The sun blazed high over the Lookout as Y/N landed gracefully beside Piccolo, her muscles already buzzing with anticipation. Her father trailed close behind, his steps steady and purposeful. The pair had made the trip several times this week, though her father's recovery wasn't yet complete. He looked healthier with each passing day, a far cry from the man she'd carried from their bloodied home.

Piccolo observed their arrival with a sharp nod. "You're late."

Y/N grinned sheepishly. "You try arguing with him. He insisted on bringing snacks."

Her father held up a small bag of food with a sheepish shrug. "Old habits die hard."

Piccolo crossed his arms, the faintest smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "At least you're here. Let's get to it."

--

 Y/n stood in a defensive stance, sweat dripping down her forehead as Piccolo circled her. Her breathing was steady, but her arms trembled slightly from the strain of blocking his relentless attacks.

"Follow through!" Piccolo barked as he lunged again, aiming a quick jab at her midsection.

Y/N sidestepped and retaliated with a high kick, but her form faltered. Piccolo easily deflected it, sweeping her leg out from under her. She hit the tiles with a groan, glaring up at him.

"You're hesitating," Piccolo said, folding his arms. "Every time you second-guess your movements, you leave yourself open to counters. You've got to commit."

Y/N pushed herself up, brushing the hair out of her face. "I'm trying, okay? It's not as easy as you make it look."

"It's not supposed to be easy," Piccolo replied, his tone sharp but not unkind. "You've got potential, Y/N, but potential means nothing if you don't refine it."

An hour into the session, Piccolo's relentless drilling had Y/N running on fumes.

"Follow through, Y/N!" he growled. "You're stopping short again. Your attacks need to have intent!"

Y/N gritted her teeth, stepping forward with a quick series of strikes. Piccolo blocked effortlessly, countering with a swift kick that she barely managed to dodge.

"And stop hesitating when I counter!" he snapped. "If you can't block effectively, you'll never last in that tournament."

"I'm trying!" Y/N shot back, frustration edging her voice.

"Try harder!" Piccolo's tone softened slightly. "You've improved, but you're still holding back. Commit to every move."

Nearby, Y/N's father watched with interest. His recovery since Dende's healing was remarkable, and he had quickly settled into life at the Lookout, finding camaraderie with its unusual inhabitants. He chuckled as Y/N picked herself up again.

"She's stubborn, isn't she?" he said to Dende, who was observing the training session from a shaded corner.

Dende smiled. "She takes after you."

"Yeah, well," Y/N's father said, crossing his arms. "Let's hope she turns out better."  A proud but amused smile tugging at his lips. He'd been spending more time at the Lookout, finding the atmosphere peaceful and the sparring sessions invigorating. He'd even had a few friendly matches with Piccolo earlier in the week, much to Y/N's surprise.

"Atta girl!" he called out encouragingly. "Listen to the big green guy!"

Y/N shot him a playful glare but refocused, channeling her irritation into a powerful strike that Piccolo finally acknowledged with a nod.

"That's more like it," Piccolo said. 

The sound of footsteps broke their concentration. Piccolo paused, and both he and Y/N turned to see Goku and Gohan approaching.

"Morning!" Goku called out, his cheerful demeanor lighting up the space. "Looks like you're working hard."

Y/N leaned on her knees, catching her breath. "Hard doesn't even begin to cover it."

"Good," Piccolo said, eyeing Goku. "She needs it."

Gohan waved to Y/N's father, who waved back. "Chi-Chi wasn't home when we woke up," Gohan explained as he approached. "Dad decided we'd come train instead."

"Wasn't home?" Y/N asked, frowning.

Goku shrugged, though his smile faltered slightly. "She left early. Didn't say where she was going. Lately, it feels like she's got her own agenda."

Y/N exchanged a look with Piccolo, but before she could respond, Goku's gaze shifted back to her. "Hey, Y/N. You up for a spar?"

Her exhaustion must have shown because Goku quickly added, "After you take a break, of course."

Y/N smirked. "You read my mind. I'll need a few minutes before you wipe the floor with me."

"Deal," Goku said, sitting down nearby.

 As Y/N sipped water from a canteen, Goku leaned back on his hands, watching her. "You've really been working hard, huh?"

"Yeah," Y/N said, lowering the canteen. "I've got a lot riding on this tournament. I can't afford to slack off."

"You're doing great," Goku said earnestly. "I can tell just by looking at you. Your energy feels sharper."

Y/N smiled faintly, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "Thanks, Goku. That means a lot."

For a moment, they sat in comfortable silence. Then Goku spoke, his tone more serious. "Y/N, can I ask you something?"

"Of course," she said, turning to face him.

"Do you ever feel like... I don't know, like you're doing everything you can, but it's never enough for some people?" His gaze was distant, his usual cheerfulness replaced by a rare vulnerability.

Y/N's heart ached at his words. She knew he was talking about Chi-Chi, and she debated whether to bring up what she'd overheard in the restaurant weeks ago. Instead, she chose her words carefully.

"Yeah," she said softly. "I think everyone feels that way sometimes. But you have to remember that your worth isn't measured by what others expect of you. You've done so much, Goku. You've saved the world more times than I can count. That has to count for something."

Goku's expression softened, and he smiled faintly. "Thanks, Y/N. I guess I needed to hear that."

