Digital Higanbana (Lycoris Recoil x Cyberpunk Quest)

"I'll take them all," You decided with a nod. Then you gave it some more thought and had an idea. "Could I pay for part of them with some assets? Namely the ones we were talking about earlier."

Azumi's eyebrow raised when she made the connection. "Ah, the leftovers from the Scavs. I'm warning you, it'll probably not be much, especially given the rather...poor quality," She delicately phrased with a grimace, then shrugged. "But probably better than nothing if you don't have any other plans for them. I'll even give you what we'd pay out, at max, for them."

'Better than nothing indeed," You agreed and let the transaction process through.

Corpse Turn-In: +400eb
Arasaka Katana: -1000eb
Arasaka WAA Bullpup: -2000 eb
Total: -2600eb

-2600eb (29200 -2600 = 26,600 eb)

It was a bit pricey, but you felt like it was worth it. Especially with how Mitsu's gaze snapped from her new blade to you when Azumi pulled your newly purchased blade off the rack and handed it to you. "You too?!" She gasped and leaned in, eyes widening at the sight of the distinct blue highlights. "Oh! The sister blade?"

"It seems so," You commented and experimentally inched a bit of its steel out. You studied the polished surface, seeing a faint reflection of your own face looking back. It was certainly a gorgeous sword, one that made you a bit regretful it likely would be sitting on display for a long while. "I saw the opportunity, and I couldn't pass it up. A pity that unlike you, I've no skill in the Way."

"Then allow me to instruct you!" Mitsu fiercely offered, pushing almost right into your face with a determined expression. "I shan't let the beauty hide forever, I wish to see the sisters dance like us on the battlefield together!"

You blinked at the zeal on display, your partner not willing to even consider the offer of passing the blade onto her. It seemed that Mitsu had gotten into her head a picturesque image of you standing next to her, sister blades in hand as sisters molded by Lycoris fought along each other. She wasn't going to settle for being the only one in the picture now.

Truth be told as well, perhaps there was a small part of you that squealed in childish glee at the stylist traditional fantasy of wielding a katana. "Fine," You finally decided with a nod and Mitsu's eyes lit up in happiness. "If you're willing to put some time aside during the week, I won't mind coming to you for a lesson or two. But only if it's no bother to you as well."

"Yes! Yes, yes, all the yes!" Mitsu celebrated, and then held up her sheathed blade to you with a grin. You were confused for a moment, then you realized what she wanted and obliged with a small smile. You raised your own contained katana and solidly tapped it against its sister, as if sealing a contract of sorts. "You shall not regret your decision! Oh, if we both learn far enough and amass enough of a reputation, maybe we could even open a dojo-!"

Mitsu's ramblings went on and on while she indulged and built upon her samurai fantasies while you shook you head and turned to a bemused Azumi. "Is she always like that?" The corporate security chief asked, looking between you and your partner. "She seems like a handful all the time. Guess you two really live up to the red-blue oni of legend, huh?"

You stared, then blushed in realization that she was right. You hastily sought to change the conversation topic with a cough. "My other purchase please."

"Right, right." The weapon racks on the wall cycled out from the modernized melee equipment to more traditional firearms, with one immediately catching your eye. It was the one you had just purchased, and Azumi allowed you to grab it off the wall. "Here she is, the Arasaka WAA Bullpup. Quite a handful of a name, but you can blame Arasaka Berlin for that, something about government stamps."

You checked to make sure it was unloaded with the safety on before raising it in a ready position, peering through the integrated scope system. It felt slightly awkward to handle, though perhaps that was more from your lack of experience with assault rifles in general. You frowned when you realized how slightly awkward it would be to reload and mentioned it so. "Can't say I'm a fan of bullpups with this first impression."

"It grows on you," Azumi casually answered with a shrug. "That thing's probably saved more Arasaka lives over the years than you would think. If it's any reassurance, Arasaka has definitely moved on from bullpups since they moved weapons design from Germany to Japan."

"Why would they- oh." You grimaced and shook your head. "Right. Fourth Corporate War. Hm." You tested holding your new assault rifle in a few more positions, finally settling into a comfortable position that had you nodding, satisfied. It'd do. You lowered the weapon and began to take it apart for transportation, earning a whistle from the watching corporate security suit.

