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The Lookout, now that the sun had set, had completely released the heat of the day. In the hushed space, only the thud of darts hitting the board echoed.
Darts was Bulma’s latest obsession. A simple board had been brought to the Lookout, and it had sparked a bit of a trend.
My father was clumsy with any sport involving tools. Vegeta-san put too much force into his throws because of his desperate need to win. Goten and Trunks couldn't maintain their focus. Unexpectedly, Dende was skilled at adjusting his angles and kept a high score. Yamcha-san was used to bar games and was as good as Bulma.
The race for first place was always between Piccolo-san and me. Everyone commented on how "interesting it is to have a master and disciple as rivals," but in reality, I lost by a narrow margin every single time.
Tonight, everyone had already gone home, and Dende had retired to his room.
"…Just one more. This is the last one, I mean it."
When I said that while staring at the board, Piccolo-san shrugged.
"How many 'last ones' do you have?"
"But... I was so close today..."
Piccolo-san laughed and handed me three darts. I knew from watching him fight that he was excellent at precise aiming. Above all, his concentration was remarkably unbreakable. His method of training through meditation likely contributed to his mental stamina.
During our match earlier this evening, it looked like I was finally going to win. But that conscious thought—I'm going to win—along with my brothers making a fuss behind me, caused my final throw to waver. As I groaned in frustration, Piccolo-san dismissed me, saying, "Your training is insufficient. If you can stay focused no matter what happens, you can win." True to his words, even when Goten and the others teased him to the point of physically touching him, Piccolo-san’s aim never faltered...
The quiet moonlight made the white stone pavement look smooth. There was no wind, and the darts flew exactly as intended.
By the second throw, we were both at a maximum of 60 points. We were perfectly deadlocked.
"This is really the end, regardless of the result," Piccolo-san said as he took the third dart and stood at the throw line.
Feeling a bit mischievous, I closed the distance between us as he stared at the board and grabbed his lowered hand. He didn't even turn around; he just kept his aim steady, seemingly unfazed by my proximity... Determined to shake him, I stood on my toes, bit his earlobe softly, and let my tongue slide along his neck. Yet, Piccolo-san showed no reaction and calmly released the dart.
—8 points.
I was more surprised than the one who threw it.
"8 points? ...Did your concentration break?"
Shoving aside my arm that was entangled with his, his sharp eyes glared at me.
"...It’s against the rules to touch the thrower."
"If you had told me to move before you threw, I would have," I teased.
Piccolo-san was momentarily at a loss for words.
"You said 'stay focused no matter what happens,' didn't you? So I thought you'd be fine, Piccolo-san. I thought you were amazing, but..."
Piccolo-san retreated from the line without a retort. I had certainly interfered, but it was also true that he hadn't told me to move. Surely, he thought he would be unfazed... that he would be fine. I began to enjoy outwitting Piccolo-san more than the actual win or loss. I took his place and checked the line at my feet.
"This is my win, then. I’ve finally achieved my 'overturning of the master'... but it feels a bit mean to throw just to show the point difference. Oh, and I can't concentrate if I'm touched, so please don't touch me."
"..."
I was confident, but now I didn't even need to aim for the narrow 60-point slot. Just as I took aim, Piccolo-san spoke quietly.
"Indeed, it might be your win..."
"Right!"
"If I lose... tonight, I’ll do whatever you say."
My entire body jolted at that sweet, breathy voice. I looked back while still holding the dart, and saw Piccolo-san standing a short distance away, watching me with a solemn expression.
"W-What do you mean, 'whatever'?"
"A command, a wish... whatever you desire."
The whisper brushed against my ear, and my heart began to beat like a drum. Whatever I desire. I couldn't even think about aiming for 60 points now. I just needed to hit the widest area that even a beginner could hit... anywhere from 9 to 20 points.
"Don't forget what you just said."
With that, I tried to steady my breathing.
I adjusted my foot position and stared at the board. I aimed carefully and released the dart from my elbow. The dart, which flew twice as fast as usual... barely stuck into the edge of the board, in the section where no points were displayed.
"…That’s a zero."
I ran to the board in disbelief, looking back and forth between the dart that was about to fall out and Piccolo-san.
"It’s my win. For a moment, I thought I was defeated... but I see. So this is what it feels like to 'overturn' someone. It feels quite good."
Piccolo-san pulled the dart from the board and pressed it into my hand. Deep in his eyes was the glint of a smile.
"Too bad. Did your concentration break?"
"That's enough for today," he said, patting my shoulder, and then he retreated back into the Lookout. Watching his back as it was illuminated by the moonlight, I realized once again that I could never win against this man... and I squeezed the zero-point dart in my hand.