Even with all my strength... ugh. Stupid abomination, even my freaking eleventh hour upgrade couldn't turn the tide. At least you're dying, too...

I'm sorry, Histy, she got me. Take care of everyone left, yes? Uzume... Uzume is going to sleep now.

-Orange Heart

"Ah, welcome back," an unfamiliar voice greeted them upon returning; due to how they just entered the Oracle's office however, IF had a good idea who was talking to them. She entered after Uni, who nodded at the woman in response.

Jinguji Kei was on the shorter side and petite, yet her features were sharp and her gaze immediately took in IF as someone new; there was also knowledge swimming in those blue eyes, as she merely offered a friendly nod instead of asking questions. IF took note of her short, grey hair as well as the fine suit she wore; appearance-wise, the person in front of her encorporated business almost better than the deity she served.

Kei broke the momentary silence, casting a curious gaze from one girl to the other. "I do hope you came to a mutually favourable agreement?"

Uni merely rolled her eyes in good humour, but nodded. "I do not know how you found out about this so fast, but yes. Anyway, this is IF." She motioned for the brunette, who nodded with a weak smile while Uni turned her way and motioned for Kei. "Not that introductions are really necessary. This is Jinguji Kei, our Oracle."

"A pleasure." "Likewise."

That was the extent of pleasantries they exchanged; Kei went back to work and Uni moved on into her home, the other two following.

Once the first set of measurements was complete however, IF stopped the CPU from any further action. "Say, do you mind if I go and do some exercises for now? I'm getting itchy."

The Lastationite blinked, but shook her head; the next steps of her work were already being planned. "I don't mind at all. You can use the Maker's gym below ground, uh... Nepgear? Can you show her the way? I need to do some work for sis now."

"Sure," the purplette agreed without missing a beat, then she got up and ushered IF out of the room.

While the other two were on their way down, Uni put away her tape measure and notes, then got up and sauntered down to her and Noire's office. She quickly took her seat without a word exchanged between the sisters, picking up papers immediately while her computer booted up and glancing at Noire in-between. The older CPU was busy writing on two sheets at once, a skill that Uni had always found cool. She had been practicing it herself, but was not yet at a point where she could do it properly, much less with official documents.

A budget report from the science division quickly went through her hands and more followed until Uni's mind had achieved a working state. At that point, she could actually think about something else while working; that day however, like quite a few days before it, Uni was with Nepgear and her apotheosis.

Naturally, she was happy for her friend. Little else was as important to the two of them than to reach adulthood. Yet, Uni also found envy bubbling somewhere deep within herself. Nepgear, sweet and caring Nepgear, was capable of transforming. She, the Black Sister, was not.

She did not understand what held her back; they were peers, so if Nepgear could do it, Uni should be able to do the same by now. She could only barely stop herself from thinking it was not fair; envying her friend's success was already bad enough, but actively believing she deserved it more was not. She had been there and never wanted to go back there.

Yet Uni kept wondering why Nepgear was first to become an adult.

That question went back and forth in her mind for hours, though she once again found no answer. By the time she stopped, it was already late in the afternoon and Kei had joined them to discuss the taxes with Noire.

In the middle of their conversation however, Nepgear peeked into the room and was immediately waved in. She had a flushed and sweaty IF in tow, who, despite her obvious exhaustion, appeared positively delighted. Both Kei and Uni paused at the sight, exchanging glances with each other to see whether a response was forthcoming. When she got none, Lastation's Candidate closed her eyes for a moment and looked to Nepgear.

Her friend appeared a little sheepish as she explained: "I, uh, I think she went overboard. I walked her through the Makers' training regimen."

IF merely huffed in response, throwing a glance at Nepgear and shaking her head. "I still don't believe that was all of it. Those were pretty hard to do, but my own exercises are at least as demanding in total." Going by the telling look Nepgear threw at the gathered Lastationites, it had been the entirety of their Makers' daily training. Kei's eyes widened fractionally while Uni and Noire rolled theirs, their respective reactions indicative of those who did not know IF and those who did.

All CPUs were aware that IF would not have it and thus did not even try to convince her otherwise. Noire easily distracted everyone with a curt remark, though: "You look like you should take a shower." She remained friendly about it, but IF immediately snapped to attention, then blinked down at herself and... blushed.

It was a sight Uni had not seen before, though she could guess the reason; IF smelled. Enough for them to notice, and probably enough for herself to notice. She also just realised that she was smelling in a room full of deities, which explained how fast she nodded and rushed out of the door.

