Disclaimer: I don't own Hyperdimension Neptunia or Date A Live.


"…I'm really sorry about this, Ms. Compa." Shidou apologized, trying to put as little weight as possible for Compa to shoulder.

Shidou might have been able to recover better if he had remained in place for a while, but with the state of the cavern and that IF and Neptune had gone to pursue the white-haired woman, it was better to pursue in case something bad happened.

IF was practically weaponless, and Neptune didn't have enough energy to transform – so it stands to reason that Shidou was more than a bit worried.

…not that he would be of any help as of the moment due to the state of his body.

If anything, the only one that wasn't handicapped in their party in any way was Compa. Although seeing that Compa was a nurse that specialized in healing, Shidou couldn't quite say that their battle capability would have improved – simply prolonged.

"It's fine, Mr. Shidou." Compa said reassuringly. "It's partially my fault for allowing you to go through with your plan even though I knew this would result. Maybe if I was a better nurse, then you would still be capable of standing on your own two legs."

Shidou gave a wry smile, not intending to open the conversation further. He had a similar conversation with Compa two days ago, and he'd rather not do a repeat of mutual self-depreciation.

"By the way Ms. Compa, why did you want to be a nurse in the first place?"

In an attempt to change the subject, Shidou said the first thing that had entered his mind.

As it was, Shidou had no idea what he wanted to do in the future and had resolved himself as living the life of an adventurer for as long as IF wished to. That wasn't to say that Shidou did not like being an adventurer – as, much like his partner, he enjoyed the new sights that would be presented to him whenever he visited some place new.

"Why I wanted to be a nurse…?"

"Er, if it's personal you don't have to tell me! I'm just curious that's all."

Compa shook her head at that and gave a soft smile.

"It's nothing tragic, if that's what you're wondering about. I just wanted to help save people."

Shidou's eyes momentarily directed itself towards Compa's exceedingly large needle-like weapon before he returned his attention to Compa.

"Y-your needle is mainly used as a weapon, right?"

"Oh, that? It also works as a nursing tool! Do you wish to see?"

"…no thanks."

"But apart from that, I don't wish to see people suffering." Compa admitted. "I want to be there to alleviate people's pain no matter how little. I don't mean to be arrogant to say I wish to help everyone, but to those that I can reach, then I wish to help them."

With a faraway expression that told of a desire that she wanted to grant with her own two hands, Shidou felt a small form of resonance that he couldn't quite put a finger to. It was much like the answer to a question at the tip of one's tongue and that the only other thing needed was a small push for the answer to be revealed.

"That's… admirable." Shidou finally said, brushing away the thought for a later time. "You at least have a goal to reach out to, so I feel a bit jealous."

"Isn't it the same for you, Mr. Shidou? Don't you wish to recover your memories?"

"Maybe. Although nowadays, I'm not too sure. I haven't found a single clue to my memories ever since IF had found me. I've been traveling the landmasses to find a clue, but all I've found are vague feelings that might have been something I had done before I lost my memories."

It was clear that Shidou had some form of memory in the past – his muscle memory seemed to be working fine as his skill with cooking and preference with weapons could allude to. He could even recall the names of the meals he had created even if he had not necessarily encountered the dish he had cooked in any of the places he had eaten from. But concrete memories as to who Shidou of the past was were always out of his reach.

His lack of memories had led to him creating new memories without any hesitation – never looking back and always moving forward.

"I was pretty much a blank slate when IF found me." Shidou said after a moment of silence. "I probably would have never known I had amnesia if she hadn't told me. Rather, I was only reminded to look for my old memories when I started having recurring dreams… but it turns out it was Histoire asking me for help."

If Histoire hadn't called for him, what would have changed? Would he have been content adventuring with IF without any thought on whom he was in the past?

Shidou felt that would have likely been the case.

"But you still ended up trying to search for it when Ms. Histy, asked for your help, right?"

"Yeah… I just couldn't ignore it. Rather, I had a feeling that the me of before and the me of the present would both be unable to ignore a call for help, especially when it was directed to me."

It was like asking an adventurer who hadn't drank water in three days to not drink water when it was right in front of him. A battle of wills that felt like ripping one's self apart from trying to even consider doing it.

"Then that's fine isn't it?" Compa said, giggling lightly.

"What do you mean?"

"Whether you want to recover your memories or not, you're still trying to act the way you wish to act. Surely, you may not see it as something needed, but won't you feel regret for not even trying to find out who you were before?"

"So I should search for it so I wouldn't regret anything?"

"Yes and if you meet up with Histoire, maybe she might know something about it? NepNep said that she would be able to restore her memories and if she could do that, then maybe she could for you!"

It was an awfully optimistic way of looking at things, but Shidou wasn't a particularly pessimistic person in the first place.

"Yeah, you might be right." He agreed with a smile of his own.

