Raditz was sitting on a chair, his face marked with intrigue, as he watched the boy inside the healing capsule.
(Hmmm! He's kind of nice… Wait, why am I thinking that?! «This is weird», I know I've never had a girlfriend, but I don't swing that way) — thought our black‑haired warrior, a little confused. Dwelling on these thoughts only made him more nervous. He kept repeating to himself, "I don't swing that way," over and over.
Wait, what am I thinking? Did the fight against the bald guy affect me, or was it the blow from that commander? … Maybe I should relieve some stress in the training room… No, no, no and no! Better not. Anyway, all that's there are nothing but walking annoyances, self‑proclaimed 'high class.' I don't even know why they belittle me and call me weak. It's obvious I'm the only strong one among them — he said, in a tone of weariness mixed with irritated grunts.
He was lost in his thoughts. Because of this, he didn't notice someone approaching from the kitchen; to be exact, a female figure. The figure touched him gently with her hand, pulling him out of his trance. When Raditz turned his head, he saw his mother, Gine, who looked at him with concern.
(What's wrong with my little one, why is he acting stranger than usual? Could it be puberty? He's still young, he doesn't think about that! And more importantly, why did he bring a stranger here?) — Gine wondered, while hugging her son.
~~ "Are you alright, Raihatsu‑chan?" ~~ she asked.
[Note: 雷髪 (raihatsu) = "lightning hair" (an invented compound, strong and stylized).]
"Of course, Gin… I mean, Mom," he replied, puzzled.
"Why do you ask?"
~~ "Well, son, you've been making faces ever since you sat down to watch your 'guest.' Are you okay, or do you have problems? Remember, I'm here for you." ~~
He was a little startled, opening his eyes as he realized he had been so absorbed in his thoughts that he forgot his mother was nearby, exposing his bad habit of talking to himself. Seeing her son's continued silence, Gine asked again if he was alright.
Raihatsu‑chan grew nervous about telling his mother of his small mental struggle. After thinking it over, he remembered his need to vent, and with a small sigh, he decided to tell her about his torturous day. As he recounted each event, his mother listened attentively.
After finishing his monologue, Raditz sighed, half‑relieved. In contrast, she only wore an expression of worry across her face, her mind running through the fact that her son, for better or worse, had gone through a lot.
(I know there's hatred between the elites and the lower ranks, but I never imagined it to this extent. And I can't believe that even with my son's power, they belittle him and consider him a mistake. Oh, my raihatsu love, no matter what, I know you'll overcome these difficulties.) — Gine reflected, before asking obvious questions.
"In your first hour of the day, did you face a 'muscle‑bound, annoying, stubborn bald man'? And did you meet and speak with Prince Vegeta? And didn't a long time pass before another situation came up where you had to fight the bald man again?" — she asked.
"Well, ha, ha, I think that's basically what happened; I swear I wasn't looking for trouble," Raditz answered, a little nervous, but calmer now, seeing his mother's expressions and being able to get the situation off his chest.
Gine shook her head, trying to soothe the boy. Seeing that he was still nervous, she shifted from an interrogative attitude to a more protective one, wrapping him in a gentle maternal embrace — one arm stroking his hair softly, the other pressing against his body to comfort him. Raditz was enveloped in his mother's hugs and caresses. Thanks to all this, he felt calm and happy. At last, he was able to relax after this crazy day.
A few minutes later, Gine, sensing that her son was no longer so tense, ended her embrace and asked him to be strong. Wanting to improve the atmosphere, she began to think about what was missing in the house. At that moment she remembered there wasn't enough food, so she smiled softly and asked Raditz to go buy more supplies. Seeing that his mother wasn't asking further questions that might put him in a worse spot, Raditz nodded and headed for the door, not without first bidding farewell to his beautiful mother.
As he left the house, on his way to fetch provisions, he hummed the opening theme of the Majin Buu saga, "Ángeles fuimos." The boy kept humming the song nonstop as he walked straight toward the lower‑class marketplace.
In the distance, a giant wooden sign could be seen, reading "Lower Market" in red letters. Below that sign was a medium‑sized board resembling a shop advertisement. The board was made of dark wood with white letters that read: "Looking for quality goods at a good price? You're in luck! Just walk down the path to the last shop and you'll find GLORY."
Reading such an extravagant title, one could almost hear a cheap TV announcer with an angelic chant in the background when the word "GLORY" was spoken.
