Chapter 4: A Compa-rable Meeting with Fate

"Yes, yes. Gaunchy- Yeah, I know what your name is. It's just easier to remember you this way, buddy." N leaned back against his chair seat, scribbling down some notes on a scrap of paper.

N worked in the living room, while IF sat in his lap. With Granny Arfoire's advice, N bought himself a floor chair to fix his sitting posture. She told N that IF would begin copying him as she grew up. Upon hearing that, N bought the chair immediately.

IF began bouncing her arms up and down for a bit. The girl grunted happily as she did so. N pulled his daughter close to her and kissed her hair. "Alright, I'll mail the paperwork this time." N began stroking IF's head. "Don't worry those sharp rectangular glasses of yours." N chuckled as he heard his superior snap back at him. "Oh riiiight, they're spectacles. I'll remember that. Probably not." IF looked up and stared at her father.

"Papa!" N glanced down at her daughter.

"Oh, well look at that. My kiddo needs me! Gotta go! I'll pick up that stuff later! Bye now!" N hung up and placed his phone on the table. "Heeeeeey, there sweetie! Wassup?" IF reached out for his phone. "Aww, you wanna play with my phone?" IF tried to reach closer, but her fingers barely wrapped around the edge of the table. "Hmm… Okay~." N slowly reached over the table, grabbing the toy phone close by. "Here ya go~." N brought the toy phone closer to IF and the girl happily grabbed it.

While N realized that IF was a smart child, her curiosity was easily satisfied because of her age.

It had been almost a year since N adopted IF. But to N, it only felt like months. He could remember the day that he brought IF home, like it was yesterday. Although, he clearly remembered all the cleaning he did. After that, he held the memory of IF calling him her "Dada" for the first time.

N clutched his chest. He might have needed to call Granny to watch IF for a second. And an ambulance. IF stopped playing with the phone- she hadn't even opened it yet. Although, she was happy pressing it against her ear.

"Papa?" N took another, deeper but sharper, breath.

"Yeah, Iffy?" IF stared at her father, her eyes filled with worry.

"You otay?" N grinned and poked IF's cheek. Some of the girl's teeth had grown in, but not all of them.

"Oh, don't you worry your adorable little head. Papa's too young to kick the bucket yet." N continued to poke IF's cheek, eventually causing the girl to laugh and forget her worry.

N cringed at himself. He remembered that when he took IF to the marketplace. People would remark about how young he was- mostly the older women- despite having a child. N would then have to remind them that he was at least twenty-one to twenty-two years old. In order for someone to work in the Guild, they have to be at least eighteen years old.

This caused more problems for N, since people began to think he was a teenage parent. This is when N would remind them that IF was barely one year old. And he was in his twenties.

N sighed.

"Papa?" N patted her head.

"I'm okay, Iffy." IF dropped her toy. The girl used her tiny hands to grip onto N's pant leg and turn her body around. Once she was facing her father, IF pressed herself against N's stomach. "Ah, Iffy! I'm okay. Seriously!" IF gripped onto N, letting a tiny whine. "Iffy…" N pouted, his own daughter thought he was upset. N's lips curled upward.

Suddenly, N scooped up his daughter in his arms and lifted her high into the air. This caused his daughter to cheer as she was lifted up.

"Ooooh, you gotta believe Daddy!" IF held up her arms, laughing. "Or else, I'm gonna put ya down!" IF gasped as she realized that N was bringing her to the floor.

"No! Dun wanna!" IF began thrashing and whining. However, N grinned and continued to lower IF. When IF realized she was almost touching the ground, IF began crying. Startled, N brought IF to his chest and began stroking the back of her head.

"Oop! Went a little too far huh? Hehe, sorry dorry." IF grasped onto N's chest, crying into it. N began to gently ssh as IF's cries grew. "Oooh, I'm sorry Iffy. I'm sorry." N started bouncing IF in his arms. "Forgive me, 'kay?" IF continued to cry. "Oof, me thinks this'll take a while."

IF continued to cry while N mumbled apologies and coos into her ear.

0 o 0

Thirty minutes later, IF finally calmed down. The girl let out her last sob and wearily raised her head. She saw her father's smiling face.

