Morning sunlight streamed through the curtains into the bedroom. Bulma was deep in a sweet dream.
In her dream, she and Whitley were vacationing on a beautiful planet. There was no fighting, no other women, just the two of them...
She subconsciously snuggled closer to the "Whitley" in her dream, and in reality, she felt someone embrace her from behind, an arm circling her waist.
Hmm... is that Whitley? Bulma thought, dazed, and habitually snuggled deeper into the embrace.
But then, something felt wrong.
This touch... while also soft, it felt... more slender?
And Whitley always had a reassuring scent, but what she was smelling now was a cooler, fainter fragrance... a woman's scent...
Bulma's groggy eyes snapped open. Her vision blurred, then focused...
She saw a cold, beautiful face right in front of her... It was 18.
"Mmph?!"
Bulma was instantly wide awake, all sleepiness vanishing.
She finally remembered. Last night, she and 18 had waited in the room for Whitley to come back. They waited and waited, until their eyelids were too heavy, but he never showed.
In the end, the two of them couldn't stay awake any longer and had just fallen asleep, huddled together.
"That bastard..."
Bulma cursed him through gritted teeth. He dared to ditch me?!
She squirmed, annoyed, slipping out from 18's arm and untangling her leg from 18's slender one, trying to be gentle enough not to wake her.
As Bulma carefully slid to the edge of the bed, she looked back at 18, who was sleeping so soundly, a faint smile on her lips. This fanned the flames of her nameless anger.
"Hmph!"
She pouted, reached out, and poked 18's smooth, pale cheek.
"So carefree. Your husband ran off with someone else, and you're still sleeping this soundly!"
18 just unconsciously smacked her lips, turned over, and continued to sleep deeply, completely unfazed.
Bulma gave up trying to wake her. She quietly got dressed, ran a hand through her messy blue hair, and opened the door, her mind full of questions and annoyance.
She had to find out where that guy Whitley had disappeared to last night!
...
While Bulma was on the move, in Android 21's bedroom.
The android, dressed in a cute maid outfit, was sitting at her computer, completely engrossed.
Her screen showed all sorts of maid outfits: classic, modified, modest, and... very bold.
She muttered to herself as she scrolled:
"Hmm... the lace here could be improved... maybe the skirt a little shorter? Would Master Whitley like more transparent fabric..."
Just then, a soft knock-knock-knock sounded at the door.
21 froze, and then her face lit up with pure joy!
Who would be knocking on her door at this hour... Could it be Master Whitley?! Had he finally remembered his little maid?!
"Master Whitley! You finally came for 21!"
She excitedly jumped up from her chair, her smile uncontrollable, and practically skipped to the door like a happy little bird, not even bothering with the screen she'd left open.
Swish! She eagerly opened the door, her face wreathed in her sweetest, most expectant smile.
However, the person standing outside was not her beloved Whitley, but a very-much-not-amused Bulma, her arms crossed.
21's smile instantly froze, then visibly collapsed. Her tone was clearly annoyed:
"Hm? Bulma? What do you want?"
So annoying, interrupting my happy moment, what a hateful woman!
Bulma ignored her tone, craning her neck to scan the room over 21's shoulder.
Hmm, no sign of that bastard.
"Never mind."
Bulma replied flatly and turned to leave.
"Hey!"
21 was not having it. You knock on my door, take one look, and leave?
"What's that supposed to mean? You came here this early just to mess with me?"
Bulma stopped, turned, and glanced at her impatiently. She was about to mock this little vixen who was always trying to seduce her husband, but as the words formed, she had an idea.
She looked 21 up and down, appraising the maid outfit, which was cute but... lacked a fatal attraction. She spoke quickly, in the tone of an experienced veteran:
"If you really want to catch his eye, that outfit isn't enough."
She pointed to the area below 21's skirt. "You should... put more thought into your stockings."
"Eh?"
21, who had never expected Bulma to say this, was stunned.
