It was the young man who spoke first. "S-So…um…I can call you Noire, right?"
Noire fought to keep her expression neutral. "Sure."
"Alright, Noire. I'm—"
"Jake."
The man's brow raised in clear surprise. "You know who I am? Whoa. Did they program you that fast?"
"We've met before."
"W-We have?"
"Of course. I signed your console, remember?"
Jake's eyes widened as realization dawned on him. His mouth opened, his jaw shaking visibly, before he clamped it shut.
Noire pressed a hand to her forehead, no longer able to hold back a heavy sigh. "I guess you might almost be as confused as I am." She sat upon the bed, her gaze staring off toward the wall. "I know why you're here, though. That much is obvious."
A moment passed as Jake's mortification only grew. "Eh?! D-Don't get the wrong idea, Noire! L-Lady Noire!"
The CPU slowly turned her head to face Jake. "What sort of idea should I have when a young man asks to be alone with a pretty girl he's obsessed with?"
"You…" Jake tugged at the collar of his shirt, his face growing redder by the moment. "Y-You're not…the real Noire…are you?"
Noire's neutral façade finally dropped into a glare. "Hmph! As if that would change the way you view me! Like a slave! A doll!"
"I-I…"
"I'm not an idiot. I know exactly what people want from me – what they want to see from me. I wouldn't still be alive, otherwise." Noire took a moment to blink away an errant tear, wiping her face clear with a hand. "It's just something else to add to the to-do list."
"W-What? But you do so much more than just…that! You're awesome, Lady Noire! You're not just the prettiest! You're the smartest, and the toughest, and the hardest working, and—"
"And all of that is a lie. One that you ate right up along with everyone else."
Jake seemed too stunned to even utter a response, his mouth opening and closing without a word.
Oh? What purpose is there in dispelling your own illusion, CPU of Lastation? Surely you realize that this path leads to your demise?
Noire didn't particularly care too much about that. What she did know is that it felt good to vent for once. Indeed, it had been a long time coming for the lonely goddess of Lastation. "I spend every single waking moment ensuring that I don't let it slip even a single time that I'm not as perfect as everyone thinks. That's on top of running an entire nation, and defending it from any threats it might face. It's no wonder they call me a goddess! Anyone else would think it's impossible!"
"B-But…isn't that what you were created to—"
"Yes. It is." Noire's gaze softened a bit before turning away. "It's true that I don't have any say in the matter. Without the shares, I die. And, of course, the only way to get shares in times of peace is to please people like you." She winced as she pushed herself to her feet and turned toward Jake, taking a step toward him. "It's not enough that I work myself to the bone just to keep everyone safe and fed, is it? I have to be your precious idol, too, don't I?"
Jake blinked as he realized that the question didn't seem to be rhetorical. He figured he should probably answer before she decided to bite his head off or something. "Th-That's not true—"
Noire placed her hands on her hips, tilting them provocatively. "If it's not true, then why are you here?"
"U-Um…I was just here to buy some things…"
"Oh?" The CPU raised a brow. "Can you show me, then? I'm sure you wouldn't mind answering a request from your goddess, would you?"
"N-Not at all." Jake gulped. "R-Right this way, Lady Noire." The man stepped over to the door, opening it and taking a peek outside to find that the hallway was clear. He then swung the door further open, allowing Noire to step through, who shot him an odd look. Her stride as she walked down the hall with crossed arms was a slow, exaggerated strut – unbeknownst to him, she was doing so almost unconsciously, but it only served to further the feeling of shame that was starting to creep upon him.
They stopped after a fairly short distance in front of another nondescript door. "It's in here," said Jake, whose legs were beginning to tremble. "A-After you."
Noire stepped inside, her brow raising as she took in the wondrous sights of the room around her. There was hardly even room to walk, packed full of merchandise as it was. Games, figurines, and comics were just the beginning – lining every shelf, scattered across every table, could be found all manner of items catering to eclectic tastes. From the innocuous to the intensely lewd and everything in between…official, unofficial, common, and rare…
Just like home, eh?
The goddess took a moment to examine a stack of art books, her eyes glazed over as if in the midst of a sleepwalk. Given the paleness of her skin and the dress draped over her, one wouldn't be remiss for mistaking her for a ghost.
Aesthetics of Gamindustri. Anatomy of a Goddess. The Megami: Worshipping Our Lovely Ladies. Noire: October Edition.
Her eye twitched a little.
Noire: November Edition.
Noire: December Edition.
Noire: Catgirl Special Edition!
Someone's popular.
She flipped open one of the rather thick books, its hard-backed cover making a muted thump against the table.
"I wouldn't be caught dead in that. And the hips are too wide here. Sheesh. Do any of these artists know a thing about proportions? It's not as if they don't have my measurements."
A morbid sense of curiosity went through her as she turned to the first page. Interestingly, there was a write-up present there.
