“You’re D?”
“Yeah.”
“Quite fast. I just ordered from Ginger’s two hours ago.”
“I try.”
“First gig?”
“...That obvious?”
“Relax, choom. Everyone’s first run sucks. Been there. Speaking as little as possible to hide your lack of experience. Hiding your face the same way I did back then, but being free is the best. It gets better as you learn the ropes. Have fun, rookie.”
It was embarrassing to be laid bare of his current mental state by a complete stranger, but D stood on his ground and maintained his stoic personality.
The customer was a rather chill guy and even tipped him 100 eddies.
Almost immediately, the balance transfer from Gin dropped to his shard.
/ / /
Next Morning
Brushing teeth, dressing up, Ken climbed up to the vent.
He glanced at the dark, lonely room. It will most likely never feel warm anymore.
“I will be back... I guess.”
The hallway smelled of stale synth noodles, cheap cigarettes, industrial detergent, and of garbage.
His first gig was smooth.
If smooth meant being taught a lesson by a netrunner, avoiding several groups of gangs thanks to the mini-map, and running away from a cop by firing his sandy twice for 20 real seconds.
He shouldn’t have gotten too curious just because a yellow dot appeared on the mini-map.
But, hey. Look on the brighter side.
His gonk brain just worked fine. The pay was simply divine.
700 eddies, including the tip.
That was just for delivery work that took a little over 2 hours.
And already spent that plus another 500. On the very thing that caused the 24,000 eddies worth of fine.
Yeah. Ken knew it wasn’t too expensive compared to the trouble it had caused, but normal wreaths like these but way older models could be bought for 300 eddies.
He still had to pay the rent, but honestly, he would rather move out. Even this morning he unconsciously opened the refrigerator expecting Gloria’s cooking.
But finding a new room was a problem on its own.
“Still another day left, so a future problem.” With that conclusion, Ken stopped thinking about it.
His utility bills were paid. His academy fine was finally gone. He even had enough money to last a few more days.
“...Somehow. If I don’t get my brain blasted or fried.” As long as he didn't think about rent. Or tuition. Or food. Actually, maybe thinking about money altogether was a bad idea.
There were more pressing matters. Like surviving another day.
“Let’s stop there.”
Ken boarded the NCART. Morning commuters packed the carriage as usual.
Monday hating corpos. Always exhausted factory workers. Mercs trying very hard not to look like mercs.
Nobody paid attention to anyone else.
Just another ordinary morning in Night City.
Looking at his reflection on the window, he couldn’t help but chuckle.
“D, huh...” It was his own dream, no doubt, but also the dream of someone this world had long decided to forget, so Ken hoped that initial would honor his non-existent presence.
Arriving at the Academy, Ken realized everyone had already gathered in the classroom. As always he intentionally arrived just before the class started to avoid unnecessary dramas.
“Good Morning,” Ken greeted casually.
Everyone seemed to hold their breath. Some hesitated whether to respond or not.
“Good Morning, Martinez-kun.” greeted back Katsuo Tanaka, his chin still raised high with its arrogant gain.
Everyone in the room relaxed. Ken nodded back to the latter and relaxed on his seat.
“Ken Martinez, your presence is requested at the consultation room.” The bald, virtual female teacher instructed.
“Now?”
“Certainly, you can join the class as soon as you’re done on that side.”
As a Japanese-based school, Arasaka Academy had this strict time policy. To be called despite that just before the class, Ken imagined something big. It turned out to be a check on whether he had truly updated his wreath device and a warning.
Ken mentally reviewed today’s schedule.
Meditation first. To clear the mind, maximize neural optimization with cyberwares. Then Corporate Ethics, World Affairs, and Corporate Economics before lunch. This schedule was the same for all third years.
As soon as the chime for lunch rang, Katsuo immediately turned to Ken.
“Yo, Martinez-kun. You’re joining us at the cafeteria, right?”
The academy cafeteria.