"Feeling better?" IF sniffled. N rubbed the bottom of her eyes and then pressed IF's face against a dry spot on N's shirt. "Sssh, it's okay." N patted IF on the back as he whispered into her ear. "Daddy's sorry." N eyes slightly widened as a smirk appeared on his face. "Hey Iffy," N muzzled the top of IF's head. "Wanna go outside for a bit?" IF perked her head up, her eyes sparkling.

"Yea!" IF threw her hands up, grasping onto her father's shoulder. "Wanna go!" N grinned as he held IF up in the air again.

"Haha! I knew you would!" N moved from his seat and placed IF on it. "Now you wait there my little Iffy-biffy~!" N tapped IF's nose, which the girl attempted to grasp. "Come on, Papa's gotta change out his icky clothes!" N grinned and gave IF a kiss on the forehead. "Awww, I can't leave you behind!" N scooped up IF and turned to his room. 'Let's goo!" N threw an arm into the air. IF copied N, wiggling her arm back and forth in an attempt to keep her arm in the air.

"Ooou!" N chuckled as he walked to his room.

"See, that's what you copy!" Stepping into his room, N placed IF on top of his folded futon. "Now, you can wait here!" IF slowly fell over onto her back, staring up at the ceiling. "...I guess you can wait like that." IF giggled, bouncing her legs. N smirked and shook his head. "Silly Iffy."

N pulled his wet white t-shirt off and tossed into a giant bag full of dirty clothes. It came with N when he moved in, but because of his carelessness, the bag was the first victim to be buried in clothes. Now, N was glad he had this bag. It helped him remember when he should do the laundry. Normally, he would see people doing their laundry every other day or week. N, on the other hand, felt that doing so was a waste of water. He felt his cheeks burn as he remembered when he would do his laundry-rather carelessly- every two months. Thanks to IF, N realized the importance of keeping his clothes clean. However, N would do IF's laundry as soon as possible. Wasted water be damned.

Throwing on a dry gray t-shirt and light beige slacks, N turned to IF and rummaged through some of her outfits.

"Ooookaaay, which one sweetie?" N pulled out a frilly pink dress. "This one?" N held the dress above IF's eyesight.

"Mmm…" IF attempted to frown, and pouted. While IF could speak a little bit, the girl would occasionally swap back to answering with grunts and cries.

"Hmm. No good, huh?" N put the dress to the side. "Better tell Granny that." If there was one thing N knew about IF, it was that she hated girly stuff. However, Arfoire wanted N to make sure IF had some kind of girliness. N wanted to tell her IF just hated the stuff. But he couldn't break her elderly heart.

"Hoooow aboooout…" N suddenly pulled out an outfit similar to his. The t-shirt had a frowning black cat with large yellow eyes. There was also a caption that said, "Meeeo-eh." Rather than slacks, IF had a tiny pair of shorts. "This! Meeo- eh." IF's eyes sparkled and the girl reached for the clothes, mostly the cat.

N chuckled as he knelt down in front of his daughter.

"Alright, time to change~!" IF began wriggling as N tried change her clothes. "Aw, come on Iffy! Ya gotta make this easy for me, sweetums!" IF laughed. N grinned as she did.

There was another thing N learned about himself. He loved his daughter.

0 o 0

After changing, N packed up his bag full of essentials: IF's bottles, IF's extra diapers, IF's snacks, IF's face towel, IF's extra change of clothes, IF's extra extra change of clothes, N's extra change of clothes, water, a hat for IF, a baggy for any trash, and IF's toys.

Putting his wallet into one pocket and his keys into another pocket, N slung his backpack on. N then strapped on his baby carrier over his chest. Then, N slid IF into her place. The girl immediately latched onto his shirt and tugged at it. N grinned at his child, patting on her head. Tossing on a black baseball cap on, he headed for the apartment door.

Locking the door, N walked down the stairs- making sure that IF wouldn't be uncomfortable with each step. As he was leaving, he saw Granny sweeping her front door.

"Hey Granny!" Arfoire looked and waved.

"Going out?" N nodded and IF reached out for Arfoire. "Hello, kiddo!" IF squealed and buried her face into N's shirt. Since Arfoire took care of IF a lot whenever N needed to run some errands, the two naturally got close. Arfoire let out her queenly laugh and waved at the parent and child. "Well get going now! Enjoy your time together, you'll never know when IF'll to be too heavy to lift." Grinning, N flexed his arms.

"I should start lifting weights!" Arfoire laughed again.

