Chapter 123: Momo Enters the Bathroom
"Don't overthink it. That's completely impossible. I don't even know her in this world."
Seeing Franklin's innocent expression, Bulma decided not to press further.
"Whatever. You don't seem like you're lying. But since she's not some girl you fell for at first sight, don't go using your advantage to pursue her."
Franklin looked puzzled. "What advantage?"
Bulma explained seriously, "I mean using other people's preferences, or taking advantage of a moment when someone's emotionally vulnerable—especially using the information you've brought back from the future to get close to them. That would be pretty unethical."
Franklin hurriedly waved his hands. "No way! I'm not that kind of person. I've always acted aboveboard."
"I believe you," Bulma said with a nod. "If she really falls for you because of your own charm, I won't stop you."
Franklin gave a wry smile. "I really don't have any such intentions. She's our teacher, after all."
Bulma pouted. "Suit yourself. I don't want to care that much anyway."
She stood and walked toward a group of girls—Lala, Risa Momioka, Haruna Sairenji, and Mio Sawada. Seeing them all getting along made her relax a little.
Franklin took a deep breath and calmed his mind, reflecting on everything that had happened in the past couple of days: traveling back in time, making a wish, seeing Goku and the others off, Bulma moving in, Momo and Nana sending them into the world of Sword Art Online—and after a sleepless night, he'd managed to get into trouble with Yui Kotegawa, been branded with the "shame board," fought with Ren, and barely restrained himself from taking things too far with Lala.
Now there was a new teacher—Shizuka Hiratsuka. Franklin rubbed his aching head. This week had been way too much; the last two days especially felt like chaos.
He started meditating after the second period, and when he finally opened his eyes, it was already three in the afternoon—time for dismissal.
"Let's go," he said. "We don't have any club activities. I'm really curious about how things are going with Mith and Asuna in the game. They've probably been waiting for us. Tomorrow's the weekend too—maybe we can help them clear the first-floor boss."
Lala's eyes lit up with excitement, and Franklin nodded knowingly.
Yui Kotegawa hadn't left yet. Seeing Franklin stand up, she hesitated before saying, "Franklin, you can take off that sign now. I talked to Doctor Mikado—turns out your tripping problem really is a medical condition. I might've misunderstood you, but still, that was way too much. How could you fall like that?"
Franklin felt like the sky was collapsing. "You asked Doctor Mikado?! What did she say?"
Yui frowned. "She said it's a real illness, but since it's private, she didn't tell me what kind."
Hearing that, Franklin finally let out a sigh of relief.
"An illness? You're sick?" Bulma asked curiously.
Franklin removed the sign, handed it to Yui, and secretly explained the situation to Bulma using spiritual voice transmission. She looked at him oddly, and Franklin could only shake his head helplessly.
"Come on, let's go. Whatever it is, it'll pass soon enough."
The three had just stepped out of the school gate when Lala threw her arms around Franklin and took a deep breath.
"It's been a whole day without cuddling. I feel like I've lost so much!"
Bulma laughed and hugged Franklin from the other side. Watching this, Yui Kotegawa fumed and stepped in front of him.
"Can't you two show a little restraint? We literally just left school! This is way too much!"
But before she could finish, her expression froze. She was looking behind Franklin.
Sensing something, Franklin extended his spiritual awareness and saw Shizuka Hiratsuka standing there.
"You're one of my students, right?" she asked. "Mind explaining what's going on between you and these two?"
Before Franklin could speak, Bulma cut in first. "We're both Franklin's girlfriends. We live together, and we plan to stay together for life. The law may not allow it, but Lala isn't from Earth, so Earth's laws don't apply to her. As for the future—well, Franklin might have more girlfriends, but we don't mind."
Hiratsuka froze, her brain trying to process everything at once. Before she could respond, Bulma had Lala turn around, revealing her tail. Then she raised her hand, instantly covering it in flames.
"We're not playing at being chūnibyō kids, and this isn't some delusion. Sainan High is far more complicated than you think, sensei. A lot of strange things are going to happen here—you'll need to get used to it."
With that, Bulma pulled Lala and Franklin away, leaving behind a stunned Hiratsuka and Yui Kotegawa trying to calm her down.
"Bulma, wasn't that a bit harsh?" Franklin asked as they walked.
"That was nothing," Bulma replied. "I just told her the truth. Otherwise, she'd still be lecturing us right now—and we don't have time for that."
Time flew by. Before dinner, the three of them logged into the game world—but Asuna and Mith weren't in the room. After asking some NPCs, they learned the two had gone out to hunt monsters.
After a quick discussion, Franklin's group decided not to look for them. They noted down some town info and went out to grind a bit themselves. They only had about an hour anyway—by the time they found the others, it would be time to log out for dinner. It wouldn't be fair to flaunt that luxury in front of players who couldn't leave the game.
Night fell. After dinner, Lala and Bulma bathed and went upstairs. Franklin was about to follow when Mikan called out from behind.
"Big bro, you haven't taken a bath in a week! You don't smell bad—actually, you even smell kind of nice—but it's still gross to think about. Go take one already."
Franklin was speechless, but since even his little sister said so, he had no excuse.
"Fine, but for the record, I clean myself every day using water spirit energy. I'm way more sterile than anything you can buy in a store. I'm only doing this so my dear sister can feel at ease."
Mikan giggled. "Got it. Just go. After you're done, drain the tub and refill it for me, okay? I don't have your fancy powers, and I can't stand not taking a bath every day."
Franklin entered the bathroom, stripped down, and sank into the hot water with a long sigh. He couldn't help remembering that just five days ago, Lala had suddenly appeared in the tub at this exact moment. In just five short days, everything had changed beyond recognition.
As he drifted into thought, he caught the faint rustle of movement outside the door. Just as he was about to extend his spiritual awareness—
Momo opened the door and stepped inside. Her smooth, flawless body was completely revealed before Franklin's eyes.
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