Author's note: This is 93% the same as last time. I still lowkey hate it. Thanks. But at least it feels like this is where it belongs. So there's that. And this is another double update, so don't miss the tiny, tiny chapter that came before this too. Just saying. (Okay, I'm tired. Sorry. Moving on.)

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*Knock knock knock*

Alphys nearly shed her skin when the sound abruptly echoed through the lab.

She had finished up working on Mettaton and had set him to charge about ten minutes ago and since then she'd been fidgeting anxiously about. Her claws kept clinging together and she went pacing aimlessly, still feeling weighted down and her eyes sore from crying. She would look at her computer, then papers, then computer, not really doing anything but the exact thing that The Human had told her not to do: beat herself up.

It was just hard and Alphys was still trying to work her mind around all that had happened. A part of her.. most of her.. just could not accept the acceptance The Human had worked so hard to offer.

Alphys tried her best to collect herself and took a deep breath before making her way towards the door. But as soon as she saw it-

An envelope had been shimmied underneath it.

Alphys' stomach dropped, she instantly felt cold.

No...

"O-oh n-no," Alphys breathed, "is that another letter...?" Her voice sounded shakier than normal, even to her.

"I don't want to open it..." Her fingers, somehow, had wrapped around it and for a brief moment she thought- "C-can't I just s-slide it back out?"

Everything was going wild, her heart was racing: ignore it! But-

"I know something is bother you, but you don't seem able to say it."

Alphys paused again...

N... No.

"I can't keep doing this." Alphys decided. All of her problems lately, even when she ignored them they still somehow managed to spring back up and bite her. She.. She... "I'll read this one."

But... But the envelope itself was testing her resolve to do that. It was shut kind of strongly. To say the least. But luckily, or unluckily she thought a bit, Mettaton's chainsaw was still tucked away nearby.

"Wait a second..."

The dread as she finally got the letter out was consuming her and she held her breath as she read the opening lines. B-But... but...

AMAZING. PASSION. D-DATE!

Alphys' cheeks were beginning to flush, but when she reached the end... it wasn't signed. Alphys' fingers were trembling and she began to feel even more sick in her stomach.

She'd... She'd done a lot that went wrong, but... but this...

Somehow she had the strength to open the door to whoever could still be waiting outside, if they still were.

"Hey, if this is a joke, it's..." Alphys froze solid, her eyes wide.

The Human was there, looking absolutely nervous. She couldn't even keep Alphy's gaze but stared at the ground. And Alphys looked at the letter, then back at The Human, and then the letter.

She would have never thought The Human would write like this, and it just... If... If The Human hadn't spoken up, if The Human hadn't admitted to.. to being angry already, then perhaps Alphys could make sense of something from any of this. It could have even been cute.

But now...

And yet... It couldn't be a cruel joke either.

I-It just... It didn't add up.

Alphys just...

"I don't understand." Alphys admitted out loud. The Human smiled sadly and there was a soft laugh.

"Yeah." The Human agreed before looking back down at her feet again, her hands behind her back.

"..." Alphys didn't know what.. she was expected to do.

"It doesn't matter." The Human finally mumbled, her smile disappearing entirely and she stared vacantly at the floor.

None of this mattered, The Human's stance and expression seemed to echo as something drained out of her and her shoulders fell. Alphys tilted her head with even more uncertainty.

"But I meant what I said earlier." The Human said, a small, tiny bit of that something returning and she looked up. "I meant what I said about wishing I had time to make it okay between us. And even if its all a mess and not how I wanted to do it, that just.. doesn't matter." Alphys shook her head, not understanding. The Human humphed. "It's just, nobody says I have to go face Asgore right away. Right? So.. This works. It just works." There was a twinge of anger in her voice and Alphys flinched. "We can just.. hang out. Like I did with Pap-... With Undyne."

And get this over with, The Human's stance added before The Human's shoulders fell again and she smiled gently for Alphys. Alphys' stomach flip-flopped anxiously.

"O-Oh. S-So...? Hang out?" Alphys repeated. "But then why did you w-word it so... like that? Or.. Or did you w-want to go on a d-d-date?" Alphys asked, still confused and trying to make sense of it.

But The Human's eyes widened.

"Wha-?! Well... I..." The Human shook her head furiously. "No! I didn't say a date!"

Whatever anger and dark shadow had dissapated over The Human in her frantic denial.

"O-Oh." Alphys smiled and laughed softly looking at the letter in between her fingers. "So you just want to hang out. Although that's... surprising, too. After all the gross stuff I did... I don't really deserve to be forgiven and I understand you're still angry. But it is less surprising than, well... this? I th-think whoever h-helped you write your letter misinterpreted y-your.. intentions."

"What? The letter? No!" The Human cried again. "The letter isn't from me, it's from Undyne! She's the one that wants to go on the- wait, she was asking you on a date? That's..." The Human was suddenly blushing, a smile growing on her face. "That's kinda... adorable."

But Alphys had already shut down mentally.

"WHAT?!" Alphys cried, blanching.

Undyne?! UNDYNE?!

Alphys was shaking. She had planned for this! Bought all the items! To be prepared! B-But then she had th-thought that too assuming! Why would Undyne-?!

