After finishing the conversation with the girls, Alex turned his focus to Kiwi, who was clearly lost in thought. He could guess what was on her mind. In just one day, she had learned so much that it had completely shifted her worldview. It was especially hard for her to accept that the person she once interrogated with a gun aimed at him turned out to be a demon — the Creator's son.
This revelation would already be enough to shock anyone, but it also came with the knowledge that an AI in this world considered itself a god, and not just any god, but the avatar of one of the oldest beings seeking to destroy the universe.
To top off the nightmare, she had actually seen one of these 'gods' with her own eyes — in the form of a cute girl who showed up asking for candy. Alex understood how difficult it was to process all this information, especially if such things once seemed like mere fantasy. That's why he decided to distract her and help resolve a problem that had troubled her for many years.
«Alright, Kiwi, enough pondering about the meaning of life. You came here so I could help heal you,» Alex said, breaking her thoughts.
Kiwi snapped out of her thoughts and looked at Alex. His words reminded her why she was here, but the day's events had almost erased the true purpose of her visit from her memory. Gloria, aware of Kiwi's struggle, watched her sympathetically. Once, Kiwi had confided in her, revealing the secret behind her mask, hoping to find some help or advice. Gloria had no solution then, only support, so now she was glad for Kiwi, knowing she could finally free herself from this burden.
«After everything that happened today, that really slipped my mind,» Kiwi sighed, shaking her head.
Alex smiled knowingly. Sometimes life throws so many curveballs that it's easy to forget even the most important things, especially when reality hits with one surprise after another. In Kiwi's case, the shocks were so extraordinary that an ordinary person would take months to process them.
«No worries. So, do you want to do this here, or should we head to my workshop?» Alex asked, a small smile on his face.
Kiwi flushed slightly at the unintended ambiguity. Lucy rolled her eyes and shot Alex a stern look, signaling that he should choose his words more carefully. Rebecca lightly smacked his arm for the inappropriate innuendo, while Valerie, hiding her face in her hands, sneaked glances between Kiwi and Alex. Gloria just sighed, seeing him continue to smile as if he didn't understand his own words.
«What do you mean?» Kiwi asked, trying to mask her embarrassment.
Alex raised an eyebrow, confused by the stares. Replaying his words in his head, he suddenly realized the unintended implication, and an awkward smile appeared on his face. Understanding his slip, he quickly rephrased.
«My apologies. I just thought you might want to avoid extra eyes during the healing, so I suggested moving to a private room or workshop,» Alex clarified to clear up the misunderstanding.
But the girls were already looking at him as if he were the ultimate pervert. Lucy kept throwing stern glances, while Rebecca smacked him playfully, expressing her disapproval; she didn't need any new admirers drawn by his wording. Gloria simply shook her head, waiting for Kiwi to decide whether to share her problem with friends or opt for privacy. Alex waited patiently, not rushing her.
«So, how is this process going to work exactly? I just want to know what to expect before I make a decision,» Kiwi asked, looking at Alex.
Alex nodded and took out a notebook, flipping through the pages as he searched for a specific entry. Because of the widespread cyberimplants in this world, healing could impact bodies differently. Since restorative magic worked on the principle of regeneration, implants might be perceived as damage or foreign elements. He hadn't yet had the chance to test this, and Kiwi would be the first person to experience this treatment.
«Well, to start with: cyberimplants might be regarded as bodily damage, so restorative magic could just push them out or use them as resources for regeneration. Sometimes, though rarely, the body might grow around the implant,» Alex explained, tapping his chin with his pen as he reviewed his notes.
Kiwi pondered his words, and doubt crept into her mind — was she really ready to go through with the healing? Noticing the worry on her friend's face, Gloria moved closer to support her, while Lucy sank into her thoughts, trying to imagine if there was an alternative Alex hadn't mentioned. Rebecca, watching Alex, wondered if he was keeping any other ideas up his sleeve.
