Digital Higanbana (Lycoris Recoil x Cyberpunk Quest)

"Whatever is going on behind the cameras is something that I really don't like," You firmly decided with a determined expression and crossed your arms. "A blacklist doesn't happen for no reason, and I highly doubt Momiji caused something to warrant such a tag. So whatever it is, I'm going to get it removed."

"That's quite an ambition," Arisu idly commented with a flick of the eyes. "You're sure then? You're going to get mixed up with whatever goes on behind the camera?"

"Even if it wasn't Momiji, having a media icon or two on my favor list sounds quite handy," You mentioned with a grin and raised a finger to your lips. "Imagine if I could also get them mentioning Kaori as free advertisement."

The Netrunner studied you with a hum, perhaps seeing you in a different light now. "Mitsu was right, you really are evolving into a Fixer mindset. How curious." She shrugged after a moment and relaxed, turning off the screen with casual blink. "Well, feel free to dial me up in the future then if you want my expertise. I might not always be available while I'm taking my classes, but I'm a bona fide programmer in comparison to a lot of random script gonks you'll run into."

You nodded, then caught onto a certain name. "Speaking of which, I wonder how our samurai is doing with handing out those free samples."

(Advertise Word: 93 +5 (Mitsu) = 98)

You realized then that there was some sort of noise coming from the outside the windows and approached with a confused frown. After undoing the latch and sticking your head outside, you nearly fell out in shock when you beheld the rather respectable crowd gathered in front of the shophouse. "What in the-"

You cut yourself off when you realized that standing in front with a respectable distance between them and her was none other than your partner, in her employee maid uniform. But you were very sure that an Arasaka katana was not part of said normal uniform. As it was, it stood out vibrantly when she held it at the ready, crouching into a stance with a confident grin. Standing behind her was Erika, clutching one of the cheaper flower bouquets you had created as a sample product. What were they doing?

For a moment, some small part of you perhaps protested that this was just pointless showboating, at worst, a clumsy act. Then a larger portion told that tiny voice to hush and watch. You trusted your partner to not disappoint. You didn't even mind Arisu pressing against you when she tried to get a good look as well, the moment coinciding with a bark from Mitsu. "Hajime!"

Erika nodded, then lightly lobbed the sample bouquet into the air with an underhanded toss. It rose high up into the sky before beginning to fall, descending down in an trajectory that would land on Mitsu's head. But just right before it would make contact, Mitsu made her move and activated her cyberware. You could spot it from the way the part on her neck lit up, and the way her arm blurred for a moment. But to the average bystander who wasn't expecting it, it had seemed as if Mitsu had simply inched a measure of her blade out before letting it slide back.

Yet the flower bouquet was held up in the air for the briefest of moments, its fall somehow halted. Then it exploded into a flurry of petals and flowers scattering about in the air, almost like a hurricane of dizzying floral color. Loud gasps and shocked cries echoed from the entranced audience when the perfectly sliced bouquet drifted their way, with some even managing to catch one of the neatly trimmed flowers. Mitsu rose up with a pleased expression to much clapping and cheering, and she gave a small bow to the enthusiastic crowd. "My thanks for your patronage! Now, might I interest your patronage in our new flower cafe? Kagoshima Fragrance will soon be open, and I shall be there!"

"Woah," Arisu said in a low voice with a whistle, not noticing you subtly shifting your weight in preparation. "That was pretty preem. That'll definitely get some shoes through the front door- hey wait!"

Her cry came too late when you neatly slid over the window ledge and neatly pushed yourself off, falling from the upstairs down to ground level. It honestly wasn't that much of a distance and you landed right behind your partner without even needing to roll to bleed off the momentum. Mitsu whirled around in surprise at your sudden appearance, but you winked and helped turn the movement into a complete twirl, inciting even more cheering from the gathered crowd.

You certainly weren't going to waste her performance now and raised your voice. "My apologies, but a quick correction. Kagoshima Fragrance...is open now!" Your arm shot out and caught a laughing Mitsu in a solid embrace that transitioned into the two of you doing a matching bow. "Let's open the doors now!"

