Gently, the wind blows by, caressing the window's white curtais as it enter the small white room. The bright pink daisies resting in a small vase atop the similarly white bedstand, next to a fancy digital clock, aren't immune to physics either, waving lightly at the incoming breeze before coming to a stop. And, as a stronger gust briefly comes, Nepgear's long lilac hair flows without resistance, as if attempting to flee and yet not doing much in pushing the girl off the white chair she sits on.
White, white and white. No matter where one looks, they wouldn't see a single speck of a more notable color besides it, perhaps only the black handles on drawers or the metallic gray supports of the decently-sized bed before the Candidate.
It's quite the wonderless sight, maybe boring even, but it's simply fitting.
This is a hospital, after all.
"..."
The thought only weighs even further on the lilac-haired girl's mind as she continues to look at the white floor with a frown, unwilling to meet the eyes of the other person in this room.
"... You're starting to piss me off, you know?"
Nepgear almost winces at that, only the fact that she was expecting it preventing such.
She knows her little act would no doubt test anyone's patience, even if she can't really stop it.
"I-I'm sorry..."
"Really? You stay silent for an eternity, then just apologize out of nowhere? Would it kill you to socialize like a normal person?"
No, but her idiocy almost got someone else killed. There's no way Nepgear can just shrug it off, not after she found out just how much damage was done...
"Oh, for the love of the True Goddess, what's with that face? I swear, if you break down here just because I said the word 'kill,' I'll seriously hit you."
The Planeptunian Candidate's frown only deepens at those words. She's not that bad just yet, but, at this rate, her mental state might seriously get even worse than this girl thinks it already is.
And Nepgear will be the only one to blame for it.
"I'm serious, Gear, if you came here just for this crap—"
"Would now be a good time to apologize for laughing too...?"
Just like that, the other voice stops at once, leaving behind only a loud silence between the two of them.
Slowly, amethyst eyes raise from the tiles beneath, pointing at the brunette before them. She's lying on the bed, clad only in a white hospital gown, and covered up to her upper chest by a similarly colored sheet.
More telling, however, is the utterly dumbfounded stare she's sending Nepgear.
"... You're an idiot," she speaks after a while, wonderment clear in her tone. "I'm sure anybody would say you're sweet, but you're big enough of an idiot to put Neptune to shame, you know that?"
At that, the lilac-haired girl's frowning lips twist upwards, just a little bit. "I think you already used that one before."
"And I think you didn't prove me wrong just yet," IF shoots back just as fast, letting out a sigh. "You were going to take a hit, I took it. You're still not dead, and that's the end of it."
Just like that, the Candidate's frown comes back at full force.
"'You're still not dead'...?" the girl slowly echoes, as if attempting to make sure she heard it correctly. "'You're still not dead'? And what about you?"
This was all Nepgear's fault, that's true... But for IF to just ignore what happened like this it's just plain insane!
Even so, out of all responses, the brunette shoots her a small grin. "Last I checked it, I was still alive."
"Yes, and hurt," the lilac-haired retorts a tad more forcefully than intended, her hands grasping at her skirt. She seriously intends to act like this...?! "Stop talking like you're looking forward to losing your life... It's like you don't care at all about surviving this...!"
It's then that IF gives her an incredulous look. "Are you kidding me? Of course I want to survive. It's not like I'm looking for a way to kick the bucket as soon as possible. That's just dumb."
And yet, her voice is disgustingly calm for somebody who could have died just a while ago.
Nepgear expected this girl to complain about how she had been stupid against the elf, maybe scream at her for being suicidally careless, but this...
This is just too much.
"If that's 'just dumb,' then why do you always do something stupid...?" the lilac-haired girl asks, narrowing her eyes at the brunette. "Even before you shielded me, you made all that noise to try and attract enemies, didn't you?"
There's no other explanation, after all. Back then, she simply ignored it, too focused on her mission to wonder about unnecessary things, but now that Nepgear thinks about it, that so-called idea was far more careless than she was.
"Ah, well..." At that, IF looks away, clearly embarrassed. "It sounded like a good plan at the time..."
"And what if it had worked?" Nepgear continues, the grip on her skirt tightening noticeably. "What if you had gotten yourself an entire army of ASIC soldiers? Did you figure that you could just run away, even if there were a million bullets headed towards you?"
"W-Well, maybe—"
"What about Compa?" the Candidate finds herself asking. "Do you think she would have managed to survive something like that? Her aim and reflexes are great, but you know that's about it... Her defenses are at least horrible!"
"I-In that case, I'd just have to hold ASIC back a little for her to get a headstart, right?" the brunette tries nervously, almost pleading for the other girl to just accept her excuses.
At this point, Nepgear is already gritting her teeth.
She's... She's unbelievable!
"Even if you didn't die in a second, ranged attacks don't care about headstarts...!" she manages to mumble forcefully. "What's wrong with you...?! You also put both Compa and myself in danger against Judge, if you hadn't noticed! It really is like you're trying to get yourself killed, even if someone else has to go with you!"
"Hey, it's not like that at all!" IF attempts to defend herself, trying to raise her hands only to wince a moment later. "I-It's just... Sometimes people need to take a risk or two for the greater good, right? That's what I've been doing, from fighting Judge to shielding you! I was just—"
In that instant, it's as if something explodes inside Nepgear.
It's too much. Too much stupidity, too much carelessness, maybe even too much IF.
She can't take it anymore.
Her hands hit the mattress, shaking the entire bed and shutting up the idiot.
"'A risk or two'...? 'A risk or two'?! You broke three ribs!" the lilac-haired girl screams, violet eyes glaring into emerald with far more intensity than she ever thought possible for herself. "I don't care if our medicine is great nowadays, I don't care if the Basilicom is paying for the best treatment possible, I don't care you'll be alright within just a week, I don't care! You could have shot her for the attack to miss, you could have shot me to push my body away, hell, you could have just threw yourself at her if you felt like doing it, but instead you decided to shield me like it was the only option! We've only been in two serious fights, and yet you've already tried to get yourself killed three times! Even worse, from what I've seen, I'm sure Compa completely supported your 'choices' or whatever she called your stupidity up until now! It's like I'm the only one who cares about our lives here! If your heart had gone and exploded inside your chest, no amount of bandages would fix it, YOU SUICIDAL IDIOT!"
With that last shout, Nepgear finishes, tears pooling in her eyes, face completely red and breathing heavy as she falls back on her chair, clearly tired after such a tirade. "What... the hell... is wrong... with you...?"
As expected, at this point, the brunette is staring at the Candidate as if she had said something outrageous, like that she can return from death or the like. At this point, she wouldn't be surprised in the slightest if IF had just failed to listen everything that was said from shock alone.