NOTE FROM THE CURATOR:
A huge thank you to all of those who know who the best girl in Gamindustri is! Let's continue to show our support for our twin-tailed tsundere GODDESS! (´・ω・｀)
P.S. Don't think we forgot about Uni the cutie! We included her this time, we swear!
Beneath it was a relatively crude sketch of Noire and her sister, their faces beaming with joy.
Uni. That was her name.
Noire closed the book, turning her attention to another beside it.
The Anonydeath Collection Mk II.
"D-Don't look at that!" Jake had finally worked up the nerve to approach Noire, although he stopped short of his intention of snatching away the book in her hands.
"Eh? Why not?" Noire opened the book as she said this. "It's a…photo album?"
While the previous works had contained entirely fictional depictions, this one was the real deal. So very many photographs of the tsundere goddess were present between the covers of a book that strangely lacked any sort of text whatsoever beyond the title. At work, at play, in lingerie, in cosplay, at the beach, in the bath, with her sister, with dozens of people she didn't recognize, in every possible pose, from every possible angle…
Her eyes skipped over countless photos of questionable origin to stop on one in particular.
All four of the goddesses of Gamindustri were present within the picture, showing the scene of what must have been a secluded hot spring somewhere in the snowy hills of Lowee. All four were completely bared to the world, as well, leaving little question about the exact shape of their proportions. Noire was standing in quite the feminine posture, one hand upon her hip, the other flicking away a strand of hair. Upon her face sat a confident smirk. Her gaze was pointed straight at Neptune, whose arms were raised as if she was in the middle of a temper tantrum, splashing water all over. To one side sat Vert, chuckling to herself with a hand raised to her lips. On the opposite side sat Blanc, whose brow was furrowed, clearly just as annoyed at the display as Neptune.
Noire could easily guess what had led to the circumstances in the picture. Yet, having a candid look at herself in such a way was…odd.
This is what they see. What they worship. What they crave.
She took a step back, glancing around the room once more. Material of all sorts was present, although the majority concerned itself with goddesses. And Noire easily took up half of the CPU-related goods, given the near-total lack of anything to do with the Planeptune CPUs.
It was impossible for her to understand what she was even feeling at the moment. She knew she should be angry. Disgusted. Outraged. Or maybe even proud. Instead, she found herself with some kind of detached fascination, perhaps brought on by the fatigue pressing down on her.
None of this is me. The Noire in all of this is some other person I never knew. Yet…she's laughing. Smiling. Arguing. Working herself to death. Showing herself off. Doing everything exactly as I would.
Is every Noire like this?
Is every Noire fated to be a goddess? To earn the adoration of her followers? To become an object of desire?
I'm sick of this.
You hate this.
I've always hated it. But I'm not allowed to hate it.
Ah, but just what is it that you hate so, hm?
"N-Noire?"
He wants this. They all want this. But not me. They want Noire. They want Black Heart. They want their twin-tailed goddess.
They want exactly what you make them want. Such a tease, you are.
…I suppose I am.
As Noire closed the photo album and continued her exploration, her attention was caught by one game in particular that had been pulled out from a bin full of them. She chuckled to herself when she realized what it was.
Hyperdevotion Noire Re;Birth HD Remaster: Ultra Devotion Edition.
"Eh? Isn't this what you were looking for earlier?" Noire asked, turning to face Jake with the game's case on display in her hand.
"Y-Yeah." Jake rubbed the back of his neck nervously.
"Hmm…'Includes limited edition Noire/Black Heart hug pillow,'" said Noire, reading from the case. She flipped it over to continue. "'Brand new HD remaster in 16k resolution to bring you even closer to the goddess Black Heart than ever before…Over 55 new cutscenes with the lovable goddess of Lastation…All new uncensored artwork, including hot new remasters of old favorites…'"
Jake flinched with every statement she read off.
Noire set aside the case, raising a brow. "'Ultra Devotion Edition,' eh?" She seemed to study Jake for a moment, crossing her arms and stepping one foot back, her head tilted. "So how did you happen to learn of a game like this, exactly?"
"U-Um…" The man's face blanched. "So, one day, I was looking for…artwork…on this site some friends recommended, and…"
The goddess' lips curled into a grin that was equal parts creepy and coy. "You happened to find out all about me and my measurements? Oh, but they never do remember the birthmark on my inner thigh, though. I guess our 'lovable goddess' can't possibly have any blemishes, eh?" Her humorless grin grew a little wider. "Would you like to see it? Hm? You'd be the only one in the world to know about it. How does that sound?"
Somehow, Jake managed to grow even paler. "U-Um…but you…I…"
A laugh erupted from Noire, which was stifled into a chuckle after she placed a hand over her mouth. "Hah. I'm just joking. I don't have a birthmark. My body's as smooth as can possibly be. Of course. And, before you even ask, yes, I still have my hymen. What kind of trashy goddess would I be without it?"
And Vert still has hers, somehow.
Possibly.
Allegedly.
"I…wasn't going to…"
"Oh, and these breasts that you seem to be having trouble keeping your eyes off of? As perfect as you think." Noire leaned forward, cupping them in her hands for a moment before letting them fall naturally.
