Neptune's Melancholy

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00:00 Hyperdimension Neptune Special Drama CD: Neptune's Melancholy
00:10 Nepgear: This is a story that takes place about half a year before the four goddesses of Gamindustri ratified the Treaty of Friendship.
00:19 Nepgear: At that time, the traditional yearly four goddesses battle royale is but a week away.
00:25 Nepgear: The goddesses of each nation are all deeply mired in preparations for the event.
00:30 Nepgear: For instance, Vert of Leanbox is...
00:36 Vert: So the next enemy is a Pheonix. You certainly aren't a match for me.
00:43 Vert: Rainy Ratanapura!
00:51 Vert: Seems like the augmented reality system is finally really for practical use.
00:56 Vert: Yes, this can definitely simulate actual combat for my practice.
01:01 Vert: But if I change the presentation, wouldn't it make for a mighty fine game? Oh, I know, it would be a party game that everyone can enjoy-
01:12 Vert: Oh, that was bad. I need to focus on preparing for the Battle Royale. Focus, focus... I'll definitely break your winning streak this time.

01:24 Nepgear: And, Blanc of Lowee too is...
01:30 Blanc: Yes, Noire will probably use Lacy dance at this point. If I focus on my defense here, then follow up with my Tanzerin Trombe... I can win.
01:44 Ram: Ahh! Big sis is playing with a new game!
01:47 Rom: No fair! I want to play too!
01:52 Blanc: Rom, Ram. That's not it. This is a program that simulates the actions of enemy goddesses based off past combat data.
02:02 Blanc: I'm using it to develop a strategy for the Battle Royale.
02:06 Rom: What is a "strategy"?
02:09 Blanc: A strategy is... the best way that would allow me to win.
02:16 Ram: If you win, you become the best? Then it's a game, isn't it?
02:21 Blanc: This is completely different from a game. It's a serious match with our pride on the line. So, don't interrupt me.
02:32 Ram/Rom: ...
02:37 Blanc: Rom, Ram, it's hard to work with you two staring at me like that.
02:44 Ram: It really is. Doesn't seem like a game at all, does it, Rom?
02:49 Rom: Yeah, Ram.
02:50 Ram: If it was a game, Big sis wouldn't have such an angry expression on her face.
02:55 Rom: Yeah, it looks really boring.
02:59 Ram: Lets go play a game over there.
03:01 Rom: Yeah, Ram.
03:03 Ram: Race ya!
03:05 Rom: Hey, wait! Ram!
03:12 Blanc: ...Of course it'd look boring. This is a war, after all...
03:20 Blanc: Anyway, I need to focus on winning the battle royale. That's all that matters right now.

03:27 Nepgear: Of course, Noire of Lastation too is...
03:40 Noire: Seems like I've gotten used to this new sword.
03:43 Uni: Great work, Noire. I've brought you something cold to drink.
03:48 Noire: Oh. Thanks, Uni.
03:56 Noire: It's good.
03:59 Uni: You look like you are really putting your all into this. You were the victor of the last Battle Royale, so I'm sure this time too will-
04:07 Noire: I think so too, but it's dangerous to get complacent. I can't overlook Blanc's consecutive victories in the past, and Vert has been getting pretty strong as of late too.
04:16 Uni: Um...What about Neptune?
04:22 Noire: Neptune is, well, in all the recent matches she always gets ganged up on and taken out first, so I can't really say much.
04:30 Uni: Oh, yeah, I guess so. But isn't that kind of...pathetic?
04:37 Noire: Do you really think so?
04:39 Uni: Umm...
04:41 Noire: To tell the truth, she's strong. Really strong.
04:46 Uni: Eh? Is that so?
04:48 Noire: Yeah. It's doesn't usually show because of how she is, but you can't underestimate her when she transforms. Vert, Blanc and I all understand that, that's why we always take her out first.
04:59 Uni: I see...
05:00 Noire: She really should come up with some kind of strategy to avoid that, but she just never does. Maybe she's just bad at it, or naive, or maybe she's just too kind hearted... Well, that's just how she is.
05:13 Uni: Then, maybe you could talk to the others and get them to stop doing that?
05:19 Noire: What? D-Don't be stupid! Why would I do something that would benefit Neptune? We are enemies!
05:28 Uni: Oh, yeah, I guess...
05:31 Noire: O-Of course it is. A-Anyway, it's time to get back to training.

