NOVEL NEXT Chapter 6: Chapter 6
(Meanwhile on Earth...)
Krillin was adjusting the belt of his suit as he looked at himself in the mirror, trying to look presentable for the party at the Capsule Corporation. He knew that, since it was Bulma's birthday, all the Z-warriors would be there, and he was excited to be reunited with his old friends. However, when he came out of the bathroom, he noticed that Android 18 was still in the bedroom, with an annoyed expression on her face.
"Are you ready, 18?" he asked, trying to keep his tone friendly. "I don't want us to be late, you know how Bulma gets when someone is late..."
Android 18 looked at him with her arms crossed. "Really, Krillin, in a suit again? When was the last time you wore something other than your work clothes or that ridiculous police uniform?"
Krillin blinked, surprised. "Well... it's a party, I thought I wanted to look formal."
"For who, Goku or Vegeta? I don't think they care, Krilin, and you know I don't dress up just to comply either."
Krillin felt the shock of her words. He knew that Android 18 didn't really like to attend these meetings, but she always ended up agreeing for him. However, it was getting harder and harder to keep the small tensions between them from surfacing at times like this.
"18, this is important to me. We see so little of each other with the others that I thought... I don't know, we could enjoy the party together, you know?"
Android 18 let out a cold laugh. "Really, and when did you ask me if I want to go? Krillin, you have no idea how exhausting it is to always live up to the 'perfect wife' image. I don't even feel comfortable surrounded by them... it's like I'm always out of place, it's like I'm never finished fitting in in the first place."
"But that's not true," Krillin replied in frustration, moving closer to her. "You're as much a part of this family as any of us. Besides, Marron gets really excited when she goes and gets to see Goten and Trunks. It's not just about us, is it?"
Android 18 pursed her lips. She knew he had a point, but she couldn't ignore the resentment she felt every time she was forced to blend into Krillin's world. Even though she tried to fit in, there was always something that made her feel different, almost as if she could never quite fit in, maybe it was that she still didn't like Krillin's friends very much, maybe it was because she knew that she wasn't the same as them, maybe because she was an android and she wasn't the same as the rest, which stirred up an uncomfortable question inside her that she didn't want to think about now.
"Maybe if you weren't so conformist about everything, I wouldn't feel like you always have to drag me to these events," she spat, shooting him a hard look. "Sometimes I feel like you try too hard to fit in, Krilin, and don't realize that you end up ignoring what I want."
The comment struck a chord, and Krillin took a puff of air in surprise. "Conformist? I'm doing everything I can to make it work between us! You knew this world would be a part of our life. You can't ask me to ignore my friends just because it makes you uncomfortable."
Tension grew between them, and for a moment, they were both silent. Finally, Android 18 sighed, dropping her shoulders. "All right, I'll go. But I want you to understand that I'm not doing it for them... I'm doing it for you and Marron."
Krillin nodded, feeling somewhat relieved. "Thank you, 18. I appreciate you making this effort...I know it's not always easy."
She gave him one last look, and though her words still held some harshness, there was a hint of resignation in her tone. "Don't forget, Krillin. Just because I'm here, doesn't mean I'll always be a part of that world."
Krillin didn't respond. He knew that in a way, Android 18 was right.
(Back to Mira, Beerus and Whis...)
It didn't take long to get to Earth and once there we just had to head to where the Saiyan ki were concentrated, which to my no surprise were gathered in the capsule corporation for Bulma's birthday or so it seemed.
'Interesting, so here Bulma's birthday is at the Capsule Corporation like in the movie and not on a Cruiser like in the manga or Anime, interesting.'
"Well, now where can that Super Saiyan God be?" thought Beerus out loud while touching his chin, to which I sighed. I was tired of chasing the Super Saiyan God who I knew wasn't here anyway, plus having several characters from my childhood gathered in one place made me curious.
'Will they all be there? Gohan, Piccolo, Tenshinhan?' I thought silently. 'There's only one way to find out.'
With Whis guiding us, we ended up the 3 of us falling into the capsule corporation and running into Vegeta like in the movie who upon seeing Bills had, the same reaction as in the movie upon remembering the power Beerus possessed.
'Apparently Grand Kai already warned him of our arrival.' I thought having a bit of fun with Vegeta's expression.
And while Beerus was still talking to Vegeta evidently having a bit of fun terrorizing the poor guy, I noticed that our meeting had not gone unnoticed by everyone present.
"So formalities aside, tell me Young Prince, have you by any chance heard of a Super Saiyan God?" Beerus asked with a tone of curiosity.
Before Vegeta could say anything, Bulma stepped forward with a confident smile. She had no idea of the true identity of our companions, so she quickly examined us, with a mixture of curiosity and excitement. Seeing Vegeta's tension, she assumed that these "strangers" must be acquaintances of hers.
"Wow, Vegeta, you finally brought your friends to one of my parties!" Bulma said, clearly pleased, as her eyes lingered on Beerus, then Whis, and finally me. "Welcome! I didn't know Vegeta had such... refined friendships."
Beerus raised an eyebrow at the comment, looking at Bulma with a mixture of surprise and amusement. Whis, for his part, maintained his usual enigmatic smile, while I tried to remain neutral and not laugh at Bulma's confusion.
"Well, well, uh... I..." Vegeta started to reply, visibly uncomfortable, but before I could correct her, Bulma had already turned around to lead us inside the party.
"Come on, don't be shy! You can help yourselves to anything you like," she said enthusiastically, clearly delighted to have new guests. "Besides, this place needed a touch of formality, you guys fit right in!"
Beerus, looking at Vegeta with an expression of calculated patience, decided to play along. "Thank you for the invitation, ma'am." Beerus said with a formal tone, clearly hilarious with the situation.
"Oh who knew and they're polite too." Said in a surprised tone Bulma. "Maybe you should learn a thing or 2 from them, no?" She said looking at Vegeta with a scolding look.
We entered the main courtyard, where the party was in full swing. Most of the guests were focused on eating and chatting, but some, like Gohan and Piccolo, noticed our entrance and looked at us curiously. The presence of Whis and Beerus, with their robes and airs of authority, did not go unnoticed.
"Vegeta, would you like to introduce us to your... friends?" asked Bulma, arms crossed and one eyebrow raised, visibly amused by their discomfort.
Vegeta gulped, shooting a glance at Beerus and Whis. "Uh... they're... Well, this is Lord Beerus and this is his assistant, Whis," he finally said, not mentioning their true identities. "And... he, uh..." he looked at me with an incognito face as if trying to recognize me.
"I'm Mira, nice to meet you." I said catching everyone's attention and in response some even waved at me in return, which made me smile a little.
'I can't believe I'm here talking to them.' I thought excitedly as my fanboy mind tried not to implode with the situation I was in.
"Oh, nice to meet you," Bulma said, shaking Whis' hand enthusiastically. "I hope you enjoy the party - and if Vegeta brought you, you sure have to be interesting!"
Beerus smiled slightly, accepting Bulma's hospitality. "Let's hope the party is up to the standards of a god..." he muttered, though quietly enough for only Vegeta to hear, leaving him even more tense.
Meanwhile, I stood in front of my childhood heroes, and couldn't help but watch everyone, curious about the gathering. Vegeta, Gohan, Piccolo, Tenshinhan... It seemed like they really were all there.