The Best Net Runner

After a bit of cuddling, Shizuka went to sleep and I remained on the couch in front of the TV, a shadow loomed above me, I'm surprised she managed to stay in the toilet all this time.

Lucy jumped beside me on the couch, holding a gun. Shit, what is this, America?

"How did you get in?" I asked her, she took a lollipop from who knows where and began licking it.

"A mere lock, do you think that can stop me?" She flaunted her ability to open locks, something that even an infant can do.

"Oh sorry, burglar-san, I underestimated you".

"Put on some shorts or something... you're in front of a lady," she told me with a disturbed glance, alas... you can't hide your blush from me, Lucy. I was only in my boxers, well... that's how Shizuka and I usually are around here. My blonde mature girlfriend had been in her panties; her breasts free.

She knows I like ogling them.

"It is because I'm in front of a lady that I have to be like that ~ tell me, why are you here?" I got comfortable, even placing an arm around her shoulder, she didn't deny me and instead took the controller to switch the channel, however, she didn't release the gun.

"I want you to explain to me what you need me for, if it makes sense I'll stay, otherwise... I'll leave Japan and forget about you" the... rainbow? haired beauty spoke nonchalantly.

"You're completely free to do that, Lucy".

"Is that what you want me to do?" She asked, diverting her gaze from the TV, conflicted.

"Does it matter what I want? I'll tell you what I want, a companion that's loyal to me, I don't need anyone that's second-guessing their decision, if you want to leave, leave..." I told her resolutely.

"..."

"Very well, take care, Brand" Lucy stood up in front of me for a few seconds.

"..."

She walked to the door, opened and closed it.

"..."

I remained there, sitting on my couch with my arms crossed, looking at the door.

"You're supposed to stop me!" She opened the door harshly and yelled, furious.

I knew it.

"... are you stupid? I knew you were not leaving... if you wanted to leave you would have done so without telling me anything" I know that much, her behaviour so far indicated this, she creeps around me, and is able to decipher her environment without my help, she also managed to barge in my house... fucking hell, she managed to FIND my house.

Someone like that, if she wanted to leave... she'd have left.

The beauty's gaze changed completely, now showcasing the confidence, so was it all before a lie too?

"Hmph! You're too smart for your own good. So? what's the mission about?" She slumped on the couch, putting the gun away and placing her slender legs on my lap as I deadpanned.

"There will be a catastrophe assailing this world in a year... I don't know the specifics, I only know it will be an infection. We have to fight against it, that's our mission" I explained to her superfluously as there isn't much information in my rapport either.

"I-Is this world going to be destroyed?" She asked, rather surprised.

"I don't know, as I said I don't know the specifics, we have a year to prepare. That's all I know, so, are you in or not?"

"I'm in... but I will move independently from you," She said, looking at the TV, I guess I don't mind, in fact... that's better for me, as beautiful as she is, she's an enigma that I don't have time to explore.

My hands are full with Shizuka, Saeko and Saya... there is even Miyamoto trying to barge in too.

She moved and took out her phone; typed some stuff in her phone... I received a message on mine, confused I looked at it wondering why she has to send a message when I'm in front of her.

!!!

I almost let my phone fall when I saw someone make a bank transaction to me... the someone... 'National Japanese Government Treasury'

"W-What..." I said, aghast, my eyes fixed on the phone; counting the ceroes.

Seeing my reaction, Lucy broke into a fit of laughter, cleaning her amused tears, "This is my support for you until the catastrophe starts... see you later, choom~" she stood up, intending to leave.

'Wait a moment! hold up a second!' I grasped her wrist, panting, 'who did I summon? what monster is this?'

I'm a gangster alright? I know things... and this what she just did is insane! Chun Li is awesome and all, but she wouldn't have been able to pull this out!

"Wait! you can't... you can't just deposit TWO BILLION YEN in my account and leave!"

"Why not?" She asked, confused, don't make that cute face!

"You're going to get the bloody government on my doorstep!" she deposited all this money from a governmental account, two billion is far from being a number that you can just pull under the rug! couldn't she just have put, I don't know... a million?! it would have gotten the point across.

