Chapter Two: Better or Worse?

IF sat at the port to go to Planeptune. She couldn't get that night out of her head. Lady Green Heart, caught out in the rain, spent the entire night with her in her own house. She sighed as she clutched her favorite phone of the nine she always kept on her person.

"I don't believe she asked for my number." She whispered. At that precise moment her phone buzzed and played a soft melody and IF almost screamed in shock and joy. She had set a very distinctive ringtone for Vert's number. She instantly flipped open the phone.

"Just woke up Iffy~! Thanks for letting me play with you, I hope I can see you again soon you little cutie 3" IF blushed at that last part.

"M-Me too Lady Vert!" She replied.

"Awwww bad Iffy! D; just Vert." The goddess replied, and as IF went to reply herself there was another message, "Or Verty, or Vert-Vert, or anything you like ;3"

"V-V-V-Ver-W-What?!" IF tried to calm down. To call the Goddess of Leanbox by a nickname, she couldn't do such a thing! She just froze for a few minutes until her phone went off again.

"Still there cutie?"

"Err….Y-Yes." IF finally replied as she got up to leave for Planeptune. She had made plans the day before to visit her friends Compa, Nepgear, and Neptune. As she arrived at the nation by Terraportation she was instantly greeted.

"Hi Iffy!" She looked up from her phone to see Compa waving at her with Nepgear and Neptune beside her.

"Hiya!" Neptune said with a big smile as usual.

"Hello again IF." Nepgear greeted.

"Hey guys, been here long?"

"Nope, not long." Compa said.

"So what's the plan?"

"Let's just go to my room and play some games!" Neptune said.

"Is that even ok? I mean, you live at the Basilicom."

"Oh please, it's my house really." Neptune said offhandedly, not caring in the least. No one had any other ideas so they just went with it. Nepgear stuck close to her older sister and Compa talked with IF as they followed.

"So, anything interesting happen lately Iffy?" She inquired kindly.

"I actually met Lady Green Heart last night." IF said.

"Really?"

"Yeah, she got caught in the rain outside my place and wound up staying the night."

"Ooooooh you met Vert?" Neptune overheard this.

"Yeah." It made sense for Neptune to know Vert, she was Planeptune's CPU after all.

"Heh heh, you touch her boobies?" Neptune sneered. IF instantly smacked her upside the head.

"O-Of course not you pervert!" IF said.

"Neppu…" Neptune rubbed her head.

"Nep-Nep was just joking Iffy." Compa said nervously.

"Still though, that's really inappropriate." IF grumbled.

"Pardon me." Someone tapped IF's shoulder and she turned to ask them what they wanted only to find herself being grabbed and shoved into the person's chest.

"Pwahf!?"

"There you are Iffy~!" Muffled by the cleavage IF made out an all too familiar voice.

"Hi Vert!" Neptune confirmed her fear. IF felt her body heat up, she was wedged between her Goddess's breasts.

"Oh hello Nep. I was just coming over to ask if you had seen Iffy around, but it seems I found her anyway~." Vert held her tighter.

"Fert! Ant wreath!" IF mumbled in protest from her suffocating confines.

"Ummm….Miss Vert? I think IF is asking to be let go." Compa said.

"Awww but if I let her go she might run off again." Vert said. She just turned IF around and held her tighter. This felt even worse because now IF could see clearly what was in front of her. She only saw Neptune's smug grin and two round, soft breasts.

"C-C-Can y-you please l-let me go l-lady V-Vert?" IF stuttered.

"No can do Iffy." Vert teased jiggling her chest around her head, "I had so much fun with you, I'm officially declaring you my best friend."

"B-Best friend?!"

"Yay! Lucky you, Iffy!" Neptune said.

"S-Shut up Nep!"

"Miss Vert, Iffy won't run away if you let her go. Right?" Compa felt a little bad for her.

"Y-Yeah I won't!" IF said in desperation.

"Alright, but you better not~." Vert let her go with a smile.

After that embarrassing event they went to Neptune's room in the Basilicom. Despite IF's worries there were no problems with them being there and they all settled down as Vert and Neptune started picking out games. IF was still recovering, occasionally mumbling to herself about 'dirtying the holy lands'.

"I'm gonna go get us some snacks, be right back!" Compa said.

"Oh Compa, get pudding! Lots and lots of pudding!" Neptune called.

"Oh, why don't we just keep it simple and play this?" Vert held up a game.

"Dogoo Party 4? Awww but there's like no action!" Neptune whined.

"Yeah but then we can all play at the same time." Nepgear said. She then looked at IF, "Well, maybe not right away but…"

"Heh heh, Vert's boobs broke Iffy." Neptune giggled. It was fairly true, IF was so out of it she didn't even smack Neptune for the comment.

