Uni's Realization

Uni turned around the corner to leave. Through the echoes of her footfalls in the open chamber, Kei's words barely reached her ears. "Quite the character, aren't we? I never thought I'd see the day when Uni could look so... happy." She stopped in her tracks, face flushed and fists clenched. "Crap! Is it really that obvious? N-no, it can't be. Kei's just glad Nepgear wants to help." Content with her rationalization, she headed back to her room.

As the door slowly hinged open, the emptiness of the place hit her in the face like a gust of cold wind. Noire's absence was palpable. Gently walking over to her dresser, she picked up a portrait of her sister. She ran her fingers down the frame, wistfully yearning. "I know you'd expect me to do this by myself. Lastation's finest are supposed to be an unstoppable force." Her eyes sank as she hunched over in guilt. "But I can't... I tried." Uni held the portrait to her chest, closed her eyes and fell back onto her bed. After a deep breath, she turned her gaze across the room to Noire's bed.

'I don't know how you do it - being alone all the time. It's crushing me.' She reflected on it. Eventually she realized: 'but I'm not you - I don't have to do this alone. Nepgear...' Her thoughts drifted back to when she first met Nepgear at the guild. Curiosity originally drew her in - who was this girl trying to gather shares on behalf of Lastation? That curiosity went out the window the instant Nepgear turned around and Uni got a clear view. When their eyes locked, Uni felt her heart race like it hadn't in years. The room got brighter and a sense of weightlessness nearly swept her off her feet. There was just something about her, something ineffable. Thankfully, she thought, she'd been able to keep Nepgear in the dark about it.

It happened again when they'd fought Underling. She tried to push out of her mind what the battle was really about: the dissonance between wanting to be the best, and wanting to be with the best. But there was no denying what happened. As they clashed in battle, something deep within both of them connected. Through the yells, dodges, and strikes, thoughts and pulses in sync, Uni felt an immense power within Nepgear that very nearly matched her own. It would be terrifying in anyone else, but the earnestness of her fellow candidate made it impossibly alluring.

She grabbed the pillow underneath her head and pulled it over her face to muffle her voice. "Damn it! Alright, fine... I l-l-l-like Nepgear!" Nervously mashing the pillow in between her fists, she finally admitted to herself that it really would be better to have Nepgear by her side. There was no rescuing Noire alone, and even if it were possible, there was no way she'd be able to stay away from Nepgear that long.

Uni hopped out of bed, and placed Noire's portrait back where it belonged.

"We're coming sis - both of us."