I awoke slowly. Climbing out of my bed, I walked over to the door. I heard impatient rapping at the door. I opened it to see Falcom. "Good morning." she greeted me. I sighed. "All the same to you." I replied. She guided me into the living room, to where Lid was waiting. "How are you feeling?" asked Lid. I started brewing some coffee. "I'm a little tired, but I'm ready for action. How about you, Snake?" I replied. Lid sighed. "Eh, I'm doing fine." she replied back. At that moment, Neptune walked into the room. She was wearing her parka today.
Uni stepped into the room. She looked flushed, probably from thinking about last night. She sighed. "Let's get moving. We gotta talk about the upcoming mission." Uni said, motioning everyone to the elevators. Nepgear followed us. I looked at the sign. "Only five people can be in this elevator at one time." I pointed out. Everyone paused. Neptune stepped up. "Let's see... How about we draw straws?" she offered. I shook my head. "I'll take the stairs." I replied.
As I made my descent, I thought about what the mission might be. I soon reached the bottom. The elevator doors opened two seconds after I reached the bottom. Nepgear softly smiled. "Should I have you walk to the airport?" she asked jokingly. I chuckled. "You gonna walk with me?" Neptune slugged me in the arm. The sound of knuckle meeting metal filled the air. She pulled her fist back. "Ow!" she squeaked. I laughed. "You're gonna have to work on your aim, my lady." She huffed, "Shut up." she retorted, but she was giggling too.
We reached the vehicles, and I got into the first vehicle, placing myself behind the wheel. I turned the key. The engine rumbled, then nothing. I turn the key back, then fourth. Rumble, then nothing. Neptune leaned over. "This must be the work of an enemy Stand user!" she exclaimed. I chuckled. "Nope." I reply, pointing to the gas meter. "We're out of gas, or there's something wrong with the meter." I stepped out of the car and popped the hood. No signs of smoke. Good signs. I shut the hood and went to the back of the vehicle and pulled a gas canister out. I quickly refueled the car, then went back into the car, placing myself behind the wheel. I turned the key. The engine roared to life. "That was easy." I chuckle. "There should be no more issues from here on out." I press on the gas and start driving.
Neptune sighs. "There's pudding in the cooler, if you're wondering." I state. "So, I'm going to ask a question I already know the answer to. Does Japanese custard pudding need to be refrigerated?" Neptune asked. "Just asking for Western audiences." I sigh. "No, even though the pudding cups do not have to be refrigerated, once open they absolutely must be refrigerated once they are opened. It really depends on the brand and quality of the ingredients. Custards with artificial preservatives can survive outside the fridge, but puddings with all-natural ingredients will need to be refrigerated and eaten by the Use By date." I explain. Falcom looked confused. "Neptune, what do you mean, Western audiences? What is this, a fanfiction?" she asked. Neptune giggled. "Of course it's a fanfiction, silly!"
As I turned onto the highway, I heard honking. The other vehicle had pulled alongside mine. Uni signaled me to pull over. I stepped out of the vehicle. "I just realized. Uni, I thought you went home." I pointed out. Uni shrugged. "Noire told me to stay here at the last second." she explained. "Diplomatic stuff." I walk over to my car. Lid groaned. "Way to go, hotshot. You jinxed us." she cheered sarcastically. Smoke was pouring out from the edges of the hood. I popped the hood. The coolant had overheated. "So this really is the work of an enemy Stand user." Neptune narrated. I shook my head. "Good grief..." I groaned.
My phone buzzes. I tap the display on my metallic arm. A reminder that the plane is fueled up and ready to go. "Dammit, we're running behind." I state, annoyance laced into my voice like toxic gas. "Why did they send a car that doesn't work jack shit?" Lid shrugged. "Beats me." I am seething with annoyance. I angrily kick my car. I then peek in. I sigh. "The radiator fan's jammed." I point out. Lid decided to kick the car as well. Suddenly, the car began to roll away. I forgot to turn on the parking brake! I'm such a moron! I try to hold the car in place, but to no avail. It rolls right off the side of the road and into the ditch. It flipped onto it's roof.
Lid looked on. "What did I do?" she asked. I looked back at her. "You killed the car." I reply. We look at the destroyed car. To add insult to injury, the fuel tank ruptured, an earth shattering boom splitting the air. Neptune looked on in horror. "Noooo… The pudding, dude. Not the pudding..." she moaned. I look over to Uni. "Looks like we'll have to pile into your vehicle." Uni looked at me. "But only five people can be in each car, so-" she began.
"I'll ride in the trunk." I say, not skipping a beat. Within minutes, we were back on the road. Nepgear looked back. "You sure you're okay being back there?" she asked. "I'm alright." I reply. We soon reach the airport, and we pile onto the plane. I slip into the 1st class seat. Soon, we take off. I move back into the lounge. Nepgear, Uni and Falcom are chilling out in the lounge, watching a cheesy comedy. I look through the drawers. "Huh. Wrestling comics?" I ask.
