"The battle suit you wanted—I made one exactly to your specs." Bulma handed Ken an earring. "Seriously, I don't get you… why not keep the old style? Swapping the watch out for an earring was a huge pain."
"Put it on. Let me see," Ken said.
Bulma nodded, slipped the earring on, then pinched it twice at a random spot.
Whoosh!
In an instant, an invisible layer of angel power wrapped around Bulma's body.
At a glance, she looked the same as always.
"An invisible suit?" Ken blinked. "Bulma, you're good. That's a big jump."
"I was hoping you'd be shocked," Bulma muttered, a little deflated. "You spotted it immediately."
She'd wanted to show off. This was an invisible battle suit.
"Tech can keep advancing, you know," Bulma said with a grin. "Mix in a few special materials and you get a stealth effect. I've gone days without sleep to make it work."
"Then I'll stay with you while you sleep later," Ken said.
Bulma stared at him.
Ken stepped in and ran a hand over her—no, over the suit.
Invisible battle suit.
The tech level was absurd. Once worn, a powerful layer of angel power clung to the surface of the body.
And with Bulma's current baseline, putting it on pushed her battle power up to 200.
Her normal battle power was 2.
But her defense had risen to the physical toughness of a God of Destruction.
Meaning: if Frieza came to Earth, no matter how he attacked Bulma, he wouldn't be able to hurt her at all.
Of course, Bulma still wouldn't be able to do anything to Frieza either.
This suit was completely different from Ai.
Ai fused herself into angel power—basically Mosco's strength reborn.
This battle suit boosted the wearer's strength, but it capped out at level 50.
Level 50 was the limit of the suit.
Bulma pinched the earring twice again.
Whoosh!
The invisible suit vanished, folding back into the earring.
Bulma took it off and handed it to Ken.
"I've only made this one so far. The second one will take a few more days," Bulma explained.
"No rush. Seriously—take care of yourself. Go get some sleep," Ken said, unable to hide his concern.
"It's fine. If I get old, can't you just make me young again?" Bulma teased. "I'm staying sixteen forever!"
"Leave that to me," Ken said with a nod. "I'll keep you young."
Bulma turned to go, then stopped mid-step.
"By the way, Ken… do you remember Emily?" Bulma asked, glancing back.
"Yeah," Ken said. "Your best friend from kindergarten, right? She's still alive?"
Bulma went silent.
"Alive," she said, exhausted.
"You brought her up, so I thought something happened," Ken said, sounding genuinely reflective. "Also, that brat had zero manners. First time we met, she tried to play with my tail."
"You still remember that…" Heat crept up Bulma's cheeks. "I was a kid. I didn't know you can't just let your friends mess with your boyfriend's tail."
"It's fine. Don't worry about it," Ken said.
Bulma narrowed her eyes. "Why do I feel like you'd love for other girls to play with your tail?"
"Don't put it like that," Ken said. "Only pretty girls get a turn. Emily's looks… aren't quite my type."
Bulma decided she didn't want to talk anymore.
After a short silence, Bulma looked at him seriously. "Ken, do you know that Saiyan prince Vegeta actually invited Emily to dinner last night?"
"Oh?" Ken said, playing dumb. "That happened?"
"Krillin invited her too," Bulma added.
"So who did Emily go with?" Ken asked, curious.
"Me," Bulma said.
Ken paused.
"Out of those two, who did Emily like?" Ken asked.
"Looks-wise? Vegeta, obviously," Bulma said like it was self-evident, then lowered her voice. "Krillin's short, and he doesn't even have a nose. It's hard for girls to go for that."
"I'd say so," Ken agreed. "So why didn't she pick Vegeta?"
"You know what Vegeta did?" Bulma asked.
"Let's hear it," Ken said, smiling.
"He asked me for her address, barged straight into her house, and said, 'Hey, you vulgar woman. Dinner with me tonight. You hear me?'" Bulma mimicked Vegeta's tone.
Ken wasn't surprised at all.
"Emily complained to me, like, 'What kind of men are you introducing me to?'" Bulma said, half-laughing, half-crying. "Vegeta wasn't even someone I introduced to her."
"Did you tell her who Vegeta is?" Ken asked.
"No. She didn't seem interested, so why would I?" Bulma said, shaking her head.
"Tell her Vegeta's a prince," Ken said with a knowing grin. "See if she's still not interested."
"I'll tell her right now." Bulma's eyes lit up. She pulled out her phone and called Emily.
Emily was still mad. The second she picked up, she unloaded on Bulma.