To be honest, the lilac-haired girl isn't even sure herself from where that came from, she muses as she uses a sleeve to wipe off the beginnings of her tears. Everything she said sounds true, and as much as she's at still fault for her friend getting hurt, there's no doubt that IF also seemed outright eager to sacrifice herself back then for whatever reason, but...
When did Nepgear become this emotional mess?
"... So, that's how it is, huh," the brunette finally speaks after a long while, blinking. "I... crap, now I can't even retort to that."
In other words... a victory for Nepgear.
As much as that's worth.
"Good..." The Candidate mumbles, sniffing a bit. "That means you don't have any excuses left..."
"..." It's no wonder that the Guild agent stares at her once again at those words. This time, though, a genuine smile reaches her lips soon enough. "Heh, for you to just go and grow up without me noticing... I think we spent way too little time talking, miss roach."
At that, the lilac-haired girl is the one blinking. "'Grow up'...?"
What does she even mean with that? Nepgear just screamed at her, that's it! How can this be considered growing up...?!
"Yeah, you actually spoke your mind for once," IF continues, as if reading her thoughts,. "I mean, without sugar-coating or backing down at some point. Heck, you just slapped me all the way!"
As those words come, the lilac-haired girl can't help but avert her gaze.
Right, emotional instability is such growth...
"Hey, don't you make that face now, I'm serious!" the brunette insists. "Seriously, if you had pulled that off after Judge before, I'm pretty sure I'd be the one shutting up. Glad to see you give up on just keeping silent and nodding along."
"You make it sound like I did more than throw a tantrum right now..."
"I'm pretty sure you're allowed to throw a tantrum after what I did, yeah." IF shoots her a slight smirk as she says that. "Besides, it's not like I'm just praising your ability to shout. Did you know that Compa visited earlier?"
"... She did?"
"You bet she did," the Guild agent nods. "Spoilers: saying she was happy would be a lie. Comps said she brought me here and then went alone to give Histoire the report just so you could visit first, which, you know, you didn't." Just then, a small grin crosses the brunette's lips. "I didn't know moping around in your room was more fun than talking to me. I'm hurt."
At that, it's no wonder that Nepgear's expression falters. "W-Well... There were a couple new volumes for me to read, so..."
"So, comics better than Iffy, I see. I'm starting to think an intervention is in order," IF muses, somehow sounding smugger than ever. "Still, that's not my point. Compa said you just up and went HDD back then."
Even as she raises a quizzical eyebrow at the other girl, the Candidate slowly nods. "Yeah...?"
"Don't tell me you're not seeing anything unusual with that."
Nepgear blinks meekly. "S-Should I be?"
"... Sometimes I wonder if you're really that smart." The brunette lets out a sigh. "That's just it. You turned HDD. There was a fight, I was down, you were panicked, and you went HDD. That's what's unusual, Gear."
At first, the lilac-haired girl simply stares at IF, wondering what she's even talking about.
A moment later, her eyes widen in realization.
"Ah."
Nepgear turned HDD.
Even though she, with her highly amateurish grasp of battle techniques, could never do as much as a skill if there was even the slightest amount of uncertainty in herself, Nepgear turned HDD.
Filled with fear, completely panicked and without a single speck of calmness in her mind, she transformed.
Back then, the Candidate didn't try to activate HDD. She just... did. Rather than struggling to concentrate or trying to empty her mind, she went straight for the switch and turned it on by herself.
Before, in that sort of mental state, the girl would have needed another CPU, usually Neptune, to either direct some Shares towards her or just push the panic away somehow, sometimes even both; according to Histoire, Nepgear still needed to somehow burn in her memory the state of mind necessary to activate HDD, and then just use it to trigger the transformation from then on.
Needless to say, the way she was, turning into Purple Sister amidst a fight would be absolutely suicidal because of the delay. In fact, she already thought about doing so multiple times, both against Nepugia and the underling, before promptly discarding the idea due to the dangerous while it'd take to ready herself.
And yet, by the end of the battle against that elf, she managed to focus and transform in mere instants, simply by not even acknowledging the possibility of not being able to do so.
The most amazing part, the girl muses, is how she can remember exactly how to do it.
'Wait... That means... I can transform fast now...! And maybe even use skills without having to concentrate too much!'
That's... great!
Amazing, even!
"So, feel like you've grown up yet?" IF eventually asks, breaking Nepgear away from her thoughts. "I mean, I'm kinda glad you did it by yourself. When Compa told me you transformed, I thought she had done something crazy."
The Candidate tilts her head at that. "Something crazy...?"
"Yeah, like kissing you."
"...!"
Just like that, a scarlet tint suddenly appears all over the lilac-haired girl's cheeks.
As expected, the brunette lets out a chuckle at that. "C'mon, don't get so worked up! It's not like humans have any other way of transferring Shares around!" Just as she says that, a knowing grin makes its way to her face. "Besides, I'm sure it'd empty your head pretty good."
"W-What the goodness!" Nepgear huffs, looking away in an attempt to hide her embarrassment. "I didn't know you were such a pervert...!"
"What? Kissing is perverted now?" IF chuckles once again, her grin only widening. "Careful not to hold hands with Compa, then; you might get pregnant!"
"Gosh, stop it!"
"And die!"
"Geez!"
That the brunette actually starts laughing at that isn't exactly surprising.
It doesn't make it any less annoying, though.
"Aw, man, this is rich!" IF manages to say amidst a few laughs, her grin receding into a simple smirk. "Seriously, you're just so fun when you're not infuriating, y'know? Really, it's too bad this is almost over."
Nepgear lets out a huff at those words. Honestly, even hospitalized, this girl doesn't change at all—
Wait, "almost over"?
Curiously, Nepgear glances at the digital clock next to the daisies on the bedstand. What she sees has her eyes widen.
"Goodness, when did it become 7...?" the girl mumbles to herself in shock. At this point, she'll be booted out of here!
"Time's a funny one, isn't it? It's like it speeds up whenever you don't want it to," the Guild agent muses from her spot, letting out a chuckle. "It's pretty annoying."
"... I guess so." Slowly, the Candidate raises to her feet, still eyeing her friend. "Um, this might be sudden, but I'll be going, then. Try not to cause too much trouble for the nurses!"
"Hey, I'm not that bad, you know?" IF huffs at that, even though there's a smile on her face. "Well, see you later. Try not to get yourself killed."
"I'm pretty sure you're not one to talk about that," Nepgear retorts as she begins walking away, a slight smitk crossing her lips as a laugh comes from behind, alongside some mumblings about "someone growing a sense of humor."
Just as she reaches the doorway, the girl takes hold of the knob and opens the door—
"You guys are going on without me, aren't you?"
She stops.
