Raiden hated school. With a passion.
He had never really noticed it before but he hated sitting still. He had spent the last few years of his life flying around and fighting random people he found in the woods so he never really noticed before. But now that he had to sit down and listen to a teacher ramble on about calculus, it was becoming apparent.
"Raiden pay attention," Bulma whispered next to him. Digging one of her elbows into his side.
"But it's so boring," he groaned as he forced his crumpled form of his desk and sat up straight in his chair.
"Well, it's not fun for me either when I have to tutor you at home just so you don't fail half the classes," Bulma said. "And it's for easy classes too, how are you failing Japanese? You speak Japanese!"
"Well speaking it isn't the same as having to analyze all those stupid texts," Raiden grumbled as he turned his attention back to the teacher.
Bulma just rolled her eyes and also turned her focus back to the teacher. The two had also been in enough detentions together for talking in class, and she'd rather avoid that today.
The day passed slowly and agonizingly as Raiden struggled to get through the classes. Months had passed since he had started school and summer vacation was right around the corner. That meant he had 2 whole months of training to just himself in preparation for the World Martial Arts tournament.
He wondered how Goku and Krillin's training with Master Roshi was going. Something he had noticed as time passed the last few months was that he could recall less and less of the details that happened in the dbz universe. It was perfectly natural of course, he didn't expect to remember the whole manga after a whole 16 years had passed since his death.
But it did worry him. He pretty much knew how everything progressed until the tournament of power, but after that, it was a mystery. Hell, he didn't even know how the tournament ended, his reckless driving had stopped him from finding out.
But after months of brainstorming, he did think of a way to keep up in power to all the aliens and incoming Saiyans. Ultra-instinct.
When he was initially thinking of ways to get stronger ultra-instinct didn't even cross his mind. Goku always used super Saiyan blue when he went into ultra-instinct so he subconsciously linked the state of thoughtless reaction to the Saiyan transformation. But that wasn't how it worked.
"C'mon Raiden let's go class is over," Bulma said snapping him out of his thoughts. Raiden nodded and they both made their way out of the school after saying goodbye to their friends. Well, Bulma's friends really.
Raiden hadn't really tried to get close to anyone else while he was at school, he knew people well enough that he could say hi and ask for homework but that was as far as the acquaintance went.
"Wanna grab some food before we go home? I've been hungry ever since 5th period." Bulma said as she left her group of friends behind.
"Yeah sure, but I'm picking the place this time. I swear if I have to deal with reporters at those high-end restaurant's one more time I'm gonna lose my mind."
"Well unfortunately that comes with having the world's richest and most beautiful teenager as your best friend," Bulma said cockily.
"Tch. You don't really have much competition do you, seeing as your my ONLY friend."
"Well, what about Goku? You can't say you're not his friend. We spent like a whole month traveling together."
"Goku's not exactly a friend. He's more like a little brother. Anyway, we're going to that ramen place by the corner. It's too small for any reporters to be hiding out there." Raiden said as he led Bulma through the busy streets of west city to a quieter part of town.
At the corner of one of the streets, there was a small ramen shop dwarfed by the surrounding stores. Raiden and Bulma walked in and were greeted by the tantalizing smell of freshly cooked ramen that they were familiar with.
They quickly sat down at one of the booths and waited for someone to take their order.
After they both got their orders Raiden brought up something he had been waiting all day for.
"Hey Bulma in a few day's I'm probably going to be leaving," Raiden started.
"WHAT! I thought you were going to finish high school. You can't just leave now, we still have a whole year left," Bulma said in shock.
"Wait, wait let me finish at least," Raiden said trying to calm her down. "I'm leaving just for the summer. With the world martial arts tournament coming up I can't stay in the city. It's just way too hard to focus on my training here."
Bulma raised an eyebrow. "What, are you saying I'm a distraction?"
"Uhh, Kinda. I mean it's not you, just that in the city I don't have the space and calm I need to be able to train all out."
"But for what? What do you even need to train for? You are already the strongest, aren't you? Why put in so much time and effort for something you've already perfected."
