Sitting in the car, Berry was still pouting, her small eyes staring resentfully at V without speaking.
V had the pistol she won tucked conspicuously at her waist, as if afraid Berry wouldn't see it. It occasionally swayed with the movement of the car, and this silent mockery made Berry even more frustrated.
"I feel like... the quality isn't as good as the guns I modify."
Berry stared at V's trophy, her tone sour, the jar of vinegar practically overturned.
V actually dared to use a gun modified by someone else; she clearly didn't respect Berry.
How could she use someone else's item? It might have passed through some rough guy's greasy hands, and the accuracy was certainly off, and the grip wouldn't suit V. In short, everything about it seemed flawed.
Using something that hadn't been tuned by her would ruin her hands.
Berry pursed her lips, her cheeks practically bulging.
"Pfft..."
Finally, seeing Berry's intense resentment, V, who was driving, couldn't hold back and burst out laughing.
The bell-like laughter rang out, but Berry grew even more resentful, crossing her arms and refusing to speak to V.
"Little Berry, I only won against you once, is it that dramatic?"
V looked at her sulking girlfriend with amusement.
She only won against her once, yet Berry was still feeling frustrated, which made V incredibly happy.
Thinking this, V mused with a smile.
Girls will be girls; she's so easily teased, getting flustered the moment she is, just like a little squirrel.
Looking at Berry's bulging little cheeks, V involuntarily thought of a certain rodent she had seen on TV, and the smile on her lips became even more pronounced.
Berry noticed V's sly smile, and her masculine sixth sense immediately realized her girlfriend was definitely thinking unflattering things about her, making her feel even more humiliated.
She, Master Bai, struggled alone in Night City, relying only on her bare hands to establish "The Hive." When had she ever suffered such humiliation?
She definitely had to get back at her.
Thinking this, Berry's eyes darted around, and a mischievous idea formed in her mind.
"Oh, right, V, where are we going today?"
Berry pretended to speak casually, as if nothing had happened just now.
"Hmm, didn't Jackie call you? We're going to the Wolf Bar today."
V, who was driving, hadn't noticed anything unusual and answered honestly.
The Wolf Bar, huh?
Although she didn't know why they were going, knowing it was the Wolf Bar was enough.
The Wolf Bar, Mrs. Welles... connecting the keywords in her mind, Berry seemed to have thought of a good idea, and a wicked, malicious grin spread across her lips.
A man's revenge lasts from morning till night. When they reached the next traffic light and the car stopped for the red signal, the impatient Berry immediately took action.
"Hey! Berry, what are you doing? I'm driving!"
"Just drive! Focus on the road!"
As soon as the car stopped, Berry placed her hand on V's shoulder and leaned her small head over.
V had just shifted back into park when she felt Berry's hot breath on her neck. Caught off guard, she instinctively shrank her neck.
But it was too late.
*Kissing sound*~
The leaning Berry unceremoniously sucked hard on V's pale neck, then sat back in her seat looking utterly satisfied, her eyes squinting with delight.
"Berry!? You little brat!"
Only after being sucked did V belatedly realize what Berry had done. She quickly leaned forward to look in the rearview mirror, where she saw a large, bright red mark—vivid and conspicuous—on the pale hollow of her neck.
This naughty girl, Berry, had actually given her a huge hickey while V wasn't paying attention.
"Haha, now let's see how you explain this to Mrs. Welles!"
Meanwhile, Berry, having completed her mischief, looked completely justified, puffing out her chest and crossing her arms, her elbows nearly reaching her chin in sheer pride.
"Berry..."
After rubbing it twice and realizing the red mark wouldn't come off, V looked at the provocative Berry with gritted teeth.
"Hahaha, it must be awkward going to the Wolf Bar with a hickey on your neck! Haha, boxer shorts, boxer shorts! The useless big sister is too weak!"
Watching V, Berry, oblivious to danger, maintained her provocative, cheeky brat demeanor, grinning widely, the look of small-time triumph clearly evident.
"Berry~"
Seeing Berry still provoking her, V raised an eyebrow, intending to properly discipline her.
"Wait, wait!"
Berry saw the dangerous glint in V's eyes, and alarm bells suddenly rang in her heart. She immediately backed down.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, Big Sister V, I was wrong!"