"Bulma, I thought we were best friends, and this is what you do to me?" Emily snapped. "What kind of boyfriends are those? One doesn't even have a nose, and he's so short his head barely reaches my chest… The other one's not bad-looking, but he's short too—I'm taller than him in heels. And that arrogant personality… who told him he's special? He wants me to have dinner with him? Who does he think he is!"
"He's a prince," Bulma said lightly.
Emily froze so hard she couldn't get a word out.
There was silence for more than ten seconds.
"You're saying he's a prince?" Emily's voice jumped with excitement. "Don't mess with me."
"He really is," Bulma said firmly. "I'm not lying."
"Prince of which country?" Emily asked, clearly hooked.
"The Saiyan prince," Bulma said honestly.
"Saiyan? What's that?" Emily asked, confused.
"Do you remember Ken?" Bulma asked, glancing up at him as she spoke.
"No," Emily said. "I don't."
"My kindergarten boyfriend," Bulma said with a giggle. "You even said you wanted to play with his tail."
Emily burst out laughing. "No way. Did I actually say that in kindergarten?"
"You did," Bulma said, laughing too. "I said no, and you got mad at me. You didn't talk to me the whole day."
"So… I never got to play with it?" Emily asked, fixated on the result.
"Nope," Bulma said.
"Why are we suddenly talking about Ken?" Emily asked. "What does Vegeta have to do with this Saiyan thing?"
"Ken is a Saiyan. Vegeta is their prince," Bulma explained. "Ken's right next to me. I'll have him say a word. Ken, Vegeta is your Saiyan prince, right?"
"Yes," Ken said. "That's right."
"Ken—hi, hi…" Emily sounded embarrassed. "About what I said when we were kids… please don't take it seriously."
"It's nothing," Ken said, laughing it off.
"A prince…" Emily murmured. "That's kind of interesting. I suddenly don't feel like wearing heels anymore."
"See?" Bulma giggled. "You think I'd set you up on purpose? I know you've liked Prince Charming since you were little. Vegeta doesn't have a white horse… but he's a real prince."
"But if he's that good, why didn't you take him yourself? Why introduce him to me?" Emily asked, genuinely baffled.
"Because I've got Ken," Bulma whispered.
"Oh." Emily understood instantly. "Ken's more handsome than Vegeta, isn't he? Yeah… and you guys aren't exactly short on money. For you, picking the handsome one makes more sense."
After the call ended, Emily fell into thought, staring blankly at her phone.
Then it hit her—she'd forgotten to ask for Vegeta's contact information.
This was a disaster!
How was she supposed to get in touch with His Highness?
Still… if Vegeta really was a prince, then his earlier rude attitude suddenly made a lot more sense.
He was a prince, after all.
A prince is supposed to have "personality," right?
Emily called Bulma again and asked for Vegeta's contact information.
"I don't think Vegeta has a phone," Bulma said. "How about this—I'll see if Ken can reach him. You're at home, right? If we can contact Vegeta, I'll have him come find you. Okay?"
"Got it," Emily said. "Dinner, then shopping, then a movie, then a hotel. That's the flow, right?"
"More or less," Bulma said.
"Okay." Emily's heart started racing.
After hanging up, Emily immediately took a shower, scrubbed herself until she smelled amazing, then started getting dressed up with extra care.
This was her first date with a prince.
She had to look perfect.
Not long after she finished, someone knocked.
Emily's whole body lit up. She ran to the door and yanked it open.
A bald head filled her doorway.
"Emily… h-hello," Krillin said, face red.
"…Oh. It's Krillin." Emily couldn't hide her disappointment.
"Emily, I found a really good restaurant," Krillin said. "Want to go try it together?"
"Sorry, Krillin. I already have plans tonight," Emily said, forcing the words out.
Emily wasn't stupid. She'd even run a quick facial-recognition search on him.
This little bald guy wasn't simple.
When he was younger, he'd placed highly in the World Martial Arts Tournament twice.
And he was Master Roshi's disciple.
Emily knew exactly what that meant: Krillin was strong.
From the tournament footage, she'd seen him smash a stone pedestal with a headbutt.
That was why she stayed polite.
Reject him wrong and get headbutted to death? That would be a tragedy.
"Huh? You've got plans?" Krillin sounded crushed. "That's too bad… wait—your date isn't Vegeta, is it?"
"N-no," Emily said quickly, shaking her head.
She didn't want to drag Vegeta into this.
What if Krillin went looking for trouble? Could Vegeta, this delicate prince, handle it?
