Episode 6: Chika

There was a person that Chika Hakozaki was obsessed with. Who was this person? That was a maiden's secret!

Okay, it was Vert.

This obsession had spiraled out of control many times before. One day it had reached the point where it bothered even the subject of her admiration. Chika had comprehended the truth after some harsh self-reflection. She was a bother to Vert. That was an objective truth. She was lacking as an Oracle and as a sister alike.

The three years where Vert was gone and imprisoned in the Gamindustri Graveyard were the worst of her entire life. Deprived of her everything and unable to keep Leanbox stable on her own, she had almost succumbed to despair. In those times where nobody seemed to have any solution, the CPU candidates stepped in to save their sisters. All Chika could do was watch from far away as they did what she had wished to do so many times before.

After Vert returned Chika had become even clingier than before those three years. She wanted to spend every second with her darling Vert. In the process she suffocated her with her presence. Vert was someone who could deal with loneliness well, but being constantly bothered was a different matter. And additionally she had to make up for Chika's uselessness during those three years…

To remedy this situation she had finally decided to take on a journey overseas. To improve her skills and knowledge as an Oracle. Finally she could become worthy of her big sister. That was her main reason.

Of course that decision had been incredibly painful to her. Being separated from Vert again, no matter how long or short, was like torture. Every step of the way she had regretted this path. But in the final moments before she had left the Basilicom for her journey, she had witnessed Vert's beautiful smile. She saw her off so hopefully and gently…

Chika had hardened her heart and set out on the new adventure in front of her. Vert had taught her to fight with the spear, so she was able to defend herself well enough. And after finding the ancient library in the desert and working for the council of a foreign nation she had obtained knowledge and skill, until she had improved herself to be the perfect Oracle.

When Histoire's SOS had reached her she was already on the ship sailing back to Leanbox. The timing couldn't have been more perfect.

When she heard what had been happening to the continent while she was gone she had felt an urge to rush home. The news of Gold Third taking over and erasing everybody's memories… Chika had never once forgotten Vert. She was as integral to her existence as her heart and lungs. Then there was the nigh destruction of world by the hands of some ancient goddess called Kurome. She had only picked up the essentials in Vert's letters, but it was like they could never catch a break.

And now… The CPUs were turning human. The world was usurped by this new CPU, Uzume Ten-something. Histoire asked her to support this new goddess. It was ludicrous.

First of all she needed to check upon the one that mattered the most. The moment she set food on the shores of Gamindustri she already rushed towards that ever distant utopia!


Vert was sitting inside her room and contemplating something. She had just made a call to get information on the whereabouts of an elusive girl with a dimension hopping tome. This was harder than expected. As she leaned back on her chair to look out the window…

The sound of an entrance being smashed open shook her awake from her drowsy thoughts.

"MYYYYYYYYYYYY!" The yelling came from the first floor.

That voice!

"DARLIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIING!" Second level.

Vert spun around on her swivel chair.

"VEEEEEEEEEEERT!" Chika crashed through the door.

The blonde ex-CPU stood up in surprise. It was really her. She had suddenly returned without any prior warning. Many emotions were rushing through her head, but all of them culminated in one big smile.

"Ah… aahhhh!" Chika's eyes teared up at the sight of her most beloved. She rushed over! Vert opened her arms to receive her in an embrace.

Chika tripped over the rug. Followed by her hitting her head against the windowsill and then falling over right out the window.

"Oh dear." Vert made a poker face as her self-declared little sister fell from the second floor.

Vert looked outside to see if she was alright, but Chika was already running back up the stairs.

"BIIIIIIIIIIIIIIG!" Somehow she skipped the first floor entirely and catapulted herself through Vert's door.

"SIIIIIIIISTEEEEER!" This time she hit her target and embraced her.

She huffed and cried tears of joy to finally be reunited again as she buried her face in Vert's chest. Her green hair was covering her face and arms as she kept hugging Vert like an octopus would its prey.

Realization struck her as Vert was gently stroking her head and she barely managed to pull herself away with tear soaked eyes. She wiped her face with her black sleeve. She had to contain herself! Was all that training for nothing?!

"I'm… home." Chika said in happiness.

"Welcome back." Vert said with the same big smile that she had when Chika left. She had finally received her back. Overcoming the forlorn feeling without her had even taxed Vert's strong heart. But she also knew that Chika's frail heart had been so much more pained by the separation.


