On Kame House's tiny beach, the sun hung high as Master Roshi stroked his beard and circled Krillin like a shark contemplating a snack.
"Alright, Krillin," Roshi said, "it's time to demonstrate your progress to our guests."
Krillin gulped.
Fasha crossed her arms skeptically.
Buu looked eager, legs swinging like a child waiting for fireworks.
Launch—blue-haired and sweet at the moment—sat nearby with tea and cookies. "You can do it, Mr. Krillin!"
Krillin forced a smile. "Y-yeah! S-sure! Ahem. Master Roshi, what would you, uh, like me to demonstrate?"
Roshi pointed dramatically toward a medium-sized boulder sitting near the water.
"Lift that!"
Krillin brightened. "Oh! That's not too bad!"
Roshi raised a finger. "With one hand."
"…Oh."
Fasha leaned over to Buu. "Is he actually strong enough for that?"
Buu shrugged. "Maybe. Maybe not. Funny either way."
Krillin marched toward the boulder, cracking his knuckles like someone trying very hard to look more confident than he felt. He planted his feet, inhaled deeply, and placed one trembling hand under the rock.
"Okay… okay… just like we practiced…"
He strained.
Nothing happened.
His bald head turned red.
A vein bulged.
Sand shifted slightly from his shoes.
Fasha tilted her head. "Is he—trying?"
Krillin growled and put his entire soul into it.
The boulder lifted—
—about five centimeters.
"YES!" he shouted in triumph.
It promptly slipped from his grip and crushed his foot.
"AAAAAAH! OW OW OW—NOT AGAIN!"
Launch gasped. "Oh my goodness! Are you alright!?"
Krillin hopped on one leg, waving his arms wildly. "I—AM—FINE!"
Fasha covered her mouth to hide an amused smile. "He's enthusiastic. I'll give him that."
Roshi nodded wisely. "Enthusiasm is the foundation of martial arts!"
Buu clapped. "Do more!"
Krillin froze.
"More?"
"Show me a real technique," Buu said cheerfully. "Do your strongest move."
Roshi's face lit up. "Ah yes! Krillin, why don't you show them… the Kamehameha Wave?"
Krillin's stomach dropped. "M-Master! I've only done it right once! And that was—kind of an accident—"
Roshi ignored him entirely.
Buu and Fasha watched with great interest.
"Go on, little guy," Fasha said with a smirk. "Let's see your power."
Krillin couldn't back out with her watching.
He took the stance, legs trembling.
"Kaa… meeee…"
A tiny blue spark formed between his palms.
"HAAAA…"
It grew slightly.
Then shrank.
Then flickered like a dying firefly.
"ME—"
A gust of wind blew it out.
Krillin stared at his empty hands.
Fasha blinked.
Buu blinked.
"…Was that it?" Fasha asked.
Krillin dropped to his knees. "Why does this happen EVERY TIME I have an audience!?"
Roshi coughed politely. "Perhaps you need… inspiration."
Before anyone could ask what he meant, Roshi shoved a magazine into Krillin's hands.
A very adult magazine.
Krillin's face turned beet red. "M-M-MASTER!? NOT IN FRONT OF—"
The embarrassment sent a burst of energy exploding from his palms—
BOOM!
A perfectly-formed—but wildly out of control—Kamehameha shot straight into the air, curved at a 90-degree angle, and blasted a hole clean through Roshi's rooftop.
Everyone stood frozen.
Roshi stared at the fresh smoking crater in his house.
"…Improvement," he said faintly.
Launch clapped her hands. "Amazing!"
Krillin wheezed. "Please… tell me no one saw that…"
Fasha grinned. "I saw everything."
Krillin died inside.
Buu suddenly rose to his feet. "My turn."
Krillin panicked. "Wh-what? No no no—this isn't a contest—"
Buu pointed to the same boulder Krillin had struggled with.
He tapped it with one finger.
It flew into the ocean like a missile, skipped across the water ten times, and vanished beyond the horizon.
Krillin fell onto his back. "W-why do I even try…"
Fasha patted Krillin's shoulder. "Don't feel bad. Compared to him, everyone looks weak."
"That doesn't help!"
Buu posed proudly. "See? Maybe one day you can do it too."
Roshi cleared his throat. "Well, since we've witnessed everyone's… capabilities… perhaps it's time for a group exercise."
Fasha raised an eyebrow. "But he didn't finish the demonstration."
Roshi stopped "Ah? Even I had a lot to train to master it you can't expect me to beli-"
Buu grinned, took the stance.
Started to gather energy.
"Kaa… meeee…haa... me..."
A pink spark formed between his palms.
And...
"Haa!"
A pink kamehameha was fired into the sky.
Roshi looked astonished "H-how?"
Fasha smirked.
Krillin cried.