Confession to Bulma (Seeking Recommendations)

Earth, Kami's Lookout, early morning.

A figure was shifting and maneuvering across the plaza; his movements were not fast, yet they carried a certain rhythm.

"Hoo—"

Son Goku pulled back his fists and stood still, exhaling a long, stale breath.

Three years. It had been three years since he returned from Namek.

During these three years, he had been in secluded training at Kami's Lookout, barely even returning to Mount Paozu.

The child who once stood at 1.45 meters had now grown into a 1.8-meter-tall young man.

His orange martial arts uniform was stretched taut, the "Turtle" kanji on his back gleaming in the morning light. Beneath his messy black hair was a face with sharp, defined features, the childishness having long since faded from his brow.

He looked down at his own hands, feeling the surging power within his body.

[80x gravity... fully adapted.]

[Combat power... around 500,000? Much higher than the original Son Goku's combat power after adapting to 100x gravity. A perfect start!!!]

Over these three years, he had spent most of his time digesting the "Divine Power Cultivation Method" bestowed upon him by the dragon Porunga. That information was like a vast library, every book written in the universal language of the cosmos, so profound it gave him a headache.

But he knew very well that the effort of these three years was absolutely necessary; it was paving the way for his future.

Mr. Popo stood not far away, a hint of satisfaction seemingly flashing in his white eyes: "That is all for today."

"Yes, Mr. Popo." Son Goku bowed respectfully.

For three years, Mr. Popo's training had never ceased. From "a heart like still water" to "sensing divine ki," from "the balance of destruction and creation" to "the cultivation of divine ki," Son Goku was like a sponge, frantically absorbing everything.

Yet the more he learned, the more he felt his own insignificance.

Divine ki and divine power—I can't even touch the threshold yet. Although I didn't focus on increasing my combat power these past three years, it has already reached around 500,000, which is enough for the current stage.

He gazed into the distance, where the outline of the Earth loomed faintly beneath the clouds.

"Today... I'm eighteen. There are four or five years left until Raditz arrives!"

"Time to go back."

Mount Paozu, the small wooden cabin.

Smoke curled from the chimney, and the familiar aroma of food filled the entire courtyard. Son Gohan sat on a stone stool; his white beard was longer than before and his back more hunched, but his eyes remained bright.

"Grandpa." Son Goku landed in the courtyard and knelt respectfully, his forehead touching the ground.

"Goku?" Son Gohan stood up in surprise, walking over with a tremble, his rough hands helping his grandson up. "You child, you've grown taller again! Let Grandpa get a good look at you!"

He circled Son Goku, his eyes filled with gratification: "Good! Good! You look like a real martial artist now!"

Son Goku looked at his grandfather's aged face, a surge of bitterness rising in his heart.

Grandpa... in the original story, you passed away when I was a child.

This time, I changed fate and let you live until now. But... you are still old.

"Grandpa," he said softly, "I turned eighteen today."

"Eighteen, huh..." Son Gohan stroked his beard with emotion. "Time flies. That little tyke who fell off the cliff back then, now..."

He paused, a glint of mischief flashing in his eyes: "Now it's time to take a wife!"

Son Goku's face flushed red: "Grandpa..."

"Hahaha!" Son Gohan laughed, his white beard trembling. "Don't be shy! When I was your age, I had already... cough, cough, anyway! Is there anyone you like?"

Son Goku thought of the girl with short, pale purple hair; he thought of the girl with the twin buns who carried a suitcase.

"Yes..." he nodded honestly, "there are two."

"Two?!" Son Gohan's eyes widened, then he burst into laughter. "Good! That's my grandson for you! What's wrong with my grandson taking a few more!"

Son Goku: "..."

"Go on," Son Gohan patted his shoulder with a kind smile, "go do what you need to do."

Son Goku bowed deeply: "Grandpa, I will come back to see you often."

"I know, I know," Son Gohan waved his hand and turned toward the house. "Remember to bring me a great-grandson!"

Son Goku: "..."

West City, Capsule Corporation.

Bulma was in the laboratory calibrating a new type of radar. Her short, pale purple hair was tied into a neat ponytail, and her long legs were visible beneath her lab coat. Three years had passed, and she had transformed from a young girl into a more mature and charming woman.

"Bulma."

A familiar voice came from behind her. She spun around abruptly, and the wrench in her hand fell to the floor with a "clatter."

A young man stood at the doorway.

Orange martial arts uniform, messy black hair, and that golden tail swaying leisurely behind him. He was a head taller than he had been three years ago, his shoulders broader, his physique as upright as a pine, but those black eyes... still captivated her.

"Go... Goku?!" Bulma felt her heart skip a beat.

Three years had passed, and this guy had barely returned home. Now that they were reunited, the feeling was entirely different.

"He... how did he become so..."

"Damn it, my face is burning..."

"Bulma," Son Goku walked into the laboratory and stood before her, his expression earnest to the point of clumsiness, "I... I have something to tell you."

"Wh-what is it?" Bulma instinctively brushed back her hair, her heart pounding wildly.

"I like you."

The four words were like a bomb detonating inside the laboratory.

Bulma froze.

She looked at the young man before her; there was no jest on his face, no hesitation, only a sincerity that bordered on obsession. Just as he looked when he said "I want to become stronger," he had that same gaze when he said "I like you."

He... he's confessing?!

This blockhead... this battle-junkie... he's actually confessing?!

"Wh-what did you say?" Bulma's voice trembled.

"I like you," Son Goku repeated, his black eyes fixed directly on hers. "It started a long time ago. You're smart, kind, and you're always helping me fix things, making me gear... I don't know if this is love, but I know that every time I see you, I'm happy. I want... to be with you forever."

Bulma felt her eyes grow hot. She didn't know how long she had waited for these words; hadn't she avoided dating all these years just for this very moment?

"Idiot..." She lowered her head, her voice choked with emotion, "You're only saying this now..."

"I'm sorry," Son Goku scratched his head, "I don't really understand these things. But..."

He took a step forward and gently took Bulma's hand. "I want to be with you. Not as a friend, but... as family."

Bulma looked up into his eyes. There were no lies there, no hypocrisy, only a naked, burning heart.

"...Deal." She broke into a tearful smile and squeezed his hand. "But! If you ever dare to bully me, I'll use a capsule to launch you to the moon!"

Son Goku smiled, his grin as radiant as the sun. "I won't."

The two smiled at each other, and the very air in the laboratory seemed to turn sweet.