Well, this took longer than expected... I honestly thought I could update during the holiday season but nope!
But anyway, let head on to the chapters.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything.
If some of you noticed some similarities with other fics, then that person's story inspired me, All credit belongs to their respective author/s.
~~~~ Chapter 12 Start ~~~~
"How did it ever come to this?" I asked myself for the umpteenth time today as I followed my charge.
"Eiji-kun, please hurry!" An excitable well-endowed blond goddess called me over as she turned another shelf.
"Vert-san, wait for me!" I called out to her with boxes and bags of gaming merchandise in hand.
Now you might be wondering how it had come to this. Well, it all started when—
~~~~ Flashback Start ~~~~
Green…
That was the very first color that met my eyes as we exited the Sky Harbor. True to its name, Leanbox is surely the most preserved landmass in Gamindustri. Nature-wise I mean.
Tis a sight that was very rare in Earth.
Afar was a village. A village that looked similar to those you'd see in old RPGs. Or those houses you'll see in Attack on Titan.
Then, as if nature itself is calling me over, I suddenly lied down, spread eagle, on the vast grass field that was beside the dirt path we are walking on.
… Hey, you can't blame me! Seeing this much green caused a relaxing effect on me, plus being raised in urban life pretty much made me yearn for a change of scenery growing up.
"Haaaa… this is the best…" Ignoring the looks the others are giving me, I continued to lie down, relishing the feeling of the ticklish prickles of the grass on my back and the warm rays of the sun on my skin.
"Hey that looks fun! Make way, Ei-kun!" I heard Neptune say, before without warning, I felt a weight on my chest.
"Hey Nep, do you mind?" I asked the CPU on my chest only to be answered by… a snore?!
"Hey Nep? Nep?!" I called only to be answered by more snoring.
Seriously this girl…
"Hey, uh, Compa? IF? A little help here?" I peered to my other party members, only to not find them in their previous places on the road.
In fact, I felt weight on my arms. To my right snuggled Compa, who was also sound asleep, and to my left, IF leaned her head on my right arm.
"… Since you're the only one awake, why are you all doing this?" I asked the brunette.
"Well, you looked like you were having the time of your life when you lied down. Not to mention, you looked so relax that we got curious." I can't see her face at the moment but just by the sound of her voice, I can tell that she's embarrassed.
"Hah, well suit yourselves." I simply gave up and resumed relaxing with nature. There's nothing I can do now anyway.
It didn't take long for IF to follow Neptune's example and slept as well.
Makes me wonder what they'd been doing last night for them to sleep at the first chance they got. Wait, I think I have an idea.
Neptune surely ate pudding which supplied her with energy through the night, Compa would've been trying to calm the preteen down, while IF would surely be fiddling her phone, checking for any new updates to Vert's blogs.
I swear these three…
But still this is really awesome. I can hear nature's calm nature wash over me as I lie down.
The chirping of the birds, the rustling of the leaves, the rushing sounds of the water in a stream nearby, and the clopping of the hooves of a horse…
Wait, what?!
"Hey kid, need some help there?" An old man asked, driving a horse-drawn carriage.
"Ah, yes. We're just enjoying the green pastures Leanbox is famous for. You don't see this much green in other landmasses and I must say they are simply breathtaking." I answered, trying to look up at the man on the road.
"I'm happy that someone as young as you could actually appreciate nature. But back to my question, do you need help, kid?" He asked again.
"Ahahaha… well, yes. If you would please give us directions to the nearest village, we would truly appreciate it."
"Directions, eh? Well, I can take you there no problem."
"Eh? Really?" I replied, bewildered.
"Yes. It isn't so often that youngsters like you know how to appreciate a little green and I'm feeling generous, so why not just ride on my carriage." The man laughed heartily at the end.
"Oh, but I don't want to impose." … Why do I feel like I'm fighting a losing battle?
"Nonsense! Come now, you can't let this old man hanging can you?"
"… If you insist." I relented. Really, it's like dealing with Gramps all over again.
"That's it, lad! Now, if you'd kindly wake up your girlfriends then we may be able to reach the village before noon."
I blushed as he referred to the girls as my girlfriends.
"They're not my girlfriends." I grumbled while shifting my body to wake them up.
Though, the only one that did woke up was IF.
"Hm… What is it, Eiji?" She asked as she rubbed the drowsiness out of her eyes.
"We need to head to the village right? Well, this kind old man insisted to help, so…" I chuckled while the horse carriage driver waved at IF.
"… And you trust a complete stranger just like that?" I can feel IF's eyes pierce through me as she said that.
Well… if you put it like that…
"I understand your suspicion, lass. Besides, you're boyfriend here spoke of visiting different landmasses before—"
Wait, did I really say that?
