A Genius's Kiss

Happy times are always fleeting.

Especially when that happiness comes with the torment of tenfold gravity and the occasional pink interaction.

A week passed in the blink of an eye.

News that the World Martial Arts Tournament was about to open for registration had already spread across the world through television and radio.

Krillin knew it was time to go.

If he didn't head back to meet up with Master Roshi, the storyline might veer off into unpredictable deviations.

Early morning, the private helipad of Capsule Corporation.

A bright yellow capsule jet had already warmed up.

Its engines spat pale blue exhaust, whipping the lawn into a rustling frenzy.

Mrs. Briefs pulled out a mountain of snacks and boxed lunches, stuffing them into Krillin's backpack with the fervor of someone sending him off on a wilderness survival trip rather than back to a martial arts school.

Dr. Briefs handed Krillin a small box.

"This is the Gravity Ring you asked for."

"It's not as effective as that big room, but it can still apply two or three times gravity to your limbs."

"Wear it all the time—don't take it off even when eating or sleeping."

"Thanks, Doc." Krillin accepted it solemnly.

Finally, only Bulma was left.

Today she wore a simple white T-shirt and denim shorts, her hair tied up in a neat ponytail. The legendary battle suit was nowhere in her hands.

"The clothes... aren't quite finished yet."

Bulma kicked at a pebble by her feet, not daring to meet Krillin's eyes.

"The final core chip still needs tuning."

"I'll bring it over when the tournament starts."

The clothes had actually been finished long ago.

She just wanted an excuse—a reason she had to see him.

"Alright, I'll wait for you."

Krillin saw through her little scheme but didn't call her out.

The wind was a bit strong, messing up the bangs on Bulma's forehead.

The two stood face to face, the surrounding noise seeming to filter itself out.

"Hey... you have to win, okay?"

Bulma looked up, biting her lower lip.

"If you lose to that womanizer Yamcha, I'll... I'll turn that battle suit I made for you into a pink maid outfit!"

"Don't worry, the odds of that are one in a billion." Krillin smiled confidently.

He shouldered his backpack and turned toward the plane.

One step. Two steps.

That bittersweet ache of parting suddenly surged in Bulma's heart.

This week of being together day and night had made her used to having him around—sweating, eating, bickering.

This place was huge, but now that he was leaving, why did it suddenly feel so empty?

"Krillin!"

Bulma suddenly called out.

Krillin stopped and turned around.

A streak of white rushed toward him.

Bulma didn't slow down at all, crashing straight into his arms.

Soft warmth filled his embrace.

Before Krillin could react, she had already risen on her tiptoes, wrapped her arms around his neck, closed her eyes, and pressed her warm, soft lips against his.

Boom...

It was like a firework exploded in Krillin's mind.

This wasn't one of those light, fleeting pecks.

It was a confession—clumsy with a girl's inexperience, yet burning with passion.

The taste of citrus candy lingered between their lips.

Krillin's arms naturally wrapped around her slender waist, deepening the kiss.

Time seemed to stand still.

Only the distant sound of Mrs. Briefs' "Ohohoho" laughter and a whistle from Dr. Briefs.

A long moment passed before the kiss broke.

Bulma's face was so red it looked ready to bleed.

She gasped, her eyes hazy but locked on Krillin with unusual resolve.

"That's... an advance reward."

"Make sure you bring back the championship."

She murmured, cheeks still flushed.

Just then, a long-missed mechanical chime rang in Krillin's mind.

[Ding! Critical plot interaction detected.]

[Target: Bulma.]

[Current Affection: 92/100 (First Love unto Death).]

[Congratulations, host. Affection threshold of 90% reached!]

[Extracting target's core ability...]

[Extraction successful! Acquired passive skill: Genius Intellect (S-Rank).]

[Description: Your brain's neural connection speed is increased by 300%. Logical reasoning, learning ability, and mechanical comprehension are massively enhanced. You can now learn others' techniques at a single glance, and even complex mechanical blueprints are unforgettable at a glance. Your insight has ascended from "mortal" to "prodigy."]

In an instant, the world changed in Krillin's eyes.

Where before he only felt the wind rustling the grass, now he could clearly calculate the wind speed, angle, and the trajectory of each blade of grass.

Where the complex instrument panel of the plane once made his head spin, now those gauges seemed as simple as one-plus-one equations.

He even spotted a tiny design flaw in the engine intake at a single glance.

Was this the world Bulma saw?

Was this the mind of a genius?

Krillin felt as if the fog that had always shrouded his brain had been blown away by a gale, leaving his thoughts terrifyingly clear.

This clarity, combined with the physical power from the Saitama template, gave him a true sense of "invincibility."

"Thanks... I like this gift."

He let go, his fingers brushing lightly over Bulma's swollen lips, a newfound depth and sharpness in his eyes.

"I'm off."

Without lingering, he turned and jumped onto the plane.