Chapter 82: The Gathering (III)

The steps were covered in filthy marks; Hita tiptoed carefully, passing through the narrow staircase behind Lucy.

Perhaps due to long-term neglect, the building's elevator suddenly broke down.

Given the property management's efficiency, it might not be fixed until after the New Year.

"Lucy, how about celebrating the New Year with us the day after tomorrow?" Hita muttered a few curses about the property management, then turned to ask Lucy, who followed behind.

"The New Year?" Lucy reached up to grip the edge of her hoodie's hood, the dim shadow blurring her facial expression.

"Like the Chinese Spring Festival…"

"Actually, I've never experienced 'celebrating the New Year' before…" Lucy fiddled with the ends of her hair, her gaze fixed on Hita; after a brief hesitation, she chose to tell the truth.

"Ah?" Hita raised her eyebrows in surprise and instinctively grasped Lucy's slightly cold hands.

"Mm…"

The girl's slender fingers pressed tightly against Hita's skin; warmth spread from the fingertips, creeping deep into her heart.

Lucy glanced at the two homeless men slumped at the staircase corner, dropped the subject, and instead took Hita's hand, hurrying toward the fourth floor below.

At this hour of night, two girls wandering alone outdoors was dangerous—especially in Night City, a perilous city of crime.

As a skilled Hacker, even the towering walls of the deep Cyberspace couldn't stop her from probing.

She knew clearly that a group of people had artificially created a true hell within the virtual Cyberspace.

All the ugliness of human nature was laid bare there.

She could never forget the twisted human limbs and agonized screams in those videos.

So Lucy always remained vigilant, avoiding any contact with strangers.

"We're home… Lucy."

Though unsure why Lucy looked so tense, Hita, understanding and gentle, didn't press for answers, holding her hand tightly until they reached their door.

"Welcome home."

Yahweh opened the door at the right moment, warmly ushering the two weary girls inside, along with the warmth of the heating.

"Why so long?" Yahweh closed the door and asked softly, his gaze shifting to Lucy, who was pulling down her hoodie hood, and Hita, who had just kicked off her sneakers.

"Hehe… looks like I'm holding a 'Lucy Interrogation Session' tonight!" Hita handed Lucy a brand-new pair of cotton slippers, pretending to speak menacingly.

"So I can't join, then?"

Since falling in love, Yahweh always paid close attention to the details in Hita's words.

"Of course! It's girls' night talk! You'll sleep alone tonight! Lucy and I are sharing a bed!"

"Maybe you should ask Lucy's opinion first—while we're talking, her fists are already clenched." Yahweh rubbed his nose, barely holding back a smile.

Lucy quickly retracted the fist she'd quietly raised behind Hita's head, shot Yahweh a subtle glare, slipped her hands back into her pockets, and kept her face calm and expressionless.

Hita, belatedly, turned to Lucy—but found nothing amiss.

"So, Lucy, what do you think?"

"You've already said it—what opinion could I possibly have?" Lucy sighed, rubbing her temples, and accepted Hita's request for her to stay tonight.

"Yay!" Hita bounced in place, excitedly dragging Lucy toward the living room.

"Should I go pick up Gloria and David? The elevator's broken, right?"

"Thanks so much, I love you!" Hita, still cuddled up to Lucy, turned and blew Yahweh a kiss.

Yahweh smiled, touched his lips, glanced at the "intense battle" unfolding between the two girls on the sofa, and responded with a soft click of the door closing.

"Stop touching!" Lucy straightened her slightly disheveled clothes, feigned anger, and plopped down onto Hita's abdomen, pinning her beneath her.

"Ahh! I give up…" Hita shrieked, sticking out her tiny tongue, adopting a comical dead-fish pose.

The first-ever Tickling Championship ended with Lucy's victory.

"How did he know the elevator was broken?" Lucy exhaled deeply, releasing the excess heat from her physical exertion.

"For him, anywhere with network coverage or data access is something he knows about." Hita wiped the faint sweat from her forehead, speaking mysteriously.

"Wow…" Lucy recalled the figure dominating the Cyberspace—there was no real rebuttal possible.

"So he already knows everything we'll talk about tonight?"

"Don't worry—here!" Hita pulled a small notebook from her pocket.

"Passing notes under the covers?" Lucy raised an eyebrow; even she, nostalgic and old-fashioned, was amazed by how antiquated this method seemed.

"Hehe, I'm clearly a little genius!"

"Mmm…" Lucy nodded absently, her tense muscles relaxing; she slumped entirely onto Hita, languid and limp.

"Get up already… judging by the time, they should be arriving soon."

As if on cue, the door opened; Yahweh walked in carrying bags, followed by Gloria and David.

"Hello…" Lucy immediately stood up from the sofa, bowing her head before even clearly seeing them.

"Huh? You're the girl from earlier…" Gloria stared in surprise at Lucy, who had just lifted her head.

"You know each other?" Hita, who had been about to introduce them, paused, puzzled.

"No, we just met before the elevator broke—said hello." Gloria scratched her red hair and grinned.

"What a coincidence—good omen." Yahweh chuckled softly, placing five folding plastic stools around the small round table, inviting everyone to sit.

"Hello, I'm Lucy, Hita's good friend." Lucy sat beside Hita and Gloria.

"I'm Gloria Martinez, this little brat beside me is my son, David Martinez—nice to meet you…"

"Mom!" David muttered unhappily; perhaps because he was facing a strange beauty, he blushed and lowered his head, his eyes fixed firmly on the edge of the round table.

"You kids chat for a bit—I'll start cooking. Yahweh, come help me?" Gloria patted David's head; after gaining Hita's reluctant approval, she and Yahweh headed toward the small kitchen.

"Sorry to trouble you—this is supposed to be my victory dinner, yet I'm dragging you in to help." She whispered to Yahweh, sounding slightly embarrassed, while her hands expertly sliced through the rapidly thawed Synthetic Meat.

"It's only right…" Yahweh smiled faintly and shook his head, showing not a trace of resentment.