It was a busy day at the Guild, with various quest takers and agents taking on various quests the Guild had to offer. One of the clerks was just finished sending credits to a Guild agent's account and when he left, she attended to the next agents in line.

Neptune and Nereus stepped up to the counter and the purplette held up a sheet of paper. The clerk took the paper and read the title. It said, "Vampire menace in agricultural community".

"Quest completed ma'am," said Neptune.

"Okay then, you have any form of prove?" the clerk asked politely.

Neptune took out a phone he had recently brought, flipped it open and pressed a few buttons. He held it out for her to see the picture he took.

The monster in the picture looked like an oversized, humanoid bat with claws that were as long as swords and she could see the elongated fangs in its gaping mouth. One of its arm was chopped off and it was covered in blood.

It was not the first she saw such a bloody sight nor a hideous monster. She nodded and punched in a few button on her keyboard, "Would you have our credits now or have it send to your accounts?"

"Send them to our accounts please. We get each get half the reward," answered Nereus.

"All right. Account names please," they told her their account names and she transferred the reward money. And with that, the duo left the guild.

They took their usual way home. Along the way, Neptune saw a poster hanging on a lamp post. The poster said a fair was opening tomorrow night and it depicted many things an average poster would advertise. He slowed his pace for a moment, looking at the poster while thinking about Plutia.

"I wonder…yeah, maybe that would do."

He picked up his pace again. They walked through a crowd of pedestrians, consisting of the many different races of Gamindustry. Half-way home they came across their sisters.

"Hey, Nepgear."

"Oh, Neptune, you're finished your quest already? Wow that was fast."

"Well, it wasn't that far and the ekimara wasn't tough at all."

"It was a young one, by vampire standards. Probably 50 years old," said Nereus.

"You girls were grocery shopping?"

"Yes. We just finished," said Uni, holding the plastic bags in both hands.

"Where's Plutia? Oh wait, never mind, I'm pretty sure she's sleeping back home."

"As usual," said Nereus.

The pair of siblings walked the remaining distance home. When they took the stairs up to their apartments, Nepgear spoke, "Hey everyone, you all saw the posters around saying that there will be a fair tomorrow night?"

"Yeah, you want to go?" said Uni.

"Yes I do. We haven't been to one since being with grandpa."

Neptune flinched. His sister wants to go to the fair?

"I want to come too. What about you Nereus?"

"Sure, why not."

Neptune's heart sank. He should had thought this situation would happen. And now his plan was ruined; his plan to ask Plutia out on a date. Something he had been thinking about since moving to the city and the fair sounded like a good place. He sighed.

"Neptune?"

"W-what? What is it, Nepgear?"

"Um, I was asking you if you like to come to that carnival."

"Oh, sure. It will be fun."

"Yes. I'm sure Plutia would like to come too."

"I'm sure she will."

"Also, you looked kind of disappointed just now. Is there something wrong?"

"Nay, it's nothing."

"Really? You normally don't put on that face."

"I don't?"

Nepgear grinned, "To be exact, I think that is the first time you looked disappointed with something."

"Seriously sis? You aren't teasing your big bro are you?"

She shook her head, "No." She definitely knows her brother well. From the days after they woke up with no memories to the months they lived with Balthazar to their time in the village and now, she always see her older brother as optimistic and confident. So seeing him looking disappointed and disheartened is new.

Ahead of them, Nereus asked, "So what are you disappointed in?"

"If it is something you can ask us."

"Nay it's nothing you should get your innocent mind wrapped over sis."

"Okay, if it's something, don't hesitant to ask for my help."

Neptune reverted back to his usual bright and confident expression Nepgear has always know him to put on. They reached their floor and the four siblings returned to their apartments. Nepgear opened the door to Apartment 14 and they took off their shoes. The sound of faint snoring can be heard from the living room. They entered the room to find the ever nap-loving Plutia on the couch, her peaceful expression indicates just how much she was enjoying herself in her dream wonderland. Neptune looked at her and can't help thinking how cute she looked sleeping there. Then he noticed something else. Plutia usually takes a nap with her bear plushy but today there were two other plushies laying on the coach with her. He was surprised to see that the plushies were none other than Nepgear and himself. From his distance, he could see the plushy of him with the same messy lilac hair, purple and white hoodie and baggy purple trousers. For the Nepgear plushy, it was also an exact replica with the long lilac hair, buttoned up sailor outfit and even the thigh high socks and boots.

Neptune walked into the kitchen where Nepgear was putting the groceries away and whispered, "Hey sis, did you saw the plushies Plutia has? They're us."

Nepgear nodded, "She just finished them this morning after you and Nereus left."

"Huh, she wasn't joking when she said she will make plushies of us."

"She also said she is almost done with plushy versions of Nereus and Uni."

