Masquerade Preparations.

Ethan was preparing a suit to wear to the Gala, he still hasn't decided who would come as his date.

Ethan took the mask he would be wearing and placed it on the suit pocket.

He sighed and left his room. He stopped when Ai was there, smiling brightly at him.

"Hey." Ethan greeted.

"You're going to a masquerade party?" Ai asked, her grin wide.

"Yeah, in a few days." Ethan responded.

"Can I come?" She asked.

Ethan bit his lip. "Well... I was gonna ask Kushina or maybe-"

"Please!!" She grabbed his arm. "I want to go." Ai whined.

Ethan blinked and chuckled. "Okay, you can come with me."

Ai brightened. "Thank you!" She cheered.

"No need to worry about masks, only Prime Worlders will be wearing masks, just be sure to dress nice." Ethan explained.

Ai nodded and ran off.

Ethan wondered how this will go...

Coco was in the tailor room, working with a new outfit for Ruby.

"COCO!" Ai barged in, causing Coco to jump.

"DAMN IT! DON'T JUST BARGE IN HERE!" Coco scolded the idol.

"I need a dress that'll make me shine!" Ai explained, ignoring Coco's scolding. "Ethan's going to a masquerade party and I'm going as his date!"

Coco paused, she knew, she made the suit. "I see... So you want to shine?" Coco smirked.

"Yes!" Ai nodded.

"Let's get to work... Velvet get Aoi!" Velvet popped up from the pile of clothes in the corner of the room and ran out.

"... Why was she there?" Ai blinked confused.

"Oh... No reason." Coco waved it off with a blush.

"Fucking hell." Ethan was surprised as he looked at the Night City news on his phone.

It was chaos with Arasaka trying to regain control but Johnny was causing a lot of mayhem.

Maybe he should visit again ...

And Hell... Well things are going smoothly as smooth as things can be in that cesspool.

Ethan started wondering if he should buy another world or two...

Maybe when he has the funds and doesn't drain his account...

Two days later and Ai was staring at herself in the mirror.

"My best work yet." Coco crossed her arms with a proud smile.

"She looks so pretty." Velvet complimented as she stared at Ai.

Ruby stared at her mama and had to agree that the dress looked amazing on her. "So beautiful..." This dress would've been in the tabloids for months!

Ai smiled at their reaction and twirled around. "I can't wait to show him this!" She stuck her tongue out. "I want to see his stupified reaction!"

"You'll knock him dead girl!" Coco crossed her arms. "Now we need to make some adjustments because... Well it's dragging on the floor, the final version will be ready by the time you need to go!"

Ai nodded and let Coco do her work.

Ai felt happy and it showed as she was glowing brightly.

Ruby watched with a happy smile of her own, but her thoughts went back to her brother... Did Ethan think about it?

Hopefully he did...