"Hey, it's not like I'm mad, we can't spare any time. Even if you wanted to wait for me, I'd just send you guys going anyway!"
"... I'll call often," the Planeptunian Candidate tells her former party leader, and, somehow, she can almost feel the other girl's grin at those words.
"Good. If you didn't, I'd be the one calling you guys every two hours."
Nepgear lets out a chuckle at that, if only because of how true the brunette makes it sound.
She's not getting rid of IF just yet, that's for sure.
With that thought, and a smile on her lips, the new party leader steps out of the room.
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*Chapter 8*
Windless Hollow
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The sounds of boots hitting metal echo nonstop through the large, dark chamber. At all directions, black surfaces present themselves, adorned by white, blue and even purple glowing circles and lines which give the room quite the technological atmosphere.
And, as Nepgear leans back just in time for a featureless gray humanoid figure's right hook to sail past, almost scratching her unprotected neck and usual white dress, these are the only signs that she's even moving around the borderline void.
Another punch comes, the girl pushing this one away with her left hand. Her enemy covers its torso, no doubt expecting a stab from the knife in her right grasp.
It didn't expect, however, the Candidate to spin left and hit its side with the back of her boot.
The figure's entire body ripples as if some sort of liquid, stopping its movements soon after. Letting out a sigh, Nepgear places her foot back on the ground, retreating a single step as amethyst eyes stare at her adversary.
"Simulation complete," a robotic voice says from everywhere at once. "Fifty-three openings ignored. Time: Three minutes and twenty-seven seconds. Rank—"
"Terminate ranking evaluation," the lilac-haired girl speaks first. "Also reset the program."
"Acknowledged."
In just a moment, the gray figure seemingly becomes liquid, melting and becoming a puddle on the floor before disappearing into any drainage grates hidden by the floor's darkness.
Nepgear can't help shudder a bit at the sight. It's as unsettling as ever...
... But now isn't the time to think about that.
Calming her stance, the girl proceeds to evaluate her own results, not exactly trusting of a machine's one-letter ranks.
Getting an S in simulation doesn't mean you'll survive your next real fight, after all.
'I managed to dodge and attack a bit better this time. Not that it means much in Normal Mode, but still...'
Now, if only she could manage not to lose her sword for once, the girl muses as she walks up to the discarded weapon, taking hold of its handle with her free hand and turning off the blade. If there's one downside to laser weapons—besides the inability to enchant their edges, that is—that'd be how their relative weightlessness makes it easier for them to be yanked out of one's hands, and it gets worse as the blade grows longer. Torque is a thing, after all.
But, still...
Slowly, the girl brings the knife up to her face, eyeing its smaller handle and, more importantly, triangular laser blade. As expected, it's short, amounting to something like one table knife and half. Honestly, that's pretty much why Nepgear has been calling it a knife rather than a dagger; it doesn't really look like anything more than a needlessly technologic table utensil.
In her mind, the girl takes note to remind herself about upgrading the blade's size after she's done here. Something like a filet knife's length would probably work.
"Initiate simulation. Repeat enemy type, add shortsword weapon. Raise difficulty to six."
"Acknowledged."
Suddenly, the same gray liquid as before starts leaking from the floor several meters away, coming together and forming the same shape as before.
Igniting once again her sword, Nepgear proceeds to switch the weapons in her hands, holding the knife in her left grip instead. Placing her right foot forward, the girl assumes a fencing stance, pointing the larger blade at her forming adversary.
It's not like she has any training in this stance, but it's not like she hasn't see the Lastationite CPU fight before. All in all, now's a good time as ever to find out if the Planeptunian Candidate has any natural talent for it.
In front of her, the figure is already completed by now, holding a gray generic sword shape on its right hand and simply waiting for any input to move.
And then it's already two meters nearer.
"!"
Reflexively, Nepgear steps and stabs forward, only for her adversary to dodge to its left, effectively moving behind her. On the corner of their sight, amethyst eyes spot a horizontal rushing slash incoming, to which the girl manages to spin her knife into a reverse grip and deflect awkwardly before it can touch her back.
That doesn't stop the figure's momentum as it continues to run forward, however, only to suddenly jump in place just as Nepgear begins to turn her head and upper body left to reverse her stance. Before she can realize what's happening, her adversary is already spinning midair, preparing another slash.
In the lilac-haired girl's mind, a quick realization hits her. If this was a real battle, she would simply attempt to also deflect this attack, or perhaps just dodge, but wouldn't that simply prolong the encounter without any net advantage?
Therefore...!
The slash comes as expected, to which Nepgear ducks underneath. That's not all, however, as she suddenly shoots towards her enemy during the action, stabbing at its form with her sword. The blade hits its target, destroying any sense of balance and sending the being tumbling on the ground.
Of course, only for it to recover midair and land on a crouch.
... Fancy.
As her right boot hits the floor, Nepgear once again assumes a fencing stance, unwilling to let an opening show as she returns the knife to a normal grip. That strike wasn't as effective as it should have been, and all it caused was generic damage rather than some sort of extra effect like disarming, but it's still much better than what she had before.
In this case, maybe it's time to move up a bit...!
It's not long until her enemy dashes at her, attempting to deliver yet another horizontal slash towards her torso. Rather than use her sword, Nepgear instead takes a step forward, beinging her sword back as she reversesher stance, and stabs upwards at the figure's incoming right hand, throwing the slash off its trajectory as it sails over her head harmlessly. However, unsurprisingly, her adversary makes use of the momentum, planting a foot on the floor, spinning around and bringing the sword back in an upwards diagonal attack with both hands.
Even the Candidate is amazed at the ease in which she manages to spin her knife around and deflect the attack with a firm stab outwards, forcing the slash's angle to raise even further as the triangular laser blade leads it. The result is the sword missing completely, and yet being raised above her adversary's head, the unexpected movement breaking its stance noticeably.
In other words, a blatant opening for a little test.
Remembering the same focus she had when transforming before, in a single instant, Nepgear allows her body to be enveloped in mana, enhancing her senses and physical capabilities alike.
It won't last long at all.
She doesn't need it to, however.
Her sword sails forward, and, with that, it begins.
'Mirage Dance!'
The name is familiar; in essence, it's the same technique she used so many times against unmoving training targets. However, as her sword stabs at her enemy rather than slashing for the first move, Nepgear knows she has to improvise a little due to her unusual armament and stance alike.
The figure is forced a few steps back by the attack, which the Candidate makes use of to dash forward, plant her boots on the ground and slash downwards with her knife. She doesn't stop there, forcefully halting her momentum and slashing left with her sword, only to keep spinning and attack diagonally upwards with her knife. Hit by hit, step by step, the dance continues for several seconds more, the girl gracefully attempting to dish out as much damage as possible—
"Ghrk?!"
