Gin's Reunion

Gin and some of Eleonora's lovers' sweatdrops when Sonoko leads them into the place to talk about. Even Sumi shook her head and sighed tiredly, seeing her friends' antics. The Hero's party or team leader currently does not lead the group to a noodle dish shop but just walks around the festival in the shrine.

Only Sonoko and Eleonora that does not sweatdrop as they were casually talking to each other, especially the young girl with a dirty-blonde ponytail that had some faint blush on her cheeks while smiling happily.

"I see, I see. That was magnificent, Sonoko-san. You heroes are strong and pretty cool."

"Hehehe. Right? We are heroes, after all! But you know, the strongest out of the three is Mino-san! She is far stronger than us, although I am the team leader. Isn't that right, Mino-san?!"

"Hey, hey Sonoko. You told us to go to the noodle shop, but instead, you want to spend it here?! This is quite sensitive information. Luckily that I had it covered by using illusion magic."

Gin muttered the third and last part in a low voice, so people aside from her friends wouldn't hear it that much. But what the grey-haired young girl said caused the dirty blonde to have a beaming face and curiosity that filled her.

Realizing something, Gin quickly covered her mouth as if she had made a mistake.

'Ah crap! I shouldn't have said that! Sonoko will add more questions for it later.'

"Magic?! Mino-san, you can use magic?! Really, is that true?!"

"W-Whoa, hold on for a second, Sonoko. We have an important thing to discuss, ain't we? Let's put that matter aside and focus on the current one."

"Ah! Sorry about that. I am also sorry for it, everyone!"

Sonoko apologizes to Eleonora and the rest while slightly bowing. Everyone, except Sonoko, but including Sumi, could see the relieved sigh from Gin when her dirty-blonde leader's attention shifted to another thing.

"It's nothing to be worried about, Sonoko-san. Anyway, we are sidetracked from the main topic. I've already known some gist of the situation from Gin, but I also think that we owe you an explanation. So, shall we go to the back of the shrine and discuss it there since we likely won't go to the noodle shop?"

"Yes, yes! Sorry again for that; I almost forgot again about it! Come on, Mino-san, Wasshi, Eleonora-san, and everyone! Let's go to the back of the shrine!"

"Sonocchi! Keep it quiet! We don't want anyone aside from us to hear it."

Sonoko was shushed by Sumi, that worried about leaking something that seemed a big secret from Gin and Eleonora's group. The bow-user girl wasn't wrong about it, though, since Taisha and anything related to them would be in an uproar if they found this information. Although Sumi, Sonoko, Gin, and Eleonora know that it seemed impossible to forever hide it from Taisha, those three girls, or rather only Sumi and Sonoko, were constantly being watched by them.

And after that, they then enjoyed the festival as well went to the back of the shrine. After checking if it is safe and no one besides the group is here, Eleonora and the girls then take a break from the festival for the time being and discuss more important things.

Clearing her throat, Gin then turned to Eleonora, who nodded and looked at Sonoko and Sumi, who seemed a bit impatient about their friend's explanation.

"Alright. Sonoko, Sumi. As far as I remember, my last memories are that we faced Scorpio Vertex, and I had to… sacrifice myself to protect you two. Hey, don't put that sad face. I'm finally here and alive!"

Sonoko sobbed and tried to wipe off the tears, while Sumi had a sad smile.

"S-Sorry for that, Mino-san. But it's just that… your family and you…."

"They were crying, feeling dejected after knowing that you're leaving them. Especially your siblings… they even begged not to bury you. So we are sorry for it…. But you also correct that we shouldn't be sad anymore."

The black-haired bow-user said that with a smile. It is filled with hope, relief, and happiness. The friend they cared about and thought were perished and is gone forever is coming back with them. Sumi could confirm that Gin in front of her isn't fake but a genuine person. It's the real Minowa Gin.

Gin couldn't help but have a bitter smile.

"Good grief. Alright, alright. Let's continue our discussion, shall we?"

"Y-Yeah! The important thing is that Mino-san is here with us, Wasshi! We can worry about other things later."

"Indeed. Then, Gin, please continue it."

