Chapter 44 – The Day After Christmas

Time continued to move forward, as it always did.

Alexander quickly settled back into his usual routine following his purchase of the Duel Monsters Card Microchip blueprint and failed attempt at understanding it.

School, Industrial Illusions, Duel Monsters, training, research, and, perhaps most importantly, farming Duel Points and Duel Energy.

The process had become almost second nature by now.

Whenever he found free time, Alexander could often be found visiting hobby stores, playgrounds, arcades, and local Duel Monsters gatherings under the protection of his now familiar disguise.

A baseball cap, large glasses, casual clothes.

Ridiculous but effective, as no one ever seemed to suspect that the boy defeating them in friendly duels was the creator of the game itself.

Not that Alexander minded; the anonymity allowed him to duel freely, test new strategies, and, most importantly, collect resources for the YGO System without attracting attention.

The results steadily accumulated as both Duel Points and Duel Energy increased, and before long Alexander finally reached the amount he had been waiting for.

Without hesitation, he purchased the System Upgrade: Expand Card Database Series 2 from the YGO System's shop.

The effects were immediate as hundreds of new card templates became available in the Card Database.

New monsters, new spells, new traps and with them entirely new possibilities for the game itself.

Alexander spent several evenings browsing through the expanded database with barely concealed excitement. Some cards required some serious consideration before they could be introduced to the real game, like the legendary Makyura the Destructor, whose even the "nerfed" version still had obscene potential, and what was worse, he could even print the original version if he wanted, not that he did, as he wanted his version of the game to be as "healthy" as humanly possible.

For someone who truly loved and enjoyed game design and deck building, it was the equivalent of discovering a treasure vault.

At the same time, Duel Monsters continued spreading throughout the country at an astonishing pace.

State after state joined the growing phenomenon as local tournament attendance increased, card sales increased, demand increased, basically everything increased to the point that Industrial Illusions struggled to keep pace.

Fortunately, thanks to Thomas Merriweather and his factory and expansion plans, they managed, barely.

Weekly reports frequently contained the same message. More inventory required, more distributors requesting shipments, more hobby stores asking for products.

It was the sort of problem every business dreamed of having.

Meanwhile, mid-term examinations arrived and passed.

Alexander completed them with little difficulty, and so did Ginny and Chuck.

The three spent more time discussing Duel Monsters and future plans than they did worrying about grades, not that any of them were particularly surprised by the results, as all three of them were some of the best students of the Promethean Academy.

Then Winter Break finally arrived, bringing with it a welcome opportunity to relax, at least partially.

A new Booster Set was released shortly afterwards thanks to the new cards in the Card Database.

Players loved it, collectors loved it, and store owners loved it even more as it brought more and more traffic to their stores.

The growing Duel Monsters community quickly dissected every new card and strategy.

Discussions flourished, trades increased, and rare cards became highly sought after to the point that some enthusiasts had even begun treating certain cards as genuine collectables, thus giving birth to many secondary markets that made the value of those cards skyrocket.

A development Alexander found both amusing and inevitable.

Life continued, and with it Christmas approached.

Because of that, the preparations for the festivity followed. Gifts were purchased; some were practical, some were thoughtful, some were embarrassing, like the Box of Booster Pack containing a smaller box of condoms he prepared for Chuck. Of course, he also ensured the presence of a rare dragon card from Series 2, which Alexander was sure Chuck was going to love.

Ginny's gift had required considerably more thought, not because it was expensive, quite the opposite, as finding something meaningful for a female friend was surprisingly difficult.

In the end, he opted for a bracelet that he later imbued with the protective power of the Duel Spirit Mystical Elf; sure, he had to spend some DE to manifest it, but it was more than worth it as it would not only keep Ginny healthy but also protect her in case of deadly danger.

His father, on the other hand, received a more traditional and carefully selected bottle of wine from France, more specifically a Château Margaux, 1983 Vintage, very expensive but still within Alexander's means.

Roland received several gifts that Alexander knew the man would never buy for himself.

Thomas, Elizabeth, and even a number of employees found small presents waiting for them before Christmas.

He even prepared a gift for Victor Von Doom himself, as they still kept in touch after their close encounter with the demon, and with time, Alexander surprisingly found himself starting to regard the future Dr Doom as a friend, not yet at the level of Ginny and Chuck, but above everyone else.

