After recovering from the training Darc slowly stood up and walked back home. While going back he met some locals on the streets and greeted them with a smile.
They were all friendly people. Well, it was probably because a child of 4 years was just too adorable to be angry at. He also never really made any mischief so the people had a good impression of him.
"Hey, Darc. How are you little guy holding up?" It was a man with a mustache and straw hat that asked the question. "Today is your birthday, right? Happy birthday, dear." a woman beside the man added.
"Ah, yes, happy birthday little guy", admitted the man sheepishly with a slight blush since he actually didn't remember such stuff and his wife had to remind him.
Darc didn't really mind though. The town was not that desolate that everyone would know each other. And remembering all the birthdates from the people would probably be a pain.
He himself forgot even the ones from his childhood friends. The ones from his previous life that is.
In the end, he should have probably remembered it so that he didn't die an unnecessary death like his.
That didn't mean he didn't know the couple. "Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Acron!", he said with a heightened voice to indicate excitement to meet them.
"Thank you!. I am doing great. I just came back from playing.", he added.
"What a good dearie. Such politeness and manner to greet us old folks." The woman really liked the fact that he remembered them.
"Old folks?" Darc asked with a grin. "But Mrs. Acron is still so young."
The woman truly only was in her 25´s - 35´s if he had to guess. He didn't know her age. A woman, in general, was really secretive about such facts.
Mr. Acron laughed out. "Boy, you are still really young. When you become our age we will be old folks in no time. But you did a good one complimenting her"
He ruffled Darc´s black hair at took a glimpse to his wife that had a really bright smile on her face after Darc`s words.
"Hehe", Darc sheepishly grinned.
At that moment a tower clock could be heard.
"Oh, it's already noon. I should hurry back home." while looking in the direction of the tower he said goodbye to the Acron family and dashed off.
"Take care, little guy." Mr. Acron watched after him and waved goodbye "Maybe we should also start a family?" He looked at his wife with a grin.
She blushed at him but didn't say anything.
-----
At the front of the house, Darc went through the entrance gate and moved to the door. He could see the family nameplate at the door and the number indicating the address of the house.
´Soya, huh. Well, I guess it means a sofa? Now I know that I at least got a family name. Still can't get over the weird naming sense here.´
He opened the door and entered the house. After closing it behind him his mother already was coming to welcome him.
"Good, you made it in time", she grinned at him and was so proud of him that he was so well behaved. "Come, daddy is already waiting for you."
She guided him to the living room where Truff was already standing ready to greet and assault his son.
"Son! Give daddy a big hug!" His voice was still as rough as always. He was kinda a bear-like man if one had to describe him and Darc hopped he would not end up the same build as him. It would give him Strength for sure, but he would become such an easy target to hit...
Truff grabbed him, hugged him and then put him on his shoulders for a piggyback ride.
"Hehe" Darc reacted with a chuckle. He actually found this old man funny. Maybe he wanted to compensate every moment after not being able to hold him right after birth?
"Come, we go to your cake now. First, you need to make a wish. Then you can open your presents. You know the drill little soldier." With those words, he brought him to a table where a cake was placed.
On that cake were 4 little blue lit candles put around a big 4 with blue cream. Blue was Darc´s favorite color. That's probably why they chose those colors. The cake itself was honey yellow and looked delicious.
Because Darc was still pretty small, Truff placed him on a chair so that he could blow out the candles.
Darc inhaled a lot and exaggerate with his cheeks full and blew the 4 candles out. After that, the candles only let out a dim smoke from that moment onwards.
´Make a wish, huh. Sadly these are not the Dragon Balls...´
He placed his little hands together and made a wish. Not that it would work anyways. He wished for a dragon ball. Just to have one would be amazing and assuring.
"Alright, did you make your wish?" Truff grinned and brought him a wrapped present and placed it beside the cake after moving it to the side. "Here, these things are from your mother and me."
Darc smiled and unwrapped the present. There were two objects in it. A small blue gi probably big enough to hold the next 2 years of his growth and a little wooden box.
"Thanks, dad! Now I can become stronger!", he exclaimed as he held the upper part of the gi in his hands.
"Haha! That's not only it. I got a favor from someone and he told me he could get into contact with a martial arts teacher for you. So in the next days, someone will visit here and instruct you on some things."
´So he really did manage it. Good! But I wonder what weird guy will visit. If he is bad I will immediately snitch him so he doesn't get one Zeni´
His parents were quite the wealthy family and could get most stuff without going through much trouble.
"Hey now, don't you want to open the other present?" Kibini interrupted the two and was a little bit left out. Her present was also there and he didn't even open it yet.
Darc looked at his mother and put down the gi while Truff scratched his cheek and stayed silent. He knew his wife was a little bit angry right now. Please, son, be happy about the thing in the box.
He knew what was inside but didn't think it would make him happy. And that would make Kibini somewhat sad.
After sliding the box in front of him he fumbled around with the lock and opened the wooden box and what Darc saw inside it made his eyes bulge in surprise and even his mouth was wide open.
"This....", Darc said and stared at the object.
"Isn't it beautiful? I got it at a local market in another town from a nice old lady." Kibini asked with a little bit of concerned to his reaction. She didn't knew if it was good or bad. So she added an explanation.
Darc took the object into his hand and stared silently at it.
Truff made a little cough to indicate that Darc needs to say at least something.
He actually couldn't. He was flabbergasted.
´How in the hell did this thing end up in my possession? Butterfly effect, You truly are nasty´
What he held in his hands was an orange ball glittering with 6 red stars in it.
Yes, it was the 6-star Dragonball!
His eyes started glittering out of pure happiness. Sure, something wrong did happen and with this ball in hand there would be no meeting Oolong but who cares for now?
Since he has it he wouldn't give it away so easily.
"This is amazing, mom! I like it very much!", he proposed while half shouting.
Kibini saw his happiness and smiled brightly. She was happy that he liked it. Truff, on the other hand, was kind of confused why he liked that ball. Well, at least he didn't make his mother sad.
Darc pocketed everything and dashed up to his room without saying much.
Kibini laughed lightly "Come back down as soon as you put your presents away. We want to eat after all."
"Yes~~!!" was only heard from Darc.