Capítulo 24: Reunion

The scoring began.

This time, almost everyone had significant point movements. The large number of aliens likely contributed to this.

Three people, including Shirona, had exceeded a hundred points.

Kuwabara opened the menu.

Glancing at him, Shirona contemplated intensely. Her current total score was one hundred and five points. With effort, she had realized she could earn a considerable amount in a single attempt. At least two more rounds. She had to overcome them without any sacrifices, or she would be trapped in Gantz forever.

"Number three. Revive Milotic," Kuwabara announced with an expression as if he had a brilliant idea, puffing out his chest.

Disregarding Shirona's half-open mouth, he approached the forming figure.

"Just like you said, Shirona."

Milotic still seemed unable to grasp the situation. Blinking her beautiful eyes, she tilted her head and let out a soft cry upon seeing Kuwabara in front of her.

"Fwooooh?"

"The greatest favor is for the person themselves. My plan was modified and just succeeded. Now then, let's negotiate."

After glancing at the speechless Shirona, he turned a smile towards Milotic.

"Isn't that great? I'm your life savior. If you wouldn't even listen to my request after all this, I'd really lose my charm, wouldn't I?"

Milotic immediately turned her face blue. However, without using any moves, she gazed at Shirona inquiringly. Shirona was also in a complicated mood. Of course, she was certainly glad. Kuwabara had other choices, yet he chose to help her instead. She had no doubt about being grateful. If only she didn't know his purpose.

Milotic seemed to understand that she had been saved. She couldn't maintain her usual indifferent attitude towards Kuwabara. While swaying her tentacles, she looked perplexed.

Scratching his head, Kuwabara grinned mischievously. "I'm not a demon either. Is it too sudden? I'll compromise. Right now, could you wrap around me? You did it before, right? Do it as intensely as you did to Shirona."

The difficulty of his demand seemed to drop all at once, but her reluctance remained the same. However, Shirona no longer had much say in the matter. Honestly, aside from words, there was nowhere to blame Kuwabara this time. He had also been working. If he hadn't been there, the outcome might have changed.

When Shirona averted her eyes, Milotic opened her eyes in shock. She then shook her head from side to side, as if troubled, and made a displeased cry.

"So stubborn. Well, I have an idea too..."

Kuwabara, who had been folding his arms, almost fell immediately afterward. It was only natural to be intimidated when a long body approached him suddenly.

It covered his feet and then his waist. After wrapping around his neck, Milotic glared at Kuwabara.

"Whoa..."

"Gross."

"You really are a pervert."

Although he pulled back slightly, Kuwabara, now properly wrapped by her, closed his eyes and began to lie down in a blissful trance. Shirona couldn't bear to watch his ecstatic expression any longer. She pitied Milotic, feeling she had lost something precious the moment she returned.

"Another fifteen hours like this."

"Fwoooooh!"

Immediately separating from him, Milotic forcefully spewed water from her mouth, blowing Kuwabara away. Perhaps from letting her guard down, he couldn't resist and slammed against the wall. It seemed he hit his head, as he lay on the floor groaning for a while.

Shirona also attempted to give instructions to Gantz. She was still hesitating a bit. Which one should she revive first? Of course, she loved them both equally. The other party probably didn't think the order would decide anything either. Still, it took her time to choose which one to revive first.

"Number three. Revive Garchomp," announced a composed male voice.

Unbelievably, Oka remained unfazed when she turned to look at him.

"What are you..."

"It's simple. Gantz is lax. I got a little suspicious about whether I could properly receive the benefits from it. So I made a safe investment."

He then looked at her as if to say, "What are you doing?"

"You hurry up and choose from the menu too. I want to leave quickly."

She couldn't accurately gauge his intentions. However, it was certain that the problems she was supposed to resolve had suddenly decreased. Looking at Gantz with a confused heart, Shirona wondered whether she should doubt him or simply express her feelings.

Closing her eyes, she spoke quietly. "Three. Revive Lucario."

The moment it ended, she simultaneously embraced them. She had longed to apologize and simultaneously yearned to meet the family she held in her arms. It was the greatest happiness since she had come to this world. No longer needing to endure, Shirona let her emotions explode. Shedding a torrent of tears, she clung to them.

Naturally, the other party would be perplexed. Suddenly appearing before their distraught, crying master, they seemed to assume the worst and took a defensive stance against the black-suited figures in the room.

"No, it's okay. They aren't enemies."

She kissed Garchomp's head. Then she nuzzled Lucario's ear with her cheek. Lucario seemed complicated. He appeared to remember properly. He touched a paw to Shirona's ear, caressing it soothingly, as if apologetically.

"It's alright. Look, it's still there."

She showed him the other earring swinging. Lucario called out to it shyly before smiling at her.

"Wait."

Shirona then approached Oka, who was about to leave. Shaking her head, she gazed at him as if meeting him for the first time.

"I don't know what to say..."

"Huh? What's with you? That's creepy. Since I revived it, Garchomp belongs to me."

He pointed at Garchomp. Oka sneered through his nose.

"You don't have any complaints, do you? You'll obey my instructions properly. It's not for your sake."

"Even so, it's fine."

Shirona looked him firmly in the eye, recognizing his narrow eyes. She smiled softly.

"Thank you, Oka."

The thanked Oka wordlessly blocked the punch Shirona swung at him from the side with his hand. He would never be deceived. To her expressionless face, Oka mocked her.

"I thought it would be something like that. You're easy to read."

