Author Notes:

This is a Fanfic I have been planning for some time, while working on other projects. I had been doing a project of making an illustration of the antagonist of every episode of Ghost Game as the episodes came out, and I'm slow at drawing, so they took basically the entire week, making working on other big things impossible.

Now, with Ghost Game having reached it's conclusion, and it filling me with spite for the sheer amount of wasted potential, I can work on this fic.

My objective is simple: Rewrite Digimon Ghost Game into a form that I like, which will be pretty different by the end, even if it takes some time to separate from it, while still using as much as I can from the original.

I hope people can enjoy this chapter, even if it's a bit too similar to the original first episode of the show.


Digimon Ghost Strife

Chapter 1: Time Lost

The auditorium was dark, thinly illuminated by the light of my phone. As I went down the stairs, walking by row after row of chairs, I look at both sides, as if expecting someone to find me, hoping to get my bag quick and get out.

Unfortunately, I have to walk slowly, being careful to now fall from the stairs, missing a step in the dark. I would like to turn on the lights, but I shouldn't be here past the closing hours, and I'll get in trouble.

The cold, apparently magnified by the dark, starts sending shivers through my body as I reach the bottom of the stairs and walk to my seat in the front row, near the podium. I try to rub my hands together to warm them, but there is nothing I can do for my legs, exposed by the skirt of my school uniform.

I reach below the chair, feeling my bag below, taking my bag out.

"Thank god, it's still here…"

I breathe a sigh of relief, happy that nobody took it, ignoring that it's my fault I forgot it there in the first place.

'Ring' 'Ring' 'Ring'

As I grab my bag, I am startled by the ringing of a clock. Turning a round, I point my phone to light on the ringing clock on the wall. It's hands are spinning at high speeds in opposite directions.

"Is- Is it broken?"

'Bzzzzz' 'Bzzzzz' 'Bzzzzz'

"Gyaah!"

I almost drop my phone as it starts to buzz.

Dummy, it's only my phone, what are you so scared about!?

I try to repeat that to myself, but then I see the clock on the corner of my phone's screen. The time is randomly changing every second.

Why- Why are the clocks…?

Then, something appears on my glasses. As if standing in front of me, a big, large mouth, sown shut by old string appears on them. It disgustingly, slowly, grows into a smile, and slightly open, it's skin twisting around the strings.

"What time is it now?"

Ah… Ahhh… What is..!?

"Gyaaaaaah!"

I drop my bag and turn back, trying to run to the exit. But in front of me, blocking the path in the closest set of stairs… Something stands there.

A tall creature, covered on a red cloak and holding a giant hammer, it's body covered in a black bodysuit haphazardly sewn together to a giant clock with mechanical arms and legs and an oversized eye looming over it's broken screen, replacing the lower part of his body. Below it's red hood, a noseless face with a set of tiny green eyes surrounded by darkness rests on top of a wrinkled mouth, sewn shoot by string.

His body is slightly transparent, almost glitched like a faulty hologram, and surrounded by a faint red light.

It takes a step forward, and I take a step back.

"What time is it now?"

It asks again, looking at me in the eyes and repeating that same grotesque smile of before.

What- What do I do!?

What is thing thing!?

Is it an Hologram, a cruel prank?!

Is it one of those rumored Hologram Ghosts!?

What do I have to answer!?

Will it go away if I answer correctly!?

What- What time was it before the clocks went out of control!?

I- Think it was 18!?

Wait, but 18 with what!?

No, It must be already 19, right!?

Was-Was it even 18 yet?!

"I- I- I don't know!"

N-No, don't say that, don't blurt that out!

That's the worst possible answer!

"I don't know. I don't know…"

It starts pacing back and forth, twisting it's body in all directions, wildly dancing adn swinging it's hammer with one hand, as it repeats what I said.

I run.

I break off towards the other set of stairs, dropping my phone in my panic.

"You don't know anything!"

I look at the creature as I run up the stairs. It's two top eyes and giant lower eyes were fixed on me, shinning red with a mad expression as it's voice hints at pure joy, it held it's hammer with both hands. By its posture it appeared ready to run towards me.

I run faster, looking at the door at the top of the stairs…

…And then, I trip. Unable to see the steps in the dark, I fall to the ground, hitting my head to the ground as my glasses slip off, falling stunned for a second.

A way too long second.

As I look up, the creature is falling from the air, it's hammer swinging towards me, ready to smash me to the ground.

"You are mine!"

I try to protect my head with my arms, moved more than instinct than reason. There is no way they'll protect anything. But I still keep them raised as tears fall down my face.

But when the hammer is about to hit me, it hits an invisible barrier around. As if I was being protected by something… But what I felt then, felt way, way worse than actually being hit by the hammer.

It felt as if the hammer hit my very soul.

A pain so intense that left me paralyzed in place, but intangible enough to not make me double over from the pain.

And as the creature jumped back, far by the podium… As I could hear the loud thumb of it falling into it's wooden floor, I felt it.

Something leaving my body. It felt as if my very life was being sucked out through ever inch of my skin. And this time, I doubled over from the pain.

"GYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"

"DIAJAJAJAJJAJAJAJJAJAJAJAJA!"

My screams of pain mixed with the laughter of the creature, as I squirmed in pain in the floor.

I could see my life pass in front of my eyes. But… I wasn't was I was always told it was.

I wasn't seeing my past experiences, flashing through my eyes when facing death. I saw something different. I saw a more adult me.

I saw myself getting into college.

I saw myself getting a managing position in a big company.

I saw myself getting married, walking to a man which face I couldn't see.

I saw myself grow old.

I saw myself in an hospital bed, my health starting to deteriorate.

And then, I saw the ground, and a pair of wrinkled, old hands on it, surrounded by gray hair cascading down at the sides of my vision.

The pain stopped, replaced by a new one, this time a very physical one that I had never felt before, spread through my entire body.

"Ah… Ah…!"

I try to speak, but my throat hurts… And my voice sounds strange.

I try… To get up, but my back hurts… And I fall to the ground.

I… Try… to reach for my glasses… But my vision without them has suddenly… Become a lot worse, and I… Can't find… Them.

I… Try…

'Bzzzz' 'Bzzzz' 'Bzzzz'

I press on the off button to silence my alarm clock.

I'm already awake, I don't need it to ring on my head… I simply need a minute or two to properly wake up…

I squirm a bit in my sheets, trying to get my face out of the sunlight peeking through the curtains. Eventually, I have to give up, and open my eyes, slowly getting up.

I'm greeted by the room I was temporarily given in the dormitory, and a small sigh of resignation escapes my lips.

