Pokora followed the four into the room while contemplating on a lot of things. New things.

Four girlfriends.

That was scandalous and overly indulgent. To who, though? To Pokh'Orra Pezh'Che? Certainly not.

To Evelynn Heart? Most likely.

But Evelynn Heart was, in a way, no more.

The group sat down at the table.

Pokora glanced at Natasha and remembered the chat they had deep down in the Dungeon where the Halve had mentioned having killed her past self in order to come to terms with the new reality presented to her.

Natasha met her eyes and gave her a small smile.

“Do you have any questions?” Yolin interrupted her thoughts, taking Pokora's hand.

“Too many, if I'm honest,” the Archer chuckled.

Natasha nodded. “Well, when two people are attracted to one another-”

Pokora snorted. “Fuck off, that's not what I meant.”

Lapia hummed. “You seem to have no reservations with Halves,” she pointed out with an approving smile. “That's a relief.”

“True,” Alyssa agreed.

“Being comfortable is good,” Yolin added, pinching Pokora's cheek.

Well... I can start there, Pokora thought. “It's just Natasha,” she pointed out.

The woman in question raised her eyebrows, then gave her a nod.

“Right,” Alyssa chimed in. “You've met Nilenna before.”

“I did,” Pokora confirmed with a nod. “She was pretty... energetic.”

Natasha scoffed. “I can believe that,” she supplied.

“Why just Natasha?” Lapia inquired with interest. “How different are they? I mean, besides the energetic part.”

“Hmmm...” Pokora thought for a few seconds, trying to find the words to properly explain. “I have more in common with Natasha than Nilenna,” she pointed out with a cheeky smile.

The Halve in front of her arched a golden eyebrow.

“Like what?” Alyssa probed in interest.

“I lived on Earth before dying and being reborn here,” Pokora revealed.

“What?!” Natasha raised her voice in disbelief. “You did?!”

“Hold on,” Lapia spoke. “Come again?”

“Huh,” Yolin uttered, then nodded.

Alyssa's eyes widened in shock.

Pokora's eyebrows knotted and she pointed at Natasha. “Don't react like that! You absolutely knew!”

The Halve laughed and nodded.

Yolin turned to Natasha. “You knew?”

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“Back in Lakeview,” Natasha supplied, but didn't elaborate.

“Wait,” Lapia whispered and put her hands on the table. “Did you two know each other before?”

“Kind of,” the Halve replied. “Pokora was a famous athlete and I was an artist with a medium-sized following. We knew of each other.”

“Medium?” Pokora scoffed. “You had almost a million followers. And I followed you for the better part of a decade.”

Natasha nodded. “You had sixteen million followers, so I don't know what you're talking about. Thanks, by the way.”

Pokora rolled her eyes. “Completely different platforms,” she argued. “And your art was worth it, anyway.”

Alyssa, Lapia, and Yolin witnessed the exchange in slight confusion.

“So...” Lapia interjected. “You knew after meeting, or what?”

“Yeah,” Alyssa agreed, joining. “This is so juicy!”

Yolin nodded with a smile. “True, fate is a funny thing.”

Pokora sighed. “Well, I was reading the newspaper one day and came across an interview with Natasha's drawing. I recognized the signature so I went off to see if they were the same person.”

“You remembered a signature from fifty years ago?” Lapia voiced her doubt.

Pokora nodded.

Natasha's smile turned cheeky.

Pokora chuckled and turned to the three. “Anyway, I got to Lakeview but didn't know how to approach you all. The night we met... yeah.”

Alyssa nodded in understanding.

“But you told Natasha when you met, right?” Lapia inquired. “How did that go?”

Pokora bit her lower lip. “I followed one of the waitresses to the bathroom and apprehended her. I planned on taking her over to you all, but Natasha barged in and... I brought the Lupum out, then explained things.”

“Yeah,” Alyssa sighed. “I remember that mess.”

“When I did, Natasha got violent and I told her I was from Earth as well,” Pokora retold. “I unknowingly made myself look like a threat, though, so I'm not mad at Natasha.”

“You should be mad,” the Halve pointed out. “I could have killed you. I had no real reason to act the way I did.”

“You absolutely did,” Pokora contested. “Don't minimize the attempt at your life.”

“So you can, but I can't?” Natasha retorted.

Pokora scoffed. “I'm saying we were both in the wrong, which is what you said back then.”

“I did, but you word it differently,” Natasha pointed out. “You make it sound like my actions are somehow righteous or whatever. I don't think that's the way we should see it.”

“Fair,” Pokora agreed. “We were both dumb. Period.”

Alyssa, Lapia, and Yolin witnessed the exchange with small smiles.

“You two need to fuck,” Lapia blurted out. “Again, I mean.”

“Right?” Yolin agreed with a nod.

“The tension is palpable,” Alyssa giggled.

Natasha and Pokora gave the three doubtful looks.

“What?” Pokora asked in confusion.

“A raw hatefuck would do them wonders,” Lapia told Yolin.

“I can see it,” the Oni agreed, then turned to Alyssa. “There's a lot to unpack there.”

“Didn't they already have sex, though?” The Luzo pointed out. “Hmm... but I bet it was quick and they didn't get too into it.”

“Truuuee,” Lapia laughed with a few nods. “I can totally see it going down like that.”

“It was in the middle of the forest, too,” Yolin recalled. “That's not exactly comfortable.”

“I bet it was a single round, too,” Alyssa lamented. “Young people should release more stress more often.”

“Maybe that's an Earthling thing, you know?” Lapia considered. “Natasha said sex was shamed, remember?”

“True,” Yolin agreed. “I don't see her having any issues with that now, hehehe!”

The Halve covered her eyes with a hand and sighed.

Pokora's face turned red. Maybe going 1 round wasn't enough... true, she thought and looked at Natasha. Ah, what am I thinking. Fucking hormones.

Lapia noticed Pokora glancing at Natasha, then nudged at Yolin with her elbow. “Isn't it time to go take a shower? Right, Alyssa?”

The Luzo nodded. “We have a long night ahead of us, yes.”

I hope it's longer than one round, Pokora thought and stood up. “Let's get that shower.”