Only to be forcefully halted by an unbelievably strong stab to the stomach, her feet leaving the dance floor.
Nepgear instinctively closes her eyes in pain as she's sent flying back, hitting the ground loudly before rolling to a stop.
"Simulation failed," the usual robotic voice from everywhere says, proceeding with several statistics the Candidate couldn't really care less about at the moment.
Well... that was a bust. But why?
... Ah.
'I didn't focus on its weapon arm for too long.'
It's pretty annoying that the answer comes so fast.
Still, now she knows, the lilac-haired girl supposes. That has to count for something.
Slowly, she opens her violet eyes—
Blood, oozing out of the wound in her stomach, it's not stopping—
—and blinks with a gasp, eyeing her completely unharmed torso.
"..."
Nepgear brings a hand to her head as she slowly sits up, doing her best to pace her beating heart and hasty breathing.
This... might be a problem.
Her fears, given form by an damned mind. Amidst battles, distractions at best, invitations to the void at worst.
If only they were easy to ignore...
With a grunt, the girl raises to her feet, eyeing the artificial warrior before her. Maybe if she's hurt enough times, then she'll get used to it—
"Ge-Ge?"
At the voice, the Candidate's dangerous line of thought comes to a halt as she turns around.
Standing by a white, glowing rectangular shape, signaling the entrance amidst the dark polished wall, is a familiar peach-haired girl, her similarly colored eyes filled with confusion.
As she falters under the gaze, Nepgear can easily understand why.
It's already 9 PM, after all.
"Compa..."
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Be it from tiredness or simply anticipation for what's about to come, a long sigh slips past Nepgear's lips as she sits in quite an undignified manner on the metallic bench, staring straight at the gray wall forming one of the Basilicom's many hallways.
Leaning forward and bringing the violet can of juice to her mouth, the Candidate doesn't even react as the peach-haired source of her worries sits down next to her, placing both hands on her lap.
Taking a gulp, Nepgear then lowers her drink, resisting the urge to sigh once again. She might not have the patience for this at the moment... Why can't Compa just disappear from her sight for the time being?
"..."
In her mind, she can't help but wonder from where these antisocial thoughts are coming. Is she... using the nurse as a scapegoat for her frustrations?
'Heh... As if my personality wasn't bad enough as is...'
Still, this isn't exactly the time to think about that and zone out. Any moment now...
"So... Ge-Ge was training."
And there we go.
"You could have at least gone home and told us where you were going," Compa continues, looking at her friend worriedly. "Histoire had to check all the cameras to find you..."
The cameras? Unbidden, amethyst eyes glance upwards, where one of the said objects is slowly rotating alongside its axis. Right, they have those... She'd probably do well to keep this in mind.
"You're just wondering how to not be caught, aren't you?"
Nepgear winces as she directs her eyes back to the nurse, noticing something akin to annoyance in them. Well, she's not wrong, but...
"... I didn't say anything because you two would just try and talk me out of it," the Candidate explains, looking at the floor.
And they'd probably be successful in doing so if pushing together, she silently muses afterwards.
"O-Of course we would!" Compa agrees, nodding at her. "It's already late, Ge-Ge! What were you even doing there?"
"Well..."
'Training,' is the needlessly snarky response which the lilac-haired almost replies with. However, that wouldn't do much to help her, the girl decides as she takes another gulp of her juice.
... Ah, right, there's also how it'd sour her relationship with the nurse. That's important too.
The fact that Nepgear almost couldn't bring that to mind is somewhat worrying...
"It's just... We're alone now, right? At least for the time being," the Candidate manages to start, letting out a sigh. "IF isn't going to be fine for a while, and we can't waste time waiting for her. So, I figured I should try to become stronger so I wouldn't drag us down anymore... I mean, after all, it's just the two of us, and you're..."
Nepgear trails off right there, wondering what to say to her friend now that she thoughtlessly began the phrase.
Weak? Unsuited for the front lines? Helpless before true danger?
Each one is worse than the last...
"... a healer," is what the lilac-haired girl chooses in the end, probably the only non-offensive classification which came to her mind.
"You could just say I'm not a good fighter..." Compa mumbles from her side.
'That's right,' Nepgear almost says. 'You might move well, but you're useless as anything besides a distraction. There are real fighters that can heal as well as you can and deal ten times more damage; even I can recover some HP by myself. If it weren't for our circumstances, you'd be better off as a normal nurse in some random hospital.'
In her mind, the Candidate finds herself noting that this is how the world works. Determination doesn't defeat world-eating monsters, and it's a fact that the peach-haired girl simply isn't soldier material. People are born with limits to their stats, their futures decided from the first breath they take; just like Nepgear was fated to be a weak CPU, Compa couldn't escape from being a weak human, which is far worse.
"..."
The lilac-haired girl doesn't speak that, however. If only because, by that logic, she should have died against that underling rather than chasing her off.
That line of thought is flawed, somehow.
But, even so...
"It's true that you can beat strong enemies with your mind," Nepgear concedes; it'd be impossible not to after what she herself pulled off. "But, if the difference in strength is just too big, even that won't do much... That's why I need to reach IF's level as soon as possible."
And that's what frustrates her so much.
How can she, who only wasted her whole life playing around, become as powerful as someone who's essentially an official mercenary to the Guild?
Hoping won't help at all, but neither might training in such a short amount of time. All the lilac-haired girl can do is try and become the least horrible substitute possible for their party, and that in itself is a hefty goal for her.
"But, Ge-Ge..."
At those words, Nepgear finds herself bracing for what's to come. Not out of fear, but by the certainty that her patience is bound to be tested in just a few moments. After all, what else can this be, besides an attempt to dissuade her from this line of thought? What else can Compa say, besides an empty reassurance that the lilac-haired girl "shouldn't try to be someone else" and the sort? What else can escape her lips, besides a reminder that the Candidate should be keeping a healthy schedule rather than doing things such as training at night?
It's just a waste of time... This whole conversation, that is—
"Iffy is pretty weak."
Nepgear freezes.
In just an instant, her attention is completely snatched by the nurse's words.
Turning to look at her friend, the Candidate lets out one simple sound which captures perfectly her state of mind.
"... Huh?"
"Iffy is weak," Compa repeats matter-of-factly, locking eyes with the stunned lilac-haired girl. "She has decent speed and kinda good attack, but Iffy is still weak."
"B-But I checked her stats in the database!" Nepgear protests, edging closer to the nurse. "They're very good for her level! There's no way IF isn't strong!"
"Um..." At the sudden proximity, the nurse can't help but stutter a bit, leaning away on the bench. "Ge-Ge does know those are just the practical stats... Right?"
It's then that the Candidate blinks, moving back to her spot. "... They're what, now?"
