Okay, Middonaito here. As a recap...
I was Chester, a 15-year-old student and fanfiction writer typically for Neptunia. As said in the first chapter, I died because a truck driver rushed to me without even stopping to see if there's a pedestrian. I thought my life ended there, but then Kujou, a guardian angel, gave me a second chance to live again as long as I live in another world.
Upon arriving in said new world, I found myself to be a prisoner, and after breaking out, I helped two kids from the hands of pedos (didn't remember that they were the Twin Candidates of Lowee at the time). Somehow, I run into a pole and lost consciousness (forgive this idiotic side of myself), and after I came to, I found myself to be dragged by the CPU of Lowee herself, Blanc.
Together with Kujou, we meet the other CPUs, and two of the CPU Candidates. It ended in a quite hilarious way.
Now, as I can remember, I was found by those guards again, which were actually Lowee guards, but Blanc helped me get off the hook. Phew, she's really an angel...
Okay, after that, Blanc offered us a place to stay in the Basilicom. Thank goodness because we don't have any credits yet. Right now, I'm thinking of going to Lowee's guild and take a quest.
One week had passed since then.
But, right now, in this chapter, I'm meeting up with all four CPUs again, the other two CPU Candidates, and a guild agent, not gonna spoil though. And also, I'll be taking up my first quest, and I tell you, it was difficult. Now that I mention it, just two chapters in and I already meet a lot of the Neptunia characters. Geez, me who's writing this right now, you do know how to rush events. Not complaining but please, slow down with the encounter flags.
Okay, since I'm acting like Neptune here with the fourth wall breaking and roasting myself in another reality, let's just get back to the story...
"…And that's how I got into the Neptunia franchise, all because of that particular Youtuber," I calmly said to Neps and the other CPUs.
"Ah, so this Lost Pause guy... Tell me, who's his waifu? It's gotta be me," Neps playfully said. She's still in her main character syndrome, as I can see.
"He… doesn't have someone in mind... though he may like Vert because of her melons, since he's the classy pervert that he is..."
"See, everyone? Bigger is better..." Vert proudly pointed out. Not necessarily, Vert...
"Aight, next topic, did you girls know that, except for Neps here, your names are colors in the French language? For example, Noire is French for black, Blanc for white, and Vert for green..."
"Eh? Then what does my name mean?"
I answer Neps, "You're named after a god of the sea, Neptune."
"Woah, really? Do I have some sort of waterbending power or something that's yet to be unlocked?"
I straightforwardly said, "No."
"Oh, goodness, Big Sis!"
Ah, that voice...
I see a lilac-haired girl, longer hair than Neps, with one D-pad clip on her hair, wearing a sailor uniform, and... well, that's what I can make out right now since she's still far out... Yep, totally Nepgear. Not gonna disclose the fact that people from my world think of her personality as a doormat. I don't wanna make a girl cry, of all things that I can screw up, it can be doing the Conquest Ending out of pure curiosity and just trying to make a classmate and fellow Neptunia fan suffer because of the horror and feels, diving into the dark web again, even if I still don't wanna, or accidentally deleting all my precious school files and failing my subject, just not that.
"Nep Jr? What are you doing here? I thought you were still doing a quest back in Planeptune..." Neps ask her little sister.
"But, I finished it earlier than expected, so I decided to come to Lowee to check on you and the twin candidates."
"Hmm... Same old Gear..."
"Hm? Who was that?" Nepgear asked while turning her head around to check the surroundings, and then I catch her eye by waving at her... Though, she's pretty nearby and I didn't have to do that...
"Huh? Since when did an male NPC get a face? Oh, wait..."
I correct her conclusion,"Erm... I'm not an NPC, and not from around here as well. Um... Neps will explain it to you..."
Noire retorted, "You're expecting Neptune to explain something? Sorry, but I'm the one who's gonna be explaining this whole situation..."
"I guess you're right, Noire, Neps could totally jumble the facts," I agreed. I mean, she may say 'We two are the OTPs of this fanfiction' or something. Can't afford to have that judgement bolted on Gear's head. That or I don't want Neps to break the fourth wall or make me and her an official pairing.
"I could also explain it to her, since I'm her best friend and all," a voice proclaimed. Yeah, you guys know who it was...
"Uni, what are you doing here?"
"What else? To check on my sister. And then I met Middonaito, a boy from another world..."
Then I just realized... now there are four people who haven't remarked on my face and said it's cute: Blanc, Noire, and now Uni and Gear. Thank goddesses. Finally, some people who don't care about my looks.
"A-another world?! Like when Big Sis and I were in a different dimension?!"
"N-nah, not like that, no..." I insisted.
"Hey, Middo-kun!" Kujou called out to me. I wonder what she wants. This is our eighth day in this world, so...
"Eh? What's up, Kujou?"
