a/n- this chapter takes place about two weeks after the last chapter  

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The quiet serenity of the lookout stretched for miles as Piccolo arrived, his cape fluttering in the gentle breeze. The ever-present stillness brought him a sense of calm, but today, his focus was elsewhere. 

He landed softly, scanning the area briefly before making his way toward Dende, who stood at the edge of the platform, gazing out over the world below.

"Dende," Piccolo called as he approached, his voice steady but with a hint of urgency.

Dende turned, smiling slightly at the familiar Namekian. "Piccolo, it's good to see you. How's the training going?"

Piccolo crossed his arms, his expression as stern as always. "Fine. But I'm not here to talk about that. Have you seen Y/N?"

Dende's smile faltered, his brows furrowing. "Y/N? No, I haven't seen her all week."

Piccolo's eyes narrowed in surprise. "All week?" he repeated, his tone betraying a slight hint of concern.

"Yeah," Dende replied, walking closer to Piccolo. "She usually stops by, but it's been a while now. I thought maybe she was off training or handling something else."

Piccolo frowned, the unease creeping into his usually composed demeanor.

Y/N never stayed away without saying something to him. The two of them had developed an unspoken understanding, and even though she didn't always share what was on her mind, she never disappeared without leaving some indication of where she was.

"She's been... distracted lately," Piccolo said, almost to himself. His instincts were kicking in, and the unease was beginning to grow.

"Distracted?" Dende asked, his tone curious. "Did she mention anything to you? Something bothering her?"

"She didn't say much," Piccolo replied, his voice low and contemplative. "But I could tell something was weighing on her."

Dende's concern deepened as he considered Piccolo's words. "Do you think something's wrong? Maybe I should check on her, just in case."

Piccolo's sharp gaze locked onto Dende. "No. I'll handle it myself."

Dende raised an eyebrow, a bit taken aback by Piccolo's firm response. "Are you sure? I can sense her energy, it would be easy for me to—"

"No," Piccolo interrupted, shaking his head. "I'll handle it myself. I'll go check on her."

Dende raised an eyebrow, a small smile tugging at his lips. "You sure? You seem worried."

Piccolo shot him a glance but didn't bother to deny it. "I'm not worried," he grumbled. "Just... making sure everything's fine. It's not like her to go this long without any contact."

Dende chuckled softly, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "You know, Piccolo, it's okay to be concerned about someone. It doesn't make you weak."

Piccolo grunted in response, clearly not in the mood for one of Dende's insights into his personal feelings. "I'm not here to discuss my feelings," he replied curtly. "I'm just going to make sure she's alright."

Dende nodded, though he continued to wear that knowing smile. "Alright, I understand. Just be careful."

Piccolo turned away, already preparing to leave. "I don't need to be careful. It's just Y/n."

Dende watched as Piccolo prepared to take off, his expression becoming more serious. "Still... something about this feels strange. Y/n not showing up for that long without any word is unusual."

"I know," Piccolo said quietly, his voice barely above a whisper. "That's why I'm checking on her."

He floated up slightly, turning his body toward the direction of Y/n's village. But before he shot off, Dende spoke up one last time.

"Piccolo," he called out, his tone more somber than before. "If you find something... let me know, alright? Just in case."

Piccolo glanced back at the young Guardian, the wind rustling his cape once more. His expression softened slightly, but only for a moment. "I will."

With that, Piccolo took off into the sky, heading toward Y/n's village. His mind raced as he soared through the air, the landscape below a blur. It wasn't like her to be gone this long, and it certainly wasn't like her to not inform him or anyone else. Something was wrong, and the more he thought about it, the more his gut told him that he wasn't overreacting.

----

The sun was starting to set, casting a warm, golden hue over the small house. Inside, Goku was moving around the kitchen with an almost exaggerated effort. His usual carefree demeanor was replaced with a focused determination as he tried to tackle the mess. He was scrubbing the pots and pans with a diligence that was both earnest and slightly awkward, his movements lacking the finesse of someone accustomed to housework.

Gohan sat at the dining table, his textbooks spread out before him. He glanced up occasionally, observing his father's clumsy attempts at domestic chores. Each time Goku tried to dry a dish, it seemed like he was battling with it more than actually cleaning it.

Gohan finally set his pencil down and broke the silence. "Dad, do you know when Mom will be home?"

Goku paused, a dish in mid-air, and furrowed his brow. "Hmm, I don't really know. She didn't say anything about her plans."

Gohan's expression fell slightly, but he quickly masked it with a nod. "Oh, okay."

Goku, trying to make up for his earlier blunders, set the dish aside and wiped his hands on a towel. "You know, Gohan, we could go fishing later if you'd like. It'll be a nice break from studying."

Gohan's face lit up a little. "Really? That sounds great, Dad. I'd like that."

Goku grinned, his eyes shining with excitement. "Awesome! I'll make sure we get some good bait. Maybe catch a big one this time!"

Gohan returned to his studies, his mood lifted by the prospect of a fishing trip with his dad. The sound of water running and the clatter of dishes filled the room, creating a makeshift symphony of domestic life.

As Goku continued to fumble with the dishes, he occasionally glanced over at Gohan, a small smile on his face. It was clear he was trying his best, even if his efforts were not as polished as Chi-Chi's typically were.

The front door creaked open, and Chi-Chi walked in, her gaze immediately drawn to the sight of Goku engaged in housework and Gohan diligently studying. Her expression was a mixture of surprise and skepticism.

"Goku?" she said, her voice carrying an edge of disbelief. "What's going on here?"

Goku looked up, his hands dripping wet. "Oh, hey Chi-Chi! I thought I'd help out around the house. It's been a while since I did anything like this, so I figured I'd give it a shot."

Chi-Chi's eyebrows arched in surprise. "You're cleaning? And Gohan's studying so diligently? This is a change."

Goku chuckled, scratching the back of his head. "Yeah, well, I figured it's time I pitch in more. Gohan and I were just talking about going fishing later. It'll be good for us to spend some time together."

Chi-Chi's gaze shifted to Gohan, who looked up from his books. "That sounds nice," she said, though her voice was tinged with something unreadable.

Gohan offered a small, hopeful smile. "It's going to be fun, Mom. We're going to try and catch some big fish."

Chi-Chi's eyes softened just a fraction before she turned her attention back to Goku. "I see. Well, I have some things to take care of. I won't be home for a while."

Goku nodded, his smile not wavering. "Alright, Chi-Chi. I hope you have a good time with whatever you're doing. We'll make sure everything's in order here."

Chi-Chi gave a curt nod, her expression hardening as she moved toward the stairs. "Make sure Gohan finishes his homework. I'll see you both later."

As she climbed the stairs, Goku and Gohan exchanged glances. Goku's cheerful demeanor seemed slightly forced, and Gohan's hopeful expression fell just a little.

Once Chi-Chi was out of sight, Goku resumed his dishwashing with renewed enthusiasm, trying to shake off the tension that had settled in the room. "Well, we've got plenty of time before we head out for fishing. Let's finish up here, and then we can relax a bit before dinner."

Gohan nodded, picking up his pencil once more. "Thanks, Dad. I really appreciate it."

Goku smiled, though his gaze occasionally drifted toward the staircase, where Chi-Chi had disappeared. He tried to ignore the nagging feeling in his gut and focused on the task at hand, determined to make the most of the evening with his son.