Nothing I can do about that, it's better for everyone if I simply go with it.

After getting dressed in a simple shirt and pants, I go to the bathrooms and brush my teeth alongside everyone else. It's a bit cramped, and I don't remember the names of most the people around me, but they keep things clan, which is good enough for me.

Looking at myself in the mirror. I look a bit tired, but aside from a bit of redness in my green eyes and my brown hair suffering a severe case of bed hair, everything's normal.

I follow some of the people around me to the showers, trying to ignore the people showering around me, and then change into the PE uniform to go to the cafeteria.

I pick some steamed eggplant and bread, with some apple juice, and search for an open table. I spot Kotaro in one of the tables, and as our eyes meet, he noisily raises a hand and starts calling out to me.

"Oooooiiii! Hirooooo! Over here!"

How annoying… Always the same every morning. It's not like I'm not a morning person, I frequent to wake up early… But where does this guy get his energy from? He's like this 24/7. If I haven't been to his home to spend the night, I wouldn't believe he actually sleeps.

I walk to his table and sit in front of him, ignoring when he murmurs 'Ugh, eggplant' thinking I can't hear him. I'm about to start eating, but he suddenly places his hands in front of him, in a praying posture.

But he's not praying to any god to thank for the food nor anything like that. This is something that happens every week or so. He's lowering his head and praying to me.

"Dear God! Buddha! Amanokawa Hiro! Please, show me your homework again!"

The same Kotaro as always.

"I knew you were gonna say that…"

I sigh, exasperated at Kotaro for never doing his own homework. It has been like this for years.

"Fine then. But don't copy and paste when you send it. Write it yourself."

I send out a warning that I know will be only half heard as I take my phone, and send a copy of my homework to him. It's not like I can reject him when he asks for help, as tiring as it may be to repeat the same things constantly.

"I know you were a reliable friend!"

He finally raised his head, breaking off of the act.

"And will you pass the soy sauce too?"

Not breaking off of it completely, keeping his hands in praying to ask for a last thing. As I munch on a slice of bread, I pass it to him. He uses it way too much everyday, but well, if he likes it, who am I to judge?

"Oh, a friend in need is a friend indeed!"

He throws almost a lake of soy sauce over his rice with eggs and tomatoes, as I cut a piece of eggplant.

"Hiro, you saw the ambulance yesterday?"

"Yeah, what was that about?"

"They say that the Sewn-lip Man has showed up!"

"Uh? At our school? Isn't that just an urban legend?"

There are lots of stories like that going around lately. I think they have been multiplying in the last months? There probably was some big advancement in hologram technology, so people mistake advertising holos for something supernatural and get scared, only to end spreading weird rumors.

Too unscientific for me tastes, but it's fun to hear what weird thing people come with next.

"The class's chat is all buzzing. Could be real."

A big smile decorates his face, as he gets comfortable with his arm on the back of his seat. He's really having fun with this one rumor. I guess the ambulance gave it more realism to him.

"Freaky. But well, it would be interesting if it's true."

In the end, something 'Supernatural' would mean a new field of study. It would be fun to see how scientists pull out their hairs before properly researching it and turning it into another branch of science.

Who knows? Maybe this Sewn-lip Man could create a cure for some weird illness or something like that if researched.

I pass by the comments on the class's chat, most of them coming from the same person.

"What's with Ishida? Someone's really well informed."

I start reading his comments loudly enough so Kotaro con listen.

"Here's the deal, Hologram Ghosts have been spotted these past for or five months, some even say for six. They are glitchy paranormal phenomenon, different from ghosts. Yesterday's case was…"

"From the rumors, a second-year girl."

Kotaro leans forward, his face so close that the stink of the gel in his heavily styled hair invading my nose.

"They all assume she's dead. Apparently, she has been disappeared since yesterday. The one in the ambulance was actually an old woman they found unconscious in the auditorium."

Why was she even there?

"In any case Ko, if the Lip-sewn Man really existed, how would people talk about him if everyone that meets him is dead?"

"They say that people have heard it… 'What time is it now?'"

"It's 7:45 AM."

I look at our side, following the voice to find a gray haired guy checking the hour on his phone.

"I don't think you have time to be eating right now."

"Ah, Senpai!"

"Oh, Kiyoshiro-senpai, good morning!"

"Haven't I told you before? Call me Dorm Leader in the dorms and Senpain on campus. Remember to use them accordingly."

He said while posing with his right hand. As always it was covered in bandages. I originally thought he was hurt, but he has been wearing them since I first met him, and he doesn't appear to have any problem moving it.

Why does he have the bandages…? Well, not my problem.

"What a pain."

"Did you say something?"

Kotaro, as always, blurted out what he was thinking, and Dorm Leader acted as if he didn't hear it.

"Good morning, Dorm Leader!"

We say in unison, trying to please him for today. He's satisfied pretty easily, even if it's a bit of a pain.

"Now, Amanokawa Hiro-kun…"

"Hey, why do you always have bandages on?"

Once again, Kotaro blurted what he had on his mind, even though that's something he has already asked multiple times.

"Hmmm, oh, this?"

Dorm Leader's face lighted up a big. He's already always smiling, but it looks like he loves when he's asked that. He raised his hand and turned it into a fist, once again making a pose.

"It's just as you imagine."

He's having way too much fun with that.

"Oh? You mean that ambulance yesterday was for you then?"

Kotaro sprouted forwards, enthusiasm on his voice as he pointed at the Dorm Leader's arm.

"That injury was from the Sewn-lip Man?!"

"Ehhhh!?"

Dorm Leader looked horrified.

"Whoa! There's a victim here!"

"That is not true!"

Dorm Leader quickly lowered to be face-to-face with Kotaro, evident fear on his face.

"You! Do not accuse people of such things so lightly! If you jynx me and lure that Sewn-lip Man, you're gonna be responsible! What are you gonna do, huh!?"

Kotaro looks overwhelmed as he's basically assaulted by a panicking Dorm Leader. It's kind of shocking to see both of them like this.

"Aren't you overreacting a bit?"

"…Anyway, Amanokawa-kun, you're in charge of the third floor for the next few days."

He separated himself from Kotaro, and looked back at me with his usual calm smile, talking in his usual relaxed but firm tone, as he walked away.

"Make sure to get it done!"

And so he walked out the door, waving at us with his bandaged arm.

"He's as weird as ever."

Kotaro said what we all had in mind.

"Yep."

I couldn't nothing but agree.

We walk alongside the other students, passing by the holographic traffic lights and the signpost saying 'Hazakura Academy". Kotaro stops by he parking lot, looking at a police car.

