Hello all, and welcome back! This took me exceedingly longer to write than I first anticipated, so I do apologize for that, and I do also apologize for how long this one turned out. But this was one of the first ideas that got me into writing these in the first place. Megatagmension for all its faults, has the best Unigear scene in the whole franchise (you know the one), and I have wanted to write something around it for a long time. So please enjoy my way way too long one-shot!

-marketvalueneps

High school really was a remarkable place… a strewn-together collection of hormone-driven almost people that have to interact for 8 hours a day 5 days a week. Although through all this, the CPUs attending Gamacadmi had to say, they had thoroughly enjoyed the time they had spent in the midst of it all. It was a great window into the daily lives of the people, and through all the crummy teachers, maddening hours, and endless homework, they all could say they enjoyed themselves. And after all, they went through to save the high school in the first place, it certainly was a chapter of their life they'd never forget.

Although, for two of them, perhaps there really was a 'dark history' they would rather do without…

"Oh my god, did you see Nepgear and Uni? They really might have a future in acting…"

"How good of an actor do you have to be to almost kiss your best friend?"

"How avant-garde! To feature a blossoming romance between two lovely women!"

"Dude, who cares if it was acting? Two of the hottest girls at the school getting together is pretty sweet"

Uni grumbled every time she heard the whispers amongst her peers, she was sure Nepgear had to hear them from time to time as well. Worst part? She really couldn't reprimand them (apart from the last guys, whom she definitely wanted to give a thrashing). She had to bite her tongue… because that's all it was right? Acting? That's all anyone had to know, that's what Blanc had told her when she happened upon the pair. But…

"Some acting" Uni pursed her lips as she continued walking down the stretching almost maze-like halls of the high school's ground floor, the serene quiet like state of the halls at the moment a stark contrast to what they likely looked like mere hours ago. But at the moment, Uni was making her way to her club activities after the day had let out, and most students made their way home as quickly as their legs could take them.

But not Uni. As a proud member of the airsoft club, she had the privilege of staying after school twice a week, as the club's meetings started an hour after the final bell. There served little purpose in going home only to have to immediately turn around, so Uni usually found herself either seated somewhere or aimlessly walking the halls like she was now to pass the time.

She appreciated her 'me time' and it proved to be a great way to wind down after what usually was a stress-filled day. Getting herself in the right mindset for her club was important so she could perform to her best… or at least that's what Nepgear always told her. As Uni's mind wandered and the slight image of a d-clip adorned lilac haired gearhead popped into her mind's eye, soon it followed…

"Of course, I think that much about you, Nepgear… I… I love you too…"

Immediately Uni's face shot to a shade of red so dark that it was likely a new shade altogether. Shaking her head vigorously to rid her mind of her own haunting words, giving her face a firm slap for added effect, Uni did her best to assuage herself of the troublesome thoughts. She was just tired from staying up all that time, that's all it was!

…but as the months passed and she found herself still thinking about it, could she tell herself that anymore? And really, who was she trying to fool? The only people there were herself, Blanc (who may be smug, but at least knows how to keep her lips tight), and Nepgear. Everyone else thought it was an act, acting. A beautifully choreographed scene. Even her own sister bought it. So, again, who was she trying to fool? Was it herself? Was it Nepgear?

Uni's heart pricked at the line of questioning, stopping in her tracks she swallowed the quickly appearing lump that appeared in her throat, seemingly out of nowhere. Was that it? Was she trying her best to fool Nepgear herself? Why? What did she even think of Nepgear? Sure she may have been tired, but Uni somehow felt that her words then still held meaning. At least to her. After all, she had only stayed up that long to be by Nepgear's side in the first place.

So what did she even think of the Planeptuian? A few words certainly came to mind as Uni put her hand to her chin, cupping it. Responsible, intelligent, capable, someone to look up to… pretty, really pretty if Uni had to say, dutiful, a genuine friend…

Perfect.

That was it, wasn't it? That's what she was. Perfect. Walking perfection, that Uni wanted to do everything in her power to be by… so then why was it she felt so jaded about what she said? After all, wasn't it Nepgear who confessed first?

As Uni aimlessly continued her walk, the minutes passing, and finding it time to get to her club. Uni quickly made her way to the usual meeting room, mind still clouded, heart jaded, and no closer to any answer she was sure she wanted to hear…

Simultaneously, far away from the school at this point, a pair of girls with strange hair colors walked side by side, their purple hair always a crowd-pleaser, and a topic of much gossip over the years. Yet to the girls, they never particularly paid any mind to it, for it was just how they were born. No at the moment, the ever-persistent Neptune poked at her younger sister's slides as she prodded, as any older sister should,

"Hey! Hey! Nep Jr! You gotta tell meeee!" She whined, groaning at the rude rudeness exacerbated by her own kin. For her part, Nepgear showed extreme patience, scratching her neck, as she spoke in her relaxing voice,

"I told you, Neptune, if I knew, I would tell you" Or perhaps there was something else to this seemingly innocent conversation?

"But Nepgear, how come you're such a good actress! I mean totally unfair!" Neptune whined more, flopping her upper body to the ground, showcasing her feelings at the moment,

"I don't even know what you're talking about…" Nepgear laughed awkwardly trying her best to move along,

"Oh, c'mon you know exactly what I'm talking about! You and Uni! You totally could have fooled me, that's some good acting!" Neptune pointed her index finger at her sister as she made her point known,

Immediately Nepgear's fidgeting became noticeably worse, as she did her best to look anywhere but at her sister's gaze.

"Yea… acting," Nepgear said almost in a daze, as the scene replayed in Nepgear's mind for what felt like the umpteenth time. And with it, the shame that coursed through her body came with it. She wanted nothing more than to forget it, her in her tired stupor…

"Uni…you thought so much about me… thank you so much, Uni… I… love you"

Nepgear gritted her teeth as she tried to force the embarrassing thoughts down, burying them as deep as she could. It wasn't that that wasn't how she felt, it was! But… she forced Uni into a tough position, and with how exhausted they both were it felt… wrong. She loved Uni, but if her feelings pushed her away, she didn't want them! And with the thinly veiled awkwardness that now masked their conversations… she very well might have done that.