05:38 Nepgear: But, at that time, the goddess of Planeptune, and my sister is...
05:47 Neptune: *sigh* *sigh* *SIGH*
05:55 Nepgear: Neptune? What's wrong? Are you not feeling well?
06:00 Neptune: Ah, Nepgear! No, that's not it...*Sigh*
06:07 Nepgear: You really are acting weird, Neptune. Is something troubling you? You can talk to me about it.
06:16 Neptune: Well, troubles...
06:18 Nepgear: Yes?
06:21 Neptune: I was thinking that we should just call off this Four goddesses Battle Royale stuff.
06:27 Nepgear: Huh?
06:28 Neptune: But I can't possibly call it off now, right? Noire, Blanc, and Vert all look like they are really into it. *SIGH*
06:38 Nepgear: Neptune...
06:40 Neptune: Sorry, Nepgear. It's just me grumbling a little. Alright, it's bean awhile, so I think I'm going to go down to Virtuapolis and give my skills a test. Nepu~
06:56 Nepgear: Neptune... She looks she doesn't think about much, but she's actually really concerned about the state of Gamindustri... That's why she...
07:09 Nepgear: That's right, if the Battle Royale were to be abolished, and the Goddesses were to be on closer terms with each other... That would definitely be a good thing.
07:19 Nepgear: Then I'd be able to meet up with Uni, Rom and Ram alot more often and play together...
07:28 Nepgear: I know, I'll just have to give it my all.
07:32 Nepgear: I'll use the group chat function... and activate!
07:44 Uni: Hello? Nepgear? What's the matter?
07:47 Ram: Heya Nepgear!
07:50 Rom: A call from Nepgear. I'm glad.
07:53 Nepgear: Everyone, it's been awhile. You all sound healthy. Umm, well, there's actually alot I would like to talk about, but first..
08:01 Nepgear: Please, I need all of you to help me.
08:07 Uni/Rom/Ram: Eh? What about?
08:11 Nepgear: You see...

08:15 Nepgear: A few days later...
08:18 Noire: Well, it should be around here but...It's just mountains as far as the eye can see. Where exactly should I-
08:24 Blanc: Hey! Noire!
08:27 Vert: You were invited here as well, I take it?
08:29 Noire: Blanc, Vert.  Were you two invited by Nepgear as well?
08:32 Vert: Yes. I got Nepgear's passionate video message practically begging me to come.
08:39 Blanc: Me too. Well, frankly, I was on the fence about accepting this invitation, but Rom and Ram were strangely insistent that I should go.
08:49 Noire: Me too. Uni was unrelenting on this issue. So I ended up coming.
08:57 Vert: I see. You could say that we were set up by our sisters. Nepgear, aren't you something?
09:06 Blanc: Well, I don't know what this is about, but there isn't much time till the Battle Royale. Lets hurry up and get this over and done with.
09:13 Noire: I agree.
09:15 Nepgear: Everyone! Over here!
09:20 Vert: Oh, that's Nepgear. Why is she on the riverbank?
09:24 Neptune: HEY! Over here!
09:27 Blanc: Looks like Neptune's with her as well. Lets go.