'No, but it is quite implied.'
"— and with the raging monster problem right now, I highly doubt any normal person could travel around Gamindustri if they don't have at least enough skill to kill a monster or two. If I turn out to be the slightest bit suspicious, then surely any of you can easily beat my arse."
"Hm… I suppose so." IF mumbled to herself before she seemed to remember something that the old man mentioned.
"And he's not my boyfriend!"
"Really, it didn't look like that to me." Ossan, please stop teasing her.
"Uh, IF, a little help." I said in an effort to divert her attention from the man as I began carrying Compa and Neptune to the carriage.
Ah… I can hear you laughing, Ossan. Please stop.
~~~~ Line Break ~~~~
It felt like a ride by the countryside, especially with the green grass on the side and horse-drawn carriage.
It didn't take long before they have reached the first sign of civilization. The horse's hooves began hitting stone-paved roads, and the scenery began to change into rows of old looking houses, similar to the houses one would see in RPGs.
"Well, lad. We have arrived to Leanbox." The old man says as the carriage stopped.
"Really appreciate it, Oji-san." I respectfully thanked, while my party members also did the same… well, except Neptune.
She's still drooling on my shoulder as I gave her a piggyback ride.
"Don't mention it, lad. Take care of yourselves, will ya?" With his last bid of farewell done, he lashed the reins and rode off.
"You know, you were too trusting Eiji. It's a good thing that that old man is actually a nice guy." IF reprimanded me when Oji-san left.
"Sorry." What more can I say?
"Well, I'll forgive you. but just this once. Do it again…" She left the threat hanging but I grasped what she meant.
We then walked, IF being in front with Compa as they looked at IF's phone which acts as our GPS.
"Hweh… oh… Oh, we're finally here?" I heard my 'passenger' speak.
"Yep, we just got off the carriage we rode to get here." I said, before asking.
"Anyway, now that you're awake, can you get off me now?"
I heard her hum before she said, "No."
… Oh come on.
"Why?"
"Cuz I like it here" was her simple reply.
"I don't like the feeling of my shoulder wet with your drool though." Her simple solution is putting her head on my dry other shoulder.
"Not helping."
"Eh? But my legs are still tired." She whined.
"You haven't even begun walking yet."
"But I don't wanna…" I can feel my eyebrow twitch at that, before letting it go.
"What am I ever going to do with you?"
"Aw shucks, I never knew you wanted to have your way with me that much, Ei-kun." She giggled.
"I didn't mean it like that, and you know it!" I sighed.
"Welp, it's been fun and all. But I guess my legs need a little exercise." She said as she promptly jumped off my back and walked towards the others.
Thank goodness.
'Eiji-kun, look to your 11!' She warned.
I looked and saw a figure wearing a suspicious black cowl walking to an alleyway.
'I recognize this energy. It's Arfoire!'
That immediately set me on-guard. But there's a problem.
I can't just simply disappear.
"Hey IF, you think you could go to the Basilicom without me? I saw something in the shops that I wanted to buy." I sheepishly asked, getting IF's attention.
"Hm? Can't you do that after we go to the Basilicom?" IF seriously asked back.
"The store's supply might run out. I just want to play safe." I reasoned, only to receive a suspicious look.
It's a good thing that Compa and Nep are being distracted by the archaic setting or else, I'll be dragged to the Basilicom.
"…Okay. We'll just text you when we're done in the Basilicom."
"Thank you, IF. Then see ya later." I immediately walked as fast as I can towards the alleyway I last saw Arfoire.
As soon as I reached the entrance of the dark alley, I saw the hooded figure ran away.
'Dammit, she noticed!' I thought as I pursued her.
I followed her to every turn, and I felt like I'm running around in a maze.
Worst part is that she managed to run out of the alley and into a highly populated street.
'Shit…' I thought as I saw lost track of her.
As if that couldn't get any worse, I felt small droplets of water pour from the sky.
"Of all the days for it to rain…" I ran through the streets to find cover, barring the people with umbrellas over their heads, because seriously that would be awkward. Finding nothing in sight, I decided to enter the first shop I saw.
… Which turned out to be a shop of otaku goods.
There were figurines, manga, games, anime, and other merchandise on sale. Name it, I think they have it.
'Hm… Maybe I should buy at least one figurine. Just to prove that I had indeed gone to buy some limited goods or something.'
'That would be for the best. You never know when Murphy's Law will come bite you in the behind.'
I nodded at that, before perusing the shelves for something that can catch my interest.
'Still, this looks like a perfect spot you'll see Vert at.' I mused in my mind.
'Yeeeaaah… Eiji-kun, 5 o clock.' I heard her muse as I looked at the direction she pointed at.