"Let us tarry no longer!" Mitsu chimed.

"Let's strike," Erika laughed.

"Let's open," Hinata chuckled and undid the security lock on the shophouse front door, opening your brand new business to the public for the first time. You and your employees streamed in first to take positions before the start of what would hopefully be many customers to your flower cafe. You watched the front eagerly when people began to make their way in to have a look, place an order, or take a seat.

(Grand Opening: 25 +20 (Advertising Bonus) = 45)

There was a large initial rush which then just petered out into...well, nothing. You bit your lip and glanced over to those who did indeed follow your performance in. There were surprisingly less heads than expected, and a few empty tables that didn't inspire confidence. It seemed that in the end, after all your effort, your grand opening was ultimately nothing special compared to whatever other businesses were in the area.

You almost wanted to fall to your knees in disappointment, but then Hinata gave a pointed elbow to your ribs. "Don't fret about who's not here," He quietly advised and gestured at some groups eyeing up your display bouquets with clear interest. "Appeal to the ones who are. Give them the best service, and make some eddies from them."

He had a point. You closed your eyes and let out your frustrations in a whispered hiss, expelling the bitterness from your body. That left only smiles to approach the customers with, bringing forth all your knowledge about botany forward to make a good expression.

(Grand Opening (Botany): 53 +15 (Intelligence) +12 (Rank 6 Botany) = 80)

Your expertise in flowers came through and the customers you entertained showed great interest in the bouquets you presented. You sold a few of them with a lighter note to your step, glad to finally be making a little money after all this time. It was almost enough to chase away the bitterness of the disappointing turnout.

Almost.

+400eb (12950 +400 = 13,350eb)

(Grand Opening (Cooking)): 83 +14 (Tech) +12 (Hinata) = 109)

Meanwhile, Hinata too rolled up his sleeves and got to work with focused determination. Despite only having just been hired, his familiarity in the industry was telling with how he easily slipped into serving drinks and chatting up with customers at the same time, working charm with both food and tongue. Erika and Mitsu were both blurs that worked with him to take the orders to the tables, understanding that they worked best as runners instead of customer service in comparison to you and Hinata. You took a moment to watch it all unfold with a proud grin, before you began to calculate the profits.

+1000eb (13350 +1000 = 14,350eb)

All in all, you raked in a rather respectable amount for your first day! It wasn't the possibly insane profits that a grand opening would normally entail, but if it were just a regular operating day? It would be a very good one. You waved off the last customer with a friendly farewell and promise to be here again, then turned to your tired employees. "That could've been better, but it also could've gone a lot worst," You finally decided with a nod, deciding to look on the good side of things.

"It definitely was a good foot forwards, boss," Hinata called out while already tugging to undo his tie. "Trust me when I say that for a first time business owner, you did fine. Don't fret and think about what could've been, just focus on what you have now."

"He is right...but that is no reason why we can't aim to go grander!" Erika refuted and fanned herself with one of your menus. "We simply must put in more effort, more sweat, more blood to this venture!"

The lone male employee chuckled and glanced at the time. "Well, you're free to. I'm off the clock now, assuming you don't mind."

You shook your head. "Just make sure you record your logout properly, that's all. It's how I'll be paying you at the end of the month after all."

"Wouldn't dream of forgetting my paycheck!" Hinata chuckled and left to undress in the supply closet. You told the same to Erika, who simply nodded in understanding. Then she glanced between you and Mitsu and then spoke in a low voice.

"I take it then my paycheck will be smaller in return for a cut?" You immediately knew what she was referring to, the unspoken street rule that those who participated in gigs would get an appropriate cut of the final payout to really help motivate them into pulling them off. It was often a rather rich slice, but also a necessary slice compared to the fact that the Fixer- you, in this case- was often getting the lion's share of the gig's payout for being the one to organize, setup, execute, and eventually cover-up the score.

Being the one who handled all the paychecks came with a very fat payout in itself.