"A police car.. It's for real then."

A police car…

My mind goes blank when looking at the car, just starting to remember, until Kotaro shakes me out of it.

"Ups, sorry Hiro, I forgot for a moment, let's go."

Kotaro drags me forward, bringing me back to reality.

"Ah, Kotaro, you are worrying too much. It's okey."

"Bullshit, you haven't been able to sleep yesterday, right? It shows on your face, it's still affecting you."

"No, seriously, it's not that bad. I simply space out and can't sleep when I can't understand something, and the way he disappeared… Well, I don't understand it."

"…You sure?"

"Yes, so don't worry too much."

"…If you say so."

He stops dragging me, and we go back to walking side by side, entering the school.

"…Some news about him? Any hint of where he disappeared to?"

"Nothing. After 6 months, It's probably a cold case."

"How did he even disappear like that anyways? What was it… His room exploded and then he was gone?"

"No, it wasn't an explosion, it was… What was it…?"

I place the salad, bread, and fried egg on the plates, and bring them to the table. One accompanied with a cup of milk, the other with a cup of milk. It's not as good as mom's, but she'll be out for a while, with that new war creating a lot of refugees that need help, so it'll have to do.

"Dad!"

I call dad so he comes have breakfast. Seriously, this man should wait to start working after having breakfast, he's too much of a workaholic.

As I wait and receive no response, I sigh and go up the stairs to bring him down.

"I have my junior high's entrance ceremony today, so I need you to hurry and eat breakfast!"

I knock on his door, but receive no answer.

"…Uh?"

I knock again, but the only thing I get is silence.

I reach for the doorknob, and open the door. When I do, the smell of burnt wood invades my nose, and I can see slight smoke coming from the ground.

In the corner of the room filled with machines and computers, where my dad should be seated, working tirelessly on his main computer and multiple monitors, there is a clean hole. As if a perfect sphere was cleanly cut out of the room, smoke coming out of the wood it cut.

"D-Dad?"

I walk into the room. The borders of the hole were perfectly cut. A family photo that was always on his desk had been perfectly and cleanly cut, cutting out upper bodies from it.

There are no signs of dad anywhere.

"…After that, I contacted mom and the police, but we couldn't find anything. It's as if he disappeared into thin air or something like that."

"What even could cut the room like that?"

"Dunno, I sometimes spend nights researching that, but I couldn't find anything that fits the description."

"…That's why you didn't sleep yesterday, then? Don't push yourself too much. He's probably okey, he's the type of man that could survive anywhere if you gave him a stick and a bit of string. He'll suddenly appear one day acting as if nothing happened."

"…Yeah, I know that, that idiot is too smart to simply die out of nowhere."

If he appears again acting as if nothing happens, and doesn't give any explanation, I swear…

We walk by the corridors, until a teacher calls out to me.

"Oh, Amanokawa! Perfect timing. Can I ask you a favor? Will you carry those to storage?"

He places his hand on a pile of bog boxes. There were about 6 of them.

"Ah, yes, sure."

"Oh, work hard Hiro!"

"Nomura, you too."

"Uh?! Aww!"

"Ugh, my hands hurt!"

We close the door in the shack behind the school, having brought all the boxes inside. They weren't too heavy, but having to carry so many of them all the way here left our fingers burning.

Kotaro is quickly swinging his hands on the air, as if trying to cool them off as we walk back into the school building.

"Why do you willingly take these on?"

Why?

If I had to think of a reason…

"Well, there is no point complaining."

Someone has to do it, so I may as well give people a hand.

"You know, you're probably giving off an unrefusable aura."

"What are you saying?"

The idea of that sounds so dumb that I almost laugh while saying that. What even is an unrefusable aura?

"I wonder if I am?"

Whatever that is.

"Huh?"

We pass by the back entrance to the auditorium. It's surrounded by holographic police tapes and signs warning people to keep out.

It gives me a bad feeling.

"Our's school already known nationwide."

"What? Already?"

Isn't that way too fast? It was just yesterday, right?

"It's going viral."

Kotaro takes out his phone, and shows me an Utopi account he follow, talking about the subject. It depicts a photo of a girl in a school uniform and very long wavy hair with her back to the camera, with a big message painted on the screen saying 'WANTED! SEWN-LIP MAN INFORMATION!'.

"What's this? Showing your crush?"

"Whooops! Of course she isn't!"

He panics for a moment, trying to hide the screen. A smile comes to my face, feeling the impulse of pushing on and make fun of him, but he continues before I get the chance.

"It's this girl called Lirurun. Her Utopi followers are growing fast, and I'm one too. She makes topis related to supernatural rumors… But more importantly, look here!"

All the responses to the topi are similar messages. 'I heard it's Hazakura Academy!', 'Hazakura girl kidnapped, and replaced by an unknown old woman… Spooky', 'What the hell is happening in that city!? His Hazakura girl isn't the first, how for is ti going to go!?', and more similar to it.

"You are right, it's spreading like crazy."

Kotaro pockets his phone, and starts walking to the auditorium, stopping a moment in front of the holographic tape before carefully passing in-between it.

"Hey, isn't that bad?"

What is he thinking? He'll get in big trouble if they see him!

"Well, Lirurun wants information. We could take a pic if there's something."

Is this guy for real…?

…No, I have known him for years. He's 100% serious on his idiocy.

He reaches the door, and after a quick try and failure at opening it, he quickly turned to me, in praying posture.

"My savior, Hiro-sama! Please help me!"

A sigh escapes my lips as I close my eyes at listening to his lunacy.

And I'm the idiot going along with him.

"Oh, fine."

I pass by the police tape, reaching inside my jacket. From there, I take a small steel box as I walk to the door.

Kneeling in front of the door, Kotaro looking enthusiastic at my work, I open the box to reveal a set of lock picks. Placing it on the ground at hand reach, I take a few standard ones to get a feeling of the lock.

"You are seriously handy!"

"I guess It's my dad's influence. He isn't satisfied with mass-produced things, so he made the locks of our house himself, and taught me how locks work while doing it. So I kinda learned how things work and how to make them not work from him."

Inserting the lock pick inside, I delicately move it around, trying to form a mental image of the lock. Once I'm satisfied, I take out a different one, more fitting for the job. It's not a standard lock, but also not an especially unusual one.

I insert the new one, and after a minute or two, with three failed tries, the slots all remain in place, and the door opens with a 'Clack'. Satisfied, I return the used lock picks to the box, and bring it back to it's place inside my jacket.