'… Really?' For there stood, none other than, the landmasses' CPU wearing a beret and shades while reading a yaoi manga.
How I knew it was her? Well… to be blunt, her generous chest.
There's no one in this world that had a bigger chest than her.
It's that, as well as, the hint of golden blonde hair that is spilling from her beret.
'Eiji-kun, approach her! We do not know when Arfoire will attack, so please take care of her. I'll be on the lookout for her energy.' She told me in a motherly manner.
'I get it, but how am I going to approach her? I don't wanna look like some creep that has been stalking her.' I asked, not sure what to do.
'Hm… It would be better if you would be direct but striking a conversation with someone you met for the first time would be awkward. Try calling her by her CPU name.'
'And how exactly will I explain to her how I knew her identity?' I fired back.
'I dunno. Tell her that you're a knight from her army or something. Also, remember to act knightly to be more convincing, okay?'
'Basically, you want me to lie? You do know that I am against lying right?' I deadpanned at her.
'You just lied to IF earlier, remember?'
'That was different!'
'Ugh, then what would you do?' She agitatedly asked.
'Approach her like a fellow gaming/anime-watching/manga-reading enthusiast.' I fired back.
'… Fair enough. Good luck Eiji-kun.' After that, she went quiet.
I considered that as the signal for me to make my move. So with a deep breath to calm myself down, I softly tapped the disguised goddess in the shoulder.
"Um… may I ask you a question?" I asked in the most natural curious voice that I can muster.
"Yes, how may I help?" Despite her surprise from being asked so suddenly, she replied to me with excellent manners.
… I can also feel her eyes roam around my body. Probably trying to remember where she saw my outfit.
"Yes, uh, a friend of mine gave me this outfit and I would like to know which material he came from. I am pretty new to the ways of gaming and anime you see." I acted sheepish, scratching the back of my head to reinforce the face I am making.
"Oh, is that so? No wonder you share a resemblance to Raaga the Crimson Edge from the BlazRed games." Vert nodded to herself in satisfaction.
Raaga the Crimson Edge… I should have known that there would be a parody for the BlazBlue games but seriously, BlazRed?!
"So you say you are new to this kind of thing?" She asked kindly, snapping me out of my mental tirade.
"Y-Yes. And I would like to learn more." I replied, despite the unknown reason of why my gut is telling me to not say 'yes'.
"Then allow me to educate you in our ways. But I believe I did not catch your name." She smiled at me.
"Oh, My name is Kuragari Eiji. But feel free to call me Eiji." I said, urging her to call me by my first name.
We're going to be in the same party in the near future anyway. It would feel uncomfortable if she is to call me by my last name.
"You can call me Vert." She smiled with a slight bounce to her steps, emphasizing her breasts at the small moveme-
Stop right there, Eiji! You are not a pervert! You're just a healthy male that knows how to appreciate the female anatomy!
…
…
…
Dammit! Isn't that the definition of a pervert?!
'Ohohoho… Eiji-kun you naughty boy…' Now's not the time for that!
Mentally slapping myself from being distracted, I quickly recovered and said back,
"Then, Vert-san…?" I asked for confirmation.
"Yes Eiji-kun?" She tilted her head.
"Please take care of me." I bowed, similar to the fashion of the student to his/her master.
"Good. Then let's begin." She giddily skipped away, motioning me to follow her.
… Why? Why do I feel a chill ran down spine?
~~~~ Flashback End ~~~~
Yvoire sighed. He had just met the most excitable trio of young people just now, he had every right to sigh as he did.
Not only that, he can't tell if the two of the girls, Neptune and Compa, are truly unable to pronounce his name or if they are simply making fun of him.
But nevertheless, at least within that group he spotted a devout believer of his Lady. The brunette named IF, he believed.
Now as he is about to exit the worship area of the Basilicom to check on his Lady, he heard the massive door swung open.
Through it walked a petite feminine figure wearing a black cowl that hid her face, except for her mouth as well as the strands of pink hair that fell on her shoulders.
"And who might you be?" He asked.
"My name is Conversation, an evangelist from Lowee." The figure, now known as Conversation, replied politely.
"I see. And what business does a foreign evangelist might have with me?" He asked, now tense.
"Please do not be alarmed. I did not come here to spread White Heart-sama's word. But I come here with a dire warning." The shrouded evangelist spoke.
"A warning, you say? Then what might it be?"
"Yes. It is in regards to the worship of the Overlord.
As everyone knows, there are 4 goddesses here in Gamindustri which people revere. But as of recently, there were those that worshipped none."
"… So they are turning to worship the Overlord? But, here? In Leanbox?" Yvoire asked in disbelief.
"I do not believe so, as those who live in Leanbox follow close to the CPU. But, suppose such ones came from afar into Leanbox?"
