After leaving Kame House, the three of them set off again in search of the next Dragon Ball.
Now that Goku had gotten the Flying Nimbus, he no longer rode in the car. Instead, he sat on the Flying Nimbus, flying just ahead of the car with a steady patter.
Listening to the Flying Nimbus's distinctive pattering sound, and occasionally hearing Goku complain that the car was too slow, left Bulma feeling increasingly irritated.
After only half a day, driving had already worn her out. Her eyelids kept drooping.
"Ahhh..."
Bulma yawned, then glanced at Son Mirai beside her.
He was lying in the passenger seat with his eyes closed, resting with an easygoing air.
Bulma couldn't help complaining, "I'm so jealous of you two. Neither of you has to drive.
"Driving for so long is exhausting. I'm so sleepy. I wish you could take over for me!"
Son Mirai opened his eyes and asked, "At this speed, how much longer until we reach the next Dragon Ball?"
Bulma thought for a moment before answering, "Probably two or three days..."
"It'll still take two or three days? That long?" Son Mirai asked in surprise.
Bulma nodded. "Of course. We're not lucky enough for every Dragon Ball to be nearby.
"I've already calculated it. The one after the next one is also a long way off.
"We might even have to go around half the planet. I don't know if we'll have enough summer vacation left..."
Just then, Goku noticed the car slowing down. He turned around on the Flying Nimbus and called out, "You guys are so slow! I'm about to fall asleep..."
Bulma suddenly flew into a rage. "You're so annoying! You're flying too fast!"
Son Mirai glanced at the trees on either side of the road and suddenly came up with a great idea.
He turned to her and said, "Bulma, get out of the car. I'll take it from here!"
Bulma was startled. "You?"
She hurriedly waved her hands. "No, no! You don't even have a license. Even if you know how to drive, you're still a beginner.
"It's too dangerous. I wouldn't be able to sleep even if I got in the car..."
Son Mirai scoffed. "Who said I was going to drive?"
Bulma blinked in surprise and hit the brakes.
"If you're not driving, are you going to carry me?
"But it's still a long way!"
"It's too much trouble to explain. Just watch and you'll see. Put the car away, and I'll be ready in a moment!"
The car stopped, and Son Mirai got out.
Then he picked out a thick, straight tree from among those along the road.
With a light chop of his hand, he felled it, then used another chop to cut away the tangled branches and leaves.
After putting the car away, Bulma saw Son Mirai stop to work on a tree and couldn't help growing curious.
"Son Mirai, what are you doing?
"No one's going to stop you out here, but don't go chopping down trees for no reason. You're damaging the environment, you know?"
Son Mirai stopped what he was doing and admired the straight log he'd finished shaping. "Very nice. This should do..."
Goku stopped too, watching Son Mirai with a puzzled look.
"What are you doing, Son Mirai?"
Son Mirai said, "It's your turn to help out, Goku!"
Goku's eyes narrowed. He looked surprised. "Could it be that you're going to..."
Son Mirai nodded with a faint smile, then dragged the log toward Bulma with one hand.
"Bulma, which direction is the Dragon Ball? Point it out to me."
Bulma was taken aback, then pointed west.
"It's that way, about two thousand kilometers... What are you going to do?"
Son Mirai didn't answer. Instead, he said, "Two thousand kilometers? Got it. Now, hold on tight to me!"
Bulma blinked in surprise.
"Hold on to you? What do you mean?"
The next moment, Son Mirai aimed at the direction Bulma had pointed and hurled the log with all his might.
Then he swiftly scooped Bulma up and held her tight, took a few quick steps, and leaped.
In an instant, he landed steadily on the log with Bulma in his arms.
A fierce wind howled past, stinging Bulma's cheeks.
Bulma suddenly realized that Son Mirai was holding her as they flew at high speed atop the hurled log.
Her whole body went weak with fright, and she clamped both arms tightly around Son Mirai's neck...
Son Mirai had long dreamed of riding a log through the air in his previous life.
A few years ago, when he had some time on his hands, he suddenly remembered this incredibly cool way to fly and began practicing it. He'd tried it many times by now.
It hadn't been easy at first, but once he got the hang of it, climbing aboard was simple.
He'd just forgotten the skill after staying home for years without a chance to use it.
Seeing Son Mirai ride a log through the air and overtake him at incredible speed, Goku couldn't help being startled.
"Whoa! I forgot Son Mirai had worked out this move. He's really fast!"
He looked down and shouted, "Flying Nimbus, we need to speed up too! We can't let them get ahead..."
The Flying Nimbus's top speed was much faster than this. Hearing Goku's command, it suddenly accelerated—and sent Goku flying off.
"Waaaah! Flying Nimbus, I'm falling..." Goku cried in alarm.
The Flying Nimbus looped around and swept beneath Goku, catching him.
Then it continued chasing after Son Mirai and Bulma.
The scenery on either side rushed backward even faster. In Son Mirai's arms, Bulma could barely keep her eyes open against the wind. Her heart pounded with fright, and her legs went weak...
"Waaaah... This is too fast, Son Mirai! I'm scared..."
Son Mirai held Bulma even tighter and reassured her, "Don't be afraid. It's perfectly safe. I have plenty of experience flying on a log."
But this was ten times more thrilling than a roller coaster. Even with her arms locked around Son Mirai, Bulma still couldn't control her fear.
"Waaaah... I can't take it anymore..."
Son Mirai encouraged her, "Hang on a little longer. It's only been a few dozen seconds, and we've already traveled over a hundred kilometers."
Bulma had been trembling in Son Mirai's arms, but suddenly she seemed to deflate and stopped shaking.
Son Mirai froze. "What's wrong, Bulma? Are you okay...?"
Bulma's face was a little flushed. She burrowed even deeper into Son Mirai's chest.
"It's nothing. Just make sure you hold on tight to me..."
Son Mirai nodded.
"Don't worry. It's only a little over two thousand kilometers. We'll be there in just over ten minutes!"
Just then, Son Goku, riding the Flying Nimbus, slowly caught up.
But just as he was about to call out to Son Mirai, his face was splashed with moisture.
Goku couldn't help looking up at the bright, sunny sky. He rubbed his face, looking puzzled.
"That's strange. The sun's shining so brightly today. How can it be raining...?"
Before they knew it, over ten minutes had passed...
They were almost at the location of the fifth Dragon Ball.
Son Mirai stomped on the log, sending it crashing into the ground and blasting open a large crater.
Its power was like the Rod of God.
Just a little dust.
Son Mirai landed steadily on the ground with Bulma in his arms.
He looked down at the Bulma in his arms and called out, "Bulma, we're here."
Bulma, huddled against Son Mirai, raised her head. Her face had turned pale green.
"We're here already?"
Son Mirai asked, "Bulma, why are you so scared? You look awful!"
Bulma didn't explain. She quickly climbed down from Son Mirai.
"Whoa!"
Bulma stumbled and nearly fell.
Fortunately, Son Mirai had experience and knew she might have trouble keeping her balance right after getting down. He immediately caught her.
"Are you all right?"
Bulma shook her head. "I'm fine. Just give me a moment..."
"Okay!"
She was just an ordinary person. That kind of thrill had been a bit too much for her, and Son Mirai understood.
Bulma tossed out a house Hoi-Poi Capsule and hurried inside.
She'd meant to go in and change her pants, but when she took them off, she found the wind had already dried them.
Bulma let out a long breath.
"I actually wet my pants. How embarrassing. At least he didn't notice..."
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