"Right. After that, I suddenly woke up in a place. I think it's… another world. Yeah, Eleonora's world, to be precise. I woke up and wandered around just to follow my instinct and lead me to Eleonora's house where I was housed by her dad."

That made Sonoko and Sumi speechless again. Something absurd like another world is beyond what they have imagined, especially for someone like Sumi, who didn't believe in this thing, but she also knows that Gin isn't the type that would lie to her friends.

"H-Hold on, Gin! Another world? Are you really serious about that?"

"Umm… yeah, Mino-san. Is there really exist another world besides this?"

"Hey, it's real! If not, how can I use magic? I mean, our hero powers are given by Shinju-sama. Eleonora and my new friends are from another world; they could also use magic. Not that parlor trick like summon a bunch of dove from a hat or anything."

"I… I see. That is something unbelievable for us. Then, is it true that you were somehow alive or revived in another world? Should we ask Taisha? They may know something like this in further detail."

But Gin shook her head at Sumi's suggestion, causing the latter to be shocked by the rejection. Sumi didn't think that Gin would reject what was on her mind since Taisha is an organization that knows many things so far.

"I don't think… Taisha could be trusted."

This gains a shock reaction from both Sonoko and Sumi. The way Gin said it made them a bit convinced because of the bitter expression shown by the grey-haired girl and hero. Eleonora closed her eyes, and Chiyuki and Sonoka looked at Gin with sorrowful faces, while Ayako, Mao, and Eri had grim expressions. Ayako, Mao, and Eri, especially Eri, did many horrible things back at Tortus to her friends only for her crush. She was filled with guilt but tried her best to atone for that and redeem herself.

With curiosity piqued, Sumi then asked her grey-haired best friend.

"Why…? What's the reason you say that, Gin? They were the ones who helped us to defeat Vertexes and help the world, right? Why would you say that?"

"Because they hide many things from us, Sumi. Don't you think there is something… strange about it? I mean, sure, they have helped us throughout at first glance, but you also sense the strangest aura within them. We always do what they want because we are taught to be grateful and not question them."

Hearing this made Sonoko and Sumi think about it again. What Gin said sounds plausible, and they already know something fishy about Taisha, even though they were hiding it very well from the public eyes. They were chosen because some of their family and everything is related to Shinju, especially Sonoko and Sumi's families.

'Now I think about it again, Aki-sensei always has a face that shows no emotion as if she already knew everything behind. We also know nothing about Vertex except they were monsters that threatened the world and Shinju-sama's safety.'

Sumi thinks of it as she grew suspicious of Taisha and Vertex, but she doesn't dare to easily accuse them if she doesn't have any valid evidence to prove it. But that doesn't mean that Washio Sumi does not trust her best friend's word; she knows Gin's kind of girl since Minowa Gin won't do anything without reason.

'What Mino-san said is sound reasoning. Despite coming from the renowned Nogi family, I also don't know much about Shinju-sama, Vertex, and Hero. Maybe I should find out the secret Taisha have so I can have another reason to protect the world and Shinju-sama.'

Even the leader of Hero, Nogi Sonoko, also considered what Gin said carefully. She may look like an airhead and lazy, but Sonoko can also be regarded as a genius in some fields. People often underestimate her due to her personality, but Sumi and Gin know her the best.

"Alright, Gin, I'll be considering that. I know you won't say this without any good reason. I believe you because we're a friend."

"She's right, Mino-san! Friends are supposed to help and trust each other! I will super believe you, don't worry about it!"

"R-Really? Thanks for that, guys! Man, I have been in that world for like 2 months, you know. Many things happened there, and when I met Eleonora, she agreed to send me back to my world. So… how's everything happening here? I think… my family will take it fine? Especially my siblings…."

Hearing that from Gin and the saddened face of their best friend, Sonoko and Sumi also put on the same look. They went quiet for a while before exchanging glances and nodding. Sonoko, then the one who decided to, tells Gin.

"…Mino-san, it's only been a few days since your… funeral."