Berry fully demonstrated the meaning of "ask and you shall receive"—shouting when released, rolling her eyes when choked. Seeing V's dangerous gaze sizing her up, she immediately raised her hands in surrender.
"Sister V, drive, hurry and drive! The red light is almost over!"
Berry pointed at the countdown timer on the signal light and quickly spoke to V, afraid that V might unleash her beastly nature and "take care of her" right there in the car.
"Hmph, Little Berry, I'll deal with you properly when we get home tonight."
Seeing the green light turn on, V couldn't exactly punish the provocative Berry right then and there. She could only glare at Berry and start driving.
It seemed the traffic laws of Night City had saved Berry's life, but V didn't intend to let her off the hook completely.
Bad children needed proper education. Once they were home and the door was closed, she had a hundred ways to make this reckless Little Berry beg for mercy.
For now, she would let her go.
Seeing V drive off again, Berry nervously patted her small chest and let out a sigh of relief.
She almost lost control.
Berry definitely didn't want to experience being pinned down in the car. If that happened, the position would be uncomfortable, and her waist would definitely ache, absolutely.
Hmm, Berry's focus seemed a little strange.
The car quickly arrived in front of the Wolf Bar. Before they even reached the intersection, Berry had already spotted Jackie, dressed in a formal suit, standing at the entrance through the car window.
"Hey, Berry, V, hello."
Berry, who had just gotten out of the car, was about to give an enthusiastic greeting, but seeing Jackie look utterly devastated the moment she stepped out, she froze, her hand raised, unsure what to say.
What was going on?
Doubt arose in Berry's heart. How had Jackie become like this after just one day? Had something happened that she didn't know about?
However, V, who got out of the car next to her and zipped her gray jacket all the way up, seemed to understand Jackie's state. She walked forward with a normal expression and greeted him.
Jackie, the big guy, was unusually quiet now, his expression solemn. He merely nodded at the two of them.
"Berry, V, Viktor is already here. Since you've arrived, go meet him in the repair room. The farewell ceremony is being held there. I'm going to... prepare a little."
Jackie struggled to speak, pausing repeatedly, conveying his exhaustion. Finally, Jackie sighed and turned to leave.
"Alright, I'll be right there."
V nodded seriously, indicating she would follow shortly.
"What... what happened to Jackie?"
Seeing Jackie leave, Berry, who was confused by the interaction between V and Jackie, spoke hesitantly, unable to figure out if she hadn't woken up properly today or if something truly unknown had happened.
"Yeah, I originally meant to tell you earlier."
V crossed her arms while looking at her little girlfriend, who was staring with wide, innocent eyes.
She had intended to tell her, but who knew Berry would suddenly ambush her with that move, making V forget about the matter entirely.
As for who was to blame for this outcome, V's expression made it clear.
"Today is Arno's memorial service, so now you know why I told you not to move around."
V looked at Berry and said helplessly, even though Berry had already been moving around.
What?
Berry almost thought she had misheard.
Arno, holy hell, Arno!
Only then did Berry realize what was happening.
Jackie was holding a memorial service for Arno.
Berry felt her mind instantly stop working.
But... isn't this Arno just a Chassis?
Although she knew V and Jackie always treated Arno like a real person, Berry still felt a surge of absurdity.
She was the one controlling Arno, so wasn't this, essentially, a memorial service for her?
What the hell? I'm attending my own memorial service.
Berry opened her small mouth, speechless.
She seemed to have inadvertently achieved some incredible accomplishment.
And seeing V zip her collar up high, barely managing to conceal the hickeys, Berry also understood why V was covering up so much.
Are you kidding? Going to a memorial service covered in hickeys.
What kind of combination is that? It's like Houttuynia Cordata and a hamburger—they belong to two different worlds; if you mix them, the world will collapse.
So, seeing V's resentful look, Berry gave an embarrassed smile.
If it was Arno's memorial service, she could express that she didn't mind.
Mm, Arno wouldn't complain; she could guarantee that.
Berry nodded, feeling that the world had revealed another marvelous corner to her.
"...V, Berry."
Only when the voice sounded did the two notice Mrs. Welles leaning against the shop entrance smoking a cigarette. They didn't know if she had just come out or had been standing there for a while.
"Hi, Mrs. Welles."
V, acting as the older sister, politely greeted Mrs. Welles.
"Mrs. Welles!"
Berry also reacted and called out.
