Thus the Old Man Spoke 6 - (Cyberpunk AUrunners/2077, Arasaka Saburo!SI)
2076, Coronado City, California, USNA
Rebecca was struggling to find the right outfit for the planned 'double date'. Of all chances to kick back that expected tradition as a couple, Sasha had somehow landed the occasion with someone like Arasaka Saburo and... his second wife.
Truth be told, Rebecca was a geek for Arasaka-made weapons as those were the best. Arasaka just had a knack in kicking out those designers that passionately made shit, and centered on stuff that was simple, practical, and heavily destructive. To an action-junkie like Rebecca, this was top-notch quality for a corporation, but...
How the hell is she supposed to accept she was going out with her girlfriend and stand up to someone like THE Arasaka!?
The girl bemoaned the fact Sasha had given up under peer pressure, but she knew deep down that she would have been far worse. The way Sasha described the old man made Rebecca a bit envious- not much over the 'fear' of losing her GF since she was sure the old man had only three women in mind and only three women to keep him company.
No, the issue was that Rebecca was now jelly over not having landed that chance herself. The old man sounded like her kind of old grandpa to have. Hell, she would even present the paperwork to be pseudo-adopted. She wasn't there even for the money (but some dollars may not hurt) as the best bit was to have a cool grandpa.
Which was a step up considering she was an orphan and her brother was a lost cause.
Now, after mulling on what to put on, she finally found a nice outfit. Not too classy, but not too casual. Full-sleeved light-gray shirt, a thin black choker, a brown skirt that reached down to her knees and some cat-styled gray long socks.
In a normal instance, this would be the kind of outfit Rebecca would never want to be caught on by any colleague, and she was making this 'sacrifice' out of the true love she bore for her dumb girlfriend. She huffed, thinking back of the many times she teased Lucy for 'playing it nice and soft with her Cute D-boy', realizing that she was far from not-whipped when it came to Sasha.
Letting out a huff, the girl quickly contacted Sasha and... she was there. Wearing some of her usual outfits. Nothing different from the usual and it made Rebecca feel a bit dumb-
"I-I thought you said that we had to dress nice for the date!"
Sasha was not dumb enough to pick up her short GF's reasonable ire. Her defense was equally silly, but Sasha-like enough to defuse Rebecca.
"I didn't have anything nice clean for today."
And knowing how barely maintained Sasha's flat was, Rebecca was willing ot let it slip.
"And you look cute."
"Flattery will not lessen the punishment if that draws annoyance from our new 'friends'."
Sasha merely giggled, walking close to Rebecca once they got to the restaurant. The place was a 'classic Coronado spot', Pepper & Spice being both a self-made business and one that rubbed elbows with major corporations due to its impressive quality food. Do you need homely food? Call for P&S and you shall have a warm meal to keep you happy and full.
Rebecca had visited it once when she graduated high school. It served good stuff, so she wasn't too shocked to learn that someone like Saburo would just visit it from time to time. And it became clear that this second visit was going to be different as soon as the waiter greeting them at the entrance seemed to 'snap out' of his usual joviality and kick that up a notch.
"Oh, you are our VIP's guests, yes? Please, follow me."
Rebecca felt suddenly smalled that usual as they got led around the place and brought to the upper floor where the fancier tables were. Hardly a few of those were being used, and the one they were reserved was right by the big view into the city.
At the table, which was quite smaller than she had expected (having thought it would have been one of those long formal pieces that really made things awkward), there was only Saburo himself. The old man had switched out to a pair of gray jacket and pants, with a dark-blue shirt underneath. He appeared somewhat formal, but lacking the 'richness' that many corpos' leaders would show off.
And is he wearing fucking crocs?!
They approached, and Becca felt super-nervous as Sasha just seemed to handle this oddly well as she greeted the elder Arasaka.
"Grandpa."
"Oh, hello Sasha and... I suppose you are Sasha's girlfriend. Nice to meet you."
"I am Becca- I mean, Rebecca."
He offered a kind smile as they sat down. "It's alright and... I suppose I am the one that should be embarrassed right now. My wife is going to turn up late by a few minutes."
"Hm? Why?" Sasha prodded and the old man sighed.
"Trend."
"...What?" Rebecca asked in confusion.
"Ever since Michiko told her she is an 'old hag with no bearing of the new trends' back decades ago, Ayako has been in the mood to 'keep up with the youth' to... well, cringey levels."
Oh no.
"It can't be that bad, right?" Sasha offered, trying to be skeptical and hope this didn't mean anything horrifying.
In truth, there was nothing horrible about Arasaka Ayako. When the woman appeared, her presence made the entire VIP floor go quiet. She was... just unnaturally beautiful. White hair and blue eyes- she had cybernetic extensions that naturally made her appear like a kitsune, with perky foxy ears and a few fluffy tails following behind her back as she slowly walked towards their table.
Her blue dress was outright sublime. It wasn't too complex, and it screamed 'Elegant!' to anyone looking at it and-
"Dear, I told you that it would be fine to come casual for this one." Saburo called out, and the woman rolled her eyes as she finally got by their table. And right behind Rebecca. The girl looked up and saw enough tiddies to know that- yes, I am into chicks.
"Hun, I could never come to any date without dressing nice and... hello there~."
"Hi mommy- I mean, miss."
Rebecca was inwardly screaming at her lapse, but the woman chuckled at the mistake.
"Mommy? Oh my, it's been a while since I was called as such," She beamed, "What's your name, little one?"
