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Chapter 5: Twenty-Three confronts Gohan

For days, Android Twenty-three kept her distance, watching Gohan from the shadows like a silent predator stalking its prey. She had been drawn to him since their last encounter, though she could hardly explain why. His strength, his stubbornness, and even his moral righteousness—all of it intrigued her in a way no human or android ever had before. It wasn't just about fighting anymore; it was something else entirely.

Gohan, unaware of her surveillance, had taken refuge in a secluded cave just outside of West City. It wasn't much, just an opening in a rocky hillside, but it provided him with a place to rest and recover from his recent battle with the androids. His body bore the marks of their ruthless attacks—deep bruises, cuts, and a few cracked ribs that made breathing painful. Still, he pushed through the pain, determined to train and grow stronger.

He couldn't afford to be idle. Not with Seventeen and Eighteen continuing their rampage, and certainly not with Twenty-three now in the mix. Her words from their last encounter still echoed in his mind, taunting him with their audacity. The thought of her twisted proposal made his stomach churn, yet a small part of him couldn't shake the intensity with which she had looked at him. It was unnerving.

From her hidden vantage points—usually atop a ridge or nestled in the branches of a tree—Twenty-three observed him closely. He trained relentlessly, his movements fluid yet strained from his injuries. Every punch, every kick seemed to carry the weight of his determination, and despite his condition, he never faltered.

She admired that about him. His resilience. His refusal to back down, even when faced with certain defeat. It was rare to see such fire in a human, especially one as young as Gohan. Most would have given up long ago. But not him.

After several days of watching him train, she grew restless. Lurking in the shadows wasn't her style. She was an android, designed for direct confrontation, not passive observation. More than that, the feeling gnawing at her—this strange pull toward Gohan—was becoming harder to ignore. She had to confront him again, to see if he had reconsidered her offer.

So, on the fifth day, as the sun hung high in the clear blue sky, Twenty-three decided to make her move.

Gohan was in the middle of his morning routine, throwing a series of powerful punches and kicks into the air, when he suddenly saw a familiar someone approaching. His body tensed, muscles coiling as he whirled around to face the intruder. His eyes widened when he saw her descending from the sky, her figure outlined against the bright sunlight.

Android Twenty-three landed gracefully a few meters in front of him, her expression calm but determined. She didn't make any aggressive moves, simply folding her arms as she stared at him with those cool, unreadable eyes.

Gohan immediately dropped into a fighting stance, his fists raised in readiness. "What do you want?" he demanded, his voice sharp, though the exhaustion from days of pushing himself to the limit was evident.

Twenty-three raised an eyebrow, a slight smirk tugging at the corner of her lips. "Relax, Gohan. I'm not here to fight," she said, her tone smooth and almost playful. "If I wanted to kill you, I would've done it days ago while you were sleeping."

Gohan's frown deepened, but he didn't lower his guard. "Then why are you here? You've been watching me, haven't you?"

She tilted her head slightly, acknowledging his accusation without apology. "Of course. You fascinate me, Gohan. I've never seen someone so determined to throw themselves into battle, even when they're outmatched." She took a step closer, her eyes scanning him up and down with a predatory gleam. "And besides, you've been on my mind since our last encounter. I wanted to see if you'd thought about my offer."

Gohan's fists tightened, and a flicker of disgust crossed his face. "I told you already—there's no way I'd ever agree to something like that. Not with you."

Twenty-three's smirk faded, replaced by an unreadable expression. "Why not? You can't deny the attraction, can you?" she asked, her voice soft but laced with a dangerous edge. "We're both powerful beings. We could have something... exciting together."

"I'm not like you," Gohan shot back, his voice filled with conviction. "I don't fight for the sake of it, or to satisfy some twisted desire. I fight to protect people, to save lives. And I would never—never—lower myself to be with someone like you."

His words struck a chord, and for the briefest moment, Twenty-three's eyes flickered with something almost like hurt. But she quickly masked it with a sardonic smile. "So righteous," she murmured, shaking her head. "You really think you're so different, don't you?"

