Best Pudding Buddies p1 (edit)

"Uni!  Where are you with the papers I've asked you bring?"  I shout out into the basilicom as I wonder where that girl wandered off to.  Ever since we upgraded the Lastation Network a few days ago and adding more features to the Extra subscription, our workload has nearly doubled.  Our oracle, Kei, has been on par with keeping up with me and getting things done around here as usual.  I wish I could say the same for my little sister though...she's no where near meeting my expectations.  "Uni!"

"Sorry, I'm coming!"  She finally responds as she slowly makes her way around the corner carrying another stack of papers.

"Pick up the pace.  If we continue working at this rate, we might be able to finish and go back to our normal schedule by the end of the week."

With a grunt she nearly collapses with the entire stack on my desk and takes a quick breather.  "Noire, when can we take a break?  It's way past midnight and I've barely gotten any sleep."

"If we don't do this, who will?  Kei is only one person and while she's amaz-er, good at her job, she can't do everything by herself."  I explain as I lightly brush Uni off the stack, pulling it toward me and beginning the next workload.  "We represent Lastation, if we start slacking off we'd be setting a bad example.  That pudding fiend even gets work done even though she complains all the time about, but that's probably because SHE has a little sister willing to help.  When-"

"But they don't overwork themselves to exhaustion!"  Uni snapped out of her drowsiness as she slammed both her hands on my desk.

"I know for a fact you haven't gotten any sleep in a while.  Don't think you're slick!  I've seen you doze off every now and then before you snap out of it.  As much as you want to get all this work done as soon as possible, not even you can pull this off this fast."

"Uni I-"

"No, let me finish!"  What's gotten into her all of a sudden?  I can't lie and say this is easy work, but...  "Why do you want to get this work done so fast?  The only one setting a deadline is you, and it's crazy that you'd even set it so short.  Do you enjoy worrying me and everyone else with your need for..."  She seemed to struggle to find the right words for her next verbal assault.  "...'perfection'!?  Yeah that's it..."  For some reason that word stung a little coming from her.  "Your constant need for trying to be the best at everything is starting to affect others.  Just yesterday Neptune called wonderi-"

"Neptune called!?"  The moment she said that I lost control and let my emotions get the better of me.  Maybe I am a little...tired, but I can't stop now.  I think Uni may have finally caught on to me, as her eyes lit up a little when I panicked.

"Oh, so this is about Neptune, isn't it?"  Suddenly her voice had gone from stern to calm...it's as if she's planning something.

"Wh-what are you talking about?  This has nothing to do with that...that..."  I was cornered with no way of getting out of this one.  A small smiled had formed on Uni's face as she pieced things together.

"If you wanted her help why don't you just ask her?"  I breathe a sigh of relief as she nearly misses the mark.  Now that I think about it I am pretty beat from all this work.  I can't even be bothered to take a nap and I've hardly had much to eat on top of that.  My stomach growled just thinking about the meals I've been missing and...I haven't bathed in a while either.  She has a point, I shouldn't prioritize work ahead of myself, especially at this cost...

"No Uni."  I manage to say with a yawn and a stretch.  "Only myself and you, dear sister, are the ones who should be getting this work done.  Kei can help as well of course."  I fold my arms and rest my head a little to rest my eyes for a few minutes.  I hear Uni shuffling about, muttering to herself as she leaves.  "Wake me up in a few...minutes..."

---

"Mmmmm...I got some pudding for you..."  It feels like I'm in my own bed for reason...I must've walked her in my sleep.  Tossing about in my bed feels so good, it's been ages since I've slept  this well.  A faint smell slowly works it's way into my room followed by the sound of sharp footsteps.

"Good morning Big Sis!"

"Ugh...Uni...just leave breakfast there and..."  Wait.  That didn't sound like Uni at all but that may be my grogginess making it difficult to tell what's what...or this amazing dream I'm in.  I sat up and through my blurry vision I could tell she had gotten a little bigger.  So much bigger in fact she could barely fit her dress...

"I hope you enjoy your breakfast!"  The mystery voice said cheerfully as she sat on my bed with a food platter ready.

Tall, slender, long purple braids and...a perfect body!?  That's not Uni!  "Ne-ne-ne-ne-ne-"  Wh-why is Neptune here, and why is she in HDD?  Am I still dreaming?  I reach out and and pinch what I thought was a dream Neptune on the cheek.

"D-did I do something wrong, Big Sis?"  I let her cheek snap back as I reel back in shock, hitting my head on the headboard behind me.

"Nnf!"  I think I bumped my head a little too hard as everything began spinning and my consciousness began to fade.  I reach out to Neptune as I fall to my side on the mattress... with everything going dark.

"Noire?  Noire are you alright!?"