Days passed just like that.
Trunks had been living a peaceful and carefree life. Until this very day arrived, shattering everything he thought he knew.
As usual, Trunks lazily opened his eyes, when suddenly, a boy appeared right in front of him.
"Wow~ he's adorable!" Son Gohan crouched in front of Trunks, reaching out playfully with one hand.
"Bulma Obasan, is this your and Vegeta Ojisan's son? What's his name?" As he spoke, Son Gohan gently poked Trunks' soft, pudgy cheek with his finger, over and over.
Then, with a grin, he started pulling silly faces, hoping to make Trunks giggle. But right then, Trunks wore a blank expression, eyes glazed over as if his spirit had wandered away.
Son Gohan's antics had no effect on him, as Trunks didn't so much as twitch.
His gaze was locked firmly on Gohan.
(What… what is going on here? Shouldn't Gohan be deep into his training to face the Androids? But right now, there's no battle aura around him at all, he gives off the calm presence of a scholar.)
Trunks continued watching Son Gohan, full of confusion. He vividly remembered how, in the original timeline, he met Gohan for the first time on that isolated island they had agreed upon.
But here and now, their first meeting was happening inside the Hoi-Poi Capsule Corporation.
At that moment, Bulma's voice pulled Trunks out of his thoughts.
With a warm smile, Bulma said to Son Gohan, "That's right, Gohan, this is Vegeta's and my child. His name is Trunks."
Son Gohan scratched his head, chuckling. "Trunks, I'm your big brother, Gohan. Oh, by the way, speaking of Vegeta Ojisan, how come I haven't seen him around?"
At the mention of Vegeta, Bulma's smile faltered slightly. She hadn't seen him in days, and it annoyed her.
"I have no idea. He's vanished again. Knowing him, he's probably off somewhere training by himself. Honestly… we finally live in a peaceful time, and all he can think about is more training."
The moment she said that, Trunks tilted his head, his baby mind struggling to make sense of what he had just heard.
Inside, his thoughts were in disarray.
(A peaceful time? But according to the timeline, Mom should've already discovered that the Androids are on the way.)
Trunks looked at Son Gohan in disbelief.
(Something's not right…)
The next conversation between Bulma and Son Gohan made Trunks' heart clench.
"Gohan, how's Chi-Chi holding up?" Bulma asked softly, her tone filled with concern.
Son Gohan gave a gentle smile and nodded.
"Mom's doing fine, Bulma Obasan. No need to worry. It's been a year since Dad passed, and she's… she's managing." As Gohan spoke, a flicker of sorrow passed through his eyes.
But Bulma, ever perceptive, caught it right away.
She reached out and gently patted Gohan's head. "I'm sorry, Gohan. I shouldn't have brought that up."
Gohan looked up at her and smiled again. "It's alright, Bulma Obasan. Even though Dad's gone, I'll study hard and make sure Mom lives a good life!"
Then, he resumed making silly faces, trying once again to coax a smile out of Trunks.
But no matter how hard he tried, Trunks' expression stayed the same, blank and distant, like a soul lost in the void.
Son Goku was already dead.
Trunks looked at Son Gohan once more.
(No wonder he carries himself like a scholar now… Goku Ojisan has passed on.)
And with that realization, Trunks felt like he had been struck by lightning. Trunks' heart was nearly settled on one grim conclusion. The timeline he had transmigrated into wasn't the main one, this was that bleak and hopeless future realm.
A future drenched in tragedy, beginning with the death of Son Goku from a mysterious heart illness that even the best Ki-healers couldn't cure.
Not long after, the Androids emerged.
One by one, the Z Fighters fell.
With Piccolo's death, the Dragon Balls vanished as well, leaving no way to wish back the fallen.
Son Gohan, who had once dreamed of becoming a scholar versed in both martial arts and ancient knowledge, was forced to stand alone as the final defender of Earth.
And in the end, in order to protect Trunks, he gave his life, falling tragically to the merciless Androids.
Trunks couldn't tear his eyes away from Gohan for a long time.
This warm and compassionate big brother still had no idea what destiny had written for him.
Eventually, Trunks' gaze locked onto Son Gohan's arm.
(That arm…)
The memory of Gohan with only one arm surfaced in Trunks' mind, a haunting image burned into his soul.
Tap,!
Suddenly, a sharp clink echoed through the room as something small dropped to the floor, catching all three of them off guard.
A cold, disdainful voice followed.
"Oh? Kakarrot's brat?"
Vegeta stepped into view, his gaze dripping with scorn as he stared down at Gohan, scrutinizing him with his battle-hardened senses.
"Kakarrot's son, why does your aura feel weaker than it used to? Hmph. Kakarrot would be ashamed!"
Son Gohan lowered his head, guilt and embarrassment etched across his face.
"I'm sorry, Vegeta Ojisan… After Dad passed, I let my training slip."
Bulma quickly stepped in, trying to defuse the tension.
"Hey, Vegeta! Goku's gone. Gohan is Chi-Chi's only light left. Do you really expect him to be like you, obsessed with combat twenty-four-seven? Gohan has a future as a scholar!"
Vegeta let out a dismissive snort and then turned his attention to Trunks, his eyes gleaming with pride and expectation.
A moment later, he turned back to Gohan with a cold stare.
"Listen up, Kakarrot's boy. My son Trunks will surpass you without question. After all, you're the son of a low-class Saiyan. But my Trunks carries the blood of Saiyan royalty, my blood. If you don't want to be outdone by him, I suggest you return to your training… or you'll disgrace Kakarrot's legacy!"
Once again, Gohan bowed his head in silence.
[Yeah… If Dad hadn't died, I probably would've kept training, right?]
Hearing Vegeta's harsh words, Bulma couldn't help but roll her eyes in frustration.
"Alright, alright, we get it. Your son's amazing. You talk like you're the only one doing anything around here. Ever think about me? We're done with this conversation!"
As she watched Gohan standing there, slowly maturing through hardship, Bulma's heart ached for him.
To her, Gohan's path was undeniably tragic; a child barely old enough to understand the world, he lost his father and was thrust into the burden of guarding the future.
Chi-Chi is a proud and fiercely independent woman. After Goku's death, Bulma offered help, but Chi-Chi refused every time, insisting she'd rely on her own strength.
Trunks locked eyes with Vegeta, studying him with quiet intensity.
(Hmph. Dad's words are still as cutting as ever.)
Suddenly, Vegeta's body tensed ever so slightly as a strange, ethereal voice echoed in his mind like a whisper from beyond.
In that instant, Vegeta's entire worldview seemed to shake.
[Dad? Did I just… hear that right?!]
(End Of This Chapter)