We look inside the auditorium, having entered from the back, leaving us besides the podium. Kotaro goes inside, casually strolling as if he own the place.

"Hello, Mr. Swen-lip Man!"

We passed in front of the rows of seats. The auditorium was dark, but the tinted glass of the dome in the ceiling, although dimly, let enough light pass so we could see.

"The rumors say the clock goes berserk."

I look at the clock by the wall.

3:38PM.

The seconds pass normally, and it looks to be at the right hour.

'Ring'

"Uah!"

We get startled by our phones ringing at the same time.

"Lirurun…"

As we take our phones out, Kotaro starts to mutter, and slowly turns towards me.

"…Made an update."

"Oh… Really…"

3:39PM.

…I want to forget this ever happened. So embarrassing…

A sigh escapes my lips as I look into my phone. For a moment, I panicked at nothing, falling for that rumor of the Swen-lip Man.

"You sure this wasn't just a rumor?"

"Then what about the police?"

"I don't know… I'm sure there was some sort of incident, but…"

There are plenty of things that could have happened. How should I know which one it is if the police is still investigating?

'Ring' 'Ring' 'Ring'

We get startled by our phone again. Another update?

We take our phones out again… And the time has changed. And keeps changing. The numbers are changing randomly, faster and faster non-stop. At the edge of my vision, I see the clock in the wall going out of control, the hands circling rapidly in opposite directions.

We freeze in silence, looking at the time of the clock move in a nonsensical way.

"…H-hey…"

"Yeah…"

I could barely say anything, and Kotaro could barely answer. But I feel like we both got what the other was trying to say.

Is-Is this…? No… No, there is n way… This must be a…

"What time is it now?"

A gasp comes from both of us, as a voice resounding throughout the auditorium sends shivers down our spines, freezing us in place.

Who… Who said that? Kotaro…?

"Was… Was that… you?"

"Me…? No! But, if it wasn't you…"

"Whoa, the Sewn-lip Man's really here! For real? Wow!"

Kotaro, with a combination of fear and excitement on his face, started taking photos all around. Is… Is he serious?

No, no, I'm buying into it too fast. There must be some logical explanation to this. In any case, I have to stop Kotaro and get us out of here. I reach to him, trying to call his attention.

"Ko-"

"What time is it now?"

I freeze, my heart sinks, as a voice reaches directly into my ear, from a shadowed silhouette on the edge of my vision. I can't look at it properly, and my neck refuses to move, but I can identify a red mask… And a mouth sewn shut.

The figure disappears, but both of us look instinctively upwards, and our gazes fall into it. A monstrous visage of a man melded with a giant clock.

It's lower body was a giant clock with feet, a giant claw on one side and some weird machinery on the other, a giant red eye coming out from it's broken corner.

It's upper body was a mass of muscle tightly covered in some black material, with metal blocks encrusted in random places. A red cape partially covering it's body and ending in a red mask covering most of it's face, with gears attached on top. Under the mask, a small set of green eyes looked at us from inside what appeared to be black holes, sitting above a wrinkly mouth sewn-shut.

It floated in the air, looking at us with a twisted smile, firmly holding a giant hammer. It's body was semi-transparent, it's borders releasing a red light. Sounds of gears turning and chains rattling coming from it's insides.

An hologram…?

'Flash'

From the side, the flash of a camera activated, illuminating the creature.

"Ah… Aha... Ahahha!"

Kotaro, what are you doing!?

"Both of your time…"

It's voice sounded raspy and ghostly, but it quickly stopped as Kotaro continued taking photos of it. It looked irritated.

It swiftly fell to the ground, the impact of it's fall resonating through the air and the ground. Right in front of Kotaro.

Why is an hologram…. Making the floor tremble…?

"Uh… Ahhhhhh!"

Kotaro started screaming in a panic, as to creature raised it's hammer in the air.

"…Is mine!"

It quickly let it down, falling on top of Kotaro. His panicked face was quickly covered by an orange sphere that appeared around his body, stopping the hammer in the air, and quickly disappearing in a wave.

Relief washes over my body at seeing that he's okey, and watching the creature jump backwards. This must have been some type of amazing prank using holograms and hacking into the systems of the clocks. I almost let out a laugh, until I see Kotaro's face.

His lip was trembling, his eyes wide shoot, and his body was trembling. It looked as if he was in incredible pain, but couldn't move a muscle. And then, a bunch of red, flat rings came out of him, spinning around his body. Followed by a deafening scream.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

A soul-shattering shout of unbearable pain reverberated across the auditorium, as a pillar of orange light shout out of Kotaro. It curved near the ceiling, and fell into the creature. Who then laughed maniacally, his arms extended into the sky.

"Diajajashajashajshashajashajaja!"

As the torrent of light, filled with 0s and 1s, as if it was a computer screen, left Kotaro's body, something strange happened to him. His hair started losing it's color. It started turning grey, as his skin started losing it's luster, and slowly but steadily getting wrinkled. His hair and nails grew and grew, as his body started resembling more a mummy than the Kotaro I knew.

Until the torrent of light stopped, and his body fell limp to the ground. From the floor, he looked at me, it appeared as if he was trying to say something, the words couldn't escape his mouth. His face was too wrinkled to try to red his lips. And then, the creature stopped laughing.

It casually strode to Kotaro, and looked down at his limping body. With hos back turned at me, all I could see was the back of a clock, a red cloak, and a clockwork key sticking out of his back.

"Ah… Ahh… Ahhhhhh…"

What… What has just happened…?

Kotaro…

What… happened to Kotaro?

What did it do to Kotaro?

The creature then slowly turned towards me, hammer in hands and a twisted smile on its face. I take a step back, me instincts pushing me to run, but before I know it, the creature stands right in front of me, its overwhelming size standing tall over me, making me feel defenseless.

"What time is it now?"

It said, pushing its face towards mine. I could only see its green eyes.

It circled its hammer with a single hand, and threw himself back, ready to swing its hammer at me.

It… It's going to do the same to me as it did to Kotaro…!

N-No!

What-What do I do!?

How do I stop-

….The time.

What time it is now!?

What time did my phone said before it went out of control!?

"It- It's 3:39PM!"

The creature stopped it's movement. It looked down at me, and smiled. A very wide smile, followed by his raspy, ghostly voice. It felt filled with malice.

"Wrong. It's now 3:42PM."

….Ah. It took three minutes for all of this to happen since I last checked.

Its hammer reached its highest point. I could see its muscles bulge, about to send it down towards me, just like with Kotaro. I cover my face with my arms, as if they'll somehow protect me, even though I know they won't.

