The Counter Force Breaks into a Sweat

The Fujimura Residence was also the headquarters of the Fujimura Group. A dedicated Chef cooked Big Pot Rice here for the Fujimura Group members who lived on the premises.

All in all, it was no problem to suddenly have one more person to feed.

"Do you need me to help you with anything?"

Broly suddenly asked while shoveling food into his mouth. He had just learned this on the spot. It seemed that, in this place, doing work could be exchanged for Food instead of Ba Ya Blood.

"Hahaha, what can a Little Brat like you possibly do?"

Fujimura Taiga laughed as she rubbed Broly's head. The Boy's fluffy hair felt wonderful, and she found herself unable to stop.

"What can I do?"

Broly thought for a moment, and some information Appeared in his mind.

"I can destroy the Earth."

He said it very seriously. A Saiyan with a power level above ten thousand truly had the ability to destroy Earth.

Of course, the Earth he meant was the Earth of the Dragon Ball World. But was the Earth of the Type-Moon World any bigger or tougher than the Earth of the Dragon Ball World? Not necessarily.

"You Little One, you really know how to brag!"

However, Fujimura Taiga did not take him seriously. Nor did she notice the two Counter Forces within the Root of the Vortex breaking into a cold sweat at his words.

"If you really don't want to freeload at my house and insist on helping out, how about wiping down the bamboo swords and Protective Gear in the Dojo for your Older Sister?"

Yakuza fights rarely involved firearms. Cold weapons were the mainstream, and the Fujimura Residence had a private Dojo for training.

Fujimura Taiga had no interest in inheriting her Grandfather's criminal enterprise, but she had learned kendo through years of exposure.

The only Chores suitable for children in the house were tidying up the equipment in the Dojo. It was relatively simple work.

"Fujimura-oneesan, I don't want to freeload either."

Young Sakura raised her hand from the side.

"Then Sakura can help too."

Fujimura Taiga treated them both equally and rubbed the Girl's head as well.

One was fluffy like a Puppy, while the other was soft like a cat. She was thoroughly satisfied by the feeling.

Except...

"Little Brother Broly, how long has it been since you washed your hair?"

Fujimura Taiga sniffed her palm and could not help asking.

"Washed my hair? What's that?"

Water was scarce on Vampa. It was difficult enough just to meet daily drinking needs, never mind using it for cleaning.

If rolling around in fine sand counted as cleaning, then perhaps he had done that. But Broly had never once Taken a Bath.

"No way?"

Fujimura Taiga's expression became complicated. It was not as though he smelled unbearable, but he definitely carried the scent of a wild beast.

"After you finish eating, you should Take a Bath first. Sakura, you should come along too."

Broly did not object. So long as he was fed until full, whatever others said went.

It was just that...

"Is that kid a bottomless pit? How many bowls of rice has he eaten?"

Only after the Kitchen had cooked more than a dozen extra pots of rice and stir-fried several more batches of dishes did Broly finally stop.

He patted his swollen Little Belly, his face full of satisfaction.

"That child definitely isn't normal."

The Fujimura Group members discussed it among themselves, while Fujimura Taiga was also frightened by the Boy's extraordinary appetite.

"Are you all right?"

She asked with some concern.

"I've never been this full before."

Broly replied with a burp.

His previous Food had consisted solely of Vampa Spiders. Considering how awful Vampa Spiders tasted, so long as they could fill their stomachs and did not waste Food, neither Broly nor his father Paragus would deliberately hunt extra spiders just to eat until stuffed.

"That's incredible. How did your stomach even fit so much Food?!"

Fujimura Taiga touched the Boy's Little Belly and only relaxed after confirming he would not burst from overeating.

"It's practically magic."

Naturally, it had nothing to do with magic. Saiyans simply had terrifying Digestive Systems. Most Food that entered their stomachs was digested until not even scraps remained.

"So, should I go Take that Bath first, or should I wipe the things you mentioned first?"

After eating his fill, he needed to work. Broly was currently bursting with strength and felt fantastic.

"It's bad for your body to Take a Bath right after eating so much. Get up and walk around first. Wait until some of the Food in your stomach has digested.

"Oh, perfect! Your Older Sister is about to teach someone a lesson. Come watch and be part of the Cheerleading Squad!"

"Cheerleading Squad?"

Broly and Young Sakura were brought to the Dojo, while Scarface, who had been shouting recklessly earlier, was called over as well.

"Young Lady, please don't."

Scarface said with a miserable face.

"Quit whining. Put on your Protective Gear, and let's have a fair and honorable Kendo Duel!"

