Chapter 53

"We're home~!" Neptune shouted as she barged through the elevator door to her living area.

"We're back!"

"We're home!"

Welcoming us was IF and Compa who were sitting on the couch. They smiled once we entered. "Welcome home, Nep-Nep! Welcome home, Ge-Ge! Welcome home to you too, Silver!" Compa greeted.

IF chuckled. "So, the rumors about you two working were true after all. Maybe it'll rain milk tomorrow."

A small laugh escaped my mouth. "Heh, I really wouldn't be surprised right now."

Neptune looked in between us. "What!? Do you really not have any faith in me. C'mon, I did my work!"

Ignoring her sister, Nepgear waved at IF. "Hello IF. I didn't know you and Compa would be back so soon."

"Yeah," Neptune agreed. "It's so rare to see you guys back from work before us."

IF put her hands to her hips. "Well unlike you two, we actually have jobs to go to everyday while you two laze around all day."

Neptune recoiled. "Ouch. Your words prick like a cactus."

Compa put a hand on IF's shoulder and continued smiling. "You can lecture them later. Right now, dinner is almost finished," Compa pointed to the restroom. "So I must ask you guys to go wash your hands. You don't want to eat your meal with dirty, grimy hands!" That sounds like something that a first grade teacher would say.

Neptune pumped her fist into the air. "Yes! We get to eat Compa's amazing cooking!" Neptune dashed towards the restroom with Nepgear following close. Well, I guess I should go wash my hands too.


"*Chew*…*Chew*…Mmm! Compa your cooking is absolutely to die for!" Neptune smiled as she savored her food.

Compa's face lit up. "Really?" Compa formed a wide grin. "Yay! I try my best so I can see Nep-Nep's happy, adorable face!"

IF finished her plate and turned to Neptune, Nepgear and I. "So, how did it feel to actually get some real work done?"

Nepgear answered quietly. "Well we did fine, but we were a bit rusty." A bit? Did you not see Neptune's level?

Histoire glared at Neptune and Nepgear. "You did not visit the other nations in order to slack off did you?" She asked coldly.

Neptune stammered. "N-N-No! Of course not Histy! Don't you believe us?"

"No," Hikan spoke up. "You're not exactly the most diligent worker."

"Yeah, you play way more than you work. In fact I don't think I've ever seen you work," Tolise added.

Neptune dropped her head. "Why doesn't anybody have any faith in me?"

"I-It's alright Neptune. I still have faith in you," Nepgear said, trying to comfort the depressed Neptune.

Histoire sighed before switching her gaze to me. "So tell me Silver, did these two honestly do their work?" Well I have to be honest.

I nodded. "Yup, they did their work. They actually did two jobs. They killed Dogoos and dealt with the Citizens Group's head representatives."

IF showed a face of disappointment. "Oh, them," she rolled her eyes. "I've been hearing about their more recent 'activities.'

I cocked my head. "Is it bad?"

She shook her head. "Hardly. First, they don't have many members, and they don't conduct in illegal activity. All they do is pass out dumb pamphlets and give little speeches on the streets."

"Yeah, the representative didn't seem like she was into it either," Nepgear commented.

"See, Histy!? Iffy said they're no big deal. You're just being a worry wart!" Neptune broke off Nepgear.

"…" A vein began to jut out of Histoire. Man, she must be pissed. "But the fact that such a group exists is a problem and it's due to your way of acting as a CPU, Neptune!" Her glare was ice cold.

Neptune shrunk back into her seat. "Yikes! Did I say something wrong?" Almost everything you say is wrong.

Compa raised her voice. "Now, now. If we lecture, the food will get all cold and yucky, and food doesn't taste good like that."

Histoire crossed her arms and let out a sigh. "Very well. Neptune, I expect you to continue your duties tomorrow as well."

Neptune stood up from her seat. "Wait, tomorrow!? But I tried so hard today, so I figured I'd need a few days off." You didn't even work that much!