Emily didn't think so.
"Good," Krillin said, visibly relieved. "As long as it's not Vegeta! Then… if tonight won't work, how about tomorrow? Or the day after?"
That was all stuff Krillin had picked up from Yamcha.
Yamcha had told him to do it like this.
And while Merus was sending them back this time, he'd also done them a favour—reviving Yamcha, Tien, and the others who'd died.
"…We'll see," Emily said, on the verge of tears.
Are you done yet?
Do you not understand I'm rejecting you?
While they were talking, Vegeta walked over from the distance.
The moment Emily saw him, she flinched.
Krillin sensed it too and immediately looked over.
"Hey, woman!" Vegeta called from afar. "You the one who wanted me here?"
Emily choked on her words.
Can you talk like a normal person?
"Hmph. You finally think things through?" Vegeta said. "Ready to have dinner with me?"
Emily didn't know how to answer.
Krillin was still right there.
"Uh… I…" Emily stammered.
"Emily, didn't you just say the person you're meeting isn't Vegeta?" Krillin said, looking between them. The more he looked, the worse it felt.
This is… suspicious.
"N-no, it's… I mean…" Emily was panicking.
"Hmph. Are we going or not?" Vegeta snapped. "Say it already. I don't have time to waste here. I've got training to do."
Kakarot had pulled ahead by way too much already.
And he was only asking her to dinner, yet she was still dragging it out.
"Yes," Emily blurted. "I'll have dinner with you!"
She'd thought it through—Krillin wouldn't do anything crazy, right?
They were all Bulma's friends.
Krillin's shoulders sank.
So girls like pushy guys, huh?
"…Fine," Krillin said, voice flat. "Go ahead."
"Sorry, Krillin," Emily said softly. "You're a good guy. You're just not my type."
"Got it," Krillin said, sighing. "I… wish you two happiness."
"If we're eating, move," Vegeta said, annoyed. "Quit dragging your feet."
If Ken hadn't put him up to it, he'd have already left—no way he'd waste time on this.
Emily didn't know what to say.
Well… he was a prince.
Being sharp with his words was probably normal.
Emily rushed back inside to grab her things, then came out and hooked her arm around Vegeta's.
Krillin watched their backs as they leaned closer together, and his heart cracked.
No. I'm getting Yamcha to find me a girlfriend.
Bulma's "girlfriend recommendations" are unreliable.
They'd rather fall for an alien than like an Earth guy like me.
"Don't get so close," Vegeta said through clenched teeth, clearly irritated.
But the moment their bodies brushed, Vegeta's heartbeat sped up for no reason.
What is this?
Am I seriously getting pulled in by this woman?
I'm a Saiyan.
They walked on without really thinking, drifting wherever their feet took them.
Both of them were lost in their own thoughts.
And that's how they ended up in a dead-end alley.
At the far end, three punks were smoking and chatting.
The instant they saw Emily's looks and her figure, their eyes lit up with nasty grins.
One of them pulled out a handgun and aimed it at Vegeta and Emily.
"Going on a date in a place like this?" the leader said, smirking.
"Kid, your luck's terrible," another one said, pulling out a knife.
"Hand your girlfriend over. Let us have some fun," the third one said, licking his lips.
"D-don't do anything stupid!" Emily cried, trembling so hard she could barely stand.
"Relax, girl," the leader said, eyeing her up and down. "We'll be gentle. Haven't seen a woman this hot in a long time."
"Hey," the leader added, looking at Vegeta. "If you don't want to die, get lost."
Vegeta didn't respond.
"Is this idiot deaf?" the leader sneered, then pulled the trigger without hesitation.
Bang!
The shot rang out.
The bullet tore toward Vegeta.
Vegeta lifted one hand and caught it.
Emily screamed and ducked behind him.
The three punks froze, finally realising he'd just caught a bullet.
A short silence.
Then they burst out laughing—louder than before.
"You think you're Superman? Catching bullets with your bare hand?"
"This guy's a total moron."
"His brain's definitely broken."
They mocked him shamelessly, laughing in his face.
Vegeta calmly held out his hand and showed them the bullet.
Their laughter died mid-breath.
"Is this planet's tech really stuck on outdated toys like this?" Vegeta snorted, stepping in and yanking the gun right out of the leader's hand.
"H-hey! Give it back!" the leader yelped, panicking.
Crack!
Vegeta squeezed lightly, crushing the handgun into powder.
He opened his hand and let the crumbled scraps trickle through his fingers.
