Chapter 44

I have someone I love.

That person wasn’t just a tomboy—it was like a boy was living inside a girl’s body.

Too feminine to be called a boy, too masculine to be called a girl. Like a scale perfectly balanced between the two.

When did it start? No, I still remember it vividly.

It was that shy, adorable smile blooming from that beautiful face as she looked at me—it hit me right in the heart.

She’s also the one who saved me.

Even though I was at the bottom, I attended an academy meant for the top caste. What awaited me there was relentless discrimination and unjust bullying, all because of reasons I couldn't control.

I could’ve fought back, made it easier on myself—but that would’ve been like denying all of Mom’s hard work. All I could do was endure.

Until I met her.

She gave me money—not out of pity, but as equal pay.

She gave me a reason—to survive in a world where strength is everything.

She gave me power—with the implant in my spine, I could do anything.

And yet, you never asked for more.

You never told me to join your gang. Never asked me to pay for the expensive tech.

"There’s no reason not to help someone in trouble—especially if they’re a friend."

Do you have any idea how much those words shook me?

I... I was saved by you.

That’s why I wanted to become someone who could save you.

So then you threw me into the heart of things, telling me to go learn how to be a cyberpunk.

Then you hit me with a spartan-level job. You tested me.

You asked if I had the resolve to kill someone. You drew the line for me—the one I had to cross if I really wanted to be an outlaw, a cyberpunk.

You even made yourself the villain, just to lighten the burden on my heart.

I thought I understood the moment I saved my mom. But then, you threw the repulsive, filthy, horrifying truth of this world right in my face.

But... none of that matters.

You were happy when I became a cyberpunk.

That’s exactly why I became one.

That left eye of mine, dyed red—on the opposite side is your cloudy black eye, still flesh and blood. I wanted to clear the haze from it.

...But you won’t even let me do that, will you?

"...David?"

"Hm? What is it, Jugra?"

"You looked spaced out for a moment… maybe it’s just my imagination. Sorry."

Even though you were always looking at me—you were never really seeing me. You were looking at someone else.

I couldn’t bring myself to ask why. I was terrified. Afraid you'd reject who I am now.

...Even when I tried to change that by asking you out, I chickened out and called it “hanging out.”

……Then I tried to redeem myself by asking the team for ideas—and every suggestion was a disaster.

…………And in the end, I ended up being led around by Jugra anyway.

How do you even learn to be manly? I don’t get it. Somebody, please teach me.

I glance to my side, and there she is—an androgynously handsome girl, tilting her head as if she caught my gaze from the corner of her eye. Help me.

"Pfft, hahaha. Why are you so nervous? I mean, it’s just me."

"Yeah, well… it’s been a while since it was just the two of us. Throws me off a bit."

"Hmm… now that you mention it. …Fufufu, kuh… I can’t. I’m cracking up."

"What’s so funny…?"

"Oh, nothing. Just thinking, ‘Man, this guy is way too into me.’"

"Aqwsedrftgyhujiklp;@:"

"…What was that?"

You... you little—!?

Don’t tell me... she’s known all along? And still got that close to me?

She knew how I felt—knew I was in love—and played along?

...That’s exactly what Jugra would do. So on-brand.

"Hey, remember that day, David? When we first met, in front of the Arasaka Tower?"

"…Yeah, I remember. I saw a little kid getting cornered by punks and thought I’d help. Turns out, you didn’t need it."

"Haha, exactly. That was when I was at my most reckless. I’ve mellowed out a lot since then."

...She still looks as curvy as ever, though. But if I said that out loud, she’d probably kill me.

Honestly, I’m more into girls with thick curves and a body that shows, but with Jugra, I fell for what’s inside. So none of that matters.

No matter what form Jugra takes, I probably won’t be able to forget this first love—or give up on it.

That’s how much she’s come to mean to me. Enough that I’d risk my life for her.

…Though honestly, she’s probably stronger than me in a physical fight.

Taking on gigs as a cyberpunk really taught me one thing: monowire is busted.

If you wanna cut something, it’ll cut. If you wanna block, it’ll block. It’s tough enough to act as rope. With the right mods, you can even give it extra effects and extend it for attacks—it’s ridiculously overpowered.

And Jugra’s monowire on her right arm? That thing’s been modded to hell. The output is insane. Even the 《White Tiger》 she loaned me might get shredded by it.

I can’t block it, so I have to dodge. But since it’s shaped like a whip, it moves unpredictably and carves up insane paths…

"I like you better the way you are now, Jugra. You’ve brightened up a lot."

"You think so? I don’t really notice. Probably because I’m surrounded by more people now."

"Probably Delamain, right? That’s the biggest reason."

"Ahh, could be. It’s hard to believe that uptight AI with the pale, blank face turned into that."

"Turned into too much, more like. I mean, they became a bio-gyneoid. How many of them are even out there?"

"10+100+α, I’d say. Got a little carried away with the copies, since they’re so useful."

Delamain’s got that many?

Jugra laughs cheerfully, but over a hundred fully-equipped versions of that AI is kind of terrifying.

Listening to Jugra’s voice over the nav from time to time, I drive south through the Badlands.

In the distance, I spot the H4 Megabuilding and start to remember the old days.

…If I run into Katsuo, I’m totally just gonna snort and ignore him.

We loop around the crime-ridden Pacifica area and head toward the southern Badlands. Soon, I see a massive area filled with greenhouses, drones, and Delamain units on guard.

"The target is the container in the center of the greenhouse cluster. That’s the entrance to the underground. Just drive straight there."

"Got it."

This place supports Night City’s food supply. And the person sitting next to me? She owns it.

Compared to me—who’s only managed to climb from newbie to half-decent cyberpunk—her rise is on another level. Is that even the right word? Whatever, it’s insane.