-

Gohan wandered over to her father, who greeted him with a warm smile.

"Hey, Gohan," her father said, leaning against the pillar. "How've you been holding up lately?" 

Gohan smiled, rubbing the back of his neck. "It's been good. I've been trying to balance training with my studies, but I like coming up here. It's peaceful."

"Better than being cooped up, I bet," Y/N's father replied, chuckling.

Gohan nodded, his expression softening. "Yeah. I think it helps me clear my head. Sometimes I feel like I'm always supposed to be doing something—studying, training, helping out at home. Being here reminds me to just... breathe."

Her father gave him a knowing smile. "That's a good lesson to learn early. Life's going to throw a lot at you, but you've got to find moments to enjoy it."

Gohan looked thoughtful, his eyes drifting to the sparring area. "You sound like you've got experience."

Her father shrugged, laughing. "A little. You'd be surprised what life can teach you when you're not looking." He paused, then added with a mischievous grin, "Want me to show you a thing or two?"

Gohan blinked, caught off guard. "You mean... spar?"

"Why not?" her father said, his tone light but challenging.

Gohan hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Okay. But don't hold back, alright?"

"I was about to say the same to you," her father replied, stepping into the sparring area.

--

After Y/n's brief break, She squared off against Goku. The air crackled with anticipation as Piccolo watched from the sidelines.

"Ready?" Goku asked, his grin wide.

"Ready," Y/N replied, raising her fists.

The match began with Goku holding back, testing her reflexes and speed. Y/N moved with precision, blocking his strikes and countering with her own.

"Not bad," Goku said, sidestepping her punch.

Y/N smirked. "I've had a good teacher."

As the fight continued, Goku began to increase his speed and power, forcing Y/N to dig deep. She landed a solid kick to his side, earning an approving nod from him.

"You're really good!" Goku said, genuinely impressed.

"Don't distract her," Piccolo barked from the sidelines.

The fight grew more intense, with Y/N managing to hold her own despite Goku's overwhelming power. But as the end drew near, Piccolo's voice cut through the air.

"Focus, Y/N! Watch your footing!"

The distraction was enough for Goku to seize the opportunity. He swept her legs out from under her, sending her sprawling onto her back.

"Gotcha," Goku said, offering her a hand.

Y/N groaned, taking his hand and standing. "Damn it, Piccolo! You distracted me!"

Piccolo shrugged. "You need to learn to block out distractions. It'll happen in a real fight, too."

Goku laughed, patting Y/N on the back. "You did great, though! I can tell you're going to do awesome in the tournament."

On the other side of the Lookout, Gohan ducked under a swing from Y/N's father, countering with a swift kick that stopped just short of connecting.

"Not bad," her father said, grinning. "You've got some serious skill, Gohan."

"Thanks," Gohan replied, stepping back to catch his breath. "You're pretty good too! Were you a fighter before?"

"Not really," her father admitted. "I had a little training when I was younger, but nothing like what you've been through."

"You've got great instincts," Gohan said earnestly. "And you're fast. If you trained more, I bet you could keep up with some of the best fighters out there."

Her father chuckled, shaking his head. "I think I'll leave that to you youngsters. But it's nice to know I've still got a little fight left in me."

-

Goku and Y/N sat together, the sunset painting the sky in hues of orange and pink.

"Thanks for sparring with me," Y/N said, her tone sincere.

"Anytime," Goku replied. "You're really strong, Y/N. I'm glad you're doing this."

She smiled, but the weight of their earlier conversation lingered. "Goku, about what you said earlier... if you ever need to talk, I'm here. Okay?"

His smile softened, and he nodded. "Thanks, Y/N. That means a lot."

Before she could say more, Goku's attention shifted again. "Wait... is that Gohan sparring with your dad?"

Y/N laughed, taking a sip of water. "He's been full of surprises lately."

Goku stood, his excitement palpable. "I wanna spar with him!"

Y/N raised an eyebrow. "You're serious?"

"Of course!" Goku said, grinning. "I can tell he's got a lot of potential."

Her father, overhearing the conversation, paused his spar with Gohan. "Me? Spar with you?"

"Yeah!" Goku said, walking over. "It'll be fun!"

Her father looked honored but hesitant. "I'm flattered, really, but I'm not sure I'm up for that level of sparring."

"Come on, it'll just be for fun," Goku insisted.

Before her father could reply, Y/N stepped in. "Sorry, Goku, but you're not wearing him out before he's fully healed," she said with a smirk. 

Goku laughed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Alright, alright. Guess you've got a point."

Her father gave her a grateful nod, and Gohan chuckled from the sidelines.

The rest of the afternoon passed in a blur of training and laughter. As the sun dipped low on the horizon, casting long shadows across the Lookout, Y/N found herself smiling.

Goku's presence was always energizing, and she couldn't help but feel a growing connection between them. It was subtle, unspoken, but undeniable.

As they all gathered to rest, Y/N glanced at Goku, who was animatedly chatting with her father. She felt a warmth in her chest, a sense of belonging she hadn't felt in a long time.

For now, she let herself enjoy the moment, knowing there would be plenty of time to sort through her feelings later.

a/n- I honestly don't know how I feel about this chapter (writing-wise) but I hope you liked it and I'm sorry for it taking so long, I'm hoping to get back on the grind soon! Love yall and thank you for reading! Hope you have a lovely day/night!!