"No need to worry, this is a blank account with governmental status, transactions made from it won't be inspected, moreover... I cracked the treasury agency-"

Don't say it as if you just kicked a random rock in the park!

"What are you saying? you have only been here for a few days!" I couldn't believe what she was telling me, I'd think she was just a delusional fool, only if I wasn't now the rightful owner of two billion yen. In a year, during the catastrophe, this money will be worthless, but nonetheless...

"That's how crappy this time's technology is... it is a pleasure to meet you, Brand Mercer~ I'm Lucy, a Net Runner" she extended her hand forward, and I shook it absentmindedly.

"What's a net runner?" If before she interested me, now she completely intrigued me.

"Essentially, a hacker... from the year 2077".

'Unbelievable...' It just made me curious, aside from Chun Li... she was there and there were some others, w-who are those women? what exactly is this system? it brought someone from the future.

[The system is connected to the flow of causality, Brand... trying to understand it is foolish as trying to understand the universe itself].

'Thanks, choom... whatever that means'.

"You're from the future?" I asked her just to be sure.

"That seems to be the case, however... I'm more inclined to say that I'm from the future of a parallel dimension as this world's 2015 timeline does not correspond to the registries I have from mine" Lucy slumped on the couch again.

I couldn't believe what I'm hearing, looking at this beauty whose now sucking a lollipop, enjoying my reactions.

"So, net runners in your time, are this fierce...?"

She started laughing, what's so amusing?

"I'm not just a Net Runner, Brand... I'm the best~"

"..." I believe her.

'You kidding me, Hollow? if this is a common gacha... what the fuck would a godly gacha be like?!'

[Well, it would likely summon a parallel universe goddess...]

'...'

[I don't recommend doing that as right now you're not strong enough].

'You don't need to tell me...'

"Listen, Lucy... you can act independently, but from now on you live with me" I declared, this woman... she just became my most deadly weapon... the things she can help me with.

"Heh?~ why? do you want me to join your little harem? with that blonde and the other purple-haired girl?~"

"Stop joking... I want to be in contact with you at all times"

"Do you want our flesh to be in contact? what a pervert~".

"Stop!" I'm being serious but she's joking around. As I saw her laugh, I laughed in relief as well. At least there is no longer a barrier between us, I can cooperate with her.

Lucy giggled, "Very well... I will leave here, from now on I'm Lucy Mercer, your sister".

I imagined she'd be able to create a background for herself.

"I have already made it, but I haven't gotten the passport yet, until then I'm pretending to be a tourist. So? which is my room?"

"What do you mean? you're sleeping in my room~" Since she can joke, I can do so too.

"As if, pervert... try something and I'm putting a bullet in your head" She took the gun and pointed it at my head with a smirk, oi, this isn't funny... the people from her world seem to be kind of psychopaths.

What do I expect? all I do is attract psychopaths.

"Give me the gun for a minute," I told her.

"And lose my leverage against you? no thanks, choom".

"I'm not going to do anything to you, don't you trust me?"

"I'd rather trust Saburo Arasaka..."

"Who's that geezer?"

"No one..." She sighed and gave me the gun.

"Hollow, scan it".

[Analizing...]

[Shop:]

*Nambu M60 Revolver - Prize: 320 gacha points.

*.38 9mm Special Cartridge - Prize: 10 gacha points.

...

'So damn expensive... but now I have a gun' I thought and gave it back to the confused Lucy.

"You just did something, what is it?"

"Nothing, your room is there... Shizuka and I wake up at 5 in the morning, take a shower together and then head to school on Monday. We arrive at six o'clock afternoon to work out. I will leave it to you how you want to introduce yourself to her. I can't allow her or anyone else to know that you're summoned, for now... you should understand me" I stood up, ready to go and embrace my Shizuka to sleep.

"There is something else that you're hiding from me, aren't you? how did you summon me?" Lucy asked me, not switching off the TV, she's gonna say overnight.

"When I trust you enough, I will tell you... for now, I will sleep, make yourself at home, eat whatever you want except for the marshmallows; Shizuka gets upset if anyone eats them".

I walked away, leaving Lucy to her own designs. Little did I know the little bitch went straight for the marshmallows, it seems she doesn't plan to have a peaceful coexistence with Shizuka or anyone for that matter.