The air between them was tense, thick with the lingering energy from the fierce clash. Gohan's breathing had slowed, though his fists were still clenched, his aura simmering just beneath the surface. His gaze never left Goku, a mixture of hurt, anger, and disappointment swirling in his eyes. Goku, standing just a few feet away, looked visibly worn, both from the physical strain of defending himself and the emotional weight of the situation.
Piccolo, hovering nearby, stepped forward cautiously, his sharp eyes flicking between the two Saiyans. "Goku," he said, his voice calm but firm, "you need to explain yourself. Now. And clearly."
Gohan's jaw tightened at Piccolo's words, but he didn't move. He'd calmed down for now, though the fire of anger still smoldered within him. He was waiting—waiting for some kind of explanation that would make sense of the mess his father had created.
Goku scratched the back of his head, his usual carefree demeanor long gone. He glanced at Gohan, guilt weighing on him. "I... I'm sorry, Gohan," Goku started, his voice quieter than usual. "I didn't mean for things to get this bad. I didn't want to hurt anyone."
"Then why did you?" Gohan shot back, his tone sharp, though restrained. "How could you just—how could you even let this happen?"
Piccolo, sensing Gohan's rising anger again, placed a hand on his shoulder. "Let him talk," Piccolo said softly. "You'll get your chance."
Gohan gritted his teeth but nodded, his arms crossing over his chest as he forced himself to stay quiet, at least for the moment.
Goku took a deep breath, trying to gather his thoughts. "It started after training with Caulifla... We'd been sparring all day, and, well, you know how I am after a good fight—I like to eat, and we just started talking. I thought it was just normal, you know, like with anyone I'd train with."
He paused, clearly struggling with how to explain what happened next. "But then... Caulifla, she... uh, started coming on to me. I didn't really get it at first," Goku admitted, his face flushed with embarrassment. "I just thought she was being friendly. I mean, I've never really been good with understanding that kind of stuff."
Gohan's eyes narrowed, his voice low and tense. "Dad... how could you not realize what was happening?"
Goku rubbed the back of his neck, clearly uncomfortable. "I dunno. I just didn't. I've never been good at understanding things that aren't fighting. And then, before I knew it, she kissed me. I didn't know what to do—I was confused. And... after that... things just kinda... escalated."
Gohan's fists clenched tighter, his knuckles turning white as he listened. "Escalated," he repeated, his voice trembling with barely restrained anger.
Goku nodded slowly, unable to meet his son's eyes. "Yeah... I didn't understand what was going on, but after it happened, I started having these feelings toward Caulifla. I didn't know if it was love or something else... I just couldn't make sense of it."
Gohan's expression shifted from anger to something more akin to disbelief. "You didn't even consider why that was wrong?" he asked, his voice breaking slightly. "Did you not even think about Mom? About your family?"
Goku's face fell, his guilt and confusion growing deeper. "I didn't mean to hurt your mother, Gohan. I didn't think about it like that. I didn't know what was happening to me... I just... I just didn't know."
Before Gohan could respond, Vegeta, who had been listening quietly until now, stepped forward. His expression was one of irritation, but there was also something more restrained, almost like a reluctant understanding. "Kakarot's an idiot when it comes to this stuff," Vegeta said bluntly, crossing his arms. "You should've realized that by now, Gohan. He's never understood relationships or emotions, and he's definitely never understood the concept of cheating or what an affair is."
Gohan's eyes flashed, and he turned his sharp gaze to Vegeta. "You knew about this?" he demanded, his voice rising. "You knew what happened, and you didn't do anything?"
Vegeta's eyes narrowed. "Kakarot came to me after the fact," Vegeta explained, his tone gruff. "He didn't even know what he had done was wrong. He was confused—more than usual if you can believe that. He told me about what happened with that Universe 6 Saiyan, and I was the one who had to tell him what an affair was."
Gohan's expression twisted in frustration. "And what, you just let him walk away? You didn't think to tell Mom? Or do anything to stop him?"