After their heartfelt reunion they settled down and started to discuss the current situation. After hearing what happened she was devastated. She had become an Oracle for Vert's sake, but now it seemed like she would never work with her again!

But that was also part of her journey. She had realized that she wanted to be someone people could rely on…. Even people other than Vert. She would definitely help Histoire and the others to keep Gamindustri afloat. That was her trial.

"My darling Vert… just what are you going to do now?" Chika asked with downcast eyes.

"For now I'm searching for answers. While I'm still in the good grace of my contacts I have used them to sniff out someone who could know more about the crisis than even Histoire." Vert was always collected. Even in the face of becoming human she had decided to stay rational. This is why Chika adored her as well!

"But… but what if you truly will stay human?" Chika leaned forward on the couch and looked up to Vert's deep blue eyes.

"Then I will finally be able to focus on my gaming." Vert said with a wry smile.

That wasn't what Chika wanted to hear. And that uncertain expression wasn't what she wanted to see. So even Vert had trouble to process this new future.

"What about money?" She rationalized the situation.

"What indeed. I suppose I might be able to win some at tournaments." The video-game kind of course. Vert was already infamous among the elite of the e-sports community. If she decided to do it full-time, she would be a top ranked contender for sure. "Although I prefer to take it easy." She added. What Vert considered an easy-going gaming session would be pure hell for most normal people though.

"You could sell some of your collection too." Chika cupped her chin and glanced at the storage room. An insanely packed hoard of treasures. With all the limited edition materials and signed games in there she could make a fortune just on online sales alone.

"Must I really?" Vert was not happy! She was like a child that had to sell one of her toys to buy a new one. Or perhaps she just had a compulsive hoarding syndrome. Either way that sad puppy look was Chika's kryptonite, so she immediately erased the option from her list.

This was a real pickle. Vert could do anything she set her mind to, but she didn't really have a mind for anything right now.

"For now I will rent a room at an inn from the money on my account. That should last at least a month of two." Vert said without much enthusiasm.

"Eh?" Chika's ears perked up. Then her mouth went agape. "You want to leave the Basilicom?!"

"Ah well… certainly. I do not have much right to stay here anymore. I would only get in the way of the staff as well-" Vert loosened her arms that had been stuck in a thoughtful pose and paid finally attention at the disturbed looking Chika.

"You can't leave!" The oracle jumped up and grabbed Vert's hands. "This is your home! Our home!"

"But…"

"If you leave, this place will turn into just another building! The Basilicom and Vert…. they are inseparable!" Chika's eyes were tearing up again. She couldn't allow this…. All the memories they had made here would fade away if Vert left…

"…" The blonde girl looked down at her old friend in puzzlement. Her hands clutching Vert's so desperately were shaking.

"I just… hic… please don't leave me behind." She had tried to overcome her selfishness, but if Vert wasn't waiting here, at this place they had lived together at for such a long time… then she felt like she couldn't return here ever again.

"I see." Vert unwound her right hand from Chika's fading grip and put it on her head once again. The petting was comforting. "If you allow me to stay here, Leanbox's Oracle, then I suppose that is all I can ask for. I will pay my rent on time, naturally."

"Thx Vertipalndmsng…!" Her sniffing and squirming made it hard to understand her anymore.

"Do you not have to go to the Zero dimension soon?" Vert was sitting on the couch, while letting Chika rest her exhausted head on her lap. It was fine to indulge her once or twice after such a long time.

"Just a little longer." She whispered with a relaxed expression. Her eyes were still red and puffy from crying. She probably didn't want to meet the others looking like this.

They made some small talk as the hands of the clock turned. It was nice to have each other again. Eventually the conversation headed into uncomfortable territory, at least for Vert.

"You need to propose to someone!?" Chika was so excited that she raised her head in an instant, which made her forehead collide with Vert's chin.

After recovering from the pain for a few seconds…

"It seems that way. Not that I have any memory of agreeing to this bet." She was just a little displeased about it still.

Chika's eyes sparkled. Her breathing got ragged. This was a golden opportunity! Now that her darling sister had become human… now that she had nobody to worry about anymore…

"You can marry me! I don't mind switching from sister to wife!" She raised her hands high into the air.

"You know, I might have proposed to Nepgear." Vert said as if she hadn't heard Chika's words.

