Chapter 7
By now Videl had decided to go home. Her walk through the Western Capitol didn't make her feel any better. It was depressing to see the faces of the people in the streets, people who had lost hope in the future. Even though peace had been restored, some people still continued to live in fear. They have never recovered from the horrors of the past years.
As she was turning to go home a poster caught her eye. It announced the upcoming Tenkaichi Bodoukai which will be held in 3 weeks time. The prize money was 5000 zenis.
"Hmmm....that's interesting," she thought to herself. She didn't need the money, her salary was enough to support herself and her father. They never had expensive tastes anyway, not since her father had lost his spirit to the cyborgs. But she longed for a good fight, to see how good she was against other fighters. "And maybe he would be there," she thought before she caught herself. "Now why would I think that? He might not even be alive..." But she couldn't help thinking about Son Gohan, the first boy she had ever had a crush on.
It was 15 years ago that she noticed the new boy in her class. He introduced himself as Son Gohan and he was very polite and very intelligent. And he looked mature for a 13 year old, as though he had seen unspeakable horrors in the past. But then, nobody could retain their innocence for long in this world, where death and destruction was a very real threat, and you never know, it could be you next. Son Gohan was very strong, even though he never showed off his incredible strength. He even tried to hide it, Videl suspected. She saw him one day, surrounded by 7 big boys, the school bullies. She had wanted to help him. She knew she could easily beat one boy, but she never faced all seven before. But she was determined to help Gohan anyway. Maybe then he'll notice me. But before she could do anything, all seven boys were suddenly down on the floor. Son Gohan walked up up the leader and held out his hand to help him up. This, of course embarrassed the leader even more than his shameful defeat and he just ran away, red-faced. The others followed suit. Needless to say, they never tried anything when Gohan was around. Videl was impresed. She's never seen anything like that before. Actually, she didn't even see what happened. It was that fast. Videl was intrigued and so she was even more determined to get to know him.
Gohan was kind to her. He would help her with her homework, and they always did their homework together, even the ones she could do by herself. She'd asked him about his strength. "I've been training," was all he said. And when she told him that her dad was going to fight the cyborgs, he was silent for a long time before saying,"Tell him, don't do it." Why? She demanded. Did he think her father, the Great Mr. Satan wasn't strong enough? He was silent again. Then he said quietly, "Nobody can beat them. At least not yet." But he didn't say what he meant by that.
Later of course, Mr. Satan suffered a terrible defeat at the hands of the cyborgs. Videl stayed off school for a month to care for her father. During that time she had also done some research. She found an ancient text in the library about seven magical balls which could grant any wish. Videl was excited about this find. It seemed implausible, but anything's worth a try. If it were true, then they could simply wish the cyborgs away and the world would be safe again. But when she told Gohan about the balls, he just turned away and said grimly "The Dragon Balls don't exist anymore. Even Kami doesn't exist anymore." But when he saw her face drop, he lifted her chin and said softly to her," I'm sorry Videl. I didn't mean to crush your hopes. Don't ever give up hope, no matter what."
A week later Son Gohan quit school. That was the last she ever saw or heard of him. A few days later, her school was destroyed by the cyborgs, and she lost more friends. Now, all that remained of her childhood friends are Shapener and Ireeza, who is now Shapener's girlfriend.
Videl shook her head as the memories faded away. Yes, she
decided, she'll enter the Bodoukai. But she won't tell he father.
He wouldn't be able to even bear her mentioning it. After the
incident with the cyborgs he hid his champion's belt and all
pictures of him as the champion. She understood and never said a
word, though it saddened her to see her father like that. But now
she was excited again, as she headed off to train for the
upcoming Bodoukai.