Vegeta's scowl deepened, but there was an edge of guilt in his voice when he spoke again. "It's not my place to fix Kakarot's messes. I told him what he did was wrong. I told him he needed to figure it out. But like I said, Gohan—your father is an idiot when it comes to this stuff."
Piccolo, standing nearby, let out a quiet sigh. He glanced at Goku, his expression a mix of disappointment and understanding. "Goku... why didn't you come to me? Or anyone else? You should've known this would hurt people."
"I didn't think it was going to turn out this way," Goku said, his voice small. "I didn't realize what I was doing was wrong. When Vegeta explained it to me, I felt bad, but I didn't know how to fix it. I still don't."
Gohan's jaw tightened again, his anger not as explosive as before but still simmering beneath the surface. "Dad, you're supposed to be our father. You're supposed to be there for us. And for Mom. How could you be so... clueless?"
Goku hung his head, feeling the full weight of his son's words. "I'm sorry, Gohan," he said quietly. "I didn't understand what I was doing. I never wanted to hurt your mother or you."
For a long moment, the air was thick with tension, the intensity of the situation settling in. Gohan's anger had dimmed slightly, but his eyes were still sharp, and the emotional weight hadn't lifted. He clenched and unclenched his fists, staring hard at his father. He was beginning to understand that his dad had been manipulated, that Caulifla had taken advantage of Goku's naivety and lack of understanding about relationships. But even as that realization settled in, it didn't absolve Goku of his responsibility.
Gohan's voice, though softer now, still held a hard edge. "So... you were manipulated. I get that. I know you're not good with stuff like this. But... Dad... it doesn't excuse what you did. It doesn't change the fact that you still went through with it."
Goku's face was filled with regret as he looked at Gohan. "I know, Gohan. I really didn't understand what was happening, but that doesn't make it right. I never wanted to hurt anyone, especially your mother."
Gohan's expression tightened. "But you did. You let it happen. Twice. And you didn't stop to think about what it meant for our family. That's what I can't understand, Dad." He paused, taking a breath as if to calm the storm within him. "I know you didn't mean for it to happen, but that doesn't mean you're not responsible for it."
Goku looked down at the ground, his voice quiet. "I didn't know what to do, and I just... I messed up. I didn't think about what it would mean for Mom or for you and Goten."
Gohan stood there, the tension slowly lifting, though anger still simmered beneath the surface. His fists were no longer clenched, but the hurt was still there, glaring in his eyes. He was beginning to understand that his father had been manipulated into the situation. That Caulifla had taken advantage of Goku's naivety when it came to relationships. But even though he understood, it didn't absolve his father of what had happened.
Gohan took a deep breath, his voice low but steady. "Do you... love Mom?"
Goku froze, the question hanging in the air between them. He hadn't expected that, and for the first time in this entire conversation, he hesitated. He looked down, searching for an answer. Gohan stared, waiting for a response, his eyes narrowing when he saw his father's struggle.
"I... don't know," Goku finally admitted, his voice barely above a whisper.
That was all it took. The admission shattered something inside Gohan. His heart pounded in his chest as his anger flared back to life, his aura flickering to life in an instant. "You don't know?!" Gohan roared, the disbelief and betrayal twisting into fury. "You don't know if you love your wife?! After all these years, after everything she's done for you?"
Gohan's rage was palpable, and before anyone could react, he lunged at Goku, his fist flying toward his father's face with every bit of anger he had suppressed. Piccolo's eyes widened, and he rushed forward, trying to stop the attack. "Gohan, stop!"
But Gohan was too fast, moving with the speed and power of his Ultimate form. Piccolo barely had time to move before Gohan's fist connected—except it didn't. In a blur, Vegeta intercepted the punch, catching Gohan's fist in midair with a grunt of effort.
The two Saiyans glared at each other, Gohan's eyes burning with rage, while Vegeta's face was a mixture of irritation and something almost like understanding. Gohan jerked his hand away from Vegeta, still seething.
