Reincarnated into my favorite videogame

The tall trees of the forest loomed over them as Nari, Valerie, and Iris made their way through the dense woods. The sun's light struggled to filter through the thick canopy, casting the area in dappled shadows. Nari moved swiftly, her senses sharpened as she scanned her surroundings, keenly aware of how exposed they were in the open forest.

Valerie walked close by her side, her small footsteps nearly silent, while Iris darted ahead, her fox ears twitching at every sound. She sniffed the air every so often, tilting her head to one side as if listening for something.

"We're getting close," Nari muttered, recognizing the path that wound deeper into the woods. Her eyes narrowed as she recalled the last time she had been here—back when she still traveled with her old group. It felt like a lifetime ago, and yet the memories still clung to her, unshakable.

Minutes later, the quiet murmur of voices reached her ears, breaking through the stillness of the forest. Nari's grip on her staff tightened ever so slightly. They were just up ahead.

When the trio arrived at a small clearing, they were met with a familiar sight—her old companions, gathered around a makeshift campfire. Sarah, Leo, and the others. Nari slowed her pace, eyes locking onto them. She hadn't expected to see them there, but there it was, pulling at her unexpectedly.

"Nari?" Sarah's voice cut through the air, her expression frozen in shock as she caught sight of her old friend. For a moment, she stood motionless before dashing forward with wide eyes. "I can't believe it—you're here!"

Nari offered a small, nonchalant shrug. "I guess so."

Before Nari could react, Sarah threw her arms around her, pulling her into a tight hug. "I never thought we'd see you again! You just… disappeared."

Nari gently pried Sarah off of her, feeling somewhat awkward. "I had my reasons."

As they pulled apart, the rest of the group slowly approached, still in disbelief. "We didn't think we would see you here," Henry said, shaking his head in awe.

"I'm just here for a mission," Nari said bluntly, her tone leaving little room for sentimentality. "And, honestly, I was getting bored."

Sarah looked surprised but amused, her eyes flicking to the two girls by Nari's side. "I see you brought some company."

"This is Valerie," Nari said, gesturing to the small but fierce looking, protective figure by her side. "And that over there is Iris." She nodded toward the little fox-eared girl, who was watching the group with her usual air of innocence.

The group's attention immediately shifted to the newcomers. Valerie stared them down, her gaze cool and calculating, while Iris flicked her ears dismissively. It didn't take long for the group to make an attempt at conversation, each one of them trying to win over the girls with curious smiles and friendly words.

But as they approached, both Iris and Valerie responded with little more than cold indifference. The attempts were awkward at best, met with brief answers or no reaction at all. One member even crouched down to Iris's level, holding out a small snack. "Hey there! Want to try some?"

Iris glanced at it before looking away with a huff. The entire scene played out like a comedy, with each failed attempt more embarrassing than the last.

Sarah, watching the group's mounting frustration, laughed after the sixth rejection. "I think it's time for a break before we embarrass ourselves further." She gestured toward the trees. "Let's take a break."

Nari smirked, watching her companions as they retreated to lean against the surrounding trees. Her own mind drifted as she settled against the trunk of a large oak. The thrill of battle was near, and her thoughts turned to the creatures lurking in the depths of the forest. She closed her eyes for a moment, imagining the sound of the screams of the monsters, the rush of adrenaline as she tore through monster after monster. A wicked grin spread across her face.

But before her imagination could spiral further, Valerie's voice interrupted her thoughts.

"Mother?"

Nari opened one eye, glancing down at her daughter. "Hmm?"

"There's something I need to tell you," Valerie said, her voice hushed and serious.

Nari blinked, slightly caught off guard by her tone. "What is it?"

Valerie's gaze shifted toward Leo, who was standing a short distance away, arms crossed and watching them intently. "That person over there… he's extremely powerful."

Nari followed her daughter's gaze, her eyes landing on Leo. His dark eyes were locked onto hers, an amused smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

"Oh?" Nari said, her voice taking on a playful sing-song tone. "I already know that Valerie." She smiled at Leo, her cheeks turning redder than she expected, feeling a familiar surge of frustration at the challenge his presence might present.

Still, her curiosity was piqued. Leo had been the only person she had interest in she had entered the game (for obvious reasons), but something about him, his aura —it was different. Stronger. But Nari wasn't one to back down "it wasn't only you that became stronger Leo" Nari thought. If anything, it made her look forward to the mission ahead even more.

Just as she was about to turn back, Nari realized something—or rather, someone—was missing. "Wait… where's Iris?"

Her eyes scanned the area until she spotted Iris surrounded by the rest of the group. They were all trying, and failing, to engage the fox-eared girl in conversation. One of them was holding out a handful of shiny trinkets in a last-ditch effort to win her over, while another was offering her sweets.

Nari couldn't help but chuckle. Iris's aloofness was clearly frustrating them, but it was amusing to watch them fail so miserably. She shook her head, a rare smile tugging at her lips as she watched the scene unfold.

As much as she had distanced herself from the group, a part of Nari realized she had missed this—the camaraderie, the teasing, the familiarity of it all. They might be confusing at times, but they had been her companions once. And now, with Iris and Valerie at her side, it felt… different. Better, somehow.

The thought settled in her chest, warm and comforting. She had missed them, even if she hadn't wanted to admit it.