The reactions alone made the effort worthwhile.

During this period, he also maintained regular contact with Ginny and Chuck.

Though both spent much of their time with family, as they should.

One evening, while accompanying Hugh to yet another corporate holiday event, Alexander found himself standing among executives discussing market trends, investments, and economic forecasts.

Compared to Duel Monsters, the conversations were considerably less exciting, though admittedly more educational.

What amused him most was how differently people treated him now.

A year ago, many of them had viewed him as little more than Hugh Jones' unusually intelligent son, but now they viewed him as a successful entrepreneur.

The difference was noticeable.

Another evening, while eating dinner with Hugh, a news report briefly caught his attention.

The television showed damaged vehicles, broken pavement, and police barricades.

A reporter stood before the camera as she narrated, "...authorities believe the incident involved a confrontation between two opposing groups of mutants. Witnesses report that while the conflict caused significant property damage, several individuals possessing unusual abilities were also seen assisting civilians and directing people away from danger. Officials have declined to comment on these accounts, stating only that the investigation remains ongoing. Fortunately, no civilian casualties have been reported, though a number of bystanders were treated for minor injuries related to debris and panic during the incident. City officials are urging residents to avoid the area as investigators continue to gather evidence and interview witnesses. This marks the third reported mutant-related disturbance in the region this year, raising renewed concerns about public safety and the growing tensions surrounding mutant activity..."

The report continued, and Alexander listened quietly while thinking, 'Once upon a time I might have ignored it entirely, but now I don't; the demon had ensured that I would constantly be aware of that. No matter how normal it may seem, the world remained extremely dangerous. Success doesn't change that. Money doesn't change that. And neither does popularity...'

The report eventually ended, and dinner resumed, but the reminder lingered.

Life continued, and before Alexander even realised, Christmas arrived and passed.

Then came the day after Christmas, the day Chuck had been talking about for weeks.