"Cool," Neptune picked up one of the groceries and put it into a cabinet but before he did, the newspaper on the kitchen table caught his attention. He took a peak at the headlines, "Full scale attack on town by mercenary army".

Intrigued, he picked the newspaper up and read it. The news told of a town being attacked by the recently infamous 'Black Snakes', who are considered to be more of a small army than a band of mercenaries. While still considered mercenaries, they were known to raid a few villages and communities. But this recent attack was their boldest and was larger in scale considering it was a town they attacked. They pillaged the town and killed a number of its occupants. It was done in broad daylight. Black Snakes were also infamously known for their leader and his lieutenants and all were considered top notch fighters and magicians.

"Man this is awful."

"I know. Why would they want to do such a thing?"

"Well," Neptune placed the newspaper down, "there are a lot of different kinds of people. Some are good and there are some that are bad," he said, reciting from what Balthazar told them during their time with him.

"I hope someone would do something about them."

"I'm sure they will sis."

Nepgear looked at the clock hanging on the wall and then at the fridge and cabinets, "It's already late noon. Wonder what we can have for dinner."

"Whatever you decide to cook Nepgear. I'll always make sure the food is safely stuffed in my stomach," Neptune said while patting his abdomen.

Nepgear grinned and laughed. She started looking through the things in the fridge she brought. Neptune looked to where Plutia was sleeping again. He thought of the ruined date plan he had and the fair tomorrow night. He wondered if there is still something he could salvage.

Or maybe it is not ruined.

"Hmm," he place his chin between his forefinger and thumb and thought about it. It's still a fair and even with his sister and friends there, maybe, just maybe…

'You know what? Let's just go for it.'

"Hey sis."

"Yeah?"

"Look, about that thing that I was kind of disappointed it."

"What about it?"

"Well…sis, since you are a girl I feel like I could get some advice from you."

Nepgear looked at his brother with puzzled eyes. Neptune continued, seeing his sister confused, "So Nepgear, if you are on a date what would you want to do or expect from the guy who asked you out?"

Nepgear stared at his brother, processing what he said. When she realized what he was trying to ask her, "Ehhh?!"

Plutia rubbed her eyes and sat upright on the couch, her plushies falling around her onto it. She looked around and smell something cooking from the kitchen. She let out a yawn and stood up. She went into the kitchen to find Nepgear cooking at the stove, "Good morning Nepgear."

"Plutia, you're awake. And it's actually evening now Plutia. You slept for hours again."

"I see. But I enjoy it so much," Plutia cooed.

"A-ah sure, glad you enjoyed your sleep."

Plutia then noticed Nepgear was acting kind of strange. The way she looked at her was unusual. She was trying to be polite as always but she also looked like she found out a horrible truth about her. Plutia wondered what was bothering her.

"Is there something wrong Nepgear…?"

"No, e-everything's find."

"But why are you acting a bit weird…? Like you're nervous…?"

"Um…well..."

"Oh hey, Plu, you're awake," said Neptune. He came out with his katana in hand from the farthest room at the back of the apartment where he and Nepgear clean and sharpen their swords. He sheathed his katana and put it back into his storage.

"Good evening Neppy. How was your quest with Nereus?"

"Oh it's fine. But anyways there's something important I want to tell you."

"Hmm, what is it…?"

"You see there's a fair tomorrow night and we all decided to go."

"A fair? That sounds fun…"

"Yeah but…even though Nepgear, Nereus and Uni will be coming along…well there's something I want to ask you."

"Ask me what…?"

Neptune walked up to her and looked into her eyes and said, "Plutia, do you want to go to the fair with me on a date?"

For a few seconds that felt like minutes to Neptune, Plutia remained silent while looking at Neptune, placing a finger on her chin and her expression telling him she was thinking this over. He tried to stay calm but in those short seconds, his palms were already sweaty and his heart was pounding against his ribcage. He wondered if he had been too straightforward.

"Ok."

Neptune almost jumped. Did he heard her right? She said 'Ok' right?

"R-really?"

"Uh-huh," she grinned, "It sounds fun, Neppy."

Neptune felt his heartbeat faster than before but this time with joy and excitement. Plutia said 'yes'. And he was scared she would reject him but she didn't!

"Alrighty then, tomorrow night, to the fair we go!" Neptune said enthusiastically while throwing his fist up.

"Yaayyy!" Plutia cheered.

Nepgear couldn't help but smiled seeing her brother happy. She hoped her advice to him was useful. The advice? 'Just be yourself'. That was all she said to him. She honestly didn't know what people should do on a date. But if there's any other advice she would give her brother it is definitely for him to be himself. She was sure that he could pull this off especially with how easy going Plutia was. Neptune looked at her and gave her a thumbs up. She returned it with her own.

Please review this chapter, any criticism will be accepted for improvement. It helps a lot.