After a few minutes of walking, the protagonist passed the sign and board without paying them any attention. He turned right and took a path. Along that path were different clay houses with signs, dirty in appearance, the clay a dull gray, and doors of light brown. The most notable of these shacks were the ones with brown signs and black letters. These signs read things like "Convenience Store" and "Real Butcher Shop." There was also a dusty sign that once seemed white, now reading "Blacksmith," above a pile of ashes.
For some reason, he ignored all the signs and the burned‑out house. He kept walking straight down the path until he stopped at one particular house.
This house was peculiar compared to the others, being the only shop with flowers on its sides. It was made of hardened clay, painted beige, with a dull blue door, and above it a distinctive yellow sign painted in red letters that read "Zers."
Upon opening the door, the interior was immediately different. It was far more spacious than it appeared from outside. Inside, it no longer looked like a simple house with a cute sign. For example, instead of a beige entrance, the place was painted ivory white. It had large glass shelves like those of a supermarket, divided into sections.
These shelves had small lights, and in each space there were labels with names to identify each item. There were displays ranging from alien vegetables to meats of different cuts and sizes. And to top it off, all the products were perfectly arranged in their respective showcases.
The shop seemed popular in every sense, judging by the number of people inside. Many were choosing products, while others were employees. The employees wore beige pants, black shoes, and red shirts with white lines printed on them, resembling a cricket board.
Near the glass displays was a counter. Behind it stood a bird and a burly man. The man had messy black hair, dark eyes, and wore a white apron stained with grease. Beneath the apron was a low‑class warrior's armor, and on his right arm he carried what looked like a red cloth. Raditz greeted the man with a small bow. The man looked at him and smiled kindly.
— "Little Kumo. Enough with the bow, it's not necessary, Uncle Zers knows you well," he said warmly. "Sales have skyrocketed! Your idea of using those transparent boxes was a complete success, and that sign too!" he exclaimed with excitement. Then Zers began congratulating Raditz for starting his path as a warrior. For some reason, his attitude changed when he noticed the gleaming combat armor.
(Note: Kumo = lightning)
— "Wait a second, that beautiful armor… is it one of the mid‑elite class? Tell me, boy, did you steal it from someone? I can't believe it, you little rascal, I already told you if you're missing something I can help you," Uncle Zers scolded.
— "Thief buu!" the parrot jeered.
Hearing what his uncle and the bird said, Raditz tilted his head and explained himself to Uncle Zers.
— "First of all, I didn't steal anything," he said, looking at both his uncle and the bird. "Second, UNCLE, we've already talked about you calling me Kumo!" he retorted.
— "But you are little Kumo!" Zers insisted.
— "Wicked junior! Brua! Brua! Hair and personality of Kumo. KUMO, KUMO, KUMO!" the parrot squawked.
— "DON'T SAY IT SO LOUD! Someone could hear you!" Raditz shouted, blushing slightly and feeling nervous, glancing around to see if anyone was listening. "I didn't steal anything, this belongs to me."
— "Are you telling the truth, little one? If you are, then tell me, where did you get that armor? Those armors cost a lot, you know. For a low‑rank salary, a child couldn't afford one. Little Kumo, it's not good to lie to your uncle," Zers said, not believing a word, and thus growing more worried about Raditz.
Some people overheard the family conversation. Seeing the armor, they began to murmur, "Thief."
— "No, uncle," Raditz replied. "Well, I just came to buy the usual supplies, please." He said, giving no importance to the matter of the armor, and began to stroke the bird.
— "…Raditz, leave Neo and answer the question…" Zers retorted, ignoring his nephew's request and the murmurs of the bystanders. Raditz began to sweat. He knew his uncle's temperament and that his attitude was not easy to confront. On top of that, people kept staring at him and saying things that weren't true. Because of this, even with doubts, he began to explain how he had obtained the armor—though leaving out certain details and being careful not to reveal anything that might worsen the situation.
His uncle nodded at the start of the explanation. As it went on, Zers made faces at the things he heard, sometimes astonished, sometimes worried. Meanwhile, the bystanders were also surprised.
In the end, Zers was still confused. Even with doubts about what he had heard, he decided to ask more questions. To him, everything Raditz said seemed like mere excuses, a fantastical story to avoid telling the truth. Yet at the same time, he wanted to believe him. After all, his little Kumo had always been a good and peculiar boy. After a few moments of thought, still doubtful, he chose to believe him. To ease the atmosphere, he changed his attitude and tone toward his nephew.
