I was surprised as much as Chichi that I said those words.
"What?"
I looked at her and realized that I… shouldn't have been surprised I told her that. In fact… "Come with us. To go for the Dragon Ball. Your father can come too, though I get the sense he likes being retired and wouldn't mind putzing around the house. You could go with us though and make sure it is safe."
"Oh, I couldn't," Chichi said instantly.
"Why not?" I pressed. "Goku told me yesterday that you used to be a fighter and an adventurer…"
"My place is here, at home. That is how things are. Goku goes out and I stay here and mind things."
I considered her for a long moment. I knew that this was based on traditional Asian households, where the father spent long hours working to provide for their family while the mother was basically a single parent, caring for the children. And while I didn't want to deny someone a role they enjoyed…
"Did you ever ask Goku if that's what he wanted?"
"Pardon?" She stared at me, utterly startled.
"Tell Goku you are coming with us," I told her. "See what he says." I smirked and raised an eyebrow.
Chichi, her pride unable to back down from that challenge, took the towel from me and wiped her hands before moving back to the dining room where far more of the food had been eliminated. Goku had a bowl of noodles close to his face, racing to shovel it down as quickly as he could, only to glance up when he saw his wife hover.
With a slurp he sucked up the last of the noodles before saying, "Oh… yes Chichi?"
"Goku, after you are finished eating we'll all go out and get the Dragon Ball. Then we'll go to Capsule Corp and summon the dragon."
Setting his bowl down Goku stared at her in surprise. "Really?" he asked, never questioning how she had learned the truth of what he was planning to do. Maybe he knew I had let her in on the secret. Maybe he thought she was smart enough to figure it out. Maybe he didn't care.
"You're coming too, mommy?" Gohan asked.
"That's right," Chichi said firmly before looking down at her outfit. "I suppose I need to find something different to wear… this isn't-"
"That's great!" Goku exclaimed with a grin, leaping up and giving her a big hug. "We haven't gone on an adventure in… well, I don't know! But that will be great!" He turned to his father-in-law. "Do you mind watching things, Ox-King?"
"Not at all!" the large man chuckled. "I was planning to take a nap anyway and afterwards I can make sure the fields are watered. Also have some ideas on how to increase the size of the radishes I'd like to try."
Goku was beaming as he spun Chichi around. "Okay! So we'll finish eating and then we'll get changed. You're right, I do need a new gi and I think you and Gohan should have some stuff you don't mind getting dirty. Nimbus can handle all of us and if not you can ride in Kayos' sidecar!"
Chichi smiled, flustered by his exuberance. "You… don't mind me coming?"
"Of course not!" he declared. "Its going to be so much fun! And you're sure you're gonna join us at Capsule Corp when we summon, Shenron, right?"
"…yes, I think I will," Chichi said, shooting me a grateful look.
I nodded back, realizing that in a few minutes I might have just earned myself my biggest ally.