"We really need to take a quest now. We can't just depend on Lady Blanc now, do we?"
"I don't really mind, you know..." Blanc answered with a calm voice, still donning that trademark stoic face of hers.
I do admit, I don't like the idea of depending on someone. Since I'm already a 10th grader and supposed to take up senior high school in the city, I'm already training myself on how to be independent. But, I somehow can't do it because of my parents, and it's just one year left for me. SUPPOSED to be one year until I got run over, and now living in this world. I really have to know the ropes of living in the Neptunia world, since it's totally different from my peaceful world. Can't depend on someone forever. Literally.
"I'm afraid Kujou's right, Blanc. I do need to deal with my own financial problems. I can't just rely on someone and just have them pay for what I want," I said out loud. Actually, I've never been serious like this since I was born. I would always have a playful and friendly personality in front of my friends. I can't really act serious until the atmosphere tells me so.
"Okay then, there's no sense in trying to stop you now, but you would need weapons," Blanc pointed out. Yeah, I guess we need a way to attack monsters. Can't rely on that explosive divine power or that sort of jazz.
But, where can you buy weapons? Is there like a shop in cities where you buy those, or maybe you buy 'em in the guild or something? The only way I understand buying weapons in Neptunia is the Shop option or item pickups. (Sorry to say this, but I haven't played Re;Birth1, 2, or V Generation. My first game was supposed to be Megadimension, since I watched gameplays of the three before it, yeah, punish me...)
"Planeptune doesn't have new quests at the moment..." Nepgear said.
"So does Lowee..." Blanc added with an expressionless face.
"I believe my citizens have already taken all the quests in my nation," Vert said proudly.
After all that, I just stare at the Lastation sisters... Hope they have a spare quest or something...
"I... I guess there's still some Lastation quests left..."
"Alright then, Noire! Let's go then!"
"Just so you know, I'm not flying you there with me in HDD."
"Nah, there's a button next to me that says 'Warp'. Well that's plot convenient…"
"Author, are you just gonna skip the trip to Lastation?" Neps cited. Again with her fourth wall breaking antics.
"Shut up, Neps, I'm the main character now, heh..."
*beep*
Moments later...
A few moments after I pressed the Warp button, Kujou and I look at the Lastation guild building. Dang!
Now, where do you buy weapons?
We went inside the guild, to be welcomed by adventurers, male ones to be precise.
"It's the man that gave us faces! Praise!"
"Ah..."
Oh yeah, during the last week, I experimented on my DNA and the DNA of a male NPC. After a few days of analysis, me and Kujou finally made a formula to help the male NPCs get their own face. I mean, it'll be weird for me if I was always talking to a faceless dude.
So, in short, every male NPC has referred to me as their 'Messiah' of males' appearance. Wow.
Oh man, who should I ask?
"You okay there? Seems like you're a beginner in guild quests..."
Surprised, I look back, and I see a guy with black hair and brown eyes, a lightly tanned skin, wearing a black shirt with a silver chestplate and a kind of silver upper arm protectors strapped on, like one of those light armor classes in MMOs. He also has chestnut pants and black with brown boots.
"Hehe, Noir John Kurogane, at your service. Also, just call me Kurogane, since some people mistake my first name Noir, which is pronounced as 'noh-war', for the CPU's name Noire, pronounced as 'nowaru'. Pretty hectic, to be honest."
"Eh, yeah sure Kurogane. Anyways, do you know where beginners like me could get a weapon to handle and use?"
"Let me see..." Kurogane answered before he took himself into deep thought. I kinda think that Kurogane is already a long-time guild agent, since his appearance tells me so. That hair is kinda messy. That's what gives me the idea.
"There is this all-purpose weapon shop nearby. I'll take you and the blondie there..."
"Hey, is there, like, a catch or something?"
"Nah, there's no catch, man."
"Really?" I ask seriously.
"I cross my heart, promise."
Ok, he seems honest enough now. And we take a step outside. Wow, Lastation needs to lessen the greenhouse gas output, or else global warming can take this world apart. But hey, it's nice to see a nation that looks like it's still in the Industrial Revolution. Ah, world history...
"So," I decided to break the ice, "…you always wear that armor of yours when you take a quest?"
"No, this is just cosplay, dude. These armor plates aren't real as you think they are..."
Huh? Cosplay? "I-if it's cosplay, then..."
"When I go take a quest, my attire is my black shirt under a gray coat, with a lot of pockets in it, since I sometimes use potions and items to fight. I also have this thin sword, like a knight's, to fight in the front line."
"So, you're more of a melee DPS guy. Isn't low health a problem?"
Kurogane clarified, "Nah, despite how I look, I actually have a lot of health, SP, and agility, so I can actually trick people into thinking that I'm a softie..."
