IF and Vert were walking through the streets of Leanbox. They were looking for a restaurant to eat at for their date. "Hmmm, what do you wish to eat, Iffy?" Vert asked. IF shrugged and Vert could see IF's eyes wandering everywhere. Like she's expecting something to pop up.

Vert lead IF into a restaurant, the two sat down and were given their menus. "What's it like, having parents?" Vert asked and IF leaned backward in her chair. "I can't really tell you. For me, my parents were too young and poor to properly take care of me. So I was a foster kid until I was ee

eleven. My parents always visited whenever they could. So for me it was good, I guess," IF tried to answer such a broad and complicated topic.

"When living with Plutie and her family. Seeing her twins running around, I was, admittedly a bit envious of them," Vert giggled at that petty feeling. "Envious? I didn't know you could be envious Lady Vert," IF said and Vert twirled her luscious blonde hair in her finger. Bewitching IF with those sparkling blue eyes.

"Yes, I was envious of children, because they got to be children. However, I was born like this. So I cannot have a childhood of my own. I didn't have parents of my own. I was only surrounded by mentors and caretakers so I could be groomed for battle with the other CPUs," Vert explained, recalling her first memories.

She remembered being born, and since she could first walk. She learned to hold a spear, who her enemies are and the nation she'd lead. During lulls in the battle, Vert would observe Gamindustri from Celestia. Yearning to walk among the common folk one day. "That sounds terrible, Lady Vert," IF said in a somber manner.

"At least a terrible life was still a life you could live. I had no life, no nurturing, no protection, it was taken from me the day I was born. I was a sacrificial pawn for my nation," Vert said bitterly. IF hesitantly grabbed Vert's hand. Vert smiled warmly and returned the grasp. IF bit her lip, her face turning red.

"Thank you Iffy, but do me a favor. Tell me what's been bothering you?" Vert asked and IF's lips trembled. She closed her eyes and looked away. IF wanted to tell Vert so bad. Yet, she doesn't know what will happen if she does. 'Vert, she could help me. Yvoire, he's loyal to her,' IF realized. The answer to her problem has been her girlfriend.

So IF fessed up, along with telling Vert of IF's crime. Gust's death being faked, and her parents being in danger. IF being tasked with putting Neptune on the chopping block, and having to bring Netherrealm in chains to Yvoire. Vert clenched her fists on the table. She frowned and got out of her chair. Vert placed some credits on the table. Then she hugged IF tightly.

"I promise you, I'll resolve this. You'll be free of this. I swear," Vert whispered, bringing IF into her loving bosom. "You don't hate me?" IF asked, her voice cracking. Vert rubbed IF's brown hair gently. She shushed IF in a soft manner. "I could never hate you, we could never hate you," Vert assured the crying mess in her arms.

The waitress serving them cleared her throat. "Excuse me, Ma'am, are you wanting this to-go or...?" The waitress asked. Vert looked around to see all the patrons staring at them. "To-go please," Vert replied with a polite smile.

The two left the restaurant, IF was thoroughly embarrassed. Her face was red and she apologizing to Vert super fast repeatedly. After the fifteenth apology, Vert raised her hand to make a 'stop' signal. Vert then waved her hands to direct IF to take deep breaths. IF and Vert took some deep breaths. Then they sat on a bench together, finishing their food.

"I'll make sure your parents are safe. I'll retake the throne tomorrow," Vert promised to IF. Vert then wrapped an arm around IF, who squeaked in suprised. "Momm-, Lady Vert, please stop doing that," IF whined. Vert's heart pounded at IF's cuteness. Vert then put a finger under IF's chin, pushing IF to look at Vert. Vert then gently pressed her lips against IF's.

They both lost their first kiss as the world around them seemed meaningless. Their heads were spinning as their lips pushed against one another. Internal fireworks combusted as Vert put one arm around IF's petite waist, her other hand is holding the back of IF's head. Pulling her further inwards in the entanglement. IF shyly draped her arms over Vert's shoulders. Accepting Vert's control over the situation. They closed their eyes and melted into blissful harmony.

Once IF began to lose precious air, they separated. The internal warmth fading as the cool wind of the night gently tickled them. Vert cupped IF's cheeks in a dainty manner. "I love you Iffy," Vert said. "Lady Vert, I looked up to you for years. I felt like you'd hate me for what I did. This is a dream come true," IF sniffled, tears brimming her eyes. Vert stopped holding IF's face. IF took this opportunity to quickly wipe her nose and eyes over her coat.