"I've mentioned it already, but you two certainly handle firearms like pros." She reached beneath a table to pull out a weapons case, which you accepted gratefully. It would certainly help avoid raising a ruckus when bringing your new purchases through the streets. "But you're both pretty young at the same time! Were you child soldiers or something?"

Mitsu finally snapped out of her fantasies and shared a look with you before replying to that question. "We're just some girls from Kyoto," She innocently told, earning a grunt from Azumi.

"That just makes it weirder, considering that place has the lowest public crime rate in all Japan." In the end, she shrugged and turned to you just as you finished putting away the disassembled assault rifle. "So what are you going to do now with the old cafe? You going to open it back up?"

"Hm." You snapped the case shut and locked it securely "I'm actually still thinking about it, though I'm thinking maybe something to do with flowers."

"Flowers?' Azumi snorted. "Leaning really into the city of flowers, are we? Well, seriously, maybe at least reopen the cafe part. Kami knows I could do with a spot to drink real coffee, and not the muck they serve around here. Ergh."

"I'll consider it." You hesitated, then turned to Mitsu with a sheepish expression. "Sorry to trouble you, but if you're going to head or pass by home first, could you take my new gear with you?"

"Not an issue!" Your partner chirped and took the gun case. You paused, then held out the katana as well that Mitsu delicately received. "I'll vow to you, these two will make it home in one piece."

"I never assumed anything otherwise, not when I've got your support." Then with your partner, you bowed respectfully at Azumi. "Thank you for your time today. Let us hope that next we meet, it will be for productive exchange once again."

She inclined her head in response, then escorted you back to the elevator. "Come back whenever you want to do more business with Shinohara Securities," Azumi mentioned as parting words just as the elevator doors closed. A few minutes later, you and Mitsu emerged from the Arasaka headquarters and took in a few breaths of fresh air, or whatever passed for it amid the soaring skyscrapers of the Corporate Zone.

Then Mitsu gestured and you spied the deceptively looking coffee cart parked outside, serving a bunch of well-dressed individuals. It could be mistaken for a small-time business at first glance, but the branding was unmistakable. Doutor Coffee, the largest coffee chain in Japan, preferred by those who just need a cup of caffeine to work through the day. Your partner wordlessly tilted her head and you nodded, indicating for her to stay put while you lined up.

Soon, you returned to her with two steaming paper cups and handed her one of them. A sip, and it became clear why Azumi was disdainful of the drink around here. You hummed and stared at your cup while Mitsu downed the entire thing in one go, smacking her lips. "A familiar taste!"

"Because it's the exact same thing they serve in Kyoto," You observed thoughtfully. "A 'perfect' blend of synthetic coffee, completely copy pasted for every single cup. You can ask for variations like adding cream or sugar, but it's the same cup every time. There's no risk, no excitement- just a cup, if you would."

"Huh? Oh…" Mitsu frowned and put a hand to her chin. "I never thought about it that way."

"Most wouldn't, and is it so bad to want the same cup day in, day out?" You proposed while sipping at yours. "At the end of the day, it's just a shot of caffeine that people need to work through the morning, afternoon, or evening shift."

"I know, but there's something...tragic, I suppose, about it," Your partner decided and nodded. "It's just such a sterile bond between man and drink. It sounds silly, but then so is the partnership between man and blade!"

"You might be onto something," You joked and turned, searching for your destination now. It wasn't long before you spied it, at the very heart of Kagsohima itself: the city hall. "Looks like this is where we part ways for now. I'll likely be a while, so feel free to head home first. You probably don't want to stick around with me filling out boring paperwork."

"Your battlefield is indeed not one of my choosing!" Mitsu dramatically declared and giggled. "Good luck, Yuuki."

You gave a reassuring nod, then walked alone into the city hall. There, after presenting your credentials and identification along with stating your general task today, you received a queue number and was directed to have a seat in a waiting area. Said waiting area was packed to the brim with all manner of seated individuals, from perfectly groomed corporate suits to rough looking folks that wouldn't be out of place in a gang war. But they, without exception, shared the exact same look: absolute and total boredom while waiting for their number to be called, many of them shuffling papers about.