09:33 Neptune: Welcome to the barbecue party that my sister Nepgear organized!
09:39 Noire: Eh? Blanc: Huh? Vert: Oh my.
09:43 Neptune: What's with those expressions? Did I say something strange?
09:47 Noire: What exactly do you mean by Barbecue party?
09:51 Neptune: Well, we gather all our friends, go out to a beach or a mountain and fry big piles of meat over a metal grill, then once it's done we cheerfully eat them. That's what a barbecue is.
09:59 Noire: I didn't ask for the definition of barbecue!
10:01 Neptune: Well, you are always alone, so I thought maybe you never had a barbecue before...
10:04 Noire: I have- well... I haven't gone on one, but I know what a barbecue means.
10:11 Vert: Neptune, did you call us all the way out here just for a barbecue?
10:17 Neptune: Well, yeah, that's pretty much it, I guess. Right, Nepgear?
10:21 Nepgear: Umm, err...
10:24 Blanc: This isn't some sort of prank, right, Nepgear? Depending on your answer, I might have to take certain steps.
10:32 Nepgear: Eeek! Er, well, that is, I mean...
10:38 Blanc: *sigh* I'm heading back.
10:40 Noire: Me too. This is a waste of time.
10:42 Nepgear: Uh, umm...  Neptune: Now, now, hold on a minute. You guys haven't had lunch yet, right?
10:48 Why not eat up while you can? You can head back immediately after if you want.
10:55 Vert: Hmm...Well, alright. It's not every day we get a barbecue, so I suppose I'll indulge myself.
11:02 Noire: Looks like this would be a time consuming lunch.
11:06 Blanc: Oh, alright. I'll hang out.
11:08 Neptune: Alright! Now that it's decided, lets grill up a storm!

11:14 Neptune: Meat, meat, meat! Prawn, clams, onion, carrots, bell peppers, eggplant- Wait, who brought eggplants along?! Let me just get rid of this. And lastly, the mushrooms!
11:25 Neptune: Look at these mushrooms. I picked them up the other day at Virtuapolis. Don't they look delicious?
11:34 Noire: Less chatter, more focusing on the grill. Hey, they are starting to char. The fire is way too strong.
11:38 Neptune: Eh?
11:41 Noire: Hurry up and get them off the grill. These ones here too is-oh, just give those to me.
11:47 Neptune: Nepu! She took my tongs~
11:51 Blanc: Noire's like some kind of barbecue officer.
11:54 Vert: You can certainly see it. Even though she doesn't have any experience. I wonder why she's getting so worked up.

12:04 Nepgear: *Sigh* When I meet the goddesses of the other countries face to face, I get too nervous to even speak.
12:11 Nepgear: But, thanks to Neptune, the atmosphere has gotten quite friendly. If there's ever a time to broach the subject, now might be it.
12:20 Nepgear: Hey, Neptune.
12:22 Neptune: What is it, Nepgear?
12:24 Nepgear: Could you come here with me for a moment?
12:26 Neptune: Okay, sure. Go ahead and eat without me, everyone.
12:35 Noire: It turned out pretty well, if I say so myself.
12:39 Vert: Oh, this mushroom tastes really good. You should try it.
12:43 Neptune: Nepu! You guys already started eating? Oh, well, help yourself to the food.
12:50 Noire/Blanc/Vert: Lets dig in.
(Background)12:52 Noire: Hey, Blanc, aren't you taking too much meat?
12:55 Neptune: So, Nepgear, what is it?
12:57 Nepgear: Well, I think you might be able to broach the topic now.
13:00 Neptune: What topic?
13:02 Nepgear: You were talking about it the other day.
13:05 Neptune: Hmm...What was it?
13:06 Nepgear: Come on, you mentioned it just a few days ago. While sighing all the while.
13:12 Neptune: Hmm? Oh, is it "Would they ever release that highly anticipated game that has been suffering delays right from the start."?
13:19 Nepgear: That's not it! It's about the four goddesses Battle Royale.
13:23 Neptune: Eh? Did I mention something about that?
13:26 Nepgear: You did! You wanted to call off the Battle Royale!

