Dragon Ball: Reborn as a Saiyan, They Covet Me Chapter 5

"There's hot water inside. Go take a bath, and wash your clothes while you're at it!"

After saying this, Bulma walked straight inside.

Son Goku blinked.

Living on the mountain with Son Gohan, he had abandoned many fussy habits to squeeze out more time for training.

Still, when out and about, it was better to be clean.

Just as Goku was finishing his thought, Bulma began urging him from the doorway.

"Hey, hurry up and come in!"

"Coming!"

Son Goku nodded in reply, then followed Bulma into the house.

"Wait a second, the bathwater is already running. I'll get dinner started first, then I'll take you to bathe."

Goku nodded, then curiously examined the furniture and decorations in the room.

Bulma knew that Goku had a massive appetite.

So, in order 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 replenish those supplies easily once they reached the city.

Bulma took a large amount of frozen meat out of the freezer, prepped it briefly, and placed it into over a dozen different types of pots, adding some seasoning to each before starting the stew.

Bulma clapped her hands lightly and turned to look at Goku, who was standing there blankly.

"All right, I'm done. I reckon the stew will be ready to eat in about an hour. Go take your bath 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 off all your clothes right here. I'll help you toss them in the machine to wash!"

Son Goku pointed at himself in surprise.

"You mean, you want me to take my clothes off right here?"

Bulma paused for a moment.

It seemed different from the Goku in her memories; he was only this tall, yet he actually felt a sense of shame.

Bulma raised her eyebrows again and said dismissively, "Give me a break... You're still just a kid! You're only as tall as my hip, what are you being shy about? Hurry up and take them off!"

Son Goku was indeed feeling rather embarrassed.

Although he was a child now, his soul was that of an adult.

In his current child's body, perhaps his organs hadn't fully developed yet, and without the help of hormones, he didn't have much of that kind of desire for Bulma.

But how could he possibly bring himself to undress in front of a girl?

Seeing that Son Goku hadn't moved, Bulma immediately said, "Hurry up! Your clothes are stinking, and if you don't mind the smell, I certainly do! This is my house, and if you're sleeping here, you have to listen to me!"

Son Goku looked at Bulma and said with some hesitation, "Then turn your head away, you're not allowed to look at me!"

Bulma smiled and rubbed the tip of her nose, turning around with a look of disdain.

"Fine, fine, I can't believe you're actually shy."

"You're just a little kid.

You haven't even grown your hair out yet, I can't be bothered to look!

Hurry up and strip!

Once you're done, go straight to the bathtub naked; I've already run the water."

Son Goku wasn't just shy; he was curious.

Because this Bulma was different from the one in his memory—she wasn't as boy-crazy as the Bulma from the early days of the Dragon Ball search, nor was she as airheaded.

Goku continued, "Th-then, don't you turn around and peek!"

"I know, I know!"

Bulma waved her hand dismissively, showing no intention of turning around.

After all, she wasn't the original Bulma; she had lived two lifetimes and had even been a mother in the apocalypse.

Even though she had spent twenty years in that apocalyptic world missing Son Goku, facing this young, ungrown Son Goku, she still couldn't muster much romantic affection for him.

She only wanted him to hurry up and bathe so they could eat dinner.

However, thinking about how he would eventually meet Chi-Chi, Bulma decided that once she got closer to Goku in a couple of days, she would make him promise to marry her when he grew up.

Yes, she had to take him off the market while he was still naive.

After Bulma turned away, Son Goku quickly stripped off his dirty clothes, tossed them into the washing machine, and scurried into the bathroom.

Bulma didn't turn back until she heard the sound of Goku's footsteps fading away.

She simply set the water level on the washing machine and let it start its cycle.

Afterward, she rummaged through the wardrobe.

"Hmm...

He's so small right now;

it seems I don't 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 will have to do for now.

He's just a kid, who needs pants anyway...

I'll buy him a couple of changes of clothes once we get to the city."

With that, Bulma took the T-shirt and walked into the bathroom.

"Your clothes will be dry by morning, and you'll be going to sleep right after dinner anyway.

Once you're done washing, just wear my T-shirt as pajamas for the night."

Son Goku watched Bulma enter, a flicker of dazed confusion crossing his eyes.

For some reason, he was reminded of his own mother.

But looking at Bulma, who still appeared to be only sixteen, Goku felt a strange dissonance in her temperament.

At the beginning of Dragon Ball, Bulma had certainly been generous with her charms, but in reality, she was a good girl.

If he could marry her when he grew up, it would actually be quite nice.

It was just that, thinking about how Bulma had returned to West City to enjoy the high life after meeting Yamcha in the original story, Goku couldn't help but feel uneasy.

If he went to West City with her and lived a life of luxury, he might end up losing his edge.

Perhaps he wouldn't even be able to defeat Demon King Piccolo in the future.

Son Goku immediately shook his head.

No.

Hardship nurtures success, while comfort leads to ruin.

Besides, as a fan of Dragon Ball, he understood Bulma all too well.

In the original work, she could bathe Little Goku, but in reality, she had no ulterior motives whatsoever.

She simply treated Little Goku like a child.

At this point in time, the sixteen-year-old Bulma was a massive fangirl.

She only liked handsome guys her own age or more mature men.

She didn't have a shred of romantic interest in the still-growing Little Goku.

Coincidentally, he felt the same way about her.

Goku was submerged entirely in the water, so he didn't worry about being seen and just watched her.

However, when Bulma set the clothes down and stood by the side of the tub without leaving, Goku finally asked, "What's wrong? You've already delivered the clothes, why aren't you leaving?"

Bulma picked up a brush.

"I'll help you scrub your back. Come on, stand up!"

Son Goku was startled and immediately turned around.