Tokyo in the Shadows, The story of Kambei Options

[Fuchs]

Tokyo in the Shadows

The stylised AR alarm clock, "made" by Renraku, wakes Kambei up in his relatively new apartment in Shibuya. A mental command shuts the small program off. The icon for "you've got mail" is blinking at the edge of Kambei's field of vision. Sorting through it doesn't take long. Mostly Adverts and news, cut down to tidbits short enough for the average sarariman to digest while his instant breakfast is being wolved down. Nothing really informative, but a big part of hiding is fitting in with the majority, so a subscription to those services is warranted.

Kambei sifts through the rest of the mail.

A new "Gojiira" simsense announced, which started a debate whether it was another veiled reference to the ring of fire, or if it depicts metahumans as a threat that will destroy the heart of Japan. MoM announced a boycot to be on the safe side, not that anyone in Neo-Tokyo cares about the organisation.

A free sample of "Unwrap me", Ai Nogami's new hit - deleted quickly.

A coupon for a free drink at "Celerity", valid tonight, 20.00. Written in blue Kanji - which means Shin Masura, the owner of the club, has work for Kambei.

A glance out of the window shows Neo-Tokyo. Without the darkness of the night and the sea of lights of the sprawl to add some luster, the town looks like the corporate playground it is, with just corporate logos adding color to a sea of gray concrete, and glass reflecting a grey sky.

It's another day in Kambei's new life.