Then, suddenly, the lights turned on.

"Hey! Is someone here?!"

I hear steps coming towards me.

"How did you get in?!"

I take down my arm, and look in front of me.

The creature is gone.

"Aida-sensei! There is another student!"

I can see Kotaro in the ground. His now white hair sprawling on the floor. He wasnt moving, and I couldn't see his face.

I stand besides an hospital bed. The room is full of old people connected to machines, some with family besides them. All of them unconscious. In this bed, Kotaro sleeps. His pulse stable and relatively healthy… For a 100 years old man.

His family came to visit for a moment, but they refused to believe this man as Kotaro, and threatened to sue the hospital for making such a mistake, and called me crazy when I tried to explain things to them. They'll be filling a case for a missing person until the DNA tests are done to probe his identity... But knowing them, they won't believe it.

That means that nobody else is going to be here for Kotaro.

"…Damn it…!"

What the hell was that thing!?

Why did it…!?

Frustration builds, as I clench my fists and teeth as tight as I can.

This was done to him right in front of my eyes, and I couldn't do anything…

If the teachers hadn't come at the last second, I would be sleeping in this room too…!

Frustration combines with fear as my shoulders start to tremble. I start being overwhelmed by the mental image of me as an old man, sleeping in an hospital bed with a bunch of machines keeping me alive.

I'm taken out of those bad thoughts as someone places their hand on my shoulder. I look back to see a nurse, looking at me with worry covered by a professional smile.

"The hour visits are done. Go home and rest, we'll take care of him."

"…Okey."

I take a last look at Kotaro, as he sleeps peacefully, and I walk out of the room and the hospital.

…Is there anything I could do for him?

I am one of the few people that have seen that thing and got out free, the police and doctors may not understand how this is possible but doesn't look like they believed my explanation…

Will they be able to save Kotaro…?

Is there anything I can do…?

Those thoughts flood my mind, as I walk back to the residency.

I walk depressed through the halls of the residency, until I reach the door to my room. But I'm interrupted as I try to open it.

"Amanokawa-kun."

Looking, I see Dorm Leader approaching. There was a concerned look on his face.

"I heard about what happened…"

"Y-Yes…"

I look to the ground. For some reason, I can't bring myself to look at others in the eyes right now.

"Nomura was hospitalised, and you were asked 'What time is it now?'… Right?"

I simply nod.

"This is bad!"

I hear Dorm Leader's panicked voice, and loot up at him curiously.

"This is bad! Bad! Bad! This is really bad!"

He's swinging around in a panic, fear clear in his face, until he turns to face me holding his head.

"Y-Yes…"

He reaches into his pocket, and takes out something, quickly shoving it into my hands.

"Uh?!"

Looking at it, it's a… Talisman? I hold it in front of my face, trying to get a good look at it.

"What… Is this?"

"Can't you tell!? It's a talisman!"

After shouting that, he runs away. His last words being barely audible as he gets further and further away.

"I… I am… Definitely not cursed!"

He runs away, and I look at the blue talisman left in my hands, held by a long ribbon that appears to go around the neck.

…Thinking about it, I think I saw a few ribbons around his neck inside his slightly open jacket. Is he… Wearing a bunch of talismans?

I pocket the talisman, and enter my room.

I don't turn on the lights, things barely visible thanks to the lights from the window. I sit on my bed, and take out my phone. Maybe… Maybe I can find something about the Lip-sewn Man that could help Kotaro. There have been multiple cases, so maybe someone has found a way to turn someone back to normal, or someone that gave him the right time learned something?

'Krrkrkrrr'

"Ah!"

I'm startled by a sound, one happening inside the room.

What… Was that?

I look around, more scared than I would like to admit I am.

"Don't… Don't tell me…It's the Sewn-lip Man again?!"

Has it followed me home!?

'Clack' 'Clack' 'Clack'

"Ahhhh!"

A few things fall on top of my head, making me cry and jump forwards, hiding by the computer chair. Looking back, I see that what fell in my head landed on the bed. They are… USB Drives and a bunch of wristwatches?

"What are those…?"

Wait, that wristwatch…

"It's… The same type that dad always wears…!"

Where did they come from!?

I wait a moment, and then approach cautiously. Looking at it closer… It really looks like the wristwatch, the health band that dad bought and modified after feeling it wasn't good enough, that he always wears. they even have the same symbol of three overlapping triangles that he always added to his work!

I grab the closest wristwatch, and look at it so intensely that my eyes start to hurt. There is a slot to the side. I try to press it's buttons, but it doesn't turn on.

I look at the USBs on the bed. They appear the be the same type as this slot.

I grab one of them, a light blue one. It is too slim to be an USB, but I don't recognize what type it is exactly. I slowly insert it on the wristwatch, and as it fits tightly on the slot, it turns on.

'Wrong! That's backup!'

"…Eh?"

The wristwatch turned off again, after delaying that message.

"Was that dad's voice?!"

Then… Dad must have really sent this!

He must be alive!

I look at the USB, and take it out, replacing it for the yellow one.

'Too bad, that's backup too.'

…Why does he have to be like this at all times?

After all this time, and now this…!

At least label them instead!

…Ahhh, well, at least this shows that he's doing well.

"Dad really likes this kind of stuff…"

I take it off, and grab the final one. When inserting it, the wristwatch lights up, this time brighter than before. The light grows so strong that it blinds me for a moment.

"Ughhhh!"

I try to cover my eyes with my hand, until it slowly turns off. And as I remove my hand, a strange sight appears before me.

My room was now covered in grass.

The floor is completely covered in grass. Random patches of grass grows from my bed, on boxes, even over wood and my computer.

"U-Uaaahhhh?! W-W-What?!"

What is this?!

What happened?!

As I turn back to look at the rest of my room, I freeze.

In front of my door, something stands looking at me.

Its expresionless big white eyes, slightly covered by a dark green hoodie, were surrounded by fur. Its paw-like gloves held a big red backpack, and a big pair of ears sprouted from holes on its hoodie. On the back, a really long tail covered in purple markings swings slowly.

It looked straight into my eyes.

"Uahhh?!"

What is this…?!

A… Bipedal cat?!

It slowly moved its left hand, and pointed at something.

I slowly look away, trying to see where it was pointing. But the moment I tried to look back at it, to not lose it from my sight, it was gone.

"Where… Is it?"

'Clack' 'Clack'

I freeze, as I hear the sound of metal. It was coming from where that cat pointed to.

I slowly and cautiously approach the source of the sound, below my desk and behind my chair. As I do, the sound of metal continues, steadily and uninterrupted.