"!" Chika's smile froze in space-time.

"If only she wasn't already in a relationship with little Uni." Vert chuckled. "I fear that would have been unseemly for a big sister though. It is better this way or I might have crossed a frightening line." Clearly she was joking. Mostly. At least 80%.

Chika was currently floating through zero gravity behind some distant galaxies nebula.

Sister?

Nepgear?

Nepgear had become Vert's little sister?

Somehow that revelation hit her harder than anything before in her life. Even leaving Leanbox.

Trying to comprehend these words was like studying hieroglyphs of an ancient civilization, but there were only two letters of the entire alphabet available. It was like trying to solve a sealed room murder case with nothing but a magnifying glass and a pipe for smoking.

Had she been replaced? Had she become obsolete? Was Vert's heart already filled with that purple Mary Sue?! The harem monstrosity?!

She only took away… in that case Chika needed to become something even more special than a sister.

She needed Vert to see her as a woman!

"Please, I am serious… I promise I will be a good wife!"

Vert finally returned Chika's desperate stares with an apologetic expression. Chika's heart sank to her stomach.

"You are a sweet girl Chika." She said slowly, but with certainty. "But the truth is that I cannot see you that way. As a lover." She had to say it now or never. "To me you will always be like a little sister. And I love you dearly as a member of my family."

Chika was upset. Her eyes were turning moist again. Somewhere inside her there must have been an infinite reservoir of tears for Vert alone.

Yet she wasn't disillusioned.

She had known that much even before she left. Vert had always kept that certain distance. In her heart she knew that she never had a chance.

What really upset her was Vert's fate! She was the only one left out. Who would love her? Who would respect and comfort her? Who dared to love this great girl?

"Okay." She forced the word out of her sore throat. Affirmation of the facts. That was all she had for now.


After cleaning up her face a little and gathering her mental strength, Leanbox Oracle moved out to the Basilicom of the Zero dimension.

Her mind was a vortex of conflicting feelings, but outwardly she managed to be the definition of professionalism. At least until she met that new 'goddess'. The red-head with the face of a ruffian and the attitude of a tomboy. That was trying to replace her beautiful and divine Vert? Laughable.

She was somewhat happy to see the other Oracles again, but she could simply not feel any joy right now. Not in front of the usurper.

"Goodness! Everyone has returned!"

That voice! It send shivers of anger down the green haired Oracle's spine. Yes, this was the person she wanted to meet the most right now…

"You!" She growled at Nepgear with a deadly glare.

"Miss Chika?" Nepgear looked confused as she was suddenly dragged around by the arm and pulled into an adjacent room.

Right after they entered she closed the door… and locked it twice.

Nepgear gulped.

"Nepgear."

"Miss Chika?"

"How did you weasel yourself into my darling Vert's heart? What kind of blackmailing was involved?" Immediately she began with the accusations.

"Wha-?"

"I will take her place. So let her go already!" She lowered her head.

"Huh? B-but I didn't do anything like that…" Nepgear waved her arms around in denial.

"Your innocent act is not fooling me! I have been acting way longer than any of you fledgling little sisters. I can act sick so convincingly that I really do fall sick!" She took pride in the weirdest things.

"I swear that I didn't try to fool anyone." Nepgear put a hand to her heart. "Big sis… I mean Miss Vert is like a sister to me, so I told her my feelings. She agreed to my selfish request. That's all."

There was not a speck of dishonesty in her words. Chika was disgruntled by that purity. As always she couldn't get along with this girl.

But she had to accept the truth in front of her.

"Then tell me… if you hadn't become an item with Lastation's Candidate, would you have accepted Vert's proposal?" She had to know. The curiosity was eating her up inside. Even if it was pointless to know.

Nepgear took a while to reply to that inquiry. She was apparently giving it serious thought.

"I don't really know." She admitted. "I can't even imagine loving anyone that way except Uni anymore." Her face was slightly red.

'So this is how much love transforms people.' Chika thought to herself.

To be honest, she kind of saw herself and Vert in those two right now. An inseparable bond and longing… well that last part was all her. She had only ever loved Vert (no matter what kind of love it really was), so she couldn't imagine any other world either.

"Haaah… So there is nobody worthy or Vert and nobody Vert desires. At this rate she might be forced to propose to a rich suitor who can give her influence and power, who will die under mysterious circumstances just after the wedding bells rang for the last time, leaving my darling Vert alone with nothing but a giant fortune and authority." She sighed.