"Why are you defending him?!" Gohan shouted, his voice hoarse from the intensity of his emotions. "After everything he's done, why are you standing in the way?"
Vegeta's eyes narrowed, and his grip tightened briefly before he let Gohan go. "I'm not defending him," Vegeta said coolly, his voice low and firm. "Kakarot's an idiot. He's always been an idiot. But this isn't about protecting him."
Gohan, breathing heavily, shot Vegeta a confused and angry glare. "Then why? Why stop me?"
Vegeta crossed his arms, his gaze never leaving Gohan's. "Because you're not thinking clearly, and you're going to make things worse." His tone was sharp, his words cutting through Gohan's rage like a blade. "Your father made a mess of things, but beating him to a pulp won't fix any of it. Trust me, I'd be the first in line if that would help."
Gohan's fists trembled, still shaking with anger, but Vegeta's words gave him pause. He didn't want to admit it, but part of what Vegeta said was true. Lashing out wouldn't change anything, no matter how badly he wanted to.
Piccolo, now at Gohan's side, gently placed a hand on his shoulder. "Gohan, listen to Vegeta. He's not excusing what Goku did, but fighting isn't going to solve this."
Gohan's aura flickered, the rage beginning to subside again, though it didn't vanish completely. He glanced at Goku, who was still standing silently, looking more lost than Gohan had ever seen him.
"I get that you didn't understand what was happening," Gohan said with gritted teeth, his voice still tense and hurt. "But saying you don't know if you love Mom? After everything?"
Goku opened his mouth to respond, but no words came out. His usual confidence, the easygoing nature that had seen him through countless battles, was gone. Instead, he looked deeply conflicted. "I've never been good at understanding that kind of stuff, Gohan," Goku finally said, his voice small. "I know I care about her, and I care about you and Goten. I've never really thought about it more than that."
Gohan let out a frustrated growl. "That's the problem, Dad. You don't think about it. Mom deserves better than that."
Vegeta's scowl deepened as he looked at Goku, his usual gruff demeanor tinged with disdain. "Kakarot's always been like this. He's a genius in battle but a complete moron when it comes to emotions or relationships. I told you earlier that he didn't even know what he did was wrong. He doesn't understand what an affair is, and clearly, he doesn't understand love the way most people do."
Gohan, still fuming, turned his glare back to Vegeta. "And you're just okay with that? With him messing up our family like this?"
Vegeta shook his head, his voice low but firm. "No. But it's not about being okay with it. You're not the only one who's pissed off with Kakarot right now. But the point is that you don't fix this by letting your anger run wild. What happens after you beat him into the dirt? Nothing gets better. Your family is still broken. Use your head."
Gohan stood there, his breathing labored, his anger still simmering just below the surface. He was hurt, he was furious, but he also wasn't stupid. He knew Vegeta was right. Punching his father wouldn't solve anything.
Goku, still standing in silence, looked at his son, a deep sadness in his eyes. "Gohan... I'll do anything to make this right. I messed up. I get that now. But I don't want to lose you or your mom."
Gohan's expression hardened, any momentary softness gone as his anger flared again. He took a step closer to Goku, his voice low but full of venom. "You don't get it, Dad. You have lost her. You don't know what you've done to her."
Goku winced at Gohan's words but stayed silent, his guilt weighing heavily on him.
Gohan's fists clenched again, his knuckles white with tension. "I get that you didn't know what was happening, that you were confused. But if you ever—ever—step foot near Mom again, I'll kill you myself. You hear me? I don't care what kind of power you have."
Piccolo's eyes widened, and he immediately stepped forward, placing a hand on Gohan's shoulder to hold him back. "Gohan, that's enough," Piccolo said sternly, his voice calm but commanding. "I know you're angry, and you have every right to be, but threatening your father won't help anything."
Gohan shrugged Piccolo's hand off, glaring at Goku with an intensity that made it clear he meant every word. "I'm serious, Dad. You stay away from her. She doesn't need to see you right now."
