Fire Mountain.”
....Fire Mountain?
Wait a second…
“CHI-CHI!?” I sit straight up and grab my damp hair. I point a shaky finger at her as I look her up and down. “You… You grew up! A lot!”
She pinches the bridge of her nose, but I can see she’s fighting a smile. When she lowers her hand, she offers it to me. I accept it and she pulls me up.
“I could say the same about you.”
I watch her as she bends down to pick up my umbrella. She closes it and puts it behind my back inside its case. When she comes back to face me, her smile is finally there.
Why is it making my stomach hurt so much?
It feels like there are...butterflies in it?
Is that even possible?
“Well…” Chi-Chi smiles sadly and I know there’s more she wants to say. “I’ll see you at the tournament, Goku.”
“Wait.” I don’t know why, but I grab her by the hips. Her cheeks turn as pink as mine feel. “Uh…”
She blinks. “...What?”
Why is her voice so sad?
“Are you okay?”
She shrugs her shoulders. “Do you remember a promise you made to me when we were younger?”
“No,” I tell her honestly while staring into her eyes. “I’m sorry, but I don’t. Was it a big promise?”
The way her eyes lit up, I expected her to get angry again. She surprised me by sighing and shaking her head.
“Forget it. Guess I’ll have to knock your brain around a few more times to get you to remember.”
Her hands slide up my sides and she hugs me goodbye. I notice her eyes are closed so I do the same, wondering if it does anything special for my memory.
My nose is against her forehead, and I can smell the scent of Fire Mountain and papayas.
It makes me smile.
“Good luck Goku,” she whispers and I open my eyes. “You’re going to need it.”
She winks at me and my face burns up all over again.
I watch her backside as she walks away. I want to run after her, but Krillin’s voice is coming from behind me.
“C’mon, buddy! They’re giving out numbers! You don’t want to miss your chance!”
As Chi-Chi disappears inside the tent, I clench my fists.
No.
There’s no way I’m missing my chance.
“Comin’!”