After explaining the situation to Texas and Sora inside the house, Shirou went with Alina to a spot not far away where they could sit.
Faust and Mephisto sat obediently at a distance though their gazes remained fixed on them making Shirou feel a bit uncomfortable.
Texas and Sora were also watching from the window. Just in case, they had Shirou keep his earpiece on so if anything went wrong they would come out immediately to support him.
The earpiece hung around Shirou's neck, hidden under his coat.
"…So, what did you want to talk about, Miss Alina?"
After thinking for a moment, Shirou started the conversation.
"Just call me Alina."
Alina placed her right hand over her left as she spoke.
"…Alright. Then what would you like to talk about, Alina?"
Shirou went along with her preference, it was just a form of address after all.
Though he did notice that she seemed to be wearing a glove on her left hand.
"First, I wanted to thank you for taking care of Sasha and Eno yesterday—that is Faust and Mephisto. I assume you've already learned from Miss Dalia that we are part of Reunion?"
Alina went straight to the point.
"Miss Dalia mentioned it briefly."
Shirou did not try to hide anything. His first impression of Alina was fairly good.
"Then… what is your opinion of Reunion?"
After a brief pause, Alina posed her question.
This made Shirou think.
From what he knew so far, Reunion was made up of Infected from Ursus. They had come from farther north and set up a base near this village, helping deal with the wild animals in the forest…
"I do not know much, so it is hard to say. But from what Miss Dalia said, it seems Reunion wants to speak up for the Infected?"
Shirou did not directly state a firm opinion. Most of what he knew came from Miss Dalia.
From her words, he could tell she did not seem to hold any prejudice against Reunion and she even thought they were good people.
But that was only one side of the story. Shirou was not someone who would judge something as good or bad based on limited information.
"Speaking up for the Infected is indeed one of Reunion's goals. But since you are not very familiar with us, let me ask another question, what do you think about the Infected?"
Seeing Shirou avoid a definitive answer, Alina switched topics.
"The Infected…"
Shirou paused in thought.
Alina did not rush him, allowing him time to consider.
He was well aware that the Infected were widely discriminated against in this world.
But in his view, the Infected were simply…
"…people who are sick?"
That was his honest answer.
To him, the so-called Infected were just people suffering from an illness, one that was difficult to cure and which could spread if not handled properly.
But with proper precautions, they were not really different from normal people.
They could get angry over small things, and feel happiness just like anyone else.
"People who are sick…?"
A faint smile appeared on Alina's face as if she were reminiscing about something.
Shirou did not interrupt, quietly waiting.
Meanwhile inside the house, Texas and Sora—along with Exusiai and Croissant who had just woken up and joined the "spectacle" were listening in through the earpiece, completely confused by the conversation.
That Elafia woman named Alina had suddenly taken Shirou outside, supposedly to thank him for taking care of the two kids.
But everything they were talking about now had nothing to do with that!
"I am telling you, she definitely has some ulterior motive toward Shirou."
Croissant said while chewing on some jerky.
"Exactly! Using two kids as an excuse is just lame!"
Exusiai chimed in.
"You two, be quiet."
Texas listened carefully to the conversation while gathering information.
An organization made up of the Infected was not necessarily noteworthy but if it was in Ursus that was a different matter.
Still, gathering intel was not the main point. The real issue was figuring out why Alina wanted to approach Shirou.
Most of their conversation revolved around the Infected.
"…What is she actually trying to do?"
Listening to the exchange, Sora began to feel a bit restless.
Alina mostly asked questions for Shirou to answer and if he could not, she would explain a little.
The topics largely centered on the Infected and Shirou's views on Reunion.
"…Wait, she is not trying to recruit Shirou is she?"
Exusiai took a sip of water and casually threw out the idea.
The more she thought about it, the more it seemed possible. Alina really did seem like she was trying to "pitch" something to Shirou.
That remark instantly put the other three on alert and all of them focused their attention on the two outside.
Meanwhile, after a series of exchanges, Shirou had roughly come to understand Reunion's goals and ideology.
