"Oh? Looks like our champion is in quite a hurry!
"The announcer awkwardly held up the trophy beside the ruins, watching Krillin fly off into the distance. All he could do was try to smooth things over.
"He must be eager to share the joy of victory with the audience!"
It was indeed joy, but it belonged to only one person.
The second-floor stands.
Bulma watched the figure flying toward her at top speed, her heart pounding as if it might burst through her chest.
Her makeup was immaculate today. She'd even put on pale pink lipstick—the shade Krillin had complimented last time.
The explosion earlier had nearly scared her to death, but the moment she saw that Krillin was safe and sound, the overwhelming relief instantly turned into something far more intense.
"You jerk... What are you showing off for?"
Bulma cursed him, but her body betrayed her as she took two steps forward and gripped the railing, her knuckles turning white.
Krillin didn't come to a sudden stop as he usually did. With precise Muscle Control, he landed lightly in front of Bulma.
The smell of smoke from the battle still clung to him, the most primal catalyst of masculine allure.
Puar, Oolong, and even Master Roshi instinctively stepped back, clearing a space around them.
"Hey, Bulma."
Krillin grinned, baring his white teeth. His bald head gleamed dazzlingly in the setting sun.
"I won. Doesn't that mean it's time to honor our deal?"
Bulma gazed at the face so close to hers.
The lack of a nose was a little strange, sure, but those eyes... deep, confident, and full of force.
He was no longer the lecherous little bald guy from before. He was a man strong enough to split the Earth down the middle with his fists.
"I-Idiot!"
Bulma felt her eyes grow hot. She didn't want to cry; it would ruin her makeup. But her voice still wavered.
"What was that ridiculous move just now? You scared me to death! What if you'd died?"
"Don't worry."
Krillin stepped closer, leaving less than ten centimeters between them.
He could even feel Bulma's hurried breaths warming his chest.
"As long as you're on Earth, I won't let it explode. After all..."
Krillin paused, Bulma's flustered face reflected in his eyes.
"After all, my future wife is still here."
"W-Who's your wife?"
Bulma's face instantly turned as red as a ripe tomato. Even someone as fiery as her could hardly handle being teased like this in front of tens of thousands of people.
"D-Don't flatter yourself!"
"Is that so? Then who was it that said she'd marry me if I won?"
Krillin didn't give Bulma another chance to act coy.
The progress bar for [Win Bulma Over Completely] in the system's quest menu had been stuck at 99% for a long time.
That final 1% didn't call for more Battle Power. It called for action.
He reached out and wrapped an arm around Bulma's slender waist, his touch both assertive and gentle.
Bulma cried out as she crashed into Krillin's solid embrace.
His muscles, tempered by countless trials, were hard as iron and hot as fire.
"Since I won the Tournament, I ought to claim a prize worthy of a champion."
Before he'd even finished speaking, Krillin lowered his head and kissed Bulma hard on her red lips, in full view of tens of thousands of spectators, dozens of cameras, and the entire world watching live.
"Mmph!"
Bulma's eyes widened. Her mind went completely blank.
Unlike their tentative kiss in the bamboo grove, this one was full of possessiveness, a declaration of ownership.
He was telling the whole world that this woman belonged to this bald guy.
The stands fell deathly silent for about three seconds.
Then the screams that erupted were even crazier than when Krillin had won the Tournament.
"Whoa!!!"
"They kissed! They actually kissed!"
"So romantic! Is this a privilege of the strong?"
"Mom! I want to learn martial arts too! I want to go bald!"
In the corner, Yamcha watched and crushed the drink cup in his hand with a sharp crack.
But he didn't rush over to fight. Instead, he let out a long sigh, a relieved, bitter smile on his face.
"I lost... Whether it's fighting or chasing girls, I lost completely."
Puar floated beside him and patted his shoulder sympathetically.
"It's okay, Puar."
Yamcha wiped his face, though the corners of his eyes were still a little—
"At least I lost to the world champion. That's nothing to be ashamed of. Besides... he really is better suited to protect Bulma than I am."
Nearby, Master Roshi's eyes bulged behind his sunglasses, and two streams of blood flowed from his nose.
"Young people these days... They really are too reckless! Right out in public like this..."
"Heh heh heh, but nicely done! That's my Turtle School disciple! Now that's what I call youth!"
Below the Arena, Goku scratched his head, still holding the trophy and looking bewildered. He turned to Tien Shinhan, who looked just as stunned.
"What are they doing? Is that some kind of training where you pass your ki to each other?"
All three of Tien Shinhan's eyes twitched at once.
"Goku... You'd better go think about what you want to eat. You're too young to worry about this sort of thing."
Before you continue