The fish aroma had been so strong it clung to the air outside.
For two hungry kids, it was torture.
Goku and Chi-Chi sat outside to cool off.
Soon they heard frantic bathroom scrambling.
Chi-Chi stared. "What's wrong with them? Why are they running to the bathroom?"
"They're food-poisoned. Launch didn't remove the pufferfish toxin properly."
Chi-Chi gasped. "Good thing we didn't eat."
"Yeah. Blessing in disguise."
She smiled faintly. "Goku, you know a lot."
"…"
Having a constant little cheerleader wasn't so bad.
They kept chatting, when Chi-Chi's face suddenly turned bright red.
Her stomach growled loudly.
Goku smiled. "Hungry?"
Chi-Chi nodded, embarrassed.
"A little…
But still better than their diarrhea."
"True."
Just then, Launch came out carrying two roast chickens.
"You two starving?"
They startled. "Launch? You…"
She put a finger to her lips. "Shh.
Goku, thanks again for saving me today.
These chickens just finished cooking.
They've got stomachaches, so they can't eat.
You two take them—one each."
Goku and Chi-Chi lit up.
Chi-Chi said sweetly, "Thank you, Auntie Launch!"
Launch chuckled awkwardly. "Call me big sister."
Chi-Chi corrected quickly. "Thank you, big sister!"
Launch smiled. "No problem.
Eat up. If you need more carbs I'll bring some."
"Thanks, Launch!"
The two kids huddled in the shadows, tearing into chicken like wolves.
Chi-Chi broke off a drumstick.
"Goku, I can't finish a whole one. Here—you eat this leg."
"Thanks!"
Chi-Chi blinked. "Wait, wasn't that blonde Launch just now?
Why is she so gentle to you?"
Goku shrugged. "No idea. Whatever—this is so good!"
Chi-Chi tilted her head. "Goku… does Launch like you?"
Goku flailed. "Don't talk nonsense. Wrong generation!"
Chi-Chi thought it over. "Yeah… true."
Roshi and Krillin spent the whole night on the toilet.
They were so weak the next day they had to rest.
Launch was fine since she hadn't eaten the fish.
So she cooked different food the next day—still delicious.
This time Roshi and Krillin had no fortune to enjoy it.
Goku and Chi-Chi ate happily three meals a day.
A wonderful day passed.
On the third day, dawn at 4:30 a.m., Roshi woke Krillin, Goku, and Chi-Chi early.
Facing sunrise, he began teaching after years of retirement.
"Turtle School martial arts training begins now.
First, the meaning of training!"
They stood before him respectfully.
"Martial arts isn't for winning fights or bullying with power.
Training strengthens body and mind, gives abundant energy—
so you can live a joyful, meaningful life."
Goku felt a faint doubt.
Training to live joyfully?
He'd grown up with winter-in-the-snow, summer-in-the-heat brutal practice.
Harder work meant bigger growth.
He buried the thought and listened on.
"But when evil uses violence to threaten or harm others,
we must stand up and strike them down."
"Understood?"
"Understood!" they answered.
Roshi nodded. "Train hard, and enjoy life.
Now—training starts!"
"Follow me. Warm-up run first."
"One-two-one! One-two-one!"
Krillin: "One-two-one!"
Goku: "One-two-one!"
Chi-Chi: "One-two-one!"
Krillin smirked.
"So this is Master Muten's training? Not that tough."
Soon they reached a milk company.
"Stop!"
Roshi talked to the worker.
"Hi, I'm Master Roshi. I called yesterday about milk delivery work."
"Oh! Master Muten. Here are the addresses, and the milk."
Roshi turned to the three kids.
"Each of you take one crate. Follow me.
Don't be late."
Krillin blinked. "Deliver milk?"
Chi-Chi: "This is training too?"
"Yes. Training."
The worker was stunned.
"You're delivering by foot? Not using a helicopter?"
Roshi snorted. "A helicopter defeats the purpose.
Relax—we won't be late."
He checked the first address and hopped off down the road.
"Keep up!"
The three disciples hopped after him.
The island was mountainous; the houses were scattered.
At first it felt easy.
But they had to climb up and down constantly, zigzag on roads, or frog-jump across slopes.
Goku managed thanks to his physique.
Krillin and Chi-Chi were drenched in sweat.
Still, Roshi had planned the distance and weight carefully so all three could finish without collapsing.
They delivered the last milk crate at a temple.
Roshi chatted with a guard.
"Long time no see."
"You're still going strong. You took three new disciples?"
Roshi nodded. "Just started training.
They'll have bright futures."
Krillin grinned. "Master says we'll be successful."
Chi-Chi giggled. "Hee hee."
Goku raised a fist. "We'll work hard together!"
Roshi mentioned the World Martial Arts Tournament.
"If you train properly, in eight months you can enter the tournament."
"Really? That's impressive."
Krillin's eyes shone.
"Eight months and I can join a tournament where the strongest gather?!"