Gin's eyes widened when she heard that from Sonoko. She didn't believe that it's only been a few days since the day she was gone from this world and revived in another world. Eleonora noticed the changes in Gin's expression and went to console her by putting her hands on Gin's shoulders, giving the grey-haired hero soft squeezes.

"Gin, you're okay?"

A slight saddening smile flashed over Gin's lips. She nodded at Eleonora, trying to reassure her bluenette's lover that she shouldn't be worried about it.

"I… I'm okay, Eleonora. It's just… I thought the time was flowing the same here and there. I… I didn't know that a few days could be equal to a month or two. That's why I think it would give my family a shock or heart attack if they suddenly saw me like this after my funeral. Furthermore, Taisha would happen to learn about it and… might do some experiment to me."

"I couldn't agree more. I think the best choice is to let your family wait for a while, and I'll try my best to deal with the difference in time flow between this world and mine. So don't worry about it, Gin. Maybe I could use my magic to alter it somehow."

"Thanks, Eleonora! And that's why, Sonoko, Sumi… I won't meet with my family for a while. I don't want to give them another shock after they just get it. This is maybe not the perfect and flawless choice, but the most suitable one for our current situation."

Gin said that while bowing her head to her two best friends. Sonoko and Sumi nodded to understand what the grey-haired friend meant. It will take a lot to handle Minowa's family's reaction if they find it out.

"Alright, Gin, we won't. But do you have a place to stay? I mean, if you stayed at our houses, Taisha would definitely know about you. There is also no way we call Aki-sensei and have her arrange someplace for you to stay since she is a member of Taisha too."

Sonoko bobbed her head and agreed with what Sumi said.

"Yeah, yeah! Wasshi's right. Sadly, we can't sleep together again like before, but I understand our current situation. Maybe after this, we can do that and have Mino-san's cooking! You've promised us to do that, right?!"

Gin pumped her fist and grinned happily, seeing the agreement from her best friends.

"Alright! Thanks for that, you two! Oh, I almost forgot to introduce Eleonora and everyone!"

Eleonora and her lovers nodded at Gin, then introduced themselves to Sonoko and Sumi.

"Although Sonoko-san and I are already a bit close, I will introduce myself. Nice to meet you, Sonoko-san, Sumi-san. My name is Eleonora Pendragon. Hope we can be good to each other."

She said that with a charming and beautiful smile, she made both Sonoko and Sumi's cheeks heat up in embarrassment and excitement. They had their health melts in joy, especially seeing how beautiful and elegant Eleonora was to them.

Everyone except Eleonora, Gin, Sonoko, and Sumi just chuckled, seeing that Sonoka and Chiyuki introduced themselves.

"Hello, pleased to meet you, Sonoko-san and Sumi-san. I am Kikuchi Sonoka and a chef of a Western restaurant. I am also Gin-san's friend."

"Me too. Hello, you can call me Chiyuki, Kuwayama Chiyuki. I was a worker in a general store and liked cute things. I also love to make cute accessories and plushies. I hope we all get along."

"Nice to meet you too, Sonoka-san, Chiyuki-san! Our name is almost similar, Sonoka-san!"

"It is really kind of weird and can make someone misspeak it. But nice to meet you too."

Sonoka and Chiyuki nodded before Ayako and Mao introduced themselves to Sonoko and Sumi. While one is cheerful, the other is trying to save her energy and lacks enthusiasm; they present themselves.

"Hi! I am Tsuji Ayako, nice to meet you!"

"And I am Yoshino Mao. Please take care of me when here."

Sonoko nodded with enthusiasm while Sumi sweatdrop at the lack of enthusiasm introduction from Mao, but she knew they were meant well. She happily accepts their introduction. Then, it's shifted to the remaining girl in the group. It's Nakamura Eri.

"Hello, you two, Sonoko-san and Sumi-san. My name is Nakamura Eri; please treat me well when I am here."

Eri did that while bowing politely to Sonoko and Sumi. Both heroes just nodded and accepted the introduction kindly before Gin said something to everyone around her. She pumped her fists while facing everyone in turn.

"Hey, hey! Since tonight is a festival, how about we enjoy ourselves?! I mean, playing and eating a lot of delicious food!"