"NO!" blurts Uni. I look at her, confused. "Um, I mean, you won't like those comics. They have... no plot tension whatsoever!" I sigh. "Okay." I put the magazines away. "What the hell's a playboy?" I ask. Lid looks over. "It's-"
"NO, GOD!" shouts Uni. Everyone looked at her in shock. "No God, please no! No! NO! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO-"
We all settle in as the familiar opening theme of The Office rings throughout the lounge. We watched an episode or two, then Nepgear got up to stretch. "We're two hours away from Lastation." she stated. "Who wants to play a card game or two?" I walk over to the cupboard. Opening the top shelf, I find a few board games."Tri-dimensional chess? Spock loves this game." I think aloud.
"We also got Jumanji, Clue, an Ouija board, Monopoly, Apples to Apples, Zathura: Adventure is Waiting,and Cards Against Humanity." Neptune looked over my shoulder. "Or we could play some videogames." I sighed. "No gaming consoles in sight, I'm afraid." I reply, shaking my head. Neptune sighed, plucking the Clue box from the shelf. "Very well. We shall play Clue instead!"
Lid stared at the board with intent. Uni cleared her throat. "The crime was committed by Mr. Green in the lounge withthe revolver." she accused. She looked in the envelope. A smirk spread across her face. She laid the cards in the envelope onto the table, showing that she had won the game.
"That was a well played game." I say. "And a very long one." Nepgear walked over to Uni. "Good job, Uni!" she complimented, leaning over and planting a kiss on Uni's cheek. Uni blushed. "T-thanks." she replied, beginning to put away the board. I helped her. After we did, there was a ding.
"This is your captain speaking. We are nearing Lastation International Airport. Please return to your seats and prepare for landing."
The plane touched down at the airport. Within minutes, the plane came to a stop. The captain guided us to the exit. "That's the end of our trip." Lid announced, sighing. "That coffee was pretty good."
I stepped off the plane, and I took a deep breath. The air was clean and crisp. "I take it your flight went smoothly?" I jumped as I heard Noire's voice behind me. I turned around. There was an audible chuckle from my party.
"Well, let's hurry up and get to the taxis." I suggested, trying to change the subject. "We should head over to your base as soon as- Noire, why the hell are you transforming?" She looked at me like I was stupid. "What do you think? Flying would be faster."
"Huh?" She picked me up like a doll and took off. Being totally unprepared, I did the first thing I could think of. I grabbed onto whatever I could and held on for dear life. "Hey! What the hell do you think you're grabbing?!" Black Heart snapped. I couldn't look, but I knew I had accidentally grabbed onto the goddess' left breast. I opted to wrap my arms around the back of her neck.
"Whoa!" I yelled, trying to get her to hear me over the sound of the roaring wind. "Please! I wasn't trying to cop a feel, I swear!" Black Heart sighed. "Just keep your head down! Jeez..." Obeying, I pressed my body against hers and held on. Feeling her heart beat, I was lulled into a calm as we flew over the Lastation cityscape.
We touched down onto the Basilicom building. "We're here." she announced. I released a breath that I didn't know I was holding as I let go of Noire. My heart is racing, and the heat in my face could fry an egg. After collecting myself with a few deep breaths, the goddess turned back into her human form. "So, I think we should..." Noire began. She blushed and looked away. "What's wrong?" I asked.
"P-p-pants." she stammered. "F-fix your pants." I looked down. My pants had come loose, and had fallen to my ankles. Blushing, I quickly readjusted.I remembered what my mother told me. 'You can't be showing skin to just anyone.'
I hung my head in shame. Sorry, Mom. I can't get married anymore.
Noire abruptly slapped me. I looked at her in annoyance. "Ow! What was that for?" I asked. She shrugged. "You were zoning out.
"So you hit me?"
"Precisely." I sighed. There was no use in arguing over something so petty. Might as well ask. "So, the mission." I ask. "What is it?"
She sighed. "Follow me." she ordered. She began walking towards the elevator. I followed her into the elevator. She quickly shut the door. Once she was sure we were alone, she pressed one of the buttons and walked to the wall. I went to my wall and waited as the elevator went down.
She waited for a second, then she spoke. "I will tell you about the mission. We have to recover an artefact stolen by some hoodlums. Normally, Basilicom Public Security would take care of this, but one of Arfore's lackeys is supporting the band of criminals. They're hiding out in Midgard. Sector 6 Slums." she explained. "So, I was asked to take care of it. I requested your..." She blushed, obviously trying to avoid saying she asked for my help. "...presence." she finished, collecting herself.
"So it'll be like a date?" I asked. Noire blushed again. "Wha-!" She glared at me, flustered. "Shut up! Another word and I'll bury you alive!" she snapped.