It also meant that Erika's pay each month was less than Hinata's, with the expectation that you would have jobs for her to make up for it. "We'll make it work," You promised, then an idea struck you. "Let me show you the downstairs and what we've got kitted out. Feel free to practice in it to your heart's content when it gets slow or between shifts."

"Oh, I like the sound of that!"

"But who shall tend to the front?" Mitsu pointed out and you paused. Then you raised your voice so that Hinata could hear.

"Do you mind watching the front for a few more minutes? I'll give you some overtime for it!"

There was a long pause, then a response. "Sure, I guess. It's your big day, let's got a little extra. But don't take too long," He warned and you promised it wouldn't be that long, especially when there were only two main things of interest in the basement. Erika was pleased by the presence of the firing range, though perplexed slightly by the training dojo. She quickly reversed her tune when catching the sight of Mitsu's face though, and there was some laugh to be had when you beheld the secret hangout for your agents.

This, you thought, was going to be the start of something great.

Then when you returned back upstairs, Hinata was still there like promised. He had already changed out of his outfit, but there was something else off that made you pause and search about. Your eyes finally fell onto the empty stand next to the register and your eyes lit up. "Oh, did somebody buy our showcase?"

"Yep, you just missed her. Some schoolgirl saw it, commented on how beautiful it was, then paid upfront." Hinata flashed a thumbs up and showed the entry in the sales system confirm the eddie transfer. "Perfect way to end the day, don't you think?"

"Certainly," You responded, feeling slightly flushed at all the eddies that was going to fill your bank account now. "Maybe we should just close up for now then, I think that's everything."

"I'll help!" Erika chimed and rushed to help get things set for the closing.

+2000eb (14350 +2000 = 16,350eb)

Before you or Mitsu could join in, both of you immediately stiffened at the message popping up in your system through the Lycoris connection system. "Both of you. My room, now. Alone," Arisu bluntly told and cut the connection without further elaboration. You shared a look of concern with your partner, then did what the Netrunner said after giving polite excuses to your employees. The door to Arisu's room was open and she immediately slid it shut with a privacy seal the moment you stepped through.

"What is the matter?" Mitsu asked innocently, but your fellow graduate didn't say anything. Instead, she turned the computer monitor over to you, showing off one of the security cameras you had installed when restoring the shophouse. This one was pointed at the front cashier, showing Hinata and Erika going through their first closing procedure.

Thing was, you were very sure that only your computer should be able to access the network, which meant one thing. "You hacked my cameras?" You asked, half-impressed and half-offended. "Seriously? Do all Netrunners just have an urge of 'I see security, I break security?'"

Your joke landed right on its face when Arisu's eyes glowed and she rewound the camera footage to just only a few minutes ago. It was just Hinata manning the station now like you had ask, when he welcomed a customer stepping in. His face lit up and he began to show off the Lycoris bouquet, then packaging them up. Then a young lady wearing a schoolgirl uniform moved in to collect the bouquet. It all seemed legitimate, but there was one detail that had you staring in dumbfound disbelief at a very familiar sight.

A Lycoris uniform.

Mitsu was the first to speak in a quiet voice. "That's a Lycoris First."

"One very far from Kyoto," You numbly mumbled and glanced at the grim Arisu. "I see now. Thank you."

"It's no skin off my nose considering that I'm probably about to leave in a couple days, but I think you definitely needed to know." She rewound the footage a few more steps to pause exactly on the schoolgirl, who was facing away from the camera all the while. "Looks like we may be graduated, but we aren't out of its shadow just yet."

You pressed your lips together and considered what to do with this mysterious appearance.

[ ] [Lycoris] Find them. No way they're here without a reason. Make it a new Fixer project to track down and find out why an active Lycoris was in the city, buying flowers for some reason.

[ ] [Lycoris] Ignore them. No, you're finished with the organization. You're done. Take the information in stride, then leave it be. You're not getting involved in whatever new shadow is being cast.

