prologue: a new start

I found myself in a place that was completely dark and uninhabited. I felt utterly cold, like a corpse.

Where the heck am I? …Hello, is anyone there?! … It seemed that only I was there, and little by little, the atmosphere was becoming overwhelming.

*2 hours later*

I was lying on the ground with no memory of why I was there.

What happened to me? I don't remember anything… Could it be… Am I dead?

That was the only thing that came to mind.

Well, I guess I finally know what's after death, nothing more than a sad and dark void. I guess I was right, in the end, there's nothing. Although for a moment, I would have liked to have been wrong.

I was about to close my eyes.

???: Have you finished with your lament, young one?

I heard a voice out of nowhere that made me get up, quickly looking around.

"Hello? Who are you?" I asked.

There were two options: either I had finally lost my sanity, or…

???: I apologize for the delay. I was carrying out certain tasks. After all, I am someone with many occupations.

-Ah, okay? And who might you be? (In a way, I want to think that yes, and in another, the truth is no.)

???: Oh, I believe you already know that, but you don't want to admit it. To be honest with you, I find it somewhat amusing. You denied my existence several times throughout your life, and now that you see the reality, you don't want to face it.

-… And being here is my punishment?

???: Oh no, no. You should already know that I am a benevolent being and would never punish one of my children.

-… Ah, look, please spare me all that talk of benevolence and divinity and other things. I'm aware that I'm dead and that I'll never return to my life, although to be honest, it's not like I had the best life.

???: And do you remember how it all happened?

-honestly no. My mind is a blank slate, no matter how hard I try, nothing comes to me.

???: I can help you with that if you wish, but do you really want to see yourself in that state?

-Yes, I'll spend the rest of my eternity here, won't I? I at least want to know how my last moments were.

???: Very well, as you wish.

A yellow light would descend in front of me and enter my forehead. I would close my eyes, and upon opening them, I found myself at a train station. Sitting on a bench.

I looked around to see many people coming and going. I checked my pants pocket to find my cell phone. I turned it on and saw that it was 10:00 am, and I had many missed calls from my entire family. Little by little, I began to remember why I was there.

(Oh, now I start to remember. I suppose that explains why I had been feeling so bad recently.)

Since I had finished high school, my life had felt empty, but not only that, I was afraid of what I would do in the future. I didn't know what to study, what choice to make. I was at a dead end, but unfortunately, I had no one to talk to. I had no friends. I was too shy to even talk to someone. My mother worked too much, and we couldn't talk, and if she did talk to me, she would just say negative things because she was always in a bad mood. I couldn't stand even seeing my father, so it was impossible for me to talk to him. I also had a little brother, but he was very young, and I didn't want to bother him with my problems after all, he has his own.

Having all these feelings inside me for so long made me decide to take all the money I had been saving for a long time to buy a ticket and go wherever. I really didn't care. I just wanted to get away from everything and be alone.

Suddenly my cell phone began to vibrate several times due to repeated calls. But I simply turned it off.

-(Now they pay attention to me. They had millions of times to ask about me, to help me, to do something more than just tell me "be strong and face this like a man," but no, and now that I'm leaving is when they notice me.) Honestly, the only ones I regretted not seeing again was my brother and my pet, a little kitten that I had cared for since she was born. But in my mind, there was no turning back.

After a few minutes, I heard a loudspeaker announcing that "the next train would depart in 5 minutes."

I would start to check my things to make sure I had everything and saw a small notebook. I remember that I loved to draw in it. Mostly they were characters from my favorite series, Dragon Ball Z. And on the last page of my notebook, which had many smudges because I had tried many times to perfect that character, although it never came out completely as I wanted. And this was because this was a character created by me. The truth is, unlike when I drew the characters from the series, creating one myself was much more difficult. Of course, I had a lot of fun with the part about the abilities, but when it came to drawing him, it was incredibly difficult and annoying since, to begin with, I was terrible at drawing. Even if I used characters like Goku, it always took me a long time to make them look decent. Besides that, drawing was not really my hobby. More than anything, I used it to distract myself from bad thoughts, and the creation of my character was the work that took me the longest. To be exact, about 3 years… Yes, I was never satisfied with the design, even today.

-Mmm, after so many attempts, I finally think it looks good. Now I just have to give it a name, although the truth is, I'm not very good with Saiyan names, but anyway, I'll think about it during the trip.

I was so immersed in my thoughts that I didn't notice that a little girl was watching me talk to myself.

-(Damn, I should stop thinking out loud.)

