"Isn't that Miss Bulma from Capsule Corporation?"
As soon as Videl saw Bulma, she recognized her.
It wasn't as if Videl had gone offline.
Of course she knew a celebrity like Bulma.
Although Bulma was already in her forties, she took such good care of herself that she looked like a woman in her thirties.
Videl took a deep breath and walked over to Bulma.
"Hello, Miss Bulma."
"Mm, hello."
Bulma studied Videl carefully. Once she was sure they hadn't met before, she continued, "Can I help you?"
Videl answered honestly, "Well, Son Gohan asked me to come here and find him. Does he live here?"
"Gohan?" Bulma's eyes lit up. She gave Videl another careful look, and her expression grew increasingly animated.
"He's here, he's here! You're Gohan's girlfriend, aren't you? I had no idea the boy was so good at keeping secrets. Come on in."
Bulma walked over enthusiastically, took Videl by the arm, and pulled her inside.
Videl stumbled along as Bulma led her into the house, repeatedly trying to explain, "Ah, Miss Bulma, I think you've got the wrong idea. I'm not Son Gohan's girlfriend. He just promised to teach me martial arts, so I came to find him."
"I get it, I get it. And you don't have to call me Miss Bulma. Gohan calls me Auntie, so you can do the same." Bulma chuckled and ushered Videl onto the sofa.
"Wait here a moment. I'll go get Gohan. He should be training in the Gravity Chamber." Bulma said.
"O-okay." Videl was so overwhelmed by her enthusiasm that she hardly knew what to think.
Miss Bulma didn't seem as aloof as people said.
Not only was she not aloof, she was incredibly warm.
She was nothing like the rumors made her out to be.
With Videl watching, Bulma hurried off, but she returned a little over a minute later.
She sat down beside Videl and said, "Gohan was training just now. I've told him you're here. He's gone to take a shower, so he should be ready soon."
Videl braced her hands on her thighs and sat ramrod straight.
Meeting the president of Capsule Corp, a living legend, made her a little nervous.
After all, Bulma's reputation was simply too immense for an ordinary Earthling.
Well-behaved.jpg
"Mm-hmm, all right. I'll wait here," Videl said.
"You don't have to be so nervous. I'm not some strict parent. We can just chat. Think of me as a friend."
"Yes, Miss Bulma." Videl agreed, but she still felt terribly ill at ease.
"Hey, I told you to call me Auntie, like Gohan does. Why are you still calling me that?" Bulma said, displeased.
"Ah, o-okay, Aunt Bulma."
"Mm, that's more like it. Here, have some fruit."
"Thank you."
The two of them chatted on the sofa.
Bulma started singing Gohan's praises. "I've watched Gohan grow up. Our families go way back, and we're very close. He's been smart since he was little and learns everything quickly. He's an outstanding young man—the best on Earth, I'd say..."
"Mm-hmm." Videl's head was buzzing. She sat there on tenterhooks.
Bulma continued, "Oh, I haven't asked your name yet. What's your name?"
Videl shot to her feet, standing ramrod straight, just short of saluting.
"My name is Videl. I'm from East City, and I work for the East City Police Department. I was born in Age 757, and I've never dated anyone. Please take good care of me, Auntie."
"Uh..." Bulma was completely taken aback by Videl's formal introduction.
The poor girl was so nervous.
Bulma froze for two seconds.
Then she said, "Sit, hurry up and sit down. You don't have to stand while we talk."
Videl had no choice but to sit back down.
"I never would've guessed you were a police officer. That's great, a good job. Age 757? What a coincidence—Gohan was born in Age 757 too."
Videl hadn't expected Son Gohan to be the same age as her. She stared in surprise. "Really? That's such a coincidence."
"See? That's why you two should talk more. Young people need to communicate if they want to grow closer."
"..."
Just then, Son Gohan came in from outside wearing casual clothes.
"Videl, let's go."
He made a fist with his right hand and pointed his thumb toward the door.
"Ah, all right." Videl quickly stood up.
She turned to Bulma and said, "Aunt Bulma, I'll head out now. Let's chat again when we have time."
"Sure. You young people go on your date," Bulma replied, then turned to Son Gohan and instructed him, "Gohan, don't give her a hard time."
"I know," Son Gohan said helplessly.
Videl followed behind Son Gohan, her cheeks slightly flushed.
The two of them went to the backyard of Capsule Corp.
"Let's do it here." Son Gohan pointed to a lush green lawn.
"Mm-hmm, sounds good." Videl nodded.
They stepped onto the lawn.
"Sit cross-legged, facing me." Son Gohan pointed to the spot opposite him.
Videl was wearing jeans today, so sitting cross-legged wouldn't be a problem.
Videl nodded and obediently sat down opposite Son Gohan, looking very well-behaved.
She studied Son Gohan's face, then asked curiously, "Son Gohan, were you really born in Age 757?"
"Mm, that's right. Is there a problem?" Son Gohan asked.
"No, Aunt Bulma said you were born in Age 757, so I was curious. I was born that year too. My birthday is May 9. When's yours?"
Son Gohan: "..."
"Can't you tell me?" Videl pressed.
Son Gohan laughed helplessly. "You weren't like this in front of Aunt Bulma. Aren't you nervous around me?"
Videl smiled. "She's an elder, so of course I was. You and I are the same age, so I don't feel that kind of restraint around you."
"So when's your birthday, then?"
"May 8," Son Gohan said helplessly.
"Ah, really?" Videl's eyes widened.
"Why would I lie?" Son Gohan said.
"You're only one day older than me! What a coincidence." Videl beamed, her smile like a flower in bloom.
"What did you come to see me for today?" Son Gohan asked deliberately, frowning.
"Uh, I came to learn the Flight Technique from you. We agreed on it yesterday," Videl said.
Son Gohan asked, "Then what are you doing now?"
Videl pouted. "Gossiping. All right, all right, I'm sorry. I won't ask anymore. Please teach me the Flight Technique, Gohan."
"Mm. Then don't talk for now," Son Gohan said coolly.
Videl: "..."
This wasn't Son Gohan's first time teaching.
He'd taught Trunks for more than ten years, so he had plenty of experience.
He gathered his thoughts, then said, "To learn the Flight Technique, you first need to learn how to use your ki. Once you know how to control the energy in your body, the Flight Technique will come naturally."
"Ki? What is that? If I don't have any, does that mean I can't learn the Flight Technique?" Videl asked nervously.
"Don't worry. Everyone has ki in their body. They just don't know how to use it."
"Ki is a kind of energy hidden inside our bodies."
"It's difficult for ordinary people to draw it out. But for martial artists like us, it's much easier. We can sense ki, control it, and then use it."
"I know you've studied martial arts, so learning to control your ki shouldn't be too difficult."
Son Gohan spoke at length, explaining a heap of things that Videl only partly understood.
Videl felt as if she were listening to a foreign language.
"Watch closely," Son Gohan said. He raised his right hand in front of him, palm up, and curled his fingers as if gripping something in midair.
Videl stared fixedly at his hand.
Just then,
A swirl of energy rose from Son Gohan's palm, shimmering with a cold light as a round sphere of energy formed in his hand.
"What... what is that?" Videl's eyes nearly popped out of her head.
"This is ki," Son Gohan said.
As he spoke, Son Gohan flicked his hand. The energy ball shot away and struck a boulder in the distance.
With a boom, the enormous boulder was instantly blasted to pieces. A gust of wind swept back, blowing Videl's long hair behind her.
"I... I really have something like that inside me?"
Videl was completely stunned.
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