Goku looked down, his heart sinking at the thought of being separated from his family, especially Chi-Chi. "I understand," he said quietly, his voice full of regret. "But I want to make things right with her. I don't want to hurt her any more than I already have."
"You already have hurt her!" Gohan snapped, his voice cracking under the strain of his emotions. "You shattered everything she believed in! You think just saying 'sorry' is going to fix this?"
Vegeta, who had been standing by in silence, stepped forward, his arms crossed and his eyes narrowed. "He's not wrong, Kakarot. You've done enough damage. Right now, staying away is probably the best thing you can do."
Goku nodded, his face still etched with guilt. "I'll stay away... but I have to talk to her eventually. She deserves to hear the truth."
Gohan's gaze was sharp, his voice low. "You'll talk to her when she is ready, not when you are. And until then, you keep your distance. Because if I even think you're going near her, I'll make sure you regret it."
The air between them was thick with tension, the anger in Gohan's words hanging heavily in the air. Piccolo, still holding Gohan's shoulder, gave it a gentle squeeze, trying to calm him down.
"Gohan," Piccolo said softly, "you need to let your father explain himself to Chi-Chi when the time is right. But you're right—right now, she needs space."
Gohan shook his head, his expression still filled with pain. "She's broken, Piccolo. And he's the reason why." He turned back to Goku, his voice cold. "So, until she's ready to hear from you, stay away. That's the least you can do for her."
Vegeta, arms still crossed, glanced at Goku. "You'd better figure out how to fix this, Kakarot. You've faced tough battles before, but this is one you can't punch your way out of."
Goku swallowed hard, his throat tight with guilt and sadness. "I'll figure it out," he said softly. "I promise."
Gohan's face didn't soften as he took a step back, still keeping his eyes locked on Goku. Without another word, he turned and shot into the sky, leaving the rest of them behind.
Vegeta sighed in frustration, his arms dropping to his sides. "You've really done it this time, Kakarot."
Goku nodded, staring at the ground, his mind swirling with thoughts of Chi-Chi, Gohan, and how badly he had messed everything up. "I know."
Piccolo, always the voice of reason, stepped forward and placed a hand on Goku's shoulder. "This isn't something that's going to be fixed overnight, Goku. It'll take time—and you need to be patient. Chi-Chi deserves that."
"I will," Goku said, though his voice was laced with uncertainty. He didn't know how to begin fixing this, but he knew he had to try.
As the others stood in silence, the weight of the situation pressing down on all of them, Goku realized just how far he had fallen. And for the first time in his life, he wasn't sure if he could win this fight.
As Cabba approached Caulifla and Kale's home, the dry wind of Planet Sadala whipped at his face, carrying with it a sense of unease. He hadn't heard from either of them since Goku left for Universe 7, and that alone was enough to make him concerned. He knew Caulifla's fiery personality; she didn't just go quiet, especially after something as exciting as spending time with Goku. After all, he and Kale had played their part in leaving the two of them alone, hoping that something might happen between Caulifla and Goku.
But now, the silence weighed heavily on his mind, and he couldn't help but wonder if things hadn't gone as planned.
Reaching the modest stone house they called home, Cabba knocked on the door. A few moments later, it opened to reveal Kale, looking more exhausted and concerned than he had ever seen her.
"Cabba," she greeted, her voice soft. "What brings you here?"
"I was worried," he said, stepping inside and glancing around. The place was quieter than usual. No signs of Caulifla's boisterous energy, no sparring equipment scattered about. It felt almost... empty. "I haven't heard from you two since Goku left. That's not like Caulifla at all."
Kale bit her lip and sighed, closing the door behind him. "Yeah... things haven't been the same since Goku left."
Cabba turned to her, frowning. "What happened? I thought everything was going great between Caulifla and Goku. After all, you and I both... played a little part in leaving them alone. We figured she'd finally confess."
Kale's expression darkened, and she leaned against the wall, arms crossed. "She did. She told him how she felt... but it didn't go the way we thought it would."