The three punks clung to each other, shaking.
Emily had been covering her eyes, but at Vegeta's voice she peeked through her fingers.
Then she saw him crush the gun.
Emily's eyes went wide, stunned.
"Hmph. You dare threaten a prince?" Vegeta said coldly. He lifted his right hand, forming a tiny purple-red spark in his palm.
"M-merc y!" the three punks dropped to their knees, slamming their heads down as they begged.
"Hakai!"
Vegeta didn't hesitate. The purple-red spark shot forward and struck the leader.
Pop!
The leader's body vanished like a soap bubble, dissolving into nothing.
"Hmph," Vegeta said. "Dying to my destruction energy should be an honour."
The other two were too terrified to speak.
Vegeta kicked one, then the other, launching them into the sky.
Then he pointed into the air and blasted them into dust.
Emily stood there with her mouth hanging open.
"Hey," Vegeta said, turning back to her. "What are we eating later?"
"Y-you're… that strong?" Emily stammered, staring at him like she couldn't believe he was real.
"Of course," Vegeta said, thumbing at himself. "I'm the prince of the Saiyan warrior race."
"Warrior race?" Emily repeated, not fully getting it. "Then compared to Krillin… who's stronger?"
"Krillin? That little bald guy?" Vegeta scoffed. "Don't lump me in with some weakling. My battle power is 2.5 million. If that little bald guy has 20,000, that's already generous. Do the math."
What an ignorant woman… comparing him to Krillin.
It was infuriating.
"20,000… 2.5 million… that's that big a gap?" Emily blurted, stunned.
"Hmph. Then hurry up and have dinner with me," Vegeta said.
Finish Ken's task and be done with it.
Then he could train with Ken.
This time, no matter what, he was going to surpass Kakarot.
"What do you want to eat?" Emily asked, thrilled.
"Whatever," Vegeta said flatly.
"I know a really good restaurant," Emily said. "Let's go there."
"Hmph. Do what you want," Vegeta said.
Emily immediately tugged Vegeta along toward the restaurant.
On the way, she couldn't stop herself. "Y-you… Vegeta. You really are a prince?"
"Of course," Vegeta said.
"The Saiyan prince?" Emily asked again.
"What are you getting at?" Vegeta snapped, already irritated.
"N-nothing. Just asking," Emily said, but the more she looked at him, the more she liked what she saw.
They took an elevator up to the restaurant and had dinner together.
When Emily watched Vegeta eat enough food for sixty people, she was stunned all over again.
Are you even human?
Everyone in the restaurant kept staring at Vegeta.
Emily didn't even know what to do with her expression.
If my family wasn't well-off, you'd eat me into bankruptcy.
"About seventy percent full," Vegeta said with a satisfied snort. "This place is good. I haven't eaten this well in a long time."
Emily didn't have words.
"Seventy percent?" she said, near tears. "Are you serious?"
That much is only seventy percent?
Then how much do you eat when you're actually full?
"Task complete. That's it for today," Vegeta said, standing up to leave.
"W-what do you mean?" Emily asked, completely thrown.
Vegeta stopped.
"You're leaving right after eating?" Emily snapped. "Did you bring me here just to mooch a meal?"
"I came to have dinner with you," Vegeta said calmly. "That's all."
Emily exploded, fury rising fast.
Is there really a man like this?
"I don't care!" Emily said, rushing in and hugging him. "You're staying with me tonight!"
Vegeta froze.
Something in Vegeta's usually iron-hard guard loosened—slowly, stubbornly.
For a moment, he couldn't make himself move.
People all around them stared. Even a few couples looked at them with open envy.
"Marry him! Marry him!"
Someone even started chanting.
Vegeta cut his glare toward the loudest one.
The chanter flinched and shut up instantly.
"Hmph. Fine," Vegeta said through gritted teeth. "I'll stay. Who's afraid of who?"
He wrapped an arm around Emily's waist, lifted gently off the floor, and drifted toward the window.
"W-what are you doing?" Emily yelped. "This is the 28th floor!"
Vegeta didn't answer. Holding her tight, he flew straight out.
Everyone in the restaurant went stiff, then rushed to the window, staring out into the distance.
Vegeta was already high in the sky with Emily in his arms, cutting across the dusk like a spotlight.
"Are they filming something?" someone murmured. "The heroine really isn't used to it… I can't even look."
"Did she pee herself?" another person muttered, rubbing their eyes.
[End of chapter]
[100 Power Stones = Extra Chapter]
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