>>5558377“Would you prefer if I was a bad boy instead of your knight in shining armor?” You ask, tilting your head lightly while trying to understand her plight.
Practically holding back tears, Bulma merely shakes her head and tries to put up a brave face. Her smile cracks as it trembles. “No, no. That’s not it at all. I’m really grateful to you, and I know my feelings for you are genuine. Or at least they’re becoming that way. It’s just, I don’t think I could compare to you or your master and be the center of your universe. Lady Aeos told me everything about you and what you’re striving to achieve. I was acting like such a shallow brat waiting for you to come to me and shower me with affection. Yet even I realize how selfish it is trying to keep you all to myself. You got such a daunting task in front of you and I know how important it means to you. But.”
“...” You paused again, keeping yourself from speaking despite trying to find the right words to comfort her. You couldn’t help but empathizes with her struggle, having to face your own inner demons more physically on two occasions.
“I can’t help but still want your earnestness to focus deeply on me. To have that same kind of passion and devotion. To be just as important to you as keeping up with your path of self-improvement and tending to the universe. When I think about it sounds awful, and it feels like I’ve got to step up big time to be someone truly worthy of you. But even so, I can’t help feeling like this.” Bulma laments, almost curling up to a ball as she presses her knees against her chest. “I’m so lame...”
“Bulma.” You called out to her. Slowly moving towards her as you could see the girl was trying to hide her shame and keep her tears from flowing openly. For as smart and talented as she was, she was still a sheltered teenage girl only just turned sixteen. Perhaps it was due to your own adolescence stage prior that you could deeply understand and relate to her despite having vastly different circumstances.
Gently you tilted the turquoise-haired maiden’s head, looking at the small streak of tears pouring out from her eyes. Placing your hands against her soft cheekbones, you took a moment to look her straight in her eyes. Not a single word would come from your mouth, nor Bulma’s as she was too stunned by your actions. Slowly but surely, you soon place your right hand against her pronounced lips, covering them while putting Bulma against the bath wall. Letting the tension build between the two of you until it was at its bursting point, you finally made your move.