The moment Shirona dodged to the side, Oka was kicked away dramatically. Even with the power of the suit, he crashed unceremoniously into Gantz.

"Ooh, precious footage!"

"You got wrecked, Oka!"

The sunglass-wearing figures cheered. No matter how experienced the man was, he couldn't instantly respond to Lucario's movements. Lowering his foot, he glared at the rising Oka.

Shirona also spoke with a refreshed expression. "Putting that aside, I feel better. Thank you."

The timing was too perfect. Oka had likely been lurking nearby the entire time. Even when they were in a predicament against the stone statues, he didn't intervene until the last moment. He took more observation time to ascertain the nature of the aliens. Rational though it was, if he assumed Shirona wouldn't think anything of it, his plan had failed miserably.

Silently passing by Lucario, Oka promptly left the apartment. In response, Shirona stuck out her tongue slightly before also preparing to depart.

"Hmph."

A tentative voice called out. Turning, Nakayama seemed awkward, apparently being summoned by Muroya but intending to continue her conversation with Shirona.

"Um, well, yeah..."

Touching her long blonde hair, she met Shirona's gaze defiantly. "That's it then. I won't thank you, and you don't say anything else either. Got it?"

"Huh?"

"Ugh, I got it! I'll go now... I was just being a little too uptight. That's all."

With that, she left hurriedly. This time, Shirona watched her retreating figure properly. If Oka had even a fraction of her charm, he might have treated her better.

Shirona turned her attention back to Gantz. If her prediction was correct, one more time would be sufficient. If she could score a hundred points one more time, all her problems would be solved. The top choice. Freedom. The part about having her memories erased concerned her, but she wondered what freedom would mean for her. Although she tried not to get her hopes up, perhaps she could even return to her original world. In any case, she wanted to score a hundred points one more time and confirm it. She took three Monster Balls in her hand.

"Good work."

As much as she wanted to interact more with Lucario and the others, it would be fine to do so after returning with Anzu. Today, she just wanted to rest. Tomorrow, she would start considering countermeasures.

As she thought this and operated the Balls, she noticed something. Nothing happened. Lucario, Garchomp, and Milotic also had puzzled expressions. From the looks of it, they seemed determined to return to Shirona's Balls. However, no change occurred. Their bodies didn't become light and return inside.

After futilely operating them repeatedly, Shirona tried to deal with this situation somehow. She released other Pokémon like Gastrodon and then returned them. There was no abnormality on that side. It seemed only the three revived ones weren't responding to the Balls.

While obtaining their understanding, she threw a Ball at Lucario. Even when it hit him, it didn't open. It uselessly rolled on the ground.

"Sis, what's wrong?" Anzu, already changed, asked.

She had also overcome death. Her desire to return home and meet her son was evident in her demeanor. Shirona picked up a sound. When she turned her head, she realized she had forgotten something important.

In the corner of the room, a smartphone lay. She had placed it there before being transported. And now, it was vibrating. An incoming call, after being silent until now. She would deal with organizing later. For now, she felt she needed to respond.

Picking up the smartphone somewhat hastily, she saw the caller was her grandmother. Confirming it firmly, she touched the button. She didn't know what to talk about first.

"Shirona?"

She had intended to visit before this situation unfolded. Shirona regularly stayed in Kannagi Town, her birthplace. She enjoyed listening to her grandmother's old stories. The voice calling her name was exactly the same as she remembered.

"Grandma..."

At the very least, she had to say something. Even though they were connected, the signal condition was quite poor. If she didn't hurry, it might disconnect on its own.

"Where have you been?"

"A lot happened. Unbelievable things, so many of them. I'll talk to you after I return there. For now, I'm just..."

Her grandmother sounded worried.

"Is that so? It must be something good?"

"Yeah, I think so. Probably."

"Did you find your Pokémon?"

A ringing sound echoed in her ears for a moment. Even when she thought it was over, it felt like it was still continuing. Shirona opened her mouth once, then closed it. After a pause, she finally forced out her voice.

"Huh?"

Expressing her puzzlement, her grandmother also paused strangely.

"Are you alright? You sounded terribly frantic. I couldn't believe it when you suddenly returned from Sazanami Town, saying those unbelievable things..."

"Wait. Grandma, what are you talking about?"

Anzu tilted her head. The spherical Gantz was bathed in a faint light. It took tremendous effort to accept her grandmother's words.

"Your Pokémon suddenly disappeared. It was terrible. You said you were going to search for them, but you didn't come back after leaving yesterday morning. I was worried. But from the way you sound, it seems you've calmed down a bit."

Without understanding anything, a sound occurred. A door opening and closing. Someone said something on the other end of the call. Her grandmother then answered them honestly. After more back-and-forth, it became clear the caller had changed.

"Is this you?"

Although it sounded slightly different over the phone, there was no mistaking it. That voice was clearly her own. Speaking in a cold, angry tone, she said, "Where did you put my Pokémon?"

No. They were her family.

"Impersonating me to deceive Grandma. What were you trying to do? Are you remnants of Team Galactic?"

She was Shirona. The former Champion. For ten years, she had defended that position.

"Who are you?"

Who was she? The smartphone dropped dramatically. Anzu rushed over in a panic. Its screen was completely shattered, and the power was off. Even if Anzu picked it up and tried to operate it, it was meaningless. It seemed utterly broken. Shirona simply stared blankly at the screen.

Her pale face was reflected in the darkened display. A large crack ran through the middle. It created the illusion that something else was creeping out from the gap. As if her skin was peeling away.