Alex watched Hanako as she tried to process his revelation. He expected a strong reaction from her, as he had just revealed he was a demon, unlike the other girls who each took the news in their own way. Gloria had thrown a fit, feeling deceived; Lucy and Rebecca immediately assumed it was some kind of joke, and while Kiwi looked a bit suspicious, she hadn't panicked.
Valerie, like a child, bombarded him with questions, but then everyone calmly continued the conversation, curious about his past. Hanako, however, was trembling in shock. Alex thought she might need to sit down to process the information calmly.
«Maybe you should sit down? It might help you relax and take in everything I said,» he suggested, tilting his head and watching her reaction closely.
Hanako jumped at the sound of his voice, as if waking up from a daze, and looked around at the others, expecting judgment or surprise. Instead, they all watched her with interest, which only added to her nervousness. She took a deep breath to steady herself and noticed all the seats were already taken.
«And where am I supposed to sit? On your 'flying pillow'?» Hanako asked, trying to keep her voice steady, though the tremor gave her away.
Alex glanced around the room: Gloria, Lucy, and Valerie were on the sofa, Rebecca was sprawled in an armchair, and Kiwi had him on her lap. Initially, he thought of expanding the sofa, but he realized Hanako might feel uncomfortable sitting so close to the others. So he lightly patted Kiwi's arm to get her attention.
«Let's give Hanako the seat so she can gather herself,» he whispered.
Kiwi nodded, lifted Alex in her arms, and stood up. Once the armchair was free, Alex gestured for Hanako to sit.
«Go ahead,» he said while Kiwi held him.
Hanako looked at the vacant seat, hesitating as she realized there'd be nowhere for Kiwi and Alex to sit.
«And where will you two sit?» she asked, still uncertain.
Alex smirked. «Don't worry, we'll manage,» he said with a wave of his hand.
Noticing her hesitation, Alex snapped his fingers, and a grand stone throne appeared behind Kiwi, seemingly cast in gold. Hanako nearly fell into the chair in shock but managed to grab the armrest just in time. With a second snap, he conjured a cushion for the throne's seat.
«A pillow?» Kiwi asked with slight confusion.
«Would you prefer sitting on bare stone?» Alex rolled his eyes.
Realizing that sitting on the throne without a cushion wasn't ideal, Kiwi shrugged, took her seat, and settled Alex on her lap. After a moment's pause, Hanako sat in the armchair and closed her eyes, resting a hand on her forehead to collect her thoughts. Alex, making himself comfortable, noticed her state and, resting his head on Kiwi's chest, patiently waited for Hanako to regain her composure.
When she opened her eyes and saw everyone watching her, she looked slightly embarrassed. She was used to attention, but right now, the intensity of their gazes made her uneasy.
«I see you're back with us. Almost. Now we can talk calmly,» Alex said in a relaxed tone, still lying across Kiwi's lap.
Hearing Alex's voice, Hanako turned to him, momentarily tuning out the others. She tried to reconcile him with the image of demons from legends and myths, but sitting before her was the same Alex in the form of a child. Curiosity began to build inside her—like any intelligent person, she wanted to know more about who he truly was and what he was capable of.
She had already seen his floating cushion, the throne appearing out of thin air, and the transformations he skillfully used: his child-like form, the cat ears, and tail. She understood that all of this was just the tip of the iceberg. Moreover, she hadn't forgotten how he referred to his techniques as shinobi arts. She was familiar with them, as they often served as bodyguards in her family. Gathering her thoughts, she nodded, showing she was ready to talk.
«But first, let me ask you something: who were you meeting after I warned you—don't stick your nose where it doesn't belong, and there won't be any problems?» Alex said, narrowing his eyes at Hanako.
Hanako's eyes widened, and she pointed at him, unable to get the words out.
«You… you… you…» she started, but couldn't finish.
