Chapter 103

Extra Chapter: Another World (New Year's Gift)

(This story is unrelated to the main plot or original work; the timeline and worldbuilding differ slightly. If you mind, feel free to skip it—it's just a free New Year's gift for everyone.)

On the vast gray land, a tiny shadow stared blankly at the empty, pitch-black void.

Brilliant sunlight fell upon her head, yet she felt not a trace of warmth.

After a long while, she turned her head and lowered her arm from shielding her eyes.

Inside the thick, bulky spacesuit, a few faint sighs echoed.

Closing her eyes, she tilted her head upward, arms outstretched, as if ready to embrace the blazing, solitary sun hanging high in the starry sky.

"Cut! Perfect! One take!"

The director's praise pulled her back from her immersed emotion into reality.

"Yes! Lucy! Great job!" The colleagues who had been waiting quietly rushed over, celebrating together as filming ended.

"Wow, you acted so well—I cried…!" David, who had just gotten off set, wiped tears from his eyes and rushed over to hug Lucy.

"Oh come on, wait—I need to take off this annoying helmet first."

Lucy looked at the big boy sobbing in her arms and gently stroked his head.

"Hehe, you two didn't actually fall for each other, did you…?" Rebecca covered her mouth, giggling from the side, her terrifying makeup still intact, "Hey, David, in the film you two were lovers—how about we pair up in real life? You can't just leave me watching all the time!"

"You're such a chatterbox…" Lucy muttered, yanking off her obstructive helmet and breathing deeply in the fresh air, "This prop suit really simulates the environment—just way too heavy. I could barely breathe…"

"When you've got the Night City Queen's investment, things are different—look at this set design, it's identical to real outer space!" Mann, long finished with his scenes, grabbed a drink and came over to join the celebration.

"That big dumb guy has just never seen the world…" Kiwai crossed her arms, standing far off, silently rolling her eyes.

"Alright, alright, everyone, quiet down!" The director clapped his hands, gathering the laughing, joking actors, "Tonight I'll treat everyone here to dinner; after the full series airs, we'll all get together again!"

"Director, when will the full series be released?" Lucy asked softly, brushing aside her damp, messy short hair.

"End of 2077—released all at once!"

"It's almost New Year's—are you gonna make viewers cry?" Rebecca gave the director a light kick on the butt and turned to run.

"Hey!" The director touched his butt, smiling helplessly.

Unlike the film's setting, Rebecca, the youngest in actual age, was the set's mischievous troublemaker and joker—always turning everyone around, and no one could stop her.

"David, Lucy, come here for a moment." The director waved to the film's male and female leads, signaling he wanted to speak with them privately.

"Director Imashima, what do you want to tell us?" Lucy pulled David, still in character, and hurried over to the director.

"Your acting is excellent—you don't seem like newcomers at all…" Director Imashima scratched the back of his head, "I just wanted to ask—do either of you plan to continue pursuing acting in the film industry?"

"As for me, I don't plan to continue in this direction before graduation…" Lucy shook her head gently and glanced at David.

"Me? If Lucy doesn't act… then I'll just keep studying too…" David glanced at Lucy and answered softly.

"Hmm… that's fine…" The disappointment on Director Imashima's face vanished instantly; he smiled and didn't press further, "David being a boy is fine, but Lucy—if you ever want to continue acting, be careful. Some revealing scenes now can use stand-ins, but later on, you might not be able to…"

"Thank you, Director…" Lucy sincerely thanked him.

"One more thing! David and Lucy…" Director Imashima cleared his throat, his smile fading as he adopted a serious expression, "When your parents signed the contract, they specifically said—no dating! Don't let fiction become reality!"

"Huh?"

"Don't rush!" Director Imashima glanced at David's wailing and Lucy's quiet disappointment, then smiled faintly, "But since you two don't plan to keep acting, I can't interfere anymore…"

"Director… do you know how much you just earned yourself a punch?" David gritted his teeth, fists clenched tight.

Director Imashima coughed, embarrassedly rubbed his chin, "Well, I've said all I needed to say… Anyway, let's have a small gathering first; when the film releases, we'll gather everyone again—including the investors."

"So… does that mean I'll get to meet the legendary V?" David, his heart full of idol worship, instantly forgot his annoyance, his face glowing with excitement.

"You'll find out then…"

◎

On December 29, 2077, a ten-episode web series titled Edgerunners premiered on the world's largest online platform and instantly exploded across the internet.

