Between the cold, almost impersonal white-painted walls, illuminated by the early morning sunlight casting shadows that seemed to dance slowly on the clean floor, the room was marked by the antiseptic smell that accentuated the solitude of that space. The thin, slightly translucent curtains swayed with a gentle breeze coming through the slightly open window, bringing with it a breath of life from the outside. Amid this environment that carried such a sense of detachment, an old man showed signs of awakening.
With slow, weary movements, as if age had created an unparalleled weight on his fragile, time-worn body, he rested on the narrow bed, covered by a faded light-blue blanket. The sheets, though clean, had creases that seemed to echo the rigidity of the place. The morning light gently touched his face, revealing the deep marks of a long life full of stories. His eyes, now open though tired, still held a faint glimmer, as if in that quietude, he was reliving memories that kept him connected to something greater than that hospital room.
With some difficulty, the old man sat up in bed. Turning his head, he looked at the familiar bedside table, where a small photo frame displayed a faded picture of a younger man beside a smiling boy, both holding Dragon Ball action figures. It was an image that seemed to defy time, capturing a moment of pure joy and connection. The old man extended a trembling hand, touching the frame with a delicacy that only affection can teach. His fingers slid over the glass, as if trying to reach that distant time when afternoons were filled with laughter and the excitement of watching the next episode of the anime with his son.
The sunlight, now softly illuminating the room, seemed to bring fragments of those days. He closed his eyes for a moment, and the distant sound of the hospital machines transformed into the echo of an opening theme he knew by heart. The coldness of the environment gave way to the warmth of the living room couch, where he and his son had cheered for Goku together, as if they were part of those epic battles.
The breeze coming through the window seemed to whisper stories of a past that refused to be forgotten. And in that moment, the hospital room ceased to be just a clinical, impersonal space. It became a place where time folded, where the old man could meet again the boy he once was, and the son who had grown up but would always remain there, in that photo, in those memories, and in the heart that still beat strongly, even under the weight of the years.
That brief and fleeting moment of nostalgia marked the end of the old man's life. He passed away with an expression full of contentment, reminiscing about the moments of joy with his son while sitting on his own bed. His eyes, which had just moments ago sparkled with the reflection of memories, now rested closed, as if they had finally found peace. His face, once marked by the wrinkles of time and fatigue, was serene, almost smiling, as if the last image his mind had captured was that of his young son, laughing by his side, eyes filled with admiration as Goku launched a Kamehameha on the TV screen.
With a smile on his face, this was the end of the old man, in this ordinary world, yet filled with happy memories.
The spirit of the same man drifted aimlessly, unaware of what was about to happen in that dark and monotonous space where his soul floated. Suddenly, something began to pull him, a force drawing him slowly toward a new path. As he was pulled, the darkness around him began to dissipate, giving way to a soft, golden light. It was warm, comforting, like the embrace of an old friend. Gradually, shapes began to emerge in the dim light. He couldn't quite make out what they were, but he felt a presence around him, as if he were being welcomed by something greater than himself.
Soon, the once dark and silent space gave way to a bright, white room. His memory quickly drew a comparison to the Hyperbolic Time Chamber used in the Cell Saga of Dragon Ball. He paused for a moment, observing this new environment, until he noticed a figure standing still, watching him—a figure that could be described as ethereal, its face not entirely defined but still bearing discernible features.
"It's quite an interesting space, isn't it?" said the unknown figure.
Unsure how to respond, the soul remained silent for a moment before opting for a brief "yes" as a reply, a response that seemed to evoke a faint smile on the figure's face.
"You must have already realized, but… you've died!" the figure said slowly, with a professional tone marked by experience. It paused briefly before continuing. "Welcome to the 'waiting room.' You're here because we have an offer. Normally, we send the souls of those who have passed away directly into the normal reincarnation cycle of the same world where they died." The figure paused again. "But from time to time, we need to send some souls to other worlds to bring renewal to the cycle!"
"Over the last century, we've sent a large number of souls to other places that need change!" the figure concluded.
