"It really is you, Ji Yun!"
"Where have you been? Do you have any idea how worried I've been all this time?"
When Bulma saw that familiar face and confirmed beyond a doubt that it was Ji Yun,
she burst into tears and threw her arms around him, endlessly scolding him for everything he'd put her through.
Ji Yun was completely dumbfounded. He had no idea what was going on.
"Is it really you, Bulma...?"
Ji Yun slowly came to his senses and asked uncertainly.
He couldn't be entirely blamed for his confusion. This world had changed quite a bit.
It was completely different from what he knew.
"Who else did you think it was?"
"You actually came back. Why didn't you just die out there?"
Bulma held Ji Yun tightly and spoke through her sobs.
After hearing her answer, Ji Yun was sure this was the Bulma he knew.
After all, there was no way an outsider like Ji Yun could exist in another timeline.
"I'm sorry, Bulma... Something came up, and I went to a few different futures. I didn't get a chance to tell you... I'm sorry..."
Once Ji Yun was sure she was his Bulma, he hurried to apologize, blaming himself.
"I know, I know. Krillin told me everything."
"But I was still worried about you. You were gone for so long. What if you never came back?"
"What would I have done?"
Although Bulma's mood eased somewhat when Ji Yun apologized,
the tears still wouldn't stop flowing.
It was as if she needed to let all her pent-up emotions out.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry..."
Ji Yun said, filled with guilt.
He had missed Bulma, too. He just hadn't expected to be gone for so long.
He was sincerely apologizing to her.
But guilt aside, some things were better clarified.
After Bulma clung to Ji Yun and cried for a long while, her agitated heart gradually settled.
Tears had left several streaks down her face, making her look so heartbreakingly lovely.
"Bulma, your belly..."
Seeing that Bulma had calmed down,
Ji Yun finally voiced the question on his mind.
The reason he'd said he had the wrong person earlier was that her belly was swollen.
Good grief. Surely she hadn't...
The more Ji Yun thought about it, the more panicked he became. He felt like a light was about to appear over his head, though he wasn't sure what color it would be.
Bulma let go of Ji Yun and wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes.
A happy expression gradually spread across her face.
"You're going to be a father!"
Bulma smiled as she spoke, her hands gently stroking her rounded belly.
Her eyes were filled with tenderness.
"W-what... Bulma, when did this happen? I don't remember anything!"
Ji Yun rubbed his nose and asked cautiously.
It wasn't that he didn't trust Bulma.
It was just that it was better to ask about this sort of thing and make sure!
"Hmph! They say men forget everything as soon as they've pulled their pants back up. Looks like it's true!"
Bulma gave an indignant snort.
You did this, and now you've forgotten? And you've got the nerve to ask me?
"Huh? Well... heh... I really can't remember. Which time was it?"
Ji Yun scratched his head and asked sheepishly.
Bulma's belly was already this big, so she definitely hadn't gotten pregnant recently.
If she had gotten pregnant recently, then that would be a huge problem!
"Here's a hint: I'm already more than seven months pregnant."
Bulma frowned and said, a little displeased.
"Hm? S-seven months already?"
Ji Yun racked his brain, desperately trying to remember.
Seven months ago, he'd just arrived in the future.
Before that, he'd just met Trunks.
Before that, he'd fought King Cold.
Before the fight, he'd been at Bulma's house, where they'd...
"Oh, it was the last time before I left!"
Ji Yun suddenly understood, feeling as if the clouds had parted and the sun had come out.
At last, he'd put the pieces together.
"You asked so many questions. Don't tell me you thought the baby wasn't yours?"
Bulma said sharply.
She was incredibly clever. She'd known what he meant as soon as he started asking all those questions.
"Darling, you've got it all wrong. I absolutely didn't think that!"
"You have to believe me. I'm not that kind of man!"
Ji Yun swore solemnly.
Good grief, he couldn't admit to something like that so casually.
He could end up losing his wife and family!
Still, inside, he was over the moon.
He hadn't expected to become a father. The joy of having a child surged through him.
"Hmph. I hope that's true..."
Bulma snorted, still looking unconvinced.
But she understood Ji Yun's concerns. After all, Bulma was a very reasonable woman.
She was only acting this way to scare him a little.
"It's absolutely true!"
Ji Yun thumped his chest as he promised.
At the same time, he placed his hand on Bulma's belly.
He gently stroked his child.
Bulma still looked cool and aloof, but she didn't push Ji Yun away.
"Darling, you know what? I met another version of you in the future."
"She had a really hard life there and was in danger all the time."
"When I first saw her, my heart ached. Her haggard face had started to wrinkle, and she looked so worn out."
Ji Yun told her about what had happened in the future.
Bulma listened quietly beside him as he recounted the story.
"When I saw her, the first person I thought of was you. I don't want you to end up like her."
"I wasn't there in that world, but I'm here in this one!"
"From that moment on, I swore to myself that I wouldn't let you get hurt in the slightest!"
Ji Yun raised his head and looked at Bulma with a steady, determined gaze.
He had seen what she was like in that timeline. He would never let the same thing happen again.
Ji Yun's words moved Bulma deeply.
Ji Yun had always been such a dense, straight-laced man. He'd never said things like this before.
Bulma felt that after being apart for so long, her man had grown more mature.
"Good. I'll be watching to see how you do from now on."
Bulma said with a smile.
Most of the resentment in her heart had faded.
"Don't worry. I, Ji Yun, always keep my word!"
Ji Yun said earnestly.
Now that the misunderstanding had been cleared up, all that remained was for the two of them to enjoy each other's company.
Unfortunately, Bulma was pregnant, so they couldn't take things any further.
That was a real disappointment for Ji Yun.
He'd been holding himself back for months.
He hadn't expected that he wouldn't be able to do anything after all...
Looks like for the next two months, he'd have to ask the Five Maidens to step in and take care of things!
"Oh, right, Ji Yun. I forgot to tell you."
"The androids showed up early. Krillin and the others told me."
"And there's also a monster killing people everywhere. It's all over the news."
"Goku and Piccolo have both been beaten several times!"
"Do you want to go help them?"
Before you continue