"Kinda like scores... I think?" Compa tries to explain, a light blush surging on her features. "They're more practice results than Iffy's actual stats, that's why they look nice. Mine do too... probably."
"Practice... results...?" Nepgear slowly repeats, confusion obvious in her face. Does that mean it's possible to go beyond your stats somehow?
"Doing stuff like moving your mana to defend better raises the VIT score, and always hitting weak spots raises ATK score," the nurse notes with a smile. "Even if you're really tough, that doesn't mean a lot if you can't smack a cute little dogoo well or block a tiny pixelvader's tackle."
"Is that so..."
It does make sense. Just like how a fragile and thin rapier can deal more damage than a big sword if it pierces through, having better technique is sometimes enough to close gaps of strength. Someone who is born strong probably won't try to push themselves to their limit, since they likely won't face tough challenges in the first place, but that can't be said for those who are weak by nature...
Still, to think IF of all people is like that... It's almost unreal.
"Iffy knew that, and that she needed to do lots to be useful," the peach-haired girl continues, her voice growing melancholic. "So she trained, and trained, and trained. I did it too, but Iffy was way more into it... I think that's why she changed a lot."
... Hm?
"She changed?" Nepgear finds herself asking, her tone perhaps a bit too shocked. "But she's just like how she was before!"
A stubborn, careless, annoying, prank-loving girl who you just can't bring yourself to hate, that is. How is she different in any way?
"Yeah," Compa agrees, nodding at her friend. "But... that's just now."
"'Now'...?"
"Yup... Before we saved you, she..." the peach-haired girl suddenly trails off, realization all over her face. "Wait, didn't I tell Ge-Ge about it earlier today?"
Nepgear freezes.
Does that mean...
"A-Ah, you did?" the lilac-haired girl says nervously, taking a quick sip of her drink. "M-My memory sure seems to be acting up today, ahahaha!"
Judging by the blank look she receives, Compa isn't exactly amused by that.
"... Ge-Ge could learn to space out less often," she replies flatly. "I'm still gonna check up on you tomorrow."
"Aha... hahaha..."
... Darnit.
"Anyway..." the peach-haired girl sighs, letting the back of her head touch the wall as she focuses on the ceiling, and yet obviously staring into her memories instead. "Iffy... She was serious. Too serious... All she did was shout orders to everybody who listened, go on quests and sleep. I... I don't think I saw her smile even once in those three years... Or at least look really happy smiling."
At every word that comes from Compa's mouth, Nepgear finds herself more and more drawn into her story, if only because of how unbelievable it seems at this point.
IF? That girl? As a no-nonsense no-fun Basilicom mercenary?
It seriously sounds like a bad joke.
"Iffy knew she was weak, so she acted strong... I think she did that for everybody else too. Nothing was ever easy, and nobody had nearly as many breaks as we have now," the nurse explains with a sad smile. "Seeing her like that... I just wanted to help somehow, in any way I could, even if it was as just some rusty, weak tool."
... That's right. She already said this before, Nepgear notes.
Is that why she supports IF's every move, no matter how stupid? Rather than honestly agreeing with her, is it actually just a sentiment of having to stand by her friend, no matter what?
This is... stupid.
Before, the Candidate couldn't help but feel amazed at Compa's determination, but now, after seeing just how far it goes?
Her hands ball into fists.
There's not a single trace of beauty in it, just the sort of idiocy that leads to death...!
"Then, we saved Ge-Ge..." the peach-haired girl continues, unaware of Nepgear's thoughts. "You slept for a long time, but... the whole atmosphere here got lighter. We began having more time to rest, our Shares started getting stable just because Ge-Ge was here, and... I could see Iffy changing," Compa reveals, her smile growing brighter. "She was swinging all the time between being sad, mad and just smiling at nothing... and everything she did had way more emotion than before."
With an even wider smile, the peach-haired girl turns towards her stunned friend. "Even so, before Ge-Ge woke up, I still thought Iffy would stay a lot more serious than before all this, but... I think something happened between you two. Now, it's kinda like those three years never happened to her."
"...?"
At that, Nepgear finds herself filled with confusion. "Something" happened between the two of them, Compa says? Isn't it possible that IF moved on from all the trauma she went through by herself?
Then again, while definitely possible, that doesn't sound particularly probable. Mental scars are just that because they don't fade away easily, so maybe it really has something to do with the Planeptunian Candidate... but what?
... The pranks? Did IF start pranking her out of frustration for losing the Sharicite, only for that to somehow help her overcome all that happened?
Or maybe it has something to do with their short interactions in the following days... However, they didn't talk much, mostly because of the supposed rift caused by Nepgear using the Sharicite, so the lilac-haired girl wouldn't have noticed any changes if they did happen.
It's just too complicated... Anything pertaining to social interactions is hard to understand by nature, but this is a whole new level. Is it even possible to discern what caused IF to change back almost completely to her previous personality? Would the brunette herself be able to solve the mystery? Probably not, actually. And if that's not a testament to how difficult it is, then Nepgear doesn't know what would classify as one.
... Then again, does that even matter? In the end, isn't knowing how IF ended up like that completely needless? "Something" happened, and that's all that matters. Being aware of what it was wouldn't change anything at all.
However, there's one thing that does matter...
"If IF is now completely fine, or at least her mind is," the Candidate begins, looking at Compa. "Then why do you still want to babysit her...?"
"*Slurp* Hm?" Compa blinks, bringing her eyes back towards her friend as she munches on her instant noodles. A moment later, she swallows, lowering both the cup and the pair of hachi in her right grasp. "Oh, I'm sorry, Ge-Ge. What was that?"
"..."
J... Just for how long did Nepgear space out...?
'Goodness, the atmosphere may as well be buried by now...'
Looking away for a moment, the Candidate lets out a few embarrassed coughs, directing her sight back to the nurse soon after.
She can't let this awkwardness destroy her focus...!
"Why do you keep babysitting IF?" Nepgear tries once again, her tone serious. "And not even properly at that! You just... smile and nod at everything she does!"
"Because I know Iffy is doing her best," Compa replies firmly, meeting her friend's gaze without hesitation. "She's been doing that for three years now. If nobody supports her—"
"Then she'll learn how to not be an idiot." The nurse winces as the lilac-haired girl cuts her off. "Fighting Judge, trying to be a decoy, pushing me out of the way when she could have done many other things... It's like she doesn't care about whether she dies, and I bet you never called her out on it."
"B-But sometimes you need to take—"
"A risk or two, I know!" Nepgear lets out a huff as she says that. "First IF and now you too? Don't tell me you did call her out and backed down when she told you that."
"..." Rather than answer, the nurse instead looks away in shame, even as she brings some more noodles to her mouth. "S-So, you did visit Iffy..."