After the conversation ended with only the soft footsteps of Compa and Shidou's shoes impacting the greenery around the cavern they had exited, they eventually spotted IF and Neptune with another person.

Shidou was expecting it to be the white-haired woman, but it was someone else entirely.

"Heeey, Shin! We found a comrade!"

"…a comrade?"

Neptune brought along a black-haired girl with hair done into short twin-tails and an outfit that was without a doubt rather regal looking with black as the main color, and showed her to him in a buddy sort of way. She also had what looked like a rapier and its scabbard by her waist.

She was a rather distinct looking girl; pretty to be sure, and if it were any other situation, Shidou would have hesitated interacting with the girl simply due to the presence she held.

Was this person an acquaintance of Neptune by any chance?

"Meet amnesiac buddy #3!"

"Wait, #3? Who's #1 and #2?" The black-haired girl asked exasperatedly.

"I'm #1 obviously, since I'm the main character!" Neptune said puffing out her non-existent chest. "And Shin over here, is #2! Although if we're talking about who has had amnesia the longest then maybe Shin would be #1…"

The newcomer decided to ignore Neptune and gave Shidou a surprised and somewhat sympathetic gaze.

"So you have amnesia as well?"

"Well, since it's out of the bag, yes." Shidou admitted rather easily. "My name is Shidou. I would extend a hand out in greeting, but I'm not exactly in the best of form right now…"

"There's no need. My name is Noire, an… amnesiac just like you are."

Now that Shidou got a good look at Noire, she seemed to be quite injured with various cuts and scrapes around her body.

"What happened?"

"It seems like she got mauled by a monster here and lost her memories." IF answered, giving a soft disappointed sigh. There was something else hidden within her expression, but Shidou couldn't quite tell what it was. If it were any other person looking at IF however, they would have most likely missed it. "Well, let's get out of here. None of us are in good fighting form and I just lost my main weapons."

"Aye, aye sir!"

"It's ma'am, you idiot!"


"Welcome back – are you alright?!"

Chian greeted the party as they entered the cafeteria ran by Chian's parents, but her greeting stopped midway when she looked at the state of the party.

With the exception of Compa, everyone including the newcomer had various cuts or injuries around their body. Torn and ruffled clothing were also present making it as if the party got hit by a typhoon and had managed to just pick up the pieces.

"We're fine." IF answered. "A bit roughed up, but things could have gone better and sorry that we couldn't rescue the child ourselves, apparently, someone had gone there before us."

"While it's heartening to know that the child is safe, but let's have you guys looked over."

IF conversed with Chian to report regarding the party's excursion to the dungeon while Compa had borrowed a room to look over the injuries of Neptune, Shidou and the new party member, Noire.

…at least that's what Neptune told Shidou at any rate.

"By the way Compa, why don't you just use your skill to heal us like you did with Shidou?"

"Oh, you mean 'First Aid'? I would love to do that NepNep, but if I do it one more time, I feel like I'd faint…"

For reference, Compa had constantly been doing a healing skill towards Shidou as they walked back to Chian's cafeteria. As the damage was internal, it had supposedly made it difficult to pinpoint where to aim her skill and had thus been wasteful in the usage of mana. Her efforts eventually bore fruit, and by the time they reached their destination, Shidou was capable of walking with his own two feet once again.

"Hmm… so we don't have any of those neat items that restores SP, MP or whatever it is that skill uses up when executed?"

"…if you're talking about replenishing mana, then they're quite expensive. If I recall correctly, IF and I have a few in our safehouse back at Leanbox, but bringing them along is almost like bringing cold hard cash with you."

It didn't help that those said items looked far too close to diamonds from an outsider's perspective that it was almost like painting a target on one's back for thieves.

"Leanbox? Didn't you say you originated from Planeptune?" Noire asked, pitching in to the conversation.

"Planeptune? When did I say that?" Shidou asked, giving the recent amnesiac a look of confusion.

He didn't remember saying anything about where he had originated from to Noire.

"E-er, I mean, seeing as your friend Neptune here is most likely from Planeptune based on her name and color preference, I thought you'd be the same."

"Well, I can't deny that…" Shidou agreed momentarily shooting the purple haired preteen a glance which she spotted and gave him a thumb up… for whatever reason. "It's true that I may have originated from Planeptune, but for the past year and a half, I've spent most of my time in Lowee and Leanbox."

"May?" Noire pressed, but she quickly caught herself upon reflecting upon her own words. "Sorry, I may be asking too deep of a personal question…"

"I don't mind." Shidou said good-naturedly. "I suppose knowing about what I know as a fellow amnesiac might rest your mind at ease."

"Yeah! We amnesiacs got to stick together you know; we're practically birds of a feather!" Neptune added enthusiastically.

"Aww… I feel like I'm being left out."