"They are heretics and do not evangelize such as myself. Instead they find weaknesses and slowly turn people to the Overlord." Conversation merely brought out a disc. Pressing the button on the middle, a holographic screen appeared above it.
On the same screen was charming young man with brown hair and eyes. Currently, he had a look of great distress on his face.
"I… I can't believe I managed to survive." The man says.
"Th-The girl called Neptune summoned the monsters, destroying the city…
It was a surreal sight, seeing the young girl laugh amid the chaos. Juts remembering it brings me the shivers."
"That was from Mr. G, living in Lastation which as you may have known, suffered a major blow in terms of Shares.
Since his joining Avenir, Mr. G had worked hard, earning him a high rank in the company." Conversation explained.
"His outstanding background is proof he is one to be trusted." Conversation pressed further.
"Yes, his background does speak words, but yet it doesn't make any sense. Those youths that I have met earlier cannot possibly be the messengers of the Overlord. They are far too pure and innocent to be accused of such heinous acts." Yvoire argued.
'Tch… Just accept, you old coot!' Conversation thought, losing her patience.
'Wait a minute…' She stopped herself before she grinned maliciously on the inside.
She has a plan.
"What if I told you that those young girls are being manipulated, controlled and forced to do the bidding of their master?" She spoke.
"Then that is indeed a nefarious act. Do you know who this 'master' is?" Yvoire said with great alarm.
"Yes. It is none other than the Overlord himself. Currently, he is disguised as a human." She showed him a picture of Eiji.
"I am assuming that this is the Overlord's human guise?" Yvoire observed the pictured, memorizing every feature so as to warn his Lady about this matter.
"Does he go by any name?"
"Unfortunately, I wasn't able to dig that far. This is all that I can give." Conversation answered.
"I see. This is more than enough. You may go, I have to inform milady about this matter with haste." Yvoire turned around to go to his Lady's quarters.
Had he stayed a bit longer, he would have seen the evil grin that spread over Conversation's face.
Everything went according to plan, her impromptu plan anyway.
If she can't convince the Archbishop to kill Neptune, then killing that interfering boy would have to do.
~~~~ Line Break ~~~~
"Guh… C'mon Eiji, reply or something." IF grumbled as she hit the send button on her phone once again… for the fourth time.
They had just exited the Basilicom and they are walking on the wet brick-laden streets of Leanbox to who knows where. And as per their deal earlier in the day, IF sent Eiji a text message to inform him that their meeting in the Basilicom is over, sadly Eiji hasn't replied even once.
"By the way Ai-chan, where in the world did Ei-kun go?" Neptune asked, noticing the lack of her 'Lover'.
Figuring that she might as well vent out some stress (her body DID feel a whole lot anxious earlier as she was hoping to meet Green Heart-sama, Eiji not replying certainly did not help too) so she opted to tease the preteen.
"Wow, you call yourself his lover and you just noticed just now that he's missing. Perhaps it would be better if you hand him over." IF says, smirking at the preteen.
"NEVER!"
"I'm joking, Nep-ko. (No, you're not.)" She told the pouting preteen while being chastised by her inner voice.
"Anyway, Eiji went to buy some stuff earlier. Something about limited edition goods or what not. Honestly, I think it's just one of those figurines guys love so much." IF shrugged.
"Ahahaha… boys will be boys, I guess." Compa chuckled, imagining Eiji fanboying over a mecha figurine.
"I already sent him a text earlier, but he isn't replying, so he must've been pretty busy looting." IF said before she felt her stomach grumble, while Neptune's own stomach let out its own rumble.
"Whoops, someone's hungry…" Neptune sheepishly scratched her cheek.
"We haven't had lunch yet and the sun's already setting, so I guess I'd agree with you on this one Nep-ko. Oh yeah, I heard that there's a great café nearby that serves sublime scones." IF offered.
"If Ai-chan says so, it must be good. I want to go there too." Compa happily agreed at the notion of the confectionaries.
"Me three!" Unsurprisingly, Neptune agreed.
"Then, the shopping district should not be far from here so let's start walking." IF lifted a foot to start walking, only for that foot to hang in the air for a few seconds, before she brought it down to stand still.
"… You don't know the way there, Ai-chan." Compa stated instead of asked.
"Yeah, let's try asking around for direction—"
"Hello there, can I bother you for a moment?" Neptune asked a girl with grey hair, red eyes, and… risqué attire.
"… Nevermind." IF finished her hanging statement when she noticed that their party's eccentric leader was already doing what must be done.
"Here, take this map. I don't need it, anyway." The grey hair girl brought out a rolled up piece of paper from her cleavage and handed it to the preteen.