«Do you have any other ways to help Kiwi?» she asked, tugging on his sleeve.
Alex glanced up from his notes and looked at Rebecca. He did have other ideas, but he wanted to reserve them until he returned to the Danmachi world.
«Well, I can restrict the healing magic to affect only a specific area of the body,» he replied, thoughtfully tapping his chin with his pen. «As a last resort, we could use magic to completely restore her body, but that would remove all her implants.»
The girls looked to Kiwi, knowing it was her choice to make. Kiwi thought about the options presented and decided she wasn't ready to part with the implants, as they were essential to her. She opted for targeted healing to treat only the necessary area.
«I think I'll go with the localized healing,» Kiwi said firmly.
Alex nodded and asked Kiwi to follow him. He led her to the workshop, with Kiwi trailing behind, still nervous about what lay ahead. It was one thing to be unfamiliar with how healing magic worked, but another entirely to know what could happen once Alex began the healing process.
When they entered the workshop, Kiwi was amazed by its size; it felt like a separate world inside a closet. The ceiling seemed endless, replaced by a slow drift of clouds above. She followed Alex, looking around like a curious child until her eyes landed on a workstation that undoubtedly belonged to Rebecca.
She immediately recognized it as Rebecca's workspace because of the scattered gun parts and various weapon stands filled with firearms around it. She slowed her steps for a moment to take in the chaotic sight, shaking her head at the mess.
Seeing Alex had moved farther ahead, she hurried to catch up, still glancing around. As they passed a firing range, she was surprised to find even that here. Moving further, they started walking past stands of melee weapons, and Kiwi immediately understood this part of the workshop belonged to Alex; he had mentioned preferring melee weapons over firearms several times.
Alex approached a table and noticed that the mess that had been there before was now gone.
He immediately realized it was Gloria's work, sorting through all his blueprints and ideas yet again. On the table, only the «MIMI» project remained, which he hadn't gotten around to. Setting the blueprint aside, he invited Kiwi to sit next to him.
«Well, take a seat, patient,» he said with a friendly smile.
Kiwi raised an eyebrow but took the indicated chair, feeling a bit tense. Alex continued in a playful tone:
«So, what seems to be the trouble, dear patient?»
Blushing slightly, Kiwi reached up to her mask. After a moment's hesitation, she removed it, revealing the damage on her face: the absence of both her upper and lower jaw and part of her nose. She quickly put the mask back on, which also served as her breathing apparatus. Alex looked at her face carefully, showing no hint of surprise.
«Can you tell me what caused such damage?» he asked calmly.
Kiwi sighed, deciding to share her past.
«When I was younger, we lived in a poor area where many people got sick because of pollution from the factories. I caught an infection as a child, and it gradually destroyed my face. This mask is my only way to breathe since the disease also damaged my vocal cords and lungs.»
Listening to her story, Alex understood that she had been through a lot. Now he needed to determine if her lungs were implants, as that would affect the method of healing.
«Are your lungs implants, or are they still your own?» he clarified.
«They're mine. Do you have any idea how much it costs to replace organs?» Kiwi smirked.
Alex nodded, realizing her body had kept its original organs, so he'd need to direct the magic carefully to not only restore her face but also prevent further complications.
Alex shook his head, showing he didn't know. Replacing limbs might be relatively affordable in this world, so it seemed organs would be too. Kiwi noticed his confusion and summed up the cost with one word.
«It would cost a fortune. If it were cheap, I would've replaced my lungs long ago and lived like a normal person, without hiding behind this mask,» she said plainly.
Alex just shrugged, deciding to focus on the healing, to help Kiwi finally live as she dreamed: tasting food, enjoying scents, and most importantly, breathing freely. With a gentle smile, he said:
«Well, Kiwi, it's time to give you the chance to really live.»
Kiwi nodded, though her gaze remained tense. Alex noticed this and gave her a reassuring smile. Raising his hands to her face, he gently touched her cheeks, and his palms began to emit a soft, warm light.
