A/N - Hey guys! New chapter! Please remember to leave some comments and vote and enjoy ❤️

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Chapter 6: A Nice Surprise 🍽️

Gohan sat down on a nearby rock, his mind still racing as he waited. He wasn't sure how long Twenty-three would be gone, but he had a sinking feeling that whatever she was planning would complicate things even further.

A few hours passed, stretching into what felt like an eternity. The wind rustled the leaves of the trees outside the cave, and the distant sounds of birds filled the air, but Gohan's focus remained sharp. He couldn't afford to relax, not with everything at stake.

Then, as the sun began to sink lower in the sky, casting long shadows across the landscape, Gohan saw the familiar presence of Android Twenty-three approaching once more.

She descended from the sky with the same grace as before, landing lightly on her feet just outside the cave. In her hands, to Gohan's surprise, she held several large containers—stacked neatly and clearly filled with food.

Gohan blinked, taken aback by the sight. He hadn't expected this. Not from her. "What... what is this?" he asked, unable to keep the confusion out of his voice.

Twenty-three's lips curved into a knowing smile as she placed the containers on the ground in front of him. "You're hungry," she said simply, as if that explained everything. "I figured you'd need more than just a box of pizza to keep going. You can't fight on an empty stomach, Gohan. You're too smart for that."

Gohan eyed the containers suspiciously. "Why?" he asked, his voice low, laced with distrust. "Why are you doing this?"

Twenty-three shrugged, her gaze cool and unreadable. "Let's just say I don't want you dropping dead from starvation before we get to finish what we started." She stepped back, folding her arms across her chest once more. "You're no good to me if you're weak."

Gohan's stomach growled again, louder this time, betraying the wariness in his mind. Despite his misgivings, the smell of the food was too tempting to ignore. He hesitated for a moment longer, then reached for one of the containers, opening it to reveal a spread of various dishes—some familiar, some foreign, but all seemingly designed to provide the energy he desperately needed.

He glanced up at her one last time, still unsure of her true motives. "What's the catch? You poisoned these?"

Twenty-three met his gaze steadily, her eyes glinting with amusement. "Oh please. There's no catch, Gohan. Just eat. Consider it a temporary truce. We can go back to trying to kill each other later."

Gohan wasn't sure if she was joking or not, but for now, he didn't have much of a choice.

Gohan took one of the bins of food, examining it closely. He lifted the lid and leaned in to sniff, his Saiyan senses on high alert. Though the food smelled fine, his natural suspicion kept him from digging in right away. He checked each container carefully, scrutinizing every dish.

Twenty-three, standing a few feet away with her arms crossed, rolled her eyes. "You really think I went through all the trouble of bringing you food just to poison it?" she said, irritation lacing her voice. "I didn't tamper with it in any way. If I wanted to kill you, I could've done it by now."

Gohan glanced at her. There was no sign of deceit in her expression—just a look of mild frustration, as though she was annoyed by his caution. He paused for a moment, studying her face. For once, her eyes seemed sincere, devoid of the usual coldness and calculation he had come to expect from her.

His stomach growled again, louder this time, and Gohan reluctantly decided to trust her, if only for now. He picked up a spoon and took a bite of the food. It looked appetizing—colorful vegetables, perfectly cooked meats, and rich sauces. But as soon as he began to chew, his face twisted slightly in surprise. Though the food appeared well-made, it tasted bland, almost synthetic. He swallowed, trying to keep his expression neutral, but after a few more bites, he couldn't help but comment.

"It looks good, but... it doesn't taste as great as I expected."

Twenty-three's eyes narrowed, and she straightened, her annoyance flaring. "Ungrateful, are we?" she shot back, her voice sharp. "I went through the trouble of bringing you food, and that's the thanks I get?"

Gohan held up his hands defensively. "I didn't mean to offend you," he said quickly. "It's just... well, it's kind of bland."

Twenty-three huffed, crossing her arms again. "Bland? You should appreciate the hard work that went into those meals," she muttered. "I didn't have to do this for you, you know."

Realizing he had struck a nerve, Gohan decided not to push the issue further. Besides, despite the less-than-stellar flavor, the food was still filling, and right now, that was what he needed most. His Saiyan appetite took over, and before long, he found himself devouring the contents of each container.

As he ate, Gohan couldn't help but think about his mother. "The best cook I ever knew was my mom," he said, half to himself, as he shoveled another bite of food into his mouth. "She always made sure there was more than enough for us, no matter how much we ate."

Twenty-three, who had been watching him quietly, tilted her head slightly at the mention of Gohan's mother. "Your mother, huh?" she mused, almost as if talking to herself. "My data tells me Goku's house is in Mount Paozu. Maybe I should pay your dear mother a visit."

Her words were spoken softly, almost casually, but the underlying menace was clear. Gohan, too engrossed in his meal to fully register what she had said, didn't react. He just kept eating, telling himself it was better to eat the food she brought him than nothing at all. The gnawing hunger in his belly outweighed any lingering doubts about her motives.

After several minutes of silence, Gohan finally looked up at her again, his curiosity getting the better of him. "Why are you doing this?" he asked, his tone more serious this time. "You've already said you don't want me weak, but... why help me at all?"

Twenty-three's eyes flickered, but she maintained her cool demeanor. "I told you already, Gohan. You're no use to me if you're weak. And besides..." She paused, as if carefully choosing her words. "You're different from the others. You don't break easily, and that interests me. Let's just say I want to see how far you can go."

Her explanation was cryptic, but Gohan could sense there was more to it than she was letting on. He didn't push for answers, though. For now, he was too focused on the strange mix of tension and something almost resembling camaraderie that had developed between them.

Twenty-three turned on her heel, preparing to leave. "I'm going to take off," she said, glancing back at him briefly. "Don't expect me to bring you food every day."

Before she could take off into the sky, Gohan called after her. "Wait. Are you going to alert Seventeen and Eighteen about my location?"

Twenty-three paused, looking over her shoulder at him. "No," she said simply. "I have no reason to. You're my business for now, not theirs."

With that, she launched herself into the air, her figure quickly disappearing against the evening sky.

Gohan stood there for a few moments, watching her go, feeling a strange mix of emotions. Android Twenty-three's actions baffled him. She wasn't like Seventeen or Eighteen—she wasn't relentlessly destructive or bloodthirsty. She was cold, calculating, and dangerous, but at the same time, she had just gone out of her way to help him.

As the last of the daylight faded and the night crept in, Gohan sat down on the ground, his mind still reeling from the encounter. He didn't trust her—couldn't trust her—but he couldn't shake the feeling that there was something more to her than he had initially thought.

Strangely, her act of bringing him food, even if it wasn't the best, had left a lasting impression. Despite her cold exterior and her dangerous nature, she had shown a flicker of something else—a kind of twisted kindness that Gohan wasn't sure how to interpret.

He shook his head, telling himself not to dwell on it too much. He had to stay focused on his training and recovery. Whatever Android Twenty-three's motives were, he couldn't let her distract him from his mission.

Still, as he lay back against the cool rock wall of the cave, staring up at the stars, a part of him couldn't help but wonder if this strange new dynamic between them would lead to something more than just another fight.

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