«Oh yes, that was me,» Alex answered, pointing both thumbs at himself. «Hiruko Kagetane—that's also me, Alex.»
Stunned, Hanako realized that there was no secret organization lurking in the shadows as she had imagined.
«So there's no Flying Spaghetti Monster organization secretly helping people?» she asked, trying to keep her cool.
Rebecca burst into laughter at her words, followed by the others, while Gloria and Kiwi just shook their heads.
«You're partly right,» Alex shrugged. «There is a cult of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, but its purpose is to stir up trouble for the bad guys.»
Gloria slapped her forehead, mentally apologizing to Hephaestus for not being able to stop Alex from realizing his idea. Kiwi flinched; it turned out she was already part of this strange cult, while Lucy, smiling contentedly, thought herself lucky to remain on the sidelines. Valerie and Rebecca, on the other hand, agreed with Alex since they had willingly become his comrades.
«So what about those incidents you were involved in?» Hanako asked, trying to stay calm.
«Which incidents exactly? There have been so many I can't even remember,» Alex replied, raising an eyebrow.
Hanako pressed her lips together, realizing that most of Alex's activities were well-concealed, and she only knew a fraction of them.
«The limousine incident?» she asked, staring at him intently.
«That was a job from a fixer. Lucy and I were involved,» Alex nodded in Lucy's direction, and her eye twitched nervously.
Lucy suddenly realized she'd become part of the cult, while Kiwi, usually composed, understood that she'd been drawn into it without her consent. Hanako sighed, realizing her suspicions were correct: there was no organization—just a group of mercenaries who enjoyed making life difficult for the bad guys.
«And the incident with the police?» Hanako asked another question.
«That was just me. Well, and Kiwi guarding the car,» Alex shrugged, nodding to her.
«And the attacks on Arasaka?»
«That was me and Kiwi too,» Alex replied with a cheerful smile.
Hanako's eye twitched nervously. She no longer considered him a demon—he was a teenager capable of any mischief. Looking at Kiwi, she realized that she had been dragged into this cult unwillingly.
«Let me save you some questions,» Alex added, seeing she had plenty more. «If it involves spreading dirt on corporations and gangs—that's me and Lucy, sometimes Kiwi. Explosions and shootouts—that's me and Rebecca. And if it's bloody mayhem and 'unfortunate accidents'—me and GIR.»
As he pointed to each of the girls involved in various incidents, they each silently nodded, acknowledging their part.
Upon hearing her suspicions confirmed, Hanako leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes, processing everything she had just learned. It seemed that the actions of this cult were aimed solely at creating problems and causing trouble for those who deserved it. When she opened her eyes, she met Rebecca's mocking gaze, clearly enjoying Hanako's reaction, and noticed that Alex was chuckling too. This made her even more nervous.
«All right, I've answered your questions. Now it's your turn. Who were you meeting with after I asked you to stay out of things you shouldn't?» Alex said, looking intently at Hanako.
Hanako tore her gaze away from Rebecca's mocking look and glanced at Alex, who now looked serious. Like a strict teacher, he made her feel like a child caught breaking the rules.
«After our conversation, my older brother, Yorinobu, arrived in Night City. I spoke with him about the 'N' project you mentioned, and about that strange black crystal,» Hanako said, looking away.
Alex slapped his forehead, openly showing his disappointment. He no longer saw Hanako as a genius, but as just another woman unable to resist diving into danger.
«Alex used to call you a genius, but you've proven to be an ordinary fool, unable to grasp simple words,» Rebecca said disdainfully to Hanako.
Hanako frowned, meeting Rebecca's openly contemptuous gaze. For Hanako, raised in a strict family and accustomed to etiquette, it was unexpected to encounter such blunt rudeness. But Rebecca, skilled in sharp retorts, had no intention of backing down.
«What does that mean? Who are you talking to like a child? Show some respect—I'm old enough to be your grandmother,» Hanako snapped, furrowing her brows.