"So? Spill the beans… or, is there something I should be disapproving of? Hmm?" Neptune spoke smugly, as Nepgear swallowed hard. Sometimes Neptune made it difficult to read how much she knew about something. Did she know what happened? That was impossible, Nepgear reasoned, the only people there had been there being herself, Uni, and of course, Blanc. Nepgear was reasonably sure she could trust Blanc not to run her mouth… so?

"Hahaha no I don't think so…" Nepgear scratched her neck as she tried her best to play off the moment, and after a moment of staring at her, Neptune seemed to move on as well, as the duo made their way down the street, and farther and farther away from the school. Of course only for the night, as in less than a day, they would once more find themselves in the confines of the building again.

And like clockwork, there Neptune found herself again. Although she had to admit, one of the definitive perks of being a senior, was that she was afforded extra free time. To which she utilized to the fullest, and as the president of the film club, that granted her access to the club room during these periods, which she, more often than not, used to secure some much-needed sleepy time.

But not today. No, today. She had bigger fish to fry. Today, she was doing a diligent job of rewatching the film club's first movie. Well, more accurately, she was watching for one scene. One specific scene indeed.

"Hmmm…" As she stared intensely at the scene in front of her, she couldn't help but have one thought cross her mind, "No one's that good of an actor. Certainly not Nep Jr…" She pointed out. Her and Uni, the words they said, the way they acted… it seemed a little too real to Neptune.

But, then again, did that make any sense? If they were secretly together this whole time, Neptune was almost positive Nepgear wouldn't keep something of that magnitude from her. So, what gives? The scene she watched, it was about as genuine as Neptune had seen, and yet?

"Ugggghhh why do I have to think!?" Neptune bemused, it didn't help that Nepgear was dodgy whenever the topic was brought up, so that left Neptune doing her own digging by herself. But as she watched the scene one more time, something occurred to her, "Wait, when was this even filmed!? I don't remember this…" Scrutinizing it even further, Neptune couldn't help but notice the camera appeared almost unfocused, and the 'actresses' were not centered well, as well as numerous other sloppy camera techniques. Surely they should have filmed this again, right? "Who even filmed this?"

As Neptune cupped her chin, thinking hard on the topic, she seemed to miss the subtle sound of the club room door being opened,

"Oh. Neptune, what are you doing here?" The soft voice called out, and Neptune couldn't help but smile as she looked over, spotting the short brunette hair that signaled she was now in the company of the film club's famed 'member 0'.

"Oh, hey, Blanc!" Neptune waved, before a thought occurred to her, quickly getting up and grabbing Blanc's hand, dragging her over, ignoring any threats she received, before starting again, "Say, Blanc, who filmed this scene, and when?" She asked as she pointed to the devices she was watching the movie on, and almost immediately Neptune couldn't help but notice that Blanc seemed to want to look anywhere but at her,

"Uhh I filmed it, they really nailed it, so we didn't do a reshoot" Blanc eventually explained, but she had a feeling that was not gonna be good enough to get her off the hook,

"Hmmm is that so? Why wasn't anyone else told about this scene before it was filmed? I mean hey! It wasn't even in the script. I'm real proud of my Nep Jr, she's really blossoming into a heckuva actress!" Neptune cheekily added, and Blanc looked at her, torn about it. Of course, she knew what happened, but she also promised those two she wouldn't tell…

But also. She wasn't dumb, and she sure as hell paid attention around her, she could tell those two needed to have a conversation in the worst possible way. But Blanc also knew that it wasn't her place to do anything about it, perhaps Neptune could help them out?

Thinking it over, Blanc reasoned Neptune really was the only one she even reasonably trusted (which was sad, in honesty). Sure Blanc wanted to involve Noire, Uni was her sister after all, and despite being one of the most obnoxious prudes Blanc had ever met, she couldn't say that Noire wasn't capable… in most things. But everyone with eyes knew she had issues of her own to resolve with the so-called film club president, so that eliminated her.

And, as much as Blanc loved Rom and Ram, and despite their closeness with the goddess candidates in question, Blanc couldn't say she trusted them to actually accomplish anything of substance. As for Vert? I mean c'mon. It's Vert. Like hell, Blanc trusted her in a situation like this. And really there was no one else Blanc felt close enough to even consider. So here left Neptune as the only candidate.

"Ugggh…. Fine. Listen up, and under no circumstance does this go beyond here, got it!" Blanc glared daggers at the goddess as she offered her demands,

"Yes, cappin!" Neptune gave a faux salute, and Blanc only increased the intensity of her stare,

"I'm serious, I'll kill you" Blanc threatened, and Neptune couldn't help but feel a bit of the color drain from her features,

"Maybe I'm better off not knowing?" Neptune joke, a sweatdrop making its way down her face

"Too late, listen up" Blanc took a deep breath as she got to explaining what she more or less accidentally witnessed all those weeks ago in the editing room, finally adding, "But as I'm sure even your dumbass has noticed, those two dumbasses can't even look at each other now, and it's pissin me off! Beating around the bush n all!" Blanc complained, before taking a deep breath, "Plus, it's kind of my fault too… n' I hate this feeling in my chest about it!"

Neptune cupped her chin as she thought over everything. So her earlier assumption was right, that was no acting. But at the same time, it appeared neither Nepgear nor Uni wanted to live up to what they had said, and it appeared to be creating some sort of rift between the two. Now that she thought about it, Neptune did recall that those two did seem to be more distant than usual ever since the movie was first released.