To say it was luxurious would be undermining. To make a point of their elitist principle, they served 100% non-synth products. Despite the student price, even the cheapest meal started from 121 eurodollars.
“Y-yes,” Ken accepted with a face that was smiling and crying at the same time, because saying no was not an option.
Despite entering the cafeteria for the second time after two years, it was exactly as he remembered. Clean, squeaky, and divided into two floors and if serving 100% non-synth food was a flex to the outside world, further dividing it in two levels was to build an internal elitist hierarchy.
Naturally, Katsuo didn’t hesitate to climb the stairs.
“I think I’ll have my lunch here.” Ken said. Pointing at the first floor’s kitchen with a soft smile on his face.
“Now, don’t be so cold, Martinez-kun. I invited you for important business, come up.”
‘Just say you’re intent on bankrupting me!’ Ken got to the second floor. Considered just drinking water for half a second before giving up and sitting opposite to Katsuo Tanaka. He had skipped breakfast that morning.
A digital menu appeared.
None of them had a discount, so he could only pick a Japanese Set Meal on the cheaper side.
“So, what’s the business?”
“That won’t do, Martinez-kun. I certainly brought you here for business but also a lesson.”
Ken furrowed his brows. “Lesson?”
“Yes, how they operate in a corporation. You cannot always rush when you’re meeting your business partner, you know. Let’s see, tell me about your current situation.” Katsuo rested his elbows on the table as his finger twirled.
Ken really couldn’t understand this guy. Were they friends or something? “It’s a bit difficult, but I’m managing. How about you, anything on your side?”
“I see, I see. Indeed. I’m currently very troubled. Would you happen to know why?”
“Hm? I’m not sure.”
“I see, you understand, huh.” Katsuo Tanaka’s eyes flew left and right before they settled.
‘That’s not what I said but ok.’ Ken mentally facepalmed. No wonder he couldn’t stand this guy before. It hadn’t changed a bit, but saying it to his face wouldn’t change a thing.
Just then, the dishes were served and Ken got a holo request.
<Katsuo: Do you remember last week’s cyberpsycho incident in the Corpo Plaza.>
<Ken: Have the image burned in my mind. What about it?> Also the same Sandy along his spine.
Ken separated the chopsticks and had a taste of the miso soup. Honestly? They were way better than his own cooking and he could only make instant miso.
Katsuo Tanaka got himself foie gras and his two cronies steaks.
<Katsuo: According to my intel, the cyberpsycho was an ex-military and had a BD scroller chipped in. Guy’s armed head to toe. The XBD is going high in the black market, can you secure one chip for me?>
<Ken: Ah, that? I have it with me.> He brought several others with the intention of selling it. His usual list of buyers were probably dying to get their hands on them.
“Seriously?!” Katsuo spoke out loud, his calm gaze changing that to one of shock. Realizing his blunder, he coughed. “Ehehm, I mean, I didn’t expect you to be so good with your chopsticks.”
Ken instantly understood what the rich kid was trying. “Of course, I’m a student of Arasaka Academy. It’s my dream to work for the corporation one day. Learning the HQ’s language and culture is just the basics!”
“Oh, so you mean to say you also learned Japanese? I didn’t know you had it in you Martinez-kun.” Katsuo spoke like a superior, praising his staff. Then perfectly switched to his holo without a change of expression. <How much for it?>
“Just the basics, Tanaka-san.” Ken modestly spoke in polite Japanese. Maybe because it was the first time he spoke the language out loud in this world, it came out with an American accent. He found it rather strange on his tongue. On the holo though, <How can I ask for money from my fellow classmates? But I can guarantee the quality. Even in my subpar wreath it was simply mind blowing. Directly from Jimmy Kurosaki, signed.>
The next moment, Ken received a transfer of 5,500 E$. He almost jumped on his seat. That was fucking 3,500 E$ more than asked price from Doc and equal to 7 illegal delivery jobs. Despite what he said, Ken was ready to flip later on if Katsuo really dared not to pay.
