Suffocating Kiss

Behind the preliminary venue, there was a secluded, deep bamboo grove.

The rain-washed bamboo leaves were a vivid, dripping green, as if carved from jade.

Occasionally, crystal-clear water droplets slid from the tips of leaves, falling onto moss-covered stones with a crisp "ding-dong."

It was far from the clamor of the front grounds, quiet enough that only the rustle of wind through the bamboo could be heard.

Bulma stood there with her hands behind her back, idly kicking a small stone with her toe.

She had deliberately changed outfits today: a red cropped top that showed off her slender waist and stunning curves.

Below, she wore a hot pair of denim shorts, her long, fair legs dazzling under the dappled sunlight.

She kept glancing at her watch, her brow slightly furrowed.

"So slow! That bald idiot said he'd be right here!"

Hearing footsteps behind her, she spun around.

Two rosy clouds instantly bloomed on her cheeks, and the complaint she'd prepared came out twisted.

"You... you finally showed up! I, the great lady, waited a full five minutes!"

Krillin walked up with a smile, unphased by her bluster.

He now stood taller than Bulma, his broad shoulders and upright posture giving off a strong sense of security.

"Sorry, dealing with that fat guy took one second, but squeezing through the crowd took four minutes and fifty-nine seconds."

There was a hint of teasing in Krillin's voice.

"Tch, bragging."

Bulma shot him a glare, but the corners of her mouth couldn't help curling up.

She pulled a delicate silver metal case from her backpack and handed it to Krillin.

"Here, what you asked for. I stayed up three straight nights to finish it."

Krillin took the case and pressed the switch.

Click.

The case opened like a flower petal, revealing a set of deep blue battle suit.

It wasn't the bulky armor of the Saiyans.

Instead, it was a high-tech material similar to a Tight Suit, with a faint, flowing sheen on its surface, looking both mysterious and full of power.

"This is made from Capsule Corporation's latest Nano Memory Fiber."

Bulma's voice carried a note of pride, the confidence of a genius scientist.

"It fully meets your requirements: it can maintain ten times gravity at all times, automatically adjust temperature, and has a hundred times the breathability of cotton."

"And... its elasticity is incredible. Even if your body swells ten times, it won't tear."

She reached out her slender fingers and gently traced the fabric's surface, her gaze focused and captivating.

"Most importantly, I added micro-gravity buffer layers at key points—like the heart and spine—that can cancel out 30% of physical impact."

"I know you're strong, but... an extra layer of protection is always good."

Krillin looked at the suit, then at the chattering blue-haired girl before him.

She was just an ordinary person, with no Battle Power at all.

Yet, just to help, just to keep him a little safer, she'd stayed up all night studying those dry numbers.

An indescribable warmth surged in his heart.

"Bulma."

Krillin suddenly cut her off.

"Wh... what?"

Bulma stopped her explanation, caught by Krillin's deep eyes.

She felt her heartbeat quicken, her breathing turning rapid.

"Help me put it on."

"Huh? Don't you have hands yourself?!"

Bulma instantly bristled, her face red as a ripe apple.

"And we're outside! Someone might see!"

"Just slip it over this outfit to check the size. I'm not taking anything off underneath."

With that, Krillin took a step forward, backing Bulma up against a few thick bamboo stalks.

He planted his hands on either side of her, forming a perfect wall.

"Or... do you want to see me strip?"

"Who... who wants to see that! Narcissist!"

Bulma stammered a retort, but her body honestly didn't pull away.

Blushing, she picked up the battle suit, rose on her tiptoes, and helped Krillin slip into it.

Since the suit was designed to be form-fitting, Bulma had to loop her arms around Krillin's neck, her fingers fumbling to adjust the hidden zipper on his back.

The distance between them was terrifyingly close.

Bulma could smell Krillin's unique scent... not sweat.

It was a dry, warm aroma, like sun-baked rock.

It was the pheromones of a powerful life force, making her dizzy and lightheaded.

Her fingers accidentally brushed the skin on the back of Krillin's neck, and the scalding heat there made her fingertips tremble, as if shocked by electricity.

"Um... the size seems just right..."

Bulma's voice grew softer and softer, her gaze flustered as it darted everywhere, afraid to meet Krillin's eyes.

"I've adjusted the elasticity coefficient here too, you know."

"Oh? I think it feels a bit tight."

Krillin suddenly reached out and wrapped an arm around Bulma's slender waist.

"Eep!"

Bulma yelped, crashing into Krillin's embrace.

The nano battle suit felt slippery to the touch, but the muscles beneath it were hard as iron, pressing against her chest until it went numb.

"You... let go..."

Bulma's voice was soft and weak, utterly lacking in menace, sounding more like a spoiled plea.

"Just now, in the stands, you seemed to be enjoying the view quite a bit, didn't you?"