Chapter 3: Presents

"Nep Jr., where are you?" Ever since that incident a month ago, Neptune had been careful with Nepgear, so careful that her lost characteristic points in carelessness, points that she spent a long time building up. Thanks to that incident alongside Histoire's warnings, Neptune did everything in her power to keep Nepgear safe. Whenever Nepgear wanted to go outside, he would do so under the supervision of IF, Compa, Neptune herself or Histoire. Occasionally, Noire or Vert would visit, allowing Neptune to trust them a little bit with her brother if he wanted to go out, although she had to be wary of Vert's motives sometimes. When he wasn't outside, Neptune made sure that Nepgear was always around her or that she knew that Nepgear was in the Basilicom.

Fortunately, Nepgear didn't seem to mind this at all. The boy enjoyed his sister's attention, since he could spend time with his sister and learn a lot from everyone. In order to make sure that Nepgear always had a place to go aside from his own room, Neptune had ordered that a lower floor in the Basilicom, a floor rarely used since R&D had been moved to a higher floor, be given to Nepgear for his own personal use. The boy happily named this floor his lab, which the Planeptune Basilicom staff found endearing, going as far as to changed the elevator button to said floor to G. Lab.

Neptune, worried, headed towards the elevator to Nepgear's lab. Stepping off the elevator, Neptune took the closest door to the right, which Nepgear had turned to his study. The CPU of Planeptune found his little brother in his study, sitting at his desk as he read another book.

"Hey, Nep Jr.! Whatcha up to?" Turning around, Nepgear smiled as he stood up.

"Hi, Neptune! Did you need something?" Neptune shook her head.

"Nah, I just wanted to see what my favorite little brother was up to." Nepgear laughed. "So, whatcha doin?" Nepgear pointed at his book.

"Well, I'm thinking of building something. I've reading all these books about and engineering and such, but I have no hands on experience." A lightbulb popped up over the CPU's head.

"Hehe… Don't you worry your silly little head, my adorable brother. Let Big Sis Neptune take care of it." Confused, Nepgear blinked his eyes and smiled.

"O-Okay, um. Thanks, Neptune." Neptune left Nepgear to his studies and pulled out her phone.

Another month later, Nepgear is sitting in the room across his study, his workplace. Neptune had found Nepgear a few tiny robots to tinker with. With one robot, Nepgear took it apart completely. With the second one, the boy took apart the bot and put it back together until the parts were dented or misshapen because of overuse. Finally, the third robot, Nepgear added little knicknacks and power ups via soldering and screwing bits and pieces together. Neptune poked her head in as she watched brother create a new robot in his brand new protective glasses and lab coat. Nepgear even dimmed the lighting to make it look more authentic.

"Nep Jr.~." The CPU Candidate didn't hear her, prompting Neptune to cup her hands over mouth. "Nepgear!" Startled, Nepgear turned off his soldering station and took off his glasses and gloves.

"Neptune!" The CPU gestured Nepgear to come over. Curious, Nepgear took off his lab coat and walked out into the hallway.

"Boy, Nep Jr.! Have I got a present for you!" Nepgear's eyes shined.

"A present!" Neptune nodded.

"Come on, lemme show you!" Neptune led Nepgear down his lab to a door on the other side of the floor, which Nepgear hasn't had any use of.

"Neptune, isn't this the hangar?" Neptune nodded, opening the door.

"Ta dah~!" On the table in the center of the room was a pair of boots, Nepgear walked over to the pair of footwear.

"What's this?" Nepgear picked up the books, feeling the vanilla leather, the metal purple soles and throat. Flipping the boots around, Nepgear found two purple gems implanted into the bottom of the boot. "Whoa! What's…" Neptune chuckled in triumph.

"I know that you were upset about not being able to use HDD, but I got you these boots instead!" Nepgear looked at his sister, mouth agape. "These boots allow you dash quickly through the air as if you were flying aaaaaand they also work on the ground too~!"