"Well, that's easy! We just lock them in a room and don't let them out till sweet yuri goodness happens!" Neptune pointed out, nodding at the brilliance of her plan, before receiving a firm smack to the head, "owwwwie…" She rubbed her head as she looked at her assailant,

"No damn way!" Blanc yelled at her friend, really it was her fault for thinking Neptune of all people could be of any help. "Really! Does anything go on in that head of yours other than pudding!" Blanc let lose the weeks of pent-up frustration on the issue all at once, but even still it appeared her rampage wasn't done just yet, "All those two dumbasses had to do was edit a movie! But nooooo, those two sappy lovey-dovey dumbasses couldn't do that without gettin all star crossed. Now everyone thinks it was all actin and those two don't know what to do about it!"

"Wait! Blanc! That's it! I had a genius idea come to me!" Neptune jumped up as she enthusiastically pointed to her fellow petite goddess,

"I swear on the true goddess, I will actually kill you if this is stupid!"

"Hahaha, well how am I supposed to know if it's stupid?" Neptune nervously scratched her neck in response,

"Just get on with it!"

"Ok! Ok! Here's the plan, you know how everyone thinks it was just an act? Well, I say we write up a script that has them go through with it, for like realsies. You know that festival comin up? Well, we were asked as the film club to put on something, I was just gonna get something like a projector or something, but how about we make it a grand live performance!" Neptune explained the details of her grand design, and to her surprise, she saw a sly smile appear on her long-time friend's face

"Heh. That's actually not too bad, pudding for brains!" Blanc complimented, before both girls heard the bell ring, signaling they were running out of time, and Neptune lamented,

"Booo… I still wanted to nap…" She complained, before hearing Blanc speak up again,

"We won't have long to write this thing, so you're gonna help me every day till we get it finished" Blanc calmly explained as she left the room, and one could almost see a tear in the eye of Neptune at the thought of her lost sleeping time. But still, she considered, this was for the greater good, and her sister needed her to come through!

And so the duo found themselves there each day for the next week, they had only 5 weeks to the celebration, so the pair worked as feverishly as they could, and soon the fruits of their efforts were bared to the film club, which was summoned for the occasion.

"Hello, my eager minions!" Neptune called out to the once more gathered film club, "I bet you all are wondering why I called you here today, but the truth is, it's a surprise!" Neptune pumped her fist in the air as she eagerly explained herself. The look of confusion among the club only adding to Neptune's delight.

"Do you mind getting on with it, some of us have important things to get to" flicking a hand through one of her intricate twin tails, the ever famous 'ice queen' showed no signs of relinquishing that title. Of course, being Noire, Neptune was far from intimidated,

"See Noire it's an attitude like that that keeps you friendless" Neptune sighed as she offered a mock look of disappointment,

"Wh- you… Neptune…" As if rehearsed Noire glared at Neptune, but before the duo could devolve into their usual shenanigans, another voice rang out from the club,

"My, before my vice pops a vein, I do concur, why exactly have you called us?" Vert calmed the situation down, and soon a few voices of agreement rang out,

"I have a story I have to write, so if you could get to it!" Dengekiko complained, which received a snide remark from her shrimp wielding friend (?),

"Ok, ok! Quit your lipping lips from moving my lippy ladies!" Neptune called out, before clearing her throat, "the truth is, we have another performance! Get your actin dresses out! Cause this time we're 'doin it live' as they do say! Hand out the scripts member 0!"

Murmurs rang out among the club, with some of extreme excitement, namely the youngest members who were excited to be acting again. To some of confusion, mainly from Noire, to general apprehension mixed with a dash of excitement from everyone else, well except two members… who looked as though they would rather be anywhere else at the moment. But unfortunately for our not so star crossed lovers; they are the star of today's masquerade.

As if nothing else had ever been as important in their entire lives, the film club eagerly awaited the scripts to be handed out, and one by one Neptune and Blanc handed out the scripts as the club eagerly looked over the title, basic summary, and most importantly, role assignments.

"Rom! Rom! Look, we're queens!" Ram pointed at the assignment eagerly as she and her twin stared at it with starry eyes,

"Neptuna, what does 'village child' mean?" The other overly excited 'freshman' asked with starry eyes, tugging on Neptune's sleeves eagerly,

"P-ko, you and I are both the most important characters! We add a human dimension to the play, as poor underprivileged peasants, our mother was killed! But… we persevered, and I would do nothing if only to raise you as our parents wanted!" Neptune acted out the scene as she explained the background to their admittedly unimportant roles. But, really, Peashy didn't seem to mind as she eagerly listened to Neptune's speech.

Away from that scene, as everybody looked over their roles, some complaints were levied (ignored) but as our stars looked down the role list, they couldn't help but stop at their names,

"P-princess?" The girl with the lilac hair scratched her neck as she appeared to be set for royalty, and a leading role, although as should be obvious by now, this town is in fact big enough for two…

"The dark knight huh?" The girl with the raven-colored side up-do hair mused to herself, before adding, quietly, "Say, wouldn't Noire have been a better choice for this…?" Looking over to said sister, she noticed her shaking, hands gripping her script. Looking down the roles list until she spotted…

Noire- Tree 1

Uni could almost hear Neptune's giggling from here, or perhaps Peashy had said something witty. Either way, Uni was positive that the purple-haired senior was responsible for this in some way or another. Although before she could ponder her poor sister's fate any longer, she heard a voice start loudly talking, looking over to see their 'director',

"Alright, listen up! All these roles were chosen for a reason! Absolutely no switching will be happening, and we only have 4 weeks to learn this all before our day to perform, so listen up dumbasses! I'm only reading this once, this story takes place in an old kingdom, under the rule of King Uzume-"

"Wait, I'm a dude?!" The red-haired tomboy interrupted, seemingly not pleased by this development,

"Well, we thought that'd be a whole lot cooler…" Neptune raised her eyebrow, already knowing the response this would garner, as Uzume quickly considered if being cool was worth the loss of her dignity…

"Ahem!" Blanc, however, was none too pleased to be interrupted, as she glared daggers at the two planeptunian CPUs, before continuing, "Anyway, it's over real early on for poor King Uzume, as she is betrayed by her close confidant, the Mage Plutia, who was secretly working for the evil Queens, Rom, and Ram. Left without a king, the kingdom has to now turn to their Princess, Nepgear, who together with her trusty Black Knight, Uni, are able to overcome the wicked Queens and Mage to save the kingdom with the power of their love." Blanc finished reading off the script's summary page, with everyone nodding along, until she reached the last sentence… and soon pandemonium broke out, at least among our 'star' actresses.

