Favourite "Lower-Profile" Relationships?

[Magnificent Ponta]

As we all know, Dragon Ball makes much of some of the relationships between the comrades, rivals, and family members that make up its main cast. We all know which those "high-profile" relationships are, since they're put on such a pedestal by story and fanbase alike.

But are there any relationships between the characters that you particularly appreciate or enjoy when you see them on the page or screen, but which aren't necessarily given so much overt attention in the story or in wider fan circles?

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As an example, the particular relationship that made me think to post this topic is Goku and Kaio.

Off and on, Goku's been living with Kaio almost as long as he's lived with his own wife, but you obviously don't see their relationship get the same level of explicit focus. And yet I enjoy the comfortable, informal, low-key blunt and bickering "feel" of their odd couple dynamic when they share the page or screen; Kaio's a fun fusspot foil to Goku's easygoing nature, so it's not surprising that the story has them get together a number of times (whether remotely or in person) well after Goku's initial training with Kaio is over, and when the pair are together there's often an opening for a gag or two.

To me Kaio feels kind of like a companion for a 'home away from home' for Goku, whereas Kaio himself has a weirdly soft spot for his old student despite the way he routinely exasperates him - he appreciates the unique kind of man Goku is ("with a soul as clear as crystal"), he troubles to send him new uniforms from the Afterlife, and he even decides to stay dead when he doesn't need to, just to keep Goku company. And there's also a certain amount of versatility to the dynamic; it was an interesting switch-up to see the relationship become strained (but not wholly unaffectionate) when Goku was fighting Freeza as a Super Saiyan and making choices Kaio didn't agree with.

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So. Are there any relatively minor/lower-profile relationships in Dragon Ball that you have a soft spot for? What is it that you like about them or find most interesting?

[Grimlock]

I think that would be of Bardock and Toma (and overall his team). As Saiyans are part of the whole "we don't give a crap about each other" shtick, it's good to see their interaction and how Bardock reacted upon their deaths. It stands out for because we don't see much of it and to this day still uncommon, even if we count other materials (shoutout to Dragon Ball Z Kakarot for expanding this a little bit, though).

Dabura and Towa is also impeccable. Two villains that actually do give a crap about each other and they are relatives? Unheard of!

[jjgp1112]

Krillin and Vegeta...having been through what they have together, I've always noticed Krillin has the least amount of patience for Vegeta's shenanigans compared to everyone else. At the same time though, he's pretty emotional when Vegeta dies against Buu and even has to look away, showing he's gained a lot of respect for him over the years, too. And I'd love another Gohan/Vegeta/Krillin teamup

Frieza and Beriblu...Beriblu seems to be the only person allowed to talk to Frieza any kind of way, so I'd like to see how that dynamic developed.

[Majin Buu]

Beerus and Zeno- Because Zeno is putting Beerus on the receiving end of his own "I'm the most powerful guy around that can erase you in an instant so you better not displease me" schtick. Seeing Beerus constantly shit his pants in fear of being erased by someone that's more powerful but just as temperamental as him is so satisfying after an entire series of him making most everyone else shit their pants in fear of him.

[Yuji]

Kuririn and Piccolo, it's very subdued especially post Saiyan arc but they are basically always the first lines of defense if the Saiyans aren't around, which leads to a lot of situations where they're together and that mutual respect established in the 23rd Budokai can show itself.

Roshi and Vegeta in the ToP anime. Generally any time Vegeta interacts with any of the Earthling cast, it's usually a treat. His dynamics with Piccolo, Kuririn, and Tenshinhan are all great.

Much of the story revolves around Goku and his connections to other people but it's really special and endearing when characters that otherwise would have not met interact with each other. It shows the positive influence of Goku bringing folks together.

[JulieYBM]

I'm sure that this is just because of how I grew up watching the television series via the Toonami broadcast, but Gohan and Kuririn used to be such a little combination, but it feels like that fades away after the Garlic Junior arc. Gohan got to be the little brother in that respect, which felt a lot more defined by little moments than when he was the big brother to Goten.

