Eli's eyes then sparkled, "R-Really?"
Umi then giggled.
"Of course!"
Eli then grinned widely, "That's great! Well let's tell everyone about this in the mansion!"
"We definitely should!" Umi and Eli then pulled themselves apart and Eli grabbed the other's hand, dragging her along out of the barn and back to the mansion.
Umi yelped when she was suddenly pulled but then she giggled as she looked at Eli's back then to her hand which was holding hers. Her eyes softened as she could feel her cheeks heating up.
And as soon as they get back into the mansion and Eli called everyone around.
"Alright everyone! Ms. Umi has a big announcement to make! Call everyone else!" Eli shouted and the people in the vicinity all nodded before they went inside and the other parts of the house to call the others.
Brenda then walked in and blinked when Seth ran towards her, "Brenda! Great timing! Ms. Umi has an announcement!"
"W-Wha-?! Really?" Brenda blinked but she didn't get the chance to ask more because Seth already grabbed her wrist and dragged her to the back garden. Brenda yelped at the sudden pull but she followed anyway.
And as everyone has finally gathered at the back garden, Umi then took a deep breath as she looked at everyone with Eli beside her, "So as you can see, Eli and Seth found an abandoned ranch, which is just only behind us." Umi then stepped aside slightly so then they could see the pathway to the small forest, "And after a discussion with Eli here..." She then looked at the blonde who looked back at her and nodded. Umi and Eli then looked back at their audience before Umi spoke again.
"We decided to rebuild it."
The audience's eyes widened and exchanged glances with each other while whispers could be heard.
"We will have a tour around the ranch later after this so then all of you can see it." Umi added and the audience went to look back at the blue-haired while in silence.
Brenda hummed as she listened, "A ranch huh..."
"I will tell you about it. The ranch back there belonged to my father and when my parents separated, they gave this mansion to me along with the ranch. It was stuck there for years and I was incapable of rebuilding it due to personal reasons. But now that I finally fixed it myself, we will rebuild it so then we can maximize its space." Umi explained.
"So? What do you say guys? You ready to help us?" Eli asked cheerfully.
Brenda looked around and smiled before she spoke loud and clear, "Those who agrees to help, raise your hand!" She then rose her own hand and waited for everyone's decisions. And the workers slowly raised their hands.
"Let's start the rebuilding right away after we had seen it!" Seth stated and everyone cheered loudly in agreement.
Umi and Eli then looked at each other with smiles on their faces before they looked back at everyone with delight.
"Alright! Let's do this!" Eli grinned.
Sounds of a phone releasing a loud ringtone could be heard inside the living room of Honoka's mansion. The ginger-haired skipped steps towards it and picked up the phone, placing it on her ear, "Hello! Umi! What's with the sudden call in this fine afternoon?"
"I need your help here, Honoka!" Umi replied.
"E-Ehh?! Why? What happened?"
"We are going to rebuild the ranch."
Honoka stopped and her eyes glimmered in delight, knowing that her best friend has finally began to move forward from that kind of fear. And yes, she knows about Umi. All about her. Ever since they were kids, they had always played with each other while telling secrets that nobody can ever expose except the two of them.
"Sure thing! I will gladly help!" Honoka happily replied.
"Alright everyone! Listen up! We came here to rebuild the ranch and not fool around with girls! Learn to have some control of yourselves! Are we clear!?" Brenda shouted as she walked back and forth in front of a group of shemales who were lined up in front of her, like soldiers who were disciplined to stand with respect in front of their commander. Honoka's male workers were already looking around the ranch.
"Yes ma'am!" The shemales replied simultaneously while saluting and Brenda then grinned, "Good! Now I want you guys to help the men back there in measuring the stables, barn and the sheds around here. And after that, report to me! Got it?!"
"Yes ma'am!" The shemales replied.
"Good! Now go!" Brenda ordered and the shemales immediately ran past by the black-haired to go to different parts of the ranch to do what they were told to do.
Brenda then turned around to watch them with a smile.
Eli then walked closer to the tall female and stood beside her while also looking at the shemales who were now taking measurements, "They sure look at you as their general at war."
Brenda laughed, "Well I was a general back in my military days. Lieutenant General to be exact."
"Really now? What kind?"
"The Marines." Brenda answered.
"Lieutenant General Brenda Gragonegger huh? Sounds scary if someone who doesn't know you hears it."
"You bet it is. I got a lot of rookies shaking whenever I talk to them." Brenda chuckled.
"I can tell." Eli chuckled with her.