"Your imagination scares me sometimes Miss Chika…" Nepgear said with a twitching smile.

"You are off the hook for now. But I won't call you my sister just because Vert has acknowledged you as hers, understood?" She crossed her arms dismissively.

"U-understood." Nepgear agreed all too happily. Anything to get Chika's attention off of her.

"Why must I be busy with tutoring this tomboy goddess now of all times? Vert is clearly bothered by something. Even beyond losing her position and this accursed bet." She confided in Nepgear still for some reason. This must have been her way to acknowledge the purple sister as someone close to Vert.

"I noticed that too." Nepgear nodded. She was busy with all the changes in her life, but she had noticed Vert's troubled aura for a few weeks already.

"I am not up to date with all things quite yet. Did something happen before this bothersome disaster started?"

"Uhm. I noticed something, but I wasn't sure if it meant anything." Nepgear nodded.

"Out with it then." She urged her on.

"Miss Blanc and big sis have been avoiding each other for a while. They didn't seem to get along at the meeting either." She explained.

'Big sis' again. Chika had to suppress those jealous flames inside her chest for now.

"That isn't particularly unusual. My darling Vert doesn't get along with Lowee's CPU most of the time." She shrugged. It was common for them to have fights.

"I know. It's just that they usually make up fast." Nepgear tilted her head in concern. "IF also seemed to know something. She acted really weird."

"My my, I feel like some sort of Hyperdetective at this point. Fine, I will investigate this matter for Vert's sake. It's the least I can do." She posed coolly, clearly to impress upon Nepgear what a real sister looked like.

"Thank you Miss Chika. I was really worried about big sis. If you are taking care of it then I don't have to worry anymore."

This boundless faith was actually kind of pressuring in its own way…

(To be continued)


Doo-bi-doo-bi-dee-doo.

"It's Hi Five Radio Extra time! With your hosts 5pb. aaaaaand~"

"Cave."

"And don't you forget it!"

Clapping.

"Thanks manager! I hope everyone has gotten used to the double hosting now, because we will go all out today!"

"Yay."

"You could sound a little happier at least!"

"Yay."

"Today's Chirp comes from pen name: Bow-Chika-bow-wow. And they asked:"

[I need someone to help me right now! How do I obtain the affection of my darling?! Just what kind of dirty schemes and trickery is required to capture a heart? Tell me or I will spam your mail folder! I am a lunatic, so don't think I am bluffing!]

"We once again have no question worth answering. Good night everyone."

"C'mon Cave. These are the concerns of an honest fan."

"I can assure you that this is neither a fan nor someone honest."

"You have to put your bodyguard mindset on stand-by sometimes and just see the people for what they are."

"I fear the real person behind this is even more desperate than the fake persona they created."

"A-n-y-w-a-y. This listener needs our help in capturing the heart of their true love. This isn't something we can take lightly. If you want to express your feelings then I think the best way is through the power of music! Write a song filled with all your favorite things about that person and release it with the power of Rock 'n' Roll. If a song can conquer the world, then you can conquer a heart!"

"As expected of 5pb. But most people are not talented lyricists. Your suggestion is very similar to another tool for displaying affections though."

"Are we talking about love letters again?"

"Yes, that was what I was thinking- again?"

Creaking sound.

"Ehm… yes. I talked to Miss Manager about this before. She said I don't need to answer every love letter sent to me. Can you believe that? They were all pouring out their hearts, how could I just ignore them so coldly… that is just sad."

"You… receive those regularly?"

"You look so stiff all of a sudden? Yes, I get some during signing events and backstage during concerts. They are all very sweet. Even if I think they are sometimes just moved by a song and confused their love for music with love for… m-me."

Fidgeting sounds.

"I failed you."

"Ehhh? Why are you apologizing?!"

"It is kind of you to reply to them. Just as expected of 5pb."

"That doesn't really answer-"

"I need to take care of something. If you would please excuse me."

"In the middle of the show? F-fine, if Cave says it's important then it must be really important."

A few concerned seconds of silence.

"I wonder what she is doing…. Alright, if I can't stop thinking about it, then I might as well go too. Thanks for listening and tune in next time everyone! 5pb., plugging out~"

Fwoop.