"Hm… that's not bad, but before that… we should change our outfits to the appropriate ones."

Eleonora said that before snapping her finger and causing herself and everyone except Sonoko and Sumi to change their clothes to a kimono that suited them. Eleonora's kimono is blue off-shoulder with white obi and white flower ornament, causing the cleavage of her large breasts to be revealed and a red flower accessory on the top right of her head. Gin's kimono is grey with black obi and grey dot ornament, while she also has a yellow flower accessory on the top right of her head.

Chiyuki's kimono is black with floral print and white-grey stripped line obi, and her hair is styled in a bun by a white ribbon. There is also a black-brown stripped motive on her kimono. Sonoka's kimono is pink with a floral print and black flower ornament on the obi; her hair is in a bun with a white and blue flower accessory. And Ayako's kimono is brown with cherry blossom ornament, matching obi and leaf-flower hair accessories on the top left of her head. Mao's kimono is light-brown with floral print and white and yellow flowers; while her obi is green, she has egasumi around her neck and a two-flower accessory on the top right of her head. Lastly, Eri's kimono is white with a flower ornament over it. Her obi is a light-blue three-strip.

"Hm… why only me that has off-shoulder kimono? Do I look good?"

Eleonora asked the girls as she spun a bit and saw the blushes of eight girls as they nodded at the question from the young bluenette. That kimono radiates the sexiness, charming, mature aura of Eleonora. It's also showing the elegancy and beauty. Of course, they would instantly agree and not doubt Eleonora's charm within her.

Of course, this made Eleonora smile happily as they thought that the kimono she wore really suited her.

"Really? Thank you then. Alright, how about we know walking around the festival?"

"Okay, I want to try the shooting gallery! And maybe fish too."

"I think it's best to stick around as a group rather than separating, Gin-san."

"Chiyuki-san's right. We don't want to lose each other and cause bothersome trouble to the committee. Oh right, we should exchange numbers with Sonoko-san and Sumi-san."

"Mhm…? Is it possible for that? Because our phone is from another world and maybe has some differences inside it. What do you think about it, Mao?"

But Mao just shrugged off her shoulder in response to Ayako.

"I don't know; we should try it. Without doing that, we won't know if it is possible or not."

"Mao-chan is right, Aya-chan. How about it, Sonoko-san, Sumi-san? Could we exchange numbers?"

"Oh! Yes, yes! I want to add more friends to my contact! Wasshi, you should do it too!"

Sonoko's eyes sparkled with excitement and caused Sumi to sweatdrop as she sighed heavily in defeat and nodded lightly. She can't win or reject it if the dirty-blonde-haired girl has that kind of face since it will be a useless attempt.

"Alright, alright. If it is not troubling you, then please try it."

Eri nodded and quickly opened her phone, trying to exchange her number with Sonoko and Sumi. After waiting for a while, the success notification popped out on the phone, causing Eri and Sonoko to smile happily, while Sumi was surprised by this. They didn't expect that it was working.

Seeing this, Eleonora and the rest of the group then followed; they began exchanging the numbers. After that, they then enjoy the festival held tonight together. Sonoko, Sumi, and Gin felt incredibly happy since they were together again as a friend.

------

After enjoying the festival in the shrine, Sonoko and Sumi bid farewell to Eleonora's group, including Gin. Though both heroes are sad that they couldn't be together like before since Minowa Gin is regarded as dead in the world right now, they won't do anything that causes the risk to the grey-haired former hero anymore.

For a place for Eleonora and her lovers to temporarily live, they have already settled this problem since the young bluenette found a good house with three floors, ten rooms, a nice yard, and a vast garden. If it was Minowa Gin from before meeting with Eleonora, she would think it was really extravagant, but now it's different since she seems already used to this kind of thing.

So, her sense of money somewhat shifted, but she still has some common sense and her old self.

Of course, the payment is something that could be called expensive, but things like that aren't on the worry list of Eleonora Pendragon since she is basically crazy rich and could afford it without overthinking that. She is basically like Bruce Wayne or Batman, but richer than him since the young bluenette could just produce any money and how much she wants with her magic.