"W-what!" Uni yelled out, with Nepgear soon voicing her own complaints,

"Sorry girls, the script is final. No changes. Besides, you two have done this before, right?" Blanc spoke calmly, as she eyed both of the girls. And if looks could kill, Blanc would certainly have been slaughtered like in some over-the-top shounen by now. However, the two only grumbled as they bit their tongues, and soon the impromptu meeting of the film club was called to a close, with distinct orders from the director to read over the script and be ready to start. Tomorrow. And with threats of hammery death imminent, that is what everyone did.

And so, begrudgingly, that's where Uni found herself. After arriving back home with Noire, who immediately locked herself in her room, mumbling some sort of curses towards Neptune, Uni got to work reading through the script. Honestly? It wasn't too bad, sure it was basic, and featured many 'blancisms', but all things considered, it wasn't too bad.

Well… at least at first anyway. About 3 quarters of the way through the play, Uni seemed to notice a tone shift, after being struck by a spell from the Mage, the Dark Knight was forced to speak truthfully from the heart. In this state, Uni's character professes her undying love for the princess, and eventually, the Dark Knight has to come to an understanding and reconcile her feelings about the princess. Which if Uni had to say seemed more than a little fishy. But then again, she couldn't complain, could she? After all, Blanc pretty much had blackmail on her at this point.

Sighing deeply, Uni continued her reading deep into the night. As she gazed over the pages, she soon spotted a word, just a simple word, yet no word had ever carried with it as much evil as this one. Uni had never seen a word she feared so much in her entire life.

[kisses]

In brackets. It was a stage direction.

Gulping down the massive lump in her throat, Uni looked over the page over and over again, and yet, still, the word remained. Ever haunting, and shaking her to her very core. Stage kiss or not, she was being told she had to kiss Nepgear.

Uni felt her eyes gloss over, her mind blank. Kiss. Nepgear? This had to be intentional right? Blanc was doing this on purpose. Uni didn't know what she ever did to deserve this, but here she was. Now just one question remained for her. Could she do it? Moreover, did she want to do it?

So here she found herself again, why was it so damn difficult! Damnit! She knew plenty well she loved Nepgear, so why was it so damn difficult to admit it! What was the problem!?

"Gaaahhh! Why is it so hard!?" Uni pounded her head into her desk in an attempt to shut up her overactive mind, "Why? Why won't my mind let me admit it!" Her voice was distraught. Somewhere in her mind, she knew that this was the perfect opportunity, ever since the day in the editing room, it just felt awkward between her and her 'best friend'. But here it was, the perfect opportunity. Perfect, huh? Sort of like…

Was that it? Perfect. Like Nepgear. Walking perfection, and Uni wasn't even close to that level.

Letting her eyes fall to the floor. Perhaps that truly was it. Someone perfect like Nepgear was not allowed to settle for someone like Uni. Uni's downcast eyes stayed locked on the floor. Unmoving, her tired degraded mind only repeated one phrase for the rest of the night.

You're not good enough for her.

Blanc had to say, she was legitimately marginally impressed, her lot of 'actors' had actually managed to learn a whole script and stage play in just 3 weeks. With the date of their grand performance but a few days away, it appeared they would actually make it in reasonable shape. Sure there were a few kinks, but as much as Blanc loved them, Rom and Ram were far from good actresses, and certainly not particularly intimidating enough for one of the main antagonists. Speaking of, Blanc wouldn't be shocked in the slightest if Plutia managed to forget all her lines… again. Plus it appeared Peashy was far more interested in playing with Neptune than actually acting most days.

But this was all par for the course as far as Blanc was concerned. She had expected most if not all of that. They had gone through most of the scenes by now meticulously, there were a few scenes that were very intentionally not practiced, Blanc wanted the scenes between her star actresses to be as authentic as possible after all. But, as she sat on her stool nearing the end of the final rehearsal, it appeared there would be one more wrench thrown in her grand design.

"Hey, Blanc? I don't mean to question your methods… but we haven't rehearsed the last scene, like at all. I get that Uni is like the best actress here, but shouldn't we at least practice?" Yes, it appeared there would never be a plan that went off without a hitch, and the raven-haired senior in her graceful tree costume raised a completely valid point… under most circumstances. And of course, she just had to speak loud enough for everyone to hear, and with mumbles of agreement coming from the crowd, it appeared Blanc's hand was forced.

"Alright! Set up for the last scene!" Blanc called out, and she couldn't help but notice the panic in the faces of the two actresses in the said scene. Under most circumstances, Blanc would find this mildly entertaining, but this wasn't most circumstances, now was it? Letting out a silent prayer for this to go off without a hitch, looking over to her co-conspirator who seemed to share a similar sentiment, Blanc gulped as she ordered out "ACTION!"

"Dark Knight…" Nepgear's character started the scene. After defeating the last remnants of the wicked queen's forces, led by the traitorous mage. In the aftermath, the duo finally find themselves once more at the grand castle. But before entering, the princess speaks to her closest companion, facing the once beautiful palace she called home.

"Yes? Princess?" Ever the loyal knight, Uni kneeled before her princess, her armor worn by battle, but her helmet still concealed her face.

"Why is it that you stay by my side? You have been here from the beginning." The princess spoke reflectively, for her whole life, she had only known the knight to be by her side.

