For the first time in her life, Noire actually wanted to talk to herself — that is to say that she honest to goodness wanted to talk to the "her" from Neptune's dimension. The girl, the "her," that she had pointedly avoided for so long... Strangely enough? She wanted it. She wanted it really badly. Some might say that such a desire was unlike her, but right now, she didn't care what was or was not "like" her. She just... really, really needed this. There was nowhere else she knew that she could go, and that was saying something, because she happened to know a lot. She prided herself in that.

But why? What had happened? What had caused such a change in heart in the proud CPU? What could have possibly forced the awkward girl's hand?

Looking at the past few hours...

It was easy enough to guess.

Plutia had turned her down... No, that wasn't just it.

She should have known she wouldn't be as lucky as her other self. How could she have ever assumed that?

It wasn't just that Plutia had turned her down. That hadn't even been an option.

Blanc had already gotten to her.

That was all there was to it.

Blanc had "won."

Noire felt somewhat guilty thinking about the other CPU in such a way, but when it came down to it, they had always had sparks between them. Blanc "winning the Plutia" just set everything ablaze... and then promptly put it all out. After all, what in the world could she do about it now? She couldn't very well challenge Blanc over Plutia like Planeptune's CPU was a prize. Plutia would just think even less of her, and her doing that would be a victory for Blanc more than anything, wouldn't it?

She had to face the facts, harsh as they were.

She had lost her chance. Perhaps... She hadn't had one in the first place?

She couldn't be sure. She didn't want to think about it.

All Noire was sure about, all she knew, was that happiness that she had observed on her other self's face that day seemed out of her grasp forever now.

Why she thought her other self might be a source of comfort was beyond her. If she thought about her, her other self probably had no idea how to help her. That Noire was happily married, wasn't she? Her happiness had been Noire's driving force, the inspiration that had pushed her to talk to Plutia in the first place. If anything, Noire should try to find someone in the other world who cared about Neptune or Noire like she did Plutia and seek them out... But there wasn't anyone like that, was there?

One might assume this was where this tale takes the obvious turn, in which Noire discovers something in the other dimension's Blanc... For after all, did she not share the same feelings, the same situation, as that other CPU? Well, as far as this Special Stage is concerned at least, they certainly did share a common thread between them like that.

But that would just be too easy, now wouldn't it?

Noire found herself still traveling to the other world's Lastation, as she had intended, even though her reasons for going felt flimsier and flimsier the closer she got. She had only been here a few times, and she would be lying if she claimed those instances were the most pleasant of experiences. Interactions with her counterpart of this world were just... awkward. Forced. Uncomfortable.

Perhaps she could seek out Uni instead and just... run away...?

No! Running away was what got her into this mess! If she hadn't run away... Maybe then...

"It doesn't matter now." She reminded herself bitterly, eyes downcast as she surveyed the layout of the Basilicom she was approaching. "It's too late."

It was weird how she could see the little differences between herself and this world's her in things like this. The architecture of their Basilicom was an obvious thing that Noire couldn't help but notice... Despite the fact that Noire's was a little more old fashioned, this Noire was the one that was actually much older than she was. It was a strange...

Well, no matter. Now wasn't the time to be enjoying the view. Finally landing on what looked like an important looking balcony, Noire steeled herself. She knew the two Verts got together often enough, and even the two Blancs shared stories from time to time... She and her own counterpart, however, never had such moments of "sisterly" bonding. They had never had a heart to heart and never really had any real connection... T-They were the same person after all, right? Sort of...

At least they could both agree that that sort of thing would just be weird.

Maybe that would be a good place to start before she led into the real reason she was here...?

Taking a deep breath, Noire pushed open the doors and braced herself. Knowing herself as well as she did, she didn't expect the warmest of welcomes.

Oddly enough, she didn't get the greeting she expected — the greeting she probably would have given herself — at all. The office, an office that, despite the very obvious differences, still resembled her own tastes somewhat, was devoid of any Noire other than herself. In other words... She had apparently gotten herself all worked up for nothing. Not even Uni was around.

"What am I thinking? Goodness..." She shook her head, sighing as her nerves started to relax. "Just because she's not here doesn't mean she's not here at all. She's probably just in another room or something, that's all. I-I'll just... find her and then we'll talk. That's what I'll do. If I could talk to Plutia, I can definitely talk to-"

"Looking for someone?"

"Kya!"

An unfamiliar voice interrupted Noire's monologue, and she jumped a good foot in the air in response. Spinning around to locate the source of the voice, the CPU found herself face to face with someone she didn't know at all.