- Well, in the end, you still made a fair bit of cash. Just not as much as it could've been. I'll be adding Erik and Hinata's pay now to your monthly budget calculations, so keep that in mind for when the end of the month starts approaching.
- This one is a more straightforward choice, but it is mainly to decide if you want to get involved in whatever is going on with a Lycoris being present in Kagoshima. You can decide later what to actually do once you discover the reason why, but deciding not to get involved is a clear cut 'we're out' indication.

Arisu made a face when she checked her messages. "Jeez, my professors are really far too stuck up. They're screaming that if I'm not attending class by the end of the week, they're actually going to dock my participation score. And that'll chip at my grades."

"Is that not the standard?" Mitsu questioned while removing the roller travel bag from her motorcycle. "Should you not be held up to the same judgment as your peers?"

"Oh, I am, but in an annoying way that just doesn't make any sense." Arisu grabbed her travel bag and shook her head. "Because I am already attending classes through the net, but they 'want me there in person.' Bah, they'll bend over to let a suit's child take as many online classes as they want, but since I'm an 'outsider,' they'll only go so far."

"Look at it this way: if they know our real past, they'd be less interested in our heads, and far more interested in making us their goons for life," You dryly pointed out and shrugged. "We have to make do."

"Agreed, we do." The Netrunner paused, then turned to you with a final look. "So you're serious? You're going to look into all the oddities that's been happening lately?"

"I will," You promised with a nod. "I need to start somewhere, and these leads are as good as any. It'll also help keep me busy for a while."

"And we have justice to execute as well!" Mitsu added, pumping her fist eagerly. She had been read into the situation with Momiji and was naturally fired up as well. "Even if we must journey as far as Tokyo, we shall rescue our companion!"

That was admittedly the trickier project, but you were fairly sure there had to be a media scene in Kagoshima that you could stick your foot in first to get that necessary leverage. With any luck, it'd be a solid base before trying to dive any deeper. Arisu didn't notice what you were thinking of and just made a final joke as a parting farewell. "In case you travel up to Tokyo, I'd offer to room you in return but I'm afraid we'd be three sharing one bed then. And I don't feel like being a third wheel between you two."

You choked and you didn't need to look to notice Mitsu rapidly reddening as well. Arisu laughed loudly and turned to enter the airport, waving a hand without looking back. There was some awkward silence between you and your partner in the wake of that, then you awkwardly coughed. "Right. Time to get to work."

Mitsu numbly nodded and got back on her motorcycle, tugging the safety straps of her protective headgear on. You followed while putting a helmet back on, pointedly grabbing the passenger seat bars to hold on while she revved up the engine and began to accelerate. Soon, the airport was behind you and you looked out to the city of Kagoshima, taking in the mix of traditional and modern features under a neon glow.

One day, perhaps you'd go to Tokyo. But for now, you still had this city to takeover. You pressed your lips together, then pinged your roommate. "Mitsu. Get ready to get busy."

"My blade is ready," She instantly responded back and you nodded.

"Good. Because now, we start really living."

Choose up to four (4) actions you'll carry out through the week

Kagoshima Fragrance (Kaori)
-[ ] [Kagoshima Fragrance] Fix the Van: The Scavs had a cheap utility van that's gotten shot up pretty badly, but you think you could maybe fix it back up. It could be handy for either an infusion of cash to your new business or an asset for the business itself. Try your hand at being a mechanic for a bit.

-[ ] [Kagoshima Fragrance] Manage the Cafe: Devote some time into properly working with your employees to make some extra money after breaking even, which adds to your bank account.

-[ ] [Kagoshima Fragrance] International Standard: To provide high quality authentic coffee, you've turned to rely on purchasing your beverage ingredients from a well-known corporation that specializes in imports. They surely should have an expert when it comes to picking specific ingredients, so pay them a visit to see if you can perhaps improve your blends.

-[ ] [Kagoshima Fragrance] Firing Range: You've got private gun range in the soundproof basement of your shophouse. Put some time there and try to hone your skill with firearms.
--[ ] Pistols
--[ ] Assault

Kagoshima Fixer
-[ ] [Kagoshima Fixer] Gather Information: Go out and listen to the streets, see if there's any big event about in the city that you could muscle in and make an independent gig out of.