Cabba's brows furrowed in surprise. "Wait, what do you mean? I thought they were getting along. What happened?"
Kale shook her head, her voice quiet but filled with frustration. "Caulifla confessed her love to him as we expected. But Goku... he didn't feel the same way. Or, at least, he didn't know what he felt. He told her he was confused and didn't really understand love. He didn't reject her outright, but it wasn't the answer she was hoping for."
Cabba's face softened in sympathy. "He didn't know what he felt?" he echoed, sitting down on a nearby chair. "That sounds like Goku... He's always been more focused on training and fighting. But still, I thought they had something going on. When I saw them together, it looked like things were great."
Kale let out a bitter laugh, sitting down across from him. "That's what we all thought. But Caulifla told me after he left that it was one of the worst nights of her life. She put herself out there, showed him a vulnerable side of herself, and he didn't even know what to do with it."
Cabba frowned deeply, leaning forward. "I can't believe it. Caulifla's not the type to confess her feelings easily. That must've been a huge step for her."
Kale nodded, her expression somber. "It was. She's been devastated ever since. She's been keeping to herself, barely talking to me. She says she wants to be alone, but I can see how much it's hurting her."
Cabba shook his head, frustration creeping into his voice. "I get that Goku's clueless when it comes to emotions, but still... I didn't think he'd leave her hanging like that. He usually understands when people care about him, even if he doesn't always know how to respond."
Kale sighed heavily, her shoulders slumping. "That's the thing. He didn't reject her, but the fact that he was so confused about his feelings... hurt her even more. She doesn't know what to make of it."
Cabba leaned back, running a hand through his hair. "So, she's just been... avoiding everyone since then?"
"Pretty much," Kale admitted. "She's been staying in her room, not talking, not training. She's never been like this before, Cabba. It's like she doesn't know who she is anymore."
Cabba's heart sank at the thought of Caulifla, normally so confident and full of life, now lost in her own emotions. "We have to do something," he said firmly. "She can't keep going like this. She needs to know that we're here for her."
Kale gave a small nod. "I've tried talking to her, but she shuts me out. Maybe you can get through to her. You've always had a way with her, Cabba."
He stood, determination in his eyes. "I'll try. I can't just leave her like this."
Kale gave him a hopeful but weary look. "Thanks. I don't know what else to do. Maybe you can get her to talk... or at least get her to stop hiding."
Cabba gave her a reassuring smile. "I'll see what I can do."
With that, he walked down the hallway toward Caulifla's room. He could feel the tension in the air, the silence weighing on him even more as he approached the door. He knocked gently, unsure of what kind of response he'd get.
"Go away," Caulifla's voice came from inside, muffled and distant.
Cabba sighed, knocking again. "Caulifla, it's me. Can we talk?"
There was a long pause, and then the door creaked open just a crack. Caulifla's face appeared, but she didn't look like her usual self. Her eyes were heavy with exhaustion, and her usual fiery expression was absent.
"What do you want, Cabba?" she muttered, stepping aside to let him in.
Cabba walked in, his heart sinking as he took in the state of her room. It was a mess—clothes thrown haphazardly on the floor, her usual sparring gear untouched in the corner. It was like she had abandoned everything that made her who she was.
"I wanted to check on you," he said softly, standing near her bed. "I haven't heard from you since Goku left, and I was worried."
Caulifla sat down on the edge of her bed, looking away from him. "I'm fine. Just... tired."
Cabba raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. "Kale told me what happened. About Goku."
Caulifla flinched, her jaw tightening at the mention of his name. She stayed silent, though, her eyes locked on the floor.
"I know it didn't go the way you wanted," Cabba continued, his voice gentle but firm. "But you don't have to go through this alone, Caulifla. We're your friends. We want to help you."
Caulifla let out a bitter laugh, finally looking up at him. "Help? How? You can't change what happened. Goku didn't know how he felt, and I made a fool of myself."
"You didn't make a fool of yourself," Cabba said quickly, taking a seat beside her. "You were honest with him. That's not something to be ashamed of."
