Chapter 118

Chapter 118

So this is the place? Doesnt look like much Why dont we just go to Lizzies? Ichi asked and I think all three of us stopped to look at him at that admittedly telling request.

Ichi- I started to explain, but the way his eyes widened at all of us looking at him showed that he realized what he had just admitted to.

Nevermind! Always nice to check out new clubs! Cmon! He called out as he quickly power walked ahead of us. Hiromi and I both broke into quiet giggles at the tension in Ichis gait, while Malcolm just shook his head while smiling and went to catch up.

You couldnt even tell Malcolm had been shot earlier in the week. He moved without any sign of pain or issue.

Cyberpunk medicine was so crazy!

The name is kinda bad though. Think they are riffing off the Afterlife? Hiromi asked and I nodded. As we both looked up to the club's neon sign above the dingy door in an alleyway in the middle of Watson.

Yomi. Thats kinda lame. I agreed as I ended up shrugging. It wasnt like I was here for the club itself. I was here to gather information!

I pulled Hiromi along as we slipped into the entrance and found there was a little lobby, with a woman behind the counter. Ichi and Malcolm were at the front desk apparently paying for their entrance fee.

Jeeze Motoko. This place is expensive. Malcolm whined to me as I walked up and looked at the numbers listed out and had to agree.

Most of the clubs we went to were BD bars, where the entrance was free, but they expected you to buy overpriced drinks.

This was more like a concert hall. To get in you had to pay a fee, and then the drinks and stuff would also be outrageously expensive.

I rolled my eyes.

Entrance for four. I informed the pretty saleswoman at the desk. The fact she was wearing an old school punk rock style was pretty cool.

You got it. And then we were waved through. Down a set of barely lit stairs and into a large room. It was similar to most clubs I had been into, A stage straight across from the entrance, and booths all along the edges, with a dance floor in front of the stage.

Up on the stage there wasnt a live band, but the large screen showed a previous live show that was pretty good.nôvel binz was the first platform to present this chapter.

We ended up wandering around trying to find a booth but all of them were taken.

Mostly filled with Tyger Claw thugs. I suddenly realized that for all the aesthetics this was definitely a place owned and operated by the TC. For the TC.

I sighed. Of course the girl that lived on the same floor as Jun and I had some TC connections. Of course she played at a TC club.

I shook it off, it wasnt like Ho-Oh wasnt just as bad, and we hung there a lot.

In the end we did find a table and not a booth that we were all able to fit around with some difficulties.

I hope the music is good. Malcolm eventually grumbled to us and I nodded. The seating was kinda shit, and I had noticed the prices at the bar as we were searching for a seat.

Expensive!

Dont worry about it Malcolm! This is a celebration! So get whatever you want Ill cover it! I told him and that earned me a happy smile and Malcolm going from being a little grumpy to looking around in a much better mood.

Ichi whats up? Hiromi asked and I looked over to him. He was sort of placing himself behind a pillar. Almost hiding.

Ah, just. I know some of these guys. Like that guy over there is Katana Hiroshi. He said pointing to a man sitting at one of the booths with a Katana sitting between his legs ready to be used.

Okay? Are they gonna attack you or something?

Well no But I made deliveries for some of these guys during the war you know? I mean they might recognize me, and with Shobo-Sama getting flatlined and me leaving I dont know its nothing I guess Im just being awkward.

You know Ichi. As much as I kinda hate it If you want to join the TC again, you could always talk to Jun. I offered despite how gross the words felt on my tongue.

Ichi was part of Section 9! I didn't want to give him up to some wannabe yakuza thugs!

No. He answered instantly firmly. I wont do that again. Ill work as transport for myself if I have to before I go back in. He said and I blinked in surprise at that.

I didnt realize you were so

Motoko. After everything I went through during the war I was basically forgotten about afterwards once Jotaro died. Ichi said and I could feel his frustration. If it wasnt for you dragging us into the Scav raids, I would have had to start as a fucking bottom rung shit boy again. Running drinks to people and stuff. No thanks.

Hey Ichi go get us some drinks. Malcolm being the best friend that he was instantly chimed in. Hiromi and I were soon laughing as the two boys faux fought each other.

--

An hour later it was time. The stage lights had shifted and there were some people up there setting up actual equipment.

Finally I would get to see Rockerboy Neighbors set.

I recognized her instantly, she was basically wearing the same style that she had when I saw her on the elevator. She stepped out with a pretty expensive Orphean. They made some of the highest quality guitars. I only recognized it because I had seen them at the music shop.

They were the ones behind bullet proof glass.

I was instantly jealous.

This is Violent Hemorrhage! She called out as her band all started playing and I nodded. It was good.

Her guitar skill was real. I grumped. She attacked the guitar. She opened her mouth and instantly I was kinda disappointed.

Artificial.

Of course. She had throat chrome. The voice that came out wasnt real. It was a digital controlled autotune.

I could hear where the chrome altered her voice on the fly, pitch correcting.

I dont think Rockerboy Neighbor was very good at singing. I think she had probably gotten the chrome to try and overcome her issue.

Burn it all! Malcolm called out shouting along with the song as she repeated the chorus. The crowd was enjoying it. Although as I looked around I noticed some people obviously noticed the issue and werent getting as involved.

I felt bad. She played well. The song was catchy. Her band was good.

Her singing just had some issues.

