Master Roshi froze for a second, then asked with curiosity, "Oh? So it's Gohan!
It's been a long time!"
Son Gohan greeted him. "Teacher, you've been doing well lately, right?"
Roshi laughed smugly. "Of course. Ever since I started taking care of my health,
I watch beautiful women do yoga every day. Living another three hundred years won't be a problem.
By the way, why are you here?
Don't you still need to stay on Paozu Mountain looking after the kid?"
Gohan chuckled. "Teacher, people grow up.
That child I picked up back then… he's twelve now. He doesn't need me looking after him anymore.
A little girl showed up on the mountain. She seems like a good kid,
so I let him follow her down the mountain to get some experience."
Roshi nodded, suddenly understanding.
"So that's how it is. Time really flies… I can't believe that kid is already grown.
But why did you come to see me?"
Gohan straightened up, serious as can be. "Master Mutaito—no, Teacher Roshi.
I want to ask you a favor."
Seeing how solemn he was, Roshi asked, "What kind of favor?"
"I want you to take that child as your disciple."
Roshi blinked. "Why?
Is the kid not listening?"
Gohan sighed.
"It's the opposite. He listens too well. He's extremely sensible.
I'm always pushing him to train hard, you know.
But the more he trains, the harder he pushes himself—
to the point where it's starting to feel like too much."
Roshi scratched his head. "Too much?
What do you mean?"
Gohan explained, "He's loved training since he was little. That should be a good thing.
But maybe I was too strict with him.
All these years, he's trained far too relentlessly—
even sacrificing sleep and leisure time to practice.
And because of that, I'm worried.
If he ever goes down the wrong path… that would be a disaster."
Roshi thought of the Crane Hermit and raised an eyebrow. "How's his talent?"
"Talent? He's a once-in-a-generation prodigy.
He's only twelve, but his strength is already about the same as mine."
Roshi sucked in a cold breath.
"Wow. If that's true, the kid really is a genius!"
Gohan nodded. "Exactly. He's a martial arts genius, and that's why I'm scared he might stray."
Roshi nodded seriously. "Alright. Then I'll accept.
What's his name? I'll keep an eye out for him."
"Son Goku. He's special—he has a tail. You won't miss him."
Roshi's pupils shrank.
Little Goku's image flashed through his mind.
Right—he had an extra tail.
Roshi had assumed it was some kind of decoration.
Because Goku came with a pretty girl named Bulma,
Roshi's attention had been on Bulma the whole time.
He hadn't really looked at Goku.
Now that he thought about it, the kid had a staff on his back too.
Wasn't that the Power Pole Roshi brought down from Korin Tower
and passed to Son Gohan?
How did he not recognize him?
Man, the world really is small.
Still… any kid who can ride the Flying Nimbus has to be a good kid.
Character-wise, no issues at all.
Roshi replied at once, "Alright, I get it.
When I run into your grandson, I'll help teach him."
Gohan bowed deeply. "Thank you, Teacher!"
"We're master and student for decades now—no need to be so polite.
Want to stay for a meal?"
Gohan shook his head. "Not today, Teacher. I still need to travel.
I promised Fortuneteller Baba I'd work for her as a security guard.
I have to get there before dark."
Roshi nodded. "Ah, I was just being polite anyway. Go on, then."
Gohan didn't feel awkward at all. He bowed properly again.
"Then I'll leave Goku to you.
I won't bother you any longer. Goodbye, Teacher!"
"Goodbye!"
With that, Son Gohan left.
Roshi watched him vanish like a gust of wind,
then turned and headed back into Kame House.
…
Although Bulma had wet her panties earlier, it was summer and warm,
and the Nimbus had great airflow.
Before long, everything dried naturally.
Bulma was too embarrassed to let Goku notice,
so she didn't waste time changing,
and continued traveling with him on the Flying Nimbus.
At this point Bulma wasn't in a rush to find all the Dragon Balls.
So she adjusted their route a bit, deliberately heading toward East City.
Around sunset, the two arrived over the big metropolis of East City.
East City wasn't as glamorous as West City,
but the difference wasn't huge—
basically just one Capsule Corporation's worth of GDP.
Commerce was thriving, and the food scene was especially rich.
Bulma said, "Goku, it's almost dark. Let's stay in East City tonight."
Goku sat on the cloud, already half-asleep.
"Sure. Whatever you say."
Bulma was a little surprised.
Having him run all the way here kept him full of energy.
But sitting on the Nimbus for half a day had nearly put him to sleep.
Bulma said, "Goku, this district is lively.
Today we got the Nimbus,
and we picked up a Dragon Ball smoothly too.
How about we celebrate?"
Goku tilted his head. "How do we celebrate?"
He didn't like noisy entertainment.
Bulma thought for a moment.
She knew Goku too well—he wasn't into typical leisure activities.
Besides fighting, the only thing he truly loved was good food.
She brightened. "Goku, want to stroll through the night market food street?"
Before she even finished, Goku's sleepy face snapped awake.
His back went straight, eyes shining.
"Really? With my appetite, a food street is going to cost a lot…"
Bulma waved it off, smiling. "Doesn't matter. Eat all you want.
I'm not short on money. Order whatever you like, just don't waste."
Goku immediately hugged her arm, looking up at her with gratitude.
"Bulma, you're seriously way too good to me!!!"
Bulma: "…."