By the time she recovered and wanted to ask for details—"What kind of stockings?" "Patterned or solid?" "Should they be ripped?"—Bulma was already walking away, leaving only her annoyed back.
21 closed the door, baffled. Leaning against it, her gaze fell back on her computer.
On the webpage, the models in various maid outfits, paired with different styles of stockings, were particularly eye-catching.
Her gaze instinctively focused on those stockings... sexy, playful, strange...
"Stockings... huh?"
21 muttered, her big pink eyes gradually lighting up with inspiration and fighting spirit.
Thanks to Bulma's casual words, she, 21, had... attained enlightenment!
...
After ruling out 21, Bulma marched without hesitation toward the next most likely hideout in the estate: Vados's room!
It wasn't hard to guess. Of the women in the house, Future Bulma was most likely still in her lab, wrestling with data.
18 was in her own bed.
21 was just checked.
Therefore, the answer was obvious!
Ten-to-one, that guy Whitley was with Vados!
After all, that elegant and "black-bellied" Angel was her biggest rival!
Arriving at Vados's door, Bulma first tried to push it open. It didn't budge. Locked from the inside, as expected.
She took a deep breath, trying to calm her complicated feelings.
She felt the anger of catching him in the act, but also an indescribable... curiosity?
She raised her hand and knocked lightly.
Tap, tap, tap...
The sound was exceptionally clear in the quiet hallway.
The instant her hand left the door—
Click.
A soft unlocking sound, and the ornate door opened... a tiny crack.
No light came from within. The crack revealed only darkness. It was completely, utterly silent.
Bulma stared at the dark gap, a strange feeling rising in her... as if she were about to step into some unknown, forbidden territory.
She swallowed, her heart inexplicably speeding up.
The hesitation lasted only a second. She gritted her teeth, pushed the door open, and cautiously stepped inside.
The room was very dark; thick curtains blocked most of the sunlight.
Bulma's eyes adjusted, and she was barely able to make out the scene.
When she did, she almost screamed!
Vados was lounging on the sofa.
And what she was wearing... could that even be called a maid outfit?! The cobbled-together scraps of fabric exposed large patches of her pale violet skin.
Even more striking were her legs!
What should have been intact black stockings were ripped in several places, the tattered edges creating a wild, alluring look that was a massive contrast to her usual holy, elegant image!
She exuded a breathtaking, corrupting beauty.
And on the large bed in the center of the room...
Two figures were lying together. Whitley's familiar form, of course. And beside him... was the newcomer, the always-haughty Marcarita!
But at this moment, Marcarita's exquisite little face was flushed, her eyes dazed and hazy, as if she were still lost in the afterglow.
It was a silent testament to what had happened last night... and this morning...
Bulma's mind went "BZZT" and then completely blank. She felt like she had walked into a wolf's den. Her first instinct was to turn and flee this place of sin.
But... it was too late!
"Bulma-san~"
A husky, alluring voice called out.
Vados, who had been lounging on the couch, was now up, smiling at her.
Her long, silver-white hair was a mess. A few strands were stuck to her forehead and neck with sweat. Glistening beads of perspiration trickled down her elegant neck, disappearing beneath her mysterious collarbone.
"Since you're here, why don't you join us?"
Vados stood and, with a gait that was elegant yet tinged with fatigue, walked toward the frozen Bulma.
She reached out and, giving no room for refusal, grabbed Bulma's cold wrist.
"Perfect timing. My 'instruction' work is basically over."
"Next, allow me to... instruct you as well~"
"W-Wait! Vados! I'm not... I was just looking for..." Bulma's eyes went wide. Caught off guard, she was dragged, stumbling, toward Whitley and the others.
Toward... the other woman on the bed, who, after a fierce "battle," now looked at her with an equally stunned expression.
As Vados's staff flashed, an invisible divine power spread out like a ripple, instantly sealing the room once more.
The little bit of noise that had escaped was once again contained, returning the room to a "lively peace" that only its occupants could perceive.