"Yes, I did. I apologized, she scolded me for it, I yelled at her for being an idiot, she was the one who apologized, then she said we should stay in contact. And don't change the subject," the Candidate says, shooting an accusatory look at Compa. "Will I need to look after you too, Ms. Tool? Or do you actually care for your life?"
At this point, she won't be surprised at all if this girl turns out to be as suicidal as the brunette. "Our life doesn't matter" seems to be a motto around here.
"... Iffy changed a lot after Ge-Ge woke up," Compa eventually mutters, still staring at the other direction. "But I think Ge-Ge changed too..."
"Eh?" At that, Nepgear raises an eyebrow at the other girl. "I did?"
"Hm-hm." Compa nods, mustering enough courage to look back at her friend. "Nowadays, Ge-Ge seems more... straightforward, I think. And responsible. Right now, you're kinda acting like Histoire."
"I am?" The Candidate blinks. How so? She's just telling her friends that they shouldn't be so reckless, and only after she herself was stupidly reckless. This whole situation is her fault, but that doesn't change how both IF and Compa are also dangerously careless, and she, in the most hypocritical way possible, is simply telling them just that.
How does that make her anything like Histoire...?!
"... Are you trying to distract me from scolding you?" Nepgear accuses the nurse, narrowing her eyes. "I swear, Compa, if that's what you're doing—"
"N-No, not at all, Ge-Ge!" The peach-haired girl raises both hands as if to defend herself, only to let out a yelp as her noodles fly up and back to the cup. "I, um, I'm just saying! Ge-Ge's really different!"
"Hm-hm..." The Candidate slowly nods as she takes a sip from her juice, even as her expression makes it quite clear she's not buying it. "It's pretty convenient that you felt like commenting on that just now. I hope you don't expect me to just give up on this subject."
"U-Um..." At that, Compa can't help but look away once again, scratching her cheek in embarrassment. "I-I know you won't... Ge-Ge is acting just like Iffy does when she's really serious about something..."
"IF now?" Nepgear mutters flatly, clearly unamused. "Next you'll say I'm like the guard in the entrance."
"That's exactly what I'm talking about..."
"..." It's then that the lilac-haired girl closes her eyes, taking a long, deep breath before looking once again into peach-colored orbs. "Please stop changing the subject."
"She is quite correct, Compa," a new voice suddenly sounds. "Your conversation is important. Try not to divert its focus."
"Hm?" "Huh?"
At that, both girls turn towards to their right, spotting Histoire walking—er, floating on her book down the hallway, towards their direction. The fairy stops just a meter away, and directing her blue eyes towards the nurse, she finally speaks. "Honestly, I am not completely sure as to your motivations for such a mentality, but it simply is not healthy. If you wish to be of use, following anyone to their death because you like them is not the way to do so. And if you believe it is necessary to take risks often, then I can only tell you to stop seeking an end to your life," she says in her usual serene tone, not a trace of annoyance in her voice. "I may not be aware of the source of your line of thinking, but I do know it will not lead to a good ending. So, do not follow it, and do try to stop anyone with a similarly dangerous thinking."
"Ah..." At first, the peach-haired girl doesn't answer, instead only staring at the fairy. However, it's not long until her gaze descends to the floor, clearly ashamed. "Okay, Histoire... I-I'll try..."
"Good," the fairy says, a smile gracing her lips. "I have already lost many people in my long life. Don't be the next one."
"Yes..."
"... So, you ignore me, but listen to Histoire when she says the same thing, huh?" Nepgear finds herself mumbling, glancing sideways at the other girl who returns the look with surprise. "That's... pretty mean, you know that?"
"I-It's not like I was ignoring you!" Compa panickedly protests, hastily leaning towards the Candidate with both hands on her cup of noodles. "Ge-Ge was just too—Um, I mean, it was too much—Er, I was thinking about it! I really, really, definitely was!"
"To think you're actually like this..." the lilac-haired girl sighs, pointedly ignoring the nurse's stuttering noises. "I guess even you changed in those years, huh..."
"My message goes to you too, miss," the fairy speaks up, practically snatching Nepgear's attention in an instant. "Ever since you came back, Planeptune's Shares have slowly recovered because of your presence alone. As Planeptune's only current CPU, you are beyond important, so you mustn't wage your life recklessly either. And, besides..." Histoire trails off, looking away as a light blush covers her cheeks. "I may be older than any living being in Gamindustri, but I did not raise all CPUs by myself like I did with you and Neptune. So, to you, as my daughter... this is an order. Do not die."
"..."
For the longest of whiles, Nepgear simply stares at Histoire. As the fairy continues to look away in embarrassment, even as Compa starts timidly calling out to the both of them, the Planeptunian Candidate just stares, and stares, and stares, her mind attempting to process what just happened.
And then, after what feels like an eternity goes by...
The brightest of smiles crosses Nepgear's lips.
"I won't, mother."
"...!" Just like that, Histoire's entire face seems to turn scarlet at once, the blonde turning even more away from the two girls. "I-In any case, you two would do well to return home and rest. Tomorrow you shall depart."
"Hm? Depart?" Compa echoes, tilting her head quizzically. "You mean we're going right away? To where?"
"At this point, pretty much any other nation would do," the fairy explains as her professional tone returns, directing her eyes towards the Candidate and nurse as her blush slowly recedes. "However, I believe our best choice would be Lastation, simply because it is the closest one should you go by train, which I am sure would be safer than attempting to head to Leanbox by ship. We cannot afford to expose you two to any unnecessary danger at this point," she adds, quite obviously omitting the whole "since IF is hospitalized" part. "Before you ask, I believe it to be obvious why flying in clear view of our entire continent is not the safest method of transportation."
"That does make sense, I guess..." Nepgear mumbles as she attempts to take another sip of her juice, only to realize the can is empty. Without hesitation, the girl simply throws it towards the nearest trash can, the metallic object falling into it perfectly.
As the peach-haired girl quietly claps by her side, the Candidate blinks. Huh... She didn't really expect a three-pointer.
Well, in any case...
"We should be going, then," Nepgear tells Compa as she raises from her seat, looking at Histoire. "Um, I already ate dinner, so it should be fine to just go to bed... right?"
"... Snacks from a machine nearby are not something to be called 'dinner,'" the fairy tells her flatly.
"E-Even so..." the lilac-haired girl begins bashfully, scratching the back of her head. "I'm full anyway, so I don't think it would be good to eat anything else..."
"Maybe so," the small blonde woman sighs. "But try not to make an habit out of this."
"Y-Yes..."
Histoire's definitely her mother...
With that out of the way, as the nurse quietly gets up next to Nepgear, the fairy turns around and floats away, no doubt back to their home. A moment later, the Candidate moves to follow her, with the nurse following closely behind.