Uni wondered at times what it was like to actually reek; as far as she knew, her own fragrance of the sea did not change at all no matter what she did. She knew she could sweat like a human if exerted far enough, but it was always scentless. Same for her sister and every other CPU. At this point, Uni had chalked it up as one of the things their bodies did to appear more human, but without the downsides.

"That reminds me," Noire noted with a glance at the two Candidates. "You two should do your meditations and stances."

""Of course!"" And with quick steps, both Nepgear and Uni vanished out of the room, taking the suggestion for what it was; even for Nepgear who was not related to her, Noire held authority as an elder.

. .

. .

When IF returned a bit later, clad in a simple track suit and with her hair still damp, only Lastation's CPU was left in her office; she worked quietly, though the brunette knew her entrance was noticed. Noire only confirmed it when she spoke up a moment later: "Uni and Nepgear went to do their own exercises."

While she sounded conversational, IF could tell that the CPU would not like being interrupted for no reason. She nodded slowly. "Um, if you have a moment," she started reluctantly, "there was something I wanted to ask you...?" It sounded more like a question than IF liked, but she could not help herself; of course it would be easy to just quell all her hesitation, but that might as well come off as demanding and accidentally insult a goddess.

It turned out her fear was for naught; Noire finished writing with a flourish and put her seal on the paper in front of her, then pushed it aside and folded her hands on the desk. "Go ahead," she allowed with a nod. "I might as well take a little break."

IF nodded in turn and shook off her hesitation. Demanding from a CPU, she reasoned, was more likely to be forgiven than wasting her time. So instead of being reluctant again, she immediately got to the point: "I was thinking about Uni's behaviour the last few hours; something is weird about it, but I can't put my finger on what exactly it is."

She faintly recalled something that Neptune told her about CPUs and how their personalities could shift when Nepgear had her apotheosis, but everything else that happened on this particular day blurred it out somewhat. Nepgear did not appear to have noticed, or may just take it as a given because she had known Uni for so long.

Noire's brow creased in a frown, but it was not directed at IF; the CPU motioned for her to continue, but she could only shrug. "I wanted to ask you about it first before I start doing something potentially stupid; if anyone knows, it must be you." This time, she got an understanding smile out of the Lastationite. Noire's amused huff told her everything she needed to know.

"Good call, IF," she eventually began, growing more serious immediately. IF straightened a little while the CPU got out of her chair, so they could see eye to eye. "As you of all people should know, even us CPUs have quirks and little oddities like basically every regular human. Some more, some less." Red eyes were hidden for a long moment when Noire closed her lids and turned to the side, arms crossed. Once they opened again, IF found that she was still in their focus even from the side. "I am aware of what you mean, and it concerns me as well. Sadly, I noticed this too late and can do nothing about it at the current time."

IF blinked over the admission. "If I may ask," she started slowly, only to be interrupted with a stern look.

"No, you may not."

Noire did not sound happy about the matter, but she made herself clear. "If you wish to help Uni, you need to understand what exactly is wrong by yourself. As much as I want to, and as much as I want you to, Neptune and I agree that our siblings must not be coddled. It is Uni's burden to bear until she manages to push it away; if you want to help her with that, you will have to make an effort of your own."

IF stood quiet, understanding yet also chastised. The goddess heaved a sigh and lowered her arms, giving her an apologeptic look. "My apologies; I did not mean to snap at you. This has been bothering me for a long time and being unable to do something about it is not helping. I know I could do it anyway because no one is stopping me, but..." She hesitated, throwing another glance at IF before shaking her head and turning fully, presenting only her back to the human. "But I want Uni to get past this on her own. If she ever has to inherit Lastation, I want her to have become the very best she could be by herself, not under my tutelage. I can teach her manners and proper conduct, but not this."

Whatever emotion there might be on Noire's face, IF could not see it; the CPU's body gave nothing away. She nodded anyway, but kept quiet to see whether there was more.

"I know you are merely concerned," Noire continued quietly, turning around to face her again; no trace of the emotions her voice hinted at were to be seen. "And I am glad that you care enough to worry." She smiled, a small and barely visible yet honest smile. IF nodded again, fearing that her voice might fail her. She tried to clear her throat discreetly while the woman in front of her waited.

However, there were no words she could really offer in this moment. So instead of continuing, IF nodded once more. "Okay. I'll try to think about this some more."

Going by how Noire's smile widened fractionally, it was the correct answer. The raven-haired woman returned her nod and put a hand on her shoulder, squeezing and gently pushing IF at the same time. "I am glad to hear that as well. Good luck, and off with you. The girls will be busy for a while, you're free to use anything you find in here."

And with that, IF was pushed out the door; Noire likely returned to work, leaving her to think and maybe unpack her things for the next two weeks. She felt as if she just set foot into a minefield.