Irreplaceable Radiance

**Irreplaceable Radiance** (否定できない友情, *An Undeniable Friendship*?) is a side-story based on the *Guardians of Harmony* series. It takes place a week after the series finale.

## Summary

*The relationship between Cheren and Gina has stayed a platonic friendship due to the latter's wish, and the two are happy with it being that way, but what's preventing it from also being a kind of love?*

## Plot

*For the transcript, see here. Any characters with the name "Cherry" will be addressed by their Japanese surnames. Both Sandras will be referred to by their Japanese surnames to avoid more confusion. Serena Tsukino will be referred to as **Serenity** to avoid confusion with Serena Gabena.*
Gina becomes increasingly concerned about Cheren's behavior around her, and summons Katrina to discuss it in private. Gina tells her that whenever she asks others about what could've happened if they weren't semi-immortal, they (but *especially* Cheren) dodge the question, which leads her to wonder if Megan is hiding something. Katrina notices how upset this makes Gina and tells the others, with Yuuki being the one to suggest that they go search for shopping centers. However, Rini and Cheren are in such a hurry that they leave without them, and Yuuna, Sonoko and Teryn are tasked with occupying Gina while the two embark on their search.

In downtown Celedon, Cheren and Rini brainstorm ideas for places or things that might make everycreature feel better, but while they stroll through town, they accidentally step into a danger zone, and after seeing a dead civilain's body, they realize somecreature bad is on the lose, causing them to transform. Then, said bad guy appears, but Bianca and Serenity arrive in time to help Cheren and Rini defeat him, and Officier Jenny arrests him.

When they return to the council chamber, an angry Katrina reprimands Cheren and Rini for stepping outside the "safety zone." Gina says that they ran into trouble because they went somewhere and left her and the others behind. Cheren explains that they were trying to find a shopping center in order to cheer her up, but Gina laughs and says she is happy as long as Cheren is by her side, causing him to blush.

The next day, Serenity learns that Rini is still depressed from receiving the harsh scolding from Katrina, so the Guardians decide to cheer her up. Rini overhears them, however, and insists that she is fine. Deciding to go through with the plan anyway, Eileen wonders if perhaps Cheren and Gina were lonely before they met (causing Felicia to slap her for being so clueless). Julia then accidentally teases Cheren and Gina over being a couple, causing everycreature to get so angry that Karen loses control, injuring Nanette in the process. This gives an annoyed Yuuki an idea, and she whispers her plan to the others so that only Rini, Cheren and Gina do not hear. After they finish whispering, a very upset Mikey then calls for the ER.

Later, while taking a stroll in Nuvema, Cheren and Gina wonder about how the Magic of Friendship helped them be true heroes. Suddenly, they hear a cry for help from a civilian and rush over (with Gina impulsively trying to rush over, only for Cheren to stop the young woman by grabbing her arm). Gina says she wants to help, but Cheren just laughs and shakes his head, saying to himself, "that's Gina for you," which Kazmar snidely agrees with. The two investigate, and once again, they find another bad guy trying to harm others, and are about to transform. Aurea, however, steps in, transforms, and tells Cheren and Gina to leave the fight to her, much to their bewilderment.

After the incident, the Guardians dress Rini, Cheren and Gina in kimonos and leads them to a clearing illuminated by Volbeat and Illumuse. Rini thanks Yuuna and the other Guardians, saying that this made her very happy. As the side-story ends, Gina kisses Cheren on the cheek, thanks him for always being her friend, and says that she loves him (to which he says back that he loves her as well).