"I see you already got one holding onto you!" Arfoire said. N's grin grew wider and cradled IF in his arm.

"Not that heavy yet!" N began walking out of the apartment complex. Arfoire shouted as the duo left.

"Give it two more years!" N laughed as he left. IF stared at her father. As N continued to laugh, IF began to giggle on her own.

"Ah… Granny said you're gonna get fat, Iffy." IF still laughed. "Funny, huh?"

The duo started down the path and began their journey. Traversing through the maze-like path, N would glance down at IF every once in a while. When he looked down, he noticed that the girl was staring at anything that they passed by.

N grinned as she stretched her neck to look at a cat passing by. Reaching into his pocket, N pulled out his phone.

"Hmm… where do you wanna go Iffy?" IF quickly turned her attention to her dad. The girl pressed her lips together and puffed out her cheeks.

"Ffark." Cell phone buttons were pressed. N's thumb hovered over another button.

"Wat."

"Phark." N narrowed an eyebrow.

"...Shark? Oh! Do you wanna go an aquarium?" IF whined.

"Ark!" N's eyebrows furrowed.

"An arc?' The young man looked around. "I-I don't see one anywhere…" IF's whining grew louding.

"Pawk! Pawk!" N blinked twice as IF began raising a hand and swinging it around.

"Park?" The girl stopped her arm and nodded her head quickly.

"Ooooh, okay! Sure!" N took IF's hand and held it. "Hmm…" Pursing his lips, N stared at his phone again. "Gonna need to get some lunch first." IF blinked.

"Wunch?" N nodded and let go of IF's hand.

"Yeah. Wunch." N tucked an arm under IF and held her close. "Okay, let's go!" IF let out a mix between a groan and shout.

N and IF crossed the street and entered the shopping district. As N was looking from shop to shop. IF looked around, wiggling her arms and legs as she did so. N let go of IF and let her wiggle. Wrapping one arm over IF's stomach, N closed his hand and nested his chin in between his index finger knuckle and his thumb.

IF reached over her father's arm and continued to wiggle. This time she gripped onto N's arm- causing her father to flinch in surprise- and bounced.

"Ah, Iffy. Calm down!" IF giggled. Sighing, N continued to search for a place to get lunch. After walking around for another thirty minutes, N stopped in front of a green building with a neon sign that read Waysubs. "Hmm, well if I can have it their way…" N lightly bit on the inside of his cheek. "That… doesn't sound right." N shrugged, adding to IF's bounciness. "Ah well, might as well try it out." N walked into the building.

The smell of baking bread hit N's nose the moment the door opened. N bit his lip to prevent the drool from running out of his mouth. "Okay, kinda glad I'm in here now." Across from the door, N saw people lining up in front of a register next to buffet table. However, that table was blocked off from the customers' side. Instead, people were choosing their bread and adding whatever they wanted onto their sandwiches. N's mouth quickly curved downwards while the ends of his lips perked upwards.

"Mmm…-Oh?" N looked down to see IF drooling. "Oh, Iffy~." N grabbed a handkerchief and dabbed IF's mouth. IF pressed her mouth against the cloth. "Aw, who's a good girl." As N continued to wipe IF's drool away, the young father walked towards the end of the line. As N stood in line, he noticed a young woman with long white hair in front of him. "Wow, her hair goes all the way to her back! Gotta be a pain to maintain. Ha! That rhymed."

N noted that the woman was about his height. However, he couldn't tell if either of them was actually taller because N had to tend to IF. N's daughter made squealed as N moved the handkerchief away. Startled, the woman turned around.

N's eyes widened. The woman had deep red eyes that bore into N's. She wore a combination of a light green skirt, corset and top. Despite not knowing who this person was, N couldn't help but feel this woman looked familiar.

"O-Oh, sorry!" N pressed IF against his chest and held her close. "I think my kiddo really wants to try some bread." The woman smiled.

"Can she even eat bread yet?" N froze. The woman leaned forward and reached an index finger out. "Hello, who are you?" IF slowly reached out and tapped her fingers with the woman's.

"Oh crap. There's no way…" The woman straightened herself and N noticed that her hair was tied into twintails. "B-But, if I change her hair and clothes to black…"

"Uh, excuse me?" The woman blinked in confusion. N flinched.

