The Next Day…
It was a Sunday with no particular plans.
After studying a bit, I figured I'd get some training in.
If I skip too much, my body will get rusty—and then it'll be too late…
…though, honestly, I already feel a lot weaker than I was back in my youth.
At least, that was the plan—
Chi-Chi: "Gohan—! Your student is on the phone for you—!"
Gohan: "Ah, okay!"
Student…?
Which of the quintuplets could it be?
『Hello, Son-kun. Sorry to bother you on your day off.』
Sounds like Itsuki.
Gohan: "Ah, it's fine. What's the matter?"
『It's about your payment as our tutor. I wanted to give it to you, so I asked my father for your address… um…』
…? Ah, right… She did mention there'd be payment for tutoring.
After everything that's happened in just a couple of sessions, I nearly forgot.
『Um, where do you usually come from to attend school, Son-kun?』
Gohan: "From my house, of course…"
『You mean you commute across the ocean every day!?』
Gohan: "Ah—well…"
Wh-what should I say…? If I tell her I use the Flying Nimbus, she won't understand… How do I explain…?
Goten: "Mom—! I want an airplane like the one at Trunks' house!"
Chi-Chi: "We don't need that kind of thing!"
…That's it!
Gohan: "Actually, my family has an airship. I use it to get to school."
『A-an airship…?』
Gohan: "Yeah. It's one of Capsule Corporation's models…"
『Ehh!?!? But their products are crazy expensive outside of West City! How did you even…?』
Gohan: "I know someone important at the company… She gave it to me."
(Not a lie—Bulma is the president and the most important person there, after all.)
『…Who exactly are you…?』
Gohan: "I'm Son Gohan."
『I know that!!』
Gohan: "…Anyway, back to the point. What about the payment?"
『Ah! Right… It's not convenient for me to bring it to your place, so I was hoping you could come to a spot I designate. Would that be okay?』
Gohan: "Sure, that's fine! See you there!"
…Phew, managed to bluff my way through. If she ever asks to see that "airship," I'll be in real trouble…
Chi-Chi: "So, Gohan—what exactly is your relationship with that girl?"
Gohan: "Eh? Just student and teacher… or maybe just friends…"
Chi-Chi: "If they can afford five tutors at once—two at the same time, no less—they must be loaded, right?"
Gohan: "Well, yeah… They live in a high-class tower apartment, so I doubt they're struggling."
Chi-Chi: "Listen, Gohan. Even if you marry one of those five girls, I'd have absolutely no objections!"
Gohan: "Mom…"
That's… way too big of a leap. I don't even know how to respond.
As usual, I set out on the Flying Nimbus.
Goten: "Wait, big brother."
Gohan: "Hm? What is it, Goten?"
Goten: "I wanna come too."
Gohan: "Eh!? No, I'm going to work…"
Goten: "So what! Let me go—!"
Gohan: "No, that's not… Ugh, fine. But on one condition."
Goten: "What is it?"
Gohan: "We're going to meet people. In front of them, you absolutely cannot use ki. If you promise, you can come."
Goten: "Yayyy! Deal!"
So… Goten's tagging along. I really hope this doesn't cause trouble…
The designated place was…
Gohan: "…A family restaurant?"
Goten: "A family restaurant…? Why not their house?"
Gohan: "W-well…"
Itsuki: "Sorry to keep you waiting!"
Gohan: "Ah, no, I just got here too."
Itsuki: "That's good… By the way, who's this little boy?"
Gohan: "Ah—… I told him not to come along…"
Goten: "I'm his younger brother, Son Goten. Thank you for always looking after my big brother."
Gohan: "Where did you even learn to talk like that…?"
(Knowing our strict, education-obsessed mom, she probably taught him how to greet people politely… but "thank you for looking after us" feels way too grown-up…)
Itsuki: "Such a polite child! No, really, we're the ones being taken care of… How old are you?"
Goten: "Seven."
Itsuki: "Quite the age gap between you two, huh?"
Gohan: "Yeah, you could say that…"
Itsuki: "Well then, it's not good to just stand around outside. Let's go in."
…Could it be she actually chose this place just because of the big banner out front? "New! Triple Ice Cream Parfait!!"
Goten: "Big bro, I want that!"
Gohan: "Didn't I just say we're not here to play…?"
(Sigh… fine, one parfait shouldn't hurt.)
So we entered the restaurant.
Itsuki: "One extra-large triple ice cream parfait, please!"
Goten: "I'll have the same!"
Gohan: "…Just a café au lait for me…"
Waitress: "Of course!"
(This is definitely about the new dessert, isn't it…?)
Itsuki: "Anyway, let's get to the main point. Here—"
She handed me an envelope.
Itsuki: "This is your payment. Please accept it."
…I peeked inside.
50,000 yen!? I've only taught them, what, twice!?
Itsuki: "It's 5,000 yen per person. Since you taught for two days, that makes a total of 50,000 yen."
Goten: "...…? I don't get it. How much is that?"
Gohan: "…Think of it as 500 steamed buns."
(End of Chapter)
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