After returning to West City with Bulma, Goku stayed at her house for a few days—resting, messing around, and keeping her company.
A few days later, Bulma's school term began.
Goku said goodbye to her and headed alone for Kame House.
When he explained his purpose, Master Roshi agreed… at first.
But once Roshi realized Bulma wasn't with him, his face fell in disappointment.
"Teaching martial arts is tiring. I'm not teaching you for free."
Goku rummaged through his pockets, pulled out a thick wad of cash, and asked, "How much do you want? Name a number."
Roshi froze.
"Where'd you get this much money?"
"Don't tell me you robbed someone?!"
Goku immediately shook his head. "No way! I'd never do that. Bulma's family is rich. She wanted me to eat well while training, so she made me bring a lot."
Roshi nodded in realization.
"I see…"
Then he waved it off.
"But charging students is something ordinary people do. I'm above money. I don't want cash."
He leaned in, eyes gleaming.
"If you want me to teach you, bring me a lively, cute girl."
Goku, who'd expected exactly this, sighed and nodded. "Fine. I got it."
Roshi rubbed his hands excitedly. "Then hurry up and go!"
Right then, a small boat came into view.
A short, bald kid wearing a shameless grin rowed onto Kame Island.
It was Krillin.
Goku and Roshi both looked over.
Krillin docked the boat, let out a little shout, and sprang toward shore with his bundle.
He tumbled a few times… misjudged the landing…
…and buried his head straight into the sand.
Roshi stared. "What is this idiot doing?"
Then he gestured. "Goku, pull him out."
Goku yanked him free.
After hurried thanks, Krillin looked up at Roshi.
"Are you Master Roshi—Muten Roshi, the Great Turtle Hermit?"
"I am."
Krillin bowed deeply. "Hello, I'm Krillin. I came from far away. Please accept me as your disciple."
Roshi adjusted his tone, sounding serious.
"You worked hard to come here… but I don't take students lightly. Leave."
Krillin panicked, flipped open his bundle, and produced a very spicy photo book.
"Master, this is my gift!"
Roshi's eyes locked onto the cover like magnets.
"T-This… well… taking disciples can be discussed…"
He snatched it and started flipping through immediately, grinning like a man who just rediscovered youth.
Krillin knew he'd landed the hit.
"So, Master… you like it?"
Roshi finished skimming, turned around, and asked, "You're Krillin, right?"
Krillin nodded respectfully. "Yes, Master! What are your instructions?"
Roshi cleared his throat.
"To train under me, there's a condition: you must bring a lively, cute girl here!"
He pointed at Goku. "Perfect timing—Goku just came to apprentice too. You two go together. Bring back one pretty girl."
Krillin nodded like his life depended on it. "Yes, Master!"
Roshi smiled. "Good! Leave immediately!"
Then he added, "To make it easier… take the Flying Nimbus!"
He shouted toward the sky. "Flying Nimbus!"
A golden cloud zipped down and floated in front of them.
Roshi explained proudly, "This is Flying Nimbus. Sit on it, and you can fly freely through the sky."
Krillin stared. "It looks like cotton candy… Can you really sit on that?"
"Of course you can! I'll show you!"
Roshi hopped up—
…and fell straight through it, slamming onto the ground.
"Agh—my back!"
Krillin hurried to help him up. "Master! Are you okay?!"
Roshi scratched his head, baffled. "Huh? Why can't I get on…?"
The sea turtle spoke up calmly. "Didn't you say only those with a pure heart can ride Nimbus? If you can't ride it now, that's normal."
Roshi froze.
Over the years, under the noble banner of "health maintenance," he'd become way too perverted.
He pointed at Krillin.
"Krillin, you try!"
Krillin jumped onto Nimbus—
…and fell through just like Roshi.
Krillin frowned. "This thing can't be ridden at all."
Roshi turned to Goku. "Goku, you try!"
Goku hopped up—
…and also fell through.
Silence.
All three stared at the cloud.
Roshi finally sighed and waved his hand. "Forget it. Get out. Your hearts are impure—so I'm not teaching any of you."
Krillin protested immediately. "How is that possible?! I just want to become strong and be popular with girls!"
Roshi nodded seriously. "Exactly. That's impurity."
Then he muttered, "Though… looking at pretty girls does help with longevity, so I can overlook that…"
He then stared at Goku.
"Goku, your heart isn't pure either. Explain why. I'll decide whether I can accept you."
Goku thought for a moment and said honestly:
"I think I know. It's because I'm not focused enough with girls."
He raised one finger. "Right now, I have a girlfriend."
Then raised another. "And I also have a fiancée—an arranged engagement."
"…WHAT?!"
Roshi and Krillin shouted at the same time.
Krillin's jaw nearly detached. "You little brat—TWO girls like you?! How?! Are both of them blind?!"
Then his face twisted with jealousy and suspicion.
"I get it—your girlfriend must be ugly. Terrible figure. That's why she clings to you, right?"
Goku shook his head calmly. "No. My standards are high. I can't even look at mediocre girls. They're both very pretty."
At that, Roshi immediately thought of the blue-haired girl who'd visited for the Dragon Balls.
"Goku—was that blue-haired girl from last time your fiancée?"
Goku shook his head. "She's my girlfriend. My fiancée isn't her. She's younger—basically a childhood engagement."
Roshi swallowed.
"You… you absolute monster. Having such a curvy, gorgeous girlfriend at this age…"
His eyes glittered.
"Fine. I'll teach you martial arts. But tell me—how did you pull it off?"
Krillin, hearing Roshi praise Goku's girlfriend, instantly felt his soul crack.
Goku thought for a second and summarized very seriously:
"To make girls like you, it comes down to two things.
"First: Be handsome—at the very least, don't look funny.
Second: Provide emotional value.
"If you meet the first condition, the second one actually has room to work."
Roshi's mouth twitched.
Looks… can you control that?!
That wasn't an explanation.
That was a flex.
He sighed, defeated. "You just said a bunch of nonsense."
Then he looked between them.
"So—do you two still want to become disciples?"
Both answered instantly. "Of course!"
Roshi took out a capsule and popped out an airplane.
"Which one of you can fly?"
Krillin shot his hand up. "Me! I can!"
Roshi tossed him the keys.
"Then take my plane and bring a girl back."
And so, the two of them boarded the plane and left Kame House.
…
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