...
Meanwhile, in the distant Universe 10, in the God of Destruction's special training dimension.
"HRAAAAAAHHH!!!!"
Toppo let out a muffled roar, concentrating all his power into his fist and blasting it into the void!
The blow was immensely powerful, enough to easily shatter anything in its path!
BOOM!!!!
The explosion echoed through the dimension, scattering energy.
However, the attack was just pure, explosive force. It... still... held none of the unique resonance or laws of god ki.
Toppo held his punching pose, his chest heaving as he gasped for breath.
His resolute face was now written with exhaustion and... a deep, profound sense of helplessness.
His eyes stared blankly at his fist, as if trying to find an answer there.
Based on the "one day outside is one year in here" calculation, he had been here for a full five years!
For five years, he had followed this Ms. Kusu's instructions, training day and night!
At his side, the petite Angel Kusu immediately flew over. She pumped her little fists, cheering him on with her soft, energetic voice:
"Lord Toppo! You're really working so hard! Even if... even if your talent... is maybe, probably, perhaps... um... average?"
She carefully chose her words, afraid of damaging his self-esteem, but the expression on her face betrayed her true thoughts.
She quickly rallied, waving her fists again.
"But it's okay! Kusu will work hard with you! As long as we persevere and never give up, we'll succeed one day! We just have to do our best together!"
Toppo slowly moved his gaze from his useless fist to the Angel beside him, who was trying so hard to cheer him on.
He was now seriously starting to question his own existence!
Logically, he had already touched upon the power of Destruction back in the Tournament of Power.
He had gained a basic understanding of god ki under Lord Belmod's guidance.
By all logic! With the systematic guidance of an official Angel like Kusu, mastering god ki to a basic level shouldn't... be... this... hard!
But why?! Why had he followed Ms. Kusu's... frankly, weird... methods ("empty your mind, be a planet," "ride the cosmic waves," "find inner peace then explode")... for five years, only to make absolutely zero progress?!
He hadn't even caught a glimpse of the "Ultra Instinct" she occasionally mentioned, and even his basic control of god ki hadn't improved one bit!
It made him deeply question his own potential, and even his own intelligence.
"Ms. Kusu,"
Toppo took a deep breath, trying to keep his voice calm, but the confusion and helplessness were impossible to hide.
"I... I have to ask... are you sure those training methods you taught me... are correct? Why is it that after five years of training exactly as you said, I've made no progress in Ultra Instinct, and not even a single bit of growth in my basic god ki? Are your methods... really... not the problem?"
Hearing Toppo's question, Kusu tilted her little head, a look of serious contemplation on her face.
She carefully thought back to how she had mastered these powers... Hmm, it just... seemed to happen naturally?
Father gave me a few pointers, and I just understood.
As for the specific steps... wasn't it just 'use your power, but... with a god feeling'?
After a moment, Kusu, feeling absolutely no doubt, nodded her little head and said with complete sincerity:
"There's no problem, Lord Toppo! That's how I learned! It's easy! Just try again. Maybe you were distracted by other thoughts when you were attacking?"
Toppo: "..."
He looked at Kusu's face, which was written with "Sincerity" and "I believe in you," and felt like he was about to cough up blood.
He took another deep breath. The very air in this dimension now tasted of despair.
I want to give up... I really want to give up.
He could already feel that if he continued like this, he wouldn't grasp the essence of god ki, not in a thousand years, not even if the universe ended.
Ms. Kusu's teaching style... was definitely the problem!
But...
Whenever he showed the slightest hint of doubt, this Ms. Kusu's eyes would immediately well up with tears.
And then she'd start in with "It's all Kusu's fault," "Kusu is such a useless Angel," "I can't even help Lord Toppo with this," "Kusu is such a failure"... just an endless stream of self-deprecation.
This left the righteous, by-the-book Toppo in an impossible position.
He just couldn't bring himself to criticize or deny an Angel who was so "delicate" and "well-meaning"!
