Page 311 of Light Leech

Naoma paused before sipping. “Shou? I thought it was Zhou?”

“Zhou is the disgraceful name given to him,” Kao said. “Shou is what his inner circle calls him.”

“And how large is that inner circle?” I asked.

“Ever expanding.” Kyo sighed with girlish glee. “Awe, Nay, I’ve missed you! We’re going to have so much fun. Going in with two Dynasty virgins is like taking a kid to their first mindshow.”

Koro rolled her eyes. “You’re overselling it.”

“You’re sure this is the direction you want to head in?” Kao asked.

Naoma nodded.

I trusted her but couldn’t bridle my curiosity. “Why wouldn’t we?”

“It’s a lot.”

“Don’t be such a party pooper,” Kyo said.

“I’m not, I’m just trying to be realistic. Look, we love you, Nay, but it didn’t surprise us that you were forbidden from participating in the Dynasty.”

“She’s not that sheltered.”

“I never said that she was, I just want her–” She faced Naoma. “I just want you to realize that the Dynasty is full of indulgences.”

“As you probably know,” Kyo said.

Koro groaned. “Stop beating around it. Naoma, if you see people you thought were saints there, you might realize that they’re not as perfect as you would have hoped.”

“Good. I’d rather meet people in their honest states.”

The sisters didn’t look too sure. Except for Kyo, whose excitement masked any other emotion. I hadn’t the faintest belief that any of the celebrities I knew avoided any indulgences when they were so readily available to them. Sex and drugs–both digital and physical–among all other forms of costly pleasure had to be only the surface level of delights available to those unconstrained by poverty’s vice. I had held a grudge ever since falling to the depths of desperation, especially after seeing them proclaim sorrow for refugees like me despite doing nothing for us. The less I had, the more I wanted to condemn them, yet here I was, in love with one of them. Was Naoma an exception? Or were there many puppets to corporate heads like her? If the Dynasty was as revealing as 3Rochi suggested, I would learn soon enough.

“I’ll get you in, then,” Kao said.

“How often do they have meetings?” I asked.

“Meetings?” Kyo shook her head. “The parties are every night. If we can get you in, we’ll have you in tonight.”

“I doubt there will be an ‘if’ ,“ said Kao. “You’re the zegging Neon Idol. People have been asking about your attendance for years. Give us a bit and you’ll be in, if you’re ready.”

Naoma nodded.

A call rang in my neurospace. In the second I took to check who it was, Koro noticed. “Need a break from us? I get it. You two hang tight. We’ll step out to reach out to one of Shou’s Eunuchs to get you an invitation.”

Naoma looked at me, then thanked 3Rochi as they stood to leave.

I spoke as soon as they left. “Kuni’s calling for a vidchat.”

She laughed. “He called me first and must have tried you when I didn’t answer.”

“Want to join me?”

She checked the girls, making sure they had truly departed, then moved closer to me. I thought I would have grown used to her close proximity, but the now familiar warmth that radiated from her filled me as she continued to hold my hand, despite the show being put on pause.

Despite my fears, this was real.

I prayed it would last.