"Good afternoon. You must be the Noire of the other dimension." The woman offered Noire a small, pleasant seeming smile. It was strangely unnerving — in no small thanks to the fact that Noire had absolutely no idea who she was talking to, or so she thought, but such was clearly not the case for the stranger who had appeared before her out of nowhere here. "It's good to finally put a face to a name... Though I suppose I had the face all along, didn't I? Hahaha. It really is uncanny..."

Despite the joke and even the laughter, the woman didn't seem all that amused. If anything, she seemed rather analytical. It was as though she was giving Noire an inspection of sorts. As the woman nodded to herself, though Noire had no idea what it could be for, the CPU vaguely remembered hearing about the "Oracles" that the CPUs in this world had. Uni had often mentioned her and her sister's during visits. If Noire's hunch was right, then, this person would have to be...

"And you're... Kei, right? Noire's 'Oracle'?"

The woman nodded, her cool expression seeming to relax somewhat... or maybe Noire just imagined it. It was hard to tell with this woman. If this was some kind of test, then had Noire passed it by knowing who she was? She certainly hoped so. She hated playing the part of the fool.

"Correct. I doubt anyone other than Uni would have ever had the chance or desire to mention me to you, though. Am I right?" As she nodded, Noire half-expected some kind of threatening "I trust everything she said was good?" line to follow that one, but it never came. Instead... She simply continued looking over Noire. Her scrutiny was beginning to make the CPU feel awkward. "I see. Yet you wanted to talk to Noire? Not Uni? I wouldn't have expected that from you, considering I've never seen you before until now. Has something happened?"

Noire could read between the lines enough to not need to push to know what Kei was implying. If Kei had never seen her before here, it meant the relationship between her version of Noire and the one standing before her wasn't particularly good, which in turn meant that Noire probably would only seek out her counterpart if it was serious... which, as it turned out, wasn't at all wrong. This woman was scarily perceptive.

"I-It's nothing like what you're thinking..." Noire hesitated. The woman was already raising an eyebrow — with good reason, after all. Noire certainly suspected that the Oracle suspected that the relationship between the two Noires was strained... And that Noire was here for something dire... How could she explain herself to this kind of person without humiliating herself? She wasn't even sure how she was going to be able to explain herself to, well, herself yet! "I just... I just wanted to talk to her about something."

Kei didn't respond or even move for a moment, instead quietly observing Noire for what seemed like an eternity. Her sharp blue eyes gazed at Noire with a cool intensity that Noire realized she was not used to — she had only ever been exposed to the fiery passion of Plutia before today. This... This was... This was different.

She wasn't sure what to make of it.

Ba-bump.

Instinctively looking away, Noire tossed a hand through her hair.

"W-What? Am I not allowed here? I am technically a Lastation CPU too, you know." Noire hadn't meant for that to sound as standoffish as it had, but what was done was done. She couldn't take it back now.

To her surprise, the Oracle standing before her simply smirked. Again, Noire couldn't help but find a distinct contrast from the kind of thing she was normally used to. It radiated something, but it was still chilled — reserved. Nothing like the blaze that Iris Heart would unleash with her broad smiles.

Ba-bump-ba-bump.

Noire rubbed her arm awkwardly, feeling actually somewhat chilled now. This was getting a bit ridiculous, wasn't it? Maybe she was just nervous... S-She wasn't a loner, though! Neptune wasn't right about all that! Was she?

"You definitely are like her..." The silver haired woman shook her head, smirk still playing on her lips, though now it seemed as though there was something more to it — amusement? W-Was Noire funny to her?! Why she oughta... "Would you care for some coffee? I was on my way down to the kitchen to have some when I overheard you arriving. Noire is out right now, but she's in Lastation today. It shouldn't be terribly long before she returns."

Noire cursed herself inwardly as Kei spoke. "Today"? That's right... She hadn't even considered that the other her might have been in Planeptune — with her wife! — when she had come here. She had been so wrapped up in everything that she had just come here straightaway... Imagine how foolish she would have looked if

"You shouldn't worry about it. She wouldn't be one to talk anyway if she said anything." Seemingly reading her mind, Kei chuckled lightly before heading towards the door. She looked behind her, her cool eyes gazing straight towards Noire — was she looking through her? The CPU wasn't sure. "Are you coming? I don't mind whatever you do, but I won't wait if you don't make up your mind."

Ba-bump.

"R-Right, I heard you!"

Kei seemed to accept this answer, either because she was used to Noire — or a Noire, anyway — or maybe because she just didn't get phased by answers like that. For some strange reason, while the former possibility just flat out bothered Noire (she was her own person, darn it, no matter how similar she was to the other one!)... The second option was kind of... exciting?

Why would someone not caring excite her?

Logically speaking, Noire supposed as she followed after the Oracle down the Basilicom's halls, perhaps it was simply because she just wasn't used to being treated this way. Even the quiet Blanc, at least "her" Blanc, tended to argue with her a lot of the time. Rarely did she ever encounter anyone to just be so... So dismissive of her!

