Weeks had passed since the battle with Vegeta. The scars left on Earth—both physical and emotional—were still healing. But even with their victory, a heavy weight remained on everyone's shoulders. Yamcha, Tien, Chiaotzu, and Piccolo were gone.
That's why Goku, Bulma, and Krillin were preparing to leave for Planet Namek, the rumored home of the Dragon Balls, hoping to bring their friends back.
At Capsule Corp, a sleek, white spaceship stood ready—equipped with a gravity training chamber and enhanced technology thanks to Bulma's genius.
But not everyone was ready to say goodbye.
As the group stood near the ship, Kara crossed her arms, determination burning in her blue eyes. "You're not going without me."
Goku turned to her, surprised by the firmness in her voice. "Kara…"
"If the Dragon Balls really exist on Namek, then I'm coming too," she declared, her voice unwavering.
Goku smiled softly and placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Kara, I'd love for you to come. But National City needs you. You've worked so hard to protect it, and your city depends on you."
Kara's jaw clenched. "I don't care about that right now! What if something happens to you? What if you don't come back?"
Goku's expression didn't change, but there was something gentle and steady in the way he squeezed her shoulder.
"I know it's dangerous," he admitted, "but that's why I have to go. We need to bring everyone back."
Kara opened her mouth to protest, but Goku's warm, unwavering gaze held hers.
"Besides," he added, flashing that familiar, boyish grin, "me, Krillin, and Bulma—we've got this. I promise."
Her heart twisted. She hated this. She hated that he was always so sure, always running headfirst into danger with that same unstoppable optimism.
But that was who he was.
And it was one of the reasons she—
Kara swallowed hard. Her voice dropped to a whisper. "Promise me," she pleaded, her fingers trembling. "Promise me you'll come back safely."
Goku's smile softened. He reached out, taking her hand in his, his fingers strong yet incredibly gentle.
"I promise," he said, his voice quiet but full of certainty. Then, his grip tightened slightly as he spoke again, his eyes locked on hers.
"I promise, I will come back to you."
Kara's breath caught in her throat.
For a moment, the world faded away, leaving only him—his warmth, his presence, his promise.
Then, with quiet tenderness, Goku leaned in and pressed a soft, lingering kiss to her forehead.
Kara squeezed her eyes shut, holding onto the moment, wishing time would stop.
Bulma, watching from the side, gasped audibly.
"Aw!" she cooed, clasping her hands together. "That's adorable!"
Krillin, smirking, added, "That's not even the first time they've kissed."
Bulma nearly dropped her clipboard. "WHAT?!"
Goku, looking a little sheepish, scratched the back of his head while Kara blushed, her fingers lightly touching her forehead where his lips had been.
Bulma's shock quickly turned into a mischievous grin. "Oh, I'm not scared. I just didn't know Mr. Innocent over here had already locked lips with a Kryptonian!"
Goku laughed awkwardly. Kara shook her head, though a small smile tugged at her lips.
But deep down, she still felt the ache of knowing he was leaving.
From the sidelines, Superman stepped forward, having silently observed the exchange.
"Then let me go," Clark said. "I don't have as much history with this group, but I can help."
Goku shook his head. "Clark, your city needs you too. You're the symbol of hope here, and people rely on you. Don't worry—we'll make it back."
Superman hesitated, looking between Kara and Goku before nodding. "Alright. But take care of yourself, Goku."
With the farewells said, the spaceship doors closed, and Goku, Krillin, and Bulma settled inside.
As the engines roared to life, Kara and Clark stood side by side, watching the ship ascend into the sky.
Kara barely breathed as she watched it disappear into the vast blue.
"Be safe, Goku," she whispered.
Once in space, Goku wasted no time putting the gravity chamber to use. He began training under increased gravitational forces, starting at 10 times Earth's gravity and gradually increasing. The intense conditions pushed his body to its limits, but the Saiyan warrior thrived under the challenge.
Krillin watched from the observation window, shaking his head. "He's insane. I don't know how he's doing that."
Bulma smirked. "That's Goku for you. He's always been like this."
When Goku finally took a break, covered in sweat and breathing heavily, Bulma seized the opportunity to tease him.
Bulma handed Goku a towel and plopped down next to him. "You know, you've been training like crazy, but every time you take a break, you just kind of... zone out. Thinking about someone, maybe?"
Goku blinked, his usual cheerful expression faltering slightly. "Uh... what do you mean?"
Bulma grinned. "Oh, come on, Goku. Don't play dumb. You've got that look—the one people get when they're thinking about someone they love."
Krillin, walking by, laughed. "She's got you there, Goku."
Goku scratched the back of his head, his cheeks turning a faint shade of red. "Well... yeah. I've been thinking about Kara."
Bulma gasped dramatically. "Oh, no way! Goku, are you actually getting sentimental on us?"
Goku, his voice unusually quiet, simply said, "She's important to me."
Bulma softened, her teasing smile turning genuine. "She's good for you, Goku. And for what it's worth, I think you're good for her too."
After a moment, Bulma leaned forward, resting her chin on her palm. "You know, I've always wondered. Kara's the reason you refused Chichi's proposal, isn't she?"
Goku nodded, his expression thoughtful. "Yeah. Chichi's nice, but... I've never felt the way about her that I feel about Kara."
As the conversation ended, Goku returned to his training, but even while pushing his body to the brink, his thoughts drifted back to Kara.
Bulma, watching from the control panel, couldn't help but laugh softly. "He's completely gone for her."
Krillin nodded. "Well, can you blame him? She's amazing."
As the ship sped toward Namek, the group focused on preparing for the challenges ahead.
But for Goku, one thing mattered more than anything else—
The promise he had made.
No matter what dangers awaited, he would return.
He would come back to her.
To be continued...