Yo, Mana, Long Time No See

After leaving Bulma's house, Kashius wasted no more time. He raised his ki to its strongest and flew toward the Guardian of Earth's Lookout at top speed.

As it happened, though, even Kashius had never expected that after about an hour of flying, a familiar city would appear before his eyes.

That was right—this city was the one where Kashius had once fought the Demon King beauty. It was also the city where the blond little girl, Mana, lived. No, no, she had grown up now, so he should call her a blond young lady instead.

Kashius stopped in the air above the city, wondering whether he should go back and take a look. After all, he had lived here for five years.

It could barely count as his second home, and besides, there was also a blond young lady here who had said that as long as Kashius won the championship at the World Martial Arts Tournament, she would marry him.

After thinking it over briefly, Kashius decided to go back and see a certain blond young lady.

After all, he was already right on his doorstep. Whether emotionally or reasonably, he really ought to go back and take a look.

It wasn't like he was as great as Dayu, passing by his own home three times without entering. At most, he could count as, hmm, a patriot.

Once he had made up his mind, Kashius hesitated no longer. In a flash, he charged into the city and sped toward the familiar place.

In only about five minutes, Kashius arrived in front of the familiar shop.

At this time, if his guess was right, aside from the shopkeeper minding the store, the other two were probably already taking an afternoon nap.

"Young man, are you looking to buy some... Is that you?! Kashius!!!"

As soon as he stepped into the shop, Kashius heard the shopkeeper's startled voice.

"Mm, Shopkeeper, I'm back..." Kashius nodded at the shopkeeper, casually took a piece of bread from the rack beside him, and then began eating it right in front of the shopkeeper without the slightest trace of politeness.

Seeing this, the shopkeeper did not say anything. Instead, he looked at Kashius with a kindly expression and asked with concern, "Kashius, has the outside world been fun? You didn't run into any danger, did you?"

To the shopkeeper, after five years of living together, he had long since come to regard the latter as a child of his own.

"Mm... It's been all right. I've been doing pretty well." After hurriedly swallowing the bread in his mouth, Kashius answered.

At that, the shopkeeper smiled, reached out, took a cake from the shelf as well, and handed it to Kashius.

Come to think of it, when he had first met this child, the boy had been just like this too, eating the bread he and Mana had made.

However, Kashius back then had been in an utterly miserable state, looking like a starving ghost reincarnated. How could he compare to now, sitting so calmly in front of him and eating bread?

"So, have you made any friends, Kashius?" The shopkeeper asked him like a parent—no, he should say exactly like a parent questioning a son who had come home.

"Mm... Yeah. A little bald kid, a dirty old man... Mm, anyway, I made a lot of friends." After thinking for a moment, Kashius answered.

"That's good." At this point, the shopkeeper walked into the inner room. Very soon, he came out with a cup of juice and handed it to the latter, gesturing for Kashius to drink something before continuing with the bread.

Just then, a certain arrogant yet still childish voice came over.

"Oh? So Kashius is back."

Kashius looked up and saw a certain little pretty boy wearing a short-sleeved shirt and jeans, staring at him with an annoyed expression.

"Yo, so it's Nasca. Long time no see. How have you been lately?" As a polite child, Kashius greeted the cold and aloof little pretty boy in a friendly manner.

After glancing at Kashius a few times, that certain cold and aloof little pretty boy neither greeted Kashius nor said a word. He simply turned around and walked into the inner room.

Seeing this, Kashius could only laugh awkwardly, then lower his head and keep eating his bread.

"That child Nasca didn't even say hello. How rude." The shopkeeper looked at Nasca as he left and complained somewhat.

As for Nasca's behavior, the shopkeeper could not really say too much. After all, the child had grown up and was right in the rebellious stage. If he said too much, it would be bad if it created a rift between father and son.

"It's fine. After living together for so long, I'm used to it." Kashius smiled unconcernedly and said.

"Now that you're back, do you still plan to leave?" the shopkeeper asked somewhat expectantly.

He knew that a child with strength as great as Kashius's could not possibly always stay in one place. Even so, as a parent, he naturally hoped the child could stay at home a little longer.

"Mm, I still have to leave. After all, I already promised someone that I'd go train at their place." Looking at the shopkeeper's somewhat expectant gaze, Kashius answered with slight apology.

"When are you leaving?"

"I'll rest for one night and leave tomorrow."

Just then, a clear and pleasant voice entered Kashius's ears, its tone filled with tsundere flavor.

"Oh? Is that so? Then what did you come back for?"

Kashius naturally knew who had arrived. He twisted his stiff neck and turned his head with difficulty. Then, with a somewhat stiff smile, he said, "Yo, Mana. Long time no see."

However, the latter clearly did not buy it. This blond beauty in a princess dress stepped lightly up to Kashius.

Then, with a "Slap!" a crisp sound rang out, carrying an echo.

Clearly, a certain black-haired guy had been slapped hard by a certain blond beauty right in front of the shopkeeper.

"Mana, what are you doing?!" The shopkeeper had meant to scold Mana, but the instant he saw the latter's watery big eyes fill with tears, the words that had already reached his lips could no longer come out.

A certain black-haired guy looked at Mana, who was softly sobbing in front of him, and for a moment froze in place, not knowing what to do.

At that moment, a bright red palm print was stamped on his face. Red and swollen, it was extremely conspicuous.

And at that moment, Nasca, who was leaning against the doorway, watched this scene as the corners of his mouth lifted slightly.

After looking the two of them over, the shopkeeper unconsciously grabbed Nasca, who had originally still wanted to watch the drama, and secretly slipped out.

At this moment, only Mana, standing in front of Kashius and sobbing, remained at the scene, along with a certain black-haired guy at a complete loss.

"Uh, Mana, you... don't cry..." Looking at the blond young lady crying in front of him, Kashius was instantly at a loss.

What was going on? Just a moment ago, she had been so fierce, slapping herself, so why had she suddenly started crying?

Could it be that girls really were this fickle? If he had known things would turn out like this, he never should have come back. He should have decisively charged ahead at full speed instead.

"D-don't cry. I don't blame you for hitting me anymore, okay? If you still want to hit me, I'll stand here and let you hit me. I definitely won't fight back, all right?" Kashius had originally meant to comfort Mana with that.

But who would have thought that she, who had only been sobbing at first, would now burst into loud tears like a flood breaking through a dam?

"Waaah! Waaah!"

"Hey, hey, hey! You, you... why are you crying even harder? Manager! Nasca! Where are you?! Hurry up and help me!" Left with no choice, Kashius could only start calling for help.

But who would have thought that no matter how Kashius shouted, those two stubbornly refused to make a sound, as if they had never existed at all.

Damn it, those two bastards!

Although Kashius was furious inside, there was nothing he could do.

Was he supposed to abandon Mana, who was crying her heart out, and go settle the score with those two?

That was obviously impossible. Seriously, he was really, really, really going to die of anger!!!

This was even more troublesome than having a fight with Goku. Seriously, why did every girl love crying so much?

Natashi was like that, and Mana was too. Were they even going to let him live?!

"Waaah! Waaaah!"

Looking at Mana's large eyes gradually growing red and swollen, for some reason, Kashius suddenly felt waves of inexplicable pain in his heart.

It was as if something was tearing at his body and devouring his soul.

"Mana..."

Looking at Mana, who was crying so pitifully in front of him, Kashius softly murmured her name.

Then, unable to help himself, he reached out with both hands and held her tightly in his arms.

Only after doing all this did Kashius realize that his actions just now had been completely unconscious.