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Chapter 131. The Most Despairing Episode
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Sakata Gintoki was gradually getting led astray.
He was starting to seriously think about what this had to do with "Dragon Ball".
By now, he had probably forgotten, right?
The reason Pucci came to find him, and why he came to the pachinko parlor, was never about discussing "Dragon Ball" with Pucci.
But it wasn't just Gintoki who was being led astray.
Pucci, who had initially brought up the topic, wasn't straying from the point at all.
In fact, this was exactly the result Pucci wanted.
Using this method to distract Gintoki and help him relax his tense mood.
Although Pucci wasn't entirely sure whether this relaxed mood would help with the filming of "Battle Tendency", he figured it was better than having Gintoki's mind tightly bound by tension.
When Gintoki's mind was free of extraneous thoughts, wouldn't it be easier for Pucci to introduce new ideas into it?
Just like how Gintoki was now questioning what this "what if" scenario had to do with "Dragon Ball"...
"It seems like you understand it well, or is this actually part of your personal experience? Did you really have a 'Hidden Dragon and Crouching Tiger' classmate in elementary school?"
"..."
Gintoki didn't answer this question.
But according to the principle that actors chosen by fate are drawn to one another, much like how the Joestar family and the Zeppeli family in real life would still have become friends even without encountering the Stone Mask or vampires...
Perhaps in this world, Gintoki would also meet and become acquainted with the classmates from Shoka Sonjuku.
So, after hearing this "what if," Gintoki reacted so strongly?
Then let's push a little further!
"Alright, alright. Since you said this has nothing to do with "Dragon Ball", let's set it up like this..."
Pucci pretended to be resigned as he continued, "The true identity of Gintoki's teacher... is actually a Dragon Ball disguised as a human! That way, Frieza would have a motive and reason to capture your teacher, right?"
"And to prevent Frieza, the supervillain, from making a wish with the Dragon Ball, and to stop him from killing your teacher, would you join your classmates in the fight against Frieza?"
This still has nothing to do with "Dragon Ball", does it!?
Don't think you can just make this a "Dragon Ball" story with that setup!
Gintoki ranted inwardly.
Similarly, due to his inner ranting, unlike earlier when he was indifferent, he unknowingly started listening consciously, taking in the story and wanting to react to it.
In doing so, Gintoki couldn't help but think about the problem this alternate "Gintoki" was facing...
Exactly!
The "Dragon Ball" story that Pucci was telling was actually a modified plot from "Gintama" involving Gintoki!
Just as Goku transformed into a Super Saiyan after Krillin's death, if Stroheim's presence couldn't spark Gintoki's resolve for a desperate fight, then maybe swapping in someone who could make Gintoki fight with everything he has would ensure his subconscious forever imprinted that determination in his heart.
Just like how your eyes instinctively close when sand is about to blow into them, or how your arms automatically reach out to grab something nearby when you're about to fall.
This is a survival instinct embedded in the body.
And what Pucci wanted to reinforce in Gintoki was just such an instinct.
Although the concept of total immersion filming seemed to block out an actor's memories, allowing them to present the most genuine "performance," there was still a boundary.
Even actors destined by fate, who truly saw the script world as real, would still subconsciously regard it as fiction, albeit in a very subtle way.
But if, at that moment, an opponent like Kars, who brought nothing but despair and no hope of victory, appeared...
Then that subtle thought would grow wildly, ultimately leading the actor to make the most instinctual move to preserve life—actively seeking death to escape the scripted world!
However, if Gintoki's willpower overcame this survival instinct, choosing to resist even when knowing there was no hope of winning...
Wouldn't his subconscious drive him to fight with everything he had to survive?
After all, for fans of "Dragon Ball", true despair wasn't facing some ultimate life form or those world-destroying bosses from the later stages of the series, but that moment during the Namek Saga when everyone, including Goku, was hovering around a battle power of a few tens of thousands, and then Frieza suddenly said, "My battle power is 530,000!"
The terror and despair of "how can we possibly win?" were almost burned into the souls of all the viewers at the time.
After all, unlike those who watched later and knew the exaggerated power of Super Saiyans...
In other words, if Gintoki wasn't afraid of Frieza, why should he fear some ultimate life form?
However...
"..."
"It's okay, this is just a 'what if,'" Pucci said, patting Gintoki on the shoulder, who was still unable to respond, without feeling any disappointment. "Just think of it as a fanfiction story I thought of randomly, just to help you relax. I'm not really expecting an answer."
"Besides, it seems like our break is almost over..."
Pucci, who had used a shoulder pat to bring the dazed Gintoki back to reality, pointed to the clock on the wall, where the hour hand was approaching a certain point.
"Uh? Ahhhhhhh—!!"
…
"It looks like everyone is ready. When can we start filming?"
Arriving swiftly at the "Battle Tendency" set, Jolyne Cujoh curiously asked, looking around at the well-prepared crew.
When it came to matters involving money, she was very serious and had arrived early, leaving Akiyuki Shinbo with no opportunity to ask how Pucci's talk with Gintoki had gone.
With a mix of anxiousness and trust in Pucci, Shinbo nervously replied, "We can start right away."
"—"Battle Tendency" Episode 15: 'The Man Who Became a God,' ACTION!"