The little girl looked at me curiously. I simply looked at her, making her a bit nervous.

-Ehh, sorry, don't think I'm crazy. It's just that sometimes I do that without thinking.

Girl: N-no problem sir, but what were you talking about?

-Oh, about this.

I would proceed to show her the drawing of my character.

Girl: Wow, that's beautiful.

-You think? The truth is, I wasn't very sure if it had turned out well.

Girl: Yes, it's very good. You sure know how to draw, sir.

-Heh, thanks. You're very kind.

Girl: And who is he?

He's a character created by me from the Dragon Ball series. Do you know it?

Girl: Yes, although my mom doesn't let me watch it. She says it's too violent.

-(Pff, seriously?, the series today has no blood, and they still don't let her watch it. No wonder today's kids come out so sensitive.) Well, don't let that stop you from watching it. I assure you it's very fun, although I recommend watching it from the beginning.

Girl: Yes sir, I will. But back to your character, what's his name and what does he do?

-Ah, well, speaking of his name, he doesn't have one yet, but I'll tell you who he is.

The little girl nods.

-He is a high-class Saiyan, a true elite among elites, more powerful than any other. Of course, he didn't achieve this overnight. He trained a lot, went through many things and in the end, he became the most powerful of all, not only in the Dragon Ball world but in all of fiction.

I was getting carried away with what I was saying, and when I looked back at the girl, she looked a bit nervous.

-Ehh, sorry, I got carried away. To make it short, I'll just tell you that he's a very strong guy.

Girl: That sounds great.

-Right, doesn't it?

???: Nora, are you there? It's time to go!!

Girl: Oh, it's my mom calling me. I have to go.

The little girl then got up and went with her mother, but before leaving, she turned around to look at me.

Girl: By the way, sir, my name is Nora.

-Oh, that's a very pretty name. See you then Nora, and do what I told you ok?

Nora: Yes, I will watch everything from the beginning, and if we meet again, I'll bring a notebook and draw with you.

-Sounds great. (Despite being so young, I always had something sure in my mind. Someday I wanted to have a daughter, and if I did, I hope she would be like this little girl.)Nora then left with her mother.

After a few seconds, I noticed something strange. A person in a black hoodie had been walking from left to right and around the station since I arrived, I thought at first that he was waiting for someone, but then why was his face covered? He also had both hands in his pockets, looking around as if he were nervous.

Out of nowhere, in the distance, I heard the sound of gunshots followed by a voice that shouted

"Everyone on the ground with your hands behind your back!"

Hearing that, I got scared, and even more so when I saw the hooded man pull out a gun and point it at me.

"If you heard what the other said, you better do the same."

In my mind, everything was falling apart. Of all the bad things that happened to me in life, this was by far the worst. If I didn't die here, I would lose all the money I had collected for so long, all the hard work, the days when I felt my legs wouldn't respond, I would lose everything. And to top it off, I would have to endure another sermon full of insults and false positivity from her, and honestly, with my current mental state, I don't think I could handle that, not again.

I hugged my backpack with my things tightly, completely unwilling to give up what was mine, Heh and yes, I guess many would ask if I don't value my life. And the truth is that a mix of bad experiences, negative thoughts, and although I don't like to self-diagnose, a bit of depression had made me not value my life as others would.

But in the end, there wasn't much I could do. When I was little, I always imagined myself in these kinds of situations, and that I, with some kind of superhuman abilities, would get out of them and save people. But sadly, in reality, those things didn't exist. In the end, if someone pointed a gun at you, the best you could do was give them everything you had and pray they wouldn't hurt you.

"Give me everything you have," said the hooded man in front of me.

-Hey, isn't there a way for you to leave here and let me keep my things?

"I'm sorry, but that's not going to be possible, so unless you want a bullet hole in your leg or somewhere worse, you'll know what's right."

It was obvious, although I had to try. But still, I didn't want to. It was my only chance to finally get away from everything, even if leaving this way wasn't right, I didn't care, I just wanted to leave.

I hugged my backpack even tighter and closed my eyes; at that point, I honestly preferred to die.

-I won't give you anything, shoot if you want, but I'm not going to give you my stuff, fuck you.

"Wow, it seems you don't value your life enough, but if you're so attached to your things that you'd rather die than give them to me, then I'll let you rest in peace."

I heard two shots and feared the worst. I kept my eyes closed for a few more seconds, but nothing happened, I didn't even feel pain.

-(Hmm?)

I opened my eyes to see the hooded man lying on the ground with two holes in his stomach.