Caulifla shook her head, her hands balling into fists. "But it doesn't matter, does it? He didn't feel the same way. He didn't even know what he was feeling. How am I supposed to deal with that?"
Cabba frowned, searching for the right words. "I know Goku can be clueless about things like this. But that doesn't mean you should give up on yourself. You're one of the strongest people I know, Caulifla. Don't let this bring you down."
Caulifla's gaze softened slightly, but the pain was still there. "I just don't know what to do, Cabba. I don't even know what I want anymore."
Cabba reached out, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. "You'll figure it out. But you don't have to do it alone. Kale and I are here for you. You just have to let us in."
Caulifla sighed, her shoulders slumping in defeat. "I don't know if I'm ready to face anyone right now."
"That's okay," Cabba said gently. "But when you are, we'll be right here. You don't have to go through this by yourself."
For a long moment, Caulifla remained silent, her gaze distant and unfocused. There was no spark of her usual fiery self, no sign that the determined warrior he knew so well was even there. She simply sat on the edge of her bed, staring at the floor, her fists clenched, but not in anger—more out of helplessness. She had always been the unstoppable force, never letting anything or anyone slow her down, but now she seemed... lost.
Cabba sighed internally. This wasn't going to be easy. He had seen Caulifla frustrated or angry plenty of times but never like this. This wasn't something that could be fixed by training harder or throwing punches. This was deeper. He knew how stubborn she could be, and getting her out of this depression would be a difficult challenge.
"Caulifla," Cabba began gently, "I know this is hard, but you can't stay like this forever. You're stronger than this."
She barely reacted, her shoulders slumping further. "I don't feel strong. Not right now," she muttered, her voice hollow. "Maybe I'm not as tough as I thought."
Cabba clenched his fists but forced himself to stay calm. "You are tough, Caulifla. You've been through worse and come out stronger every time. You can get through this, too."
She didn't respond; she just continued staring at the floor as if she were miles away.
Seeing that nothing he said was getting through to her, Cabba stood up, sighing. "We're not giving up on you, Caulifla," he said softly, looking down at her. "When you're ready, we'll be here."
With that, he turned and left her room, his heart heavy with concern. As he walked back into the main room, he found Kale sitting at the table, her expression mirroring his worry. She looked up as he approached, her eyes filled with silent questions.
"How is she?" Kale asked, though her tone suggested she already knew the answer.
Cabba shook his head, his frustration evident. "She's still really down. I don't know if anything I said got through to her. This is worse than I thought, Kale."
Kale nodded slowly, her own sadness creeping into her voice. "She hasn't been herself since Goku left. I've tried talking to her, too, but... she won't let me in."
Cabba sat down across from her, running a hand through his hair. "We need to find a way to get her out of this depression. I've never seen her like this before, and I know how hard it is to pull Caulifla out of something once she gets stuck in her head."
Kale sighed, her fingers fidgeting with the hem of her shirt. "I agree, but... I don't know how. I've tried everything I can think of. Talking to her, training, giving her space... but nothing's working."
Cabba leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees. "We can't let her stay like this, Kale. She's losing herself, and the longer this goes on, the harder it'll be for her to come back."
Kale nodded again, though her eyes were filled with uncertainty. "I know, but what do we do? How do we help her when she won't even talk to us about what's really going on?"
Cabba rubbed the back of his neck, frustrated. "I don't know yet. But we have to figure something out. We can't just sit around and wait for her to come out of it on her own."
Kale bit her lip, her concern growing deeper. "Maybe... maybe we can find something or someone to take her mind off Goku? Something to distract her, at least for a little while?"
Cabba considered that for a moment, then shook his head. "I don't think a distraction will be enough. This is about more than just Goku. I think she's questioning herself—who she is and what she wants. It's deeper than just being heartbroken."
Kale's shoulders slumped as she sighed again. "You're right. I just... I hate seeing her like this. It's like she's lost all her fight."
"I know," Cabba agreed, his voice heavy with worry. "But we're not giving up. We just have to keep trying until we find something that helps."