— "Little Kumo, this… this is incredible! I knew you were strong, but this… You're fabulous! Fighting against a mid‑class elite! Wow! And meeting the prince!" Zers shouted, excited. He was so happy that he began giving small pats to his powerful and incredible Kumo.
[Note: Haha, Kumo — what a heroic name, lol.]
— "Little one, this uncle is very happy. I knew you were destined for great things," he said in a calmer, affectionate tone. "Now that I remember, I still haven't given you your gift. Besides, you're already seven years old. Let's see… oh yes! This uncle has heard of a tournament that will begin in half an hour. Surely you'd love to fight more. Hehe, what do you say, little one?"
— "…Uncle… I… I don't want to cause you trouble," Raditz replied sadly. Though in his mind he was puzzled, because he didn't know Saiyans had that kind of entertainment. (This is very different from Dragon Ball. The theories and fics don't seem accurate about what happened here… or maybe it's just me? Damn, now I wish I had the manga.)
— "Don't worry, this uncle has been saving for a long time," Zers said in a calm tone, trying to reassure Raditz. But as he finished his sentence, he put on a sad expression.
— "Uncle? Are you alright?" Raditz asked, a little frightened and puzzled by his uncle's demeanor. That expression was one Raditz had seen once before…
…
[Flashback]
Three years earlier…
We see Raditz alongside Gine, both holding hands as they walk down the path of the Lower Market.
Raditz is even smaller, with rounder cheeks, wearing a peculiar headband tied around his head, staring into nothing with a thoughtful frown, showing he is lost in the realm of his thoughts. Gine, on the other hand, looks the same in appearance, hairstyle, and clothing, but her expression is different—her eyes reflect sadness and a trace of pain. In her right hand she holds Raditz's little hand, and in her left she carries a small box labeled "Hanan Tea."
Raditz, as usual, is completely oblivious to his surroundings. Instead, he is thinking about Dragon Ball. His mind is filled with a train of thoughts on how to improve his training and his plans for the future of his adventure.
[Note: Ufff, OH MY GOD RADITZ! AUTHOR FACEPALM]
Raditz was so absorbed in his thoughts. Being absent‑minded, he didn't notice his mother speaking to him, let go of her hand, and entered the shop in front of him.
After a few minutes, Raditz was still standing in the same spot until he smelled food coming from a nearby house. He approached and saw a Saiyan woman eating a giant piece of meat. His stomach growled, and he finally realized his mother wasn't there. The boy looked around nervously and asked:
— "Mom, where are you?" Raditz said, searching for her.
After a moment, he noticed the shop next door. As he approached the house, he saw a sign lying on the ground. On it was written "Zers and Nova." Not knowing where else to look, he ventured toward the door of the establishment and went inside.
Upon entering, he was surprised to see the entire place in complete disarray. Pieces of glass and wood were scattered across the floor. Raditz looked at the scene, confused, thinking, "What the heck happened here?!" Just then, a little bird began flying near him. The hungry boy started to visualize his new prey. The raw bird felt a thirst for blood, certain it would end up fried if caught. Without wanting to meet the fate of birds past, the parrot flew faster, like a soul chased by the shinigami (god of death).
In his attempt to catch the little creature, the boy didn't notice where he was stepping and slipped on one of the shards of glass lying on the ground.
Meanwhile, deeper inside the house, Gine was consoling a bearded man. Sadness filled the air around them. Both had devastated faces, their features lined, their eyes red from crying for a long time.
The man didn't seem to respond to Gine's comfort. She stood up, carrying the box of tea with her, and entered the house, leaving the man behind. As Raditz fell, he landed on something soft—instead of crashing onto the glass, he fell onto the sorrowful man. The boy didn't understand what was happening, but still confused, he smiled and touched the man's chin. The man looked at the boy, who was smiling at him, and asked, somewhat bewildered:
— "Boy… what are you doing on my lap?"
[End Flashback]
…
Zers looked at his nephew, shook his head, took a deep breath, and answered with a warm smile, "I'm fine."
— "Well, this time you're going to take double, right?" he asked, changing the subject. "Here, take the ticket." After that, he asked one of his assistants to attend to his nephew, while the others dispersed the nosy onlookers.
A while later, Raditz returned home. In one arm he carried all the supplies, and in the other, the ticket. Upon entering, he greeted his mother, placed the items on the table, and tucked the ticket into his pocket.
— "Mom, I'm back."
— "Ohh, darling, finally…" she replied happily. "Thank you for everything, son. Dinner will be ready soon. You can relax now."