So, this is a wrap, isn't it...? Histoire brought that conversation to an end pretty easily...
Still, Nepgear can't help but wonder...
"... Why did you come all the way here?" she asks the blonde fairy moving away. "I mean, you did send Compa, right? Then why did you come all the way here too?"
The answer doesn't come immediately as Histoire continues to move, seemingly not paying attention to the girl. Still, her voice sounds soon enough, as calm as ever. "You two simply became far too entranced in your conversation. I feared dawn would come before it came to an end."
"Wait, 'dawn'?" Compa repeats from behind the Candiate. "Um, isn't that a little bit of exaggerated?"
"It does sound like it..." Without a word, Nepgear takes her N-Gear out of its holster, turning on the screen as the nurse peers over her shoulder.
What they see has their eyes widening considerably.
"O-On second thought, maybe it's good that Histy came here."
"Definitely..." the Candidate nods as she stores the device once again. Goodness, this might be an issue tomorrow...
IF is out of commission, Compa will do that so-called "check-up" which will certainly be troublesome at best, and now tiredness is yet another thing for Nepgear not to look forward to. Seriously, is there anything else the world might want to throw at her right now?
"Ah, of course," Histoire suddenly says, not even turning around to face the two girls. "Nepgear, when we get home, we shall have a conversation about your idea that training late at night is beneficial. Because, honestly, it isn't."
"..."
The big groan which slips past her lips isn't one of tiredness, that much is certain.
How nice. How very, very nice. Very, very, veeeeery nice.
'... Someone kill me.'
If only.
Still... There really isn't much that she can do about it. After going through everything she did, a lecture shouldn't be as bad as nearly dying...
Only about four-fifths of it.
Thus, just like the many she took until now, Nepgear takes another step forward—
—and dodges to the side as some brown-haired kid runs past, laughing all the way.
As the morning's sun, almost completely hidden by heavy clouds, hits the girl's skin and white dress alike, her neck thankfully protected by a newly-bought white scarf that matches her outfit, it's way beyond a chore to transverse the crowds in the Planeptunian square. People are going, people are coming, and there's just no end in sight as she continues to move, not willing to miss a beat and be carried away by the clashing currents.
This is difficult. It's also very hot despite the weather, courtesy of the innumerable people shuffling and moving about without a second of rest. If it weren't for the lilac-haired girl's paranoia and her recent realization that scarves can actually be used as weapons, the white cloth would have gone right into her inventory long ago.
If there's a silver lining in this situation it's how, as expected, no one is even recognizing her, a simple consequence of the rushed atmosphere. If Nepgear had to conceal her identity with that cloak, she'd probably have been killed by the heat by now.
That's... not the best way to die.
"Ge-Ge! Here!"
Suddenly, someone grabs the Candidate's hands, pulling her away. Before Nepgear can realize what's happening as several faces cross her vision, she finds herself being held tightly by a certain visibly nervous sweater-clad girl, leaning against a tall stone sign of some kind.
Even without looking, the lilac-haired girl knows what's written on it.
What else could it be, after all, besides the name of this station?
"Ge-Ge! There are way more people here than I expected!"
"Well, it's Monday..."
Wriggling a bit, still held by the peach-haired girl, Nepgear manages to peer around the sign. Above the crowds, the tall, white structure, adorned by purple decorations all around and built by the best metal Planeptune could find, is clear in sight, simply waiting for the two girls to overcome its trial and reach it.
The Candidate can't help but smile at the thought. So soon and there's already a challenge right in front of them...
... What else to do but take it?
"Compa, hold on."
"Huh?!"
Without hesitation, Nepgear takes hold of the nurse and pulls her away, forcibly opening a path through the people by insistence and determination alone.
All the while a grin reaches her lips.
IF might not be there to lead her anymore. Histoire won't be right on the next room in case she needs advice. Her own bed will remain in Planeptune even as she goes away. The place where she and Neptune grew up in won't budge an inch as the Candidate disappears, as if she wasn't worth anything at all.
But she needs to have some worth. For this quest to suceed, for Gamindustri to be saved, Nepgear needs to make her useless self have some worth.
If not for herself, then to make sure everyone she knows remains as alive as she will always be.
The first Mascot has been saved, and so they got its power. The carelessness of her two friends has already been dealt with, at least for the most part. These are two definite victories for Nepgear, something to stand out amidst all her innumerable defeats.
And yet, it's not enough.
That elf, that underling... That wasn't the last they'll see of her, that much is obvious. Furthermore, ASIC may have all sorts of powerful goons, and that's not even the least of her problems. Magic, Judge, and whoever else holds that much power... the so-called Planeptunian Candidate doesn't stand a chance against them, not at all.
Which is why she needs to create some worth for herself, with her own hands.
That's why, as her feet touch the white stairs leading into the station, as the peach-haired girl in her grasp yelps and yells at her to stop running already, Nepgear keeps going, with a single thought in mind.
She'll go to Lastation.
With Compa, she'll go to Lastation.
Whatever will happen there, the lilac-haired girl doesn't know.
But that doesn't matter, all for one simple reason.
As the last CPU of Gamindustri, Nepgear is going to Lastation.
And the power of the next Mascot will definitely be hers.
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Well, I'm late. Overly so.
Then again, it's pretty hard to do anything when school suddenly decides that Saturday and Sunday will be normal class days for the rest of the year.
Free time? What's that supposed to be?
... At this point, all I can do is write as fast as possible and hope it's enough. The way I am now, I can only write about 3k words per day if I worry about quality.
And, obviously, I can't just do otherwise.
In any case, this was a thing. Conversations, character development, all the stuff that wasn't in the actual game! And with that, the first arc is done!
Here comes Lastation, finally!
I wonder just how wrong things will go~
With that said, I should start writing the next one already.
So, see y'all in the next delusion!
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A single drop of water falls from the skies, hitting the glass window with a quiet sound. As expected, many more follow soon after, an obvious outcome of the grayed out heavens.
As the rain starts to fall, light fog revealing itself in the distance, IF silently eyes the world on the other side of the glass from her bed, emerald eyes longing, melancholic, perhaps simply bored depending on how one looks.
Eventually, the noise of falling water drowns out everything else; car horns, construction tools in a nearby half-finished building, any and all background noises, usually just barely noticed in the first place, become nothing at all as a storm begins to rage outside.
And so, still focusing on such a sight, the brunette acts upon a familiar urge, repeating an action in particular for who knows how many times by now.
She lets out a big sigh.
Being confined in this room isn't exactly how she envisioned the hunt for Mascots going.
However, does IF hold any regrets?
... Definitely.
There is no doubt that ignorance is bliss, for that sensation, emotion, or whatever one might wish to call the unbearable annoyance, definitely wasn't there before a certain lilac-haired girl hammered it in her head.