"Really?! Yay! Thank you!" Neptune cheered before she adopted a confused when she saw the unknown girl stare at her intently.
"… Is there something on my face?"
"Are you… Neptune-san?" The girl guessed.
"A-ha, that's me. Why?"
"I knew it! Oh, I'm so happy to meet you!"
"Eh, you know me?!" Neptune asked confused at the girl's sudden outburst.
"Yes. Well, to be precise, I know Neptune-san from a different world." The girl explained.
"So you're from a different world, too?"
"Too? Neptune-san, could it be that you know someone from a different world too?" The girl pressed for info.
At her question, Neptune mind immediately went back to Eiji. He did say that he was from another world.
"Mhm!" She answered the girl with an all-too happy smile.
"That person must be someone important then." The girl said, noticing Neptune's expression. "Oh before I forget, my name is Tekken. Nice to meet you, other world Neptune-san."
"Mm! Nice to meet you too!" Neptune energetically replied.
"Hey Nep-ko! Don't bother passersby too much, you hear?!" IF called out to the preteen who is taking her jolly time.
"Ahahaha… sorry, looks like Ai-chan's calling me. Thanks for the map, Tekken-chan." Neptune flashed the martial artist a grin before another question made its way to her head.
"Say you haven't seen a guy with grey hair, amethyst eyes and red clothes walking by, don't you?"
"Hm? I don't think I've seen someone like that." Tekken answered.
"I see, just where did you go Ei-kun… anyways, thanks again Tekken-chan!"
"Sure. See you again, Neptune-san." Tekken happily replied as she watched the preteen returned to a waiting IF and Compa.
"It looks like all of them are still friends in this world too. I hope I see them again." Tekken mumbled as she watched the trio walk down the road again.
"But, I wonder, who is this 'Ei-kun' that Neptune-san spoke of?"
~~~~ Line Break ~~~~
"Vert-san… can… we take a break?" Eiji asked, panting for air as he sat on a nearby bench.
The rain has long stopped and by that time, he was dragged across every gaming store in Leanbox, courtesy of the landmass' CPU, for his 'education'.
Of course, he asked her about where to buy limited edition goods for his excuse. Thankfully, he managed to buy a bag of limited edition BlazRed goods.
And while seeing all the games was a relaxing spectacle, the very moment that Vert began to buy bag after bag and box after box of merchandise was the beginning of his suffering.
Being a gentleman, he does not want to let her carry all that weight nor is he going to complain about it.
Although, he must note that he almost wanted to scream out and cry for help when she pulled him into a store that sold yaoi goods.
The stares he could ignore but the whispers' graphic contents are far beyond scary to simply walk out on, most especially when the people in the store began arguing if he's a uke or a seme.
If it weren't for Vert staying close to him, he had to bat them away with a stick or worse Eiusque Arma.
But anyways, he just asks for short breaks to recover his energy after a round of game shop 'heisting'.
He also requested that they stop by a music store to buy himself a guitar. It was costly but definitely worth it in Eiji's perspective.
"Well, this is going to be the last break. I need to return home after this." She says, sitting on the open seat beside him.
"I see. Would you like me to escort you home?" Despite knowing full well that she can defend herself, he just had to ask.
"I can defend myself, but thank you for worrying. You truly are a gentleman." She giggles to herself.
"Thank you, I guess? But I have to ask, how exactly are you going to carry all this Vert-san?"
"Using this." She pulled out a disc.
… Eiji suddenly had the urge to slam his face to anything hard.
Why did he not think of that? Or rather how could he ever forget?! He placed his bag of goods in his disc but he forgot asking Vert to do the same to hers. Wait a tick…
"You knew all along, didn't you?" He cannot help but ask.
"Huhuhu… Forgive me. I just want to feel like a lady every now and then. It isn't very often that I am graced with company from the opposite gender." She reasoned.
'Well, being treated as the most sovereign being can be tiring at times.' She commented in behalf of her daughter.
'Not to mention, cooping herself in her room whenever she's gaming leads to less time allotted for social interaction.' Eiji added.
"I forgive you." He said, watching as the boxes and bags of merchandise vanished into thin air.
"I guess this is good-bye." He bowed courteously.
"No, this is a farewell. We'll see each other in the near future, Eiji-kun." She beamed before turning around.
"Well then, if you'll excuse me. And Eiji-kun?"
"Hai?"
"Look behind you~" She happily skipped her way after that.
'Behind me?' Suddenly a spike of anger erupted behind him… did he mention that it was directed AT him?
'Don't tell me…'
'Hm… let me check… Mhm, it's them alright.' At least calm me down, is what he wanted to say.
But if anything else, he decided to face the music.
Instantly, he felt like regretting his decision.