"Wow, this is amazing! Thank you, Neptune!" Suddenly, a grunt came from below them.

"Oi, Neptune. The plane's ready!" Blinking as he listened to the unfamiliar voice, Nepgear watched his sister walk over the railing leaned on top of it, reaching out over.

"Thanks a bunch, Blanc!" Nepgear placed his boots back on the table.

"Plane?" Neptune grinned at turned to Nepgear, giving him the peace sign.

"Take a gander, Nepgear!" Nepgear gasped as he looked at the Loweean Plane. The plane had its pilot seat open, revealing a small sandy brown haired girl in the cockpit. "Hey, Blanc!" The CPU of Lowee raised a hand, nodding to Nepgear. Blanc took the platform up to Neptune and Nepgear's floor.

"Everything's set up, Neptune." Blanc turned to Nepgear, bowing. "Hello, Nepgear. I'm Lowee's CPU, Blanc." Nepgear bowed as well, surprised at the sudden introduction.

"Hel-Hello! I'm Nepgear, I, um, hope we can be of acquaintance." Blanc grunted handed him a thick book, a thinner book, and roll of blue paper.

"Here. The schematics to the plane and a manual of for the plane's controls and a book that teaches you the basics to piloting." Taking the gifts, Nepgear was overwhelmed as Blanc places a hand on Neptune's shoulder. "My debt is payed. Sorry about that skank kidnapping your brother." Neptune hugged Blanc, pressing her cheek against the other CPU's.

"Thanks, Blanc! You're the greatest Blanc I know!" Scoffing, Blanc shoved Neptune off of her, dusting off her clothes and hiding her blush.

"I'm the only Blanc you know." Blanc raised a hand and walked towards the door. "I'm out, gotta meet up with Vert." Grateful for all that Blanc's done, Neptune let the chance to tease Blanc about her relationship with Vert slide. Neptune turned around to see Nepgear staring into space.

"Neptune, I assume that since Blanc just left, you've presented everything." Neptune turned around to find Histoire. Neptune gave the tome fairy as peace sign. "Do you like your gifts, Nepgear?" Shaken out of his daze, Nepgear placed his new materials on the table next to his boots and turned to Histoire and Neptune.

"I'm… overwhelmed…" Histoire nodded.

"That's a given. Since you will be learning a lot soon," Histoire floated over to Nepgear's gifts. "There will be a time where you must protect yourself, without Neptune or anyone at your side." Histoire faced the CPU Candidate. "When that time comes, you must be prepared. As such, Neptune, IF and Compa will be taking you on Quests from now on for you to learn combat." The fairy gestured to the plane and books. "You will take the initiative to learn new things and make new friends. And in time, you will be able to use HDD." Nepgear's eyes sparkled with excitement.

"Goodness! I can use HDD soon! Amazing!" Neptune held up a hand, reaching into her pockets.

"Nep Jr., I got something from Compa and Iffy too." Neptune pulled out a sword handle, one that was mechanical and was missing a blade. "From Iffy and Compa: A Beam Sabre!" Nepgear took the weapon in awe. "But that's not just it!" Neptune reached into her other pocket, taking out a pistol in a holster. "Here, my favorite and first pistol, the N-Buster Mk I!"

"And from me." Histoire handed Nepgear a card key. "I know that you already have this floor to yourself, but the current key you have only gives access to your study and the workplace. However, this card key will give access to the entire floor." Tearing up, Nepgear smiled at Histoire and Neptune.

"Neptune… Histoire… Thank you so much!" Neptune smiled and turned around stretching her arms.

"Ah… I'm done! C'mon Histy, Nep Jr., let's go eat!" Neptune ran out of the hangar, leaving a dazzling Nepgear and smiling Histoire. Histoire turned to Nepgear, who was putting his things onto the table.

"Shall we go?" Nepgear smiled.

"Yes!"