The next day was bright and cloudless.
A ray of sunlight slipped through the curtains and fell on Bulma's face.
She woke from deep sleep.
The house was empty.
No Goku.
"Goku?"
"Son-kun?"
No answer.
She noticed a T-shirt tossed on the couch—
the one Goku had worn after bathing.
Her eyes shot to the balcony.
Sure enough, his clothes were gone.
She pulled the curtain aside and saw him outside
lifting rocks for training.
Only then did she relax.
Glancing at the time, she muttered,
"Wow… it's already this late.
I can't believe I slept in.
Goku's more diligent than me!"
She got up, brushed her teeth, and washed her face.
Then she froze.
She lifted her nightshirt and checked.
Her white panties were still on.
Bulma exhaled in relief.
"Yep. This Goku really is different.
He wouldn't do something that rude."
She'd just finished washing up when Goku knocked on the door.
"Bulma, open up!"
She opened it and frowned at him.
"You were just training outside. Why did you lock the door?
Accident?"
Goku shook his head.
"No, I locked it on purpose.
You were still asleep—I didn't want any bad guys sneaking in."
Bulma gaped inwardly.
"This kid…
he's actually worried about my safety?
This Goku is so mature!"
While they talked, a familiar sea turtle waddled into view.
"Hello, miss. Sorry to bother you…"
Goku said quickly,
"Bulma, I found this sea turtle lost outside.
Let's help it get back home!"
Bulma smiled at the turtle.
"That's easy. Let me change clothes and we'll take you to the sea."
The turtle looked overjoyed.
"Really? Thank you so much!"
Bulma crouched and asked kindly,
"Mr. Turtle, want something to drink or eat?"
The turtle blinked.
"I-I can?"
"Of course," Bulma said generously.
The turtle replied,
"Could I get some lightly salted water?
And some meat if possible—I'm thirsty and starving…"
"Coming right up. Wait here!"
She grabbed a small bucket, tossed in a handful of salt, and filled it with water.
Then she took several pieces of frozen pork belly and dropped them in.
In her previous life she'd been close with Roshi's group.
She'd fed the turtle with Launch before, so she knew what it liked.
The frozen meat thawed quickly in the water,
and even the salty water was cool and refreshing.
The turtle drank greedily, then ate raw meat until full.
After eating and drinking, it thanked Bulma endlessly,
until she politely cut him off.
Goku finished training.
After breakfast, Bulma packed the capsule house away.
Goku hoisted the turtle on his back,
while Bulma rode her motorcycle alongside him.
They headed to the coast where Kame House waited.
Bulma originally wanted to drive the turtle there,
but Goku insisted on carrying it as weighted training,
so she gave in.
A motorcycle was easier on rough roads anyway.
On the way, whenever they ran into bears or bandits,
Bulma didn't waste time—she simply ordered Goku to fight.
Those bandits were helpless before him.
He taught them a quick and painful lesson.
…
About two hours later, they reached the shore.
Seeing the sea, the turtle trembled with joy.
"I've been wandering for a whole year…
Thank you so much!!"
Goku grinned. "No problem. Go home now!"
The turtle swam out, then turned back.
"Wait for me! I have to repay you!"
It paddled off into deeper water.
In his previous life, Goku had been an inland kid who couldn't swim.
He'd seen rivers but rarely the ocean—
only once at a company trip to the Gold Coast.
Seeing the sea again in the Dragon Ball world,
he kicked off his shoes and went to step on the cool soft sand.
Bulma watched the turtle's direction with nostalgia.
She knew it was heading to Kame House,
and Master Roshi would appear soon.
Goku called from the shoreline.
"Bulma, come play too!"
Bulma saw him barefoot on the sand,
waves washing over his feet and receding again.
He looked totally absorbed.
She smiled gently.
"Coming!"
She took off her shoes and stepped onto the cold sand as well.
A shallow wave slipped over her feet,
and a chill shot through her body.
"Brr… that's cold…"
Her toes curled reflexively as the water retreated,
washing grains of sand from between them.
Goku laughed at her trying to get used to the temperature.
Her feet were pale and smooth; droplets slid down in the sunlight,
sparkling beautifully.
Bulma, struck by the simple peace of it all,
looked utterly content.
For a moment she almost forgot what a calm, happy life felt like.
This was what living was supposed to be.
She gazed at the ocean and sighed sincerely,
"So beautiful…"
"Yeah. The sea is beautiful," Goku echoed softly.