At dawn the next morning—
A delicious aroma filled the hotel room, waking Goku from his sleep.
When he opened his eyes, he saw Bulma at a small table she'd set up, already filled with steaming food.
"Bulma, you're up early," Goku said, rubbing his eyes.
Bulma looked back and smiled. "You're finally awake! I was just about to wake you myself.
It's not that early, though. You passed out after that bottle of liquor I gave you last night—now it's already noon."
"It's noon already?" Goku glanced out the window.
The sun was blazing high in the sky.
"Alright, sleepyhead," Bulma said cheerfully. "Wash up first, then come eat!"
"Okay!"
Goku got out of bed—only to fall flat on his face.
Bulma gasped. "What happened?"
"Ah! I'm not used to it yet… My tail's gone, and I can't keep my balance!"
"Do you need help walking?"
"No, I got it!"
He stood again—and promptly fell a second time.
Bulma rushed over and helped him up, smiling reassuringly.
"Don't worry about it. You've had that tail your whole life—it kept you balanced.
It'll take a few days to adjust, that's all."
Goku nodded. "Yeah, I know."
After washing up with Bulma's help, they sat down for lunch.
When they finally left the hotel, Goku was still limping slightly, and Bulma had to support him by the arm.
The hotel staff froze as they watched them leave—Goku hobbling, Bulma perfectly fine.
"Whoa!"
"Did you guys see that?"
"The woman's fine, but the kid can barely walk!"
"Come on, he's just a little boy—could he even handle… that?"
"Hahaha! Unreal!"
"First time I've seen a guy come out of a hotel limping!"
"But why's the kid covering his backside?"
"Eh, don't forget—he had a tail."
"Ohh… right, right."
"So the rich lady must've been playing with his tail till he broke it!"
"Pfft! Young people these days, man!"
"What do they call that again?"
"Beauty and the Beast?"
"No, Beauty and the Little Beast!"
"Hahaha! No free lunches, I guess. Even rich-lady love comes at a price!"
"Ahahahahaha!"
They kept gossiping until—an hour later—Ox-King and Chi-Chi walked through the hotel doors.
The chatter died instantly.
The massive Ox-King, towering beside tiny Chi-Chi, made the staff break into a cold sweat.
'What is going on lately? First that weird couple, now this?'
The receptionist forced a smile. "Good morning! Would you like a room?
We're offering a romantic deluxe suite—just 998 a night!"
Ox-King frowned. "We're not here to stay. We're looking for someone.
Have you had a guest recently—a boy with a tail and a woman with blue hair?"
The clerks all stiffened.
Ox-King immediately caught the change in their faces.
Chi-Chi's eyes lit up. "Judging by your expressions, you've seen them! Is Goku still here?"
The staff remained silent. Revealing guest information could get them fired.
But Ox-King slammed his hand on the counter.
"My daughter asked you a question! Answer her!"
The front desk manager nearly jumped out of his skin.
"S-sorry, sir, but our policy forbids disclosing guest information. It's a matter of professional ethics."
Ox-King's face darkened like thunderclouds.
The manager, realizing the giant might destroy the counter, quickly stepped in.
"Ah—perhaps we can make an exception… if you're family or close acquaintances?"
Chi-Chi's face turned pink as she proudly declared, "Then I'll tell you who I am—
I'm Son Goku's fiancée!"
Everyone at the front desk froze.
'What?! This gossip's getting better by the second!'
The manager blinked. "You mean the little boy with the tail—that's Son Goku? And you're his… fiancée?"
Chi-Chi's face lit up. "That's right! So he did stay here!
Please, tell me—what room was he in?"
"Ah, you're too late," the manager replied awkwardly.
"They checked out around noon—just a little over an hour ago, actually."
"What?!" Ox-King exclaimed.
"Yes. About an hour. If you hurry, you might still catch them."
Chi-Chi pressed eagerly, "Which way did they go?"
The manager pointed west.
"The woman summoned a golden cloud and flew off that way."
Chi-Chi clenched her fists. "Flying Nimbus! It is them!
Daddy, let's go after them!"
"Right behind you!" Ox-King roared, charging for the door.