"Why? Why you ask, I- I did it for you. Princess" For the first time in all the long years she had known the knight there seemed to be hesitancy in the voice of the noble warrior.

"But why? I never asked you to… with my father slain, you had no need to stay by me." The princess turned to face her aid,

"I- I know it would have been easy to turn and run… But I thought I could stay by your side…"

"..." The princess looked reflectively at the woman before her. For the first time, she seemed to be more than the person the dark armor concealed. "Black Knight… take off your helmet, I want to see you" The princess spoke warmly,

"My face is not fit for the princess to see…" The dark knight, however, did not seem to be putting forth any effort to stop the approaching princess.

"But I want to see you" slowly the princess reached out her hand, gingerly revealing the face of Uni. Smiling warmly, she looked over the black-haired girl's features, "How is it fair that someone as talented as you, gets to be as beautiful as this? Dark Knight- no, Uni… I love you" Cupping her cheek Nepgear planned on going through the rest of the scene. It was just a stage kiss, right? She could manage… her aching heart would have to wait. Even if it beated out of her poor achy chest. Plus, as much as she complained about it, this was a great opportunity to try and gauge Uni's feelings about her. So if she just inched forward just a bit-

The sight that all the members of the film club was something none would soon forget. A loud thud, causing everyone, even those that weren't already paying attention, to look at the two on the stage. Nepgear, fallen back, a good distance away from the girl who had thrown her there. The same girl who was now standing, gripping her chest. Her heart was swollen, and painful, only worsened when she looked down at the girl she had shoved. Her face contorted, trying her best to hide the raw emotion she felt at the moment,

"U-ni?" She asked quietly,

"I- I'm sorry, I just can't…" Uni looked down, still gripping her chest. Perhaps in an attempt to soothe the aching organ within.

Without another word, and before anyone else could intervene, Uni ran off. And just like that, the ever lively film club was left silent, except for the quiet sobs of Nepgear. For a few moments, everyone just stared. As if trying to comprehend what they just witnessed.

"Nepgear!" Finally breaking the silence was Neptune, who rushed to her sister, pulling her tightly into a hug. Neptune was trying her best to calm down her sister but in her own mind? She felt terrible, this was all her fault… if she hadn't been so damn nosey. Shaking her head of the thoughts she re-upped her efforts; what's done is done, what's important right now is Nepgear.

"My stupid heart… if- if I had just ignored it- Uni would… Uni wouldn't hate me" She spoke in fragments as Neptune gently petted her head trying her best to calm her down.

Away from the scene the rest of the people present did not know what to do. Gingerly they looked amongst themselves.

"What the hell just happened?" Uzume gently broke the ice,

"Jeez, aren't those two s'posed to be, like super actresses? They did it before, why are they being dummies now!" Ram loudly complained, and soon the murmurs in the crowd started up. All except one person.

Noire was dead silent. She had never, not ever in her whole life, did she see Uni act like she just did. Her face, she looked… She looked lost, hurt, and afraid. Noire knew Uni better than probably anyone else here… But now what? What was she supposed to do? Somewhere in her, she knew she had to act as an older sister should, but what did that even mean?

Noire was only brought out of her thoughts by someone shaking her body, the force finally kicking her mind back into action.

"Noire!" It was Vert it appeared,

"Eh?" Noire looked to the president of the student council with glossed over eyes,

"Shouldn't you go find Uni?" Suddenly the room fell quiet again, as everyone directed their attention to the twin-tailed goddess, including the two goddesses on the ground.

"..." Noire was silent for a moment, she knew she had to go. But what would she even say, when even was the last time she and Uni had a genuine heart to heart?

"Miss Noire?" It was Nepgear, Noire turned to face the lilac-haired girl, still wearing her princess get up. "Can you tell Uni I'm sorry?" The words carried with them a sadness and a level of raw emotion Noire could not understand, but even still, even she wanted to give the poor girl on the ground a big hug. And it appeared she was not alone in the sentiment, as Nepgear was soon tackled by the Loweean twins.

Noire gritted her teeth as she thought it over, none of it made any sense. Why did both Nepgear and Uni look so… so sad? If it was just that Uni didn't want to go through with the scene, that would be one thing. But Uni looked almost as broken as poor Nepgear. Something wasn't adding up… although Noire figured the only way she would get to the bottom of things was at the source.

Taking a moment to get out of her (ridiculous) costume, Noire looked down, giving a gentle smile, she put her hand on Nepgear's shoulder, "I'll bring her back; it's a promise from the goddess of Lastation"

"I'm sorry Miss Noire… this is all my fault, I shouldn't… I should have just lived with it. Uni clearly doesn't feel the same" Nepgear was trying her very best to keep it all together. She didn't need to make this any more of a problem than it already was. She could just play this off as acting gone wrong right…? Acting?

Yet as Noire slowly made her way out of the room, Nepgear could feel the tears falling down her face. What a disgrace. Gritting her teeth, she did the best she could to rid herself of the feelings. Surely they would do nothing but hurt more people….

Noire shakily walked down the twisting hallways. By this point she knew the whole layout of the school like the back of her hand, well in truth it only took her a few days to memorize the whole layout. But at this very moment? She had no clue where she was going. Where would Uni even go? What would she say when she got there? What was she even doing? Did Uni even want to see her? It's like Noire was exactly a kind or nurturing role model. She tried her best, but just everything always went wrong. She always said the wrong things, she always went too far with pushing her sister. She didn't know what to do.

But still… The look in Uni's eyes. She looked completely lost. Noire knew she needed to be there for her in any way she could, and she refused to let Uni feel whatever it was that made her look like that ever again. But where would Noire even start looking? For all she knew Uni might've just ran straight out of the school. Slowing to a standstill, Noire took a few deep breaths. In her mind, she replayed the scene she just witnessed, not only just to remind herself why she was doing this. But there was something else.

