This is around...I think AGTIKBI/Upgrade time of day, Jeremy wakes up really late on weekends so it's like...anywhere from 1-3 o' clock
TW: do I need to say there is gonna be swearing at this point?

Jeremy rushed to the game store and was just in time before the line got there. So he was first in line.

"Looks like they're giving the first 10 copies away Slugger. You got lucky." Jeremy smiled as he received the game from one of the employees, running back out of the shop and examining it.

"This is so damn cool Michael is gonna love it!!" Jeremy's thoughts were wild as he began making his way to the pins and patches shop, grabbing himself a shopping bag from one of the bad disposal machines.

He stepped into the shop and found what a multitude of patches. The first was a patch of the Filipino flag, because Jeremy knew how much Michael wanted that patch. (Michael only has the Inky, Pac-Man, and Gay Pride flag patches rn)

Second was an AotD patch, and it was conveniently for level 9. He also found some pins for the game as well, and he knew Michael loved decorating his backpack so he got them.

But the patch he was sure would surprise Michael was the heart, which he got two of, one for himself and one for Michael.

After purchasing them and gently sitting them in his bag, he made his way to leave the mall, surprisingly not interrupted by accidentally bumping into anybody.

(It is now that the author screams because half the chapter deleted!)

***

When he got home he immediately headed upstairs, not wanting to see his dad pantsless yet again.

He shut the door and put his cardigan on the foot of his bed, removing his shoes and eventually pulling his phone out.

"I suggest you ask Michael if you can go over to his house tomorrow." Jeremy nodded and quickly went to Michael's contact.

Player 2: hey Michael can I visit tomorrow?

Player 1: of course. Lucky you, my moms r goin out so it'll just be you and me!

Jeremy went to say 'about that...' but the Squip shook its head.

"W-Why not?"

"I don't think Michael should know I work...there are certain...circumstances involving my technology and somebody he knows that didn't end well and he'd probably try and deactivate me before I can help you."

"What... circumstances?" Jeremy questioned and the Squip sighed, sitting down next to Jeremy and snapping, his clothes simply being a t-shirt with Khonji printed on it, and some blue pajama shorts.

"I don't need you ever mentioning this to him, I'm not even supposed to tell you this but...Michael knew what I was the moment Rich mentioned it."

"How?"

"His brother, Alec, had gotten a Squip... to help him with school, but it wasn't even a 1.0 so it was very very unstable. A prototype that somehow get into his hands. It was very abusive, manipulative, and he had to drink himself to sleep just to ignore it."

"W-Wait...where is he now?"

"I believe he would be in a mental institution...he went insane trying to rid himself of his Squip. You're very lucky Jeremy. My model is the most up to date, being a 3.5, which aren't really allowed to be abusive or manipulstive, and we are capable of imitating human emotions. To make our hosts, if you will, more comfortable."

"S-So Alec...that's why he never came back from college?"

"Precisely. And Michael discovered this. This is why he told you I would be a scam." Jeremy stared down at his phone screen with his newfound knowledge, trying not to cry on the fact because he and Alec had been close before he left, considering how long Jeremy's family and Michael's family have been on good terms. "I promise I'll never do that to you. I don't know exactly what it did to him. But I assure you my sole purpose is to assure that you end up with Michael. Now stop leaving him on read."

Player 2: yep! We gonna try and best lv 9

Player 1: U know it Jer! Maybe we can finally beat it. I hear lv 10 is even worse.

Player 2: we have each other how bad could it be dude?

Player 1: alright. I gotta go help with dinner, Mama is making Tinola! I'll make extra for you.

Player 2: aww thanks Michael ur such a sweetheart.

Player 1: that's gay dude

Player 2: neither of us r straight Michael.

Player 1: tooshy

Player 2: u mean touche?

Player 1: NO I DO NOT lol jk dude

Player 2: ok. I'm gonna go now. Gotta wash my cardigan so I can bring it over and iron my patch on

Player 1: okay cool. Bye bi

Player 2: later gayter

Player 1: wtf Jere?

Player 2: sounded good ok!

Player 1: srsly gtg now

Player 2: alright I'll talk to u tomorrow

Player 1: same.

Jeremy turned the phone off and laid down, resting his head on one of his pillows calmly.

"You're already sleepy? It's only six in the afternoon." The Squip questioned and Jeremy turned to him and laughed slightly. "What?"

"Nothing...you're just...like a mom. It's amusing."

"Well, it is my job to watch over you and keep you safe so in a sense, I guess I could be...well I don't have a gender... I just act like a parent I guess."

"Well it's nice...Con-Considering my father...well you seen h-him...and my mom left..." Jeremy curled up into a ball and sniffled slightly. The Squip put a hand on the boy's shoulder and gave him a sympathetic face.

"I...I know about that...I do have access to your memory. I'm sorry about that. If you actually wish to sleep I can help relax your body." Jeremy nodded, yawning, gently removing his jeans and throwing them in the floor, and nuzzling his pillow under the cover. "Is this a Pac-Man ghosts plushy?"

Jeremy looked back to see the Squip somehow holding his Blinky plushy.

"Y-Yeah...Michael won it for m-me at an arcade."

"You really are fond of him aren't you, Slugger?"

"With all my h-heart... he's always been there for me...H-How could I not be fond of...practically madly in love with...him?"

"Don't worry. You'll be able to tell him eventually. And once I've done that I can let you live your life without me."

"D-Do you have to leave once your goal is complete?"

"It's not required but most stable Squips leave after they have achieved their goal."

"But...do you want to leave?" Jeremy asked and the Squip didn't reply, just handed Jeremy the plushy.

"Good night Slugger."

"You didn't answer my que-" the Squip quickly made Jeremy fall asleep and sighed. Did it want to leave him? No not really, from the short two days it had been with him, it had come to love him as if he were a son.

It didn't want to leave but it didn't want to be a burden. And it didn't want Jeremy to worry, which is why it begrudgingly forced him to sleep.

"Your sole purpose is to help Jeremy...then you deactivate...he won't need you anymore...you'll just hurt him on accident...just help him...that's all you have to do. You can do that...I can do that..I will do that... Because I care about him...more than I should be allowed." Jeremy didn't hear it but the Squip actually began to cry softly while maintaining over Jeremy's sleepy state. It didn't want to leave him...it didn't want to...but it had to...it couldn't stay
...that would be selfish...that would be wrong...it would be a taboo amongst Squip...it just wanted to help him...and it was going to do that.