Food helped.
Riku hadn't realized how hollow his body felt until Bulma tossed him a foil-wrapped sandwich from her bag. He caught it on instinct, unwrapped it, and took a bite that nearly made him sigh out loud.
Bulma noticed.
"You eat like you've been stranded for days," she said, crouching beside a small capsule case and clicking it open.
"Feels like it," Riku replied.
Goku was already on his third helping, legs crossed, tail flicking lazily as he chewed. "You should eat more! Training's way better when you're full."
Riku watched him carefully. The kid's body didn't tense when he moved. Didn't brace. Power flowed through him like breathing.
Saiyan.
Bulma pressed a button, and with a burst of smoke, a compact tent popped into existence. She smirked at Riku's reaction. "Capsule tech. Try not to look so shocked."
"I've seen it before," Riku said. "Just… not in person."
She paused, eyes narrowing. "You sure you're not a spy?"
Riku met her gaze without flinching. "If I were, I'd be doing a terrible job."
That earned him a huff of reluctant amusement.
Night came faster than he expected. The desert cooled sharply, and the sky exploded into stars so bright they made his chest ache. Riku lay awake on the hard ground outside the tent, arms folded behind his head, listening to Goku snore and Bulma mutter to herself inside as she worked on the Dragon Radar.
This was it.
No reset button. No save file.
Just tomorrow.
At dawn, Goku was already up—shadowboxing the air, each movement snapping with power. Riku stood nearby, copying the motions slowly, carefully, feeling where his body resisted and where it flowed.
"You're stiff," Goku said cheerfully.
Riku didn't stop. "You're sloppy."
Goku blinked. Then laughed. "No one's ever said that before!"
Bulma stepped out of the tent, rubbing her eyes. "If you two are going to fight, at least wait until after breakfast."
Riku finished the sequence and exhaled. His muscles trembled—not from exhaustion, but strain. Every movement felt like pushing against invisible weight.
Gravity, he realized.
Not just physical. Ki had weight here.
"Hey," Goku said suddenly. "Wanna spar?"
Bulma froze. "Absolutely not."
Riku hesitated. His instincts screamed at him to refuse. This wasn't a friendly match. Not really.
But this was also the opportunity.
"Light spar," Riku said. "No full power."
Goku nodded eagerly. "Okay!"
They faced each other on a flat stretch of sand. No countdown. No signal.
Goku moved first.
Riku barely saw it.
The kick grazed his ribs instead of shattering them only because Goku pulled it. Even then, the impact sent Riku skidding back, sand burning his palms as he caught himself.
Bulma shouted something he didn't hear.
Riku stood.
Again.
The second exchange went worse. A feint, a punch, a shockwave of air that knocked the breath from his lungs. Pain bloomed sharp and bright, but Riku didn't black out.
He adjusted.
On the third exchange, he ducked sooner. Moved closer. Let the pressure roll past instead of trying to block it.
His fist connected with Goku's side.
It didn't hurt him.
But Goku's eyes widened.
"You hit me!"
Riku stumbled back, chest heaving, vision swimming. But he was smiling.
"I told you," he said between breaths. "Not strong enough. Yet."
Bulma stared at him like she was seeing something new.
Goku scratched his head. "You're weird. But cool!"
Riku sank to one knee as the adrenaline faded, pain rushing in to take its place. His ribs screamed. His arms shook violently now.
This was the difference.
Saiyans played at limits.
Humans lived inside them.
Bulma knelt beside him without thinking, hands hovering, unsure where to touch. "You're an idiot," she said. "A complete idiot."
"Probably," Riku admitted.
"But you didn't give up," she added quietly.
Riku looked up at her. At the dust on her clothes. The concern she tried to hide behind irritation.
"I can't," he said. "If I do, I don't exist in this world."
Bulma swallowed.
Far in the distance, something moved. A ripple in the air. Goku's smile faded as he turned toward it, senses sharpening.
"Oh," he said. "That feels bad."
Riku followed his gaze, forcing himself to stand despite the pain.
Whatever was coming—
This time, he wouldn't be watching from the sidelines.
END OF CHAPTER
Author's Comment:
This chapter sets the tone: Riku is not built for this world—but he refuses to be erased by it. Sparring with Goku isn't about winning; it's about survival and adaptation. From here on, every step forward will hurt. Thanks for reading—things start getting dangerous next chapter 🐉🔥