Neptune… she was so natural, she rushed right to her sister's side, and helped her when she needed her the most. Noire, for everything she thought of Neptune, which was complicated at best, she genuinely respected her most times in how she acted as an elder sister (victory notwithstanding), and Noire wanted to be all she could for Uni.

So. First things first. Where would Uni go? In a situation where she felt unsure, and unsafe.

"She would go somewhere where she feels confident, and safe…" Noire pondered out loud. Now Uni wasn't exactly what one would call a confident individual, and Noire knew that very well. She blamed herself mostly for how Uni turned out, and Uni had a tendency to compare herself unfairly to her older sister. But. There was one place where Uni felt at home, where she felt that she was somewhere where she belonged.

Yes, one place. Thinking for a moment longer to remember where the place in question was exactly, Noire soon took off towards where she felt confident Uni would be; the airsoft room, or the closest thing to a gun range this school offered. In the few times, Noire could remember Uni taking off, needing time to herself because either Noire herself or Kei pushed her too far, Noire remembered finding her in the shooting range on the ground of Lastation's basilicom. Noire smacked her cheeks as she ran, she couldn't fail. Uni needed her.

Uni sighed as she pulled her knees to her chest. She felt unlike she ever had in her entire life. She knew what she had to do, but why did it have to sting so damn bad! Why did Nepgear have to look at her like that!? Uni was tempted, oh so tempted, to turn around, pull the lilac-haired goddess close. Tell her how sorry she was, and beg for forgiveness. But Uni knew what she had to do. Nepgear wasn't allowed to settle for less than the best.

Still… she swallowed again, trying her best to not let the tears she had welled up fall. She couldn't show any weakness, that would be admitting she knew what she did hurt her, and it's not like she could be doing that, right? Besides, would Noire ever cry? Did Noire need love?

"N-no, of course not… Like Noire would need anything frivolous like that." Uni reasoned to herself. And for a moment, it helped. That's what she wanted to be right? Like Noire? If she wanted to get there, then surely this was the right path. She took consecutive deep breaths, pushing down the emotion in her chest. Before feeling all the emotion sapped from her body as she saw the door to the room she was in slide open. Gulping, and doing the first thing she could think of, she dived under one of the desks. She doubted it would be her, but Uni didn't know what she would do if Nepgear had found her…

But as she held her breath, she was alerted to just who the person was as she heard a call from the entrance to the club room,

"Uni!"

It was Noire. Gulping. Uni didn't know what to do anymore. If there was anyone who could possibly understand the importance of what she was doing. It was her. She was doing this for Lastation, right? So surely Noire would understand. But even then, Uni didn't know if her heart could hold out. It hurt enough as it was, she didn't need anymore- nay she couldn't handle anymore piling on, so she hid still.

From her spot, she heard rummaging around the room, slowly becoming more and more desperate-sounding. Almost miraculously, Uni noticed Noire seemed to skip over where she herself was hiding. Eventually, she heard her sister let out a deep sigh, speaking to what Uni assumed Noire thought was an empty room,

"Man, I really am a shitty sister… The one time Uni actually needs me, and I can't even find her…" After her declaration, Uni could almost hear what she thought was sobbing? Was Noire sobbing? There… there was no way, right? Noire didn't cry.

Somewhere in Uni, she felt her body move before her mind could catch up,

"You're not- Ouch!" It appeared she stood up too fast as she stood up directly into the bottom of the desk she was under. Rubbing her head, she heard Noire step gently over to where she was.

"Uni? Are you ok?" Looking up, Uni saw her sister's offered hand. Clicking her tongue, Uni stood up, under her own power, as she offered,

"I'm fine, and hey weren't you just crying?" Uni interrogated, looking at her sister, her face bore no signs of having cried at all.

"It was just a little bit of acting~" Noire winked as she explained, hey the film club was good for something she supposed,

"Wait, so did you know where I was, since when?"

"Since I walked in, but if you felt the need to hide, I figured you coming out under your own will was the best place to start," Noire explained, and Uni let out a sigh at how easily she seemed to be read by her sister. Said sister took a deep breath as she sat down, awkwardly she looked at her sister.

This was it, Noire was here. Phase 1- complete. Now she just needed to talk to her own sister. Neptune made it look so easy, and if that purple-haired idiot could do it, then she could! In her mind's eye, she saw the dual d-clip adorned goddess looking down on her, a smile on her face, encouraging her like she always did when things got serious. With a deep breath, she turned back to face Uni,

"Hey… Uni, why did you run?" Noire started up as she offered her sister the seat next to her, as Uni very gingerly took the offered seat, she did her best to avoid the gaze of the woman she looked so much up to.

"I- I-" Uni didn't even know where to start. She didn't even know if she wanted to tell Noire the truth. Would she even get it? Would she be disappointed in her? Would it be yet another sign of just how far away she was from her? Yet, as she stumbled, in a rare moment, she felt Noire place her hands on her. Turning to face her, she saw a smile on her face.

"Uni. It's ok. You can tell me. Were sisters, right?" Noire gave her best attempt at using as gentle a tone as she could.

Uni felt her body shaking. She couldn't even think straight anymore. Looking once more at the warm smile her sister gave her, she could feel her weak resolve dissolving.

"Did Nepgear send you?" Uni finally spoke, she didn't know why her sister was here. And she couldn't handle it if she was here at the behest of the planeptunian.

"No… all she said after you left was…" Noire let out a breath as she tried her best to keep herself calm, "She told me to tell you she's sorry" After the words left her mouth, Noire saw her sister's mood somehow worsen, and after a moment she opened her mouth to speak her next shaky words,

"I- I just can't do it…" She finally offered, and Noire brought her hand to her face,

"That being, kissing Nepgear? Even if it's for a play?" Noire questioned,

"Y-yea." Noire didn't get it. Didn't those two already do something like that in the film club's first movie?