"Aaaaaaaah!" Alphys was staring at the letter again between here fingers like it was one of Mettaton's bombs and her mind was going haywire. "I never thought this w-would r-r-really happen! What do I do with it?!" She held it out to The Human as if she could be the one to defuse it. The Human stared at it, her earlier amusement faded away and she seemed to be catching Alphys' panic.

"I don't know, I didn't come here for that! I just came to- I don't know! Watch anime or something and try not to blow up the lab while at it!"

"But-! I've never gotten a l-l-love let-lett..." Oh dear god it was a love letter! "B-But do I respond to it with a-another letter? D-Do I t-text her? G-Go see her? No! I c-can't go see her-! I-! What do I do?!"

"I don't know!" The Human cried again, just as desperately. "I was the weird one!"

"What does mean?!"

"You don't send love letters to the weird one!"

"Wha-? That still doesn't make- B-B-But-!"

Alphys hadn't even realized she had been moving back and forth until she was stuck in place by The Human suddenly catching her by the coat.

"Right!" The Human cried, as if she was agreeing with someone. "We have to calm down!"

Alphys tried to take a deep breath, The Human's hold helping her to steady.

The Human diverted her eyes, seeming to think. Like she was having her own silent conversation with herself. The Human frowned.

"But that's a stupid idea." She murmured. "..But..."

"Wh-What idea?" Alphys asked. The Human looked Alphys in the eyes, still clearly thinking as her lips pressed together. As she seemed to weigh the idea... somehow against Alphys. Or at least, it felt like it with their expression. Whatever idea it was, was a stupid idea, but at the same time... somehow when it came to Alphys, The Human seemed inclined to at least consider it. Alphy's stomach flip-flopped again.

"Alright. We'll do it." The Human's expression was frighteningly serious and contrasted desperately with what she actually said in the end: "We're going to do what we would do if this was an anime."

"Wh-What?!" Alphys cried, thinking of several different scenarios. But The Human was grabbing Alphy's hands.

"Go on that date with me."

"Th-Tha-"

"Not a real date." The Human interceded. Alphys' mouth opened in surprise.

"Y-You want to help me... practice going on a d-date?"

The Human smiled, but Alphys wasn't sure how forced it was. The Human seemed nervous by her own proposition as well.

"It can be our hang out while we also help you work out what you want to do with Undyne at the same time."

"O-Oh. I g-guess. Heh. M-Maybe that could even... even be fun."

"You don't have to worry about messing anything up." The Human added, but that made Alphys look at her uncertainly. Alphys had done nothing but mess up with anything that delt with The Human.

"I don't... kn-know."

"Well how about we start and if it doesn't work we don't have to finish right?"

"Mmmmmmm..." Alphys still wasn't sure. Mostly because she still didn't understand why The Human wanted to do any of this. Wanted to be anywhere near her. Wanted to help her. To be... her friend at all. "W-Why?"

"Huh? What do you mean why?" The Human clearly didn't understand the question and it seemed to distress her.

"You've been angry, y-you've been h-hurt, b-but why? Why do you c-c-care? Why do you want to fix this? I've done n-nothing to deserve it." The Human's cheeks were starting to burn pink and Alphys could tell that she was thinking of something she really didn't want to, that her heart was racing and in her throat.

She let go of Alphys' coat and took a step back, and Alphys watched as she reached out with one hand and seemd to... pretend to pull something down with her fingers. Alphys had seen her do it before, but she still did not understand. Was she supposed to? It seemed not. Because The Human laughed weakly after a few seconds after doing it and shook her head.

She couldn't do it.

She put her hands together in front of her and looked up.

"I already said it. I was angry. But I understand. So let's just hang out, okay?"

But she shouldn't have been able to understand.

The Human seemed to be able to read this in Alphys' expression and she looked extremely self conscious and glanced away to the side.

"I know how it feels to keep a secret that hurts you." Was all she deemed to elaborate.

And that was how Alphys had gotten into her best dress, the one she had bought with Undyne's suggestions and... and went on a hang out/pretend date with The Human.

And eventually, with no idea of what to actually do, the two of them made their way to the garbage dump.

And that was how Alphys ended up hiding away behind a garbage can as The Human pointed Undyne away in the opposite direction. And that was how...

"I knooooooow!" Alphys cried once she emerged from her hiding place and The Human smiled again but this time the amusement had returned. "It's obvious! I just... I just really like her! And I can't st-stand the thought of messing it u-up! Undyne is just... She's way out of my league. And n-nothing like me. She's so confident... And strong.. And funny.. And I'm just a nobody."

The Human's smile disappeared. Alphys put a hand against her face as the dread ate her out from the inside.

"You know it!" Alphys countered. "I'm a fraud. I'm the royal scientist, but... all I've ever done is hurt people. Just like with you, I told her so many lies, she thinks I'm cooler than I actually am. If she gets close to me, she'll... She'll find out the truth about me. Wh-What should I do?"

"I... Tell her the truth."