"Mhm. Not going to lie; this is a lovely house. I'm glad to have assigned my clones to arrange all of this while we are busy playing at the festival. Not to mention used all of my shikigami to investigate and infiltrate the Taisha's headquarter."

Eleonora muttered it while her eyes locked onto the sea from the veranda of her temporary house. She then felt a side-hug from the right side of her body, finding it was Chiyuki and her left side occupied by Sonoka; both lovely and older sister-type girls hugged Eleonora's arms while also looking at the sea.

"Leo-chan, is it okay to inform that matter to Gin-san's friends? Meddling with this world…."

"I'm sorry if I will cause trouble to them, but something like this has to be done, Chiyuki-nee. From what my dad and Gin told me, this Taisha organization and the whole humanity-Vertex war is just a playground from the gods up there. It's also both Vertex, Taisha, and Shinju's fault. Something like never-ending war if neither side lost."

"I think Leo-chan's right, Chiyuki-san. Humanity seemed already to suffer many desperations, sadness, and many depressing things in this world. It's saddened me that human has to live surrounded by a gigantic wall. If what Leo-chan's said is correct, then this Taisha organization is something these people and we shouldn't trust easily."

They went quiet for a while. A frown was on the three girls' faces at how terrible the gods delivered the fate of humanity in this world. If they really did that, then humans shouldn't worship those gods. Eleonora didn't like that, and if she somehow ascended to godhood, she would make her follower or devoter have an easy life and not make it harder than before.

Eleonora nodded at Sonoka. Indeed, she was still kind and selfless, but Eleonora couldn't be heartless like the protagonist of a chinese novel. Of course, she will make Taisha give her anything they would have, but it also benefits her. Like the possibility of them becoming part of her religion's followers in this world. If that's happened, Eleonora will replace Shinju, which is somewhat a good thing.

They are also disgusted with how the gods of this world do their jobs. But Eleonora is also disappointed since the one known as Shinju is not so omnipotent as she thought, since that god is still vulnerable and could be weakened.

"Well, maybe if these gods were omnipotent and the like, humanity won't suffer this difficulty. Delivered divine punishment and so on is just a terrible excuse to harvest powers to regenerate themselves since they don't have unlimited or infinity powers."

Eleonora sighed lightly and shook her head while comforted by the two lovely girls by her sides. Chiyuki and Sonoka knew that feeling, they felt helpless and wanted to help the people of this world, so they hoped everything would work well if Eleonora decided to do something good in this world.

"I'm 100% sure that you will succeed, Leo-chan, if you do this. We should discuss this with Sonoko-san and Sumi-san too. They can be trusted since Gin-san also trust them; moreover, they were best friends."

Sonoka suggested that to Eleonora, who agreed with it since she can differentiate truth and lie with her skills. So far, based on their conversation during the festival, Eleonora didn't find any lie to Sonoko and Sumi. Sumi may still doubt it because she is the sharp type and worried about her friends' safety, but asides from that, there is no lie and only truth.

"Hm… you're right. Sonoko-san and Sumi-san are good girls; they've just been deceived by corrupt adults. Especially the members of the Taisha organization. Something like that always hides some shady stuff."

"And they seem able to see a glimpse of the truth from Gin-san's word. Isn't that a good thing we did? Although we may interfere with someone's problems, if we can do it, then we should. Especially if the victim is innocent and doesn't know the whole truth."

"That's right. Okay, okay. Let's just take a break from the serious talk and admire the view here. We can worry about that tomorrow or after tomorrow. Or is there something we can do besides this, hm?"

When Eleonora said that, Chiyuki and Sonoka's cheeks were heated up. They nodded after exchanging stares as if their mind was in synch. The brown-haired woman then spoke first before the other older sister did it.

"We want… to spend our night 'together,' Leo-chan."

Sonoka nodded with a bashful face and red-colored cheeks when Chiyuki whispered that to Eleonora. Hearing that, Eleonora smiled and gave her the answer with light kisses on Chiyuki and Sonoka on the lips. That kiss was the answer, and both the older sisters knew what it meant, which made their night so long tonight.