Chapter 26: Goku and the Case of the College Competition

The night was peaceful as Grandpa Gohan returned home, a little wobbly from having had a few drinks to celebrate with the Ox-King. He was practically glowing with happiness, but Goku didn't say much, just smiling at his grandfather's joyful mood. With a quick thought, Goku used his Magic Materialization technique to create a feast of food, surprising Gohan, who gleefully sat down to eat. After a hearty meal, everyone in the house fell asleep soundly, with Goku already planning his next day's visit to Bulma.

As he lay awake, Goku's mind wandered. I really don't need those Senzu Beans anymore, he thought, staring at the ceiling. He had mastered his healing technique to such a degree that it could handle almost any injury—muscle damage, broken bones, internal organs, anything short of death. Unlike the Senzu Beans, which instantly restored health but also reset his Zenkai boosts, his technique allowed his body to recover naturally, preserving the gains he made from battle.

Those beans are nothing but a shortcut, he mused. I'm better off without them. If he could continue upgrading his healing technique, he could surpass the Senzu Beans entirely. Then no one in his circle—his friends, allies, or himself—would need the beans anymore. They could all heal on their own.

The next morning, Goku was full of energy and ready to head out. The first thing on his to-do list was visiting Bulma at Capsule Corp to upgrade his gravity belt. His body had already adjusted to five times Earth's gravity, and he needed a greater challenge. He wanted Bulma to help him create a more advanced gravity device to push his training even further.

But when he arrived at Capsule Corp, he didn't find Bulma. Instead, her cheerful and slightly eccentric mother greeted him at the door. "Oh, Goku, dear! Bulma's off at college today. She's been so busy lately with her studies," she explained with her usual giggle.

"College, huh?" Goku scratched his head. "Well, I guess I'll go find her then."

"Good luck, sweetie!" Bulma's mom chirped, waving him off.

Goku closed his eyes for a moment, sensing Bulma's ki. Once he locked onto her energy, he smiled. Found her!

In an instant, Goku used his Instant Transmission and appeared outside the gates of Bulma's college. He looked around, taking in the unfamiliar setting—students walking around with backpacks, chatting, and some rushing to their next classes. So this is what a college looks like... neat, he thought.

Suddenly, a mischievous grin spread across his face. He remembered the last time he had transformed into a younger version of himself to tease Bulma. It had been hilarious, and he was in the mood for some fun today. With a quick shift in energy, Goku transformed into his younger form—spiky hair, smaller build, and all. He quickly found a pair of jeans and a T-shirt, making him blend right in with the other students.

However, Goku being Goku, he didn't exactly feel like going through the hassle of sneaking in or registering as a visitor. After all, as the strongest person on the planet, why should he sneak around? He marched straight through the main gates, but not before casually using his telekinesis to make a few guards and security personnel doze off peacefully. They slumped against the walls, leaving Goku a clear path to enter.

This is more like it, he thought with a smirk, strolling through the courtyard. Several students turned to look at him, some confused by the sudden entrance of a young boy who looks too handsome to be in college.

Meanwhile, inside one of the lecture halls, Bulma was engaged in something far more... trivial. A small group of girls surrounded her, giggling and talking about their boyfriends. It had started innocently enough—a few harmless comments here and there—but it had quickly escalated into a full-on competition. Each girl was trying to outdo the other by boasting about how great her boyfriend was.

"My boyfriend bought me a new hover scooter last week," one girl bragged.

"That's nothing! My boyfriend is a champion racer," another retorted.

Bulma, meanwhile, sat quietly, listening to the chatter. But something inside her was stirring—she hated losing. Her competitive spirit was raging. The more she listened, the more she realized that she was determined to win this ridiculous competition, too.

Then, out of nowhere, Goku appeared at the doorway, still in his younger form. "Bulma!" he called, waving casually. "I've been looking for you!"

Bulma's eyes lit up, and a devious idea popped into her head. This is perfect! she thought. She could totally use Goku to win this ridiculous contest.

"Goku!" she exclaimed, standing up from her seat. She ran over to him and pulled him inside the lecture hall, much to the surprise of the other girls. "Girls, I'd like you to meet my boyfriend, Goku," she announced with a proud smirk.

The room went silent. The other girls stared at Goku, blinking in disbelief. One of them even whispered, "Wait, isn't he a bit... to handsome?"

One girl walked up to Goku and pinched his cheek, thinking it would help her remove what she believed was a mask, but nothing happened. Another girl began poking around Goku, trying to find anything unusual. Eventually, she discovered that he was actually a human-like robot created by Bulma. In the end, Bulma stepped in and stopped them.

Goku, completely oblivious to what was going on, scratched the back of his head. "Uh, Bulma? I think you've got it wrong—I'm not—"

But Bulma quickly cut him off, her smile never wavering. "Oh, don't be so modest, Goku. Everyone, meet Goku—he's not just my boyfriend. He's also the strongest person on the planet!"

The other girls' jaws dropped. "Wait, what?!" one of them gasped.

"Oh, yeah," Bulma continued, clearly enjoying herself. "He's saved the world a few times, can fly, and can lift... oh, I don't know... about 100 tons without breaking a sweat."

Goku, still confused but not wanting to cause a scene, just nodded along. "Uh, yeah, I guess that's true..."

The girls' stunned silence turned into a wave of awe. "No way! You're dating the world's strongest man?!"

Bulma crossed her arms, looking smug. "Yep, that's right."

One of the girls quickly gave up. "Well, there's no beating that..." she muttered, completely conceding defeat.

Another girl sighed, shaking her head. "Yeah, Bulma totally wins this one."

Bulma smiled triumphantly, while Goku stood there, completely oblivious to the fact that he had just been used as a trump card in a competition he didn't even know existed. After a few awkward moments, Bulma grabbed his arm and started pulling him toward the door.

"Thanks, Goku! You just made my day," she whispered with a wink.

Goku blinked. "Uh, sure... I guess?"

As they left the building and walked back toward Capsule Corp, Goku finally asked, "So, uh, what was that all about, anyway?"

Bulma giggled. "Oh, nothing much. Just winning a little contest, thanks to you."

Goku shrugged. "Well, as long as you're happy. Oh, by the way, I need your help upgrading my gravity belt!"

And with that, the two headed back to Bulma's lab, leaving behind a classroom full of amazed and bewildered college students.