I drive down the newly paved asphalt road and arrive at the container. One of the long sides opens upward.

...She’s thorough. Must be designed so you can’t see inside from above.

A ramp leading underground appears. As we’re saluted by rows of Delamains in perfect sync, we proceed inward.

It turns into a gentle spiral. After about ten loops, we arrive at a huge, heavy-duty door like something out of a nuclear shelter.

A nearby Delamain touches the panel, and with a deep, rumbling sound, the door opens.

"…Security here is no joke."

"Of course it isn’t. We store stuff here that’s too big for the clinic tech garage. It’s technically classified, but it’s fine if I show you. You’re not planning to betray me, right?"

"Not even a nano's worth, huh."

"That instant answer is why I trust you."

"...That so. But hey, is Delamain alright? Guarding such a gloomy place like that—won't it mess with their head?"

I brought up Delamain, who we’d just glimpsed earlier, to steer the topic elsewhere.

Jugra seemed to understand my intent, smiling as she explained.

"If you're mistaken from the start, let me correct it—Delamain comes in two types: those with bio-organic torsos and those without. So far, nine of them use biological parts, and the rest are full mechanical bodies."

"So those Delamains are those little units? Ah, I see, just cute-ified security bots then."

"Yeah, that’s basically it. Looks do matter, after all."

"They’re less intimidating than those blocky, obviously robotic types. Dress them up in maid outfits and assign them to guard mansions—you might have a whole new service on your hands."

"Delamain Security Services, huh? It’d definitely rake in cash, but who’d hire them knowing I can see all their data?"

"Just a matter of perspective. People call you the conscience of Night City now, you know? Wouldn’t it actually prove they’ve got nothing to hide?"

"Hah...? Me? The conscience of Night City? The hell is that, some peace-time delusion? You realize how many kills I’ve ordered my personal team to rack up? One kill and you're a murderer, ten and you're a serial killer, a hundred and you're a terrorist, a thousand and you're a damn hero, is that it?"

"You're way too hard on yourself. The entire Biotechnica project is under Delamain’s management now—do you know how much better things have gotten because of that? You’ve definitely saved more people than you've killed. Give yourself a little credit."

"...Credit, huh. It’s been so damn long, I’ve forgotten what being praised even feels like."

Right... Jugra’s parents passed away, didn’t they?

I remember going with her to her graves last year.

...Alright. Brace yourself, David.

I gathered my resolve and reached out, placing my right hand gently on Jugra’s head. Her short hair was so silky, it was almost strange, and I began to softly stroke it.

Jugra blinked like a startled stray cat, but soon closed her eyes and silently let me continue.

"...Did you hate that?"

"No, it actually made me feel strangely nostalgic... I remembered when Dad was still alive. He’d always find some excuse to pat me on the head. Now that I think back on it, that was probably his way of showing affection..."

Jugra’s faint voice and peaceful expression gave off such vulnerability, I felt a deep protective instinct rising within me.

This smile—I have to protect it. That resolution burned into my chest.

She gently turned her head as if to say "I’m okay now," and I withdrew my hand.

...Really glad I didn’t get those Gorilla Arms installed.

Hiding the lingering warmth in my hand, I gripped the steering wheel tightly.

Then, in that slightly somber mood, I slowly drove the car forward under Jugra’s guidance.

Apparently, the material delivery entrance was elsewhere. The spot she directed me to was a plain parking area.

After stopping the Quadra and stepping out, a coolness hung in the air—likely because we were underground.

"From here, we walk a bit. It still looks rough since the area’s just been mapped out, but it’s surprisingly spacious and pretty neat, right?"

"This isn’t finished yet?"

"Only the bare minimum piping’s been done. I set up the HVAC and generators, but the waterworks and insulation aren't in yet. No way I could finish it all in a month."

"You didn’t... hire a contractor or anything, did you? Tons of drones flying around—never seen those types before."

"Those are work drones. Precision units with just arms and a generator on the rotor. Heavy-duty four-legged, four-armed ones for weight. Reciprocating drones for transporting materials. And the finer tasks go to the Delamains. Basically, I drew up the designs and had Delamain manufacture them. Honestly, this place isn’t an industrial facility—it’s just a hobby project."

A massive underground workshop... as a hobby? Just what does she plan to make down here?

The corridors were generally tall and wide, laid with giant walls and rails that seemed designed for transport.

We boarded a moving platform attached to the wall, and watching the scenery flow by started to get me a little excited.

Eventually, we reached a heavy gate—it looked more like the entrance to a vault.

*"The password here is 7083. Remember it as Nanoha-san."*

"Some kind of sentimental value?"

"Mhm, they’re an anime protagonist. I liked them—movies included. Had a hard time salvaging any of it. I’ve been buying secondhand external HDDs from Japan and manually digging through them, but all I find are nostalgic games—no manga or anime at all."

"That’s a seriously analog method... I mean, what’s with your obsession with a character from fifty years ago, anyway?"

Jugra didn’t answer right away. She hesitated, clearly searching for the right words.

I’d seen her act like this before—back when I asked why she trusted me so much. That was early on, when we’d first met.

"...If I said it out loud, maybe it’d feel easier. But it’s like climbing the gallows stairs. Feels like I’m torn between a murder framed as a suicide... tough call, huh."

Just like back then, she deflected.

But unlike that day, she didn’t tell an obvious lie.

I wasn’t sure if I should take that as a sign of trust.

Secrets should exist. They’re not something you force open.

Hell, I’ve got things I don’t want Jugra finding out, too.

...Like that photo I took of her sleeping, secretly saved in a password-locked folder. I definitely don’t want that getting out.

So maybe, this was enough.

...Because if I barged in with muddy shoes and broke the floorboards in the process, it’d just be a disaster.