Cyberpunk: The Magnet fruit

Sasha, Rebecca, and the others strolled through Sakura Street Mall, their arms full of shopping bags filled with daily necessities.

Life had taken a turn for the better ever since they started hanging out with David.

Money was no longer a concern, and for the first time in their lives, they could indulge themselves without worry.

They bought whatever they wanted—and not just anything, but the best of everything.

This kind of luxurious shopping experience was something they had never enjoyed before, especially back in Maine's squad, where every credit had to be carefully counted.

Now, after an intense shopping spree, their cart was overflowing with big and small bags, almost reaching the point where they couldn't fit any more.

Of course, pushing the heavily loaded cart?

That job naturally fell to the big oaf, Pyrrha.

If it were the past, Pyrrha would have dodged and complained about being forced to do such labor. But today was different.

Very different.

After all, Sasha and Rebecca weren't just his younger sister and a friend anymore—they were both equipped with [Source Project] armor, an enhancement that had elevated their combat abilities to an entirely new level.

Even someone as stubborn as Pyrrha, who had always prided himself on never taking a loss, had no choice but to obey.

Now, not only did he have to push the cart without a single complaint, but he even did it with a smile on his face.

The change in their power dynamics was undeniable.

Even among family members, social hierarchy shifts when strength changes.

Watching the cart pile up with more and more supplies, Pyrrha finally spoke up.

"Hey, we're out of space. You guys sure you don't have enough yet?"

Sasha and Rebecca, however, clearly hadn't had their fill of shopping.

"Pyrrha, take the stuff back first. We'll keep browsing for a while longer," Sasha said casually.

Pyrrha hesitated for a moment, but there was no real room for argument. He nodded obediently and gave Rebecca a big, pleasing smile before pushing the cart away.

"Take your time shopping!" he called out as he left.

After all, being on good terms with his little sister—who now had insane combat power—would make his own life a whole lot easier.

As Pyrrha disappeared into the crowd, Sasha turned to Rebecca with a mischievous smirk.

"Hey, why is your brother suddenly acting so considerate?"

Rebecca grinned, tapping the cyberware slot behind her ear with a knowing look.

"You really need to ask?" she teased, sticking out her tongue. "Isn't it all thanks to David?"

Sasha's eyes lit up in realization.

"Ah! That makes sense!" she giggled. "Let's go check out the girls-only section!"

With that, the two of them linked arms and headed toward the women's fashion area of the mall.

Their goal?

To pick out some 'close-fitting' clothes.

After all, now that they had more money than ever, there was no reason not to splurge on some new outfits.

---

An Exclusive Shopping Trip

The women's section of Sakura Street Mall was packed with neon-lit stores, their windows filled with dazzling holographic advertisements promoting the latest fashion trends.

Sexy, cyber-enhanced mannequins modeled everything from sleek combat bodysuits to extravagant nightlife dresses—the kind you'd wear to a high-end club in Japantown.

"Hey, Sasha! Do you think this looks good on me?"

Rebecca held up a black crop top with silver circuitry patterns that glowed faintly under the store lights.

Sasha examined it with an approving nod.

"Not bad! It'll go great with your chrome implants!"

Rebecca grinned.

"Exactly! Gotta match the techwear aesthetic."

She threw the top over her arm and continued browsing.

Meanwhile, Sasha's attention was drawn to a tight-fitting leather jacket with built-in smart-fabric technology. It looked stylish and functional.

"Damn," she muttered. "This is sick. I bet it has built-in heat resistance, too."

She turned to the store clerk, a cybered-up netrunner-looking woman with blue hair and a half-metallic face.

"Yo, does this jacket have any special features?" Sasha asked.

The clerk nodded.

"Yup. This one's lined with Kevlar weave. Can take a couple of low-caliber shots before it wears out. Also, it's got an auto-temp adjustment system—keeps you warm in the cold and cool in the heat."

Sasha whistled.

"Nice. I'm taking it."

Rebecca, standing nearby, rolled her eyes playfully.

"You're really going for that 'badass merc' look, huh?"

Sasha smirked.

"What, jealous?"

"Hah! Please. If I wanted to, I could pull off any look better than you."

"Oh yeah? Prove it."

Rebecca grabbed a skin-tight neon jumpsuit from the rack.

"Watch and learn."

She stepped into the dressing room, and a few moments later, emerged with a confident smirk.

The jumpsuit clung to her figure like a second skin, its glowing blue circuitry accents pulsating in time with her breathing.

Sasha's jaw dropped.

"…Okay, that actually looks badass."

Rebecca laughed.

"Told ya. But let's be real—neither of us can top David's sense of style. Dude somehow manages to look cool in anything."

Sasha snorted.

"True. But that's probably because he doesn't try. That's what makes it work."

Rebecca nodded thoughtfully.

"Yeah. That's real confidence."

The two girls continued browsing, completely unaware that their little fashion show had caught the attention of some very interested onlookers.

---

The Joy of Voyeurs

Not far from the store, two men were lingering near the entrance, watching Sasha and Rebecca with keen interest.

They weren't just any regular shoppers.

Their cheap, knock-off cyberware and sketchy-looking coats marked them as low-tier street thugs—the kind that prowled around places like Kabuki or Little China, looking for easy targets.

One of them, a bald man with optical cyber-eyes, nudged his companion.

"Yo, check out those two."

The other, a skinny guy with a gold-plated jaw implant, grinned.

"Yeah…they're packing chrome, though. You sure about this?"

The bald thug scoffed.

"Relax. They're just two little girls. I bet they don't even know how to use half the gear they're flexing."

The gold-jawed guy hesitated, then smirked.

"Well… even if they do, there are two of us and two of them. You really think they stand a chance?"

The bald thug chuckled.

"Let's find out."

As they started walking toward the store, a shadow loomed over them from behind.

A voice, deep and laced with amusement, stopped them in their tracks.

"Funny thing about that…"

They turned—only to see a towering figure in a black armored jacket staring them down.

It was David.

His cybernetic optics gleamed under the mall's neon lights, and his fingers twitched slightly, the unmistakable sign of someone ready to draw a very, very big gun.

David smirked.

"…I think they'll be just fine."

---

TO BE CONTINUED…