"…Ms. Compa, it's in these types of situations that you shouldn't mind feeling left out."

It would trouble Shidou if Compa wished to have amnesia just so she could be part of the group!

"Neptune most likely would have originated from Planeptune, or at the very least has a high amount of national spirit for the landmass; as for myself, I was found amnesiac a fair distance from the main city of Planeptune." Shidou explained. "I'm not really sure if I'm from Planeptune, I just happen to have been found there."

"Does that mean you don't hold Ne – I mean, Lady Purple Heart as your goddess?"

Shidou felt it was a strange question, but he supposed there were people out there that felt strongly about these subjects.

"No, not really. Although I hold her with respect, but it's not like I hold any of the goddesses in a pedestal higher than the others."

"I see…" Noire seemed to think deeply about Shidou's words. Her words almost seemed as if she was relieved yet at the same time, a sense of foreboding seemed to enter Shidou's mind upon hearing the words uttered.

"By the way Ms. Noire –"

"Drop the honorifics, you do the same with Neptune here, right?"

"Yep! If I want my route to be more easily accessible then dropping formalities should be the way to go!"

"Who would want to go in your route in the first place!?"

"Shin definitely would! Although now that I think about it, he seems to be the type to explore all routes to get all the CGs… by that logic, does that mean you're going to aim at the harem route right off the bat!?"

"Like I said before, what the heck are you talking about!? I haven't even played a Visual Novel –"

-my whole life.

Those were the words that Shidou wanted to say, but he had stopped himself because somehow, he felt that what he was about to say was a lie.

"Woah, you okay there amnesiac buddy #2? I was only joking, but if you're really serious about it, then I get dibs as the main wife!"

"Mr. Shidou? Are you feeling alright?"

Noticing that Compa, Neptune and Noire were shooting him with worried looks, Shidou tried to wave it off with a small smile.

"It's nothing, probably just a sense of dejavu or something like that."

It would be hard to call a feeling of 'having played a Visual Novel before' as a clue to Shidou's past as gaming was practically a way of life for all four landmasses. While Shidou may have never played Visual Novels ever since he had lost his memories, it did not mean his past self didn't. On the flip side, just because he played fighting games in the present, it did not mean that he also played it in the past.

Memories were finicky especially regarding common day to day events that just about any normal person would go through.

Before conversations could start once again, IF entered the room with what looked like a new pair of her trademark jacket as there were no signs of the gathered dust or torn parts caused by the fight with the white-haired woman.

"It's time for dinner. Although we didn't complete the request, Chian is apparently willing to treat us to food."

"…is that alright? The recession has been tough on the local businesses and Chian herself is struggling during these times."

"I tried to dissuade her." IF said shrugging lightly. "You're welcome to try yourself, Shidou but the food is already ready."

"Let's go eat then! And if you really feel guilty about this Shin, then we'll just have to try a lot harder next time, right?"

Surprised at Neptune's sensible words, Shidou could only nod as he slowly followed the cheerful preteen out of the room.


"So you were attacked by a woman who was apparently after your purple-haired friend over there?" Chian asked in confirmation.

"We're not exactly sure why she was after Nep since she's suffering amnesia, but we've met a similar situation in Planeptune." IF replied, eating the simple meal given to her.

At present, IF, Shidou, Neptune, Compa, Noire and Chian were in a small cafeteria linked to Chian's main workshop. It was devoid of any people apart from the six present giving it a sort of private air. It also allowed Neptune to eat without receiving any scolding for her etiquette but judging by the disapproving look that Shidou was sending the purple haired preteen, IF supposed it was only a matter of time before that no longer became the case.

"That seems troubling."

"While Shidou and I don't have much experience against human to human battles, we can hold our own well enough." IF said, trying to reassure Chian's worry regarding future requests. "If anything, I doubt that person would come back for quite a while."

Shidou thought it was odd that IF could say those words with conviction seeing as they had no idea where the white-haired woman went, but he hadn't got a good look at how injured the white-haired woman was as she left so he couldn't quite gauge if the injuries she had received would be enough to incapacitate her for the next couple of days.

"So your name is Noire?" Chian said, addressing the black-haired amnesiac. "It isn't much, but I hope the food is to your liking."

"It's good, rather I feel guilty that you're providing us food despite the difficulty that you're under."

Noire had understood that based on Shidou's words that this action was a bit too extravagant for someone like Chian despite its simplicity.

"It's alright. Although the request was originally to rescue a child, the fact that these adventurers that I've come to only know about today had managed to save you is enough reason to celebrate."

Shidou couldn't help but smile at those words which only bolstered his resolve to do well in future requests to help out Chian. At the corner of his eyes, he spotted his partner sporting a somewhat wry smile before she took a bite of her food.

