Chapter 62: Responding to Lala's Feelings
"Haruna Sairenji-san's fine—she was just startled. After seeing you vanish into thin air, plus hearing all your unbelievable remarks one after another, the shock's long since balanced out. Don't change the subject—come on, tell us, how was this trip to another world?"
The curious looks from the two girls made Franklin realize there was no escaping it. Not that he intended to hide anything.
"This time, I didn't go to another world. I went back to the past—eighteen years ago. I was there for eight whole years before returning."
The moment the words left his mouth, Haruna Sairenji froze. She couldn't believe her ears and stared at Franklin, waiting for an explanation.
"Eighteen years ago! So that means—it was that time you went back?!"
Ryōko Mikado was stunned for a moment, then seemed to recall something. She instinctively pulled a power detector from her pocket, and when the display showed Franklin's combat power had reached 999, she exhaled deeply.
"As I thought. So it really was that time. Honestly, even now, I still can't wrap my head around the fact that you can actually travel back in time.
Anyway, let's put that aside. You were pestering me nonstop before—now that you've seen Sister Lin and Brother Mu, got all your questions answered, how does it feel?"
Her teasing smile made Franklin a little helpless. "Oh, cut it out. They didn't answer a single thing.
I met them, but I only ended up with even more questions. Maybe it would've been better not knowing where they went at all—I wouldn't have to think so much."
Ryōko smiled faintly and reached for the small hidden pouch at Franklin's waist.
"Everything has two sides. Sure, they couldn't tell you much, but you still learned quite a lot about cultivation, didn't you? So, when are you planning to advance to the Core Formation stage?"
Franklin flopped down on the bed, completely relaxing. "No idea. My mind's a mess right now—really chaotic.
If I try to face a tribulation in this unsettled state, I'm just asking to die. Better to wait a while. I'm even thinking about going to West City when I have time."
Seeing there were still four vials of healing potion left in the pouch and that none of the negative potions had been used, Ryōko quietly sighed in relief. At least he hadn't gotten seriously hurt without her knowing.
Relieved, she asked curiously, "West City? What for? Don't tell me you're going to see the heiress of that Capsule Corporation?"
Stretching lazily, Franklin nodded. "Yeah, that's the plan. I've got a feeling I'll be heading back once or twice more anyway. Might as well get the details sorted early so I can be prepared."
Ryōko smiled. "No need. About seven or eight years ago, Capsule Corporation already set up a branch on the outskirts of Cainan City.
Back then, no one could figure out why such a global giant would choose to build a branch here. Who would've thought it was because the company's heiress had already started laying plans in advance?"
Franklin hadn't expected Bulma to go that far. He let out a long breath and temporarily pushed aside the thought of seeking her out.
Right now, with the Deviluke royal family watching his every move, two-timing was suicide. If he wanted to play that game, he'd at least have to win over the "most helpful little sister-in-law in the universe" first.
"I got it. I'll put that on hold for now. By the way, do you know exactly when I went back before?"
Ryōko caught the curiosity in his eyes and shook her head with an amused smile.
"Nope. You told me yourself not to tell you. I can't go against your own wishes. If I spoil everything, there won't be any fun left when you go back again, right?"
He thought it over and nodded. True enough—what's done is done. Trying to change the past with his current strength would be pure fantasy. Whether he knew or not didn't really matter.
"You're right. Then I won't ask. I'll go find Lala now—there's still a mess at school to deal with. I've already stayed here too long."
As he spoke, Franklin glanced toward Haruna Sairenji, who had just recovered. Seeing that she was still a little dazed, he smiled.
"Sairenji-san, you're the only one at school who knows my secret. Please keep it for me—and thank you."
"Only I know his secret… our secret…"
Murmuring softly to herself, Haruna's face turned crimson. Watching Franklin run out of the infirmary, she buried her head under the blanket, blushing furiously.
Seeing this, Ryōko could only shake her head helplessly. "Another one falling for him… Let's just hope he doesn't overplay his hand."
When Franklin reached the rooftop, he saw Lala putting away a futuristic-looking gadget into her phone.
The hole in the roof had been fully repaired, and the students who'd been making a fuss on the playground were already back in class.
"Lin, you're here! Is Sairenji okay?"
Seeing Lala run toward him, beaming with joy, Franklin smiled. "Ryōko said she's fine—just a bit shaken. What about Zastin? Wasn't he here just now?"
"Oh, him? He suddenly got a message from my dad and returned to the main ship. Everything at school's been taken care of too. Let's head back! I didn't get to cook you a big meal, but it was really fun going through all that together."
Beneath Lala's bright smile, Franklin sensed a faint trace of loneliness. Just as he was about to step forward, he stopped, turned back, and scooped her up in a princess carry, leaping down to the courtyard below.
"No, Lala—since you feel that way, I can't just leave it at that. Let me show you, with action, why I said you don't have to care about what those girls said.
Where are that crab and squid? The school's already a mess anyway—making it a bit messier won't hurt. You can handle another little commotion, right?"
Seeing Franklin suddenly bursting with energy, Lala was puzzled for a moment, but then just smiled brightly. "I've already used a gadget to alter everyone on Earth's subconscious.
People can now accept new things easily. Plus, Earth already has plenty of huge creatures and strong martial artists. Whatever you want to do, Lin, just go ahead!"
As Lala pulled a refrigerator out of nowhere, Franklin took a deep breath and slapped his palm against the playground ground. Vines spread from his hand and snaked into the refrigerator, wrapping around the squid and crab, pulling them out one by one.
Feeling around, he even found a fat, unknown creature. Thinking its fat might be useful, Franklin channeled his metal spiritual energy—flattening the vines into blades of light. With a flash, the creature was dead, and its fat neatly stripped away.
Lala's eyes sparkled. "Lin, you're amazing! I knew it—my dad's got nothing on my taste!"
Hearing her praise and sensing countless amazed gazes from the school building, Franklin formed hand seals. The ground at the center of the playground split open, and a huge stone slab rose and hovered just above the surface.
Fire spiritual energy gathered beneath it, igniting into flames. As Franklin spread the extracted fat evenly across the slab with his vines, an extraordinary aroma began to drift through the entire campus.
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