Before coming to this world, he thought that the jealousy of girls in games and anime are greatly exaggerated… but now…
'Eiji-kun, you must commence a tactical retreat! No matter what you say, it will not help!' That is definitely not helping, he wanted to shout back.
"Heh~~ Limited edition goods, huh? Looks like you're having a date to me." IF threateningly said with an aura of death behind her.
"We were talking to the Archbishop while Eiji-kun was busy on a date… That's so unfair." Compa whispered with a similar aura behind her.
But what scared him the most was Neptune.
She had the sweetest smile on her face, which greatly betrayed the aura she was releasing.
"Ei-kun…" She finally spoke for the first time since the one-sided conversation began.
Not wanting to increase her irritation any further by not answering, he replied with a nervous, "What is it, Nep?"
"I think we would like to cash in our favors." She said, the same sweet smile was now etched on every girl's face.
'… I honestly thought they'd forget that.' He inwardly cursed his luck.
"Wh-What do you want me to do?" He nervously replied.
The widening of their smiles did not ease his already tense nerves, not one bit.
"So who uses it first?" Compa raised her question.
"Me, of course! I am his Destined Lover, after all." Neptune spouted out, meeting disagreement in the form of IF.
"He lied to ME and left us for that big boobed hussy, Nep-ko. So shouldn't I get to cash in first?!" IF retorted.
'Ah, the irony…' Despite his current situation, Eiji can't help but comment at IF's remark. 'I wonder how she'd react when the woman she called a hussy was the goddess she worshipped.'
"He cheated on me! That makes me first!"
"You were never together in the first place! That can't be called cheating, Nep-ko!"
This lead to a rather heated up argument between the two which caused them to forget a certain someone, who tried to escape.
Key word is tried, because that certain someone forgot someone who wasn't participating in the current argument.
'Yosh… I just have to keep quiet…' Eiji thought as he sneaked away from the scene before he felt arms wrap around his neck and two soft mounds on his back.
"C-Compa…" He muttered the girl's name, who was smiling at him in an innocent manner.
"Quick Eiji-kun, follow me." She pulled him along 'lightly'.
Confused and slightly in pain, he allowed the nurse-in-training to pull him along.
By the time she stopped pulling, they cannot hear the arguing voices of IF and Neptune.
In fact, they are now in the village square where all is calm and quiet.
"So Eiji-kun, who was that girl?" Surprisingly, Compa asked him rather calmly.
"Eh? Aren't you mad?" Eiji blinked and asked back.
"Oh, I'm mad. You lied to Ai-chan and you left us for someone else." She pouted, causing Eiji to flinch.
"But, I know that it isn't a date. Right, Eiji-kun?" She looked at him for confirmation.
"… Yeah. It isn't a date. I'm guessing IF told you that I had to buy gaming merchandise. I really bought some." He brought out the bag of merchandise from his disc.
"In fact, if it weren't for her, I wouldn't have been able to buy this. You guys should have seen the long line." This was absolutely true as they did in fact, waited for a good 30 minutes to nab a bag or two.
"And then, I heard her say that she'll be buying a lot of stuff so I volunteered to help her carry it. Turns out she just pranked me into doing just that." He pouted at the end of sentence.
He later heard a giggle come from his companion.
"It's because you're too nice, Eiji-kun…" She continued to giggle.
'… Is that a compliment?' He asked her.
'I… guess? With you, I honestly don't know.'
'How come that sounded like an insult?'
'I didn't mean to. It's just that.'
"Thank you… I guess?" Eiji honestly did not know what to say.
"Aaaaaahhhh! We finally found you!" They heard a pair of voices shout from a distance.
They turned and saw a dust cloud heading towards them, with Neptune and IF making said cloud as they ran.
It even got bigger as they skidded to a stop right in front of the pair, eliciting coughs from Eiji and Compa.
"Compa, you cat thief! You just have to steal Ei-kun away from me when I am going to give him his punishment!" Neptune said, whining in a childish manner.
"Yeah, Compa! Aren't you also mad at him for going on a date with another girl while we work?" IF reasoned.
"I would only be angry if it really was a date, but it isn't." Compa fired back.
"And I'm telling you guys, it isn't a date. She just helped me buy what I needed." To emphasize his point, Eiji raised his bag of goods.
"Then why are you carrying her stuff like a normal boyfriend would?" IF asked.
"Eiji-kun was just being Eiji-kun." Compa simply replied.
This lead to Neptune, IF, and Eiji to stare at her blankly, before the aforementioned females nodded in complete understanding.
"That makes sense." They both said in synch.
"What does?!" He asked incredulously.
Eiji would've asked more, but he decided to just drop it.
If there is one thing he learned ever since coming to this world, it is to NOT argue with the females, which compromises most of Gamindustri's population.