"R-Rebecca."
"And I am Sasha and... can I call you Grandma?"
That response actually soured the expression of the motherly fox-mommy.
"I would prefer 'Mama' at that."
"You're a hag, Ayako," Saburo flatly rebuked, seemingly uncaring of the weight of those words aimed at his second wife. "Surrender to the truth, you're a grandma, just like I am a grandpa."
"Or maybe you should surrender to being a perpetual DILF, dear."
The exchange left Rebecca speechless. This- this was... this was somewhat far more amusing that it should be. Here she was with her girlfriend witnessing the old couple bicker and shit-talk one another in such a crude but somewhat 'mannered' way.
After that brief exchange, Ayako sat down and the waiters took their orders. From there, the conversation dulled away from its previous insane premise while still retaining some hints of pure and utter chaotic nature.
"So, how did you two met?" Sasha broke the big question, and Rebecca was curious to see what was the answer was all about.
"We met under a pale moon over the river flowing through Hanseong. He was but a cold-hearted businessman and I a spent flower in need of care."
That sounded heavily romanticized, and Sasha turned to see the shit-eating grin on Saburo's face.
"We met in Seoul and she almost drowned in the Han river at one time."
That sounded a bit less flattering, but quite honest. Rebecca felt more inclined to believe the blunt account of Saburo but...
The ensuing tale provided more insight on that time period.
1954, Seoul, Gangdong, Empire of Japan
As Japan was finally mellowing into my own absolute domain, the issues tied to the international springboard was first mentioned with my newly-married wife Naomi and then with the board of managers in Arasaka: we could not use Japan itself for that, which is why Korea and Taiwan were those areas that were best fit for the plans we were preparing.
The former was the primary source of establishing a foothold while also acquiring American support in 'ignoring' our activities in Asia since we were 'supporting the good Russians' in Vladivostok. The Cold War was developing significantly as Vietnam was readying itself for a Civil War. The French were struggling to keep hold of their colonies between a resurgent King Bao Dai and the Communists in the North, so we decided to give them more hell by supporting Ho Chi Minh.
The reason behind this move was tied solely to the fact the man guaranteed a more stable nation without outright abandoning himself to the Soviet influence. Our support was, in fact, necessary in mellowing some of the harsh policies trying to suppress other political movements, and coerced Northern Vietnam into a more democratic outlook. The Communists were still heavily supported, but it was mostly through their efforts rather than outright use of the secret police.
From 1951 to 1953, Hanoi received enough caches of guns, ammos, and food to sustain a proper assault onto the sourthern government, leading to a rapid collapse of the Saigon-based nationalist government. Harry Truman raised a little storm over these events and would have been a threat to my cheeky move if not for the fact I had enough proof of CIA's involvement in Vladivostok to start a few wars between the two superpowers. The man knew it, and his masters known as the 'Gang of Four' were well aware of this too.
Vietnam was the first 'act of open disobedience' against the US's attempt to be have a sphere of influence in Asia, with the Chinese Civil War seeing the second one as I proceeded to support the Nationalists in crushing the Communists, but funded the factions within the KMT to kick out Chiang.
It was an expensive business, but it was necessary to cement my position in China as a 'benevolent Pan-Asianist that sought to make amend for Japan's sins'. There were the right politicians, the right corrupt framework, and even the 'need' to pump China full with resources to restore trust.
Hell, I even moved to have the Japanese government take acts in delivering apologies in regard to the War Crimes. The gesture meant a lot and it helped in restoring international confidence in Tokyo. But to fully acquire China's trust I doubted that all of that could do the trick. We were missing time- time that we could give to the matter considering that China was already allowing Arasaka to help establish some Chinese subsidiaries.
Yet, it was the Korea branch that first came out of the International Bureau of Arasaka. Established in Seoul, the 'Arasaka, Joseon Group' was the first proper step out of Tokyo. We were careful in mixing some of our own managers with those we hired out of a program we had been running in the region, with Japanese-speaking Korean businessmen having the chance to enter the group and have a voice in the matters of Korea through Arasaka.
Likewise, this happened in Taiwan, and then, as a proper foreign branch, we had the Shanghai Branch.
One may think that this was all going smoothly but... I guess that's when I made the acquaintance of someone that would have been more meaningful to me and Naomi. She was just a clerk in the Korean branch, being one of those 'rare catches' due to her mixed family (her father was a Russian from Harbin and her mother was a Chinese woman from Shenyang).
What caught my attention just so briefly was her unique hair color. It was white as snow. And then, as my gaze lingered, I saw the thin scar running vertically by her right eye. It didn't ruin her beautiful face back then, not even the tired bags could. Those cautious blue eyes of hers also left a sense to it.
I took a bit of pity over this individual's plight of handling different chores and still keeping up with all of that. She was promoted the next day and... she sent me homemade cookies that very afternoon.
Her name was Lian Zefirova but...
I would know her in the future as Arasaka Ayako.
AN
Next time we dive more in the past and see how Naomi learns of Zefirova/Ayako.
Also, ref pics for the Second Wives are: Past Version (Faust from Project Moon), Present Version (Shinano from Azur Lane).
P.S. I am aware that this makes for Chapter 690 of the Archive and I had promised something, but I realized that the number of chapters here and in QQ is different because there's about ten or so chapters that are from the other thread. So, once I hit 690 in QQ, I will post a super-naughty chapter as promised.