"Wow, didn't actually expect that kind of answer..."
"Heh, looks can deceive... Like that face of yours, makes you a bit feminine if you keep blushing like that..."
Just to let you guys know, I always have this small blush in my face. Dunno why I can't get rid of it, so, I let it be. Guess that what makes people say I look cute or feminine for a dude.
"Okay, we're here."
We go in the weapon shop, and wow, there are a LOT of weapons and items, from swords, bows and arrows, rifles, staffs, armor, and all that shiz. Man, this is like a gun shop, but more diverse. I look around to find the perfect item to use.
Sword? Nah. I can't wield a sword if my arms are shaky.
Bows and Rifles? I don't have good marksmanship.
Those hidden blades? Nope, IF uses em. Respect originality, bro.
Katanas? Nope, they're just sharper swords to me.
Guess my only option is the staff.
"Hey, you having trouble there, bud?"
"Ah, Kurogane, just call me Middo, since my whole name's Middonaito, anyway, how do I know what weapon is perfect for me?"
Kurogane then got an idea, "Let's try one of my gizmos..."
I got curious when he said 'my gizmos', I ask him, "You make gadgets?"
"Yeah, in my spare time when quests aren't much abundant."
And he pulls out a brick-like gadget out of his pocket. "I call this StatAnalyzer. Sorry for the uninspired name, blame the author." Eh, did he just try to break the fourth wall with that remark?
Forgetting about the fourth wall breaker, I asked him, "What does it do? Scan me then tries to calculate my stats?"
"Correct. Now, you first..."
A beam of light flashes from the gadget, and like a bar code scan, Kurogane moves the gadget to analyze my whole body.
"Okay, so the gadget has analyzed you... Wow, you have a weak physical attack and defense stat."
Well, why am I not surprised. "It's because my body isn't used to physical activity, though I can run quite fast."
"Well that sucks dude. Okay, next up is that blondie..."
"I have a name you know... Kujou..." she said with a pouty face.
Kurogane then corrected himself, "Okay, Kujou, let me see..."
As what Kurogane did earlier, he scanned Kujou for her stats. I'm actually curious of her potential.
"Your stats are pretty much average, Kujou," Kurogane said out. Huh. That was quite an anti-climatic anticipation.
"But look on the bright side, you have a high accuracy and agility stat. That makes you a ranged attacker."
"Ah, really?!"
Then, Kurogane looked at me and said, "And you have a high magic attack and defense skill. You're magically inclined, Middo."
"Really? Then I have to use the staff, of all things."
And Kujou said, "And I'll pick the bow and arrows."
So, after a few minutes, me, Kujou and Kurogane come out of the shop. Kurogane's dressed up, having his sword strapped on his back, and his gray coat on, and I gotta say, it's oversized, reminds me of IF.
"Hey, Kurogane, why are you dressed like that?"
"Ah, you might be thinking, 'Is he trying to copy IF?' and I'll have to say no. It just makes me look swag, is all."
"Oh."
And a few minutes later, we get back to the guild.
"So, what quest do we pick? A fetch quest or kill quest?" asked Kurogane.
"I dunno, but it has to be around our level."
Kurogane checks his phone, and faces its screen at us.
*Kill dogoos in the Lastation border.*
"Dogoos? We'll take it then!"
I readied myself for the quest. I take out my staff and hold it in my right hand. Kujou prepares her bow and arrows. And since Kurogane's ready... Oh man. My first quest. Hope it turns out fine.
"You two ready?" Kurogane asked. Well...
This is it. Wish me and Kujou luck.
"Yeah, let's do it..."
Walking towards the quest location, I tried to break the ice, "So, hey, you're a cosplayer right?"
"Yeah, it's one of my few hobbies other than gadgets and quests. Why do you ask?"
"Ya see, umm... You enter any cosplay competitions or something like that?"
Kurogane thinks for a while, then said, "Yeah, I've been in a few cosplay contests. It's just for fun, though."
"Oh, really?"
"Yeah, but there's this 'running gag' you might call. Every time I enter a contest, there's this raven-haired girl that always come up as first, while I get second place, ahaha..." Kurogane said laughing at said memory.
Raven-haired girl? Could it be? Wait, I don't think Noire enters cosplay contests. She keeps that hobby of hers a secret, right? And how does this guy not recognize his own Goddess?
"Hey, Kurogane, what if I told you that you've been competing with your own Goddess in cosplaying?"
"Pfft..." Kurogane spit takes.
Is he THAT surprised? Wow.
"What?! Are you saying that I've been cosplaying with my nation's Goddess this whole time?! Holy sh... Wow! That boosts my faith in her in a really high rate, man! I mean, can you believe it?!"
"You... believe me?"
Kurogane looks at me with a face that looks like he's found his idol, "I HAVE to believe you! Since you're from a world where the CPUs are game characters, you HAVE to know their characteristics!"
