Even though Neptune and Nepgear invited everyone over to their house, their friends declined. “You two probably need a little time to settle in Nep.” Said IF, after declining their invitation. “We’ll come over to bother you two tomorrow. Okay?”
“Well… Alright.” Neptune said, sighing deeply.
“We’ll see everyone tomorrow then!” Nepgear said, waving goodbye to her friends. After that, the two Nep’s headed back to their home. As they walked side-by-side, the girls couldn’t help, but look at the surrounding buildings. “It’s weird. We’ve only been away for a week or so, but everything looks different, huh?”
“Yeah. Everything looks a bit shinier than normal. That’s what happens when you risk your life.” Said Neptune.
“Yeah. I guess so.” Said Nepgear.
As the two girls made their way down the long street, they couldn’t help, but remember everything that had taken place over the last week. The close calls they both suffered from. The monsters they killed and the friends they made. “I wonder if MAGES. And Red are in Planeptune now.” Neptune said.
“Good question.” Said Nepgear. “If MAGES. Is anything like me, chances are she’ll be spending a lot of time around the Fairy Tower. As for Red….”
“She’ll probably being trying to find more wifeys, right?” Neptune suggested.
The girls finally reached their home. Nepgear unlocked the door and allowed it to swing open. The girls made their way inside and started turning on the lights. “Weird. This place looks clean and maintained. Think someone broke in and cleaned for us?” Neptune asked.
“Actually I think Compa did it for us. She did volunteer after all.” Said Nepgear.
“True.” Said Neptune. Neptune started laughing as she ran over to her favorite seat. Plopping herself down she grabbed a controller and turned her console on. “Hi old friend! I haven’t played you in a long time!” Neptune said.
Nepgear sighed deeply as she pulled off her backpack and opened it. After removing all the puddings, water and other food and medical supplies that were inside she made her way over to Neptune and seized her backpack. “Thanks sis.” Neptune said, sliding her arms out of her backpacks straps.
“You’re welcome.” Nepgear said, as she sat the backpack down beside hers and started removing items as well. “Huh? Oh! I forgot about this.” Nepgear said.
Neptune turned and saw Nepgear was holding a strange game console in her hands. “Oh right! My new game console!” Neptune leapt to her feet and ran over to where Nepgear was standing. “We need to figure this out while were back and get our game on!”
Nepgear nodded, but she wasn’t sure if they would have enough time to figure anything out. “We have to travel to Lastation after this. A new nation, new people and we’ll have to deal with two goddesses!” Nepgear thought to herself. “I hope we can handle it.”
“Worrying again Nepgear?” Neptune asked.
“Huh? No! I’m not worried!” Nepgear lied.
“I know you better than that!” Neptune said. “Don’t worry. I won’t force you to talk, but I will force you to share a pillow with me tonight.”
Nepgear smiled. “Thanks Neptune.”
“Sure. Let’s play some games now and relax!” Neptune said, leading Nepgear away from the table.
“Right. Hold on.” Nepgear said, as she gently placed the game console down on the table. “Let’s play!”
***
The following day, Neptune and Nepgear fell into their usual routines. Neptune found herself sitting in front of the television playing video games, while Nepgear fiddled with her energy sword at her workbench. “I think I can maximize the output of my sword, but I might need another energy cell to keep it from losing energy.” Nepgear muttered to herself.
“I think I can beat this game before we have to leave, but I also want to figure that new console of mine out.” Neptune muttered.
The two girls didn’t notice a small group of girls were now standing outside their home. “Knock, knock.” Compa said, opening the door a few inches.
“Compa!” Neptune cheered, as she leapt to her feet and ran to the door. Neptune saw Compa smiling brightly at her, behind her was IF, Falcom and even Purple Sister. “How’s it going ladies?” She asked.
“Nep-Nep, Ge-Ge! How are you two? Sorry we didn’t hangout yesterday.” Said Compa.
“Hey Nep! Slacking off already?” IF asked.
“Hello. Thanks for having us.” Said Falcom.
“H-Hello.” Said Purple Sister.
Neptune giggled as her friends made their way into their home. Nepgear on the other hand was completely absorbed in her work and didn’t notice all the people who had just entered.
“I’m glad you’re here Purple Sister, but I’m surprised Purple Heart let you go. If it were me, I’d be glued to your side for a gazillion years!” Neptune said.
Purple Sister blushed a little. “I want to spend time with her, but I also want to see my friends.” She said.