The question threw Raiden for a loop. Why was he training so hard? He was already the strongest on Earth. And even in the future when the threats that the Earth faced got stronger the other members of Earth guardian's would step up to fight them.
He already knew the future. Goku, Gohan, and eventually Vegeta would be on Earth to protect it from future threats. So what was the point of his training? The Dbz would keep on going without him interfering, he was free to just live a peaceful life on the side.
No, he couldn't think like that. It wasn't just the Dragon Ball Universe anymore. It was his home. He wouldn't let himself become a side note that just watched as his friends and family fought off dangers.
Anyway, he had already changed the present by just existing. Who was to say the future was also set in stone, just his presence might have caused a butterfly effect that would significantly impact the future.
"Thanks, Bulma, I needed that talk," Raiden said as he got his mindset to training for the upcoming dangers. " I'll meet you back home, I've got to pack my things for when I leave," he said as he ran out of the shop.
"Huh, what talk?" Bulma said as she watched Raiden run out of the ramen shop. "Wait don't leave me here you idiot," she yelled as she quickly paid for their food and ran after him.
My memory of DBZ is fuzzy but at one point when Bulma was older didn't she wish(or talk about wishing) to be a few years younger with the reasoning being that if she went to far back people would think she got plastic surgery.
Just mentioning this cause if the mc wants to be a good "friend" with her maybe he could suggest an anti-aging wish to her. Or perhaps just her just wishing that she aged slowly.
Also is the mc completely banned from wishes or just ones that make him more powerful? So if he wishes to be very lucky would that be granted? Or if he wanted to be a harem mc could he wish for that?
Anyway good chapter. I think the memory thing should be more worryingly for the mc. Perhaps he should make a journal of what he remembers now. Would have been better if he did that when he was really young.
It was said at some point that Bulma for once while gathering the Dragon Balls to look 2 or 3 years younger, she just didn't want to be 5 or 10 years younger because it would make people think that she had plastic surgery, but she really for once while wanting to look a little younger, so she still looks pretty even though she's a little worn out haha
Meatbun delivery~
Thank you for the chapter ( ●w●)
Me: "Welcome back"*slurps ramen*
A certain yellow haired boy with an orange themed outfit with a headband: *comes to the ramen stall* "the usual please!"
Me: "...is that.." drops chopstick*
In the end, Raiden realized that this is the last memory he remembered when waking up in these rough lands of woods.
After opening his eyes, the sky is too bright, so he closes his eyes again and covering it with his right hand.
With his eyes closed, He can slowly feel the rough grounds, with, and gravel behind his back, while feeling a little vague pain that he didn't knew where it comes from.
Taking a deep breath, Raiden Open his eyes again. The sky is rather red-orange-ish. He finally realized that the sun is probably setting, and it's rather late to go back to Bulma's home.
Oh, Bulma.
Raiden start wincing and cover his head in frustration.
"Damnit !! she's probably worrying about me again. She will be quite anoyying when teasing me, especially when I got home late and get scolded by her parents, and then they will my parent and mom will scold me from telephone again. Ugh, this is why I hate school."
After rambling to himself, Raiden stop wincing and realizing that this day isn't just his usual running away from school stress he usually done.
He remembered something important is missing as he's trying to remember why he's passed out here in First place.
He's trying to remember that moment he tries to Run away from Bulma after that talks, as usual. The Ramen shop is rather interesting, no more paparazzi and the food not that bad.
And then He's going to train in forest with his Ki again,
He finally remembered !!
Right at this moment of memory returns, Raiden's body is suddenly overwhelmed by PAIN and
"AAAAAGGHHHH"
PAIN
PAIN everywhere, covering his senses from his head to his toe, and his view is rather skewed, the world is shaky and look bluury with red.
"UGHIWBLUGHUEEEEEKK"
Raiden throw up to his right side and the liquid mixed between red with yellow.
The overwhelming PAIN stops and now it's just some body ache and low painful sensation upon his whole body.
