The three of them soon reached the house at the entrance to Mount Paozu.
As she ate roasted meat, Bulma explained, "I found this thing at home.
So I did all kinds of research and dug through old records. After a long search, I finally uncovered the secret of these beads.
They're called Dragon Balls. There are seven in all, numbered from one star to seven stars.
No matter which way you look at them, the number of stars stays the same."
Goku blinked curiously. "But why are you looking for these beads? Do you want to make them into prayer beads and become a monk?"
"Are you kidding? How could a beautiful young woman like me become a monk? At the very least, I'd become a nun..."
Goku asked again, "So you're going to become a nun?"
"How could I?"
After Goku interrupted her, Bulma pursed her lips and explained, "The book says that if you gather all seven Dragon Balls, you can summon Shenron, and then he'll grant you a wish."
"Grant a wish?" Goku asked.
Bulma nodded.
"Exactly. But over the years, the Dragon Balls have scattered all over the world.
I spent a long time getting ready, and finally managed to set out during summer vacation. I'm going to gather them all."
Son Gohan said in surprise, "I never knew these beads could do something like that. Amazing."
Bulma smiled. "Yeah, that's what I heard, anyway. I've never seen it happen myself..."
Son Gohan asked, "So what's your wish?"
Bulma shyly covered her cheeks with her hands.
"Well, I'd already decided what I wanted. I wanted a perfect boyfriend, but..."
As she spoke, Bulma glanced at Son Mirai with tender affection, making her meaning perfectly clear.
Son Gohan suddenly understood.
"I see!"
He looked at Son Mirai and grinned. "Heh heh, Son Mirai, you're so lucky.
You haven't even left the mountain, and you've already got a girlfriend—and such a cute one, too. Congratulations!"
Son Mirai pursed his lips. "Grandpa, I haven't agreed to date her yet..."
Then he took another big bite of roasted bear meat.
Son Gohan was surprised—and getting a little impatient.
"A pretty girl like her wants to be your girlfriend, and you still won't say yes?"
"What did I teach you? Be gentle with girls, and cherish them!"
Son Mirai swallowed his food. "Grandpa, you don't understand.
She's such a lovesick fool. I don't want a girlfriend who's so frivolous she'll let other people see everything someday..."
Bulma immediately declared, "You have to believe me. I'm really not a frivolous woman!
Sure, as a girl, I've always dreamed of having a perfect boyfriend.
But I swear, once I have a boyfriend, I'll be completely faithful to him.
If I'd lived in ancient times, I'm sure I would've been a virtuous woman who stayed true to her husband..."
Hearing Bulma's heartfelt declaration, Son Gohan couldn't help exclaiming, "What a lovely girl! Son Mirai, you should know how to appreciate her!"
Bulma would mature and become steady, and she would remain faithful in love.
But Son Mirai knew just how lovestruck she was at this point.
He still didn't buy what she was saying.
"Is that so?"
"If I became your boyfriend, you'd stop looking for the Dragon Balls, right?"
Bulma's face lit up with delight. "Really?
If you agree to be my boyfriend, I'll stop looking for the Dragon Balls. You'll come back to West City with me, right?"
Son Mirai thought it over, then shook his head again.
"I still can't..."
Bulma looked surprised. "Why? Did I do something wrong?"
"It's not you," Son Mirai explained. "I've only just begun my training.
I haven't entered the World Martial Arts Tournament or climbed Korin Tower yet...
I have my own plans. First, I need to finish my training."
Bulma asked, "Didn't you want me to build you a Gravity Chamber for training?
Don't worry. I'll ask my dad to help. I'm sure we can build one.
If you become my boyfriend, I'll make sure you get your Gravity Chamber.
Then you can train in my family's backyard."
"You don't understand," Son Mirai said. "Training isn't as simple as you think.
A Gravity Chamber can make you stronger quickly, but a while of that monotonous, weight-bearing training is enough.
Getting stronger is more about broadening your horizons.
You have to open your mind and face different opponents and tougher challenges if you want to reach greater heights."
Son Mirai had explained how he understood martial arts, but Bulma wasn't on the same wavelength. For a moment, she didn't know what to say.
But Son Gohan smiled with approval at Son Mirai's words.
"As expected of someone who's trained with me for so many years. You've developed such a deep understanding of martial arts. Well done!
You've trained with me here on the mountain for a long time, and you've become quite strong. What you lack now is experience out in the world.
You need to see more of it if you want to reach higher levels."
Gohan looked at Goku and Son Mirai. "To tell you the truth, there's not much more I can teach you now.
Why don't you go down the mountain with this beautiful young lady and help her find the Dragon Balls?
You can protect her along the way and broaden your horizons. Maybe you'll even meet someone stronger!"
Goku asked excitedly, "Grandpa, are there really strong people out there?"
Son Gohan nodded. "Of course, Goku.
That's just the way the world is. There's always someone stronger, and there's always a higher mountain to climb!"
Goku immediately grew excited. "That's great!"
He turned to Bulma and said eagerly, "Bulma, I've decided. I'm going with you to find the Dragon Balls!"
Bulma looked at Goku. She knew he was invulnerable to bullets and blades, but with Son Mirai around, she didn't care whether the little kid could protect her.
She turned to Son Mirai.
"What about you?"
Seeing Bulma's hopeful expression, Son Mirai said, "I'll go with you, too!"
Bulma's eyes immediately filled with joy.
"Does that mean you'll be my boyfriend? Are you worried about my safety and want to protect me?"
Son Mirai replied, "You may be a lovesick fool, but I think you're a good person deep down. I think we can give it a try and spend some time together first!"
"Really? That's wonderful!"
Bulma immediately sidled up to Son Mirai with a flirtatious grin, pressing herself against him.
Son Mirai put on a serious expression. "Hey, Bulma, watch it. Don't be like that. I told you I don't like frivolous women..."
Bulma grinned. "You've never been in a relationship before, have you?
Let me tell you, this is normal for couples. You don't have to be so uptight..."
Son Mirai gently pushed her away. "Don't rub against me while you're eating. You're all sticky, and it's uncomfortable...
Let's get back to what we were talking about: finding the Dragon Balls or building the Gravity Chamber."
Son Gohan chuckled. "Ah, young love..."
Bulma had been so delighted that she'd lost herself.
Now she realized there were other people around. Her face turned red, and she moved away from Son Mirai.
She straightened her hair. "Sorry. I've never had a boyfriend before, and I was so excited that I got carried away..."
"It's all right. I understand..." Son Gohan said with a smile.
After the meal, Gohan helped Goku and Son Mirai pack their belongings and put them in the Capsule Bulma carried.
Bulma drove her little car, with Goku and Son Mirai in the back seat, and the three of them left Mount Paozu.
Before long, night began to fall.
Bulma said, "It's getting dark. Let's stop here for today."
Goku looked around. All he could see was an endless wilderness.
A little worried, he asked, "Are we sleeping on the ground tonight? Won't there be a lot of mosquitoes?"
Just then, Bulma tossed out a Hoi-Poi Capsule.
A house popped out.
Goku was stunned. "Whoa! And you said you weren't a monster. Isn't that magic?"
Bulma pursed her lips. "You don't even know what a Hoi-Poi Capsule is? What a country bumpkin!
Well, Son Mirai and I will sleep inside the house tonight, and you can sleep outside..."
Before you continue