There weren't any seats left that you could see, so you just found a wall and leaned against it. Very few even gave looks your way, and you were very sure that any troublemakers here would definitely find themselves facing a very angry Azumi with the rest of Shinohara Securities. Surprisingly, it wasn't long before your head snapped up when your number was called, along with a booth to head towards.

It then became clear why the wait had been so short, for now. It was just an automated booth first, which dispensed a series of papers along with a handy writing tool. You gingerly picked the paperwork up while automated instructions blared out. "To reduce the chance of complications arising, please fill out all paperwork before meeting with an administration official for finalization. Take care to make sure you do not make mistakes or leave anything out, as failure to comply may result in your application being turned down and needing to begin from the start again. To reduce the chance of complications arising…"

You walked away with the papers while the message repeated and examined the work ahead of you. Most of it seemed pretty mundane, such as your name, your civilian identification, your address, and other boring fields. Then you flipped the page and got to the real exciting part that sent a thrill down your spine.

Your business details. The name, what it was all about, and a few dozen other details to help make sure it was a unique entry in the city records. You frowned when you reached the end of the form, where it warned all business licenses could take up to a year to process. That was an insanely long amount of time.

Then you rolled your eyes at the fine print detailing an expedited license approval process that could skip the wait...for a price. Even governments weren't above petty price gouging in this world. You eyed the price and sighed, wondering if it was worth paying the 1000eb to expedite getting your business license now, or to gamble for a year wait time.

The big thing that made it difficult was the once you got your business license, there were still more fees and taxes being made from you every month. A quick total of it all put it at about 500eb a month, which was pricey as an individual. Maybe this was why there was such a disparity between large public corporations that could wave off such costs without a second thought, or shady businesses that operated without official licensing. Small businesses were a niche that got swallowed up between the two of them.

Yet maybe you wanted to fill that niche. You drummed your fingers against your thigh in thought, then shook your head. Even if you decided to go fully underground, it was best to now decide on what sort of business you wanted in the end. So you began to put it together on your head, and on paper in preparation.

Choose a business name
-[ ] [Name] Kagoshima Bloom
-[ ] [Name] Snowdrop Inn
-[ ] [Name] AmaReco
-[ ] [Name] Write in!

Choose what sort of business you wish to go on record for
-[ ] [Business] Mono (Single Focus)
--[ ] Florist
--[ ] Cafe
--[ ] Restaurant
--[ ] Club
--[ ] Dojo
--[ ] Bookstore
--[ ] Cleaner
--[ ] Write in!

-[ ] [Business] Hybrid (Two Focus)
--[ ] Florist
--[ ] Cafe
--[ ] Restaurant
--[ ] Club
--[ ] Dojo
--[ ] Bookstore
--[ ] Cleaner
--[ ] Write in!

Choose if you wish to have your business function as a front for other activities
-[ ] [Front] Yes, and it had a side activity of...
--[ ] Arms Smuggling
--[ ] Weapons Training
--[ ] Netrunner Hub
--[ ] Street Fixer
--[ ] RipperDoc Clinic
--[ ] Evidence Removal
--[ ] Write in!

-[ ] [Front] No, what the public sees is all you commit yourself to.

Add in a brief description to help explain how it all flows together
- [ ] [Description] Write in!

Choose if you would like to actually go on record and have a real business license
-[ ] [License] Yes, you'll be a licensed business…
--[ ] And you even paid the expedited fee to get your license right away.

-[ ] [License] No, this is ridiculous. You'll go as an unlicensed business, for all the risk that entails.

- Here's the big moment where you get to sort out what exactly you are! Lots of write in options here, as I couldn't possibly list every single business type there is. I'll be sure to try and comment on what you could get away with publicly against what you have to keep under wraps.
- Cleaner in a public setting is being literal, like a cleaning maid business. Just that you happen to carry a piece on you unlike many others.
- I don't mind having a flowery (heh) description, it's mainly there to help give me a better idea of what you want.
- The more business options you take, the more you'll have to organize/setup before throwing open your doors.
- If you choose a business type that you obviously don't have a skill in, do not worry. You can hire staff to cover it, learn enough to get a passing grade with it, or in the worst case (or best depending on your opinion), you can chip yourself for it.
- AmaReco is based off the Amaryllils flower, the cousin of Lycoris. It also has the common name Belladona. Up to ya.