While the slum tunnels busied with the distant movement of the newly mobilized Kogane Dragons, the forgotten chamber fell into a quieter rhythm.
Zumi sat casually on the throne—no longer a symbol of authority, but simply a place where Bia could curl herself around him like a lovestruck goddess who had finally found her home.
She nestled into his lap, arms around his waist, cheek pressed against his chest.
The fierce, terrifying commander who once crushed gangs with her bare hands… now looked like a gentle, affectionate woman who existed solely for the man holding her.
If someone didn't already know she was a literal goddess, they'd swear she was just a girl hopelessly in love.
Zumi stroked her hair absently, the way one would soothe a loyal wolf or a beloved pet—
and Bia melted completely under his hand.
Serafina smirked in amusement.
"That girl," she said softly, "is so far gone for him it's adorable."
Hina chuckled.
"It's like watching a dragon turn into a kitten."
Reina, newly welcomed into this strange divine family, watched with wide eyes.
"I… didn't expect her to be like this," she admitted.
Serafina smiled knowingly, leaning against a stone pillar.
"Bia is a Goddess of Force and Strength. But when she devoted herself to him…"
Her gaze slid to Zumi and Bia.
"…she gave him everything. Heart, loyalty, divinity. Now her entire essence is tied to him."
Hina nodded.
"Think of it like… she's not on a leash. She gave him the leash willingly."
Reina blinked—slowly, digesting the metaphor.
Serafina tilted her head, amused.
"And he holds it firmly."
Reina glanced at Zumi again—at the calm, confident way he held Bia; the dignity in his posture; the warmth in his eyes.
She swallowed.
"…He really changed," she murmured.
"He grew," Hina corrected gently.
"Into who he always should've been."
Serafina crossed her arms behind her head.
"And you should know something else, Reina. The home you're coming into—the one he built in New York—is filled with women who love him just as fiercely as Bia."
Reina raised a brow.
"There are… others?"
"Oh yes," Hina said, smiling.
"Gia. Ana. Jasmine. Kathy. Aurora. Kasumi. Sakura. Kathy. Even more."
Reina's jaw dropped.
"…and they all… what? Live with him?"
Hina nodded proudly.
"Every one of them."
Reina blinked again.
"How do you… even manage that?"
Serafina laughed softly.
"With a lot of stamina," she whispered teasingly.
Hina elbowed her.
"Stop, you'll make her faint."
Reina's face flushed crimson.
"Wait—DON'T tell me—he's—he's with all of them?!"
Hina's smile remained warm, reassuring.
"Yes. Every one. By choice. And they're all happy with it."
Reina opened her mouth—then closed it again.
She wanted to laugh.
She wanted to scream.
She wanted to hide.
Instead, she muttered:
"…How is that even real?"
Serafina stepped up beside her, placing a soft hand on her back.
"Reina. You grew up fighting your entire life. You never got the chance to feel love. Or safety. Or warmth. Everything you did was for survival."
Reina looked down, guilt and truth hitting her in equal measure.
Serafina continued.
"But Zumi… he has space for all of us—not just our bodies, but our hearts."
Hina nodded.
"We're a family, not rivals."
Bia looked up from Zumi's chest, smiling sleepily and lovingly—as if she had been listening without saying a word.
"Reina," she said gently, "we're not competing. We're choosing each other. And now… you're one of us."
Reina stared at her—at the softness in her voice, the unconditional acceptance.
Her throat tightened.
"All my life," Reina whispered, "I've just… fought. I never thought I deserved anything else."
Serafina squeezed her shoulder.
"That was your old life."
Hina added softly:
"Your new one… begins with us."
Reina inhaled slowly—deeply—letting those words soak into the places inside her that had long been cold and locked away.
She looked from sister to sister—dark goddess, fire warrior, newly ascended deity.
Then to Zumi—her king, her savior, her turning point.
"…Thank you," she whispered.
"Really."
Serafina smirked.
"Good. Because this is only the beginning."
Hina grinned.
"We're going to teach you everything you missed out on."
Bia chimed in happily, tightening her arms around Zumi:
"And we'll protect you."
Reina let out a small, shaky laugh.
Maybe, for the first time in her life…
she wasn't alone.
Maybe she didn't have to fight everything by herself.
Maybe—finally—she had a place where she could breathe.
A place where she could belong.
A family.
Reina was still adjusting to the idea of having sisters when Zumi suddenly lifted his phone.
Bia perked up immediately, clinging to his arm like a vine.
"Calling them again?" she asked hopefully.
"Yeah," Zumi smirked. "They'll want to meet Reina properly."
Hina snorted.
"Oh, this'll be fun."
Serafina smirked.
"Let's see how mortals react to her beauty."