The day Alexander and Ginny would finally meet the mysterious girlfriend, the one they had begun suspecting was imaginary.

~~~▽~~~

Alexander and Ginny stood outside the cinema as cold winter air drifted through the street.

Holiday decorations still hung from nearby storefronts while small patches of snow lingered along the sidewalks.

"So." Ginny crossed her arms, showing off the bracelet he gifted, wound around her wrist as she continued, "Last chance."

Alexander looked amused and asked, "Last chance for what?"

"To bet whether she does exist or doesn't."

Alexander considered for a moment before he grinned and said, "I'd say a seventy per cent chance she exists."

"Optimistic."

"Eighty?"

Ginny laughed and commented, "You've gone soft."

Before either could continue, a familiar voice interrupted them as it said, "You're both terrible friends."

Alexander and Ginny turned.

Chuck had arrived, and standing beside him was a girl neither of them recognised.

The girl looked to be of Native American descent; she had brown eyes and long brown hair, braided down the back and typically fastened with colourful hairbands while styled into bangs to each side of her face.

She was wearing jeans and a denim jacket and sporting a pair of glasses that gave her a cute and nerdy vibe.

For a moment, nobody spoke, then Ginny blinked and uttered an "Oh..."

Alexander also blinked and did the same, "Oh..."

Chuck folded his arms smugly and said with a victorious grin on his face, "See? She's real."

The girl beside him rolled her eyes and said, "I've been telling him for a week that introducing me like evidence in a court case was weird."

Alexander immediately liked her while Chuck pointed triumphantly, "Julia."

Then toward the others, "Alexander. Ginny."

Introductions followed naturally.

Julia shook their hands before glancing at Chuck and said, "I was honestly expecting something worse."

"Worse?" Chuck repeated.

"You talk about them constantly."

Julia smiled and added, "They seem surprisingly normal for being your friends."

Ginny laughed and said, "Give it time."

To Alexander's surprise, Julia immediately fit into the group's rhythm.

She was intelligent, quick-witted and apparently immune to Chuck's nonsense, which is an impressive achievement, particularly impressive considering she also played Duel Monsters.

That alone gave them plenty to discuss.

Soon enough the movie began. Tickets were purchased. Snacks acquired. Seats occupied. And the four settled in.

The theatre gradually darkened as the previews ended.

For the next hour they focused primarily on the film; occasionally someone whispered a comment out loud, usually Chuck, occasionally Julia, but usually at Chuck's expense.

Alexander and Ginny spent several moments exchanging amused glances whenever it happened.

By the time intermission arrived, everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves.

The lights brightened.

Ginny stretched slightly and said, "I'm going to the restroom."

Julia nodded, "Me too."

The two girls headed off together.

Meanwhile, Alexander and Chuck returned to the concession stand. The line moved slowly, giving them time to talk.

Eventually, Alexander glanced sideways and said, "So."

Chuck immediately grinned and repeated, "So."

"How's it going?"

"Great."

Alexander waited. Chuck waited. Neither spoke, and eventually Alexander sighed in defeat, making Chuck laugh before he added, "We're taking things slow."

"Reasonable."

"I know."

A pause, then Chuck lowered his voice slightly and confessed, "We've kissed."

Alexander looked unimpressed while Chuck looked offended as he said, "I was expecting more enthusiasm."

"I'm trying very hard not to laugh."

"You're a terrible friend."

"So I've been told."

"And I haven't forgiven you yet for that diabolical prank! I swear when my father saw them he was about to start a whole sermon about responsibilities, protection, and marriage. Meanwhile, my mother kept egging me about getting to know Julia and expecting grandkids... It was awful... Tyrant Dragon isn't anywhere near enough to forgive you, even if I love it!"

Hearing that, Alexander snorted and started to chuckle before Chuck did it too.

Then after they both calmed down, Chuck revealed, "We're not rushing anything."

"Good."

"Besides, I like spending time with her."

Alexander nodded.

That answer sounded considerably more sincere than the usual teenage bragging, which was probably a good sign.

Eventually snacks were acquired. Soon the second half began, and before long the movie ended.

The moment they exited the auditorium, Chuck groaned dramatically, "Damn! It wasn't as good."

Ginny nodded thoughtfully and commented, "You're right. The first two had stronger stories."

"Exactly!"

Julia shrugged and said, "I still liked parts of it."

"The fact you're saying 'parts' isn't helping your argument," Alexander observed.

Julia pointed at him, "See? That's exactly what I mean."

Chuck looked betrayed, "I thought you were on my side."

"No," Julia replied immediately.

The group burst into laughter.

They spent some additional time together afterwards. Talking. Joking. Walking through nearby streets. Simply enjoying each other's company.

The conversation drifted from the movie to school, then from school to Duel Monsters.

At one point, Julia admitted that she had recently lost an entire week's allowance trying to trade for a particular rare and beautiful card.

Chuck found this hilarious, but Julia did not.

Eventually, however, it was time to head home, so Chuck drove Julia home while Alexander and Ginny remained behind waiting for Roland.

The evening had grown colder, streetlights illuminated the pavement, and traffic had become noticeably lighter compared to earlier.

For a while they simply stood together, then Ginny spoke, "So."

Alexander smiled and repeated, "So."

"What do you think?"

"About Julia?"

Ginny nodded, and Alexander considered for a few seconds before he said, "She seems good for him."

Ginny laughed and agreed, "That's exactly what I was thinking."

"He looks happy."

"He does."

For a moment they watched Chuck's car disappear down the street, then Ginny smiled slightly, "I wasn't expecting her to fit in that quickly."

"Neither was I."

"Although anyone capable of dealing with Chuck probably deserves a medal."

"A large one."

Ginny laughed again before a comfortable silence followed, the kind of silence that only existed between people who genuinely enjoyed each other's company.

Eventually the conversation resumed as they talked about Christmas gifts, school, plans for the remainder of Winter Break and New Year's Day, upcoming Duel Monsters releases, nothing particularly important, and somehow that made it feel important.

Time passed so naturally that neither immediately noticed when several minutes disappeared, then headlights appeared in the distance.

Roland's sedan.

"Looks like our ride is here," Ginny said.

"Looks like it."

They climbed inside, and Roland greeted them warmly before pulling away from the curb.

The drive to Ginny's house passed pleasantly as conversation came easily.

When they finally reached her house, Ginny paused before getting out, "See you soon."

Alexander smiled, "See you soon."

She disappeared inside

The front door opened and closed, and only then did Roland pull away.

As Alexander watched the house gradually vanish behind them, he found himself smiling slightly.

The movie had been enjoyable, meeting Julia had been enjoyable, spending time with his friends had been enjoyable.

Winter Break was proving surprisingly enjoyable indeed.