-But what?!

???: Hey kid, are you okay?

I looked towards where the voice was coming from to see a man with a gun and a brown jacket where he had a police badge hanging.

-Ehh, are you a cop?

Cop: Something like that, although I'm retired, I always carry my weapon for safety, but I never thought this would happen.

-Thank you, thank you so much, I really thought they were going to kill me.

Cop: Thank all you want, but for now, be quiet.

-(Right, I forgot there were two guys, the other must have heard the shot and probably thinks it was his partner.)

I then nodded.

The cop signaled for me to follow him.

Cop: I'd like to tell you to leave, but surely the other one could see you and shoot you, plus I'm too old for this stuff today, and I could use the help of someone young.

Although the idea didn't seem the best to me, I listened to the old man and followed him.

We both walked very slowly while we heard the assailant talking loudly and excitedly.

"Hey, are you there? Why did you shoot?! We weren't supposed to kill anyone!!"

He was very nervous, and my breathing was very altered. I felt like I was going to collapse at any moment.

Cop: Kid, calm down.

-I know, I know.

I tried to calm down, but I heard something that only made me more agitated.

"Whoever is there, I warn you, I have a girl hostage, and I won't hesitate to blow her head off if you get smart!!"

Hearing that, I tried not to think the worst, but...

??: Mommy! I want my mommy!

I could recognize that voice.

-Damn it.

Cop: Do you know who it is?

-Yes, damn it, why did it have to be that girl?

"We'll do something, I'll give you 10 seconds, if you don't come out, I guarantee I'll start shooting, and this girl will be the first."

Hearing that, I just got even more stressed, my breathing became erratic again, and my heart was beating very fast.

Then the guy started counting.

1 -(What do I do?)

2 -(Even if I barely know her, I don't want an innocent person to die.)

3 -(Why do I always have to feel useless in every situation in my life?)

4

5 -(I'm scared.)

6

7

I thought for a moment about what to do, I wish I was more than useless, I wish I could do something.

8 -(Think, think.) 9 -(To hell with it.)

10!

Wait!! I came out from where I was hiding, staring at the guy.

"So it was you who made the noise of the shot back there."

-Y-yes, it was me.

"How is he?"

-He's-he's on the ground.

"Alive?"

The guy looked at me very seriously.

-Yes, he is.

"And the gun?"

-The gun, uh… (Oh shit, how stupid!)

I tried to act since I had no weapon.

-(Damn, now that I think about it, it would have been smart to take it from him.) Umm, I left it on the ground…

The thief looked at me suspiciously.

"Why do I not believe you?"

The guy asked me.

-We-well, if you knew me, you'd know I'm capable of doing stupid things like that.

The girl looked at me with her eyes full of tears.

Nora: Sir, please help me, I want to see my mom.

-(Damn, I wish I could help her, but for now, distracting him is the best I can do.) Don't worry nora, everything will be fine, don't worry, in the end, you'll go back to your mom, I swear.

Then I turned my gaze back to the guy.

-Listen, how about we make a trade?

What I said seemed to catch the guy's interest.

-Look, in this backpack I have, there's a lot of money, enough for you to live your life comfortably. So let the girl go, and I'll give you the money.

"How much are we talking about?"

-I'm talking about a lot of dollars, just think about how much you could multiply this if you go somewhere to exchange the dollars for the currency of that country.

I told him, trying to convince him.

"If you put it that way, you convince me."

The guy was about to let Nora go when suddenly another gunshot was heard.

Followed by a groan of pain from someone who sounded like an old man.

-(It can't be!!)

"What was that? Is there someone else here?!!"

The guy then pointed his gun at me.

No, no, I swear it's just me!!

"And hi-him...."

Then the guy and I looked to the side to see how the previous thief Came with one hand on his stomach where he had the wounds and in the other, he had his weapon, but the worst part was that at his feet was the old man lying down and with a hole in his stomach.

-Damn it, no.

"Oh, so there was someone else, and you trying to be smart, isn't that right?"

Said the second thief with a mocking tone as if they had won.

I was officially in the worst situation.

-Listen, I already offered you a deal, I swear what I have is more than enough for you and your friend.

I told the second guy, who now that I saw him better, unlike the hooded one, this one wore a mask to cover his face.

"The truth is I was willing to accept what you offered me, but then, well, seeing that you lied to me by saying you were alone, I think I'll just take your things and also shoot you for acting smart."

-(It's over, they're going to kill me, the old man is going to die bleeding out, and maybe they'll kill or worse, kidnap Nora to have her as a hostage or things I don't want to imagine.)