I swallow, sweat going down my temples, as I kneel to look at the source of the sound.

What… Is that?

In front of me, there is a… Reptile? No, Dinosaur? A small white dinosaur, about the size of a dog, with an oversized head and tiny limbs and wearing a torn blue scarf, was seating on the grass, biting at a camera.

'Clack' 'Clack' 'Cla-'

It looked at me, its big eyes focusing on mine.

"Woah!"

I jumped backwards.

What… Is this thing!?

"Ohh! You are Amanokawa Hiro!"

The… Dinosaur, walked outside of below my desk, and stopped in front of me. It was speaking very clear japanese.

"It… It talked…!"

"I'm Gammamon!"

"Gamma… mon…?"

It's really talking… It even presented itself!

It made a small nod, likely confirming that I got its name right.

"Uh… What…?"

I have too many questions… Was he brought here by that cat? Did that cat also bring the wristwatch?

My thoughts are interrupted as a light appears behind the dinosaur… Of Gammamon. It slowly took on an humanoid shape, and started to acquire color. It took on… A very familiar shape.

"Yo, Hiro!"

My mouth is agape with surprise and shock.

"You doing alright? I'm doing all right."

"Dad!?"

An hologram of dad was in front of me. He was being as casual as ever, as if he hadn't disappeared for even one day.

"Were you surprised?"

"What do you think?!"

Is this man serious!? This damn idiot!

"Hokuto!"

Gammamon tries to hug dad's leg, but he passes through. It is only an hologram.

"What is this?! What's going on?! Dad! What have you been doing?! Where are you?!"

"You just interrupted me, huh?"

"Don't keep silent just to say that!"

"This is the Digital World!"

He opens wide his arm, clearly enjoying giving an explanation.

"Well, it's like a cyberspace. I don't know too much, but isn't it cool?"

He goes silent again.

A cyberspace?

How did he get himself inside a place like that?

How does that even work?

"You interrupted me again, huh?"

"Enough already! I didn't interrupt you either."

This must be a filmed message. Why couldn't he made a call?

"Don't get mad! You see, this Gammamon is a Digimon. A creature unknown to mankind."

An… Unknown creature… A Digimon?

"In other words, a Digital Monster"

Digital… Monster…

"Wait, wait, wait! This is too much information!"

"Hiro."

"Huh?"

"Starting today, Gammamon is your little brother."

…My little… Brother?

He kept silent for a moment… Before exploding in a goofy smile.

"Take care of him!"

"Huh?! Little brother?!"

"Ohhh! Little brother!"

Gammamon said enthusiastically, arms wide open and sparks on his eyes.

…Wait, what the hell did you do in the Digital World to give me a little brother?!

"No need to worry about me, I have been doing well here for a long time. Now, take care of your brother!"

"Take care? Little brother?"

The hologram of dad starts flickering, about to go out. I stretch my hand, reaching for it, as if that was going to stop it.

"Hey!"

But as expected, it disappeared, leaving me alone with Gammamon… Until it suddenly appeared again.

"I forgot. Put on that Digivice in your hand and insert the DIM card again. I prepared a few back-ups in case one gets broken. They are made to be durable, but one never knows what may happen."

Digivice? DIM card? Wait, does he mean the wristwatch and the USB?

I hold the wristwatch… The Digivice in front of me.

The DIM is still inserted, so I guess I have to take it out and insert it again after wearing it? Dad has always been a bit bad with his instructions.

"Your world will change, Hiro. See ya!"

And with those last words, he disappeared again. This time, definitively, in a flash that returned my room to normal.

"Dad…"

So that idiot is alive…

In the end, he did come back and acted as if nothing happened, even if it was a recorded message.

I let out a sigh, feeling stupid for having ever worried about him.

I look at the Digivice in my hands, lots of questions floating in my mind.

"Digital World… Digital Monsters…"

Irritation starting to build up.

"Jeez, what was he doing for half a year? That good-for-noth…"

'Thumb'

I'm startled by a book falling down. Looking at it, it appears to ahve fallen on it's own, but… Gammamon disappeared.

Was it… Gammamon?

Did he… Turn invisible?

"Are you there…?"

After a moment without answer, the chair of my desk moves on it's own, as if it was kicked.

I look at the Digivice in my hands, the thing that transformed my room in the first place. Remembering dad's instructions, I take out the DIM card, and strap it around my left wrist. And as I do, the black screen lights up with a white line going up and down, similar to a heart monitor.

In the corner of my vision, I see Gammamon slowly becoming visible, inspecting my library from the top of my desk. But this time, his body is transparent, covered in glitch-like patterns, and surrounded in a slight white light…

…Similar to the Lip-sewn Man.

That realization tenses me up.

A transparent, glitch-like body… A creature unknown to mankind… Digital Monsters…

Is the Sewn-lip Man… A Digimon?

I look closer at Gammamon, starting to fear him at the implication. But looking at his awestruck face while inspecting everything, that feeling quickly fades away.

"…A Digimon."

An hologram. Its transparent body makes me doubt if it's even really alive, but a quick glance at the book on the ground takes my doubts away. Is this… Him, my little brother now?

As he inspects the lamp on my desk, I look back to the Digivice around my wrist. After a moment of doubt, I take the DIM card and insert it again. After a moment of waiting with nothing happening, I reach for the slowest button and press it.

A blue symbol, composed of a hollow arrow pointing down and two triangles at it's side, appears on the screen. Following it, the black Digivice starts changing color, turning into a pure white with red, blue, green, and black accents. And in front of me, a wave of blue light passes through Gammamon from bottom to top, surrounded by transparent cubes.

Once the wave disappears, Gammamon looks solid once again.

"Ohhhhh!"

He looks at his hands, apparently happy, while I'm dumbfounded by the sight.

The room still looks like normal. That means… This is real. That's a real body, leaving a shadow behind him and producing slights thumbing sounds when stepping over my desk. He's not an hologram.

"Chomp!"

"Ouch!"

Gammamon suddenly jumped at me, climbing to my leg and biting it.

"This is definitively not an hologram! It hurts!"

I fall into the bed, and he stops, standing over my mattress.

"Hiro, take care of me!"

He said with a happy face, enthusiastically raising his hand.

"You want to be taken care of too?!"

What the hell is happening tod-!

'Ring' 'Ring' 'Ring'

My mind stops, flooded with a sudden sense of dread. The sound making me remember what happened earlier today, as my phone in my pocket vibrates. Gammamon's eyes turn into slits, and he starts growling at the window.

What… Is he growling at…?