How curious. Is this truly how you wish to proceed, CPU of Lastation?
"Why are you—"
"Shh." Noire pressed a finger to Jake's lips before strutting away. With her back still turned, she leaned forward, reaching her hands down to the hem of her skirt. Slowly, she lifted the hem, until, just as she would've raised it above her thighs, she gave a feigned gasp and released her skirt, allowing it to return to knee-length. She raised herself back upright before turning to face Jake, who looked like he was about to cry.
I do like to make my fans happy.
Noire blinked as her own words were reflected at her.
He doesn't look too happy.
"Ahah…hahah…" The goddess played off her antics with a little laugh. "Look at what you made a pure maiden do. How could you?"
"I…I didn't…"
Noire stepped up to him, placing her hands to his chest and moving her face uncomfortably close to his. "You did this. You, and everyone who worships me."
Jake attempted to back up, but Noire kept up the pressure, pressing him against the wall and knocking aside a few stacks of comics in the process. "Lady Noire—"
"You did this to me."
Noire's expression was dangerously blank, her breaths fast and hot upon Jake's face. For a brief moment, he fancied the idea that she might kiss him, before he realized how stupid he was being. "I-I'm sorry, Lady Noire. I thought…"
"Spit it out."
Jake swallowed nervously, turning his head away – she'd incidentally managed to get a little spit on his face. "I thought you wanted people to think you were attractive."
"'Attractive.' Is that the word?"
"Fine! Cute! Hot! Sexy! But just because you're hot doesn't mean that's the only reason people like you!"
"I find that hard to believe. How else can anyone like a hypocrite who complains about upskirts when she wears a skirt so short that it's illegal for anyone else? How else can anyone like a selfish asshole who'd rather lock herself in her room than spend time with her sister? How else can anyone like a bitch who chews out anyone who even tries to be a friend?!"
Language, dear CPU. You are channeling Blanc quite handily right now.
GO. AWAY.
Noire shoved Jake into the wall with one hand, taking a few steps back. "I'm the least likable person you'll ever meet, and yet I'm always such a popular goddess. I wonder why?!"
Jake was having difficulty coming up with a rebuttal. Then again, he barely knew anything about the goddesses' actual personalities. He could list all of their measurements from memory, but he couldn't even say what Noire was like at public speeches. One thing was for sure – this wasn't anything like the games had led him to believe. A tingle in the back of his head told him that the next words to come from his mouth would have a profound effect on the future of the world. Unfortunately, all he could do was blab the first thing to come to mind. "I'm sorry. I…I should've never asked to meet you."
The CPU's eyes grew wide, her nose sucking in an involuntary breath as her rage built to a head. She wanted to scream, of course. She wanted this poor, naïve idiot to know just how much she hated him and everyone like him. But she couldn't. She knew she was just offloading her anger onto someone else, blaming what was most likely her own failings on anything but herself.
How strange. No matter the situation, there was always that one corner of her mind that managed to maintain control – to pull her back to her senses when she needed them most. To rob her of feeling…to deprive her of desire.
Would you find any greater joy if you were born ugly, CPU of Lastation?
No. She wouldn't.
Is it a sin to be beautiful? To tempt others into lechery with one's mere presence?
That would be a pitiful excuse for her behavior. She knew it went deeper than that. She could feel it within her gut. But she couldn't put a name to the source of the hatred that had long ago begun to darken her heart. All she could do was collapse, her weakened mind and body too overwhelmed to handle the emotions that had suddenly been unbottled and left free to spill forth.
I'm crying. I'm actually crying.
In any other situation, this would've been something to rectify immediately. She wasn't allowed to show weakness. She wasn't allowed to break the illusion that she had spent so long delicately crafting. She was untouchable. Unbreakable. The desire of all men, and the envy of all women – and vice versa. The perfect goddess.
But right now, she was just a little girl, bawling her eyes out on the floor for reasons she couldn't understand.
Why me? Why am I the only one who can't handle this? Even Neptune…
The white hot fire within flared back to life in an instant.
Neptune.
That was the name she needed.
Her eternal rival.
The one who made her into a laughingstock.
The one everyone seemed to love.
The one she fancied she might love.
Her fists clenched…and then clenched harder.
Why couldn't you have just died?
You would not be alive to this day without her, CPU of Lastation.
Of course. She hardly needed a reminder on that front. She could still vividly remember their final battle on Celestia, as sporadic as her memory seemed to have become in recent days (or nights).
It doesn't matter. That was then. This is now.
Oh? Do you intend to kill her? How do you plan to accomplish this in your weakened state? Ah, and no doubt the others will be quick to leap to her defense. Triumphing against such odds would be impressive indeed.
I'll find a way.
She wasn't so convinced, herself, either. But, somewhere deep within, the embers continued to smolder, and she knew they would prove difficult to ever extinguish completely.
Neptune…
Her hands squeezed a little tighter.