"Didn't you, didn't you two do that scene for the zombie movie?" Noire asked gently, clearly, there was something she was missing here. And she needed to know the whole situation before she could get to Uni.

Uni, however, froze. Her hands shook as everything that had been culminating since that day in the editing room came to haunt her yet again. Her face must have looked as lost as she felt, because after who knew how long, Noire looked at her,

"Uni?"

"It wasn't acting…" She quietly said,

"What?" Noire didn't seem to catch it,

"That wasn't acting back then. Me and Nepgear, we were up for so long editing, we were in a daze. Blanc just recorded it all." Uni finally explained, and Noire could feel the gears starting to turn as she pieced everything together. But as she did, she caught onto something,

"Then why? Why did you throw her off of you, why did you run? Why… why do you look so upset about it?" Noire was finally getting to the heart of the matter, and she just hoped she didn't push Uni too far. As she looked at her sister once more, she saw as she gripped her chest once more. Her face still torn, her heart… her stupid heart. It felt like it was going to burst out of her chest. It hurt like nothing she could explain.

"I just can't" Uni tried her best. If she explained anymore. She wouldn't make it. Her voice was breaking, and so was she.

"What do you mean?" Noire could tell Uni was hurting, and that hurt her too. But what good would it do if she put Uni in this position if she didn't get to the root cause? But as the words hung in the air, there was silence, and as Noire looked at her, she once more put her hand on her shoulder, "Uni? Please" In one swift motion, as soon as Norie put her hand on Uni's shoulder, it was as quickly smacked away.

"I'm not good enough for her!" Uni yelled as loud as her voice allowed her to. And finally, the tears she welled up burst forth as she was soon wracked with sobs. Gripping her face almost in an attempt to stop the liquid pouring from her face, Uni shook her head, "Now look at me… I'm no- not good en-enough" Uni hiccuped as she softly spoke. "Nepgear… is… perfect"

Noire didn't know what to do. Being face to face with the raw emotion Uni was dealing with, she felt lost. She didn't know what to do. But somewhere, somewhere in her mind, she remembered what a certain friend of hers did when she was called upon as an older sister…

"Uni!" Flinging herself around her, Noire grabbed her with all the might she could, wrapping her arms around her dear sister. "Wh- Why would you think that! Uni… you're just fine how you are" Noire did her best, running her hand along the small of the smaller woman's back.

"N-no I'm not… Nepgear isn't allowed to settle for just me, she's everything I'm not!" Uni yelled as the tears still bled from her eyes, and Noire gulped, taking a deep breath, she ran her hand through the dark hair that oh so resembled her own, still matted from the helmet she had been wearing,

"Uni… start from the beginning. Do you- ahem, do you love Nepgear?" Noire spoke as gently as her voice allowed as she continued working her hand gently through her sister's hair. As Uni desperately clung to her, Noire let her go at her own pace,

"I… I love Nepgear, I don't remember a time not, b-b-butttt I knnnow whatt yourr gonna say…" Uni tried her best to stop her incessant crying, but her body just seemed to be working on its own, "You don't need love… so why would I? R-right? I should just look f-for what I should do for Lastation, right?"

For a moment Noire stopped. Something in her mind felt disgusted, her sister really looked up to her that much. Noire really was a shity sister, huh? Gritting her teeth, Noire forced down the emotion, she could have all the time in the world to beat herself up later, Uni needed her badly at this moment.

"Why would you think that?" Noire blankly stared at the girl in front of her, "I- I-" Noire never thought she'd ever have to say these words out loud to anyone, but as she looked at her sister's face once more, she steeled all the embarrassed nerves in her body as she forced the words out, "I, I may love someone…" Noire did her best, but damn being honest went against literally every fiber of her being…

As the words took meaning in Uni's brain, she stopped for a moment. "W-what?" This wasn't what she expected, her sister. Her sister who was one of the only 2 perfect people in the whole world, she loved someone? "You?"

"Hahaha… You may not be the only one who loves a purple-haired idiot" Seeing as the damage was already done, Noire's brain harbored no qualms about ruining any other shred of respect she had.

For but a moment, shock replaced all the spiraling emotions in the adolescent's mind, "Wait? You, and Miss Neptune?"

"Aaaaa! Don't say it out loud!" And just as quickly it came, all of Noire's shame rushed back into all at once, and perhaps, Noire considered, it was all worth it for the small chuckle that escaped Uni's mouth. As her burning cheeks finally returned to normal, Noire took a deep breath as she straightened her face, "Uni"

"W-what?"

"Nepgear is a fine person, responsible, a hard worker; if it really matters you have my blessing" Noire smiled, and Uni shifted, her achy mind, and strained heart dueling once more.

"That's just it… she's too good. She shouldn't have to deal with me… I would just drag her down…" Uni spoke honestly, somewhere in her mind, she figured Noire earned that right with the information she had given up a few minutes prior.

"Well. If she accepts you for you, what's the problem?" Noire questioned her. Thinking it over, Uni pulled her eyes tightly together,

"But! She shouldn't-"

"Uni! You're a wonderful young lady in your own right! I don't know how you got it in that big ol brain of yours" Thumping her head for added effect, Noire continued, "But you are a wonderful person." Noire lectured, and after a moment, Uni opened her eyes, before looking to the ground,

"Even if she would've accepted me, I'm pretty sure breaking her heart is a deal-breaker…" She pointed out, and to her surprise, Noire just winked,

"Well let's figure that little detail out, why don't we?" Uni could only give a slight smile as she lunged forward and gave her sister a big hug. Uni knew it before, but in her mind surely it was confirmed; she had the best older sister ever.

Tonight was the night. The grand festival in the town was kicking off tonight, and one of the main attractions of the night was the local high school's film club. They had offered to put on a free performance to kick off the celebration, and the organizers were more than happy to accommodate. What type of festival was it exactly? Honestly, who even cares? These fuckin towns are always having some type of celebration when it's convenient… AHEM. Regardless, there surprisingly was a quite sizable crowd gathered for the performance. But as the film club went through their last checkthrough absolutely no one was breathing regularly.

