The bunny kid who wants to become the strongestt

The small cozy living room flickered with the warm glow of a holographic television. On the screen, a dramatic romantic scene played out — a young prince confessing his love in the pouring rain.

Gou sat slouched on the couch, wearing an old training gi with holes in it, clutching a steaming cup of carrot tea. His fluffy gray brows furrowed, and he squinted at the screen like it was trying to insult him personally.

"Pfft... what kinda technique is that?" he muttered. "He's just standing there cryin' in the rain—he ain't even throw a punch!"

WHACK!

Linda, graceful and tall despite her age, clocked him playfully in the arm without taking her eyes off the screen. Her long blonde hair flowed down her back like silk, with one elegant bang draped over her left eye, hiding it entirely. Her visible blue eye shimmered with emotion as she watched the movie, tears welling up.

"Shhh! Gou, it's the good part!" she whispered with a warm smile, her bang falling over her left eye as tears welled in her right.

She was totally absorbed, lips trembling from the emotion of the scene.

Gou rolled his eyes, ears twitching.

"I just don't get it… There's no explosion. No chase. No chi-powered elbow drops. Romance? Bah! Back in my day, love was when ya saved someone from a twenty-story beast with a flaming sword, not some soggy prince standin' in mud…"

Linda leaned over, still smiling softly.

"Not everything needs to explode to mean something, ya knucklehead."

Gou blinked. "Mmm… maybe…"

But deep inside, as the scene unfolded — the couple on screen embracing despite a war tearing their kingdoms apart — Gou's mind began to drift.

He stared quietly. His ears drooped a little.

"Man… do I miss my prime…" he thought to himself.

"Those were the days... Traveling across the lands, challengin' warriors, savin' bunnies, slayin' beasts… and Linda, always there, swingin' that axe of hers with a grin like nothin' could touch her..."

Linda noticed his silence and glanced at him, her blue eye softening.

"You're doing it again."

"Huh? Doing what?" Gou blinked.

"Getting all mopey and lost in your head," she chuckled. "You always do that when you miss the past."

"Whaaat? Me? Nah, I was just... evaluating the poor footwork of the male lead."

Linda raised an eyebrow.

"Gou."

He sighed, defeated. "Okay, maybe I was thinkin' a little. Just a little! I mean, back in the day, I could've out-jumped half this cast, blindfolded, while doin' squats…"

Linda reached over and took his hand, interlacing their fingers gently.

"You're still my favorite warrior."

Gou looked at her, eyes wide, then smiled goofily.

"Even though I got more back pain than battle scars now?"

"Especially because of that." she said with a wink.

Suddenly, she perked up.

"Oh! Did you know in Eastern Cloud Lore, a prince once actually rode a dragon just to deliver a love letter across enemy lines? It's true!"

Gou blinked. "...Did he fight the dragon first?"

Linda laughed. "No, Gou! Not everything is a fight!"

He looked disappointed. "...Lame."

She rolled her eyes but kept smiling.

Outside their house, the stars twinkled, and the wind carried the scent of spring.

Inside, the two sat close, watching the movie in silence now. Linda captivated by the story, and Gou—though he'd never admit it—just as captivated by her.

"Linda," Gou mumbled, cheeks slightly red.

"Hm?"

"I... I'm glad I lost to you that first time we sparred. Best beatin' I ever got."

Linda grinned.

"Of course it was. And don't you forget it."

Gou sat back on the couch, barely paying attention to the movie anymore, when a soft THWAP! echoed outside the door.

"Eh?" His long ears twitched. "Linda, ya hear that?"

Linda, completely invested in the romantic climax of the film, didn't even glance his way.

"Mmm." She waved a hand dismissively. "If it's not a dragon confessing its undying love, then I don't care."

Gou squinted toward the window and saw dark figures swooping down under the moonlight.

"Owls." He muttered, rubbing his chin. "Haven't seen 'em in a while… That means news."

THWAP! Another newspaper landed right on his porch.

Gou got up with a grunt, stretching his stiff back, and shuffled outside in his slippers.

He grabbed the paper and adjusted his spectacles, muttering as he read the headlines.

"HUNK TOWER RAIDED! A BUNNY KID, A SKELETON, A BLUE-HAIRED SWORDSMAN, AND A SCORPION MEMBER CAUSE MAYHEM!"

Gou scratched his head.

"Hah. Sounds like a buncha reckless little punks. Kids these days, no respect—wait…"

His eyes suddenly widened as he read further.

"THE YOUNG BUNNY BOY, ELEO, LED THE CHARGE!"

Silence.

The newspaper fluttered in his shaking hands.

Then—

"WHO IN THE SEVEN MOONS IS ELEO?!"

The realization hit him like a brick to the skull.

His ears shot straight up, his heart skipped a beat, and his jaw almost hit the floor.

"ELEO… ELEO…" he muttered, mind racing like an old rusty engine trying to start.

And then—like a cosmic slap to the brain—it clicked.

"THAT'S—THAT'S MY GRANDSON!!!"

He froze.

The wind howled. The owls hooted. The stars twinkled.

And Gou stood there, realizing he had completely forgotten he even HAD a grandson.

Linda poked her head outside.

"What's all the yelling for?" she yawned, rubbing her eye.

Gou turned to her with the most guilty, dumbfounded expression.

"Babe… I, uh… I just remembered somethin' kinda important…"

Linda blinked. "…Did you leave the stove on again?"

"No."

"…Did you forget to feed the fish?"

"…We don't have fish."

"…Then what is it?"

Gou took a deep breath, ears twitching, face full of shame.

"…We have a grandson."

"Oh? What about Eleo?" she asked, taking a sip.

Gou's ears twitched violently. "…Wait, YOU REMEMBERED?!"

Linda raised an eyebrow. "Of course. How could I forget my own grandson?"

Gou stared at her in pure betrayal.

"…AND YOU DIDN'T THINK TO REMIND ME?!"

Linda smirked. "I thought you knew. You were on the Supreme Council, Gou. I assumed you still had your 'all-knowing wisdom' or whatever."

"…LINDA, THAT WAS OVER TWENTY YEARS AGO! MY WISDOM RETIRED WITH ME!!"

She shrugged. "Well, at least you remember now."

Gou looked back at the newspaper, then back at his wife.

"…So, you're telling me… our grandson—whom I COMPLETELY FORGOT EXISTED—is out there raiding high-security towers, fighting ascendants, and running with a skeleton?"

Linda nodded. "Pretty much."

Gou clutched his chest. "I'm having a heart attack."

Linda patted his back. "No, you're not."

Gou wheezed. "I FEEL LIKE I AM."

Linda rolled her eyes, grabbed the newspaper, and scanned through the article.

"…So, Eleo, huh?" she murmured.

Her blue eye twinkled as she took in the details.

"He's out there having adventures…" She smirked. "Takes after me, obviously."

Gou scoffed. "Oh, please. If he's out there punching things and getting into trouble, that's MY blood, thank you very much."

Linda chuckled, shaking her head. "So? What do we do now?"

Gou straightened up, puffing his chest out.

"What do ya THINK?! We gotta go find the kid! Set him straight! Train him properly! Make sure he's not—" He squinted at the article again. "—hanging out with skeletons and criminals."

Linda raised an eyebrow. "Gou."

"Yeah?"

"You used to hang out with skeletons and criminals."

"THAT'S DIFFERENT! I was Supreme Council! I was important!"

Linda giggled and patted his arm. "Well, I suppose it's time we meet our grandson, huh?"

Gou cracked his knuckles, a wide grin spreading across his face.

"Damn right it is."

And just like that—Gou, the retired Supreme Council member, was officially back in action.