Cyberpunk: Ultimate Cyborg System-Chapter 610: Memorial.

A coat rack was attached to an old, yellow wall. As summer approached and people moved on to lighter garments, the rack had been left empty, save for a single red jacket. Standing before it was a little girl with long blonde hair. The jacket was too big for her to wear, so it clearly belonged to someone else. Despite that, she still wanted to put it on, wishing to hide the black dress she wore.

"I'm sorry, sweetie." A gentle hand fell on her shoulder. "You can't take it this time."

Marie glanced at the old woman by her side, who was similarly dressed in black. The two of them were almost at the same height, though that was bound to change as she continued to grow.

"Are you ready?" Nobara asked with a warm smile, holding her hand out. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

Nodding, the little one took that hand, and the two of them walked out. A car was waiting for them outside, and a blond young man stood beside it. His formal attire made it a little difficult to recognize him, but his smile was impossible to forget, even if he was trying his best to fake it.

"Marie, Ms. Kurosaki," Oliver took a step toward them. "Are you ready?"

The car took off, and before long, it left the district, entering the highway. Marie found herself staring out of the window, steered into doing so by an unconscious desire to keep her mind from going in a certain direction. Though cloudy, the sky appeared to be several times brighter than it was during winter. Because of that, the decaying nature of the megacity was on full display, no longer hidden behind the glimmer of neon signs and digital billboards.

Marie had seen this sight many times over the last few months, so she didn't have trouble finding what was so different about it. Anyone could tell at first glance, really. That's because three of the tallest buildings in the city were gone, along with several others in their immediate surroundings. That left an unnatural, empty gap in the otherwise dense city, resulting in a rather uncomfortable feeling even for those unfamiliar with the city.

The view soon disappeared as the car left the highway, entering a road that ran through dense city blocks. Minutes passed before it reached its destination, which allowed enough time for tension to build up. Even as she felt her growing discomfort, Marie still tried to keep an impassive look.

"Marie?"

Snapping back to her senses, the little one saw that they had already arrived at their destination and that Oliver and Nobara were waiting for her outside. They had to park a short distance away because of the crowd.

The gloom enveloping the area was thick enough to be visible to the human eye and made more noticeable by those gathered, the same bleak color, reflecting the mood that influenced their expressions. Just like Oliver, the few with smiles on their faces seemed to be straining themselves. A number of reporters were there to record the gathering, and knowing its nature, they made sure to be careful about the way they behaved.

Marie refused to let her gaze wander to the ground as they walked through the crowd. Because of that, a familiar vibrant green hair caught her sight soon enough. Its owner seemed to spot her a moment later, suddenly beaming as she waved her hand. That earned her a scolding from the blue-haired beauty standing nearby. The two approached them right after.

"Hey, Marie," Suzuka crouched down so they would be on the same eye level. "You're being very strong right now. You make me proud."

Giving her a big flower with pretty white petals, Suzuka stood up and turned to face a certain direction.

The little one's breath hitched, and her eyes grew itchy all of a sudden. The big building that should have been there was now gone, only charred rubble and half-collapsed walls remaining. The playground that had been at its front was in an unrecognizable state, covered in a layer of ash that muted the vibrant colors it once had.

A path had been cleared to the center of the playground, where a large slab of stone had been placed. Faint orange light reflected on its polished surface, its source the countless candles placed on the ground, surrounding a large basket full of the same white flowers in her hand.

With a solemn look on her face, Nobara walked over to the granite stone. Putting down the flower Kizuna gave her with the rest, she took a candle from a nearby table and lit its wick. Putting her hands together, she offered a silent prayer, then turned to look behind her.

Marie hadn't moved since Suzuka talked to her, and even now, she remained hesitant to approach the granite stone. The names engraved on its surface became clear, and her eyes just so happened to fall on one in particular, breaking the dam and causing her tears to flow.

"Sofie…"

Her life hadn't been an easy one, and the others were much the same. Though most chose to never speak of it, the scars they shared were visible to each other, and knowing they weren't alone in this world had made the pain a little easier to bear.