"At any rate, this day has been a bust." IF said with a sigh. "To be honest, I hadn't heard much about the state of Lastation's economy. Given the bustling business district, I'd have thought there would be more quests to go around especially during these times."

"While the bustling business district did open quite a few jobs, it's not exactly for adventurers." Chian replied with a wry smile. "Disregarding their almost iron grip with the Basilicom, Avenir has provided jobs for the local civilians as factory workers. Given how quickly they monopolized the market, even the feeble pay and working conditions was enough incentive for most rather than the alternative of competing with such a large firm."

"How did Avenir get such a quick grip of Lastation's businesses anyway?" Shidou asked. "To be honest, I've only heard of the company in Lowee and perhaps Leanbox, but their presence might as well be another sole proprietor within the vast market."

It was almost unheard of in the other landmasses for a particular company to get such a large grasp of the market. Certainly there might be duopolies in particular market segments but a monopoly in nearly all types of businesses was something that sounded like a businessman's dream. Never mind the regulations that were supposed to prevent businesses from getting such a large part of the economy that it almost depended on them to keep the landmass going.

"I'm not entirely sure myself, but rumor had it that Avenir's CEO had given a proposal to Lady Black Heart that would revive the market to allow it to compete with Planeptune's technology in a short five year time span."

"…that's a rather bold assertion."

"You wouldn't be wrong." Chian agreed, taking a sip of her tea. "I'm not sure what had occurred three years ago for Lady Black Heart to agree to Avenir's demands, but whatever the case was, regulations were passed and after Lady Black Heart's sudden disappearance, things just spiraled out of control."

"Spiraled out of control?"

It was an odd way of putting it that Compa instinctively mouthed out her question.

"There's a rumor Avenir had managed to place one of their members into the Basilicom with the help of Lady Black Heart and with that person within the governing body… sad to say, it was only a matter of time before things took a turn for the worse."

In a sense, it was like tasking a wolf to take care of a sheep – it was a disaster waiting to happen.

"That was rather callous of Lady Black Heart." Shidou commented honestly, not noticing their newest companion flinch at that remark.

"What's with the exaggerated flinch, amnesiac buddy #3?"

"D-don't call me that!"

For Neptune's part, she was content to ignore the conversation in favor of eating her food. At least, until a certain vegetable came to her immediate notice.

"Ugh! What's this?!"

Hearing the exclamation of the purple-haired preteen, the conversation regarding Lastation politics ended abruptly. Chian, who had prepared dinner, was more affected by the sudden but strong reaction of Neptune towards her food.

"W-what's wrong? Was there anything in the food that wasn't to your liking?"

"No, no, no. The food is good and all, but this!"

As if pointing towards an abomination to all things that was considered humane, Neptune exaggeratedly and heatedly placed attention towards a rather innocuous vegetable on her plate.

It was a purple skinned vegetable that had been filleted opened to let out its somewhat greenish insides that flayed out in a way reminiscent of scrambled egg.

To put it simple terms, it was an eggplant.

"That's… an eggplant." Shidou deadpanned.

"Yes, it's an eggplant! Why would anyone ever think of placing that abomination in a plate?!"

"To eat it, of course." IF answered with a similar expression to her partner.

"Does NepNep not like eggplants?"

"'Not like'? More like hate it!" Neptune said vehemently, sticking a tongue out at the eggplant.

"Hate? What brought this about? Have you even tasted it?"

"There's no need for me to taste something like that to know it's completely inedible!"

"Say that again to the millions of people that eats vegetable, Neptune."

Despite their insistence, Neptune was adamant at not eating the purple vegetable something that made both Compa and Shidou pause for thought.

"I could call up at least five vegetables that are more unlikeable than eggplants and unlike those vegetables, eggplants has more easily accessible recipes to make it taste better…"

"And those ingredients are common source enough that even children would like it…"

Compa and Shidou exchanged a look that made a chill run down Neptune's spine. Oddly enough, this feeling was shared with IF as both girls took a step back from the pair.

"W-wait, this isn't an invitation to put eggplants in future meal you know?!"

"Don't worry Neptune." Shidou said with a smile that didn't quite reach up to his eyes.

"Yes, you won't know that the eggplant is even there NepNep!"

"That doesn't set my mind at ease at all!"


Author's Notes:
Well, it's later than usual, but at least I had it within my projected time of update, right?

Real life has gotten in the way of my writing in the form of stress so while I do use writing to release some of it, I ended up just video gaming to get my mind off of things. It doesn't help that I faced writer's block for the latter part of the initial Lastation Arc and ended up skipping to writing the initial Leanbox Arc…

Next chapter is likely to come after I update one of my other stories (Awakening, to be specific). So when that comes out, depending on how I'm feeling after I update, the next update for this story might come a week or a whole month after that.

Anyway, thank you all for the reviews, favorite and follows!