"Did I say you had an option?" Histoire questioned with a cold glare.

Neptune groaned. "Yes ma'am."

We finished our meals and us guys decided to help clean up. So we all stood at the sink washing dishes. We had decided that Hikan and I would scrub and rinse the dishes while Tolise got to simply wet the dishes. He whistled a tune while Hikan and I just washed the dishes in silence.

"Man," I sighed as I put applied a bit more force to the dish. "Why is Neptune so lazy?" I questioned.

Hikan and Tolise starred at each other before bursting out laughing. "Hahaha!"

I cocked my head. "What? It's an honest question."

"Yeah...," Hikan used his forearm to wipe away his tears. "But it's just that you've lived here so long and you still don't know why."

Tolise let out a breath. "Yeah, even I know and I've lived here for a shorter time than you."

"Yeah, but, unlike a certain someone, I spend more time with everyone than just with Neptune all day," I snapped back.

A bit of red entered Tolise's cheeks. "Hey! She's fun to be around!"

I shrugged. "Well, you're not wrong," I took the last plate from Hikan and scrubbed hard at it. "It's just that I feel that Neptune's laziness will be her downfall one day."

They both thought for a moment. "Yeah, she's pretty bad. So it could actually be her downfall."

I rinsed off the plate. "Maybe..."


Neptune groaned and rubbed her eyes. "So, Histy is still pretty serious. I'd rather complain than work, but I guess we gotta."

The next morning had rolled around and Neptune, Nepgear and I were all sitting on the Planeptune couch. Histoire had woken up earlier and screamed at Neptune to go do her job.

Nepgear frowned. "But you've been complaining all day already. You really don't want to go work, do you?" Well you're her sister, so you should know!

Neptune turned her head towards Nepgear. "You could tell? I worked so much yesterday, that my body's sore now." I think that just might be the book injuries talking.

Nepgear squirmed a bit before taking a deep breath. "Um, can I say something not as your sister, but as a person? I think you're being pretty childish right now, Neptune." Wow, even Nepgear's calling her out.

She began muttering to herself. "Maybe I have been spoiling you too much. At this rate..." She sighed. "Alright, I get it." Huh?

"Oh, oh, oh wait! I have the perfect idea!" Neptune jumped up and down excitedly. She pointed towards her sister. "How about you go with your boyfriend and do the work, then you'll come back and report to me? Doesn't that sound like a great idea?" Wow, this girl really is a piece of work. "Since I clearly need to recover from yesterday, I'll—"

"NO! BAD NEPTUNE!" Nepgear shouted.

Both Neptune and I jumped in shock. "Yikes! Are you getting mad at me too?"

Nepgear turned away her question and continued scolding her sister. "At the rate your going, you're going to be a failure as a CPU! I have to be more hard on you!" Just don't say anything Silver, don't say a thing. Not yet.

Neptune waved her hands and put them in front of her. "Wait, wait, wait! You can't turn into Histy's disciple! I can barely survive with her, so don't—"

Before Neptune could finish speaking, Nepgear muffled her ears with her hands. "LA LA LA! I CAN'T HEAR YOU! SO YOU HAVE TO GO WORK ALL BY YOURSELF TODAY!" Nepgear, I think you might want to chill a little.

"Um, Nepgear. I thin—"

"LA LA LA LA LA!" She sung louder to cancel out Neptune.

"Fine, I get it. I'll go work on my own," Neptune began to walk out the doorway.

"Wait, Neptune!" I called out to her.

She spun back to me. "Hm? What's up?"

"How about I come help you with your work? I suggested. "I don't want you to be all lonely."

Neptune watched me curiously. "Are you sure? Won't Nep Jr. get lonely?"

I shrugged. "She'll be fine. I know she can be tough."

Neptune smiled. "Alright! Then let's go!"

And before the elevator doors closed, we heard one last sound. "LA LA LA LA LA!" Nepgear, sometimes I worry about you...