Why? Simple. One of the STAR ACTRESSES was not present. And the other one didn't exactly look as though she was thrilled to be here. Nervously everyone tried their best to act as though everything was right. But internally they were worried.

"Hey… Blanc?" Neptune dejectedly walked up to the director of today's show.

"What is it, Neptune?"

"Did we mess up?"

"..." Blanc really didn't have an answer she truly believed she wanted to say, but luckily for our conspirators, fate seemed to be feeling kind to them at the moment,

"Hold your damn horses! We're here!" It was Noire. Eagerly, the brunette and purple-haired duo flipped their heads to the source of the voice, and against all odds, they saw Uni. Nervous as she looked, she was still here! Maybe there was hope yet…?

Of course, with the amount of noise and chatter this arrival caused, everyone knew about it, and that meant everyone. For our poor star-crossed lover, that meant she had to watch as she walked by her. Nervously, she trudged up to her co-star,

"Uh…. Uni? I just want to say I'm-" Nepgear, doing her best, was still cut off as the incredibly nervous Uni fidgeted away, soon running down the hall, leaving her with a

"I'll see you on stage, Nepgear! I have to get my costume on!" To this, Nepgear could only let out a dejected sigh, but strangely, she felt a hand work its way on to her shoulder, looking up to see a more matured version of the very woman her pained heart revolved around,

"Nepgear… I gave you a promise, didn't I? A promise from the goddess of Lastation means a lot, you know?" Noire gave her best smile to the clearly still shaken girl, who only let out a sigh, which to some may have sounded more like a whimper,

"If you say so… I need to get my final preparations done, thank you Miss Noire."

Acting is a strange thing. Some describe it as almost another world, another place that an actor can take their mind to and be almost rid of what ails them at the moment. And as the people present for the grand opening performance of Gamacadimi's Film Club's grand live performance, none were any the wiser of what had led to this happening, or what ailed the two star actresses as they went through the scenes as if it was second nature.

And so it came to be, and so here it was; the final scene. Once more. If there was apprehension in Nepgear's system, and there certainly was. She did a damn good job of hiding it.

"Black Knight… take off your helmet, I want to see you," Nepgear spoke her next line.

"My face is not fit for the princess to see…" Uni said the next line in the script, although, unlike ever before, she felt a knot in her throat, making it almost hard to breathe.

"But I want to see you" slowly the princess reached out her hand, gingerly revealing the face of Uni. Smiling warmly, she looked over the black-haired girl's features, "How is it fair that someone as talented as you, gets to be as beautiful as this? Dark Knight- no, Uni… I love you" This was it, slowly Nepgear inched her face forward… only once more to be halted, although this time far more gentle. And just like that, every single member behind the stage at the moment was alert at the next line Uni spoke.

"Princess. No, Nepegar. I know this. I understand your feelings… and I too harbor and unyielding love to only you, but I cannot let you succumb to just me" The words Uni spoke. They were not in the script, and slowly Nepgear came to the realization, no longer was the Dark Knight speaking to the Princess. Uni was speaking to Nepgear.

"...Why would you think that, Uni?" Slowly Nepgear responded, and, too, her line was off script, as if to confirm to Uni it was Nepgear talking to her.

"Look at you, Princess. In all that you do, you lead by example, you are responsible in all that you do, you are kind, just, understanding, beautiful above all else, for all my life, for everything I have tried to do, ever since I first met you, I have wanted to be like you. Your responsible nature, your kindhearted understanding, your openness. You… are the most perfect person I have ever laid my eyes upon. I am not worthy of you. You deserve better than a lowly knight." Uni spoke. Gulping down the ball in her throat. This was what she and Noire devised, this scene, she would speak her mind, she would let Nepgear understand what plagued her, she would let herself be vulnerable in front of all these people.

Almost immediately Nepgear felt tears well up in her eyes. The reason Uni pushed her away? The reason she had acted so distant ever since that day in the editing room was… she didn't love herself enough to think she deserved her? Many thoughts went through Nepgear's sore heart and mind. She wanted to slap her, she wanted to hold her tight and tell her everything, everything that made her good enough for her, she wanted to break down and cry on the spot.

Somehow though, she managed to keep up her persona, "Dark Knight, Uni." She brought her hand forward, caressing the cheek of the woman in front of her. Even if her hair was matted, and her face sweaty after all they had done for the show, Nepgear swore, she had never looked so beautiful in her whole life. "You say you are not worthy. Of who, me? Because you are more worthy than anyone I have ever met. You say I am perfect, but yet, have you not looked at yourself? I see a dedicated, hard-working, sweet, kind, beautiful woman behind that armor you wear."

"And yet, I do not believe you even now…" Uni confess.

"Then I will tell you every night until my throat decays!"

"I- I-"

"I don't believe it! You are the one I love, and to no other, I offer myself so wholly…" Nepgear silenced any doubt by sealing their lips, not simply just a stage kiss, they were joined, connected at last. And Uni finally felt a release, accepting it in her heart. It is ok to love, and ok to be loved

"Did you see that man, they totally kissed, live!"

"I can't imagine having to kiss someone for acting, that's why they are the pros I guess…"

"The blossoming love between Knight and Princess, how charming! And expertly acted on top of it all!"

Uni still heard the rumors as she walked the halls. And still, she didn't reprimand them. But in a way, it was funny,

"Some acting" her response was still the same. Smirking as she walked down the hall, eager to pick up her girlfriend from her robotics club meeting.

Look at you making it through 10k words, now for the part that no one looks forward to lol

gigarot- well hey, I'm glad I wasn't alone in thinking of that lol. I'm sure Histy was just so blinded by the sheer stupidity displayed in front of her she just couldn't think of that lol. Either way, I genuinely thank you for your continued support, and hope you enjoy what's to come!