Although, he will argue if needed… even if he KNOWS that he will always be in the losing side.
"Anyway, shouldn't we be finding an inn right now? It's getting dark." Eiji reminded the party.
"Now that you say that, yeah it is getting dark." IF noted before she fiddled with her phone, searching the internep.
"There's one just down the street." The brunette says.
"Alright gang, let's roll out!" Neptune shouted while pumping her fist in the air.
"Oh yeah, Ei-kun, what cool stuff did you get?" As if all events earlier did not happen, Neptune casually asked the grey haired male as they trekked down the street.
"The usual stuff: figurines, posters, a game or two, pins. Although from what I heard, this one had a portable console that came with it." Eiji answered as he searched the bag he held.
True enough, there it is: A handheld console that looked just like his PS Vita back home.
'Well, I guess I have something to do to alleviate the boredom now.' Eiji thought.
"Ooh, let me try!" The party's energetic leader snatched the console out of his hand along with the game that he bought.
'… Maybe not.' Eiji sighed as he watched the purple haired preteen enjoy the device.
'Well, at the very least, she's happy.'
"And we're here." IF announced as she stopped in a building that looked like those old taverns you'd see in old RPGs.
But then again, with the CPU of Leanbox being who she is, it is pretty much a guarantee that all things in here nation are based from games.
The party entered, with Compa guiding Neptune inside as she was enamored by the game while IF was busy fiddling in her phone, most likely checking if Green Heart had updated her blog.
"How may I help you?" The clerk at the front desk says.
"We would like to stay for the night." Eiji answered.
"Ah, yes. But I am saddened to tell you that we only had one room left." The clerk looked at him apologetically.
'Well, it's not like it's the first time I slept in a room with them, but—' Eiji thought before he spoke,
"We'll take the room, but can I ask how many beds does the room have?"
"A pleasure doing business with you, sir. Each room here had a total of four beds each, the perfect number for your little group, is it not?" the clerk smiled before sliding him the key.
"Indeed it is." In response, Eiji caught the key and dropped a bag of credits on the counter.
"Hey guys, I got the room." Eiji informed the party, who are relaxing by the sofas in the lobby.
"Great! But, um, Eiji-kun…" Compa weakly said before she gestured at the other members of the party with her head. "Ai-chan and Nep-Nep are pretty busy right now. I don't think they can hear you or me."
True enough, the pair is too far gone. One was laughing maniacally as she unleashed combo after combo while the other was busy typing on her phone's keyboard.
Eiji sighed before he turned to Compa and said, "Get IF's phone. I'll deal with Nep."
They neared the pair until they are right in front of them, then suddenly,
"Wah!" Eiji and Compa snatched their devices out of their hands and looked down at them with a stare.
"All right, missies. Playtime can continue when we go to our room. Understand?" Compa said in a stern voice. To Eiji, it looked like a mother scolding her kids. Compa just holds that aura for some reason.
And at that, IF and Neptune slumped their shoulders in defeat while 'Mama' Compa nodded to herself. Eiji was stuck sighing, but smiling, behind the trio amused by the display.
~~~~ Line Break ~~~~
'Something's wrong.' Eiji thought as he walked behind the trio of girls, who had become silent, dead silent.
Not one of them said a word nor moved in a significant manner, but Eiji can feel that they are having a conversation by how they are looking at each other intently.
In normal circumstances, Eiji would point this out. But if the method they are communicating with each other is this complex, then it must be something they don't want him to know. Probably girl talk and that is something Eiji wanted to stay clear of unless he is needed.
But in any case, when they had finally reached their room door, the female trio shared a nod and Compa unlocked the door.
Behind it was, as the clerk said, a four bed room with a single bathroom to the side and an air conditioning unit is fixated on the wall.
"Dibs!" Neptune rushed for the bed that was under the AC's direct range.
"Ah! Nep-Nep, that's cheating!" Compa pouted at the preteen, but took the bed beside Neptune's nonetheless.
"Sorry Compa, can I have my game now?" Neptune apologized and asked for the console back, at which Compa complied by pulling out said console from her pouch.
"I'll take this one then. The plug is near and my phones need some recharging." IF picked the bed nearest to the electrical plug.
"Ah, you mind charging mine as well, IF?" Eiji handed her his phone and charger, at which IF complied with his request.
"Thanks."
…
…
…
There was another awkward silence after that. Neptune and Compa were enjoying the full blast of the AC while IF silently charged their phones, leaving Eiji the only one doing nothing.
'Hm, come to think of it, whatever happened to that favor they wanted me to do?' He thought as he began to remove his red jacket, which soon dissipated into data.
'They must've forgotten about it, though that must've been a plus for you.' She commented.
