The next day…
        "Pan, is everything ready?" Videl asked.
        "Yes, Okachan!" Pan said happily as she carried the last bit into their car.  Her father and uncle helped.  Goku and ChiChi were still packing something.
        "All right.  Let's go!" ChiChi said, stepping out.  Goku was behind her, carrying a huge basket full of extra food for the Saiyajins.
        "That's it!" Gohan grinned and looked at Goten. "Are you sure you won't come with us now?"
        "Nah, I'll just catch up later, all right?"
        "Okay." Gohan stepped into the car. "See you later, then."
        Goten nodded and watched the car as it began hovering and then took off.  As soon as the car was out of sight, he sighed and walked back into the house.
        He was alone in the living room. The house was dimmed by the early sunset, almost no light streaming through the windows.  Goten flopped on the sofa and decided to take a little nap.  He didn't want to leave for the O-Hanami festival yet…he still had a lot of thinking to do.
        He thought about the incident a few weeks ago, when Paris had dumped him.  It had been the most painful experience he'd ever had.  Other girls had dumped him, but never one that he'd been so involved with.  Paris had broken his heart and left him without a hope.
        But there is a hope.
        He's got his best friends.  Trunks, his very best buddy.  How could he ever forget him?  The only person he's really close to.  Almost brothers.  Childhood friends, spending most of their time together.  Even now, although they're both adults and busy with their lives, they've always had time for fun, just like they used to.  And Trunks, even if he sucks at giving out advice, will always be there for Goten, helping him.
        And of course, there's Marron.  He smiled as he thought about her.  She's nice, sweet, gentle, and she has that deadly smile that could melt any guy's heart.  His heart had melted anyway.  And unlike Trunks, Marron was really a person he could talk to.  She's a good listener and gives good advice and motivations.  A true friend…she's not just pretty, but a read angel.
 Straight and honest, good personality…a type any guy would like.
        And now his two friends weren't just good friends anymore!  Goten couldn't help laughing every time he thought about it.
        Trunks and Marron.  What an unlikely couple!
        Trunks used to bully Marron all the time until she would cry and run away.  And then Marron would tell on him and get them in trouble.  They had hated each other with a passion.  But that was way back in the day…
        Things hadn't changed until they were high schoolers.  Trunks was actually serious about his studies and higher education was really important to him.  The same went for Marron, but that wasn't anything surprising.  She's always been studious—less boys, more books, not dates, yes homework.  As for himself?
He'd only learned how to date girls.  And he was pretty proud of that, even if Trunks got more of the attention.
        He laughed at the memories.
        It's really funny how people change over the years.  Trunks was really into Marron, even though he'd called her the chubby little noseless crybaby for most of their lives.  But Goten had been talking with Trunks just the other night and his hear had sweated just listening to Trunks go on and on about Marron.  It was so funny.  Weird, definitely, but funny.
        So his best friends are lovers.  Maybe Trunks really did deserve her.  A busy, high-pressured man like him
needs someone as sweet and lovely as Marron is to calm
him down.  Goten sighed and smiled.  He'll really be
alone now…he's sure he's lost his best friends. 
        Suddenly, he remembered something. 

 How can he say he's alone when there's someone out there who cares so deeply for him?  How can he be sad
when someone's always trying to make him happy?  And she'd always appeared whenever he needed someone to
talk to.  Not Marron, not Trunks, but an certain individual he'd never expected to be so close to.
        He'd known Trunks' little sister since the day she was born.  She was the cutest baby he'd ever seen.  Blue hair, blue eyes, and soft while skin…he'd always been so happy when she smiled.  He could tell that when she grew up, she was going to be quite the beauty.  And he was right.  He'd wanted to tell her that, sometimes, but he just felt stupid saying so.
        Until that night.  It had just escaped from his lips.  They had stopped in the park for the ice cream.  He didn't know why, but he had been really drawn to her.  He just couldn't stop staring at the young girl sitting next to him.
        He could tell he made her feel nervous, but he didn't care.  He enjoyed watching her lick and eat her delicious ice cream.  By the time he whispered it to her, he realized it was something that made her blush.  She'd trembled and nervously stood up.  And then he'd grabbed her hand, not wanting her to leave.  That night had been full of surprises.

        "Goten-kun, what's wrong…?"

        He remembered what she had asked him, and he'd was asking himself the same question.  He felt stupid and let go of her.  It was embarrassing—an old man like him holding a high school girl?  What was he thinking?
 And why…?

        "I'm sorry…I shouldn't do that…"

        Then, later, when they were finally at her house.  On the front porch, saying goodbye, his feet seemed to grow heavy and stick.  He couldn't move to leave her.  Even after she bode him farewell, he pulled her close to him, hugging her.  He didn't even know what he was doing.  He whispered words of thanks in her ear, and he didn't mind if she didn't understand at first.  But this girl…just swept his confusion and emptiness away. He was having a hard time keeping in touch with Paris, but Bra just made him forget about Paris completely.  He knew he had to be faithful, but something about Bra…she just seems so special.
        Sometimes he wished he was a few years younger than he was.  Maybe a little closer to Bra.  He'd never said this to anyone, but sometimes he would feel very unbrotherly towards the girl.  Every time he thought about it, though, he felt foolish.  He knew it would never happen.  Bra is Bra and he's still the old bachelor.  Bra was his best friend's little sister and 11 years younger than he was.  She's just a kid, a girl.  How could he feel that way for her?  He ignored that strange little fantasy of his and it was soon forgotten.
        But now it's all came back.  He's started thinking about her again.  Just like today.
        Goten shook his head and rose from the sofa.  He headed to his room and flopped on his bed.  He put his
hands behind his head and sighed lazily.  What a day it will be, he thought.  Tonight all his friends and family will be gathered together for the O-Hanami festival.  He wondered if she's going to be there after all that's happened yesterday.

        Yesterday…

        It was just a friendly outing she'd invited him to, so he brought Pan along.  And they'd all had a great time until he saw the headlines on the magazines that told about the disappointing, heartbreaking news that Paris was soon to be married.
        He was almost out of control.  Anger burned inside him.  He knew he was about to freak out when a person approached him.  She was there, cooling him down, reassuring him.  She gave him advice and hope. 
        "Everything is going to be okay," he remembered her whispering to him. "I promise you."
        Then his mind drifted to yesterday evening.
        "When I was a little girl, I had a major crush on you…I've realized that I still do."
        He just couldn't forget the look on her face while she said that.  Two streams of tears flowed quietly from her eyes.  She was humiliated and hurt by this guy, Kaede, who forced her to tell him something he never expected.  Her statement made him speechless.  But what Bra had told him was only a hint of the truth.  He needed to know more.
        So he went to go see Marron.  And just like he'd expected, he got his answers.
        "But I'm so much older!  How come—?"
        "Does age really matter to you, Goten?"
        That question echoed in his mind over and over, but he wasn't willing to find the answer right now.
        He shut his eyes and cursed himself, telling himself how stupid and blind he was.  He did say once he would do anything to make her happy, but then he'd let her down.  He'd disappointed her.  He hadn't meant to hurt her, but everything seemed to happen so fast.
        If Bra was there, giving him hope to be alive and in love again, he'll be there for her…to give her hope, too.

        He slowly rose from his bed and walked towards the bathroom.  He has to change for the O-Hanami festival.

        "B-chan…really…l—loves me?"
        "Yes, and I know she still does."