The Mox sisters all knew Judy's style.
She was the type who'd rather lock herself in the basement, cutting braindances until her eyes burned — someone who didn't even like coming up to eat, and only rarely bothered with the apartment she rented outside.
So seeing her walk out with a guy?
That was the real shock. Everyone knew Judy wasn't into men.
Even the girls playing basketball on the rooftop froze mid-game, staring like they'd just watched a ghost step into daylight.
After Vash and Judy disappeared from view, one of the sisters decided this was worth reporting.
"Evelyn…" She said as soon as the call conected, low and quick, "Judy just left with a guy. One who's been coming around a lot."
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They took the stairs down and headed straight for Lizzie's underground garage.
Judy wasn't the subway type. She didn't even like sitting in cars.
Motorcycles were different. The vibration through the frame, the engine resonance in your ribs, the wind cutting past your helmet — speed felt honest in a city where everything else was filtered.
Vash didn't ask where they were going.
Judy pulled out a pink bike shard and tapped it. From the corner, a pink-and-green motorcycle rolled out, sprayed with Mox-style graffiti and attitude.
"V." Judy asked, "Need a ride?"
Vash was already reaching for the Kusanagi shard.
He paused… Then put it back.
"That'd be great."
His poor top-tier bike was left to gather dust.
He swung onto the seat behind her. Up close, Judy's silhouette was clean and sharp in the garage light, and there was a faint trace of perfume in the air — worlds away from the stale stink of most Watson apartments.
"Just so we're clear…" Judy said, half-joking, "You do anything weird back there, I'm tossing you off."
"I'm a gentleman." Vash replied, calm.
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They cut through Night City and reached Little China near Japantown.
Every district had its own flavor.
Japantown lived up to the name — neon on neon, advertisements screaming in every color the human eye could stand.
Little China was just as bright, but the signs hit different: food stalls, restaurants, and hawkers selling everything from noodles to skewers. Some of the legendary dishes were projected as hovering holograms, floating above the street like bait.
"V, you've got that East Asian vibe." Judy said, "Let's eat here. Not bad, right?"
Vash didn't ruin the mood.
"I'm not Chinese, to be clear." He said, then added with a small grin, "I just got some distant roots that make me look the part. Old family joke." He glanced at the glowing signs, "But yeah — Eastern food? You've got taste, Judy."
They parked in an underground garage and walked the streets.
Little China hit Vash with a different kind of energy — bright, crowded, loud in a way that felt alive. After weeks in Night City, where everything blurred into the same cold neon and the same recycled languages, this place felt like its own little world.
It didn't make him feel "at home". It just felt cool. Like a neighborhood with a pulse — like it didn't care who you were as long as you showed up hungry.
{T/N: To be clear, this is a translation from a Chinese fanfic, and I've removed some of the patriotism here. BUT, Little China IS actually a comparatively better subdistrict than the others in Watson, as it received significant investment in the past and only later became populated by Chinese immigrants, hence its name. Its canon.}
"Looks like you really like it here?" Judy asked and added, "I love the food. Sometimes when I get tired of Western stuff, I sneak over for a treat."
"It's not really my scene." Vash said, taking in the crowd and the glow, "But it's got style. Feels like the kind of place where you can breathe for a second."
And that was true. It wasn't about belonging — it was about the vibe. Color, noise, and the sense that the street had its own rhythm.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Before they could even hit more than a few shops, explosions and gunfire ripped down the street ahead.
「A violent incident is currently occurring in Little China. The perpetrators are in violation of Night City's urban management law. Armed security will arrive shortly to suppress the violence. Unrelated personnel, please evacuate immediately.」
The district alarm kicked on. A holographic police line flared to life across the street, throwing up a shimmering barrier that screamed KEEP OUT.
Everything happened fast — too fast to feel real until the second volley of gunfire echoed between buildings.
"Damn." Judy muttered, "These endless psychos."
She really didn't understand what these guys were fighting for on the streets every day.
Vash exhaled, "Looks like we're not eating here today."
Then he glanced at her.
"But if you want Eastern food, we don't have to stay in Little China. I've got another idea."
Judy: "Where?"
Vash: "My place."
Judy stared at him. Not a quick look. A long one — like she was checking whether he was joking.
When she realized he wasn't, a smile pulled at her mouth.
"We finally get out, I don't wanna run back to Lizzie's for takeout." She shook her head, "Alright. Fine. Let's go to your place."
"Not much smart tech where I live." Vash warned, "But it's authentic."
He started walking them back toward the garage.
"Once we're there, I can call Jackie. And if you wanna invite someone — go ahead."
Judy: "I don't have friends."
Vash smiled faintly, "Evelyn, then. You can invite her."
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T/N: Comment, give me Power Stones, like and favorite, it all supports me and makes me go foward with this. Appreciate my other stories as well, I guarantee the good work!
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That's it and happy reading! (-‿◦)