'Maybe so.' He thought back before noticing that all eyes are on him now.
"What?" 'Please tell me, I did not say something out loud.'
"Well, now that you reminded us, why don't I cash in my favor?" Neptune said with a Cheshire grin plastered on her cute face.
Gulping, Eiji asked, "Let me hear it then."
"Then for my favor: Ei-kun will NOT have someone share his bed!" Neptune spoke as we entered the room.
'… What makes you think I enjoyed sharing a bed with someone?' Eiji thought to himself.
Oh, how he'll regret saying those words… at least, for now.
'Welp, that's one favor. Now I only have to watch out for Noire's, IF's and Compa's.'
"Hn! Like I need someone in my bed. In fact, I'd rather have it that way."
~~~~ Midnight ~~~~
'I can't sleep.' Eiji thought to himself as he twisted and turned in his own bed.
It would seem that Neptune's usage of her favor actually held some merit.
Normally, he would have fallen asleep right away, given how exhausting shopping is for any man. But for some apparent reason, he just can't get drowsy enough to keep his eyes shut.
He usually had troubles like this whenever he is exhausted, so he also sought out a solution: hug something in his sleep.
And the problem: there was only one pillow provided for each bed. Thus, he cannot use another pillow for a body pillow.
Using the only pillow he had would also be uncomfortable which will surely keep him awake.
'… Dammit Neptune.'
Sigh, what else could he do to make him fall asleep?
Relieving all his stress by taking a long bath: Didn't work.
Counting sheep: Failed spectacularly.
Play games on his phone/handheld: if the charger wasn't too far off his bed then he would definitely do that, but with IF in the bed nearest to the plug that is also a fail.
It also doesn't help that the charger's cable is friggin short.
Plus, Neptune managed to drain the battery of the new handheld to zero right before they began to sleep.
…
…
… Sing? Hm, now there's an idea he rarely does nowadays.
Usually when he was younger, he would either listen to music on his phone or sing if all else failed to lull him to sleep.
Obviously the former would be impossible to do without sleeping on the floor so he went with option 2.
Now what could he sing without waking the others up?
Hm… Marry Me could do the trick.
He always liked playing that with his guitar back home.
Sitting himself upright and reaching for his storage disc on the bedside drawer beside him, he pressed the button in the middle and immediately scrolled down the holographic screen that appeared soon after.
'Let's see, where is that guitar I bought with Vert earlier? … Aha!' He pressed the option which soon materialized into the actual thing.
He cradled the guitar in his hands, tuned it as silently as he can, and when he's all set, he started strumming,
(Play Marry Me by Train)
Forever can never be long enough for me
To feel like I've had long enough with you
Forget the world now, we won't let them see
But there's one thing left to do
Now that the weight has lifted
Love has surely shifted my way
Marry me
Today and every day
Marry me
If I ever get the nerve to say "Hello" in this cafe
Say you will
Mm-hmm
Say you will
Mm-hmm
Together can never be close enough for me
To feel like I am close enough to you
You wear white and I'll wear out the words "I love you"
And you're beautiful
Now that the wait is over
And love has finally shown her my way
Marry me
Today and every day
Marry me
If I ever get the nerve to say "Hello" in this cafe
Say you will
Mm-hmm
Say you will
Mm-hmm
Promise me
You'll always be
Happy by my side
I promise to
Sing to you
When all the music dies
And marry me
Today and everyday
Marry me
If I ever get the nerve to say "Hello" in this cafe
Say you will
Mm-hmm
Say you will
Mm-hmm
Marry me
Mm-hmm
When the last line of the song was sung and the last chord strummed, he let out a relaxed yawn before he kept the guitar into his storage disc and drifted into dreamland.
Had he remained awake any longer, he would have seen that his friends have simultaneously risen from their beds to look at his sleeping frame.
In truth, they had been awake the whole time. They had been enjoying the sight of him squirming in his bed restlessly, fully aware that the day's activities would turn on his 'hug something in my sleep' switch.
Hence, they picked their beds strategically to not give him room to lull himself to sleep easily. Neptune and Compa picked the beds that are within the AC's immediate range while IF picked the one by the electric outlet.
It was only when he mentioned the favors that the girls pounced.
However, they did not expect to hear him sing himself to sleep. Much more, play the guitar as he does so.
And boy, was his voice beautiful. Plus he could play the guitar. An instrument he must've bought during his 'date'.
… And here they planned to not let him sleep, only for it to backfire spectacularly.
They're not going to be able to sleep peaceful tonight. Not after hearing that, that's for sure.
~~~~ Chapter End ~~~~
Well, there's that. A filler chapter with just hints of foreshadowing, if you can even call it that.
To all of you who faved/followed/reviewed, thank you so much!