After hearing the brief explanation from the stranger, the old soul pondered for a few seconds before asking, "If this is a practice that's been in place for a century, then you're going to reincarnate me in a different world, right?"
"Yes," replied the figure. "It's kind of obvious, but if that were the only reason, we would have sent you directly without bringing you here. You will be the last soul to reincarnate in another world for now. We are, therefore, offering you a few wishes, limited by your own karma."
This made the old soul pause momentarily. He had the right to make three wishes, which faintly reminded him of a movie he had watched with his son about a lamp granting the same number of requests—much like Dragon Ball at a certain point. However, the limitation imposed by his karma helped keep him grounded.
After a few minutes, he decided to ask, "What are the limits of the wishes according to my karma?"
The question made the ethereal figure in front of him stop moving for a few seconds. To the old man, it seemed as if the figure was stunned, but in reality, it was checking the boundaries for the wishes that could be granted. A few seconds later, the figure responded.
"Despite your good karma, we cannot grant you abilities that would make you omnipotent, grant you immortality, control over time or reality itself, much less give you the body of a god or a system," said the figure.
The old man didn't seem too disappointed by these limitations. He was old and had never considered becoming a god, much less someone who could be omnipotent. He wanted something that would allow him to fulfill the dreams he had when he watched Dragon Ball with his son. With his decision made, he decided to proceed with the wishes he had in mind.
"My first wish is to have the ability to use Ki," the old man said. To his surprise, the figure found his wish amusing but didn't stop him from continuing. "My second wish is to have the knowledge of how to train with maximum efficiency, both in using Ki and in improving my own body," he said. "My third wish is to be able to remember my past life with clarity." The man finished, and his last wish didn't seem to surprise the unknown figure in front of him as much.
After a few seconds of silence, the figure spoke up.
"Your first wish is a bit redundant," the figure said, but before the old man could ask anything, the figure continued. "You're already going to a world where anyone can use Ki. You would have that ability one way or another."
This seemed to surprise the old man. He had thought he would be born into a completely normal world, but this revelation brought a concern that he decided to voice. "Will I lose my first wish, then?"
"No, you can replace it with anything as long as it's within the limits," the figure replied.
The man pondered for a few moments. He already had the guarantee of being able to use Ki. What else could he ask for?
Minutes passed, and the figure showed extreme patience, giving the recently deceased old man time to decide what to ask for. Finally, the man made his decision!
"I wish for my son to have perfect health," the old man proclaimed.
The figure saw no issue with this wish, which delighted the old man. His son had some health problems that weren't severe—just a herniated disc and a slight vision issue. He had considered asking for this earlier but wasn't sure if it was allowed. Now, knowing he could replace his first wish, he decided to take the chance.
"Well, now good luck in your new life," said the figure. "Follow me for a moment."
The figure led him to a small establishment located a bit further away in the "waiting room." The place had an aesthetic very similar to the small structure inside the Hyperbolic Time Chamber, which only reinforced the old man's idea that this place was designed by a Dragon Ball fan.
The figure then broke the silence that had settled during the walk to a door inside the small establishment.
"This door will take you to your next life, but before you go, I have to warn you," the figure said. "Your karma wasn't enough to create a new body, so we'll merge you with an existing soul at the moment!"
"Another thing you might want to know is that there won't be any issues with higher entities in that universe. They are fully aware of this cycle renewal service," the figure continued. "If you have no questions, step through the door."
The figure finished speaking and opened the door.
"Who will I be merged with?" asked the old man.
The figure walked up to him, placed a hand on his shoulder, and with a moment of seriousness, said, "Son Gohan."
This left the old man stunned. His mind stopped working. Seeing the man's state, the figure decided to push him through the door.
"Good luck with your new life," the figure said with a big smile.
Snapping back to reality from the sudden action, the old man didn't even have time to ask more about the person he would be merged with. All he could do was shout, "WHAT???"
But whether this shout was out of confusion or surprise at being pushed, no one would ever know. The moment he passed through the door, the "waiting room" lit up and transformed into a completely dark and empty space.
"Another job well done!" the figure said with satisfaction.
Only fate knew what awaited the new Son Gohan.