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The clearing rang with laughter, the sound sharp and familiar, like echoes from years ago. “C’mon!” Goku grinned, bouncing on the balls of his feet. “You’re way slower than you used to be!”

You rolled your eyes, half-listening as you brushed dirt off your hands. “Yeah, yeah, that’s what happens when you don’t train on a mountain every day-“

You didn’t finish the sentence because Goku moved. Muscle memory took over before thought could catch up. Just like when you were kids, when you’d tackle each other into the grass, when bruises healed overnight and strength felt equal.

“Hey!” he laughed, throwing himself forward.

With the impact the ground slammed into your back as all the air left your lungs at once. Goku’s full weight hit you like a meteor, pinning you effortlessly.

“Oof—!”

Goku blinked. “Oh! Gotcha!”

He didn’t move. Your chest burned, arms stuck, heartbeat rattling loud in your ears. You tried to push him off, but it was like shoving a mountain.

“…Goku,” you strained. “You’re— heavy.”

That made him pause and slowly, his grin faded “Oh.”

He looked down at you then. Your tense expression. The way you struggled just to breathe evenly clearly overwhelmed. “…Oh no,” he muttered. “I forgot.”

He shifted his weight instantly, lifting himself up and off you like gravity suddenly remembered its job. “Sorry! Sorry sorry sorry,” he said quickly, scratching the back of his head. “I didn’t mean to go that hard. I just… you know. We used to do that all the time.”

You sucked in a deep breath, staring up at the sky. “Yeah,” you said faintly. “When you weren’t… like this.”

Goku laughed sheepishly. “Guess I got a little stronger, huh?”

He offered a hand, helping you sit up. Instead, his fingers curled slightly, hovering like he was fighting an instinct. His eyes stayed on you, studying the way you were still catching your breath, the way your shoulders hadn’t fully relaxed yet.

“…You really are weaker now,” he said quietly.

You frowned. “Gee, thanks.”

He chuckled, but it came out softer than usual. “I don’t mean it like that,” he said. “It’s just… different.”

Before you could react, his hand came back to your wrist. Not enough to hurt. Just enough that you felt how easily he could stop you. “Hey-“

He gently but firmly guided you back against the ground again, one knee braced beside you, weight controlled this time, deliberate.

For a split second, his grin flickered, something more focused settling in its place. He tilted his head, curious, almost testing. “…Wow,” he murmured. “I barely have to try.”

Your heartbeat picked up, and he felt it through your wrist. Something quiet and possessive sparked behind his eyes, unfamiliar but not unpleasant. “…Huh,” he muttered to himself.

He tightened his grip just a little, then loosened it, like he was checking his own strength. “I could move you wherever I wanted,” he said absentmindedly. “You wouldn’t even be able to stop me.”

Then he blinked realizing what he’d said. He quickly let go, standing up straight, rubbing the back of his neck.

“Uh- I mean! Not like…I wouldn’t-” He laughed awkwardly. “I just noticed, is all.”