"U-Uh, sorry about that!" N nervously patted IF on the head. The girl reached up and gripped onto the hand. "U-Um, I think it's your turn!" The woman turned away to see that an employee was patiently waiting for her.

"O-Oh! Thank you!" N nodded and the woman turned to the employee. After she greeted the employee, the woman turned back to N for a second. "Just asking… have we met before?" N felt his hand being yanked down by IF and being teethed on. N felt sweat rolling down his neck.

"...No." The woman nodded and blinked again.

"Sorry, I thought you looked like an old friend of mine." N let out a weak chuckle. The woman turned to the employee.

"No. It couldn't be… Why would she even be in the Leanbox Section- or in Planeptune for that matter! Wait-no. This isn't Planeptune anymore." N pulled his hand out of IF's mouth and wiped it with the wet side of the handkerchief. "I mean, since it's not Planeptune, then she could be here on business with Vert. But…"

"Ma'm, can we get a name with that order?" The woman nodded confidently.

"Nowa." N froze again. His eyes shrunk and his handkerchief fell onto top of IF. The girl giggled as the dry side of the cloth covered her face.

The woman, now named Nowa, noticed IF's situation and plucked the handkerchief off of her. Folding the cloth so that only the dry sides were outside, Nowa placed the handkerchief on N's still hand.

"You dropped this… Um…Sir?" N was still, his hand slightly trembling.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA-"

"Uh hey!" Nowa snapped her fingers in front of N's face.

"I'll take mayonnaise please!" Nowa stepped back, confused.

"What?" N chuckled awkwardly.

"I-I-I was uh… practicing for what I was going to order…" Nowa raised an eyebrow, but held back a chuckle.

"Huh, well okay…" Smirking to herself, Nowa walked to the other side of the store. N sighed.

"That really was Noire…" IF looked up.

"Papa?" N smirked at the girl.

"It's nothing, sweetie."

Noire would occasionally glance at N and IF while they were waiting for N's food. Fortunately, when Noire got her sandwich, the CPU in disguise left immediately.

0 o 0

N stepped out of the store. In his hands was a bag carrying a meatball sandwich, a bag of chips and a soda, and IF. The girl was constantly trying to grab at the bag, letting out grunts and whines as she tried.

"Papa! Papa!" N hummed in response. "Uuhn! Uuhn!" N nudged IF back into her seat and started walking towards the park. Entering the park, N noticed that there were lots of families around.

"Maybe I should've come here earlier…"

As N was searching for a spot to sit down at, IF continued to whine.

"Hmm? What's up?" N saw IF reaching for the bag. "Oh-hoooo no." N pulled his arm away from IF. "Iffy, this is plastic. You can't put this in your mouth!" Once N said this, IF stopped whining and leaned against his arm. "Sorry, sweetie. Gotta make sure your safe!" N kissed the back of IF's head. The girl turned around and grabbed onto his cheeks. "Awf-phhft!" IF laughed at the sounds N made. "Ngaaah, Bffy- staaapff."

N heard a slow, gleeful chuckle to his side. Glancing, N saw an elderly man with a girl around IF's age in his hands. The man had light congo-pink hair slicked back, with streaks of gray accompanying it.

"Isn't that sweet, your baby sister must love you!" N's cheeks reddened a bit and turned to him.

"Oh, no no no. I'll take the compliment, but Iffy's not my sister." The old man raised an eyebrow.

"Cousin?" N shook his head.

"Nah."

"Niece?"

"Nope-roni." The old man slowly narrowed his eyes and gripped the child in his hands slightly tighter.

"Family friend?"

"Looks like he doesn't think I'm the dad. Might as well tell before he defaults to 'kidnapper'." N grinned to himself. "Nah, I'm the father." The old man's eyes widened for a bit, but he shook off the shock and relaxed a bit.

"I'm dreadfully sorry," The old man laughed. "I didn't expect to meet a father as young as you." It was N's turn to raise his eyebrow. "Although, there's nothing wrong with being a young parent as long as you're a good parent. And can provide for your daughter."

"Young? I guess being twenty four-ish is young bu-" The old man gasp.

"Twenty- I thought you were nineteen!" N glanced at his body from any angle he could get. Histoire had used her powers to change N's body to what it looked like now. However, N did notice that he wasn't getting any taller or hairier.

"I just stopped growing is all." N shrugged. "I guess Histy didn't factor in the idea that I should be aging… Ah well."