They stared at the night sky and IF felt everything was lifted from her shoulders. However, on the other side of Leanbox, at an indoor parking lot. Neptune and Compa were testing Compa's strength. The two amnesiacs were bored and decided to do something that isn't grinding. So they decided to find out how much their harmacist could lift.

The nurse in training wore a sweat lined tank top, it's slightly rolled up to give a peak of her glistening, forming abs. Her hair is now in a ponytail. She's wearing shorts and sneakers they bought at a clothing store in Leanbox. Thanks to the constant battle, Compa has become a bit more toned.

Compa is laying on the parking lot floor and is bench bressing a car. Neptune was cheering her on. Compa has already outlifted the entire gym, and they are banned for using all the weights at once. After her last rep, Neptune temporarily went HDD to help Compa place the car down where it initially was parked.

Compa stood up and stretched, popping her back. "Boy howdy Nep-Nep, if it wasn't for Mommy, I would've been crushed," Compa commented. Lifting the car was easy, Compa has been benchpressing it for two hours straight. Right after they went to the gym. "Yeah, your Mommy is a heck of a psycho," Neptune quipped.

Compa's dreams and memories have somewhat unraveled. After their battle with Overlord Momus and seeing the poor man being experimented on. Compa experienced some more 'visions'. While IF and Vert went on their date. She told Neptune, Noire and Netherrealm that her mother experimented on her to create the ultimate human.

Noire was absolutely disgusted that a mother could ever experiment on her own daughter. Netherrealm seemed apathetic, but he just couldn't figure out what to say to that. Neptune felt bad that Compa was so traumatized and broken by the experience that she repressed her own memories. Yet there were a lot of questions unanswered. Why did this 'Mommy' do it? Where did this happen at? What exactly did 'Mommy' do to Compa? How has no one ever heard about something like that?

Noire did some research, and there was absolutely nothing. So she and Netherrealm instead went out to investigate the other small divine presence. While waiting, Compa and Neptune were both up to shenanigans. Neptune took out the third Key Fragment and rubbed it. "Hey Compa, I'm gonna, like, step out and talk to Histy real quick, brb!" Neptune said and headed to the next floor.

Neptune sat down and inspected the golden crystals that have kept Histoire locked away. "Hey Histy, what do you do anyway, and how do you know me?" Neptune asked the sealed voice. "I am the Oracle of Planeptune. I was created to record our history and advise the CPUs of Planeptune," Histoire replied with nostalgia.

"When you were born, I and a select few people groomed you to fight and kill. It's no wonder you ended up being as callous as you were. Uranus tried to broker peace and steer you in the right direction. However, you killed her," Histoire explained, her voice shaking with regret.

"You never got the choice to be anything else. Now, you've made friends and even made peace with two CPUs. Neptune, i'm so proud of you," Histoire said and Neptune sniffled. "I cannot wait to see you in person Neptune," Histoire said and Neptune chuckled. "Me too Histy," She muttered.

"Still, was Arfoire always so, cruel?" Neptune asked. The dead body of Seiryū, Netherrealm's desperate cries, the human experiment used to create Overlord Momus, all of it flashed through her mind. "No, she was your liason and confidant here on Gamindustri. You video chatted with her a lot. You were genuinely happy during those times. She was a witch who was the descendant of one of your mentors."

"Until one day, she left on a mission you gave her, and came back different. She became colder, and she sealed me away. I don't know what happened, and I still wonder what went wrong," Histoire explained and Neptune put the Key Fragments back in her inventory.

She stood up and began to head back down to Compa. "Arfoire has been manipulating Gamindustri from behind the scenes for years. Neptune, she has had so much time to account for everything. Please, be careful when you confront her," Histoire warned. "Don't worry Histy, you forgot how stacked my party is. Compa is our resident harmacist. Noire and Vert are CPUs. Iffy is smart and quick. Netty is the toughest son of a gun we got. Then we have I, the main heroine!" Neptune said with her usual smug confidence.

"You can do it Neptune," Historie encouraged before she went quiet. Neptune then put her hands in her pockets. Their time in Leanbox is coming to an end soon. Then it's Lowee, Arfoire's base of operations. This is their last moments of reprieve before they enter the belly of the beast.

Neptune won't let her friends down. 'Uranus, I hope you're watching. Because I'm sorry for everything I did, even though I don't remember it. I'll make you proud,' Neptune swore in her mind.