He had no choice. He just had to grit his teeth, lower his head, and continue to repeat the seemingly meaningless punches and energy blasts.
As for mastering god ki? He had lost all hope. He'd be grateful if he could just maintain his current level without regressing.
Kusu, seeing Toppo (who looked like he had lost the will to live) "working so hard," nodded in satisfaction.
Lord Toppo is so diligent! It's so moving!
She picked up her staff, thinking:
'Father will definitely be happy to hear Lord Toppo is trying so hard! I should tell him right away!'
With that thought, the orb of her staff began to glow as she attempted to contact her father, the Grand Priest, at Lord Zeno's Palace.
...
Earth, Briefs' Estate.
Whitley swallowed a Senzu Bean. He felt a warm current instantly flood his body, and all his fatigue and exhaustion were swept away.
He felt refreshed, so full of energy he could go another three hundred rounds with Vados and the others.
He had originally planned to go to Lord Zeno's Palace today to report on the Zamasu incident... and to see if he could get his Ultra Instinct training reward early.
But when he saw Marcarita curled up in the blankets, looking like she couldn't even lift a finger, he naturally dismissed the idea.
"Forget it..."
Whitley rubbed his nose.
"I'll wait until she's recovered a bit. Asking her to take me now... is a bit much."
He decided to go to Earth's Lookout first.
Two main goals:
Restock his Senzu Beans. His personal supply was almost gone.
Check on Broly. The kid's state had been "off" yesterday, leaving in such a hurry. He was a little worried.
His mind made up, Whitley straightened his clothes, ready to leave as soon as his online order of "sea fish" arrived.
"Master Whitley!"
As he walked into the front yard, a cheerful voice called out.
21 came jogging up to him. She was in her cute maid outfit again today, but... something was different.
Whitley looked closely and saw 21 purposefully lift her skirt slightly and turn to the side, showing off her long legs, which were clad in new black stockings.
They weren't just solid black; they had a faint, dark pattern that shimmered in the light, making the curves of her legs even more enticing.
"Master Whitley,"
21 said with a sweet smile, handing him a package.
"These are the two Dyno-Caps you ordered online. It's the fresh sea fish you wanted. Why did you suddenly buy so much fish? Are you craving it?"
21 had diligently studied Whitley's eating habits. Her conclusion: as a Saiyan, he preferred big chunks of meat, especially dinosaur and beef, that he could tear into.
He usually had little interest in fish, which was bony and troublesome.
"No."
Whitley took the box with the capsules, shaking his head.
His gaze was involuntarily drawn back to 21's legs. He gulped.
He looked away, explaining casually to the confused 21:
"It's for the Senzu Beans. I'm almost out. I'm going to find Korin at The Lookout and trade this fish for some more."
"Oh~ I see!"
21 understood. So that's it!
Seeing Whitley start to power up to fly, 21's "I want to go too" died on her lips.
She knew he was on important business.
She bowed deeply, a standard, yet incredibly alluring, maid's curtsey. The pose... did things to Whitley, who, despite his "long night," was now full of Senzu-fueled energy.
Whitley paused his launch. He leaned down and gave 21's blushing cheek a light kiss.
He brought his mouth close to her delicate ear and whispered, in a voice only they could hear:
"Tonight... wear this. And wait for me."
21's whole body trembled as if hit by an electric current.
She snapped her head up, her eyes instantly misting over. Her cheeks flushed, and her breathing became ragged.
"Y-Yes! Master Whitley!"
Her voice trembled. "Tonight... 21 will be... waiting for you!"
With a BOOM, Whitley's figure shot into the sky like a streak of light and vanished.
21 stood there, staring after him. She clenched her fists, her face flushed, and made a "V" for victory.
"Heehee!"
She giggled and spun around happily.
"It seems Bulma-san was right! Master Whitley... he really does... like 21's legs!"
So much for Vados's empty promises. She was now eagerly awaiting tonight.
Tonight... Master Whitley was hers!