He can start recognizing some vegetables ramen topping in the vomit pool he just made.
He start to sob and Hiccup after vomiting.
With small pain filling his senses, Raiden tries again slowly gather his thoughts again after remembered what happens.
He has Ki Overload !
But Raiden doesn't feel like calculating how worse he became yet. He didn't like sitting in rough grounds near his vomit pool.
Raiden can barely wake up and slowly walk to nearby tree. He doesn't feel like floating this time. Once he reach the tree, He rest his hand and his head to the tree and continue gathering his thoughts.
Raiden started thinking
He remembers doing a normal Chappa style punch and kick with concentrated Ki, and his body is overwhelmed by pain for several seconds before he finally passed out.
He already knew Ki is too much for his frail body, and it will make his body worsen the more he uses it.
But not this worse !
Raiden angrily punch the tree with Ki infused fist, but his arm is overwhelmed with PAIN after the Ki circulated through his arm.
"AAAAAAAAGHHH"
The sound of His scream is His voice was covered by the Tree's falling sound
*Crraak*
*Boom*
After the pain subsides down, Tears start falling from Raiden eyes with this realization.
"Everything is normal yesterday, why is the situation getting worse now ?!?"
This is too much for him. He expected his body to broke down very slowly, and sometimes in future he might have to give up fighting, use his Ki in low amount while avoiding the whole fight and fly as usual.
But now, it's proven that Raiden's Ki already grow too much and his body can't handle his Ki moves anymore.
Raiden tried circulating his Ki and Even toning it down to half, it's still quite painful.
He lowered it down until it's no longer painful. It seems that there's no other choice other than weakening it to the point of his first training days before the first Tournament.
"At least I still can fly a little bit"
Raiden realized the sky is getting darker.
He expects Bulma to search for him in the forest while worrying and scolding him after found him. But this forest is too far for her to reach. And not to mention Raiden already do this every other days, so his expectation get lowered down.
But with lowered Ki, it will be quite some time before he reach Bulma's home. It's his fault for choosing too far spot. He fly with lower speed above the trees to go home.
It's not a fully smooth flight like he used to do. Raiden is struggling to fight as fast as he can while adjusting the Ki to not cause pain mid-flight.
He can sense everyone below albeit not as far as before. He really want to find Bulma and go home to eat dinner. Passes out in pain and Vomiting two time makes him hungry.
After reaching city, he open his watch phone and tried to call Bulma. Bulma answer and tell him to go home and teasingly said that parents are waiting.
Raiden winced at that, and hopelessly float to home.
****
After arriving home, Raiden already felt very tired unlike normal. Bulma parents can see it from his unnatural face expression and sickly demeanor.
He goes to bath and sleep in pajamas.
****
It's not just dehydration, it's also another body sickness that the writer don't bother to research.
Turns out using too much Ki is going worse on the body. Raiden cry in frustration because he can't join the next year due to his condition.
He gives up after some days crying in bed.
****
Raiden remembered his old manga where the character fly slowly like a balloon with someone that hates flight, so that they can enjoy the flight slowly. He consult it to a friend he forgot and finally the friend agrees.
After some days of preparation, he says his plan to Bulma, ignoring the fact that he's just consulting his dating plan to Bulma, his only friend.
Getting sick due to Ki overload really messed up his mind and making him forget that he's in bed, not in his desk with old friend in old life.
He wonders if he got schizophrenia recently, but it seems that his focus is just that bad after trying to make Ki balls again.
The days where he didn't make Ki balls is safe and he can think clearly. And floating is very safe as long he do it slowly, getting dehydration in flight is going to be disastrous.
So Raiden do his balloon flitgh date with Bulma while his body slowly dying.
****
Raiden finally dying due to Ki overload.
His life is hanging on by thread. There's so much Ki inside his body, but he will be destroyed if he releases it.
He does more than just hold hand with Bulma, he also confess to her a few days before. Having adult mind and multiple life experience really boosted his confidence once he saw the signs.