Its realistic 2076 setting and the famous terror legend—Adam Smasher, already dead in Arasaka Tower—were already enough to draw attention; combined with the stunning female lead and gripping plot, countless viewers had already crowned it the best of the year.

All related characters, topics, and merchandise instantly became wildly popular.

◎

December 31, 2077.

The Edgerunners cast planned a live-streamed celebration party to ring in the New Year with their fans.

"To the entire crew!" Valérie, the legendary figure now known as the Night City Queen, sat at the head table, raising her glass loudly.

"To Night City! To Night City Queen V! To Afterlife!" David shouted, acting like V's number-one fan.

V smiled faintly, nodding gently at the punk-haired boy.

Even in her elevated position, she still preferred this down-to-earth approach—she was never comfortable with the haughty airs of big shots.

"Lucy, David, you really won't continue acting? You're now the brightest stars in all of Night City…" V asked softly, her gaze fixed on the lead actors sitting together, "And Rebecca—you're also wildly popular."

"No way… I went to make this movie, but who'll take care of my useless older brother? Besides, I'm not interested in other genres…" Rebecca shook her head and lightly stepped on Pilar's foot beside her.

"I still hold my original view… I prefer ordinary life over being a superstar." Lucy sighed softly; the audience's love brought her both joy and unease.

"Same here… I want to stay with my mom…" David was already shoveling food into his mouth, his exaggerated eating making Gloria beside him shake her head in disbelief, unable to watch.

V raised her glass and asked the rest of the crew, receiving mostly similar replies.

"Oh come on, I sacrificed the most in this film…" Far removed from her on-screen look, Kiwai had removed her mask and now looked like a mature older sister, "If I keep filming like this, how will I ever find a boyfriend?"

"I plan to marry Dorio right after New Year…" Mann said shyly, looking absurdly cute.

"Wow… congratulations to you two!" V happily toasted the soon-to-be-married couple.

"Hey, Director, how did you bring a dead person back to life on screen? Was it some special effect?" V returned to her seat and nudged Director Imashima, who was still eating, "That guy—Adam Smasher—if I hadn't personally killed him in Arasaka Tower, I'd have thought he was real."

"Of course—groundbreaking AI technology…" Director Imashima wiped oil from his lips, a proud smile on his face, "It can extract nearly all remaining data from deceased individuals and nearly perfectly recreate their personality…"

◎

"Xida! It's already New Year—stop watching TV…" A gentle female voice sounded beside the girl.

"Mom! Just a little longer, please… Is AI really that amazing?" The girl with silver hair pouted, begging her mother to grant her a little more time.

"No, sweetheart, your dad and I need to sleep now. Early sleep is good for your health, be good!" Her mother spoke softly, gently stroking her daughter's head.

"Fine…" Hita reluctantly agreed, sighing lightly as she watched the TV screen go dark.

"Go to your room and sleep now! Sweetheart!" Her mother looked at her stubborn little girl with helplessness, coaxing her gently.

"I know, I know… hehe~" Hita gripped the doorframe and, before the door closed, stuck out her tongue cutely through the gap at her mother.

"Goodnight, daughter…"

"Goodnight, Mom!" Hita shouted through the door, then turned and flung herself onto her small bed.

The bright moonlight streamed through the window, gently spilling over her silver hair.

Hita opened her violet eyes, gazing out at the distant window.

Even the festive energy of New Year had little effect on this quiet, remote little town.

As far as the eye could see, all the lights had been extinguished.

Only the moon stubbornly hung in the sky, as if unwilling to let this last awake, lonely child sink into a lonely night.

"Goodnight, moon…" Hita waved at the moon with a sweet smile on her lips.

How far away was the bustling Night City from this little town?

She asked herself softly, but found no answer.

In the silent night, even the wind grew gentle.

Hita pulled out her small phone, slipped a pair of old headphones into her ears, and let the music pouring from them fully engulf her.

"I couldn't wait for you to come clear the cupboards…"

"But now you're gone and leaving nothing but a sign…"

"Another evening I'll be sitting reading in between your lines…"

"Because I miss you all the time…"

She hummed along with the music, using her ethereal voice to fill the quiet sky.

Only when sleepiness washed over her did Hita remove the headphones.

"Happy New Year, Hita… In the new year, be happy too…" Snuggled warmly under the covers, only her head exposed, she tilted her head and spoke softly to the cold moon outside.

The moon watched her silently, as always.

Hita smiled, then slowly closed her eyes.