Reina blinked.
"Wait—what? Beauty? I—"
"Shh," Hina said, patting her shoulder. "Just accept the compliment, sis."
Zumi pressed VIDEO CALL — MY LOVES.
It rang once.
Twice.
And then—
BOOM!
Every single girl at the NYC home appeared on-screen at the same time, talking over each other:
"ZUMI!!"
"HONEY!!"
"BABE!"
"YOU'RE ALIVE!!!"
"OH MY GOD—YOU LOOK HOTTER—HOW?!"
"WHERE ARE YOU?!"
Reina jumped back at the audio explosion.
Serafina burst out laughing.
Hina wiped a tear.
"Yep… that's them."
Aurora shoved her face close to the camera, cat tail wagging wildly.
"Daddy!! Daddy!! Daddy!! Look!! I learned to make my tail do a heart shape!"
"Aurora, move back—!" Ana tried to pull her.
"No, let her show him," Serafina chuckled.
Zumi raised a hand.
"Girls, girls—hold on. I want you to meet someone."
Six women leaned closer simultaneously on the screen, like a synchronized squad.
Gia
Ana
Kathy
Jasmine
Kasumi
Aurora
(and Sakura peeking over Ana's shoulder)
All waiting.
Zumi turned the camera toward Reina.
She froze.
Every single NYC girl gasped.
Gia:
"OH MY—she's BEAUTIFUL—Zumi?? Zumi?? WHY IS SHE SO PRETTY??"
Ana:
"Damn… she's breathtaking!"
Kathy:
"Oh my god—her hair! Her eyes! Her aura! I need skincare like THAT!"
Aurora:
"Hi big sis!! Can I hug you when you come home?? Please?? Please??"
Jasmine:
"She looks like a warrior princess—Zumi where did you FIND HER??"
Kasumi:
"She's… stunning."
(And she immediately looked away, blushing.)
Sakura (leaning into frame):
"…Sis?? For real?? You're one of us now?? OMG!!"
Reina was turning so red she looked like she might combust.
"I—I—I'm not that— I mean—"
Serafina placed a proud hand on her shoulder.
"Yes she is. Tell her again."
The girls didn't need to be asked twice:
"GORGEOUS."
"PERFECT."
"PRETTY."
"STUNNING."
"A GODDESS??"
"A MODEL??"
"CAN SHE CHOKE ME??—OW! Gia stop hitting me!"
Reina buried her face in her hands.
Zumi laughed softly.
"She's Reina. My First Division Commander."
Audible swoons came from half the girls.
Gia spoke for the group:
"You're officially a sister now, Reina. Welcome to the family."
Reina lowered her hands—eyes wide, lips trembling into a small but genuine smile.
"…Thank you."
Jasmine waved from the couch.
"When are you coming home, Zumi?"
Kasumi stepped into frame with a drink.
"Yes… when?"
Aurora pressed her face to the camera again.
"Daddy come home!"
Zumi chuckled.
"I'll be back tomorrow."
A chorus of cheers erupted.
"OOOOOH FINALLY!!"
"We missed you!!"
"Dinner tomorrow night!!"
"Movie night!!"
"Sakura, stop hugging the phone!!"
"BUT I MISS HIM!!!"
Zumi raised his hand.
"There's something I need before then."
His tone softened—but carried authority.
"Gia."
Gia straightened immediately.
"Yes love?"
"I need you to contact the Leader of the Dreadmire Family."
He paused.
"And her daughter."
Every girl on the screen froze.
Even Aurora's tail stopped moving.
Ana blinked.
"You… want them over?"
"Yes," Zumi said. "Invite them to the house tonight."
"Tonight?" Kathy echoed.
"Yes. Because tomorrow morning…"
He exhaled deeply.
"…I need to talk to everyone."
The girls exchanged knowing looks—excited, nervous, curious.
Gia nodded firmly.
"I'll make the call immediately."
Zumi smiled.
"Thank you."
The girls all softened again.
Jasmine:
"Zumi… come home safely, okay?"
Kasumi:
"We'll be waiting."
Aurora:
"DADDY COME HOME—"
Ana dragged her back again.
Everyone waved, sending kisses, saying "love you" in overlapping voices before ending the call.
The screen went black.
Reina exhaled.
"...They're… intense."
Hina grinned.
"You get used to it."
Bia beamed, snuggling deeper into Zumi's chest.
"They love him as much as we do."
Serafina nodded proudly.
"And now… they love you, too."
Reina looked at all of them—these women who embraced her without hesitation, who welcomed her, praised her, accepted her as family on day one.
Her throat tightened softly.
"…I've never had this before," she whispered.
Hina wrapped an arm around her.
"You do now."