Sunlight came in the next day through the grimy window, and I groaned at the sight of my apartment. Clothes were everywhere, empty takeout containers were stacked high, and dust coated everything.
I needed a place to crash, both in the real world and in the Digi-Home, because I couldn't stand this dump. Rolling up my sleeves, I started cleaning, scrubbing, dusting, and organizing until the room looked decent.
After hours of work, the room was cleaner, and I could see the floor again. Exhausted, I collapsed onto the couch, my muscles aching and my head throbbing, glad that I didn't feel like I was living in a garbage heap anymore.
"Wow, looks like someone's been busy," Gatomon says, emerging from the desktop screen, followed by BlackGatomon.
"You actually cleaned? Didn't think you had it in you," BlackGatomon teases, looking around.
"Yeah, well, I couldn't stand the mess anymore," I say, still catching my breath. "Now, who's hungry?"
I jump back into the Digi-Home, buy a load of cheap grub from the Shop, and materialize it on the coffee table. Gatomon and BlackGatomon dive in, scarfing down the food like they haven't eaten in days.
As they chow down, a thought occurs to me. Hey, System, I think, how do I get Gatomon and BlackGatomon to evolve to their Ultimate forms?
[To reach the Ultimate level, special items are required. Furthermore, your bond with Gatomon and BlackGatomon must deepen, and they must experience sufficient combat.]
I rack my brain, trying to figure out how to make this happen. Bonding and gaining combat experience shouldn't be a problem. I figure I just need to spend time with Gatomon and BlackGatomon and fight the Digimon that inevitably pop up. The real issue is the special items.
I pull up the Shop on my Digivice, browsing through the evolution items. My eyes widen. Those items cost upwards of 10,000 Digi-Coins! Seriously? That's insane! Either I have to save coins or get lucky in the gacha.
I'm so broke right now, I even jokingly entertain the thought of robbing a bank. Okay, no. No crime. Gotta figure something else out.
"What's wrong, Ethan?" Gatomon asks, tilting her head.
BlackGatomon stops mid-bite. "Yeah, you're making a weird face."
"Nothing, nothing," I say quickly, trying to sound casual. "Just thinking." I take another bite of my food, forcing a smile. "This is great, huh?"
I clear the dishes after our meal. Gatomon and BlackGatomon offer to help, but I wave them off. "Nah, you guys relax. You've earned it." I stack the plates and head to the sink.
I hear Gatomon plop onto the couch with a satisfied sigh. "This is the life."
BlackGatomon, ever the digital native, hops onto the PC and starts clicking around. Soon, the sounds of some goofy cat video fill the room.
The evolution items... my rent... How am I going to pull this off? My stomach drops as I think about Olivia. Being homeless in this crazy world is not an option. Maybe I can find some odd jobs or something. I start to get desperate.
"System, are there any missions or something that give out a lot of Digi-Coins?"
[There are no missions available at this time. However, the System offers Supply Boxes in exchange for real-world currency.]
Yeah, yeah, I know. I can't afford that! Ugh. This sucks.
Suddenly, a knock comes from the door. I jump, startled out of my thoughts. "Who is it?"
A soft voice replies, "It's Gwen."
Gwen? I don't know any Gwen. I cautiously approached the entrance, glancing at Gatomon and BlackGatomon. They both look just as puzzled. I reach for the knob, my hand hesitating for a moment. I take a deep breath and twist it open.
My jaw drops. Standing there is a blonde with a smile that could light up the city. Her hair is the colour of the sun, pulled back into a ponytail that shows off her high cheekbones. Blue eyes sparkle with intelligence and humor. A light denim jacket fits snug over a simple white tee. She looks cute and like she's stepped right out of a magazine. Who is this, and what does she want with me?
"Uh, hi," I stutter, trying to find my voice. "Can I help you?"
She cocks her head, her brow furrowing. "Ethan, you're kidding, right? It's me, Gwen! I swung by 'cause you've been MIA at school all week. I know coming back after what Flash did was tough, but things should be cool now, right?"
Flash? What is she even talking about? And why did I not get any of the original Ethan's memories? This is going to be more difficult than I thought. "Uh, Gwen, right? Look, I'm super sorry, but I'm still a little out of it. I guess I spaced." Smooth, Ethan, real smooth.
Her expression softens a bit. "You haven't been answering my texts either. Everything okay?"
I wince. "Oh, that! I, uh, totally wrecked my phone the other day. Yeah, screen shattered, the whole nine yards. Lost all my contacts. Fresh start, new phone, new me, and all that jazz, you know?" I flash her my Digivice, hoping she doesn't notice how nervous I am.
"Oh, bummer! Well, here." She pulls out her phone. "Lemme give you my number again. Just in case you break this one." She winks.
"Sounds good to me!" I quickly pull out my Digivice and open the contacts app.
As I'm about to tap in her number, she squints at the device in my hand. "Whoa, where did you get that phone? I haven't seen anything like it before!"
Crap. Busted. I forgot what year it is. 2008. So the smartphones are not that high-tech yet.
"Uh... China?" I blurt, hoping she buys it. "Yeah, you know, they always have the newest tech way before anyone else. Got it from some dude down the street. Said it was a prototype." I give her my most innocent look, which probably comes off as more constipated than convincing.
"Alright, here's my number and my Messenger contact, too. Easier to send pics and stuff." She sends a friend request.
A notification pops up: Gwen Stacy.
Gwen Stacy... my mind reels. That name rings a bell. Wait a minute. The blonde, the look, the name... This is Gwen Stacy. The Gwen Stacy. As in, Spider-Man's Gwen Stacy!
My heart hammers against my ribs. I try to keep a poker face, but I'm pretty sure my eyes are bugging out of my head. "Wow, Gwen, uh, Stacy," I stammer, trying to play it cool. "Thanks! I really appreciate it."
This is insane. This is really happening. I'm talking to Gwen Stacy.
***
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