Raiden also said that in the past, he is ready to fulfill Bulma's wish to be her Perfect Handsome boyfriend in Exchange for saving his life with curing his body condition.
He jokes that it's the reverse situation with sleeping princess. They both laughed and cried.
Raiden ignore his memories about his past life and not telling Bulma. Bulma doesn't need to know.
He already says all he want to say to Bulma. Bulma also cried since they don't get to spent their live together.
Raiden died in Bulma's hug.
****
Bulma tried to revive Raiden with Dragonball with Goku, but once the ball is all collected, they're not only failed, their memories also got erased by the being.
The world become Dragonball AU without Yamcha.
Blob Neutral
I wonder if that "god" will stop him from learning to use Ultra Instinct too...
Thatd be bullsh*t cause look at the words the god used, I think the god wont allow the mc to just get a stronger body by wishing for it I believe if the mc were to work for the stronger body through technology or experiment those would be allowed
@GotmyLunch
"You have been judged and have been deemed to deserve punishment. With your foolishness, you cost another their life and you shall now pay by living one of struggle and misfortune."
I genuinely feel like he should have just wished for his body to obtain the potential to house and use his Ki.
I get why the wish for an easy upgrade didn't work, but if the God doesn't allow him to grow past a certain point, that would just kill the story in my opinion.
Having a harder time learning new stuff, or having his troubles scale with his power level, or both. That makes for an interesting story, it opens the door for encounters, events, enemy power ups, maybe Vegeta arrives faster? Things like that.
But straight up giving the MC this "No. f*ck you" feels like it makes it very difficult to find a way to continue the story.
I mean, to be honest, if the MC is capped at Krillin/Yamcha, that also caps how far the story can follow the plot.
Because at that point, starting from the Frieza saga, he just becomes part of the peanut gallery, maybe smoothing out some bumps here and there.
Warning people about Vegeta, Frieza, Cell, Buu before they would otherwise be known. But that would harm the Z-fighters just as much as it helps them.
If Gohan wasn't forced into SSJ2 by Perfect Cell and Goku didn't die, how would they stand a chance against Buu?
If the MC is too weak to provide a proper grindstone, if they're too weak to make Vegeta hear him out. They'll only make things worse.
Starting at human is fine, being less fortunate is fine too, getting a ceiling forced on them, when the original series already shows how Roshi, Krillin and even Piccolo faded into irrelevancy because they couldn't keep up. That just delegates our Main Character to the sidelines.
If there is no chance they'll beat the odds that their punishment forced on them, then what drives the narrative forward?
Tech really can't be the answer, because Goku and Vegeta have been able to damage the integrity of the Universe itself since the start of Super.
Unless, maybe he finds a way to find Dr.Gero, steal his technology and makes himself a body similar to Cell. That way he could break the ceiling.
Come to think of it, I feel like that's the only way out. Just make it painful, experimental or whatever. As long as he gains even a fraction of Cell's adaptability, that could potentially push him forward far enough.
That could provide the grindstone for Vegeta, Goku, maybe even Piccolo and Krillin to make them more than they already are in canon.
Anyway, thanks for reading my Ted talk.
I don't think so, God just stopped him from "cheating" by fixing his body defect, if God really wanted to stop him from getting stronger he wouldn't have given him that t unusual talent for martial arts and Ki
@NyanTony he doesn't have that much of a talent though. He just abused the "kid learn stuff faster" hack and had an idea to emulate.
Yes he does have some talent, but dedication is what got him this far. It's far from the Goku level of copying a technique after seeing it. More like Krillin with a head start and a better idea of the goal posts
@JustSomeoneRandom but it's still a big advantage, he was able to feel the ki super fast and basically without any support (let's disregard Goku here who learned a ki technique just by watching) and of course in addition his ki increased rapidly, if it wasn't for his body that can't handle his own ki he could fight very strong opponents beyond human scope in the future and there's the fact that his ki control is abnormal, to the point where he can transform his spheres into thousands of smaller spheres and use it like Gaara's sand.