"I see. I guess it would be a little inconvenient for you." N shook his head.

"Aaah, it's no problem at all. I'm just happy you believed me instead of calling the cops!" N sighed. "...They wouldn't be happy to see me again."

"Did that happen before?" N laughed it off.

"Unfortunately, yeah." N gestured to his bag. "Used to keep Iffy's adoption papers in my bag as proof. But now I just keep a picture in my phone as proof."

"Hmm… adoption huh?" The old man shook his head. "Nevermind that, I've asked enough questions already." The old man reached out a hand to N. "I should have introduced myself earlier, my name is Compile." Compile shifted his arm so that the girl in his arm was facing N and IF. "And this is my granddaughter, Compa." N nodded.

"I'm N, and this is Iffy. Come on Iffy, say hi~."

Compa had the same hair color as Compile. On her head was a hairclip fashioned as a letter C made out of felt. She wore a white dress that complimented the beige sandals with a small sunflowers on her feet. In Compile's hands was a sunhat the size of Compa's head. Compa's eyes, matching her hair, stared at N and IF with terror. Tiny tears began to build up in the corner of the girl's eyes.

"Uh- Actually, I dunno… Looks like she might cry if I do." Compile glanced and girl.

"Oh, hold on." Compile gently blew at Compa's hair, causing it to rustle. Compa grasped at her hair, giggling. "Sorry about that, Compa's a bit of a crybaby when she's meeting new people." N's stomach growled. "Oh, that reminds me. I was going to go get lunch." N chuckled.

"Yeah, I was about to go and eat." Compile nodded.

"I should get going- Hey, do you come here often?" N shrugged.

"We come here usually on the weeks or when it's nice out." Compile smiled.

"How about we meet up again on Saturday then?" N grinned.

"Sure, why not?" N and Compile exchanged phone numbers and waved each other goodbye.

"Heh, he seems like a nice guy. Judgemental, but nice. Huh, Iffy?" N smiled at his daughter as they ventured into the park. IF puckered her lips and tried to blow air at him. Small bits of spit hit N's face. "Ew-ugh!? Iffy, it's thiiiis!" N copied what Compile did and blew at IF's hair. She giggled at this and tried again. Failing once more, but laughing as she did. "What's so funny?"

Laughing along with his daughter, N looked around. "Not a lot of places to sit, huh?"

"Hey!" A familiar voice reached N's ears. "Is that Mister N!" Another familiar gasp erupted from behind him.

"It is Ram! It is!" Startled, N turned around.

"L-Lady Ram?! L-Lady Rom?!" Blanc's little twin sisters smiled happily as they ran over to him. "It's been a while, hasn't it?" The two girls skidded to a halt in front of N and IF.

"Yeah, whossat?" Ram pointed to IF. Rom stared at the girl in wonder. IF stared back because she was being stared at.

"Oh, Iffy? She's my baby girl." Ram and Rom squeed and leaned closer.

"Hello~" Ram waved at IF with both of her hands. "I'm Ram!"

"Hehe, h-hello. I'm Rom." N chuckled.

"Girls, what are you doing here?" Ram threw her hands into the air. IF's eyes followed them.

"We're here on a picnic?"

"In Leanbox?" Rom covered Ram by nodding excitedly.

"Y-Yeah, we're gonna have food and so much fun." N smiled at the quieter twin. "Why are you here, Mister N?" N held up his food.

"I live nearby so I thought I'd take Iffy out for lunch and spend the afternoon with her." The twins' eyes lit up.

"Ooh, ooh! You should eat with us!" Ram was already yanking at N's arm. Meanwhile, Rom ran behind N and tried to push him forward. N stayed stationary.

"N-nah, i-it's cool. I don't wanna intrude." N felt a drop of sweat roll down his face. "If they're here, then Blanc must be here. Or their Oracle- Mina, I think? But they're here… then Vert must be around- which means…" N took a deep breath. "Meeting Nepgear now would be too much for me…"

"Aw, come on!"

"Please…!" The twins attacked N with their twin puppy eyes. N grunted and stepped backwards.

"Guh! It's that moved that always worked on me when I was in Lowee! You can fight it now N! You can! You-"

"Okay! You win! Just stop with the eyes!" The twins jumped in joy and led N towards their picnic spot. Sighing, N tightened his grip on IF and his lunch.

"I just hope Nepgear isn't there…"