«I did say you're old, but you've got the brains of a child,» Rebecca sneered, not hiding her irritation.
An argument flared up between them, with Rebecca, an experienced trash-talker, easily capable of making anyone cry, while Hanako, used to politeness and restraint, struggled against her attacks. Alex noticed Rebecca reaching for her gun and quickly stepped in to prevent unnecessary violence.
«All right, that's enough arguing,» Alex said, clapping his hands. «Rebecca, why did Hanako's actions bother you so much?»
Rebecca set the gun aside, but her gaze remained cold.
«Because this foolish woman forced you to reveal yourself. You've spent so much time planning against that bastard, and now everything might go sideways. She's ruined all your efforts,» Rebecca said irritably, gritting her teeth and glaring at Hanako.
Hanako realized her actions could indeed have harmed Alex's plans and sighed under the scrutinizing gaze of the other women. Alex, understanding her predicament, tried to calm the situation.
«I appreciate your concern, Rebecca, but don't worry. I didn't reveal anything too critical—just used a bit of physical strength and a few techniques. That 'god' is too arrogant to take me seriously. He just sees me as another hero standing in his way,» Alex explained.
«But…» Rebecca began to protest, but Alex cut her off.
«No buts. This may speed up some events, but he still doesn't take me seriously. To him, people in this world are just cattle,» Alex said, shaking his head.
Rebecca fell silent after Alex's words, but continued to glare at Hanako. Family meant everything to her, and she wasn't about to forgive anyone who endangered them. She knew Alex was incredibly strong and could protect them, but that didn't mean she would let enemies act without consequence. After the betrayal by her own parents, she had found a new family and was ready to protect it at all costs.
Hanako felt Rebecca's hostile gaze on her and, not knowing how to handle the awkwardness, decided to change the subject.
«You said that voice belongs to a god. Which one, exactly?» she asked, trying to ignore the tension.
«It's simple. Different worlds have their own gods, good and bad. But this one belongs to a special category,» Alex replied, thoughtfully stroking his chin.
«In what sense?» Hanako asked.
«Put simply, while the Mechanical Man is considered a god, that's only because of his essence. Primarily, he's an avatar of an even more dangerous entity that has loosened its leash and allowed its other avatars to act on their own. One of these avatars is the Mechanical Man, who ended up in this universe and wants to consume it to become stronger,» Alex said, stroking his chin.
After he finished speaking, Alex looked at Hanako, expecting more questions, but he noticed that she seemed even more confused by his explanation. He could tell she was lost by the looks the other women were giving him after his convoluted explanation.
Realizing he'd only muddled things, he decided to leave it to the other girls to explain it clearly, rather than his usual roundabout way. Jumping off Kiwi's lap, he transformed back into his adult form and stretched to loosen up.
«Lucy, you explain it to her, since she's clearly confused. And show her those videos on my phone,» Alex said, tossing his phone to Lucy.
Catching the phone, Lucy glanced at Alex and sighed, realizing the task of explaining was now on her shoulders. She looked at Gloria and Kiwi, who immediately shook their heads, signaling they didn't want to get involved. Sighing, Lucy resolved to explain everything to Hanako in simple terms to avoid further confusion.
«And what are you planning to do? And which videos do you want me to show her?» Lucy asked, raising an eyebrow at Alex.
«I'll go for a smoke, and as for the videos, show her the ones from the apartments where I was investigating, especially the recording with Thomas,» Alex explained.
Lucy nodded and turned to Hanako to begin explaining in a way she could understand. Alex, seeing that Lucy was taking responsibility instead of acting like a lazy cat, smiled.
Turning away, he decided to step onto the balcony for a smoke. Rebecca followed, not wanting to stay in the same room as Hanako. On the balcony, Alex leaned on the railing, lit a cigarette, and noticed that Rebecca had joined him.