Gohan glared at her, his heart racing with both anger and confusion. "What's your game, Twenty-three? Why are you so interested in me?"

Her eyes met his, and for a moment, the playful mask dropped. "Because you're strong. You're stronger than most humans, stronger than even some of the others I've fought. And you don't break easily." She took another step forward, her gaze never wavering from his. "That interests me. You interest me."

Gohan's breathing quickened as she closed the distance between them. He didn't move from his stance, but he could feel the tension building in the air between them, thick and electric.

"You don't know what you're talking about," he said through gritted teeth. "Whatever this is you're feeling... it's not real. You're an android. You can't understand emotions."

Twenty-three's smirk returned, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. "Maybe not. But I can understand desire." She reached out, her fingertips brushing lightly against his arm, sending a jolt through him.

Gohan recoiled as if burned, swatting her hand away. "Stay away from me," he growled, stepping back. "I won't be your plaything."

Twenty-three sighed, her expression one of mild disappointment. "You're so stubborn, Gohan. But that's what makes this so much fun."

Android Twenty-three glanced over Gohan's shoulder, her eyes settling on a half-empty box of pizza sitting on a small wooden table inside his makeshift cave. She tilted her head slightly, a teasing glint lighting her eyes as she remarked, "Pizza? Really? According to my data, you're half Saiyan, and from what I know about Saiyans, they have enormous appetites. How in the world could a single box of pizza satisfy you?"

Gohan's face tensed, though he tried to maintain his stoic expression. "It's none of your business," he replied sharply, folding his arms across his chest. His body language was defensive, though his tone carried a hint of discomfort. "I'm fine with what I have."

Just as the last word left his mouth, a loud, unmistakable growl echoed from his stomach, betraying his calm facade. His cheeks flushed a faint shade of red as Android Twenty-three's lips curled into a smug grin.

"Lying doesn't suit you, you know," she said with a soft chuckle, her eyes never leaving his. The moment lingered, her calm and mocking demeanor only adding to the strange tension between them. She turned away from him casually, her hands resting on her hips. "You might be tough, but even you can't deny the basic needs of your body."

Gohan scowled, but before he could respond, Twenty-three shifted her stance, looking up into the sky with a thoughtful expression. "Tell you what—stay here," she said, her tone suddenly matter-of-fact, as if she were offering some mundane piece of advice. "Unless you have a death wish, that is. I'll be back soon."

"What?" Gohan frowned, confusion filling his voice. He wasn't used to her giving commands or doing anything that wasn't directly related to fighting. "What are you talking about?"

Twenty-three didn't answer. She simply lifted off the ground, the wind from her departure swirling dust and loose pebbles around the cave entrance. Gohan instinctively raised his hand to shield his eyes as she soared into the sky, quickly disappearing from sight.

He stood there, baffled, his fists still clenched at his sides. "What is she up to?" he muttered under his breath. His mind raced with possibilities. He couldn't trust her, that much was clear, but she didn't seem intent on harming him—at least not yet. This whole situation was growing stranger by the minute. First, she watched him train in secret, then she confronted him with cryptic words, and now she was flying off with no explanation whatsoever.

Gohan considered pursuing her, but he hesitated. His body was still battered from his recent battles, and despite his earlier attempts to shrug off his injuries, they were starting to catch up with him. His ribs ached, his muscles burned, and every breath came with a sharp sting of pain. He had pushed himself too hard, training relentlessly without proper rest, and now he was paying the price.

But even as the physical toll weighed on him, his mind remained alert. His instincts screamed at him to be cautious, to not let his guard down, especially around someone like Android Twenty-three. Yet, something about her presence intrigued him. Despite everything, she wasn't like the other androids. She didn't seem to want to kill him—at least not yet—and that only added to the confusion swirling in his head.

He sighed, glancing back at the pizza box. As much as he hated to admit it, the hunger gnawing at his stomach was growing more difficult to ignore. The single box of pizza hadn't been enough to satisfy him, not even close, but he had tried to make do. Now, however, it seemed like his body was rebelling against his efforts to keep going without proper nourishment.

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