The setting sun over West City stained the panoramic glass atop Capsule Corporation a dull, blood-red hue.
Bulma stood before the control console with her arms folded, staring at the wilderness ruins in the holographic display. What had once been flat rocky ground had been smashed into two enormous craters.
Looking at the outrageous destructive power on the screen, she unconsciously bit down on her lower lip, not even noticing that the coffee beside her had gone cold.
There was no stirring of air, not even a change in the direction of the laboratory's climate-controlled breeze.
A large hand covered in rough calluses silently reached out from behind her and firmly wrapped around her slender waist. Its owner leaned forward, drawing her whole body snugly into a broad, solid chest.
"What are you looking at so intently?"
A familiar voice sounded beside her ear. A faint vibration resonated through the man's chest, and his warm breath fell freely against her neck, carrying a reassuring solidity that made her let down all her guard.
Bulma shuddered all over and spun around.
The moment she saw the face so close to hers, her eyes inexplicably grew hot. But her hand showed no mercy at all as she punched the man squarely in his hard chest. "You still remembered to come back? It's been more than half a month! I thought you'd forgotten which way home was!"
Son Goku gave a low laugh and let her hit him to vent her frustration, neither dodging nor stopping her.
Only when her punches weakened did he free one hand and casually set the obstructive cup of coffee on the console. Then he placed both hands on her hips and, with a slight exertion of strength, turned her fully to face him.
His Super Saiyan breakthrough