«What happened to you, Rebecca? Where's my sweet, feisty little gremlin? Instead, here's this angry girl, ready to shoot anyone,» Alex asked with a playful smile.
Rebecca didn't respond to Alex's words and simply walked over, wrapping her arms around his waist and resting her head on his chest. Her embrace tightened, and Alex placed a hand on her head, gently stroking her hair.
He looked up at the stars in the sky, continuing to smoke as he petted Rebecca's head, waiting for her to speak. Rebecca lifted her head, noticing that Alex was gazing at the stars, so she looked up as well and decided to join him in stargazing.
«Are you sure your plans for the battle are all in order and there won't be any unexpected changes?» Rebecca suddenly asked, catching Alex's attention.
Alex stopped looking at the stars and exhaled smoke through his nose. He himself wasn't sure how much faster the Mechanical Man would accelerate in carrying out his plans, but he knew one thing: the behavior of an entity seeking more power was quite easy to predict.
This was already the second avatar of Nyan-Nyan, who sought more power to surpass the original, but Alex was still curious as to why this woman allowed her avatars to break their leash and attempt to surpass her. No matter how hard they tried, they wouldn't be able to gain the power that Nyan-Nyan possessed, for she was essentially Azathoth's first creation and his messenger.
No matter how much Alex thought about it, he couldn't understand what was going on in this woman's mind. He could predict the behavior of most enemies he might face, and even if it were an unfamiliar enemy, Alex could still anticipate their actions. But what went on in the minds of beings like Nyan-Nyan and Yog was beyond his comprehension.
«Actually, I had a plan for this in case everything goes to hell, but since I haven't revealed who I really am, the Mechanical Man might think—or already thinks—that I'm some special person with great power. And because of that, he might want to play with me, to eventually crush me and show his superiority,» Alex said, exhaling smoke through his nose.
«But you said the previous avatar of that woman was able to notice you. Isn't it a different situation now?» Rebecca asked, pressing her nose against Alex.
«At that time, I didn't manage to hide my soul and power because I had just arrived in that world. Since then, all my power has been concealed with spells. No matter how much that idiot stares, he still wouldn't see anything,» Alex replied, a smile on his face.
Rebecca silently nodded and pressed herself back against Alex. His words, that the Mechanical Man hadn't uncovered his true nature, reassured her a little. She knew that the previous avatar of that entity had tried to absorb Alex for his power, and it was likely that this one wouldn't pass up the chance either if he knew the truth. Once she was convinced that Rebecca wouldn't ask more questions, Alex turned his gaze back to the stars, contemplating his risky plan to destroy the Mechanical Man.
Alex understood that a battle in a mirrored dimension could affect the real world in unpredictable ways. If, in the Marvel world, mages used mirrored dimensions for battles to avoid causing harm to reality, then facing an opponent like the Mechanical Man could result in the destruction of the entire space, with consequences unknown. A regular battle in that dimension—yes, but a fight with such a being went far beyond the ordinary.
«So, what are you going to do after you defeat this idiot?» Rebecca suddenly asked, confident in Alex's victory.
Alex, lost in his thoughts, looked away from the stars and glanced at her.
«I think we'll head back to Orario first, and then we'll see,» he replied with a slight smile.
«Unless we could steal you a pet.»
Rebecca instantly perked up, her eyes sparkling. She remembered that Alex had promised to give her an unusual pet—a chaotic cosmic dog.
«Are you talking about Stitch? You're not joking, are you?» Rebecca asked excitedly, bouncing like a hyperactive child.
«Yes, yes, we'll get you Stitch,» Alex smiled, confirming her guess.
«Hooray! I love you!» she shouted, wrapping her arms and legs around him and showering his face with kisses.
Alex simply smiled, glad that Rebecca was back to her usual self. He waited for her excitement to calm down, then returned to the apartment and noticed that Hanako was sitting with a vacant stare, her eyes fixed on a single point on the floor.