"Mm..." Mrs. Welles nodded.
"Thank you both for taking the time to come see Jackie today. He's been talking about this for the past couple of days. One of your companions died during that mission. Please accept my condolences."
"Yes, Mrs. Welles."
V nodded. Jackie had told her everything—that he was holding a farewell ceremony for Arno.
"The old days were much better than now. Back then, there were funerals, memories shared by relatives, and goodbyes. But now, everything changes too fast. Bodies are burned, put into small boxes, and sent to storage walls that aren't even considered proper cemeteries."
"Funerals are for the living, allowing those who cared about the deceased to mourn and start a new life."
Mrs. Welles recalled those past times that still had ritual and dignity. This should have been a heavy and somber moment, but Berry could not immerse herself in it.
She couldn't help it. After all, Jackie was trying to hold a funeral for a robot.
Berry felt her merit points were dropping rapidly, but she just couldn't keep a straight face.
Please, what kind of Hell Scroll is this? Can someone just take her away?
Arno, Arno, although I really want to grieve for you, you're the damn character I played!
Jackie usually didn't stay at the shop now; he had a repair garage in the back alley of the Wolf Bar, where he currently lived, and he planned to hold the memorial service there.
V and Berry entered the garage. The clutter in the middle of the repair bay had been deliberately cleared out, and Jackie's ride was parked in the open-air lot. In the center, a makeshift altar had been set up using wooden boxes.
Around the altar were some plastic flowers and electronic candles. In the center was a photo of the three of them—none other than the snapshot Jackie took of himself, V, and Arno outside the Afterlife Bar, just as they were about to head to Konpeki Plaza full of high spirits.
Seeing all this, Berry felt choked up and didn't know what to say.
Please, someone save this child.
Looking at Arno's face, which she hadn't seen in a while, Berry felt her limbs go numb.
I really want to conjure up even a tiny bit of sorrow, but she, Berry, is Arno.
Just like the secret that Marika is Radagon, the fact that Berry is Arno was unknown to the others, which led to the current situation.
Not many people in Night City knew Arno well. Jackie only invited a few people: besides Berry and V, there was Viktor.
These people represented the extent of Arno's Chassis's social circle.
Berry remembered it all perfectly clearly.
Seeing everyone had arrived, Jackie, dressed in a suit and appearing solemn, stepped forward and began to speak to the photo on the central round platform.
Seeing Jackie move, the three others, including Viktor and V, gathered in a circle around the platform, quietly waiting for Jackie to speak.
"Today, we gather here to mourn our brother, Arno."
Staring at the photo on the platform, Jackie's face was etched with deep sorrow; the heavy flesh on his face seemed to droop slightly due to his sadness, revealing wrinkles.
Jackie genuinely missed Arno, the good brother with whom he had shared life and death.
"Arno, he was a good brother. Tough, loyal. We've got too much blood on our hands to go to Heaven, but brother, even if you end up in Hell, save a spot for your pal."
After speaking solemnly, Jackie carefully took out a pair of shattered, almost disassembled sunglasses from his pocket and gently placed them on the round platform, in front of the photo.
Those were Arno's sunglasses. Berry recognized them instantly; she had even snagged them from the Lizzy Bar. But she never expected that Jackie would still manage to collect Arno's broken sunglasses during the desperate situation at Konpeki Plaza.
Berry herself had forgotten when those sunglasses had been dropped.
Seeing Jackie's painful expression, Berry felt truly distressed.
She felt so awful; she wanted to blurt out that Arno was actually just a Chassis and that everyone should stop grieving.
But looking at Jackie, Berry found herself unable to speak.
She felt that if she spoke up, she would be betraying the sincerity Jackie had invested.
Perhaps, on some level, Jackie wasn't wrong.
A person, alive and talking and moving right in front of him, until they finally died—wasn't that the entire process of a real person?
Therefore, Berry decided to let this secret rot inside her heart and allow the person named Arno to have truly existed in this world.
However, among the four people present, there was one other who knew Arno's origin.
That was the Cyberware Doctor, Viktor. In fact, he had participated in Arno's creation process.
Therefore, Berry wasn't the only one feeling strange; the two exchanged a look and recognized the absurdity in the other's eyes.
Seeing Jackie step back, Doctor Viktor shrugged at Berry and reluctantly stepped forward.
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