"Since that is my fault I will detain myself from gaming until Iffy has recovered." Vert said before sitting down next to her.

"S-Sorry Lady Vert."

"Oh don't be, I'm perfectly fine just sitting with you Iffy." Vert said kindly as Neptune put in the game just as Compa returned with food and drinks. IF and Vert both sat next to one another in a one sided awkward silence as IF was still far too in awe of Vert to view her as anything less than a Goddess but Vert was already treating her like a lifelong friend. Eventually IF recovered enough to join in on the game. Vert promptly joined as well, and also won the first game.

"Vert's really good at games." Nepgear commented as she took a break from the game with Compa. Neptune and Vert were going toe to toe while IF just went along for the ride.

"Nep-Nep is too." Compa said as well.

"Awww darn it!" Neptune suddenly exclaimed, throwing her arms into the air and falling backwards to land on the large pillow she sat on with a soft thump.

"Huh?" Nepgear looked at the screen and saw Neptune had lost enough to be kicked out of the game.

"Just you and me Iffy." Vert said. IF's mind went to an odd place and the simple fact made her blush.

"Hey you guy's should make a bet!" Neptune suddenly said.

"Nep!" IF tried to stop her but it was too late.

"Oh I like that idea Neptune." Vert thought for a moment, "If I win Iffy…I'll kiss you."

"W-W-W-What?!" IF stared at the goddess, cheeks red and feeling faint.

"What do you wish from me if you win?" Vert asked, "Anything at all~."

"Umm….ah…." IF knew she had to think of something. Then it came to her, "I-If I win I w-want to s-see your HDD mode!"

"Awww, that's it?" Vert asked, "And have you not seen me in that form before?"

"N-No I haven't." IF said.

"Well, I'll take that as a-."

"Wait Vert!" Neptune suddenly started whispering to her.

"Oh? Oh that's a wonderful idea!" Vert turned to IF, "I've changed my mind."

"What?! Y-You can't change it!"

"Did either of us say it was a deal yet Iffy?" Vert reminded.

"Erk!" She bit her lip, "W-Well?"

"If I win, Iffy will take me out on a date." IF just froze solid, glaring at Neptune who just started eating some pudding from Compa. Vert initiated the final game match between them, "Let us begin."

"H-Hey wait!" IF floundered for her controller, which wasn't in her hands, and barely got ready in time. Oh man, the loading screen saved me.

The rules for the last game were simple, IF and Vert had to knock the other off a tilting platform as their characters slid about as they had to tilt their own controllers to control where they slid and use the movement sticks to throw items they may have picked up. IF was very careful with her ammo and Vert was very aggressive but also good at dodging. The three watching became glued to the screen as the timer ran out and with neither of them having gotten hit it went into sudden death mode. Now any projectile hit would end the match instantly by hurling the target off the platform instead of the usual slight knock back. IF only had one item left but Vert was unarmed but could still knock her off if she got in close enough.

"The tension builds!" Neptune commented.

"Wow, they're both sweating." Compa noticed. During the four minute match Vert had removed her gloves and IF had slid out of her jacket. The anticipation of the bet got to them both. Vert really wanted to win, not only because it was a game and it was her thing but because she wanted to spend more time with IF. IF didn't want to lose solely because she felt it was wrong to go on a date with a Goddess and in all honesty she did want to see Vert's HDD mode.

"Oh they're circling." Nepgear said as IF and Vert started running around the corners of the arena, occasionally making fake charges at one another. IF was running out of time, she had never had such a tense match in anything before and her hands were getting sweaty enough she was having difficulty holding onto the movement sticks. Vert however was highly skilled in long gaming sessions and had an iron grip on her own controller.

"Ack!" IF cursed as her finger slipped and she accidentally fired off her only form of protection.

"Gotcha!" Vert declared as she rushed in and IF went flying off the screen and Vert was declared the winner. IF fell backwards onto the couch, covering her face with her coat, half to wipe herself off and half to cover her shame.

"That was like, the most epic battle of the Dogoos ever!" Neptune said.

"Well it didn't end fairly Neptune, IF's finger slipped." Nepgear said.

"Aww don't be like that sis, it was fun!"

"Yeah, it was nice seeing you both go at it."

"I can't believe this….." IF mumbled and felt someone grab her arm.

"Well Iffy, a deal's a deal. I wonder where you'll take me to." Vert said. IF gulped and looked away.

"N-Not today okay?" IF said, adding to it to not seem like she was going back on the bet, "T-Tomorrow."

"Alright, that'll give me time to find something better to wear." Vert said.

"Hey let's go beat up some baddies!" Neptune said. Nepgear quickly agreed to it, since it would help with their Shares, provide something to do, and she would get some training. IF just suddenly left the room and went to the Guild before them. She picked up several quests and left for Lowee.