He looked questioningly at Lucy, who silently indicated with her eyes that Hanako had been upset after hearing the name of her older brother in one of the video recordings left by the investigators. Maelstrom gang members were also involved in this situation.
Alex sighed and sat in the chair where Rebecca had been sitting. She settled on his lap, trying not to look at the downcast Hanako.
«Do you have any more questions?» Alex asked, drawing her attention.
Hanako slowly lifted her empty gaze to him.
«What will happen to my family when you kill this god?» she asked in a barely audible voice.
Alex sighed, carefully choosing his words. If a soul was completely infected, then, unfortunately, nothing could be done to fix it, no matter how hard he tried. He didn't know how deeply her family's souls had been infected, but he had a feeling they had already fallen under the influence of the Mechanical Man.
«Do you want to hear the harsh truth or the sweet lie?» he asked gently.
«I need the truth,» Hanako answered quietly, maintaining her emotionless tone.
«The truth is that your older brother's soul is already completely infected, and there's no saving him. Your father is probably in the same situation. As for your niece—I'm not sure,» Alex said, shaking his head.
Hearing the truth, Hanako couldn't hold back her tears. She loved her family, no matter what. Even when her older brother, Yorinobu, ran away and tried to destroy the Arasaka Corporation, she still loved him.
And her father, who kept her locked in the house until she came of age, she never blamed for anything and always felt tenderness toward him. Even her niece, whom her conservative father didn't like, Hanako protected and loved. When Yorinobu returned, she was the one who helped him and her father reconcile.
Now it turned out that they were all almost dead, their souls infected, and there was no chance of saving them. But a spark of hope flickered in her eyes when she thought that perhaps her niece, Mitiko, could still be saved, since she had been less involved in the company's affairs and was carving her own path.
«What will happen to me after all of this?» Hanako asked, and a glimmer of light appeared in her eyes when she thought that perhaps her niece was safe.
Alex sighed, noticing the spark in her gaze, though tears were still streaming down her cheeks. Accepting that your loved ones were essentially walking corpses, their souls consumed by an evil god, was not easy. He glanced at Gloria, who had noticed and tilted her head slightly, trying to understand what he wanted from her.
Alex subtly signaled with his eyes that she could help Hanako cope with this. Gloria nodded seriously, understanding his intention—she herself had gone through something similar, and she could support Hanako.
«Until this is all over, you'll be staying at my place,» Alex said, looking her straight in the eyes.
«If I let you go now, it could endanger my family, and I can't allow that. So for now, you'll stay with us, and once everything is finished, you can live however you want: become the director of 'Arasaka,' close the company, or go on a journey—the choice is yours. But for now, you need to rest.»
Hanako nodded, understanding that no one would let her go for now. Still, she didn't want to leave, especially since Alex was risking his life to save her without asking for anything in return. Seeing Hanako's agreement, Gloria approached her and gestured for her to follow. Hanako absentmindedly nodded and, almost by instinct, followed her. Gloria looked back at Alex and gave him a thumbs up, signaling that she would manage—this was her chance to contribute to the cause.
«I feel like the end is near,» Alex said, rubbing his forehead.
«Why do you think that?» Lucy raised an eyebrow.
«It always happens in stories: the hero meets the villain, the villain leaves, only to return dramatically later. That means the final battle is just around the corner,» he replied.
Lucy was about to argue but stopped herself, remembering the stories Alex had told about different worlds: it was always the same. The main villain would make a dramatic appearance, and the decisive battle would unfold. The only unknown was when that battle would happen. Alex felt like all the «actors» had already been revealed, which meant it was time to prepare for the final scene.
He sighed in frustration: couldn't these villains just show up and reveal themselves, so he wouldn't waste time searching and preparing for battle? Noticing his irritation, Rebecca gently began massaging his head to help him relax. Alex smiled in response to her care and thanked her.
That day, he decided not to return to the workshop but to spend time with the girls.
To be continued...