I nervously take the phone out of my pocket, and look at the screen. The time… Is changing rapidly.

I look at my alarm clock on the small desk besides my bed… And it's hands are spinning rapidly in random direction.

And in my window, through the gap between the curtains… A small green eye, over a mouth sewn shut.

It…

"…It followed me home…!"

'Crash!'

I jump to the back of my bed to hide myself, as my window explodes inwards, sending fragments flying into my room. My chair, desk, and the side of my bed end with glass fragments stabbing through them, but fortunately they didn't reach all the way to me.

Gammamon jumps to the floor, hands and legs on the floor and tail raised, growling at the figure slowly looking through my window, too big to enter. A figure with a twisted smile on its sewn shut mouth, carrying a giant hammer.

I look at, my blood going cold, and my body starting to shiver when his small green eyes lock on mine. But when they do, his face changes. Instead of its constant twisted smile, it looks… Surprised?

"Uh? You can see me clearly?"

See it clearly? What does he me…?

The Digivice!

Gammamon was invisible until I put it on!

In that case… Can the Sewn-lip Man change from visible to invisible at will unless I wear it?!

If that's the case, it really is…!

His confused face continues as he looks down at Gammamon.

"Is that a Digimon?"

"I'm Gammamon!"

Its confused face, slowly goes away, returning to its normal smile. It focuses on Gammamon, ignoring my presence.

"…I'm Clockmon!"

His raspy and ghostly voice now had an edge to it. It sounded almost joyous, but something about sent a chill down my spine.

"Clockmon?"

Clockmon… Mon… It… He really is a Digital Monster, one of the creatures dad talked about.

Is he used to dealing with things like this?!

Is he really okey?!

"What do you want?!"

Gammamon shouted with an aggressiveness I haven't heard from him yet. He sounded like he was ready to pounce at Clockmon.

"Huhuhu… I guess I can entertain a child with a bit of my time."

He sounded amused. There was a hint of superiority in his voice, but didn't appear directly violent towards Gammamon. Maybe because both are Digimon…?

"You see, my greatest pleasure is to look at the time stolen from humans! It's a very short, but a very dense time… Almost predetermined with a clear beginning and end, but at the same time infinitely variable! I can't get enough of it!"

He was smiling from ear to ear, as he set his sight on me.

"His time…"

He swung his hammer backwards… He's coming!

"Is mine!"

"You give bad vibes!"

Gammamon quickly charged at Clockmon, jumping and headbutting at his stomach, his horns digging into him, and throwing both of them backwards, falling from our seventh floor.

'Thumb!' 'Clash!' 'Thumb!'

"G-Gammamon!"

I run to the window. Looking down, the Sewn-lip M… Clockmon, retreated, and Gammamon gave pursuit.

"Gammamon, wait! That thing's dangerous!"

It doesn't look like he heard me.

Damn, I can't leave him alone, dad asked me to take care of him!

I run past the streets, roughly in the same direction I saw them run to.

…This is bad, I'm not even sure if I'm going in the right direction, they were already gone by the time I got out of the residency!

I look at the Digivice. Maybe dad added some function for cases like this, so I move to the other buttons that I haven't checked yet. Going for the middle button, it's divided into two. An unnecessary design, but I press the lower one. The screen lights up… Showing the time, a small scenery made in pixels… And a small pixelated sprite of what appears to be Gammamon. It looked angry, jumping at one side of the screen as if it was attacking something.

"Is this… Showing Gammamon's state?"

I press the button again, showing a screen full of data and numbers I don't understand what they are for, and have no time to get to understand it. I press it again, and the screen changed to an imagine Gammamon surrounded by a circle with a small arrow slightly trembling on top of it. It suddenly pops out of the screen as an hologram.

"Is this… A compass?"

It pointed forward, though a bit to the left of where I was going, and it had the sprite of Gammamon in the middle, still attacking.

"Does this point at where Gammamon is?!"

If that's the case… I know where to go now!

I pass the next street and go to the left, as the arrow of the compass starts to deviate towards there, and a street later I arrive at a park. By the entrance of it, there is a broken handrail that appears to have been impacted by something like a car, and past it a few broken trees barely holding out.

'Thumb!' 'Ring!'

From inside the park, I hear sounds of frees falling to the ground and ringings of clocks. The time of my Digivice gets out of control.

They are here!

I run into the park, not needing the look at the compass anymore as a huge explosion of dust happens that can be seen above the trees.

As I pass through fallen trees, I reach the area with games for children of the park, I see Clockmon jumping out the branches of a tree and then on top of of a tall clock set on an extreme of the area, followed by a growling Gammamon.

"Why do you keep following me child?! I'm not interested in your time, only on the human's, but there is only so many minutes I'm willing to waste on this! I'll take it all away if you don't stop!"

Gammamon looked enraged, flexing his claws and growling at Clockmon. He raises his claws at Clockmon.

"You're gonna make me go kaboom!"

He then rushed forwards, towards Clockmon. He, with in irritated expression and voice, raised his hammer, and jumped towards Gammamon.

"Well, you asked for it! Shajajashajashashaja!"

"Uooooooohhhhhh!"

Both were in the air, as Clockmon swung his hammer.

"Your time is mine!"

And then both stopped in midair, as the hammer clashed against a yellow spherical wave of energy around Gammamon. For a moment, it looked as if time for both of them had stopped. Until the wave disappeared and Gammamon was sent flying to the ground, red flat rings starting tto grow out of his body.

"Uaaaaaaaaaahhhhhh!"

"G-Gammamon!"

That- That's the same he did to Kotaro!

As a pillar of energy started to leave Gammamon, Clockmon landed on the ground the pillar twisting on the air and falling into him.

"Hum. A Digimon's time isn't the same after gazing at a Human's one, but I guess it's not bad once in a while…"

"Uaahhh… Ughhhhh…!"

Gammamon looks in extreme pain. There aren't clear changes on him yet, but the ground around him is starting to lose its color. The grass quickly grows and grows, until it withers and dies.

I… I have to do something!

I can't let him do that to Gammamon!

Dad asked m to take care of him!

I don't get how or why it happened… But he's now my little brother!

I look around for anything that can be useful, but find nothing.

There has to be something I could use!

I raise the Digivice, hoping it would have something, anything that could help. But while looking at it, I catch in the corner of my eyes something on the ground. A branch with a few chestnuts on it.

That's it!

I rush to grab it, and position myself behind Gammamon.

"Uh? What's this…?!"

Clockmon sounds surprised about something, and suddenly, something starts coming out of Gammamon. Some type of dark cloud starts coming out of his body, starting to take on a monstrous shape. But standing behind him, I can't make out much details.