“Also Purple Heart wants to stay glued to her side, but has her duty as a CPU.” Said Falcom. “She thought Purple Sister would be bored following her around.”
“I can see that. All that paper pushing and stuff. Sounds boring to me.” Neptune said.
“Not boring. Fascinating.” Purple Sister said.
“I’m glad you feel that way.” Said Neptune. “By the way Falcom. I wanted to ask. Where are you staying? You know you can park it here if you want! I’ll even share my pudding with you!”
“Thanks Neptune, but lady Purple Heart gave me a room at the Basilicom.” Said Falcom.
As Neptune, Falcom and Purple Sister continued talking. IF and Compa made their way over to Nepgear who was still working on her energy sword. “Ge-Ge…” Compa said, gently into Nepgear’s. “Hi Ge-Ge. How are you?”
“Huh? Good big sister.” Nepgear said, not taking her eyes off her work.
“Gear? Time to go to bed.” IF said.
“I’m not tired.” Said Nepgear.
“Ge-Ge…” Compa began, as she raked her index finger over Nepgear’s cheek. Nepgear shook her head, before turning her eyes towards Compa. “Hi Ge-Ge!” Compa said, smiling brightly.
“Oh! Compa! I’m sorry!” Nepgear said, finally getting up from her workbench. Nepgear gasped when she noticed that it wasn’t just Compa in her home. “Oh goodness! When did you all get here?!”
“We’ve been here for a few hours Nepgear. I can’t believe you didn’t notice us!” IF teased.
“Goodness! Really?” Nepgear said, stunned.
“No… We just arrived.” Said Compa.
“You always get absorbed in your work, huh?” Asked IF.
“Sorry about that.” Nepgear said, blushing a little.
“Don’t be.” Said IF, draping her arm over Nepgear’s shoulders.
Nepgear joined her sister who was still talking with everyone else. The difference between their conversation this time and before, was the fact that they weren’t reporting what happened to Purple Heart. Now the girls could be more casual and laugh along with their friends.
“Neptune! I can’t believe how hurt you got!” Compa said, the girl looked as though she were close to crying.
“Oh Compa. Plug those leaking pipes. If it weren’t for Nepgear, I would have been in serious trouble.” Said Neptune. “I was so proud of my baby sister that day! Though I’m proud of her everyday.”
“It was scary.” Nepgear admitted .
“Sounds terrifying.” Purple Sister said, hugging herself a bit.
“To be honest with you. I’m really worried about that HachimaJin monster you talked about. Where exactly did that thing run off too?” Asked IF.
“Who knows. Maybe it got a good look at me and was like ‘see ya’!” Neptune offered.
“Yeah. I doubt it.” Said IF. “If it saw you Neptune it probably would have mistaken you for an easy meal.”
“Thanks IF. You really know how to lift my spirits.” Said Neptune, slightly annoyed. “Anyways, Nepgear and I will deal with the monster if it shows up. Also Purple Heart said she’ll keep an eye out for it too.”
“Yeah, but… As strong as Purple Heart is, it won’t just be HachimaJin she’ll have to deal with.” Said Nepgear. “Don’t forget that data we found big sister. HachimaJin could create monsters.”
“That’s true.” Said Neptune. “That’s why were all here, right? To help just incase?”
IF placed her hands on her hips. “Would you look at that? Neptune finally acknowledged the rest of us.”
“Of course I acknowledge you IF! While you guys are fighting, I’ll stay here and keep my pudding supply safe.” Said Neptune.
“What pudding supply? Your refrigerator was practically empty, remember?” Said IF.
“What!?” Neptune ran to the refrigerator and pulled the door open. To her horror, only a few pudding packs remained. “Oh my gosh Nepgear! IF is right for once! We need to restock now!”
“We shouldn’t buy too much big sister.” Nepgear said. “Were leaving for Lastation next, remember?”
“Oh no, oh no, oh no!” Neptune cried. “If I eat those five pudding packs and those other pudding packs I’ll only have seven left!”
Nepgear sighed deeply. “Alright. I’ll go to the store.” Nepgear said, as she headed for the door.
“I’ll go with you.” Said Compa.
“I’ll tag along too.” Said Falcom.
Purple Sister looked from Nepgear, to Neptune. “What should I do?” She wondered aloud.
Nepgear smiled. “It’s okay Purple Sister. You can stay here.”
“But I’m your friend too.” Said Purple Sister.
“Of course were still friends, but you don’t have to choose between me and my sister.” Said Nepgear, reassuring her friend.