The two of them sat in silence for a while, the weight of the situation pressing down on both of them. Cabba could feel the frustration building inside him—he wanted to help Caulifla, but he didn't know how. And knowing how stubborn she was, getting through to her would be a battle in itself.
Finally, Cabba stood up, determination flickering in his eyes. "We'll figure something out, Kale. We have to."
Kale looked up at him, her expression uncertain but hopeful. "I hope you're right."
"We can't let her keep spiraling like this," Cabba said firmly. "We'll come up with something. We just need to keep trying."
Kale gave a small nod, though the worry still hadn't left her face. "Okay. But in the meantime, we should stay close. She might not want us around, but she needs to know we're here."
Cabba nodded in agreement. "Yeah. We'll be here for her, no matter what."
With that, the two of them sat in the quiet of the house, their minds racing with the possibilities of how to help their friend. Caulifla was one of the strongest people they knew, but even the strongest warriors could fall. Now, it was up to them to find a way to help her stand again.
The night had settled over West City, its usual hum quiet under the dark sky as stars twinkled above the Capsule Corporation. The soft light from the compound's windows illuminated the front yard as Vegeta approached, his steps slower than usual. His face was etched with frustration and the weight of the day's events. He had just come back from one of the most stressful situations he had been involved in for a long time, and it wasn't because of training or any galactic threat. This time, it was a far more personal disaster.
As Vegeta entered the main building, Bulma glanced up from the couch where she had been reading, immediately noticing the tension radiating off him. She raised an eyebrow, putting her book down and standing up to greet him. "Vegeta, what happened?" she asked, walking over with concern evident in her voice. "You look like you've just been through hell. Did it involve Goku?"
Vegeta grunted, pulling off his gloves and tossing them onto the table with more force than necessary. "Yes, it involved that idiot," he muttered, his jaw tight with frustration.
Bulma crossed her arms, waiting for him to elaborate. "I knew something was going on when he showed up the other night asking to talk to you. He looked... off. But he didn't say why. What's going on?"
Vegeta sighed heavily, rubbing a hand over his face. He hadn't wanted to think about this situation anymore, but Bulma deserved to know what kind of mess Goku had gotten himself into. "Kakarot... he's done something incredibly stupid."
Bulma's eyes narrowed, worry creeping into her expression. "What do you mean?"
Vegeta glanced at her, his expression serious. "Kakarot had an affair. With a Saiyan from Universe 6."
Bulma blinked, completely stunned by his words. For a moment, she just stared at Vegeta as if he had spoken in an alien language. "What?" she finally managed to say, her voice filled with disbelief. "You're telling me that Goku... Goku... had an affair? With someone from Universe 6? That Goku? The one who's always been so clueless about things like that?"
Vegeta nodded, crossing his arms over his chest. "Yes. I didn't believe it at first, either. But it happened. And to make matters worse, he's not even fully aware of what he feels about this woman. He doesn't know if he loves her or not. He's completely lost when it comes to this."
Bulma's hand went to her forehead, rubbing her temples as she tried to process what Vegeta was telling her. "I can't believe this... Goku? An affair? What about Chi-Chi? And his family? They must be devastated."
Vegeta's expression darkened even further. "That's the other part of it. His family found out. Chi-Chi... she's heartbroken. But it's worse with Gohan. He... he snapped."
Bulma's eyes widened in shock. "Gohan? What did he do?"
Vegeta shook his head, still feeling the tension from the fight earlier. "He tried to kill Goku. In a blind rage, he attacked him. Gohan was ready to end him right there, but I stepped in before things got too far out of hand. Gohan's furious—he can't believe his father could do something like this. And frankly, I don't blame him."
Bulma let out a shaky breath, trying to wrap her head around everything. "Gohan tried to kill his own father? This... this is worse than I thought. I always knew Goku was clueless when it came to feelings and relationships, but I never imagined he'd actually go this far."