"The truth...?" Alphys cried. "But if I tell her that, she'll hate me! Isn't it better this way? To live a lie where both people are happy. Or a truth where neither of us are-"

The Human wasn't looking at her and before she even finished speaking, Alphys knew how off base her argument was. She knew the answer to all of this, she had learned it with The Human. She was just speaking from her sense of panic and what she herself wanted the world to be like. Alphys watched The Human lower her face. It was hidden by bangs and the shadow that crossed over it.

Alphys sighed, admitting defeat.

"I told myself that with you, t-too." Alphys admitted.

Hesitantly, as if she thought she might regret it, The Human once again lifted her hand and pulled down on her imaginary string.

"I-" But whatever it was The Human wanted to say, she still couldn't do it. She simply crossed her arms across her chest in a sort of self-hug. Alphys took that as her chance to keep talking.

"They say 'be yourself'. But I don't really like who 'myself' is. I'd rather just be whatever makes people like me." Alphys looked down at her own hands. The Human's self hug tightened and she didn't dare to look up. " Eheheh..." Alphys sighed and her shoulders fell.

"You're right. I just... can't keep doing this. Every day I'm scared... Scared what will happen if people learn the truth on their own. And that's exactly what happened with you! You got hurt because of me and so will everyone else." The Human lifted a hand to her bangs and tried to move them to behind her ear but it wasn't long enough and it fell again in front of her face.

"But how can I tell UNDYNE the tr... truth? I d-don't have the confidence. How am I supposed to practice?!"

"Well if we're already following our anime rule, then! Let's Roleplay it." The Human said, trying to perk up again.

"R... roleplay?" Alphys asked. "... That actually sounds kinda fun, too. Okay! Which one of us will be Undyne?" The Human raised a brow.

"I'll be Undyne?"

"Oh. Right. Obviously. Ehehe."

"But now that I've said that, I'm kinda curious as to how you would do it."

"O-O-Oh..."

"But for practice, it's best if you're yourself." Alphys nodded, blushing deeply. Even though she had just admitted that she didn't like herse- "I promise, you're not as bad as you think you are."

Hmm... Alphys still didn't know how true that was or how much of it The Human believed. But... She seemed to believe it. Even if Alphys still didn't think she should.

"O-Okay, I'll start, then." Alphys conceded. "Ahem. H-hi Undyne... H-how are you doing today?"

"I'm fine." The Human said calmly, which Alphys didn't think was so in character but for a start she appreciated it.

"Ha! Ha! Glad to hear it!..." But then she was also at a lost as to what to say next. The Human nodded assuringly and Alphys huffed. "Uhhh, so I'd like to, um, talk to you about something."

"What is it, Alphys?"

"Umm, you see... I... I... I... I h-haven't been exactly truthful w-w-with you..."

"What do you mean?" Alphys frowned and grumbled at that.

"H-How is this s-supposed to actually h-help me if you don't p-play your part well?" Alphys demanded. The Human pressed her lips together. Alphys was concerned for a moment. But then something like... resolve.. sparked in The Human's gaze and she took an almost defensive stance.

"Okay! But just remember you asked for it!"

Alphys cleared her throat again.

"R-right. So, I h-haven't been exactly truthful w-with you..." The Human gasped loudly and put her hands against her cheeks.

"What?!" O-Okay, that was a l-little bit better. But still not how Alphys would have done it.

"Y... you see. I... I... "

The Human came closer.

"What? What is it? What's wrong?" The Human asked dramatically. "What has your cute face all twisted up in concern!?"

"U-Uh... Thanks, y-you say that a.. a lot. But I know you just mean it platonically. Because we're just friends! Eheheheh. But a-as I was saying-... Oh, forget it! Undyne! I... I want to tell you how I feel! Y-you're so brave, a-and s-strong... A-and n-nice... Y-you always listen t-to me when I talk about n-n-nerdy stuff... Y-you always d-d-do your best to m-make me f-f-feel special...

"Because you are!" The Human cried. "You are special to me! Alphys!" The Human leaned in closer. "THEN! She sweeps you up! And kisses you!" Alphy's mouth dropped.

"WH-WHAT?! UNDYNE WOULD NEVER, UH..." B-But... It was just pretending. "... I kiss her back... S... softly..." Alphys dared. The Human's smile widened, a gleam Alphys had never seen in them except through the cameras was sparking in their eyes among the resolve. This spark Alphys had been certain was only reserved for Papyrus. It m-made Alphys f-feel... "I... l-look gently into her eyes..." Alphys said as she tried to get back on top of things.

"She leans in once again!" The Human says, leaning against Alphys' shoulder with flare to rival Mettaton.

"I-! I... I uh! I START HOLLERING! UNDYNE! I LOVE YOU! I AM SO MADLY IN LOVE WITH YOU!"

"ALPHYS! I LOVE YOU! HOLD ME!" The Human hugged Alphys. Alphys wrapped her own arms around The Human and looked up towards the stone ceiling, still raving.

"UNDYNE! KISS ME AGAIN! UNDYNE!"

And suddenly, there she was. Undyne. Right in front of them.

Both Alphys and The Human shrieked as they held on to each other more tightly.

Undyne stared.

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"I know how it feels to keep a secret that hurts you."