Back then, when the brunette threw herself in the way without a second thought... There really were a thousand better ways to proceed.
What sort of Guild agent is she to fail noticing something simple as that? In just what state was her mind, after those three long years, for her to forget everything about self-preservation?
Was she like that back when they fought Judge too? Was she dragging with her other people, ones she actually cares about, to their ends without a single care?
She's not sure. Even now, IF is not sure about any of that.
But she almost made Nepgear cry.
And, even if the brunette is willing to dismiss both her doubts and her the fact that she's currently in the hospital as nothing big, the same can't be said for that.
Yet another sigh slips pasts her lips at the thought. This is troublesome. And annoying. Way too annoying.
To think things seemed to be going so well just a day before...
Slowly, the bedridden girl directs her eyes slightly downwards as she brings up her green flip phone, starting yet another game in an attempt to kill time. Right now, they're probably already on their way to Lastation, aren't they? And no matter what happens in the Land of Black Regality, nothing will change how the brunette won't be there to provide assistance.
If something bad were to happen to those two, it wouldn't be a stretch to attribute it to how, as a duo, they're simply not better than all three of them together, or even IF and Compa alone. On their lonesome, stuck in a fighting combination whose efficiency is uncertain at best, and entering what might be enemy territory for all they know, it's no exaggeration to say that this whole thing feels like a tragedy in the making.
And, if that does come to pass, IF will be the only one to blame for it.
"..."
It's... not a nice feeling.
At all...
...
...
...
...
...
*thump* *thump* *thump*
...
...
...
... *Click*
Emerald eyes snap open.
Hastily, IF waves her head left and right, trying to discern from where that hazy, distant-sounding noise came. When did she fall asleep in the first place...?!
In what can almost be called panic, her eyes scan the entire room, from the bedstand, to the clock above the wall, to the window protecting her from what is now a full-blown thunderstorm, up to every single spot in the white, plain ceiling.
... Nothing. There's absolutely nothing out of place.
"Hm...?"
Weird.
Then again, this is a hospital. It's not exactly weird to hear some noises now and then.
With that in mind, the brunette moves her right hand, resting over her chest, to look for the phone she undoubtedly dropped. The search doesn't take seconds, however, as she grabs onto something by her left side, bringing it to her face—
IF freezes.
In her hand, rather than her green flip phone, the object in her hand is, undoubtedly, a chocolate bar, wrapped in blue with the familiar white and red logo displaying its brand, "Munch." A moment later, her other hand finds the missing device by her right, proving that, no, this isn't a boredom-induced hallucination trying to make her put a freaking phone in her mouth.
So, basically...
... A chocolate bar.
The brunette can't help but blink at that. She doesn't remember getting a gift like this. Compa bought her flowers, while Nepgear, in a strangely out of character move that IF somehow found fitting, gave her a bunch of comics to spend some time reading.
Nobody bought food.
At all.
"..."
Maybe it was a particularly nice hospital worker? It's not exactly unheard of to see people like that in such a place, and the noise from before could have been them quietly closing the door.
... Well, she's not one to ignore gifts.
Without hesitation, IF puts her flip phone down and begins tearing off the wrapping.
Uninterested scarlet eyes watch the brunette from nearby as she starts eating the chocolate. At the sight, the girl sat by the edge of the tall building, protected from the rain just by her gray jacket, can't help but scoff at that moron's carelessness.
Really, if that was poisoned, she'd be freakin' dead by now, no buts. Didn't her mom never tell her not to eat anything from a stranger? How hasn't she been put down yet?
Just as that thought comes, the idiot freezes, only to suddenly gaze in horror at the snack which could have ended her life.
So, she noticed her mistake, huh. Maybe that gal's not so stupid.
Still, that was some pretty damn late realization; in another world, she'd be a goner anyways.
As the girl continues to watch, a couple seconds later, the moron's scared face just up and disappears as she realizes she's not a corpse just yet, with the dumbass taking another bite off the snack without a single worry.
In other words, she freakin' forgot that not every single poison works instantly. Seriously, how come an idiot like that hasn't been taken out already?
... It would be pretty easy to just go there and do that, wouldn't it? All she needs to do is get in that room and... bash that moron's head in. She's already injured, so it wouldn't be a chore at all.
...
...
...
After a long while, a big sigh exits her mouth as she raises to her feet, taking care not to slip on the water and fall like a chump.
That Mascot's already gone to another hiding spot by now, so there's no point in staying in Planeptune any longer; she won't be getting any new coordinates for a long freakin' time, especially considering how crappy the management is nowadays.
In that case, the next place to go is... Lastation, right? Might as well be; she doesn't feel like riding a boat and Lowee is way too far.
Lastation it is, then.
Still, there's about a 33% chance that she's gonna meet that CPU there, right? Well, more like 50%, since there's no way those idiots would try to go to Lowee first.
That's a pretty freakin' dangerous number, the girl notes with a scowl.
Hell, why is every single damn thing in her life a gamble with danger...? She's not one of those suicidal "adventuring" morons who just can't seem to get enough of almost dying! Is it too much to ask for a quiet life?!
Letting out a huff of indignation, she turns around, preparing herself to pull off some parkour until the train station, if only to keep her frustration at bay. Still, scarlet eyes can't help but take a last glance at the hospitalized brunette on the other building. She seems to be at the end of the chocolate bar, a content, and very much stupid, smile on her face.
"..."
For the second time, the girl scoffs at the sight.
They're pretty much in the middle of a freakin' war, and that dumb broad can still find it in herself to focus completely on chocolate?
She doesn't get it.
As the girl starts walking away, not even reacting to the biting cold which should be attacking mercilessly her gray skin, that's the one thought echoing in her head.
Those selfish idiots who can just ignore all the problems around them at will, as if their own little worlds are more important than anything else...
Those blind morons who keep themselves under the CPUs' absolute rule, not realizing just how worthless they are in their Goddesses' eyes...
Those ignorant dumbasses who think everything is roses and rainbows because they themselves have food and warmth, turning their heads away from those few who don't...
She doesn't get it.
Her feet move faster, and, before she knows it, the girl is leaping from building to building. Yet, even as her body moves without error, even as she gives herself some unnatural boost at the most precise of times, even as her maneuvers are beautiful yet practical enough to make any performer jealous, her mind is somewhere else.
Because she doesn't get it.
This world, where CPUs rule unimpeded, with the power to create wars and end lives without question. This world, where people are powerless, but remain content even as their very existences are dictated by the whims of the powerful few. This world, where the poor and weak are pushed aside as mere "small numbers," as if the suffering of a single good person isn't more than enough reason to change the world.
She doesn't get it.
Linda doesn't get it at all.