Simply put, they sought to punish the evil and help those in need and the weak—almost like…
Thinking up to that point, Shirou felt a bit of a headache and gently rubbed his temples.
Mainly because Alina had said quite a lot and it had also made him think of certain things himself.
"Sorry, I got a bit carried away."
Noticing that Shirou seemed uncomfortable, Alina gently placed her right hand on his forehead.
Her hand was slightly cold, which was normal. In this kind of weather, unless you were an anomaly like Shirou or someone with special Originium Arts, cold hands and feet were to be expected.
Still, Shirou felt like her hand brushed slightly upward.
"…Shirou, what is your name?"
Alina looked closely at his face as she asked.
"…Emiya Shirou."
Shirou understood that she was not asking for his codename. After a brief hesitation, he gave his real name.
"Emiya Shirou, is it?"
Hearing his name, a trace of loneliness appeared on Alina's face but it was quickly replaced by an even brighter smile.
"Tell me… would you consider joining Reunion?"
Faced with Alina's invitation, Shirou hesitated slightly.
Punish the evil and help those in need and the weak… being a hero of justice—it did sound appealing.
But then there was Penguin Logistics…
Just as Shirou was hesitating, he suddenly heard the sound of a door opening and hurried footsteps.
Turning his head, he saw the four members of Penguin Logistics sprinting toward him.
"AAAAAH! I OBJECT!"
Exusiai shouted at the top of her lungs. The Penguin Logistics crew had erupted in protest at Alina's attempt to poach Shirou.
With Exusiai leading the charge, she first grabbed Shirou and pulled him back a few steps, while Croissant lifted his legs. The two of them promptly carried him off toward the house.
"Ahem…Miss Alina we are very sorry but we need to take Shirou back for something urgent."
Sora spoke to Alina.
Here, Sora and Texas handled the negotiation while Exusiai and Croissant physically hauled Shirou away, the division of labor was perfectly clear.
"You are Shirou's companions?"
Watching their actions, Alina did not seem annoyed at being interrupted. Instead she looked somewhat relieved.
"Whatever your intentions are, we will not let you get close to Shirou again."
Texas gripped the hilt of her Originium sword, staying on guard.
If it had been the Lungmen Guard Department, she would not have reacted so strongly.
But the Reunion was different, there were too many unknowns about this organization.
They were the ones who found the amnesiac Shirou. It was only natural for them to take responsibility for looking after and protecting him.
Even if he did not really need protection and in fact took care of them instead.
Still, due to amnesia Shirou's mindset was not fully mature, it would be easy for someone with ulterior motives to take advantage of him.
"Do not be so tense. I only tried to recruit Shirou because… he reminds me of a friend."
Seeing Texas and Sora's guarded stance, Mephisto and Faust stepped forward to stand in front of Alina.
But Alina gently pulled them back, signaling that she had no intention of opposing them.
"That's all?"
Texas lowered her guard slightly. Since the other side had shown goodwill, there was no need to keep pressing.
"Yes, that's all."
Alina nodded, then added:
"Shirou is very similar to that friend of mine. If he does not have someone by his side, it is very easy for him to go down an extreme path. Please keep that in mind. If there is nothing else, I will be going now."
With that, Alina left with Faust and Mephisto.
Watching the three of them leave, both Texas and Sora looked a bit confused.
"Texas, do you understand what she meant?"
Sora asked. She could not quite make sense of it.
"If no one stays with him, he will go to extremes?"
Shirou?
It sounded more believable to say Shirou would conquer Lungmen with his cooking skills.
"…I have no idea."
Texas shook her head and sheathed her weapon.
When the two returned inside, they saw Shirou sitting by the fireplace, calmly drinking water while Exusiai and Croissant were kneeling on the floor in reflection.
"…Should we join them?"
Sora wondered aloud. Was Shirou handing out punishment for what just happened?
"You two can sit. They are kneeling because of last night as well."
Shirou sighed as he spoke to Texas and Sora.
"…"
The two quietly returned to their seats.
"Now then… care to explain?"
Placing his cup on the table, Shirou asked.