We were now in another forest doing a quest I had chosen. I had decided to cut Neptune a bit of slack and start her off with an easy one. All we had to do was collect seven red pigment, three yellow pigment and two blue pigment. So far, we had the seven red pigment, we had two yellows and one blue.

As we were looking for pigment on the edge of the path we were walking on, Neptune kicked at the grass. "Man, work is so lame and boring."

I shrugged as I picked up the last yellow pigment we needed. Only needed one more blue now. "Well not everybody's life can be as fun as yours. People have jobs that they go to everyday to make a living because they need the money to survive. The reason you should do your job is because it helps you keep your faith strong enough to protect others you care about. Do you get it now?"

Neptune sighed and shrugged. We continued our walk on the trail but soon found somebody leaned against a tree. "Woah, look Silver! That person looks like she's about to hurl!" Neptune blurted as she pointed towards the person. We got a bit closer to discover who it was. It was Rei Ryghts.

When she heard our voice, she quickly scurried towards us and began to bow. "I-I'm sorry! Um, ah, I mean, can you help me?" Wait, why are her eyes closed? "Please, help me! I've been lost for so long now! I don't know where to go!"

"Well howdy ho! You're that Citizens Group representative from yesterday!" Neptune stated.

"Huh?" Rei peeked her eyes open and they shot wide. "Gah! The CPU! And that boy again!" C'mon, at least give me a better name! She began to run towards the opposite direction but was stopped by Neptune's vice grip.

"No, wait! Don't run away again! I don't care who you are, I just need somebody to hang out with!"

This honestly reminded me of something a friend from my dimension had said when I had first met him. He had said, "I need friends damnit!"

Rei clutched the area where Neptune was gripping. "Choking...collar...please...let go..."

"Neptune, let go!" I wrenched her off Rei. " You could've caused her to foam or even die!"

Neptune scratched the back of her head. "Oopsies! Sorry! You 'kay?"

"*Cough*…*Hack*…*Gasp*...Wh-Why would a CPU and a boy be out here?"

Neptune puffed out her cheeks. "Because I'm working like the reliable CPU that I am!" That's not what I thought a while ago.

Rei stared at her with disbelief. "Um, if that were true, I don't think I would have formed this group."

"Ah! My pride," Neptune clutched her heart. "Those words stung, lady!"

I ignored Neptune's stupidity, seeing that this conversation wasn't going anywhere. "Have you been lost since you ran from us yesterday?" Rei nodded shyly. Oh boy. Some leader this Citizens Group has got.

Neptune burst out laughing. "Wow! That's some terrible map reading skills you got, lady! Seriously, ever heard of Google?"

Rei slumped over and groaned.

Neptune grinned. "I'm totally winning this discussion! Hey, say some dialogue so that I can roast you again!"

Rei sniffled. "Ugh... Why do you... Why do you?"

"Um, can't hear you! Try turning up your mouth volume."

"Neptune! Stop!" I smacked her atop her head. "That's enough for one day."

Neptune rubbed the injured area. "Oww... Alright..."

"CPUs shouldn't...*sniff*...CPUs shouldn't..."

"Huh?" We both turned back to Rei.

"WAHHH!" She burst into tears.

I spun back to glare at Neptune. "See what you did!?"

"I'm sorry! I'm just not good with these of situations!"

"CPUs should all just disappear!"

*Hsshhh!*

Suddenly, a dark purple wisp of energy emerged from Rei. "Wait, what is that?!"

The ball slowly inched closer towards Neptune and opened a portal that began to suck us in. "AHHHH!"

The portal sucked us in and we began to fall. My vision faded to black...


A/N:

And this ends this chapter. I just want to say something. I'm sorry for using the exact wording from the actual game. I just didn't know how to set up these chapters. But now I do know and that's all thanks to All The Nep for pointing this out to me. Without your comment, I probably would've had a much harder time writing these chapters. So, this will be the last chapter where I use exact wording. Anyways, enough crediting for now. Thanks for reading and I hope to see you all in the next chapter!