Chapter 106: Bulma's Assist
The door closed, and the motorcade drove away. Lala, carefree as always, ran straight to the living room to watch the popular show Magical Kyoko, while the other three fixed their eyes on Franklin, each with a different expression.
"Ahem... I, uh, just remembered I've got something urgent to take care of. You three go ahead and talk—I'll, uh, be right back."
Before Franklin could slip away, Ryōko Mikado grabbed his shoulder and held him in place.
The four of them went down to the underground lab. Without a word, Bulma suddenly wrapped her arms around Franklin in front of Mikan and Ryōko—and kissed him deeply.
Franklin was startled at first but quickly responded in kind. When their lips finally parted, Bulma's eyes were hazy and her cheeks flushed. If not for the others present, the two of them might have gone much further right then and there.
Watching them kiss, Mikan's face turned crimson, as if blood might drip from it. Forgetting what she had wanted to say, she turned and fled toward the elevator, heading back upstairs.
Once Mikan was gone, Ryōko cleared her throat and looked sternly at Franklin.
"Are you seriously planning to keep playing with fire like this? Your relationship with Lala just reached its peak, and now you've brought another beautiful girl into your home.
Judging from what I just saw, you two have already gotten very close. Putting aside whether it's a waste that you threw away your first time after becoming a cultivator—what about Lala? How do you think she'll feel when her fiancé sleeps with another woman right in front of her? Do you think that's okay?"
Her blunt words left Franklin scratching his head helplessly.
"Yeah, you're right, Ryōko. But... it's already happened, so there's not much point in talking about it now. I'll be more careful in the future. If the King of Deviluke asks, I'll explain everything properly—it all happened four or five years ago, technically."
"You've really got an excuse for everything, huh? You go back in time, mess around, and then claim it's ancient history when you return. Fine, do whatever you want—I can't control you anymore."
Ryōko gave Franklin a long, exasperated look, then turned to Bulma.
"And you? What were you thinking? Acting on impulse?"
Bulma smiled and shook her head. "Of course not. I thought it through carefully. When it comes to love, you have to fight for what you want. I missed out on his first engagement—so I'm taking everything else I can.
The first kiss, the first time—it all felt amazing. And Franklin's first time wasn't wasted, because both of us were each other's firsts. Our mutual affection is at 99, and now the full version of the Yin-Yang Twin Life Technique has been imprinted into Franklin's soul.
He can now share that technique with any girl whose affection for him reaches 90 or higher, so both sides can cultivate together and grow stronger. Otherwise, Franklin would have a real problem someday—what happens if he meets someone he loves but can't be with her because of lifespan differences? I didn't want that. Now everything's solved."
Ryōko was stunned. She looked from Bulma to the dazed Franklin, thinking that compared to Bulma, Franklin's brain was running several steps slower.
"So you're okay with him being with other girls? You're really just letting him go like that? Doesn't that hurt?"
Bulma's smile was gentle but firm. "Of course it hurts. But some things can't be helped. The universe is vast, and Franklin's talent is... unusual. He'll go anywhere and meet all kinds of people.
If I stopped him, and he gave up those connections because of me—it might seem fine for a while, but over time, he'd start resenting me. I don't want that wall between us."
Hearing her say that, Franklin hurriedly tried to clarify. "I'm not like that. Really. With you and Lala, I'm more than content."
Bulma waved a hand dismissively. "I'm talking to Ryōko, not you. Wait your turn."
Franklin sighed in defeat—apparently, his rank in this conversation was the lowest.
Bulma turned back to Ryōko. "I understand Franklin completely. And since I'm laying everything on the table—unless he meets someone truly destined for him, he'll cut things off himself out of loyalty.
So letting him have this small freedom actually reduces the chances of him fooling around later. I think it's worth it. This way, I keep my place in his heart while steering him away from the kind of manipulative girls who'd cause real trouble."
Ryōko exhaled slowly. "You really do think far ahead—and with a lot of generosity. Thank you for looking out for him so much."
Then she glared sharply at Franklin.
"You'd better appreciate her. Meeting a woman this wise and understanding is your greatest luck. I won't interfere anymore—but for heaven's sake, don't let this turn into a scandal. And no one better end up dead, got it?"
Franklin nodded vaguely, still dazed. He looked from Bulma's soft smile to Ryōko's concerned expression.
"I'm... not that complicated. I'll just let things happen naturally. I'm not the kind of guy who acts on impulse. I promise."
Ryōko flicked his forehead. "Who asked you to promise anything? Ugh, forget it. You're hopelessly dense. Go on upstairs—I've got research to finish.
That Saiyan tail experiment is coming along nicely. It won't be long before I develop a serum that enhances your Saiyan bloodline purity."
Clearly dismissing them, Ryōko shooed the pair toward the elevator. As Franklin followed Bulma inside, he suddenly remembered something even more useful than any serum—Senzu Beans.
He quickly pulled three from his pocket and handed them to Ryōko.
"These are Senzu Beans. They don't just heal injuries—they instantly replenish the eater's spiritual energy by absorbing the world's ambient energy. I'll leave the analysis to you."
Ryōko examined one carefully, then shoved Franklin into the elevator.
"Got it. And talk to Mikan later—she's not just some ordinary little girl anymore."
As the elevator rose, Bulma wrapped her arms around Franklin again—and kissed him once more.
When the doors opened, Lala was standing right there, face full of curiosity. Seeing Bulma's flushed cheeks and shortness of breath, she tilted her head.
"Bulma, your face is so red! Are you sick or something?"
Bulma gently took Lala's hand and smiled. "No, I was just kissing Franklin in there, so my face got hot. You and Franklin have done that before, right? Why not give it another try?"
Lala blinked, completely missing the implication—until a second later, when her entire face turned crimson. Before she could protest, Bulma pushed Franklin right up to her and pressed the two of them together.
They stared into each other's eyes—neither rejecting, but both clearly flustered. Being forced together while someone else watched was definitely a first.
Franklin leaned in hesitantly. Seeing that Lala didn't resist, he grew bolder.
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