Closing her eyes in anticipation, Kiwi felt the light seep through her skin, beginning to heal the damaged areas — restoring her jaw, vocal cords, and even her lungs, which had been ravaged by disease. When the healing was complete, the mask and implant that had replaced her mouth fell away on their own, without causing any pain. Pleased with the result, Alex looked at Kiwi and, smiling, said:
«There we go; now you look beautiful again.»
Kiwi gently touched her face, feeling the softness of her skin beneath her fingers, and suddenly realized she no longer needed to hide behind a mask. Tears of joy filled her eyes. Alex quietly helped her wipe them away, continuing to look at her kindly.
«Thank you,» Kiwi said in her true voice.
Alex simply nodded, clearly not thinking much of it.
«No problem; it's nothing for me,» he replied, waving it off casually.
Kiwi continued to gaze at him, as if trying to think of something more she could say to express her gratitude. Alex noticed her thoughtful look and, guessing that she might need a mirror, took one out from his subspace and handed it to her.
«Look how beautiful you are now,» he said with a smile.
Seeing her reflection, Kiwi touched her face in amazement, fully realizing that the person in the mirror was indeed her. Glancing over at Alex, she saw his approving nod. Holding back her emotions, she looked at herself again, understanding just how much her life had changed thanks to this healing. Composing her thoughts, she set down the mirror and nodded, ready to follow Alex.
«All right, enough admiring yourself,» Alex said, rising from his chair. «Time to get back to the others; they're probably waiting by now.»
Kiwi nodded, still following him. Her thoughts lingered on Alex, and she decided to later ask the girls how she might thank him for such invaluable help. When they stepped out of the workshop, all eyes turned to Alex and Kiwi. He gently nudged her forward, introducing her:
«Meet our cool beauty, Kiwi.»
The girls immediately surrounded her, showering her with questions and words of welcome. While they were engrossed in conversation, Alex headed over to his robo-dog, who was sitting on the couch, munching on candy and ignoring the commotion around him.
«Well, GIR, do you have any info for me?» Alex asked, grabbing his attention.
GIR didn't respond directly. Instead, Alex's phone buzzed with a new message notification. He pulled his phone out of his pocket and began reviewing the incoming information. GIR had found everything he needed: schedules for the executives and even lower-level managers. Even the security details for the leadership were included in these documents. Alex sat down on the couch and began going through the data GIR had gathered.
After reviewing the information, Alex sighed and started considering who he should target first. Some of the so-called executives were out of town, and only one board member was currently in Night City: Hanako Arasaka. What surprised Alex the most was that, at 78 years old, she looked no older than 30. But considering the world he was in, he didn't find it all that surprising; after all, her father and the company's founder, Saburo Arasaka, was over 150 and looked like a man in his seventies.
Alex thought it over and decided to start with this woman.
«Well then, GIR, suit up; we've got a job to do,» Alex said, stretching.
GIR nodded and pulled out a ninja suit from his compartment, beginning to change. While GIR got ready, Alex double-checked Hanako's schedule to make sure everything was in order. He noted that she was currently in a board meeting or something similar. Since her father was out of the company and in Japan, she had taken over as acting head. Judging by the purpose of the meeting, it was likely to discuss the recent intrusion at Arasaka — an intrusion orchestrated by Alex himself.
A smile appeared on Alex's face as he realized he had caused these people quite a bit of trouble. He knew there wasn't another person crazy enough to humiliate Arasaka like this, and this was likely not the first or last meeting they'd hold over it.
Alex decided to start with the big fish and deal with the small fry afterward. If Hanako wasn't involved, then it had to be someone from her family or their factions. He read through the Arasaka family dossiers and could only shake his head—this family and company resembled a palace where battles for the chairman's seat were constantly underway.