I looked at Nora again, who had red eyes from crying so much.

-Hey girl, don't cry, I swear everything will be alright, trust me (I'm so sorry).

"You shouldn't swear things that won't happen."

The masked man said,

Even though I wanted to reassure the girl, at that point, I wanted to cry. My whole life was falling apart. But it made me feel worse to see that little girl going through this.

-"Listen, Nora,"

Nora then looked at me.

-"Do you remember my character?"

She nodded.

-" promise you that when we get out of this, I'll let you choose the colors you want for him, and not only that, I'll also help you create your own. But for that, you need to be brave. Can you do that for me?"

Nora then wiped her tears with her hand.

Nora: "Do you swear we'll draw together after this?"

-"Yes, it's a promise."

She then smiled a little.

"Enough of this. Neither you nor she will get out of here, especially you, who will die for being too clever, just like that old man."

-(I would love to punch this idiot in the face, but he has all the control and reason. There's nothing more I can do than to calm her down.)

It seemed like the end of everything, but then I heard something.

"We kindly ask the assailants to put their weapons on the ground and their hands up! We are the police, and we have cordoned off the entire area, so you have no escape!."

That voice was like music to my ears.

"It can't be!!" Said the guy with the mask.

"I can't take it anymore." Said the first assailant, who collapsed on the ground due to blood loss.

"Damn it." said the masked one

Seeing his partner fall, I confidently said with a mocking tone,

-"Well, well, it seems that in the end, things didn't go as you thought, huh?"

"Shut up."

-"Don't feel bad. It looks like it was your first time doing this, but for next time, I'll give you some advice."

"I told you to shut up!"

-"First, don't come with just two people to rob a place full of many, especially if you can't see them all. Second, it would have been better to do the robbery inside the train when it was departing, but it seems the mask prevents air from reaching your brain."

At this, Nora laughed a little.

-(Phew, it seems the situation has improved.)

The thief was trapped but showed no concern.

-"Mmm, what's the matter, got nothing to say?"

"It's just that even though things didn't go as I imagined, it doesn't change anything."

-"Ehh?"

With that, the guy shot me in the stomach.

I started spitting out a lot of blood.

Nora: "Sir!!"

"You shut up, and as for you, I'll give you some advice."

The guy then pointed his gun at my head level. "Learn to shut your mouth."

Slowly I was losing consciousness, and I could see my whole life flash before my eyes. To be honest, it wasn't the best. There were many things I wanted to do and never did because I didn't consider myself capable enough, always thinking the worst of myself.

Nora: "No!!"

A scream from that girl brought me out of my thoughts as I watched her violently move, hitting the thief in the groin.

(What the hell is she doing!!)

Nora then ran towards me.

But I could see how behind her, the thief was recovering from the blow, pointing his gun at her.

"No, move!!"

I then pushed the girl aside and, driven by adrenaline, took off my backpack and threw it in his face, blinding him for a few seconds, but long enough for me to knock him down and hold his arms.

Nora: "Sir!"

"Go, go away! Find the police, tell them to come quickly!."

Nora then nodded and ran off screaming for help. While I struggled with the thief as best I could despite the wound in my stomach, I was managing to resist.

-(Damn, I feel like I'm losing strength.)

But at that moment, I could hear many footsteps of people running to where I was, so I looked to the side and saw many police officers.

Police: "Hands up! you're under arrest!."

The officer told the thief. I had made it. I thought I would die, but in the end, I had made it…

But then I felt a tremendous pain in my chest. I couldn't hear the noise, but I could see what had happened. The guy shot again, but this time it hit me in the chest, specifically where my heart was.

-(It can't be.)

I collapsed to the side of the guy, and all the police restrained the thief, taking away his weapon.

Two other officers tried to talk to me, but I couldn't understand anything they were saying. Although before I had a small chance of surviving, now I definitely wouldn't make it.

Then my ears heard another familiar scream, which only made me feel worse.

Nora: "Sir!!"

Nora came running towards me with tears in her eyes to see me like this.

-(No, don't come, please.)

She knelt beside me and took one of my hands in hers while squeezing tightly.

Nora: "Don't die, please!! You promised me we would draw together after this, you can't die, please!!"

-(Damn it, I hate everything. I always thought I would like to die once everyone forgot about me so no one would be sad, but now I have to see her suffer because of me. How I hate myself.)

Among all the people at the station, Nora's mother appeared.

Mother: "Nora sweetie we must go. We have to go home. Your father has been calling like crazy and is very worried about us."