13:30 Vert: What did you just say?
13:32 Noire: Call off the Battle Royale?
13:35 Nepgear: Oh no, what should I do? It should have been brought up by Neptune...
13:40 Blanc: Neptune, are you seriously suggesting that?
13:44 Neptune: Eh? Me? Uh, well, in truth, I did think it would be nice if it was cancelled...
13:55 Noire: I see, so that's what this is about.
13:59 Neptune: What? What did you get?
14:02 Noire: Even if you wanted to, there's no way to call off the traditional battle royale by this point. So, the next best course of action to you would be...
14:09 Blanc: To get us to agree to introduce a new condition that is favorable to you.
14:14 Neptune: EH?
14:16 Noire: You were planning on introducing some sort of new rule that would favor you, right? You were always the first one to be taken out in the recent bouts.
14:24 Vert: You were planning on changing the rules to prevent that, isn't that right?
14:29 Neptune: Eh? That's not it at all.
14:32 Nepgear: Um, it's coming from me, but, um, Neptune isn't the type of person who could scheme like that...
14:40 Noire: Oh, I wonder about that. Maybe Neptune is like Blanc that could suddenly change personality and become all domineering.
14:46 Blanc: What? Hold on, I admit that my personality changes, but speaking of domineering, aren't you the most domineering of us all?
14:53 Noire: What did you say? Who is the one who constantly puts on airs about being the nation with the richest history?
14:58 Blanc: Speaking of putting on airs, your intolerable attitude after winning the last Battle royale sure was something to behold.
15:07 Noire: Oh, there it is. This is what they call the whining of a sore loser.
15:11 Blanc: What did you say?!
15:14 Vert: Now now, you two, losing your temper over such petty things makes you seem really childish, you know?
15:20 Blanc: Well, sorry about being childish. I can't be like you who acts like a responsible adult while leaving all the dirty work to her subordinates.
15:31 Vert: W-What are you saying? True, I let my subordinates handle plenty of work because I trust them to handle it, but to call it dirty work is outrageous.
15:41 Noire: Oh, I wonder about that. You look prim and upright on the surface, but you are the type that has plenty of unscrupulous schemes in the shadows, aren't you?
15:50 Noire: I heard that you spend entire days locked up in your room. I wonder what you are up to.
15:54 Vert: That's prejudice! Just because I look the oldest here doesn't mean I'm a scheming-*giggle*

16:03 Neptune: Eh? What was that?
16:07 Vert: *uncontrollable laughter*
16:12 Blanc: Hey, Vert, what's wrong- *laughter*
16:17 Noire: Blanc too? What's going- *uncontrollable laughter*
16:22 Noire/Vert/Blanc: *uncontrollable laughter*
16:27 Neptune: Ooh, just when it seems like you are about to say something you can't take back, the ice suddenly breaks?
16:32 Nepgear: Hold on, Neptune. Something's off. Ah, take a closer look at this mushroom.
16:38 Neptune: Oh? The one I picked up in Virtuapolis?
16:40 Nepgear: It looks similar to edible mushrooms, but it isn't. It's a forbidden mushroom that goddesses should never eat.
16:48 Nepgear: EH? That means-
16:55 Noire: Neptune! What did you do!?
17:01 Vert: No. No more!
17:04 Blanc: You little- You won't get off lightly with this-
17:08 Neptune: Ooh, the three of them are laughing from the very bottom of their stomachs. This isn't something we can show to others...
17:14 Nepgear: Now is not the time for that. What should we do? This is going to turn into an international incident.
17:22 Neptune: Alright, me too!
17:27 Nepgear: Why would you eat the mushrooms too?
17:31 Neptune: There's still space in my belly for more~
17:37 Vert: Neptune, what are you doing?
17:43 Blanc: Are you stupid?
17:47 Noire: What are you going to do if you end up like us?
17:56 Neptune: Well, we are all goddesses, right? I thought that if the four of us laughed together, it'd be really fun or something.
18:04 Noire: What?
18:07 Blanc: Neptune...
18:09 Vert: That's what you were thinking?
18:13 Noire/Vert/Blanc: *uncontrollable laughter*
18:17 Neptune: Eh? Did I really say something that funny? *laughter*
18:25 Noire: Why are *laughter* you so *laughter* completely whimsical?
18:33 Vert: You should *laughter* learn from us. *laughter*
18:41 Blanc: This is why *laughter* you end up being the lowest in shares *laughter*
18:46 Neptune: But, But *laughter* my citizens *laughter* love me just fine. *laughter*
18:58 Neptune/Noire/Vert/Blanc: *uncontrollable laughter*

19:10 Noire: I'm exhausted.
19:15 Vert: Looks like the effects of the mushroom has finally worn off.
19:22 Blanc: I was almost about to kill myself. The forbidden mushroom is scary.
19:30 Neptune: *laughter* Why is everyone in such a pathetic state? *laughter* Lets get out spirits up! *laughter* Come on, our spirits... *laughter*
19:39 Blanc: Shut up.
19:41 Vert: She ate quite abit more mushrooms that the rest of us did.
19:45 Noire: Nepgear, I think it would be best if you look after Neptune.
19:51 Nepgear: Ah, right. Neptune, come here.
19:55 Neptune: *laughter* Got it. *laughter*

