By the time school ended, the sky had turned a dusky orange, with the fading sun stubbornly casting its last rays over the city, as if trying to delay the inevitable arrival of Night City's darkness.
Students wearing the iconic Arasaka Academy uniforms slowly filed out of the classrooms, making their way into the inner circle of the corporate plaza. This area, a small park dotted with trees, lay beneath a canopy of glass that reflected the city's vibrant lights. Above it were walkways, roads, and highways intertwined in a complex network.
Lin Mo couldn't help but marvel at how efficiently Night City utilized its limited space. A single corporate plaza housed a small park, bars, the Academy, bus stations, and multiple layers of roads and walkways, all packed into one tight area. It was a true testament to the architectural precision of the city.
Inside the classroom, most of the students had already left. In this era, the days of lugging around heavy backpacks were long gone. All students needed was a braindance headset for their lessons. As soon as classes ended, there was no need to pack up—just stand and leave.
"Catch you tomorrow, David," Lin Mo called out, still lounging in his seat.
David raised an eyebrow. "You're losing it, man. Tomorrow's Sunday. No school."
Lin Mo chuckled. "Yeah, but we can still hang out, right? I already gave you my address. You should come over."
David hesitated for a moment, then shook his head. "Nah, I've got stuff to take care of."
Despite their friendship, David kept his distance. He knew there was a massive gap between their lives, and he wasn't sure how Lin Mo's family would react to someone like him. They were friends at school, but that was probably where the line was drawn.
"Shame," Lin Mo shrugged, jumping out of his chair with a smooth motion and walking with David out of the classroom. "Just remember, you're always welcome."
As they stepped outside, David turned to Lin Mo, confused. "Wait, don't you have evening classes? I thought you signed up for that extra curriculum."
Lin Mo waved it off. "Yeah, but whatever. Tomorrow's a day off anyway. No need to stay late."
In this world, education had long since become a business. Even teachers were just AI programs at this point, and nobody cared too much about school traditions like respecting authority. If you skipped, nobody really gave a damn. It was all about the money.
Arasaka Academy had two tiers of education: a standard package like David's, which let students go home after regular hours, and a VIP package, where you paid to basically simulate a corpo lifestyle with extra classes and endless grind. It promised a brighter future, but Lin Mo wasn't interested.
"Is your mom picking you up tonight?" Lin Mo asked casually as they walked.
David nodded. "Yeah, she said she had the time today."
Lin Mo didn't miss the guarded tone in David's voice. According to the simulation, David's life would take a sharp turn when his mom died in a car accident, which would push him toward his future as a legend in the Afterlife.
Lin Mo didn't want that future for David. He had lost his own family, and he wasn't keen on seeing his friend suffer the same fate.
Outside the plaza, cars were lined up, waiting for students to be picked up. A woman was already standing next to one of them, waving. She had fiery red hair tied up neatly in a classic mom-style bun. Her yellow EMT jacket stood out against the setting sun, and she had that air of warmth that only years of caring for others could bring. Her figure was full, and a couple of red thermal vents near her eye hinted at subtle implants.
"David! Over here!" she called, smiling brightly.
Lin Mo walked alongside David as they approached. Gloria's warm, welcoming energy was palpable.
"And who's this?" she asked, her gaze landing on Lin Mo.
"My classmate, Lin Mo," David replied, keeping it short.
"Classmate? Come on, we're friends," Lin Mo said, playfully smacking David on the back of the head. David shot him a look, but didn't say anything.
"Oh, so you're David's friend! I'm Gloria, his mom. It's so nice to meet you," she said, beaming at Lin Mo.
Lin Mo offered his hand with a polite smile. "Nice to meet you, Gloria."
Before any more conversation could happen, David jumped in. "Alright, mom, let's go. You still have to work tonight, remember?"
Gloria gave him a knowing smile but nodded. "Of course. Nice meeting you, Lin Mo. Maybe you'll come by our place sometime."
"Yeah, maybe," Lin Mo said with a grin, waving them off as Gloria and David got into their car and drove off.
As he watched their car disappear, Lin Mo's mind was racing. It was clear that David's family wasn't swimming in money, given they were driving a Thorton Galena—a car known for being the cheapest ride in the city. Yet somehow, they had managed to scrape together enough to send David to Arasaka Academy.
"Where does all that money come from?" Lin Mo wondered to himself. In Night City, no one stayed clean. Even good people had to make tough choices to survive. Gloria seemed kind, but this was Night City—nothing was as innocent as it seemed.
Still, one thing was certain: David's fate was already in motion. Whether he liked it or not, he was going to become a legend, and that journey wouldn't be an easy one.
Sighing, Lin Mo's eyes flickered with an orange glow. His lips moved slightly as he summoned his ride. Within moments, a car smoothly pulled up in front of him, the door opening automatically.
He climbed into the back seat.
"Welcome to Delamain, where we leave your troubles at the door," the AI's polished voice greeted him, its avatar—a bald, blue-lipped man—appearing on the display.
"Take me home, Delamain. North Oak, 7th Residence," Lin Mo said, closing his eyes as he leaned back in the luxurious seat.
"Shouldn't you still be in class, sir?" Delamain asked in its typically neutral tone.
"School's done early. Don't ask questions, just take me home," Lin Mo replied, rubbing his temples.
"Very well, sir. I will also inform Ms. Xu of your location as per protocol."
Lin Mo waved it off. "Go ahead."
Delamain cabs were practically untouchable in Night City, operated by advanced AI that knew how to navigate even the most congested streets. Lin Mo knew that in the game's storyline, these taxis could even help players escape from corporate death squads unscathed.
As the car drove through the city, Lin Mo's mind wandered back to his own goals. Time was ticking, and if he wanted to be prepared for the coming storm, he needed to accelerate his plans.
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PS: This was more of a transitional chapter, but I still hope you enjoyed reading it!