But that doesn't matter. My hand trembles looking at it, but I grit my teeth and force it to be steady. I don't understand the powers of this Digimons, and Gammamon may look scary right now, but I still have to help him however I can!

I won't let him end like Kotaro!

I'll save him, and then make Clockmon return to Kotaro his time!

I enter in posture, remembering the handful of times I played baseball years ago, and throw the branch at Clockmon, making sure it passes over the pillar of energy on top of Gammamon.

"Is that… A Ruler?! Uh- What?!"

Clockmon for a moment looks scared, but that changes into shock as the branch passes over Gammamon and is quickly pushed upwards by the stream of energy, the chestnuts on it quickly growing into giant trees in front of our eyes, and falling towards Clockmon.

"What the-?!"

He quickly jumps forward to avoid three huge dying trees falling on top of him. But one of their branches gets him, violently smashing him into the ground.

"Guaaaaaahhhh!"

The branch breaks, but he's stunned for a moment, and the stream of energy stops and disappears. Gammamon has been freed from it.

"Gammamon! You okey?!"

"Hi-Hirooooo! Nice going!"

The black cloud surrounding Gammamon disappears, and he gets up, looking at me with gratitude in his eyes.

I take a step forward.

"I don't understand yet, but you're my brother, right?!"

"Yeah, I'm Hiro's little brother!"

"Let's do this, Gammamon! We'll beat Clockmon!"

"Yes! Let's do it!"

"Ughhhh… Damn Human!"

Gammamon rushes forward, towards a Clockmon trying to get up. The Digivice in my wrist suddenly feels like it's heating up, and a words appears in my mind. Almost by instinct, I shout it out.

"Breaclaw!"

"Now It's my turns!"

Shouting those words, Gammamon's right claw starts releasing explosions of yellow energy, as he swings at a Clockmon that can't defend himself on time.

"Ugh…!"

The clock-like bottom body of Clockmon is shattered, broken clock hands and ceramic pieces flying through the air as he's sent flying backwards, loudly hitting the back of a dead tree, caving it in.

"Uahhhhhhhhh!"

Clockmon's cry of pain resonates through the park. He's badly hurt, his bottom body badly broken and his spine must be in bad shape after landing in that tree.

"Take that, you clock man!"

Gammamon shouts victoriously. I walk towards them.

"Now, Clockmon, return everyone's time!"

"Ughhh… You Human…! Do you think you can give me orders?!"

Gammamon walks with me, as we get closer to Clockmon.

"You are badly hurt. The fight is over. Return Kotaro his time!"

"Yeah, like Hiro said!"

"Ugh… I can't believe I'll have to waste it to escape, and it'll barely do anything in my state, but… Dammit!"

Clockmon suddenly swings his hammer… At his own clock.

"What?!"

A wave quickly expands from Clockmon, passing through me and Gammamon. And suddenly… Clockmon was gone.

"W-What?! Where is…?!"

"Hiro! He's there!"

Gammamon pointed towards the trees. There, I could see Clockmon dragging himself through the ground.

"When did he get that far?! Gammamon, let's go after him!"

I run forwards, but after just a few steps I stop. Gammamon is not following. Looking back, Gammamon is still raising his claw, pointing at the forest. He's not moving.

"Gammamon?! What happ-!"

"Hiro, what are out waiting for?! He's getting away!"

Suddenly, Gammamon was at my feet, shaking me.

What-?!

But he was…!

"Don't tell me that-!"

Looking towards the trees, Clockmon was barely visible past the sea of trees. As if he had moved dozens of meters in an instant.

"...He messed up with our time!"

"He did wha-!"

Gammamon stopped mid-sentence, frozen in place with his mouth open.

"This is bad! At this rate, he's gonna esca-!"

Before I finish my sentence, Gammamon suddenly disappeared. Now, he was running towards Clockmon… Frozen in place. And Clockmon… Was gone.

"Hirooo…"

Gammamon was now at my feet, looking up at me with a sad expression.

"I think what he did stopped working… But he's gone…"

He's… Gone…?

"…Ughhhh!"

I fall to my knees, punching the ground. Tears forming in my eyes.

"Dammit! Kotaro…! He still hasn't returned Kotaro his time!"

"Hiro…"

I look up to Gammamon. He's looking at me sadly. It feels like he is feeling responsible for this, even if he doesn't even know who Kotaro is.

I cant… Let him feel like that.

I need to look cool and collected…

I'm his big brother now.

I clean the tears from my face, and get up. I look towards where Clockmon ran to.

"Gammamon. Clockmon stole… The time from a dear friend of mine. He's now in an hospital bed, unconscious and at risk of dying. I'm…"

I grab at my chest, trying to keep my emotions in check.

"I'm going to track down Clockmon, and force him to return to Kotaro, and to all of his victims, the time he stole. Would you… Help me?"

"…Hiro… Of course! Leave it to me! We'll give that clock man booom and kabaaam!"

"…Thanks, Gammamon."

After a moment of silence, I reach down, and pick up Gammamon.

"But for now, let's go back. It's late, so we should go home."

"Home… Yes, let's go! Let's sleep and tomorrow go find that bad clock man! I'm getting pretty sleepy…"

"You fought really hard."

I pat Gammamon's head, as he quietly laughs, and quickly falls asleep in my arms. He fought really hard against that monster to protect me, and got some of his time stolen. He must be exhausted.

With determination running in my heart, I start walking back to the residency.

Dad…

I don't know what is happening or why, but I swear I'll take care of Gammamon.

And…

Kotaro, I swear I'll save you, so hold up as hard as you can.

I will recover your time.


Author Notes:

And this was the first chapter of Digimon Ghost Strife. I hope you enjoyed it. The plans for the big story are mostly done, but I still don't have perfectly clear the path to it, with some things I want to do with the story that I'm not sure where to place them, but I'll be thinking about it over time. I plan to release a new chapter every 2-3 weeks (1 Week early for my s that subbed to see illustrations a week earlier and I decided to throw writing at them instead. I'm a bad creator. Also, I already published some a pair of Chapters in AO3, so the first 3 Chapters will only have a week in-between releases.).

Writing is not my specialty, and I'm still pretty much new to writing stories. I'm more of a drawing person, so this fic won't ever by my priority and I may take more time than expected with some new chapters, but I hope it's at least an enjoyable read.

If you have read until the end, you have my deepest thanks! This is a work born from love and pure spite, and I hope my feelings for this franchise that I love and hate can be felt!

Have a good day stranger!