Bulma was feeling giddy, her stomach fluttering with excitement she couldn't quite explain. Meeting Yamcha felt like a page out of a fairytale—her cheeks would go redder than a tomato every time she looked his way. With his rugged charm and handsome, princely looks, he seemed like a dream come true, with just the right hint of edge she liked in a man.
And he'd rescued them. Just swooped in and helped when they needed it most, not even asking for anything in return. How could someone like that be real?
"Why would a guy like that be in a desert?" Oolong broke into her daydreams, his snout scrunching up. "Seems like he'd be some kinda bandit. People don't just choose to live in the middle of nowhere."
Bulma shot her transforming pig companion an annoyed glance as she kept her eyes on the road. "Oh, please, Oolong. Bandits are rough-looking, not… dashing. He's way too handsome to be some rough desert bandit."
"You're delusional…" Oolong sighed, looking like he wanted to add more but held back.
"And besides," she added, trying to keep her tone casual, "didn't you say you know the little cat that was with him? How bad could he be if he hangs around with someone you went to school with?"
"Well, I did know her," Oolong smirked. "We went to transformation school together. I dropped out for doing a heroic deed, you know. That's why my transformations don't last so long."
Bulma's skeptical look said it all; it didn't take a genius to see through his lie. If she had to guess, it was some perverted thing that got him kicked out.
"I hope he's got food," grumbled Goku from the backseat, clutching his stomach.
Yamcha's hideout turned out to be a modest shelter, almost invisible against the desert landscape, with its round windows blending seamlessly with the sandy dunes. Bulma's heart sped up as they parked, feeling a strange sense of excitement. Sure, it was a bit barren, but was this what a real boy's room looked like? Her curiosity was piqued—she'd never been in one that wasn't part of her family's massive compound.
"Welcome to my humble abode," Yamcha said, casually strolling over to a jar and retrieving a few capsules, which he tossed to reveal extra beds. "Bathroom's in the back, and the shower's separate."
As he went about checking his things, Oolong leaned in and whispered to Bulma and Goku, "Did you see that? That jar's full of capsules. Nobody normal has that many—he's definitely a thief."
Bulma rolled her eyes, already exasperated. "You're reading way too much into this, Oolong. Capsules aren't that big of a deal."
Oolong gave her a long look, like she was the one missing something obvious. "Capsules are expensive! You think a guy who lives here could afford all those?"
Bulma shrugged, genuinely confused. "Capsules don't cost that much…" She trailed off as Oolong kept giving her that look. What was his problem?
Meanwhile, Yamcha was stashing some of his belongings. He hadn't missed Bulma's Capsule Corp logo on her purse. "Daughter of the richest man in the world, huh?" he muttered to himself. Bulma might be his best shot at a ticket out of his rough lifestyle. Not like he wanted to rely on anyone, but he wouldn't mind a bit of financial backup with the kind of world they lived in.
As he secured his capsules, Yamcha considered the risk-reward of his situation. He didn't need a wish, but the experience points and the perks of following along with Goku and Bulma's adventure were undeniable. The Gamer ability had opened up a path he could barely believe.
Just as he pocketed his things, a new quest notification popped up.
[New Quest: Gather all 7 Dragon Balls] [The Dragon Balls are legendary items that haven't been gathered in centuries. You can ask the dragon for a wish, and it will complete it. Rewards: 300,000 Exp, Dragon Slaying Spear (Legendary).]
'The interface doesn't know I already know how to find them,' Yamcha thought, smirking. He wondered if he could exploit this—he could practically hear his RPG-loving friends cheering him on from his old world.
The evening was quiet, though Goku managed to make a significant dent in Yamcha's food supply, and Yamcha had to step in to stop Oolong from trying to peep on Bulma in the shower.
The next day, they set out in one of Yamcha's RV vans. He left a window open as they traveled, letting the desert air fill the space. Bulma, in a fresh outfit—a Capsule Corp cap, shorts, and a white crop top—kept glancing his way with a soft smile.
"So, Yamcha… what kind of girls do you like?" she asked, scooting close enough for her shoulder to brush against his.
Yamcha felt a bead of sweat roll down his temple. He had zero interest in leading her on, but he didn't want to offend her either. "Uh…well, probably a girl who's, um… a bit on the thicker side, someone nice, you know?"
He couldn't have picked a more generic answer, but Bulma seemed content, smiling like she was planning something.
"So, any particular cars you're into?" she pressed, leaning in even closer.
Before he could stammer out another vague answer, Goku saved him by popping up from the backseat. "Yamcha! You're pretty strong, right? Wanna spar sometime?"
The Saiyan's excitement was palpable. Yamcha glanced at Bulma, feeling like sparring with Goku was the perfect excuse to dodge her endless questions. "Sure, kid," he replied, ruffling Goku's hair. "Once we take a break, I'll show you a move or two."
As they drove through the desert, Yamcha's thoughts wandered back to his plan. The journey to Frypan Mountain would be long, giving him a chance to test his own abilities. Maybe sparring with Goku would help him understand the difference in power between them. Ten points on his power level might not sound like much, but Goku's endurance was on another level, especially with his Saiyan durability.
Later that night, when Bulma took over driving, Yamcha couldn't have felt more relieved. He leaned back, letting himself relax on the RV's second floor.
"So, Yamcha, right?" Bulma's voice called from the driver's seat below. "What do you do for a living?"
"Bounty hunter," he answered smoothly, sticking to his story. No way he'd be sharing the details of his past as a bandit.
"Do you have a girlfriend?" Bulma asked suddenly.
Yamcha stiffened, sensing the need to tread carefully. "I'm… not looking for one right now. I've got too much going on."
Bulma looked down, her expression crestfallen. Yamcha sighed internally; the last thing he wanted was to shatter her spirit and distract her from becoming the future scientist he knew she'd become. Relenting a bit, he added, "But maybe I'll know the right girl when I meet her."
Bulma's face brightened instantly. "Maybe she's closer than you think."
He chuckled, mostly to himself. Despite the undeniable charm of a pretty girl like Bulma, there was so much more out there. Alien technology, mystical artifacts, and power beyond what he ever imagined were all within his reach now.
The night wore on, and Yamcha headed upstairs to the beds. Tomorrow would be the first time he'd spar with Goku, and he couldn't wait to see where he really stood in this world.
A/N: I always thought Yamcha would be more interested in exploring the world's wonders—magic, artifacts, alien tech, and more—over romance. It's refreshing to think about all the amazing things in DBZ beyond just the female characters. And yes for everyone who got mad at me for making Cell's name Jamall this time this character's name will fully just be Yamcha no self insert