Vegeta looked away, his jaw clenched. "Kakarot's always been an idiot when it comes to emotions. He didn't even know what an affair was until I explained it to him. He's completely oblivious to what he's done, and now he's lost everything. His family, Chi-Chi... everything is falling apart."
Bulma stood there for a moment, processing everything her husband had told her. The idea of Goku—innocent, straightforward Goku—getting caught up in something like this was almost too much to believe. But if Vegeta said it was true, then it must be. "And you said he doesn't even know if he's in love with her?" she asked, still trying to make sense of it.
Vegeta nodded. "He's confused. He admitted to me that he started developing feelings for her but didn't know what those feelings were. He doesn't know if it's love, admiration, or something else. He's in completely uncharted territory."
Just as Vegeta was about to continue, he suddenly looked toward the front door, his brow furrowing as he sensed a familiar energy. Bulma followed his gaze, confused. "What is it?"
Vegeta scowled. "It's him."
Before Bulma could ask what he meant, the doorbell rang. She exchanged a glance with Vegeta, then went to open the door. Standing there, looking awkward and out of place, was Goku, wearing his usual orange gi but looking far more disheveled than normal. He scratched the back of his head, giving Bulma a sheepish grin.
"Hey, Bulma," Goku said, waving casually. "Uh... sorry to show up like this, but I was wondering..."
Bulma raised an eyebrow, already sensing that whatever Goku was about to say wasn't going to be good. "What do you want, Goku?"
Goku chuckled nervously, glancing past her to where Vegeta stood with his arms crossed, glaring at him. "I was just wondering if, uh... I could crash here for a little while. I can't really be home right now, and camping out in the mountains near my house isn't an option at the moment."
Bulma blinked, her mind spinning from everything Vegeta had just told her. She couldn't help but let out an incredulous laugh. "You've got to be kidding me, Goku."
Vegeta groaned, rubbing his temples. "Kakarot, you can't be serious. You've already caused enough problems. Now, you want to drag yourself into our home?"
Goku laughed nervously again, clearly uncomfortable. "Yeah... I know things are kind of messy right now. But I don't really have anywhere else to go. Chi-Chi's... well, she's not ready to talk to me, and Gohan—well, you know how that went."
Bulma sighed, leaning against the doorframe. "Goku, this is really not the best time for you to be crashing here."
Goku's grin faltered slightly. "I get that, Bulma. But I promise I won't be any trouble! I just need a place to stay until things calm down."
Vegeta shook his head, muttering under his breath. "This fool is completely hopeless."
Bulma looked back at Vegeta, who gave her a frustrated but resigned look. Then she turned back to Goku, her arms crossed. "Alright, Goku. You can stay in one of the guest rooms. But you'd better not cause any more trouble, understand?"
Goku beamed, clearly relieved. "Thanks, Bulma! I promise I'll keep out of the way."
As Goku stepped inside, Vegeta shot him a glare. "You'd better hope this doesn't last long, Kakarot. I'm not babysitting you while you run away from your problems."
Goku's grin faded slightly, but he nodded. "Yeah... I know."
Bulma closed the door behind them, glancing between the two Saiyans. "So, Goku, what's your plan? Are you just going to wait it out here, or are you actually going to try and fix things with your family?"
Goku rubbed the back of his neck, his expression thoughtful. "I'm not sure yet. I know I need to talk to Chi-Chi, but... I don't think she's ready for that. I need to figure some things out first."
Vegeta scoffed. "Figure things out? Kakarot, you've had plenty of time to think, and you've only made things worse. You need to take action."
Goku looked down, clearly conflicted. "Yeah... maybe you're right."
Bulma watched the exchange, a sense of unease settling over her. This situation was more complicated than she had initially realized, and the fact that Goku was so lost only made things worse. But for now, he was here, and they would have to deal with it. How long that would be, however, was anyone's guess.
And there you have it, folks. Things are looking dicey, and to be honest, who knows how it will play out? Will Goku figure out his feelings toward Caulifla? Guess we'll have to find out in the future. See you guys in the next one!