<Katsuo: Take the extra 500 as a tip. I know it must be hard on you, but try your best with whatever your mother left you. Also, find me if you have good ones like this one.>
<Ken: Thank you, I will gladly accept it,> it was almost too hard for him to hold his expression.
<Katsuo: Give the chip to Jin before the next class.> Jin, the short, thin blonde follower of his, and Ken’s regular porn BD buyer.
<Ken: Alright. Leave it to me.>
“I certainly feel like I understand you better now, Martinez-kun.” Katsuo commented off-handedly as he bit into his last bit of foie gras. “That reminds you are in Corporate Management major, right? Are you sure you don’t want to change back to the common subject? You still have time.”
Ken seriously considered if this guy had a screw loose. Common subject? That would be for students planning to further their study. Ken here had to worry whether he could finish high school. But his reply, “I would have loved to but with the 3rd year almost finishing, it’s a bit too late.”
“That’s also true.” Convinced, Katsuo wiped his hand on the napkin and stood up. “Alright, then. Enjoy your meal, maybe we will have another chance for a meal together.” Meaning don’t think we are eating together unless he had any business.
With that he swaggered off with his cronies.
“See you then.” Ken nodded to the latter. Inside, he was full of praises for the guy. Katsuo almost looked like a human to his eyes, almost. He finally knew the meaning of stinking rich. Personality like garbage, but rich enough to use eurodollars as napkins.
Ken calmly finished his meal with a shaky hand.
Just when he stood up, he was charged 319 eddies from the school network.
‘Fuck! Just for one meal?!’ Although he knew, he couldn’t stop the grimace.
Honestly, the meal had been the best he had in a while, but he would never pay 319 eddies for a bowl of rice, salmon, miso soup and two side dishes, and that was already the discounted price in the academy. He grumbled, ‘Just how fucking expensive real food are?’
Immediately after, he had to run to his usual business space. Monday was his usual time for selling BD. Most of the students had already given up and returned to the class. He was still able to score some sells and handed Jin the BD for Katsuo.
Normal BD’s were worth around 200 eddies in the Academy Campus, which was 2 to 3 times higher than outside price. Unless they were premium goods from well-known BrainDance editors, the price rarely fluctuated. On the other hand, XBD market was highly volatile. Popularity, demand, editor, emotional rating, damage caused and so on dictated the price.
The XBD Ken sold to Katsuo was indeed a higher end product, but he had never sold a XBD for such a sky-high price.
After launch the academy split everyone into their respective majors from the 3rd year. For Ken that would be Management, all according to Gloria’s dream. Corporate Communication, Leadership Training, and other specialized classes that mattered to his future career. Club activities came after school, but Ken had never been particularly interested in staying behind.
Santo Domingo’s street was his back alley until he got connected with Doc. One thing led to another and he had long since cut off contact with his old pals.
After class ended, Ken sent a message and headed for the library.
Playing the game hadn’t been completely useless.
If his system had a tutorial and inventory like the game had, he couldn’t have asked for more. Sadly, it had neither. The original version might have had one, Ken reasoned. His system was a standalone version, and also, it said Administrator. Hard to miss it when it keeps throwing out that admin authority this and that.
Then there was the HP bar that sat just above the mini-map.
It could switch from percentage to just number but with his measly 100 health points it was the same. One thing to note, when in percentage it always stood at 99% even though switching it to numeric value made it 100.
Weird but Ken attributed it to the lack of Gaming Body or whatever physical authority it was supposed to be. There was no page for a list of Authorities either.
And his reason for entering the library–for the first time this year–was none other than the most important mechanic of any game.
Skill.
Ok, maybe the second most important.
In the game, there were multiple requirements for skill acquisition. Some skills were easy to learn, but others needed specific actions at certain times, then some needed you to kill a specific number of enemies with a certain type of weapon, Ken certainly hoped the last one didn’t exist in real life.
Just as Ken found the shard he was searching for, his holo rang.
{Alternative Title: Academy Cafeteria; Library; 5,500 E$; Expensive XBD; }