Disclaimer: Digimon isn't mine, mine, mine (echo sound).

Stupid mistake By Redvind

There're lots of mystery things in the world that you never know until you've finally met them. Like I did, right now.

I could never have guessed that my mind would be so jealous of someone I shouldn't have been jealous of.

I was totally jealous of Hikari.

I knew the reason why I shouldn't; first of all, she's his only, lovely little sister. That led to the second reason, she lived in the same roof and got to eat and spend times with Taichi like every time I got to see when I went to his house. Third, she's a very nice and sweet girl and it's definitely clear that my best friend adored her highly. And there're also hundreds to thousands lists of how nice she was….

…

Maybe I had reasons to be jealous after all. Having no clues? Go read above.

Okay then, back to my point of pointing that out, Hikari got her brother all to herself.

Well, it might not be the right word to say. However, that's what I felt…like she got to keep him to her alone. Since the day she awoke, Taichi had been babied her almost 24/7, seven days a week and spent every second with her when he took routine visit. He kept asking her what she wanted and almost determined to make her eat more food than the hospital provided even though Hikari confirmed him that she was full and couldn't take even a bit more. Sometimes, Taichi also fed her.

And me? I quietly watched the scene. I couldn't just say that I wanted him to treat me like that, too, right?

Damnit.

In contrast to the Taichi I had known…well, judging by the way he fussed over his little sister, I doubted he would set his eyes on any girl sexually. The benefit of having a lovely sister is that a guy can learn how to treat girls nicely. Taichi probably treated them like he did to Hikari. His ex-girlfriend was a good example. No wonder why Taichi couldn't go out with girls.

I'm not implying anything. Whatever you think.

I almost wondered what he would do if he had had a brother…better not fuss over me or any of his male friends. That'd be a bit scary. Image a brother being so protective and always keeping you in sight and telling you what to do for your good sake…

Hey, wait a minute. That sounded familiar….

Whatever. Forget it.

Back to the lovely sibling. Hikari didn't seem to be uncomfortable with everything. Honestly, I thought she loved it when Taichi took great care of her. I didn't say that she liked to be self-centered or anything. It's probably because since Taichi got in high school, he had been so busy to spend times with her like old days. And she loved every minute of it. Even though there were times when I caught something in her eyes when she looked at me. It looked like sympathy. I had a clue that she wanted to talk to me.

I was right. On what-so-ever time of visit, she asked Taichi for her favorite brand jelly. An excuse to make him leave and to talk to me alone. Before Taichi left, though, he made me promise to look after his sister while he's gone.

"Onii chan is so overprotective at a time, ne?"

I nodded.

"He always puts everyone before himself."

Her tone changed. I turned to look at her in wonder. Hikari stared back at me. Her eyes told me she was up to something but not going to directly tell me until I discovered it myself. That's…weird.

"Well, he's Taichi. We know what he's like." I said, feeling a bit uncomfortable under her stare.

Hikari nodded. "He cares for everyone and wants to make them happy." She looked down, smiling sadly. "…even if it means he has to be the one who gets hurt."

I stared at her, not knowing what to say. Suddenly, Hikari looked up at me again and smiled innocently.

"Ano, Yamato san. Can I ask you for an advice?"

I certainly didn't expect this. "What kind of advice?" I asked, puzzled.

"Love advice."

I'd never thought someone would ask me for love advice. And it came from Hiakri, my protective best friend's little sister, I didn't know I should be flattered or worried. If I said something and she succeed at following it, Taichi'd kill me. Likewise, if I said something and it didn't work, Taichi'd probably kill me for giving useless advice. Either way, I'd be dead.

Thinking it over, I assumed that telling Hikari to ask someone else, namely Sora or Miyako- Hikari's older friend, would be nicer. They're girls. They would understand her problem. If she needed a guy advice, I might tell her to ask Taichi- he's likely to be mad at first, but he would get over it eventually, or Akira- he had gone to a few dates with girls so he would know better. What about me? Well, to consider that the person I had romantic feeling toward for was a guy and that I was in the relationship I was unwillingly forced into, I wasn't the best of choices.

My face must have looked really dumb because Hikari started giggling. I made a face at her.

"I don't think I can give you one. Taichi will kill me if he knows. Why don't you ask someone else, like Sora or Miyako?"

She kept smiling. "Because I need a guy advice."

Just as I thought. "You better ask your brother, then."

"But then he would get a wrong idea and might start stalking me to see who I refer to."

Umm, that's reasonable. Even though I didn't think that my best friend would do that, there's a chance he might as well to scan every man in Hikari's life. Better safe than sorry.

"Fine." I sighed. I couldn't get out of this. "What is it?"

Hikari giggled lightly. "Don't worry, Yamato san. I want to ask for a friend of mine, not for myself."

I felt the corner of my lips twisted.

"Why didn't you say that it's for your friend first?" I asked, a bit irritated.

"I just want to see your reaction."

I began to believe that her smile wasn't always angelic. Had Takeru rubbed off on her? Or was it her brother?

"Well, there's a friend of mine…" she started.

"I already know that, Hikari. Get to the point." I didn't want to rush her, but if she didn't want Taichi to know about this, then we didn't have so much time before he came back.

"…Okay. My friend is dating someone."

I raised an eyebrow. That was so normal. "And?"

"And I think she loves someone else."

So that's the problematic part. "You think?"

Hikari shook her head. "I'm quite certain that my friend is in love with this person though she never says anything."

Where had I heard this before? I frowned a little, leaning closer. "Why is that?"

"Because that person is her best friend. And the one she's dating is another close friend of them."