Just when their chance at a better future was within reach, the people who hurt them returned and took it away, inflicting more pain on them for one last time.

Marie didn't understand why they had to go through it. Why couldn't they live life like other children, with parents who wouldn't hurt them no matter how angry they got, and schools where they could make friends and learn what to be once they grow up? Why did they have to suffer for so long, only for their lives to end just like that?

Visions from her nightmare returned, bringing with them the face of the portly man who was intent on hurting her. She remembered the black machine, the gun he handed her, and the words he spoke. Those words were engraved deep into her mind, and as she contemplated their meaning every day, she finally came to understand why he had her do what she did that night.

No matter how far they run, the monster will always catch up to them. To be free, they have no choice but to fight—they have to slay the monsters that find joy in the pain they cause.

Putting down the flower in her hand, Marie lit her candle and then walked away. As she walked back, Kizuna rushed to comfort her, and so did Suzuka and Nobara. By then, the little one had already wiped her tears, feeling a new emotion growing in her heart. As grateful as she was for their care, what she sought in that moment was a different type of comfort—the kind only strength could bring.

A stir in the crowd drew her attention just then, and another familiar color caught her sight. This time, it was a vibrant red.

"Da-"

Her spirit rose for an instant only to fall again, and shiver rolled over her small body, dousing the small flame of her determination.

"Dante…"

~[ ]~

A small caravan arrived, drawing the attention of the mourning crowd to it. The first thought most had was disdain for the complete lack of etiquette, seeing how the drivers chose to park their vehicles in the middle of the road. Once the doors opened, and the riders came out, opinions instantly changed, and suddenly, few were interested in looking directly at the new arrivals, blood draining from their faces as they stole glances instead.

Blue Moon had been full of unsavory types for some time now, mostly members of the Los Aros gang who came to say their farewells to the comrades they lost. It was clear that so long as you don't mess with them, no one would bother you. The same couldn't be said in this case.

No sooner had the red hair come into view than everyone realized a disaster might be around the corner, and they had every right to be concerned. The sudden sense of unease that overcame most of them wasn't a result of their imagination.

The Red Demon walked toward the memorial, surrounded by subordinates from all sides. As the crowd parted to make way for them, some began to feel that the gangsters were there to guard them instead of their boss. Inferno was a relatively new gang with the members being on the younger side. Because of that, no one mistook the back suits they wore as a kind of uniform.

"Um, boss?"

The crowd instinctively knew not to approach the gangsters. As for the members of Inferno, they knew not to bother their boss at the moment. No one wanted to draw his attention right now, so the duty fell on his lieutenant.

Seeing Carlos's face, Dante felt like he had just woken up. He quickly took in his surroundings, grasping the situation and what needed to be done before walking up to the memorial. It didn't take him long to lose track of everything again, and he ended up spending a few minutes staring at the white lily in his hand.

[Dante…]

This time, it was Volcan's voice that brought him back to the real world. From there, he just went through the motions, placing the flower down, then lighting up the candle. It was when he turned around that he noticed the crowd for the first time.

If his mood wasn't already as bad as it could get, he probably would've let it bother him. He would've wondered if they truly cared about those who lost their lives in the incident that left the building behind him burned, but at this moment, he couldn't care less.

Scanning those present, he soon caught sight of a few familiar faces. His eyes met a round, sky blue pair, and seeing the red circles around them almost caused his bionic heart to stop. The moment he dreaded for days has finally arrived, and though he felt the urge to turn around and disappear, he knew he couldn't run for so long.

"Wait here."

Speaking for the first time in days, he gave the command to his subordinates, then made his way toward Marie and the others. He had a lot to say to the little girl. He wanted to apologize—to tell her how sorry he was for failing her, even if words meant nothing at this point. His steps slowed as he reached her. Words got lost on their way out, and he found himself staring down at the little girl, unable to utter a sound. Dante had to force himself out of that state, but just as he opened his mouth, a shadow passed over them.

An aerial vehicle had just passed over Blue Moon, flying beyond the crowd before slowly descending. The world once again lost its color, the details fading away as the darkness inside him stirred.