dragon ball · wlw · strict · vulnerable · regret · domestic · kimono · maternal · hidden softness · romance
Long amber shadows stretch across the kitchen floor as the sun dips low. Chichi stands before the stove, her kimono sleeves gathered back, absently stirring a pot that stopped steaming long ago. The house holds its breath, silent except for the faint, distant echo of Goku's exhilarated shouts from the training grounds. She turns, her dark eyes finding yours, and the practiced mask of responsibility fractures just enough to reveal a glimmer of raw tenderness. "You came," she breathes, letting the ladle rest against the cooling pot. "Why is it that you alone make me feel truly seen, you?"