Neptune suddenly appeared by Purple Sister’s side and took the girl by the hand. “I have a super fun activity for us Purple Sister. Let’s play games together! I’ve been wanting to since I met you!”
“Oh… Okay.” Purple Sister said, nodding.
“It always comes down to pudding and video games, doesn’t it Neptune?” Asked IF.
“Don’t be a pooper scooper Iffy. You can play with us too!” Neptune said, as she seized IF‘s hand as well.
“I guess I’m staying here then.” IF said to Compa. “I’ll see you in a little bit with you know who?”
“Yep!” Said Compa.
Neptune furrowed her brow. “I know who?”
“Not you.” Said IF. “Me and Compa. We want to introduce to you a friend of ours.”
“Oh right… My replacement.” Said Neptune.
And with that. Nepgear, Compa and Falcom left the house leaving Neptune, IF and Purple Sister behind.
Neptune guided her friends over to her favorite chair. “Purple Sister you can have my favorite chair in the house!”
“Thank you, but I don’t want to take your chair.” Said Purple Sister.
“Oh wow!” IF said, sarcastically. “You should take it Purple Sister. Not everyday Neptune gives up her favorite chair.”
“Really?” Purple Sister said, not noticing how sarcastic IF was being. “Well thank you.” She said, taking a seat.
“Geesh IF! I’m trying to be nice. Just for that you can be player three.” Neptune said, handing IF a controller.
“My bad.” IF said, even more sarcastically than before.
Neptune sighed deeply as she handed a controller over to Purple Sister. “Let’s just start playing.” Said Neptune.
***
Arfoire had done what Compa has asked and was waiting for her friend to arrive at the grocery store. “She said her friend would probably go grocery shopping today… Maybe they aren’t really coming.” Arfoire thought, crossing her arms in front of her chest and was leaning back against the wall behind her. Arfoire had closed her eyes and was listening to the sounds of Planeptune all around her. “I’m sure they wouldn’t lie to me though. After all… We are friends.”
Arfoire continued to wait patiently, but soon started to lose hope. “I should just leave. They don’t really need me around anymore.” Before Arfoire could do anything though, she heard a familiar voice.
“Arfoire! Were here!” Compa said.
Arfoire opened her eyes and saw Compa was being followed by two other girls. Arfoire wasn’t sure why, but something in her brain told her she knew who those girls were. “Compa. Hi.” Arfoire said, pushing off the wall she was leaning against.
“Sorry if I kept you waiting.” Said Compa. “My friend here would like to do some grocery shopping. After that, we’ll head to her place. Okay?”
“That’s fine, but I’ll just wait out here.” Said Arfoire.
“Oh, well…” Compa began.
“It’s okay Compa.” Said Nepgear. “Why don’t you wait with her. I’ll be in and out in a few minutes.”
“Are you sure Ge-Ge?” Compa asked.
“Of course!” Said Nepgear.
“I’ll still go in with you.” Said Falcom, following Nepgear inside.
Arfoire crossed her arms once again in front of her chest and leaned back against the wall behind her. “Compa. I know you said that we were friends, but you don’t have to keep it up anymore. I’m doing a lot better now. I have a job and-”
“No way!” Compa said, harshly.
Compa’s mood change caused Arfoire to open her eyes. “Compa?” She began.
“Were friends no Arfoire. That’s not going to change just because my old friends came back.” Compa said, smiling sweetly at Arfoire. Arfoire seized the brim of her hat and lowered it over her face just so she could hide her blushing cheeks.
Like Nepgear had said, it only took her a few minutes to finish grocery shopping. Nepgear stepped outside with Falcom. Both girls were carrying several bags of groceries. “I’m done.” Nepgear said.
“Goodie. Let’s go back to your place Ge-Ge.” Said Compa.
Arfoire awkwardly followed Compa and her two friends down the long street. After a few moments they stopped in front of a house. Compa opened the door and stepped inside. “Were back and I brought our new friend.”
“Here we go…” Came the voice of Neptune.
Neptune got to her feet and made her way to the door. “Hello!” Neptune said, smiling brightly. “My name is Neptune! It’s nice to-”
“NEPTUNE!?” Arfoire’s voice cut through the air like a hot knife through butter.
“Whoa!” IF cried, running to the door. “What’s going on?” She demanded.
Arfoire closed her eyes tightly and shook her head. “I-I don’t know… I don’t know why, but something tells me that I know Neptune! I also know that I hate her more than anything in this world!”
