There's hot water in the house. Come take a bath, and while you're at it, let's wash all your clothes!"
With that, Bulma walked straight inside.
Son Goku blinked.
Living in the mountains with Son Gohan, he had given up many fussy habits
so he could spend more time training.
Still, it was better to stay clean when he was out and about.
Before Goku could finish thinking it over, Bulma called impatiently from the doorway.
"Hey, hurry up and come in!"
"Coming!"
Son Goku nodded and followed Bulma inside.
"Wait a second. I've already run the bath.
I'll get dinner started, then take you to wash up."
Goku nodded, then curiously examined the furniture and decorations inside.
Bulma knew Goku had a big appetite.
So, to satisfy his hunger,
she didn't mind using up a month's worth of emergency rations in a single day.
Besides, as long as she had money, she could easily restock in the city.
Bulma took a lot of frozen meat out of the freezer and quickly prepared it,
then divided it among more than a dozen different pots,
added some seasoning to each one, and set them all to simmer.
Bulma clapped her hands lightly, then turned to look at Goku, who was standing there dumbly.
"All right, I'm done.
The meat should be ready in about an hour.
Let's get you cleaned up first."
As she spoke, Bulma walked over to the washing machine,
opened it, and poured in a scoop of detergent.
Then she continued, "Also, take all your clothes off here first,
and I'll toss them in the washing machine for you!"
Son Goku stared at her in surprise and pointed at himself.
"You mean you want me to take my clothes off here?"
Bulma froze for a moment.
He didn't seem like the Goku she remembered.
He was so small, yet he was already embarrassed?
Bulma raised her eyebrows again and scoffed. "Come on...
you're just a kid!
You're barely as tall as my butt. What are you embarrassed about?
Hurry up and take them off!"
Son Goku really was a little uncomfortable.
He might be a child right now,
but his soul belonged to an adult.
He was in a child's body, and his special parts probably hadn't developed yet,
so Goku had no hormones helping him along, and he didn't feel much desire for Bulma.
But how could he possibly take his clothes off in front of a girl?
Seeing that Son Goku still hadn't undressed, Bulma said at once:
"Hurry up and take them off. Your clothes stink. If you don't mind the smell, I do!
This is my house. If you sleep here, you have to listen to me!"
Son Goku glanced at Bulma and said awkwardly, "Then turn around, and don't look!"
Bulma smiled, touched the tip of her nose, and turned around dismissively.
"Fine, fine. You're actually embarrassed?
You're just a kid,
you haven't even grown any hair yet. I don't want to look!
Hurry up and take your clothes off!
Then go straight to the bathtub naked. I've already run the water."
Son Goku wasn't just embarrassed; he was also curious.
This Bulma was different from the one he remembered. She wasn't as boy-crazy or as silly as Bulma had been in the early Dragon Ball days.
Goku continued, "Then... then don't turn around and peek!"
"I know, I know!"
Bulma waved a hand casually, making no move to turn around.
After all, she wasn't the original Bulma. She had lived two lives and been a mother in the apocalypse.
Even though she had spent twenty years longing for Son Goku in that other world,
she still couldn't feel much romantic affection for this little Goku.
She just wanted to get him bathed quickly so they could have dinner.
Still, when she thought about meeting Chi-Chi in the future,
Bulma decided that after she and Goku had gotten to know each other over the next few days,
she would make him promise to marry her when he grew up.
Yes, she had to take him for herself before he knew any better.
After Bulma turned around, Son Goku hurriedly stripped off his dirty clothes,
threw them into the washing machine, then dashed into the bathroom.
Bulma heard Goku's footsteps grow distant before turning around.
She quickly set the washing machine's water level and let it start up on its own.
Then she began rummaging through the closet.
"Hmm...
He's so small right now,
and I don't think I have any spare clothes that would fit him. What should I do?"
Suddenly, Bulma spotted one of her T-shirts in the corner. It was fairly unisex.
"This'll have to do,.
He's just a kid. What does he need pants for...
When we get to the city, I'll buy him a couple of changes of clothes."
As she spoke, Bulma carried the T-shirt into the bathroom.
"Your clothes will dry overnight,
and you'll be going to bed after dinner anyway.
Once you've washed up, put on my T-shirt as pajamas and make do for the night."
Goku looked at Bulma as she came in, a flicker of daze in his eyes.
For some reason, she reminded him of his mother.
But looking at Bulma, who still appeared to be only sixteen,
Goku felt that something about her presence didn't quite fit.
At the start of Dragon Ball, Bulma had shown plenty of skin,
but she was actually a good girl.
If he could marry her when they grew up,
it wouldn't be a bad thing.
But when he thought about how Bulma had gone back to West City to enjoy the good life after meeting Yamcha in the story,
Goku couldn't help feeling uneasy.
If he went to West City with her and started living comfortably, he might slack off.
He might even end up unable to beat Demon King Piccolo.
Goku immediately shook his head.
No.
Hardship breeds strength; ease breeds weakness.
Besides, as a Dragon Ball fan, he understood Bulma all too well.
In the original story, she could bathe Little Goku
because she didn't have any ulterior motives;
she simply treated Little Goku like a child.
At this point in time, sixteen-year-old Bulma was extremely boy-crazy.
She only liked handsome guys her own age or older, more mature men.
She had no romantic feelings whatsoever for Little Goku, who hadn't grown up yet.
As it happened, he felt the same way about her right now.
Goku was submerged all the way up to his neck,
so he didn't have to worry about her seeing him naked. He simply watched her.
But Bulma set down the clothes and remained beside the bathtub instead of leaving,
so Goku finally asked, "What is it? You've already brought me my clothes. Why are you still here?"
Bulma picked up a scrub brush.
"I'll scrub your back for you. Come on, stand up!"
Son Goku jolted in surprise and immediately turned around.