Arasaka Academy sat firmly within the corporate plaza, a place that buzzed with the hurried footsteps of corporate employees every morning.
In this high-stakes area where even the ground was a luxury, few companies had the resources to secure a place. Only massive, world-spanning corporations had enough influence to construct their headquarters here. Despite Arasaka's massive corporate power, the Academy itself didn't sprawl over an expansive campus like some might expect.
The Academy was located within the vast underground network of the corporate plaza, its actual educational space confined to a single floor. In this era of advanced tech, traditional schooling was obsolete. Students simply slipped into immersive braindances. A quick dive into the virtual classroom, and they could attend their lessons while their physical bodies lounged in high-tech chairs.
Sports fields and playgrounds were relics of a past era. Modern schools didn't need such luxuries. In fact, if a school promoted wide fields and gyms, parents would laugh them out of the room. What mattered now was how cutting-edge your braindance facilities were and how advanced the memory-enhancing neuralware you provided to your students was.
Arasaka Academy prided itself on offering top-tier education. Admission was expensive, and without corporate sponsorship, even setting foot inside was a near-impossibility.
But, as with anything in Night City, there were exceptions.
"Yo, David, dealing black-market braindance again today?"
David Martinez sighed as he glanced up, his path blocked by a trio of classmates. He had already guessed who they were— the usual troublemakers.
The ringleader, Katsuo, a smug, blue-haired student with a cocky grin, stood front and center. His father was a mid-level executive at Arasaka, which made him think he was untouchable. Flanking him were his two goons, who had even less of a personality than the milspec chrome they were probably saving up for.
Great. Katsuo again. The classic rich kid who thought the world owed him.
David didn't say a word, shoulder-checking his way past Katsuo, clearing a path toward his desk.
"Hey, you little punk! Get back here!" Katsuo snarled, spinning around with his lackeys, anger brimming in his eyes.
Just as he reached out to grab David's shoulder, someone else beat him to it. A hand landed gently on Katsuo's shoulder, freezing him in place. The atmosphere shifted, becoming unbearably tense.
"Is there a problem here?" The voice was smooth, like a warm breeze on a cool night, but it carried a weight that made Katsuo's blood run cold.
He turned to find himself face-to-face with Lin Mo, his heart sinking. Lin's face, always calm and composed, had that ethereal quality—clean, pure, and timeless. In a world dominated by chrome and neon, his presence was like a glimpse into something untouched by the grime of Night City.
The sight of Lin Mo attracted the eyes of everyone in the classroom, especially the girls, whose gazes lingered longer than they probably should. Katsuo, on the other hand, felt like he was about to face a firing squad.
"Haha, Lin Mo, we were just... chatting with David, right?" Katsuo quickly stammered, trying to play it cool, but the tension was suffocating.
David, already at his desk, grumbled. "Yeah, no big deal."
Lin Mo's grip relaxed, and Katsuo let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. He scampered off with his lackeys, retreating to their seats with tails tucked between their legs. They didn't want any more of Lin Mo's attention.
"Those idiots bothering you again?" Lin Mo asked, taking the seat beside David. It hadn't always been his, but some well-placed cash had made it his permanent spot. He reclined into the chair with ease.
David shook his head. "Nah, same shit, different day."
Lin Mo nodded, leaning in closer, his voice dropping. "Did you bring the braindance?"
Without missing a beat, David slipped a small chip out of his pocket, quickly passing it to Lin Mo. "Here."
Lin Mo grinned, tucking the chip away. "You're a lifesaver, bro."
David couldn't help but smile back. In this cutthroat school, where students measured themselves by their wealth and corporate connections, Lin Mo didn't care about any of that. He didn't treat David like some poor street kid—just a friend.
The two had bonded over their love for underground braindances, and David felt like he had finally found someone he could talk to.
David's eyes glowed orange as he established a direct link with Lin Mo's neural interface. "This one's fresh—'Edge of Sanity' by Jimmy Blackhand. You remember that cyberpsycho incident in the news? It's based on that."
Lin Mo's eyes lit up with matching orange glimmers. "I've been waiting for this. Finally."
Transferring the payment, Lin Mo's eyes flashed blue. "1500 eddies, yeah?"
"That's too much—"
"Consider the extra as a tip for your hard work."
David's face split into a wide grin. "You're too generous, man."
Before they could continue their conversation, a voice interrupted them.
"Good morning, students. Everyone's here—excellent."
The room's holographic projector flickered to life, and a digital instructor materialized. The AI was a faceless, shimmering figure, its tone flat and robotic as it instructed the students to begin their morning meditation.
The lesson had started.
Lin Mo activated his braindance headset and found himself transported to a peaceful, grassy plain in the virtual world. All the students appeared around him, each settling into the simulated environment.
Meditation. A fancy term for "taking a nap," Lin Mo thought. With a quiet yawn, he closed his eyes and dozed off, perfectly content.
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PS: According to the anime, Arasaka Academy is located under the corporate plaza in Night City, even though it's never mentioned in the game.