-[ ] [Kagoshima Fixer] Offer Consultation: Reach out to one of the many factions in Kagoshima and idly offer your neutral services. See if any of them have free gigs that they are willing to hand over to you to manage, with a cut to them but the freedom of execution to you.
--[ ] Write-in a faction.

-[ ] [Kagoshima Fixer] Media Rumors: So it seemed like the media industry had blacklisted your fellow Lycoris. You weren't going to let that stand. Start putting out feelers and try to find a way to break into the industry as need be.

-[ ] [Kagoshima Fixer] Lycoris Sighting: Out of all things, a Lycoris First had been sighted shopping at your business. Thing was, this wasn't Kyoto, so what was she doing here? You're eager to look for your possible sister in arms and connect with her.


Flower Cultivation
-[ ] [Flower Cultivation] Ocha Plantation: A tea plantation that supplies your cafe with seasonal flowers in bulk, one of your shop's main products. Take a visit to see if you can buy some new flower seeds from them.

-[ ] [Flower Cultivation] Sow Seeds: You've got your hands on some seeds that you want to begin growing! Take some time to till the soil, plant the gardens, and watch new life being to sprout.
--[ ] You currently have no seeds.

[ ] [Flower Cultivation] Tend to Gardens: Devote a part of your week entirely to making sure you tend to the gardens as diligently as possible, plucking out weeds and making sure each sprout gets just the right amount of water and conditions to grow splendidly.


Shinohara Securities
-[ ] [Shinohara Securities] Visit the Office: You've made a contact in the form of Security Chief Azumi, the leader of an elite corporate police task force. Pay her a visit to chat and see what opportunities she can offer you.

-[ ] [Shinohara Securities] Part-Time Patrol: As Shinohara Securities was perpetually shorthanded, they didn't have enough security patrols going around to keep the neighborhood safe. They've offered to pay you a fair sum to do so in their place. It'd be like a Lycoris patrol, but this time, you get paid!

Secondborn Ronin
-[ ] [Secondborn Ronin] Visit the Pauper: The Pauper is the Fixer of the Secondborn Ronin and is a bridge between the corporate world and streets. Go to the public library to chat with them about what opportunities they can offer you.

The Vendetta
-[ ] [The Vendetta] Schedule a Ripper: La Peste is a mysterious but talented RipperDoc who has offered their expertise if you wish to see them for a health checkup or discrete cyberware surgery. See if they have an opening in their schedule to meet them.

Lycoris Graduate
-[ ] [Lycoris Graduate] Call a Lycoris: There's times where you miss the organization, as unbelievable as that might sound given their grim task. You certainly don't hold it against any of the other Lycoris and want to have a chat with them to see how they're doing.
--[ ] The Commander
--[ ] Misaki Arisu
--[ ] Nakaiji Momiji

Living Life
-[ ] [Living Life] Browse the Library: The public library in your neighborhood has a wide selection of information datashards covering a variety of topics. You can read them to your heart's content in the facility, or you could pay a fee to make a copy and take it home to study.

-[ ] [Living Life] Find a Black Market: As so many things are restricted from sale or possession in Japan, you can only find these prohibited items at a black market somewhere. They're surprisingly common enough if you know where to look, though having some caution about the quality of their myriad of wares is a smart idea.

-[ ] [Living Life] Go Clubbing: Risk the nightlife of the city and visit one of the many neon hangouts around the city to experience something new, maybe even meet some new folks or have magical encounters.

-[ ] [Living Life] The Way: Mitsu's offered to take some time out of her week to help train you in the sword and by extension, other melee weapons. You even had a great dojo to practice in, so it was time to spar to your heart's content.

Miscellaneous
-[ ] [Miscellaneous] Scrap the Van: It's not worth your time or effort to patch it up. Rip it apart and find a seller for the parts.

Available Bouquets

- Big expansion on your actions now! I think it should be manageable with your current action count for now, but we'll see. In any case, it's fine to take things slow if you want, so just do what you like