Chapter 11 : Observation

F*ck, there’s a limit to this.
Never been married, never had kids, but being called “dad”? That’d make anyone’s insides flip—if I could feel anything.
I’m numb enough to wish I felt something, but this shock isn’t the usual calculated thought.
It hit hard enough to jolt this body and mind.

I flick the kid’s forehead again for his mouthy nonsense and step outside the hospital.
Hospitals are great, but damn, not being able to smoke’s a shame.
I bite down on a custom cigarette, pulling out an old-school terminal and holding it to my ear.
The glowing screen shows a contact number.

“Hey, it’s me.”
“Yes, Boss.”
“Need you to find someone. Goes to Arasaka Academy, has implants strong enough to beat a kid his age to a pulp. Probably has a corporate dad.”
“With that info, we’ll find him quick.”
“Good. Got it.”

Just as I’m about to hang up, a cautious question comes back.
Usually, they follow orders without a word. Are they worried about facing a corp unprepared?

“…What’ll you do once we find him?”
“He turned someone into a bloody mess on our turf. If I hadn’t seen it, he’d have walked. But I saw.”
“…Kill him?”

What the hell? What’s with the sudden cold tone?
The concern’s gone, replaced by a chilling edge. Reliable, sure, but it’s clear none of my crew’s normal.
No sane people among my subordinates.

“Hm… not ready for all-out war yet. Just find him. I’ll decide later.”
“Understood. I’ll get everything, down to his underwear color.”
“No need for that… jeez.”

I thought this guy was one of the more rational ones.
I fold the terminal, slipping it into my coat, as the ward door opens again.
David steps out, his face brighter than before, but the shadow on it hasn’t fully lifted.

“The method?”
“What?”
“How you’ll bring my mom back!”

Of course he’s curious—how could he not be?
It’s a way to save his family. He’d spend a fortune to know, naturally.
But—

“No way.”
“Why not?!”
“It’s not that I don’t trust you.”

If anything, being Gloria’s son makes me trust him more than most.
But some things just can’t be shared. I wouldn’t know how to explain, and even if he knew, it’d do him no good.
Think about it: Arasaka’s top-secret project, known only to their highest ranks.
Trust or not, just knowing puts this kid’s life at risk.
No way I’m telling him.
So—

“It’s just… dangerous.”
“So you’re using something dangerous on my mom?!”
“You’re not wrong. But it’s the only way.”

I reach out, resting a hand on his messy hair. He grimaces, dodging, whining about his head breaking, but good luck escaping.

“Wait.”
“For how long—!”
“I swear on my name. I’ll save her.”

His mouth shuts.
This is as far as I can go. For someone I could call a stranger, I’ve done plenty.
Sure, I’ll gain something from this, too—a proof, a resolve.
That’s why I have no intention of failing.

“So go live your life. Do what you can, how you want.”

That’s what Gloria would want.

He’s massive. And reliable.
This feeling’s new. Mom was always there, but this is the first time I’ve felt this kind of calm security.
She hid it, but she was always rushed, anxious, tense—it was obvious.
So, seeing her sacrifices lead to my “enrollment” at Arasaka Academy, I couldn’t just happily go along.
Every time she cried, I swallowed my feelings and wiped her tears.

And this is the result.
Mom’s unconscious, I’ve got nothing left, and if I go home, an empty house will greet me.
Normally, that’d be it—despair at the world, a future too bleak to think about.

But he showed up. Funny thing is, I still don’t know his name.
All I know: those blue eyes that stared into mine, the wealth to help others, and something that makes even rude doctors bow.

And he showed me kindness.

He paid for a high-end hospital I couldn’t dream of. Kept my mom’s fragile life going. Showed such seriousness about her treatment.
I can’t think he’s a scammer. I’ve got nothing, and if it was for profit, the hospital bills would outweigh it.
For the first time, I feel safe.

The Dokkaebi who rule the city.
Crime’s down since they took over, they say, but after getting beaten by Katsuo today, I couldn’t feel it.
I shouldn’t voice those doubts… ugh…

“Guess I should say thanks…”

After the embarrassment, one thing remains: gratitude.
A stranger turned my worst day into something bearable.
I don’t know his goal, but I benefited, and things improved—David’s not dumb or ungrateful enough to ignore that.

“By the way, how do I contact—”

Click—

“Huh? What’s this?”

-Entry Denied. Rent Overdue-

“Every damn thing…!”

Bang—

My leg stings from kicking the door, but the irritation’s worse.
Just when I thought my awful day was getting better, this ambush at the end—f*cking ridiculous.
It’s not even long overdue. One day. Just one day.
Without help, things would’ve been infinitely worse.

The facilities are sh*t for “managed” property, yet they collect rent religiously and lock the door after a single day’s delay.
The landlord’s generosity makes my teeth grind.
So different from that guy this afternoon. No, this is Night City. He was just too kind.

Before resignation or acceptance splits my mind, I slip through a secret entrance I’d found.
I kick open a vent to the shower, venting my frustration on the landlord, not caring if it breaks.

The stuff I grab: a worn yellow jumpsuit, used countless times, been to who-knows-how-many jobs.
That it’s neatly folded is the only comfort.
Without that guy, I wouldn’t even have this.

“He covered hospital bills… rent, academy fees, maybe…”

Things are better, sure, but the costs are way beyond what I can earn.
All I’ve got are a few sports chips and some illegal BDs. Even selling them all, it’s hopeless.

“Huh…?”

What’s this?

“Another account?”

So much money—way more than Mom’s lifestyle could account for.
In this situation, I’m long past pretending I didn’t see it or thinking twice.

“This’ll cover rent and some academy fees.”

It’s enough to put out the immediate fires.
But it’s still short for covering the academy’s full damages.

“Not enough… wait, what’s this?”

A mystery cyberware tucked into the clothes. No matter how I look, I can’t ID it, but it doesn’t look like junk.
If it was trash, Mom wouldn’t have hidden it like this.

At a glance, it’s military-grade, probably covered up for a reason.
Just owning it feels illegal.
But if I was scared of that, I wouldn’t sell BDs at school.
One thought hits me.

This could solve it…

“Found him.”
“Still fast as hell, even for an Arasaka Academy kid.”
“The details made it easy. Caught him on camera with the kid.”
“Well, good’s good. So?”
“Yes, name’s Katsuo. Same class as David. Sending the photo.”

Emerald-green hair, a face screaming arrogance.
Do all Arasaka kids get stamped from the same mold?

“What’s the plan?”
“Hm… killing’s no big deal, but…”

What to do.
I fiddle with my lighter, opening and closing it, sorting my scattered thoughts.
Looks like it’d be fine, but he’s an Arasaka exec’s son.
Kill him, and they’ll come for us.

“Let’s watch for now.”

I need to see what David does first.

I light the flame, lifting it to my cigarette.