Cyberpunk: Ultimate Cyborg System-Chapter 538: Child Labor.

Dante stood on a sidewalk, his head raised as he stared at the sign hanging over the entrance to a certain noodle shop. Though it was entirely unnecessary, he had his perception enhanced to the max, granting him more than enough time to let his thoughts wander.

Knowing he couldn’t keep going like that for long, he exhaled the air trapped in his bionic lungs and relaxed his mind. The door slid open, and he walked inside, listening to the faint bell chime. It was already noon, so the place was full of people having their lunch. Dante could have sworn that it was never this busy in the past, even during rush hour.

"Well, well, well, look who’s finally here."

Dante turned to the counter and found a small, old lady smirking at him. Her remark caused people to check, and some seemed to recognize him right away, their faces growing pale. Ignoring their look, Dante did his best to sound normal and walked in, smiling.

"Hey, old hag. I had some time, so I came to grab some grub."

"Of course you did." Said Nobara. "Couldn’t live without my noodles for long, huh?"

"Couldn’t put it any better," Looking around, Dante then turned to her with a raised eyebrow. "Where is-"

He heard the sound of small footsteps just then, and a second later, a blonde little girl dressed in a blue yukata. Spotting him, her eyes glimmered, and she came dashing right away.

"Dante!"

Already in position, Dante held up his hands to catch her. Unlike last time, he was able to feel the frail little body more clearly, but he still had to be careful not to put too much pressure.

"Hey, Marie. It has been a while, hasn’t it?"

"Yea! Granma said you were busy with work."

"Yeah, I have been busy. Sorry for not coming sooner."

"It’s okay, you’re here now."

Somehow, it felt like the hug lasted much longer than it should, and with each second that passed, the conflict he kept at bay threatened to return. Marie’s little arms tighten around his neck, as if unwilling to let go of him, and Dante couldn’t bring himself to push her away, even as a loud part of his mind kept screaming at him to do so. Ignoring the voice, he picked her up and walked over to the counter.

"I will have my usual," He said.

"Not in the mood for something spicier?" Nobara asked.

"Yeah, I feel like something mild would be better."

"Fine, grab a seat."

Dante had noticed that his usual spot was occupied when he first came in, but at that moment, the people sitting at the counter just happened to finish their food at the same time.

"Thanks for the food!"

They stood up and rushed out right away. Though they seemed to be in a hurry, Dante noticed that they had emptied their bowls, so he didn’t feel bad about scaring them away.

"Hm?"

Dante noticed that Jonah’s seat still had the paper with his name. It was a little surprising to see that the seat was still reserved for the old officer, even after so long.

"So, how have you been, Marie? Were you a good girl while I was away?"

He placed the little one on the stool next to his and sat down.

"Yea, I think..." she said. "I have been helping at the shop every day!"

"Is that so?" Dante looked at the kitchen door. "Child labor is still illegal, though."

"Child... labur?"

"Like you are one to talk!" Came a shout from the kitchen.

"No one came to bother you, right?"

"No," Marie shook her head. "Everyone was nice."

"I see." Reaching out, Dante banished the hesitation that threatened to stop him and patted her head. "Since you have been a good girl, how about we go see your friends after this?"

The little one beamed at him, sparkles filling her eyes.

"Really!?"

"Yeah, how about you go prepare? We can go once I’m done eating."

"I will go change!" She quickly jumped off her stool and disappeared behind the counter.

"Hey! No running in the shop!"

Nobara came out just then, but the girl just ignored her, not noticing that they were almost running into each other. The old cook placed a bowl of gyukotsu ramen in front of him, then put a plate of gyoza and dipping sauce right beside it. Dante noticed that his bowl had a few more slices of beef than it should have.

"Eat up."

"Thanks for the food."

Dante grabbed a pair of chopsticks and dove headfirst into the sea of flavor. As he tasted the salty broth and tender noodles, he felt glad that he had lost his eyes instead of his tongue.

"Got another surgery?"As she asked the question, Nobara’s gaze followed another customer as they left.

