Chapter 35: A Kiss for the Crowd

At West City High, the air buzzed with chatter, laughter, and the usual teenage antics. Today, however, a group of girls stood together, snickering and whispering in the corner, their eyes trained on one particular target—Bulma Briefs.

Bulma, the daughter of the world-renowned Capsule Corporation family, was a subject of both admiration and envy. She had it all—beauty, brains, wealth, and status. But today, her classmates had found a weak spot, a vulnerability they could exploit. "So, Bulma," one of the girls, a tall brunette with a smug grin, began. "You've got everything... except a boyfriend."

Another girl, her blonde hair tied in a neat ponytail, chimed in. "It's weird, don't you think? So many guys have proposed to you, but none of them stick around. What's the matter? Too intimidating for them?" The laughter from the group rang out, echoing down the hall.

Bulma, standing at her locker, rolled her eyes and tried to ignore them, but the words stung more than she wanted to admit. The truth was, plenty of guys had asked her out—handsome ones, intelligent ones—but none of them could handle being with her. After all, how could they stand next to a girl who had everything, whose family name alone carried more weight than most could handle? Every relationship ended the same way—guys who were initially interested but then crumbled under the pressure, feeling inferior when standing beside her.

And now? No one even bothered anymore. They didn't propose. They didn't approach. She was untouchable, and not in a good way.

"I guess no guy has what it takes for that kind of woman," another girl sneered, her words laced with mockery.

Bulma's face flushed slightly with embarrassment and frustration. She hated feeling like this—isolated, despite having everything. Sure, she didn't need a boyfriend to define her, but the constant teasing was getting on her nerves. She just wanted someone who could stand by her, someone confident enough not to feel overshadowed.

Meanwhile, Goku, hovering above the school in the air, had been observing the scene. He had come to find Bulma to talk to her about his new idea of converting thermal or kinetic energy into ki crystals, but now, seeing the teasing, he felt a pang of sympathy for her.

"Poor Bulma," Goku thought, scratching his head. "She's always been so strong and confident, but even she has things that bother her. Maybe I can help…" An idea sparked in his mind, and with a playful grin, he decided to give her a little surprise.

Using his shapeshifting ability that he had learned recently, Goku transformed into an older version of himself—tall, muscular, with features that hinted at the future Goku who would one day become the universe's strongest fighter. His black hair stood wild, and his usual innocent expression was replaced with a more confident, sunny demeanor. "This should do the trick," he said to himself before flying down to the schoolyard.

Back in the hallway, Bulma was still at her locker, pretending to be busy when the teasing suddenly stopped. The girls went quiet, and Bulma glanced up, curious. Standing at the end of the hallway was a tall, handsome teenage boy she didn't recognize. His presence was magnetic, and the entire corridor seemed to turn their attention to him. His eyes locked onto Bulma, and before she could even process what was happening, he walked right up to her.

Without saying a word, the boy—Goku in disguise—wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into a warm hug. "Bulma!" he said, his voice soft but filled with affection. "I missed you!"

Bulma, shocked and confused, stood frozen for a moment. "W-who are you?" she stammered, her cheeks flushing a deep red. The girls who had been teasing her moments earlier gasped audibly, their jaws practically hitting the floor.

Leaning close to her ear, Goku whispered, "It's me, Goku. I just thought I'd surprise you and help you out with those girls." His breath tickled her ear, making Bulma's heart skip a beat. To everyone else, it looked like he was whispering sweet nothings into her ear, but in reality, Goku was just explaining his plan.

Bulma's eyes widened in realization. "G-Goku? Is that really you?" she whispered back, still in shock.

Goku nodded, grinning. "Yup! I used the shapeshifting technique to turn into my older self. I didn't want to show up looking like a kid, y'know."

Bulma blinked, her mind racing. "Is this what you're going to look like when you grow up?" she asked, her voice tinged with awe. Her blush deepened as she took in Goku's transformed appearance. He was… handsome. More than that, he looked strong, confident—a perfect match for someone like her.

As Bulma was lost in her thoughts, the girls who had been teasing her started whispering amongst themselves.

"Wait… who's that guy?" one asked.

"Is he really Bulma's boyfriend?" another girl said, disbelief evident in her voice.

One of the bolder girls crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes at the couple. "If he's really your boyfriend, then prove it. Kiss him!"

Both Goku and Bulma froze, their faces turning bright red. Goku's heart started pounding in his chest, and for once, the usually carefree Saiyan was flustered. "I-I just wanted to help," Goku thought, panicking. "I didn't think about kissing!"

Bulma, equally embarrassed, glanced up at Goku. The situation had escalated far beyond what she had expected. Her heart was racing, and she felt the pressure of all the eyes on them. Everyone was waiting, watching, eager to see what would happen next.

For a moment, Goku thought about just flying away—leaving before things got even more awkward—but then he looked down at Bulma. Her cheeks were flushed, her blue eyes wide with embarrassment and uncertainty, and something inside him shifted. He didn't want her to feel like she was alone. He wanted to help her.

Suddenly, Bulma made the decision for both of them. Hooking her arms around Goku's neck, she pulled him down to her level and, without warning, kissed him.

Goku's eyes widened in shock, his body going rigid for a split second before relaxing into the kiss. His heart raced, and his mind went blank. The cheers and gasps from the crowd faded into the background as he focused entirely on the feeling of Bulma's lips on his.

When the kiss ended, the schoolyard was dead silent. No one could believe what they had just witnessed. Bulma Briefs—untouchable, unapproachable Bulma—had just kissed a guy in front of everyone.

Bulma, face bright red, immediately buried her face in Goku's chest, hugging him tightly to hide her embarrassment. "You better get us out of here," she whispered, her voice shaky. "Before they ask for more…"

Goku, still dazed from the kiss, nodded quickly. Without another word, he lifted off the ground, holding Bulma close, and flew away, leaving the shocked students behind.

As they arrived at Capsule Corp, Bulma finally let go of Goku and immediately started playfully hitting his chest. "You idiot!" she exclaimed, her face still red from embarrassment. "That was all your fault! Now everyone thinks we're a couple!"

Goku scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "I was just trying to help…" he mumbled.

Bulma sighed, crossing her arms. "Well, you better take responsibility now. And next time you visit me, make sure you're in that adult form, not your little kid body. Got it?"

Goku nodded quickly, not daring to argue. "Sure, whatever you say, Bulma."

Bulma then smiled slightly, her anger fading as she thought back to the kiss. "Also… can it be sooner than six years? Three years seems more reasonable."

Goku blinked, surprised, but then nodded. "Yeah, if everything goes according to plan, three years should be enough."

With that settled, Bulma smiled softly, and for a brief moment, everything seemed peaceful between them, though Goku couldn't help but wonder how things might change from now on.