I nervously chuckled at his comment, "Ehehe..."
After some time talking to Kurogane, we find ourselves in the quest location. And wow, there are a LOT of dogoos. The place is an open field, if you wanna know.
"Okay, newbies, get ready, and watch an experienced guild agent at work..."
Kurogane rushes over to the front line, while Kujou and I stay back in case he needs support.
Kurogane rushes over to a line of Dogoos and one-slash them. After taking just that one hit, the dogoos turn into bits of data bursting into the air. This is so awesome.
Ah, a dogoo! I fire an elemental ball, in this case a fireball, to the creature, but it survives. As expected, of course. I keep firing (since it's my basic attack) at the dogoo until it dissolved into code. I get a bit of XP from that, and I need more to level up, guess me and Kujou have a lot to do...
A few minutes after Kurogane gave the first strike, almost all the dogoos were exterminated. And there was this... moment... that I can compare to that moment in Episode 1 of the Neptunia anime. Ya see...
Flashback:
"Why do they keep coming?!"
"Just keep attacking," Kurogane assured me.
"Ahaha, stop it! Nooooo!"
Yikes, was that Kujou?! I run to where Kujou was and...
*nosebleed*
She... She's so like... that moment with the dogoos in episode 1. Ahhh... Can't really describe it when I'm nosebleeding... (Sorry, it's the male instinct)
"Kurogane? Little help?"
But he couldn't hear me. He's having too much fun killing the mobs... Oh man... I don't wanna get on to this guy's bad side.
"Kyaaaa! Not there! Get out!"
Umm... Okay, I can't stand this... I release an strong aerial wave, blowing off the dogoos on Kujou... And...
"T-thanks..." she said, blushing and all. And she got a bit of goo on her clothes, the poor girl.
"Okay, by the time we get back to Lowee, we're getting you new clothes, that okay with you Kujou?" I say to her, trying to comfort her. Come on, she just experienced something embarrassing... Of course I have to comfort her.
"T-thanks..."
End of flashback
"Hyah!" Kurogane shouts, swinging his sword at a larger Dogoo. I try to support him with a few fireballs, but it doesn't even matter, Kurogane's owning that dogoo's butt.
"Hah... Hah... I think that's the last of them..."
And suddenly...
"Dogoo!" a dogoo jumped onto my head in a playful manner. I grab it and looked at it. And, aw man, it's doing the puppy eyes tactic.
"Don't play dumb, Middo! It's trying to get off the hook!"
No... I don't think it is, considering it saw all of his friends die by our hand, it makes me a bit guilty, even if it's a mob.
"Aww... I-I don't think it's faking, Kuro-kun..." Kujou said, still shaking from that embarrassing moment she experienced.
"I do agree with her, Kurogane, I mean, dogs in my world can be harmful, but they're man's best friend, and maybe the dogoo's the equivalent."
"Dog?"
A few minutes after explaining to Kurogane...
"As long as you take responsibility for it. I won't get dragged into any trouble your dogoo does."
"Yeah, alright, I know. I dunno what to name him, though..."
Then, Kujou whispered in my ear, "How about Jelly? I'm sure it'll like it..."
"Huh? I thought you had despised dogoos."
"What? Because they just jumped at me like some sort of pervert? Nah. I'm already over that."
"You're quick to forgive and forget..."
"Alright... I say he'll be named Jelly. Who's with me?" I said out.
"Aye!" Kujou exclaimed, blushing in an enthusiastic way.
"Alright, but be ready to take care of a dogoo, Middo, since you're the first one to ever attempt to domesticate a mob," warned Kurogane.
"Don't worry Kurogane, I can do it. Now can we get back to the guild to get our credits?"
Kurogane looked around to check for more monsters, "Okay, I don't think there's-"
*ground rumbling*
"Wh-what the?!"
"RAAAAGGH!"
T-THAT SOUND!
"We're in trouble, peeps. We're gonna deal with an Ancient Dragon..."
- To be continued -
AUTHOR NOTES:
Hi, everyone. Chapter 2 out and done, and there are a few announcements I wanna say.
First, no updates for a week, since my first prelim exams are coming up, and I wanna get a high score so that I have more chances to get myself a drawing tablet for my birthday.
Second, I didn't think I Never Expected would be a hit, so I'm focusing more on this fanfic than anything else.
Third, I just wanna say, thanks Floyd Dick from Twitter for being such a friend and supporter. I promise I'll make higher quality chapters as time goes on.
That's all for now. If you can, please leave a review, may it be how you like or hate this work of mine, and how I can improve it, but no bullying please. Wanna check me out on Twitter? Just search for MiddonaitoShi, that simple. :)
/ MIDDOSTATION ENDS HERE