Nora: "I don't want to go. I don't want to leave him. He's my friend!!"

Nora wouldn't stop crying.

Her mother put her hand on the girl's back.

Mother: "nora, I know you don't want to leave him, but he will be fine, I swear."

Nora: "You don't know that."

Mother: "Yes, I do. You told me he swore you would draw together, and he doesn't seem like a person who lies."

Nora looked at me.

Nora: "Please don't die, sir."

She was about to let go of my hand, but with my last strength, I grabbed her hand and said,

-"Wa-wait, my no-notebook."

Nora: "Notebook?"

"I wa-want you to ta-take it."

Nora then took my backpack and pulled out my notebook.

Nora: "Do you want me to take care of it for you?"

I nodded.

Nora: "Okay, I swear I'll keep it until you're better."

All this was seen by Nora's mother, who smiled to see her daughter in better spirits, but inside she knew what was going to happen next.

Mother: "We-we need to go, Nora."

Nora: "Yes!"

She then looked at me one last time.

Nora: "Get well soon."

She then ran to her mother's side, and they both started walking, but her mother gave me a look with some sadness in her eyes.

Mother: (I'm so sorry. I wish my daughter and you had met under better circumstances. You surely are a good person and don't deserve this. I'm sorry.)

After watching them leave, I looked at the sky.

(So this is the end. Honestly, it's not how I thought it would be, but I don't feel bad. I feel happy because at least I made a friend.)

It was the last thing I thought as everything went dark.

…

-…

???: "Are you okay?"

-"Yes, I honestly didn't think I would die so young, but I still think the same. Besides, I consider that girl's life more valuable than mine."

???: "You are wrong, my child. Every life is worth the same, regardless of how many people love you or not. Every life is valuable and should be appreciated, but you were willing to sacrifice yours to protect others."

-"Well, yes, I know, please don't go on. I've never been comfortable with praise."

???: "Even so, your action deserves recognition."

-"Really? Like what, am I going to heaven?"

???: "No, not that."

-"Oh, because I'm an atheist, right?"

???: " eh N-no No, it's not because of that. What happens is that I have a better offer, of course, if you're willing to accept it."

I looked at this somewhat curiously.

???: "Since you couldn't live your life to old age and didn't even enjoy it, for one reason or another, I offer you the option to start over."

-"Start over a new life?"

???: "That's right, but not as you're imagining."

-"Then how?"

???: "I mean, if you want, I can make you reincarnate in the world you wish and in the way you want. What do you think?"

-"…"

???: "…?"

-"…"

???: "Are you?"

-"Seriouslyyyyy!!!"

I screamed with all my might, excited.

-"Are you serious? Can you really do that?!"

???: "Yes, yes, don't shout, you'll make me deaf."

-"Oh, sorry, my fault. (I can't believe it!!!)"

???: "By your reaction, I can imagine you dreamed of something like this."

-"No idea. I never thought something like this would happen. Dying is the best thing that could have happened to me!"

???: "Alright, alright, don't exaggerate. Just tell me where you want to go."

-"To the world of Dragon Ball!"

???: "Okay… Can you be more specific?"

-"Ah, well, umm, shoot, uh… I know, do you remember the character I drew in my notebook?"

???: "Yes."

-"I want to be him with all his abilities, but I want to start as a child on the planet of the Saiyans, on Planet Vegeta, specifically two weeks before it's destroyed by Frieza."

???: "Agreed, it will be done. Anything else?"

-"Mmm, no, I don't think I want anything else."

???: "Well, there's something you should know."

"Yes?"

???: "I can't send you to the original world, but to a different version of it."

-"Eh, really?"

I made a somewhat disappointed face because I thought it wouldn't feel the same for me.

???: "Yes, but don't worry. The version where I'll send you is practically the same; you'll barely notice the differences."

I then smiled again.

-"Good, as long as that's the case, I have no problems."

???: "Now there's just one last thing."

-"What?"

???: "The name you'll use in your next life. Since your character doesn't have one, you'll need to think of one before you leave."

I thought deeply about what name I would give my character until finally, after so much, I knew which one to use.

-"I've got it. Even though I'm not very good at thinking of Saiyan names, there's one that always seemed cool to me."

???: "And what will it be?"

-"From this day on, I'll be called Takeshi."

???: "Well then, I hope you live your next life to the fullest. Farewell, Takeshi."

I then saw how the black space lit up with a yellow glow, and with a smile, I said,

"Here I go, Dragon Ball."