She called it a duel, but the Young Lady simply wanted to beat someone up. The Young Lady's Swordsmanship was not only superb, but she was also incredibly strong. Even with Protective Gear, there would inevitably be places the protection did not cover that got struck.

"You two had better cheer for me properly!"

Fujimura Taiga, now dressed in a Kendo Uniform herself, spoke to the two children before walking forward and urging Scarface to come up.

Once Scarface stepped forward, the sword fight began. Bamboo swords clashed throughout the Dojo, producing loud smacking sounds.

Broly looked at the strange actions of the two people in the center of the Dojo with some confusion. He did not understand what they were doing, striking at each other with sticks.

"Go, Fujimura-oneesan!"

But Young Sakura had already begun cheering for Fujimura Taiga.

Hearing her, Broly snapped back to attention and became a parrot beside her.

Whenever the Girl shouted something, he shouted it too. He became more and more proficient as he went.

"Strike the center, Master Fujimura!"

By the end, he was even directing the attack based on mysterious information that Appeared in his mind.

"Ow, that hurts! I surrender, Young Lady!"

Scarface was sent flying by a thrust and decisively fell to the ground to surrender.

"It really does feel different when someone cheers you on!"

After fighting for a while, Fujimura Taiga had worked up a sweat. She planned to rest for a bit before Taking a Bath.

"Hmm, can you two bathe yourselves?"

After the two children used rags to tidy up the equipment they had used, Fujimura Taiga asked them.

Before either could answer, she remembered Broly's earlier question about what Taking a Bath even was.

"Forget it. My house's Big Bathhouse is pretty spacious, so we'll all wash together."

They were both children, so Fujimura Taiga had no reservations. She ordered the household servants to prepare two sets of fresh children's clothes, then led the two into the Changing Room.

"Eh, what's this?"

While removing Broly's clothes, she touched the Tail wrapped around his waist.

"Why do you have a Tail?"

After the Tail slapped her hand, Fujimura Taiga asked in surprise.

"It's normal for Saiyans to have Tails."

Broly explained.

"Saiyans? What are those?"

This time, it was Fujimura Taiga's turn to ask.

"They're... Vegetable People?"

The reversed pronunciation of Saiya was Yasai, which sounded the same as the Japanese word for vegetables. It was a pun, and the information about that pun Appeared in Broly's mind. He blurted it out instinctively, though he did not really understand it himself.

"Ah, Vegetable People?"

Fujimura Taiga was utterly confused.

"Forget it. Can your Older Sister touch your Tail?"

But she quickly stopped thinking about it and asked instead.

"You gave me lots of Food. You're a good Wife. You can touch my Tail."

Broly nodded at once and obediently Handed Over his Tail to the Young Girl.

Fujimura Taiga caught the Tail the Boy had Handed Over. Feeling the faint vibrations coming from the Fluffy Tail, she found it extremely fascinating. Instinctively, she gave it a squeeze, then heard the Boy suppress a muffled groan.

"Hey, hey, hey! Don't make sounds that can be misunderstood!"

She hurriedly covered Broly's mouth.

"A Saiyan's Tail is a sensitive spot. If you squeeze it like that, it gets really numb."

Broly explained through her hand. For the sake of all the Food, he tried hard to endure the numbness.

Fujimura Taiga: "..."

She hurriedly released the Boy's Tail.

"You should have said so earlier. If you had, I wouldn't have squeezed your Tail like that."

It felt like a rod, similar to swollen erectile tissue. Fujimura Taiga had not realized it at first, but after hearing Broly's words, she suddenly recalled some improper content she had seen in certain improper books.

Fujimura Taiga's entire face turned red. Her gaze instinctively drifted toward the Boy's lower body, but she quickly slapped herself.

Taiga, Taiga, get a grip. You can't let a mere Tail from a child lead your thoughts astray. You are absolutely not a dirty-minded Girl!

Without lingering in the Changing Room, Fujimura Taiga led the two children into the Fujimura Family's Big Bathhouse under their baffled gazes as they watched her slap herself.

"First, before soaking, you need to clean your body."

The Girl did not need help. She clearly knew how to Take a Bath on her own. But the Boy needed watching.

He looked around everywhere, appearing intensely interested in the entire Big Bathhouse.

More importantly, as soon as his feet touched the water on the floor, they left black footprints behind. He was so dirty that it had not even been apparent from his appearance.

Broly was pressed onto a stool. Fujimura Taiga turned on the Hot Water tap and rinsed him down. Once his hair was soaked, the dust began to wash away. The nearly discolored stream of water left both Young Sakura and Fujimura Taiga stunned.

"It looks like rinsing with water alone won't work."

