The Tournament of Power had ended just a few hours ago, and Goku was on Earth resting after all the madness he had lived through. The excitement of fighting warriors from other universes still coursed through his veins, and a silly smile remained on his face as he recalled each battle.
"It was incredible." He murmured to himself as he walked through the halls of Capsule Corporation.
Bulma had organized a small celebration for the Z Warriors who had participated in the tournament, and although Goku was not much of a fan of parties, he could not refuse when food was involved.
When he entered the main hall, he noticed that everyone was already there. Vegeta was leaning against a wall with his arms crossed and that usual expression that said "I don't want to be here." Piccolo was sitting in a corner away from everyone, meditating or simply ignoring the festive atmosphere. Krillin, Android 18, Gohan, Videl, Trunks, Goten, and the others were scattered around the place chatting among themselves.
"Goku! You're late!" Bulma shouted from the other side of the hall with her hands on her hips.
"Sorry, sorry. I got distracted training for a bit." He replied, scratching the back of his head with a smile.
"Sure, as always." Bulma rolled her eyes but did not press the issue further.
Goku headed straight for the food table and began filling his plate without wasting any time. As he did so, Gohan approached him with a serious expression that did not go unnoticed.
"Dad, can we talk for a moment?" He asked in a low voice.
Goku glanced at him out of the corner of his eye while continuing to fill his plate. "Sure, Gohan. Is something wrong?"
"It's about the tournament. About what you did."
Goku froze and turned completely toward his son. The smile on his face faded as he noticed the seriousness in Gohan's eyes.
"What do you mean?"
Gohan sighed and looked around as if making sure no one else was listening. Then he turned his gaze back to him.
"You put the entire universe at risk just because you wanted to fight strong people, Dad. Do you realize that?"
The words hit Goku like a direct punch to the stomach. He did not expect Gohan to say something like that to him, much less in that tone.
"I. I just wanted—"
"Wanted what? To have fun?" Gohan interrupted, his tone rising. "If we had lost that tournament, we all would have been erased. Earth, Mom, Goten, Videl, Pan. Everyone."
Goku pressed his lips together, not knowing what to say. He knew Gohan was right in a certain sense, but he also knew that if he had not proposed the tournament, Saevia probably would have erased the universes anyway without giving them any chance at all.
But before he could explain that, Vegeta approached with that sharp look he always had when he was angry.
"The brat is right, Kakarot." He said with his arms crossed. "You always do whatever you want without thinking about the consequences. This time we got lucky, but what will happen the next time your stupidity gets us into trouble?"
"Vegeta." Goku murmured in surprise.
He never expected Vegeta to side with Gohan on something like this. He always thought that he, more than anyone, would understand the desire to fight strong opponents.
But it seemed he was wrong.
Piccolo also approached with his arms crossed and a serious expression. "Goku, you know I respect you as a warrior and as a friend, but this time you crossed a line. You put everyone in danger because of your selfishness."
"Selfishness?" Goku repeated incredulously.
"Yes, selfishness." Piccolo affirmed without hesitation. "You didn't think about anyone but yourself when you proposed that tournament."
Goku looked around, searching for support from someone else, but all he found were looks of disappointment or indifference. Krillin looked away every time their eyes met, Android 18 simply ignored him, and Bulma. Bulma looked at him with a mix of anger and sadness.
'What is happening here?'
It felt as if the ground were opening up beneath his feet.
"Listen." He said, trying to remain calm. "I know what I did was risky, but if I hadn't proposed the tournament—"
"We would have been doomed anyway." Gohan interrupted firmly. "Because Saevia-sama never would have thought about erasing the universes if you hadn't given her the idea."
That was not true. Goku knew it because he had spoken with Seraphiel after the tournament, and she had made it clear to him that Saevia already had plans to reduce the number of universes long before the tournament.
But no one seemed to want to listen.
"Gohan, you're wrong—"
"I'm not wrong!" Gohan shouted, completely losing his patience. "Stop justifying yourself and accept your responsibility for once!"
Silence fell over the hall like a heavy slab. Everyone had stopped talking to watch the scene unfolding before them.
Goku clenched his fists at his sides as he felt a growing pressure in his chest. He did not understand why everyone was attacking him like this when he had only tried to protect them by giving them a chance to fight for their survival.
'Why does no one understand me?'
Vegeta let out a disdainful snort and turned away. "Do whatever you want, Kakarot. But don't count on me the next time your idiocy gets us into trouble."
With that said, he left the hall without looking back.
Piccolo also withdrew in silence, casting one last disappointed look at Goku before disappearing through the door.
Gohan stared at him for a few more seconds before shaking his head and walking away toward where Videl was holding Pan in her arms.
Goku remained standing there in the middle of the hall, feeling completely alone despite being surrounded by people.
Bulma approached slowly with her arms crossed and a tired expression on her face.
"Goku." She said softly. "I think you should leave for today."
"What?"
"Go home and think carefully about what you did." She repeated firmly but without raising her voice. "We all need time to process this."
Goku opened his mouth to protest, but the words did not come out. He simply nodded slowly and left the full plate on the table before heading toward the exit.
When he stepped outside and the cool air hit his face, he felt a knot in his throat that he could not swallow.
'What did I do wrong?'
He lifted his gaze toward the star-filled night sky, trying to find an answer that did not come.
And then he felt it.
A familiar yet different presence watching him from somewhere far away.
He instinctively tilted his head upward, and for a brief second he thought he saw two figures floating in the space between the stars before disappearing completely.
'Saevia-sama? Seraphiel?'
But when he blinked, there was nothing there.
He shook his head, thinking it had only been his imagination playing tricks on him after such a heavy day.
Without another thought, he rose into the air and flew toward his home on Mount Paozu with a weight in his chest that did not disappear no matter how much he tried to ignore it.