Ba-bump-ba-bump.

She could... She could respect that. All business. That was what impressed Noire about this Kei person, not excited her about her. She was just getting her wires crossed because of this Plutia mess, that was all. Finally seeing someone else who could be so... well, so like this, it was just comforting, that was all — comforting in how positively not comforting she seemed, as it happened.

It made sense, really. After getting such a shock from Plutia, being faced with such a cooling situation... That was all there was to it. Noire could calm her nerves a little with this while she waited for her counterpart to arrive. It wasn't that big a deal. She was just thinking too much. If she wanted to make a good impression — and she was Noire, which meant she did — she couldn't very well let herself get so flustered like this over nothing, now could she? Especially not to such a dignified seeming woman like the one leading her through the main area of the Basilicom now.

"Uni tells me you CPUs were once human over there. Is that right?"

"H-Hm? Oh, yes, that's right."

"Interesting."

Noire found it more interesting that CPUs just sort of were over here, but she didn't comment on it. For her, her having once been human was just normal for CPUs as far as she was concerned... But she supposed that was just how these things went. She did find a little bit of pride in the fact that she had managed to say something impressive, however small a feat of impressiveness it was, to the Oracle though. She had felt strangely off guard for the entirety of this encounter...

... And yet, as Noire followed after the short haired Oracle, the kitchen growing ever closer, she found her steps feeling strangely... Lighter...?

Even she was starting to doubt her half-assed excuse from earlier right now.

A terrifying thought crossed her mind.

It couldn't be that, though, could it?

After all... That was impossible.

Just because Neptune had often teased her about her "dangerous" tastes when it came to Plutia... That didn't mean... That didn't mean her tastes were dangerous in general, did it? That would be ridiculo-

"Would you like it black? Or with sugar?"

Ba-bump-ba-bump-ba-bump!

The CPU jumped at the sound of Kei's voice, her twintails jumping with her as though they were alive and reacting just as she was. The woman glanced at Noire, head tilted ever so slightly to the side, a questioning look on her seemingly stern face. Her piercing eyes, even without her saying it, even without her likely even meaning it, made the CPU feel guilty, like she had done something wrong.

A sense of dread settled in upon the next realization.

Because... She realized... She might like that feeling.

Noire inhaled, a chill going down her spine like an electric shock, as she placed a hand on her chest in the hopes of slowing down her heart. Cool it, girl! Or... No, in this case, warm up, girl! Whatever hold this Oracle had on her, she couldn't let it get to her. She still had to talk to her counterpart and...

"Noire? Is something the matter? You haven't answered my question."

"W-Whatever you're having is fine!"

Ba-bump-ba-bump-ba-bump-ba-bump-ba-bump!

Noire lowered her hand from her chest, looking away from the woman dealing with the two mugs of coffee. Whether she held her hand there or not, it wasn't going to stop the pounding, and that's exactly what she felt inside. Her heart was pounding away, like...

Like when...

The image of a certain sadist flashed in her mind. With the image came a mixture of feelings, fiery and exciting and shamefully good and...

The black haired girl swallowed as she cast a glance back in Kei's direction.

The fire inside of her... cooled somewhat as she did so.

There was no question now.

She really did have dangerous tastes...

"So, you wanted to talk to me?"

Somehow, Noire had managed to get through having coffee with Kei without breaking anything or running away. She had been set on running away after, almost positive she was losing her mind, when, wouldn't you know it, then her counterpart had finally chosen to show up. She wasn't sure if it had been perfect timing or absolutely horrid timing, but whatever it was, now Noire found herself alone with her mirror image in the CPU's office.

"T-That's right... You see, some things have been happening on my end and, ah..." Noire closed her eyes, her throat feeling strangely dry. She had thought she had been preparing herself all this time, getting herself ready to talk about Plutia, but now that the moment was here, her voice was cracking and her tongue felt like a desert in her mouth.

She... She could really go for a nice, cool drink right now. Why had she agreed to that coffee...!? What she really could go for was...

"I-I-Is..." As Noire thought that, she found herself speaking without realizing it. Rather than what she had wanted to talk about all along, instead...

Her counterpart across the room frowned, unsure of what was going on here. She had come home from getting Neptune a present (n-not that she was going to let this... copycat or Kei know that!) only to discover her Oracle and her clone getting along all... weirdly and now the other CPU wanted to talk to her alone? S-Seriously, give her a break!

"Yes? W-What is it? You're starting to creep me out, looking at me like that..."

Noire took a deep breath.

If she wanted to get over Plutia, she needed to jump out of the frying pan...

"I-Is your Oracle single?!"

... and into the freezer!