Fujimura Taiga brought over the bathing supplies. She had originally intended to let Broly use them himself, but after watching him squeeze out some Shampoo, sniff it, and then stuff it straight into his mouth, she gave up on the idea of letting this wild child clean himself.

"Honestly, that's not Food. Spit it out..."

After digging the Shampoo out of Broly's mouth,

"Forget it. I'll wash you myself."

Fujimura Taiga had Broly sit on the small stool in front, then moved another small stool over and sat behind him.

Her smooth thighs passed around either side of the Boy. Fujimura Taiga poured a large glob of Shampoo over his filthy hair and began rubbing his head.

Broly's hair was soon covered in foam. He grabbed some foam from his hair and sniffed it, preparing to taste it again when the Young Girl slapped his little hand.

"I told you, that isn't Food. If you try to eat it again, I won't be your Wife anymore, and I'll throw you out of my house afterward."

Broly immediately stopped misbehaving when he heard that.

"Eh, that really works. Come on, close your eyes. I'm going to rinse you."

As the water washed away all the foam, pure black Long Hair was revealed.

"I thought it was grayish brown. I never expected it to be pure black."

Fujimura Taiga did not know whether to laugh or cry. Looking at the little boy's somewhat brownish skin, she worried he might eat the Soap too, so she went ahead and washed his body as well.

Young Sakura had already cleaned herself. Watching Fujimura Taiga busy herself with the Boy, she also expressed a desire to help.

Fujimura Taiga had wanted to refuse, but seeing the Girl's desire to prove her worth, and not knowing what the child had been through, she Handed Over a bar of Soap and let her help scrub him.

The two Girls, one big and one small, scrubbed the Boy's body as though washing a large dog. Only when the Scrubbing Towel could no longer scrub even a speck of dirt from him did the massive cleaning operation finally end.

"This is more exhausting than beating people up."

Fujimura Taiga spoke honestly.

"But it's also more satisfying than beating people up."

Seeing the filthy Boy become clean under her hands was incredibly satisfying.

"Mm."

Young Sakura deeply agreed. Despite her young age, she had already displayed a talent for cleaning dirty things.

"All right, you're clean now. You can go soak."

Fujimura Taiga picked Broly up and tossed him into the Big Bathtub.

She thought things would get easier from here.

Who would have thought...

While cleaning herself, she discovered the Boy leaning against the edge of the Big Bathtub and watching her.

"Why are you staring at me?"

"I want to learn how to Take a Bath."

How innocent those words sounded. But was the way girls bathed the same as the way boys bathed?

"You Little Pervert, no peeking!"

Before Fujimura Taiga could throw a washbasin at him, Broly obediently turned around.

"What's a Little Pervert?"

However, he had too many questions. He actually asked what a Little Pervert meant.

"A Little Pervert is someone young who likes staring at other people's bodies."

Fujimura Taiga explained.

"Then she's a Little Pervert too."

Broly pointed at the Girl beside him, who was staring at him.

"Eh?"

Young Sakura, pointed at directly, wore a dazed expression mixed with utter disbelief that this counted too.

Fujimura Taiga: "..."

"You can't put it that way. When a boy stares at a girl, he's called a pervert, but when a girl stares at a boy, she isn't."

"Why?"

"Because boys and girls are different."

"How are they different?"

"Their physiological structures are different."

"Physiological structures? What are those?"

"Look, this is a girl's... Wait, why am I explaining this to a Little Brat like you?!"

"You only brought this up because you wanted to prove that boys are called perverts for staring at girls, while girls aren't for staring at boys. So why exactly?"

Fujimura Taiga had wanted to argue it out with Broly, but as Boy kept asking all sorts of innocent yet pointed questions, she realized she found them difficult to answer as well.

In this day and age, men and women were supposed to be equals, yet society's views did not seem to reflect that. Fujimura Taiga, a fifteen-year-old girl, immediately sank into troubled contemplation.

After washing herself and soaking in the hot water, she was pondering whether men and women in this world were truly equal when a gulping sound interrupted her thoughts.

Following the sound, Fujimura Taiga saw Broly with the lower half of his face submerged in the water, greedily gulping down bathwater.

"Hey, what are you doing?"

She hurriedly hauled Boy out of the water and asked directly.

"I was thirsty, so I was drinking water."

Broly answered honestly.

"This is bathwater."

"Can't I drink it?"

Fujimura Taiga rubbed her temples.

"Obviously, you can't."

"Why?"

"There's no why. You just need to know that only boiled water can be drunk."

"What is boiled water?"

"I..."

At that moment, Fujimura Taiga experienced years ahead of schedule the troubles of raising a child who asked too many questions.