Goku and Chi-Chi traded faster and faster blows.
Soon only blurred afterimages remained in the air,
along with the rapid pap-pap-pap of fists and feet colliding.
After a fierce clash, both sprang apart, separating. Round one ended.
Chi-Chi wiped sweat from her brow.
"Goku, you're so strong.
That move where you suddenly flashed behind me—I almost couldn't dodge!"
Goku laughed.
"I'd been preparing that for a while,
and you still dodged. You're really strong too!"
"Hehehe, don't praise me or I'll get cocky!
I'm going to beat you!"
Goku raised his stance. "Come at me. I won't lose!"
The crowd had forgotten to clap.
The match was too breathtaking.
They couldn't see every punch, but they could see the bodies—
moving like lightning, bursting with brilliance.
"So strong!"
"Are these really kids?!"
"Amazing!"
"Of course—this close to the finals, everyone's showing the real thing!"
In a flash, the next round began.
Chi-Chi stomped and charged, headlong.
Goku flickered aside, dodging her headbutt—
but before he could counter,
Chi-Chi changed mid-move, smashed an elbow into his face,
then immediately followed with a straight high kick that struck his chin.
Goku groaned and flew backward.
Chi-Chi knew she'd finally knocked him off balance—
this was her chance.
She stomped forward and kicked at him again.
At the last instant, Goku snapped his waist upward, dodging.
Chi-Chi swept past his back.
Goku rolled and landed, steady.
Chi-Chi landed too.
She spread her hands, grinning.
"Let me show you what I learned—see if you can catch me!"
Goku blinked. "Huh?"
In the next instant, Chi-Chi vanished.
Afterimages of Chi-Chi surrounded Goku.
"Afterimage Fist?"
"Hehe, cool, right?"
Goku grinned. "My turn!"
He punched toward one shadow.
Bang!
Chi-Chi was blasted away, hitting the ground.
She groaned, "You cracked it already… so close!"
Then Goku took the same stance.
"Your Afterimage Fist isn't there yet. Watch mine!"
He vanished too—multiple Goku afterimages whirled around her.
Chi-Chi guarded, scanning.
Suddenly she spotted the real Goku among the shadows.
Her eyes lit up.
"Found you!"
She kicked at the real one—
but her foot passed through only a shadow.
Her pupils shrank. "Oh no!"
Before she could withdraw her kick,
Goku's real body appeared and slapped her stomach.
Thump!
Chi-Chi flew backward—
landing in the grass just outside the ring.
Her bright eyes blurred with tears.
"Waaah… I lost…"
The referee shouted,
"Chi-Chi is out of bounds—Son Goku wins!"
The crowd burst into roars and applause.
"Magnificent! Absolutely magnificent!"
"So worth watching!"
"That little girl was incredible too!"
"Don't cry, Chi-Chi! You're already amazing!"
People began to comfort her.
But she kept crying.
Bulma looked at Chi-Chi sitting in the grass and started walking over to soothe her.
But before she could reach her,
Goku jumped down from the ring and helped Chi-Chi up.
"Don't cry, Chi-Chi!
You're almost catching up to me already—you were amazing!"
Chi-Chi trembled in his arms and hugged him back.
Tears slid down her cheeks.
"Waaah, Goku, I lost…
Do you not like me anymore now?"
She pulled free, eyes watery as she looked at him.
Goku wiped her tears and smiled.
"Of course I do. You're so cute—I really like you.
But my dream is to become the strongest martial artist.
So you've got to work hard and keep up with me!"
Chi-Chi froze, then her eyes shone again.
"I will!
After the tournament, let's keep training together, okay?"
Goku ruffled her head. "Yeah. That's what I was thinking too."
Chi-Chi beamed.
"Then I'm going backstage first!"
"Okay!"
She hopped away cheerfully.
Bulma, who'd been about to comfort her, stood there stunned.
"Wait… seriously?"
"Did I just… get my home stolen?"