The morning sun poured in through the blindness window as it does every morning. As the light crept in, it hit my tattered bed, yet not my eyes as it normally would have. I was up before my alarm, sipping on a cup of freshly made coffee. The black btterness was overshadowed by the overuse of milk and sweetener, settling on a sweet, flavorful taste. My eyes moved over the manual Emma had given me the day I got Centi. It had all of the necessary information to "take care of" her. Everything from food to how to understand it was in this booklet. It wasn't a long read, as most of the information is video game based, meaning there's not much depth to it.

A burning oder inturrupted my silent thoughts, raising my eyes to the kitchen. " Woah, woah hey!" I scrambled in to pull the plug from the toaster right before it caught flame. It went out as fast as it came and left a thick, black trail of smoke rising to the ceiling. Coughing, I put the now destroyed toaster in the sink, hoping that if it caught fire again, it would at least destroy that and not my counter. " You can't leave the bread in there for that long, you know." I turned to my Centridom as she held up oven mitts in two of it's claws. She cawed, lowering her thick antenna. " It's alright, just..Just don't use anything that needs a timer." Centi's happy exterior perked back up again as she cawed in reply.

She snaked over to the other side of the counter, away from the burnt mess, and pick up a plate in her massive legs, presenting it. On the plate were eggshell-filled scrambled eggs that ran yet looked overdone at the same time. I saw the pan she used in the sink, covered in the egg mess that she wasn't able to scrape onto the plate. " Okay, we gotta teach you timing in general, wow" I grabbed the plate, "thank you, m'dear. I'm not much for breakfast, but I guess I do this time."

I sat at the table, Centi joining on the other side. I would usually be irritated by this sort of thing. I need to buy a new toaster and clean up the destruction that's been left in my kitchen, and I might get salmonella from these eggs, but I couldn't really care less about that right now. The giant centipede that just destroyed my kitchen and made me under and overcooked eggs looks on at me with admiration in her large, yellow eyes. Her slit pupils were a bit more ovally like a cat's. It wanted to do something nice, and I can appreciate that.

—

The walk to the store was no less boring as it was exhausting, as I still didn't have a car. I had to give it to the dump because I couldn't afford the damage. Oh well, I might be able to snag one of the vans from Hinobi if I give the good ol' puppy dog eyes trick. At least I have good reason to now.

Hinobi was as busy as usual in the customer area as well as the Tech HQ. The familiar faces of my colleagues seemed to etch more in my mind than usual. I noticed their features more. I saw their focus, their smiles. I felt more connected to them as a person rather than as another soul just wandering the halls. It was strange to have not seem them this way before.

My bracelet buzzed, showing me the notification. With a press of the button, my companion was released. Her long body stretched then shook as if she woke up from a long sleep. She seemed to have attracted the attention of my fellow Techs as they began to crowd around her. Comments about her size and just how interesting she looked buzzed around, sort of like she was a celebrity.

" So, you two get along well?" A familiar voice piped up. As the small crowd disbanded, Emma stood, viewing my Centridom with a smirk. " I thought for sure you would have been in here earlier demanding a change to your precious Chomp Kitty."

" I, uh, had a change of heart as one might say." I pet my companion, she cooed in response.

" Oh really? Why the sudden change? Just the other day you were saying how glitches are nothing more than programs, and yet here you are, petting a giant centipede."

" There's something different about her. She feels real. She looks at me and I can see life in her eyes. I don't see that in the glitches I fight."

Emma scoffed a bit, " Of course you don't, most of those glitches are hostile and are just performing their normal programmed routine. Your Centridom, like most companion pets, is able to make different programming. They can follow a different path that isn't something ingrained into them. They can learn." She smiled, cocking an eyebrow, " Sort of like you."

A chuckle escaped me. Boy was that the truth.

" Say, you wouldn't happen to be busy or anything right now, would you?"

" Oh? Why?"

" I dunno. My rounds aren't for another couple of hours and I just kinda wanted to see that Chomp Kitty from the other day. If it's alright with you of course." I felt the back of my neck with my hand, the undercut brushed against my palm, itching it slightly.

Emma looked at Centi, petting her, keeping her cocky grin. " I don't see why not. The offer to trade is still up, you know?"

" Heh, yeah I don't think I'll be taking it now. I just wanna see that lil guy. Maybe get him in the future when I build up enough points."

Once again, walking through the HQ to the back where Emma's lab was located, I noticed a few more things than I did before. The halls usually had at least one glitch in them just sort of chilling out. I thought it was just a runaway glitch or something, yet I couldn't have thought it was someone's pet or just one of Emma's many glitches she kept in her lab with her. They must be allowed to roam.

The door once again slid open to allow us inside of the giant lab. The area was full of wondrous creatures of all types like before, but they were much more colorful and full of life than I remember. A flying cat soared past my head, meowing as it flew further into the air blissfully.

When we got towards the center console, Emma typed to find the Chomp Kitty, and once again the generator kicked up. Soon, in front of me stood a large, pixely green and purple cat with the biggest grin I'd ever seen. His smile soon gave me my own as I leaned down to pet him. He purred, showing his belly and making glitchy noises. Centi came over to see the Chomp Kitty closer, examining him.

" I forgot, I don't think I ever properly introduced you. His name is Chompers. He was my first ever glitch I caught and hasn't left my side since."

Centi sniffed Chompers, then cawed before sniffing again.

" I think your Centridom might be a bit jealous." Emma chimed in. She was certainly right about that. Centi seemed to like the Chompers, but I could tell she wanted some distance between him and me as she pushed her head between us. It was sweet.

After a while of hanging out in the lab with the Chomp Kitty and a few of the other glitches, my gauntlet alerted me.

" Oop, my shift starts now. I'd better head out." I said my final goodbyes to the glitches, but Emma stopped me before I went out.

" You can always stop by here whenever you want, you know? You don't just have to come by for pet maintenance or to see your little friend there."

" I suppose I could. I don't do much anyways. It beats sitting around in my crappy apartment, that's for sure. Maybe I'll take you up on that offer."

" Oh is that a threat?"

" Maybe it is."

We laughed a bit, then the door shut behind me. Centi looked at my gauntlet as I swiped through my daily tasks.

" Okay, I gotta admit, that was a switch up. Can't believe it took just spending a day with you to open me up like that. First meeting with her and I couldn't stand her. Now she's a delight. It's like you brought out this whole new side of me, Centi. Was this really all I needed? Just a little friend to keep me company and show me some compassion? Damn, am I really that lonely?" I chuckled nervously, " That's a bit of a problem, huh girl? Looks like I gotta make some actual friends that aren't just you and my own reflection. Emma's a good start to that, huh?" I began walking down the hallway. " Halmia is sure gonna be happy about this one. She won't stop gloating about how right she is the moment I tell her. Well, with you next to me, I don't think I need to say anything at all."

The hallway exited into the main area, allowing me to do my daily rounds and tasks as a Tech. This time, at least, I'll have a little friend to help me today.