Except for Yorinobu Arasaka, who seemed bent on destroying Arasaka. Everything Alex discovered about Yorinobu pointed to him leaking critical corporate information to undermine Arasaka's influence. But then something changed, and he returned to compete for the chairman's seat. Yet, this power struggle was not bloody; it seemed more about who could prove themselves best before their father. And then there was Michiko Arasaka, the daughter of the now-deceased Kei Arasaka, who died under mysterious circumstances.
The dossier stated that his death was due to an enemy corporation targeting him. However, something about Kei's death and the surrounding situation seemed suspicious to Alex. There might be something strange about his death, but Alex hadn't yet found any concrete lead to uncover the real reason.
While Alex was lost in thought, he noticed out of the corner of his eye that GIR was already dressed and ready for action.
«Well then, let's go visit our new friend Hanako,» Alex said with a smile.
GIR leapt onto Alex's back like a backpack, while Alex decided to switch his usual attire for something with a dark anti-hero vibe. He donned a suit inspired by Hiruko Kagetane, complete with a top hat. His change of outfit caught the attention of the girls chatting with Kiwi; they eyed him with curiosity, surprised at his transformation.
«Where are you off to?» Lucy asked, studying his new look closely.
Alex grinned widely, clearly enjoying himself as he shared his plans.
«I'm off to see a new friend. Although she doesn't yet know that she'll be my friend,» he answered playfully.
Lucy raised an eyebrow, realizing that this «friend» was in for some trouble since Alex had decided to «pay a visit.» She remembered how he joked about inviting Arasaka board members for «tea,» figuring that this was exactly where he was headed. Rebecca circled him, admiring his new look, and gave him a thumbs-up, impressed by the outfit.
«So who's the unlucky one who gets to be your friend?» Lucy asked, moving closer and looking him directly in the eyes.
Alex pouted at Lucy's teasing about how unlucky his friends were. In response, he grabbed her nose, smirking, but still shared the name of his «target» for the night.
«It's Hanako Arasaka. Tonight, we're going to be the best of friends. She doesn't know it yet, but once it happens, she'll want to share her secrets with me,» Alex said cheerfully.
Lucy swatted his hand away and looked him straight in the eyes, realizing that it was pointless to talk him out of it. That playful, mischievous gaze reminded her of the encounter with Sawada when he became Alex's «victim» once again. So she merely sighed and decided not to interfere.
«Just be careful. Remember, after your little performance, the security at Arasaka has definitely tightened,» Lucy reminded him.
Alex nodded, acknowledging her point. He understood that, after his previous incursion, the corporation had likely stepped up its security measures.
«Well then, quickly kiss me for luck. Without that, I definitely can't go ruin one lady's evening,» he said, spreading his arms in an inviting gesture.
Lucy shook her head but still stood on her tiptoes and kissed him on the lips. Rebecca didn't fall behind; she jumped up, wrapped her arms around his neck, and enthusiastically joined in the farewell «ritual.» Next was Gloria, who stood on her toes just slightly and gave Alex another kiss. Alex turned to Kiwi to say goodbye, but upon seeing his gaze, she unexpectedly decided to join in as well and, not needing extra height, simply kissed him on the cheek.
«That's all for now,» Kiwi said with a light smile.
Alex raised an eyebrow but said nothing, only nodding as he headed to the parking lot. Approaching his motorcycle, he started it up and set the route to the Arasaka Tower—his target was on the upper floors where the Arasaka family resided. Parking in a dark alley, Alex stored the motorcycle in his inventory, just in case some fool thought about stealing it and would immediately get roasted to a crisp.
Taking a leap, Alex landed on the roof of the nearest building and moved across the rooftops until he reached the building across from the Arasaka Tower. Deciding to wait for the meeting to end, he lit a cigarette, gazing at the enormous skyscraper towering over the city. At one point, he even considered jumping off its roof without a parachute.
After finishing his cigarette, he decided it was time to ruin a lady's evening and planned to appear in her apartment as a mysterious stranger.
To be continued...