Yet again, another week would pass after Alex's run in with Aponia at Lowee where he was given the second of three clues.

At the current moment, Alex knew from Eden that Yae had a colleague that really wanted to meet him and then he would learn from Aponia that said colleague wanted to meet him on Christmas Day.

Alex found that a little strange for what he assumed was a ordinary meeting but has Aponia told him, he would figure out why it was special once he met that person.

For now, the only clue remaining that Alex could guess was obviously the location of where the meet up would take place.

With how the past two weeks went, he figured that the last clue would be somewhere in Leanbox.

Granted with it being Leanbox, he could truthfully go whenever he wanted since Vert always enjoyed having his company though he felt it'd be best to wait until he was invited like the previous two trips.

Surely enough today as Alex was out on a walk in Lastation after deciding to breathe some fresh air, he would get a phone call from non other than Vert herself as he answered.

"Hey Vert. What's on your mind this time?" Said Alex as he was used to getting a call from the CPU nearly every day.

Honestly Alex was a little concerned about Vert's clinginess towards him but since he knew about how lonely she was due to being candidate less, he figured that he'd just set that concern aside.

After all he did see her as a motherly figure after he became an orphan and Vert pratically looked after him like a son almost instantly.

"Well, I was hoping if you could come over for a date. I miss you." She said.

"Okay one, it hasn't been that long since I last saw you. Two, don't call it a date. Anyways, what do you have in mind?"

"I read in a dating magazine that going out on picnics is pretty common in in Leanbox so I figured we could do that. What do you think?" Asked Vert.

'She seriously had to look through a magazine to think of that? I thought that was common enough that she'd know.' Thought the boy before giving his answer.

"Yeah I'll go. Let me just get change first. That should give you sometime to prepare the basket."

"Excellent! Alright see you there soon Alex!" Excitedly said the CPU as she ended the call.

"Man. She's as cheerful as ever." Said the boy as he went to the apartment and after entering, headed straight into his room as he changed into a more fashionable outfit as he wore a he wore an open white button-up shirt with the sleeves rolled up over a black short-sleeved t-shirt, blue jeans and dark laced shoes.

Alex also decided to put on some glasses, not because of vision issues but rather because he felt like the pair complimented the outfit well.

Right as Alex finished changing, the Admin Book would open as it began to speak.

"You're dressed rather nicely." It said.

"Yeah well Vert did invite me to a picnic. Felt like I should dress up somewhat for the occassion." He said.

"Vert huh? You seem to be rather close to that CPU. What's your relationship with her?"

"Why's that matter to you?"

"Just answer me."

"It's not a big deal okay? She just treats me like a son and in turn I kinda view her as a mom to me."

"Wow. So you're just replacing your actual mother just like that?"

"The hell did you come to that conclusion? My mom died. Obviously I needed someone to fill that role."

"Whatever. Enjoy your dumb picnic. Baka."

The book would then close as Alex was just left there in confusement.

"The hell was that all about?" He said to himself before quickly moving on and leaving the room.

He would run into Rita in the living room who was making lunch.

After telling the maid that he was gonna be heading out for a picnic, Rita would tell him to stay safe as Alex would leave the apartment, getting on his bike and driving off towards the docks as he would pay and board a ferry boat as it made its way over to Leanbox.

[TimeSkip]

After getting off the docked ferry boat, Alex quickly made his way towards the Basilicom.

He checked over himself one last time to make sure that nothing was out of shape as he entered the building, sitting down at the ground floor's lounge area as he sent Vert a text.

Alex - Hey I'm here. Almost done?

Vert - Yes! I'll be down there soon.

Alex - K.

A few more would pass before the boy heard footsteps approach him as Alex would look up to see the CPU approach him, basket in hand as Vert had also dressed up for the occassion.

"That's certainly a unique look for you." Said the boy.

"How does it look?" Asked the CPU.

"You look nice."

"Aww! Thanks." Said Vert as she approached and patted Alex's head.

The boy didn't mind for a bit until he noticed other people staring at them as he quickly grabbed Vert's hand and moved it away as he got up.

"A-Anyways we should get going now. Got a spot?"

"Yes I do! I looked up the best spot for having a picnic in Leanbox so let's go!"

'This is her own nation and she had to look up something as simple as that? You'd figure a CPU would know their land like the back of their hand.' Thought the boy as the two would leave the Basilicom and made their way over to the spot.

After going on a nice walk through the city, the two would enter Leanbox's national park a Vert would lead Alex down a trail and then up a decently sized hill with a couple of trees around it with one lone one on top.

After reaching the top, the two were greeted to a nice view of the park and the many ponds and lakes that littered the area.

Vert would place the basket down before seemingly freezing in place which Alex noticed.

"Uh Vert, you good?" He asked.

Vert would begin to panic a little bit as she slowly turned to face Alex with a sad frown on her face.

"I-I forgot the blanket to sit on." She said in an upset tone.

"Huh?" Said the boy in a confused tone.

"I can't believe I did that."

The CPU would put her hands to her face in shame as Alex tried to console her.

"H-Hey don't worry about it. It's fine. We can just sit on the grass. No big deal." He said as Vert would then look at him with a serious expression.

"No! I wanna make this a nice picnic. That and, I don't wanna get this outfit dirty." She said as Alex just sighed knowing that he wasn't gonna change her mind.

"Alright fine. Just don't take too long. I'll wait here." He said as he sat by the tree.

"Right! I'll be quick!" Said Vert as she would quickly go HDD as Green Heart would wink at the boy, taking off and flying towards the Basilicom leaving him on his own for the meantime.

Alex figured that the only way he could realistically pass time was to take a quick nap which he decided to do as he laid down and closed his eyes.

As he did, he heard rustling amongst the bushes though Alex just assumed that it was a squirrel or something so he just decided to ignore it and kept trying to nap.

The rustling would get closer and closer until Alex felt something wrap around his arm.

He opened his eyes to see what looked like a thick black wire with a spike tip around his arm as it then suddenly retracted, pulling Alex down the hill towards the bushes.

"What the!? H-Hey let go!" Said the boy as he tried to yank his arm out however whatever was wrapped around his arm had insane grip as his ark didn't budge once.

Eventually Alex was brought to an open field as the wire wrapped around his body completely as he heard a voice in front of him.

"Wow. Isn't this quite the catch~."

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Chapter 13: Complete