Vados was so startled that she broke into a cold sweat. She quickly reached out and covered Chiga's mouth, whispering nervously,
"Don't say such things carelessly… it could cause serious trouble!"
Her anxious movements brought her so close that she nearly pressed against his chest, and Chiga could clearly feel the warmth radiating from her.
He gently grasped her wrist, moved her hand away from his mouth, and said in a calm but firm tone,
"Then what do you suggest we do, Vados? Someone planning to erase the entire universe. Should we just sit here and wait for destruction?"
Vados shook her head helplessly, her expression full of confusion.
"I don't know… I can't control the fate of the universe, and I can't even control my own."
Chiga frowned. He shifted slightly to give her space, but no matter how much he moved, she unconsciously followed, closing the distance between them even more. Eventually, he gave up and let her lean against him.
"So, what's the point of telling me all this if you won't even let me act?"
A faint bitterness crossed Vados's beautiful face. She let out a soft sigh and said,
"Even with your strength, you're only one man. Be content with being able to protect the Seventh Universe. That alone is remarkable."
Seeing her eyes dim with worry, Chiga's stern expression softened. He reached up, brushing his fingers gently through her high ponytail and said quietly,
"Don't look so defeated, you look like a sad kitten. But if that day really comes… I'll protect you."
Vados blinked, stunned by his words. As an Angel, she had never once heard anyone claim they would protect her. The sentiment felt foreign—yet strangely comforting. The tension on her face eased, replaced by a gentle smile.
She poked Chiga's chest playfully.
"Thank you. I'm… actually happy to hear that. But even if the universe is destroyed, we Angels won't die. We'll just fall into an eternal sleep."
Chiga pouted, replying dryly,
"And what's the difference between that and dying?"
Vados sighed with mild exasperation.
"Chiga, you really are a hopelessly straightforward man!"
He smirked faintly. "Seems you've been learning too much from the mortals on Earth. But you might want to notice our current position—if Lazuli walks in and sees this, she might get the wrong idea."
Vados froze, realizing how close she was. Her cheeks flushed faintly as she quickly stepped back, pressing a finger to her lips to shush him.
Chiga shrugged with a faint grin. His calm, indifferent attitude only made Vados glare at him briefly before she returned to the other sofa, arms crossed and lips slightly pouting.
Just then, the door opened. Lazuli floated in gracefully, carrying several heavy bags filled with ingredients. Despite being an android, she had taken her time shopping—mostly because she'd visited nearly every market stall on the planet.
The vendors had been left speechless, watching the petite blonde effortlessly haul an impossible number of bags without breaking a sweat.
Completely unaware of what had just transpired, Lazuli smiled brightly as she set the groceries down.
"Chiga, check if I got everything. If anything's missing, I'll go grab more!"
Chiga smiled faintly, snapped his fingers, and all the bags rose gently into the air, floating into the kitchen. The display of telekinetic power left Lazuli watching with open admiration.
Rolling up his sleeves, Chiga walked toward the kitchen. Soon, a mouth-watering aroma filled the air, drifting out and wrapping the room in warmth.
Vados and Lazuli exchanged curious glances—their anticipation growing by the second.
When Chiga returned, he carried several dishes, each one plated beautifully and steaming with fragrance. The two women stared in awe.
"Whoa… these look incredible," Lazuli murmured, eyes wide.
Each dish was crafted with meticulous care—sea king stew, grilled bluefin with spicy coral sauce, and sun-dried seaweed rolls—culinary blends inspired by the Grand Line and Earth's finest flavors.
Chiga chuckled softly. "Don't just stare, eat before it gets cold."
He took the first bite, nodded with satisfaction, and thought to himself, Not bad… I haven't lost my touch after all.
Vados delicately picked up a piece of the glimmering caramelized fruit. The sweet, light flavor made her eyes widen in delight.
"This is amazing! Chiga, are you sure you're not the God of Cooking from your world?"
He laughed modestly. "That's exaggerating. Back home, I was just an amateur."
"Hmm… maybe I should visit your world someday," Vados teased, resting her chin on her hand.
He shrugged. "If things calm down… maybe you can."
"I want to go too!" Lazuli chimed in immediately, smiling brightly.
Chiga sighed helplessly. "Alright, alright, both of you can come."
Moments later, under their eager appetites, the once-full table was stripped clean—every plate polished until it gleamed.
Lazuli leaned back, patting her slightly full stomach and sighed happily.
"That was incredible. Poor Lapis missed out again. Let's at least save a plate for him."
---
Elsewhere, at a dimly lit bar, Lapis was dancing with a gorgeous girl when he suddenly sneezed hard—sending droplets flying onto her face.
The girl froze, glared, and stormed off without a word.
Lapis stood there stunned, then groaned miserably.
"Ugh… it's gotta be Lazuli. She's definitely thinking something evil about me again. I swear, being her brother means I've got no human rights!"
---
At Capsule Corporation, the atmosphere was tense.
"What!? You're saying we all died at the hands of the androids!?" Krillin shouted, pointing at himself in disbelief.
Trunks nodded gravely. He turned toward Goku and added,
"Not you, Mr. Goku… you died of a heart disease before they appeared."
The room fell silent.
At this point, the timeline was so warped that Trunks decided to reveal everything that had happened in his future. He left out one thing, though—he said nothing about his parents.
After all, he could tell by the way Vegeta and Bulma interacted here that they weren't close. They barely even acknowledged each other.
His eyes drifted toward Gohan, who stood nearby—small, innocent, and smiling brightly. Seeing that face made Trunks's heart twist with emotion.
He remembered that dreadful day—the storm, the ruins, and Gohan's lifeless body in his arms.
Tears welled up in his eyes.
Little Gohan noticed and tugged at his sleeve gently, handing him a tissue.
"Don't cry… is there anything I can do to help?"
Trunks took the tissue with trembling hands and smiled faintly.
If the Gohan from his world could see this version of himself—alive, happy, and carefree—he would have been proud.
_____
(＾▽＾) Become a patron to get access to chapters in advance.
[email protected]/Zphyr_
Change @ to a.