The Oculuscore was intended for civilians, so they appeared no different from normal eyes, and with him having scars from previous surgeries, it was a little difficult to notice that he had them implanted. Nobara was able to tell right away, however.

[Yeah, I needed new eyes,] Dante spoke even as he ate, which seemed to bother the old cook quite a bit.

"And another piece of you goes away," She sighed.

[Don’t tell me you have another lecture prepared.]

"One about how you shouldn’t talk with food in your mouth. Have some decency."

[Okay, okay.]

Dante realized how much he must have underestimated how much he craved Nobara’s cooking when he noticed how fast he was going through his food. He didn’t even pay any mind to how hot it was and had to pause every few bites just to give himself time to enjoy it.

"Man, this is so good."

"Tell me something I don’t know."

The customers kept leaving in a hurry, and the shop became empty before long. Nobara didn’t seem to mind, so Dante tried to not let it bother him.

"So... about Marie. How is she doing?"

"She would be doing much better if you visited more often," Nobara replied.

"Do you have to guilt-trip me all the time? I said I’m sorry."

The way his hand kept moving between his mouth and the food made it seem like his remorse was lacking.

"The nightmares have stopped. Hopefully for good." Nobara said. "She’s having an easier time talking to strangers, too. Kizuna

"That’s... good." A smile tugged on the corners of Dante’s lips. "I was afraid she would close herself."

The scars left by that awful experience weren’t something that could easily be erased. Being responsible for one of those scars, Dante didn’t think he would ever stop worrying.

"Oh, she tried," Nobara said. "That Kizuna wouldn’t let her, though. She broke her shell whenever the girl tried forming one."

"Kizuna, huh?" Dante recalled Suzuka’s green-haired girlfried. "Guess even that clanker is good for something."

"Aren’t you a clanker yourself?" Nobara fixed him with a glare.

Dante offered no response, turning back to his food.

"I’m ready!"

Marie returned before long, looking even more excited than before. Seeing her gave Dante pause, because she was wearing the same red jacket Dante had given her when they first met.

"She won’t go out without it," Nobara said, having read his mind.

Dante glanced at her, then at the little girl. Several thoughts ran through his mind, but he cleared them right away.

"Just a minute, okay?" He said. "I need to finish my food first."

"Okay!"

Marie looked around and then went to sit at a nearby table. Dante sent a message to Carlos, asking him to send a car. Just then, he remembered something and turned to the old cook.

"By the way," he spoke in a whisper, not wanting the little one to hear. "Have you talked to her about the... you know..."

"Not yet," Nobara shook her head.

"Oh..."

Dante pursed his lips then shrugged, returning to his ramen. He finished the noodles and

"I have been thinking," She said. "Why don’t you do it?"

The soup went down the wrong pipe, and he broke into a coughing fit. Maybe that was his karma for what he did to Larry earlier.

"W-what... what are you... talking about!?"

"Look at me, I might kick the bucket any day now." Nobara leaned onto the counter. "Don’t you think it would be better for her to have someone younger to take care of her?"

"I’m barely twenty," Dant said. "Besides, who in their right mind would let a celibate young man adopt a little girl? Didn’t you smack me in the head once because of that?"

"Well, if being celibate is a problem, we can fix that," Nobara grinned. "I just happen to know a beautiful young girl who’s at the ripe age for marriage."

"... Don’t tell me you asked that just to sell me on marrying your daughter..."

"Not a bad idea, right?"

Dante could only sigh. Through Absolute Awareness, he could see that Marie heard them talk, but it didn’t seem like she understood the topic.

"You really should stop playing matchmaker," He said. Picking the last piece of gyoza, he dipped it into the sauce and stared at it for a long while. "Suzuka would make a great wife, true,"

"Right?" Nobara jumped in right away, grinning as if she didn’t know a but was coming.

"But I’m not fit to be a husband, let alone a father."

"Don’t be silly. We have all seen how good you are with kids."

"This is this, and that is that..." Bringing the dumpling to his mouth, he added in a wistful tone. "I’m nowhere near responsible enough."