Kuririn also got to be kind of like the Cool Big Brother, too. It was a nice change of pace, and really makes me wish that Kuririn and Gohan had been the ones to defeat Freeza.

[Vhanos]

What would constitute as a lower profile relationship? I don't know if some of the ones mentioned is that.

[Xeogran]

but it feels like that fades away after the Garlic Junior arc.

There's also the scene where Krillin cheers up Gohan after Goku sacrifices himself against Cell's Explosion.
I like that one a lot.

[DragonBallSyndicate]

Chi Chi and Piccolo and Chi Chi and Bulma.

Chi Chi wanting to trade mates when she technically has a second husband in Piccolo. Her and Bulma tends to be normal in comparison to the rest of the Z fighters in canon and in non canon movies when together.

[jjgp1112]

Chi Chi and Piccolo and Chi Chi and Bulma.

Chi Chi wanting to trade mates when she technically has a second husband in Piccolo. Her and Bulma tends to be normal in comparison to the rest of the Z fighters in canon and in non canon movies when together.

That swap thing was dub only and purely for comedy

[WittyUsername]

I like how Super (the anime version anyway) would show Chi-Chi and #18 as friends.

[Peach]

(Blonde) Launch and Master Roshi. Be careful what you wish for. She might turn out to be a criminal who shoots you.

[Magnificent Ponta]

What would constitute as a lower profile relationship? I don't know if some of the ones mentioned is that.

Well, my way of looking at it is that if you just think past all the relationships the series and the fandom have made a big deal of (e.g., Goku and Vegeta's rivalry, the bond between Piccolo and Gohan, Goku and Kuririn's friendship, Vegeta and Bulma's relationship, Kuririn and #18's relationship, etc. etc.) and start thinking about ones that are more obscure than that general level, but which you nevertheless personally enjoy seeing, that's the basic point of the topic. I wouldn't personally interject on anyone else's nominations to suggest they're not obscure enough or whatever; the point is more to say which "other" relationships you like than the ones that hog all the attention normally, is all I'm driving at.

On which note, I'll offer another: Goku and Kinto'un. Goku riding Kinto'un is an iconic image, but the relationship as such is quite minor and doesn't get so much attention. But I really like it. I just really enjoy Kinto'un as a 'semi-character' generally, and I really appreciate seeing the two together, as they're surprisingly affectionate (see, for instance, their reunion at Jingle Village when Goku realises Kinto'un is still alive) - Kinto'un is pretty much always there for Goku and Goku, in turn, treats Kinto'un as a special being in his life; it's less like seeing Goku with his preferred mode of transportation and more like seeing the relationship between somebody and their (really useful and adorable) pet. In fact, you could probably extend the relationship to cover all the Son family (albeit to a lesser extent); seeing Gohan challenge Kinto'un to a race, for instance, or Goten playing his console and listening to music while commuting on the cloud are cute and fun ways of keeping its unique presence around in the series. So yeah, that's another one from me.

[floofychan333]

I suppose you could consider Yamcha and Puar's relationship as lower-profile these days, but it was pretty funny in the OG Dragon Ball series which I started with. Though Puar's voice is kind of annoying, he's funny, and the concept of a weird floating cat/bat thing that can shapeshift but chooses to spend its time hanging around with a socially awkward teenage boy that lives in a desert is too hilarious not to enjoy. Classic old Toriyama-sensei stuff.

[DragonBallSyndicate]

Chi Chi and Piccolo and Chi Chi and Bulma.

Chi Chi wanting to trade mates when she technically has a second husband in Piccolo. Her and Bulma tends to be normal in comparison to the rest of the Z fighters in canon and in non canon movies when together.

That swap thing was dub only and purely for comedy

Another dub only canon? Of course.