"Ya know, I was supposed to be a general. If I didn't quit the marines that is."
Eli blinked, "Wow, really? Then why did you quit?"
Brenda then let out a smile and then looked at the blonde.
"Because of Hoka."
"Hoka?" Eli then looked back at her with an eyebrow raised. Brenda nodded happily while her cheeks were having a red hue, "Honoka Kousaka." Brenda clarified.
Eli's eyes blinked then suddenly covers her mouth after a sudden blow of breath escaped her lips. It then followed with a laugh, "I know that but what's with the Hoka nickname?"
Brenda laughed, "You laughed at that, too huh?! Well it is a short name for her! I simply just erased "no" from her name! Because I don't accept those as answers!"
"What a funny way to give someone else a nickname!" Eli then uncovered her mouth and then smiled at her, "But she deeply means a lot to you huh?"
"Of course! She's my life! She saved me before and I'm working under her to repay my debt to her." Brenda answered.
"Debt huh... Soldiers sure are strict in keeping promises and paying debts." Eli commented calmly.
"We were taught that way."
Eli then just nodded and the both of them went to look at the workers who were currently busy in the barn, stables and the large space. Specifically, watching Honoka and Umi who were just standing in front of the barn entrance, chatting with each other.
"So like I was saying, why don't we also participate the horses into a race? Brenda can train them!" Honoka suggested and Umi just giggled, "That's not a bad idea but we need to fix everything around here first."
"And oh, maybe we should also scout for some around this area. Perhaps, there is also a wide space such as these and we can use it for farming!" Honoka added.
"I guess we need to arrange that soon, too huh?"
"Yes it is!"
"So... Honoka, your girl, Brenda is looking strict today towards your other workers huh?"
"You mean the shemales?" Honoka blinked at Umi who raised an eyebrow, "What's a shemale?"
"Shemales are females with a male genital! They can be called as intersexes if you want." Honoka smiled, "But it is easier and more comforting to call them as shemales." The ginger-haired explained and Umi just nodded.
"It does sounds comforting."
"And yes, those girls looked at Brenda as their general. Well, Brenda was a lieutenant general anyway when she was at the marine army."
Umi's eyes widened, "Marine army? Wow, your mansion sure is protected."
The comment made Honoka chuckle, "You bet it is. And I was very thankful that I met her."
"How did you two meet?" Umi then listened to her intently.
"Well, we met at a restaurant and there was this man who tried to attack and steal my things but then Brenda came to rescue me. You didn't know how awful that was. Poor her, she got a wound on her cheek because of a hard punch coming from that crazy man. So, we went to my house and I tended that wound. It went from there." Honoka explained.
"I see..." Umi did not know what to say except that but her eyes were filled with admiration as she listened to this. Stories like these made her feel so excited. It felt like Honoka was reading her a fairy tale.
"But of what I find surprising was that Brenda quit the marines just to work under me." Honoka then smiled as she looked over at the workers.
It surprised the blue-haired. Not all people will quit something just for that. And she finds Brenda laudable for it. Her eyes then softened and smiled, "You sure are lucky."
"I am." Honoka giggled.
"Is it okay, Umi?!" Eli shouted from above as she tries to hold up the right side of a signboard, which was being placed above the entrance of the barn. The blonde was standing on the top of a double-sided ladder and she looks down at the blue-haired for further instructions.
Umi hummed as she stood a little far from the entrance to have a better look, she then sees that the signboard was not properly aligned and shouted back, "A little more down, Eli!"
The blonde then followed her.
"Okay! Perfect!" Umi said.
Eli then placed a nail and started to hammer the signboard's upper right side. After that, she placed another nail on its middle and started to hammer again, then the lower one. After she finishes, she then climbed down the ladder and went to stand beside Umi, looking up at the signboard.
"The name for the barn sure fits it huh?" Eli chuckled and looked down at the blue-haired.
Umi rolled her eyes, "It's just our duo name."
"Even so. It is still fitting." The blonde and the blue-haired looked away, "R-Right."
Eli then softened her eyes, "You now, Umi..."
"Hmm?" Umi looked up at the blonde.
"I think I have foundmy soulmate here." Eli said.
Umi's eyes widened, "What?"
A/N: Heeey guys! YuriWriter30 is here and she is back with another chapter! So sorry guys for the inactivity! I had been very busy here in college and couldn't get the time to write! Along with that, I encountered a long author's block. But I am back for good now! The fire to write again is burning once more and is ready to take on challenges! Hope you guys still support and I hope you enjoyed reading this chapter! Votes and comments are always appreciated!