Whats wrong? Hiromi asked, pushing herself against me and speaking into my ear so I could hear her over the music.

I returned the favor leaning in. The singing is artificial and the front woman is struggling. If it wasnt for the chrome she would sound Pretty awful. I told her and Hiromi frowned, listening but not seemingly catching it.

Practically standing up on the Kusanagi she was flipping off the driver and cussing at the top of her lungs.

I just snorted and took a gentle right on the next street to move away from the other car.

Whyd we turn! Motoko! Take me back I havent finished yet! She demanded, dropping back down from where she had been practically standing on the seat.

Its okay Hiromi. Besides, I'd rather spend the ride with you than dealing with some gonk. I told her happily and she instantly settled back down and wrapped herself back around my back.

Hiromi and I drove around the city for a long while that night. Just enjoying the roads. Honestly my Kusanagi was a much smoother ride than the Mizuchi that Hiromi had. Without the overturning that came with that variant the much smoother and deeper rumble of the engine was nice instead of ear splitting.

In the end we ended up on the mountain paths in Westbrook. And there I let it out. Letting my bike roar over the roads with Hiromi hollering her enjoyment into my ear.

--

I woke up the next morning with a grabby Hiromi gripping onto me.

We had a sleepover again at my place cause Hiromi didnt want to just go home and be alone. I gently tried to escape her grip, but that wasnt happening. So I was stuck.

With nothing to do but think.

No. I shook that away. Id been doing that too much. Overthinking. I always had a path forward.

I just needed to improve my stats.

Body and Reflex first. Id been napping on both of them too long, and both were easy enough to grind out. I just needed to dedicate the time for it. To stop coasting and start grinding out everything again.

So I relaxed and just waited a while. Dozing a bit as I waited for Hiromi to wake up and let me go.

Toko? Hiromi mumbled a bit as she finally started waking up a while later.

Hey Hiromi. Morning.

Mornin. She mumbled back again and then she just buried herself into my shoulder and mumbled something nonsensical.

I laughed a little at how cute she was being. Hey Im going to hit the gym, and then A gun range, Yeah a gun range after. You want to join me? Get some exercise?

Hmm? She made an interested noise before suddenly opening her eyes. Yeah! I want to see! I mean go. I want to go!

Cool. Cmon lets get up and get some good in us then.

--

Hiromi you okay? You keep stopping your workout. I called out as I did another squat with the weights on my shoulders. I was sweating like crazy at this point considering how much effort I was putting into the exercise.

I wanted that Body 10. Give me the perfect abs! I demand it!

But my choom kept stopping and staring. Hiromi, I wasnt squatting all that much weight, you could do this even! Well at least a few times, and you dont exercise. It wasnt that surprising.

I grunted as I rose up again. My core burned from the crunches I had finished before, and my thighs felt great considering how long I had been doing this.

Sure I hated the pain, but the XP!

Do it for XP.

Ah! She said and that was all that came out of her mouth for a bit before she shook herself. I think Im done is all! She offered standing up from bar bells she had been using for like A minute.

Hiromi, you cant get gains that way!

I shook it off though. I had sort of surprised her about all this after all.

Okay. Let me finish this, and well get a shower before hitting the range?

Hiromi nodded her head up and down a little too fast. I didnt know Hiromi was that into shooting. Maybe something we could do when we hang out now? Go to a gun range?

--

So Hiromi didnt like gun ranges? We had gone to a nearby gun range I found online. I had spent a lot of money on ammo so we could shoot as much as we wanted, and so I could train my reflexes.

The gun range had electronic targets, and difficulty modes. So I had ramped that sucker up and started training. My Lexington getting a real workout for the first time since I had picked it up. As I shot target after target, as fast as I could.

I had already started getting alerts. Simply from how many fast twitch shots I had been making.

Hiromi wasnt having as much fun.

You okay Hiromi? I asked and she gave me a wilted smile. She wasnt nearly as accurate as I was, and was struggling with the targets.

Ah. I knew exactly what was happening. Hiromi was comparing herself to me.

I canceled my targets, and walked over to her aisle. Moving up behind her as I pressed myself against her back.

Like this. I told her, as I reached up and overlaid my hands on hers. Youre doing fine, but you are pulling the trigger too hard. I helped her pull the trigger back and the bullet hit on target. I think your chrome is giving you trouble.

Yeah, my hands feel a little different. I didnt realize it was messing with my aim this much. She said, sounding frustrated.

Its okay. That just means its a good thing we hit the range. So lets practice those pulls so we dont have to worry about it. Gentle pulls, there we go. I told her as she managed to hit the target again with a smooth shot.

I didnt get much shooting done after that, as I helped Hiromi work on a quick draw using my knowledge, but the way her face was lit up compared to how sour it had been at first was worth it.

Eventually good things had to end, and Hiromi headed home, her parents wanted to see her on the weekend after all.

I ended up turning around and going right back to the range.

I had thousands of rounds to pump through. I ran through the gamut of my skills to get more XP. Quick Drawing. Rapid firing. High speed adjustment using the electronic targets.

I did it all.

And Reflex XP started flowing in. It was actually a relief. I had done a lot of shooting on gigs, but hadnt really been getting much XP for it, I guess I just needed to keep actually pushing myself instead of just doing a few shots and being done.

I worked through until I had to stop to cool off my Lexington. Then packing up all the ammo I still had and heading home.