20:07 Noire: We wasted quite abit of time today.
20:09 Blanc: True. I should hurry home and start making up for lost time.
20:15 Vert: But, personally, it was a little fun.
20:19 Noire: Huh?
20:20 Blanc: What are you saying?
20:25 Vert: Well, of course, I would've rather avoided eating that mushroom, but at the end of the day, all we did was laugh our hearts out.
20:36 All of us laughing together without a care in the world made me kind of happy, I suppose.
20:39 Noire: That's a surprisingly good natured comment, coming from you.
20:45 Vert: I wonder. It might be that I'm actually this kind of person, you know. Of course, I couldn't show off this side of me in a battle.
20:54 Blanc: Is that so?
20:58 Vert: Well, I'm fairly new as a goddess, aren't I? I've always had to put on a tough front when interacting with you, plus all our interactions are about stuff like battles or stealing shares.
21:14 Vert: I've always wanted to just spend time having fun with each other.
21:19 Noire: Vert... Blanc: So that's how you felt...
21:27 Vert: Don't you feel the same? Deep in your hearts?
21:32 Noire: Eh? Blanc: Well...
21:40 Noire: But, true, I feel much more relaxed now.
21:45 Blanc: Yeah. Recently, all I thought about was fighting and winning... walking around with a grimace all the time...
21:55 Noire: S-Say, hypothetically, just hypothetically, would you mind putting off the Battle Royale? Just this once?
22:08 Blanc/Vert: Eh?
22:09 Noire: Just this once! Only just this once. I'm not suggesting that we cancel it forever or anything, but just this once.
22:17 Noire: So, would you think about it? So we can have more times like this together...
22:27 Vert: Noire!
22:32 Blanc: Well, it wouldn't be too bad, I suppose. And, perhaps, one day we could sign a treaty of friendship..
22:40 Noire/Vert: Eh?
22:41 Blanc: It's a joke. Just a joke. Yeah, just...
22:48 Vert: It's a joke, right? But it's a wonderful one.
23:01 Vert: I'm glad I came here today.
23:06 Noire: Well, at the end of the day, it wasn't all that bad.
23:12 Blanc: Perhaps we should be thankful to Neptune.
23:17 Vert: Speaking of, I wonder if the effects of the mushroom has worn off yet.

23:30 Neptune: Nepgear. *laughter* What should I do? *laughter* I'm completely drained from laughing too much. *laughter* Help me!
23:42 Nepgear: Hang in there, Neptune!

23:53 Nepgear: After that incident, something surprising happened.
24:00 Nepgear: The Battle Royale that was scheduled to take place just a few days from now was canceled with the support of all four goddesses.
24:06 Nepgear: That became a turning point in the history of Gamindustri, and in half a year the Treaty of Friendship would be ratified.
24:16 Nepgear: But...
24:22 Neptune: I'm home!
24:23 Nepgear: Welcome home, Neptune. Is that a new game you are holding?
24:29 Neptune: Yeah. It's the new Triple A RPG that just released today! I was really looking forward to this!
24:35 Neptune: Its release date clashed with the Battle Royale, so I was at a loss, but then the Battle Royale got cancelled! I'm going to play to my heart's content today.
24:49 Nepgear: Eh?
24:50 Neptune: Alright, lets get this started.
24:53 Nepgear: W-Wait, don't tell me, on that day when you were forlornly saying things like "I was thinking that we should just call off this Four goddesses Battle Royale stuff."...
25:05 Neptune: Hmm? I don't really remember it well, but I was probably thinking about this game, right?
25:12 Nepgear: Eh? Then the reason you got so depressed was over a game? Not over world peace?
25:19 Neptune: Oh, it's started. Lets go, New game!
25:25 Nepgear: *Sigh*
25:28 Nepgear: The fact that the turning point of Gamindustri's history resulted from a desire such as this...
25:36 Nepgear: is a secret that needs to be kept from the other goddesses.