I fell from the chair instantly. That sounded way too familiar.

Hikari looked at me in bewilderment, blinking. She seemed surprised by my falling, like she didn't expect this.

"Something wrong, Yamato san?" she asked, tilting her head a little, reminding me of Taichi when he was confused about something.

Then again, I had leaned that never let the innocent face get me. Go ask Takeru.

At the moment I felt paranoia as I observed her. Was it really about her friend or… I shook my head. Hikari was like her brother- she was particularly raised by him, if she wanted to ask, she'd do it directly…just not as bluntly.

I regained myself. "I…guess I see the problem. So you want me to give an advice…"

Hikari nodded. "Yeah. What should she do?"

What should she do? What should she do? If I could answer that, shouldn't I have followed it long ago? Wait a sec. It wasn't about me. And you know how easy to criticize someone else's way of life, much easier when it didn't concern you. In this case, however…

"I…" taking a deep breath, I recollected what Takashi told me. Words floated through my mouth freely. "I think she should follow her heart. Because it never lies."

Hikari looked worried. "But it would break her boyfriend's heart. Though she doesn't love him like that, she still cares for him. Particularly they'd been close friends before he asked her out. There's also a chance that her best friend wouldn't return her feeling. It would definitely break her heart."

"Like she hasn't already broken both hers and her boyfriend's by herself, dating someone who she doesn't return feeling the same way it's given." I dropped my face to hide my bitter sneer. "You got something, you lost something. It's the world's logic."

Hikari didn't say anything, looking at me. I looked up at the ceiling, thinking over, added. "Time would heal all, I hope."

"I hope so." She simply smiled.

This time I was able to look back at her and gave a small smile. I would remember my own answer. For the best of all.

We chatted about nothing in particular for a while before Taichi showed himself. Then the three of us talked until the nurse came in and kindly kicked us out for disturbing the patient till the visiting hour was off. I parted with Taichi when we came to my way.

All the time, the conversation with Hikari kept replaying on my head. And my own answer seemed to hunt me, even in my dream. However, it was still hard to believe that the next morning my mind was so clear like never before.

There's something I had to do.

Hikari's condition was getting better and better. The bandage was taken off her head and even though her leg was in plaster cast, it looked fine now. The doctor said that once they took the cast off, Hikari needed to do physical therapy, due to her terribly injured back, before she could totally walk again. Hikari accepted her fate pretty well. With all the love and support from everyone had made her a strong-will girl. Taichi would definitely help her with the therapy. Takeru was going to take care of her school works so that she didn't need to worry about them. Still, she was lucky to have a chance to be able to walk by her own legs after all.

Taichi was visibly a lot happier. He smiled like he used to, silly, goofy but surely happy. He laughed more, not with a slight of bitterness. One could say that he was back to his old self. It also made me smile, for it seemed so long and assured me of how much I had missed him, the real Taichi.

Still, there's a little sadness in my heart when I thought about it. After the accident, I realized that I knew so little of my best friend. He turned into an almost complete stranger when his little sister got hurt and my presence wasn't much of a help. Totally different from when his ex girlfriend broke up with him. That time he came to me but when something's bigger occurred, he shielded himself with fake smile. It saddened me.

Don't get me wrong. As I have said many times before, I do love Taichi. I'm happy when he's happy, I can laugh when I hear him laugh. It's just…in another side of my heart…wondering of how much I meant to him. Was I in the list of special people in his life like Hikari? He was for me. But was I for him? I couldn't help doubting that he would cry for me if I got hurt? I could guarantee myself as his friend and that he did care for me. But as much as he did for his family? Maybe. Somehow, it wasn't enough….

I wanted his friendship and still craved for more, greedily. What would happen with the logic 'you got something, you lost something' when you don't want to lose anyway?

You're damn….

Oh, and for everyone who wonders about the result of the soccer match.

Odaiba high school lost, understandably.

The students who didn't know about Hikari and the accident might have wondered why Taichi left before the game ended and blamed him for the lost along a line like 'if he'd showed up, we'd have won' or something like that. I didn't understand why they were mad; they didn't play the match themselves. If there's someone who should be sad, it's the soccer team's players, but they didn't. They understood Taichi's situation and allowed him to go. I'd say they didn't regret their decision. Not with a slight depression could bring them down. They accepted the lost willingly and wholeheartedly and started practicing for the next tournament, especially Taichi who wanted to make up for them. Such sprit. At the time like this I envied the sport teams. They have a strong bond tying their members together. Something the outsiders couldn't have.

While Taichi was busy with soccer, I did have my business to do.

I called Sora and asked her to meet me at the park on Friday's evening. We needed to talk. Things that I had delayed. Things that I should've faced long ago.

When I arrived at the park, Sora was already there waiting for me, sitting on a bench under a leafless sakura tree. She didn't look at me or greet me, but I knew that she knew my presence. I sat down, putting some space between us. Neither of us talked nor said anything. Eventually, I started.

"I think we need to talk."

"I have been having a feeling that we would."

"What do you mean?" I asked, a bit wondering.

Sora twisted her hair casually. "Well…it's not like we've actually talked about it before, right?"

"You know what I need to talk about?"

"I can guess." She tugged her hair behind her ear. When Sora saw me looking unbelievingly, she added. "Girls' sense."

I nodded and turned away, accepting it. But I wanted to challenge her still. "What is it?"

She's staring at her hands on her lap. Carefully not to look at me, she said lightly. "Something that ends with the word '-ship'?"

Okay. So…girls do have special wired sense. "Yeah, you're right." I sighed. Even though I'd prepared for this, it's still hard to begin. "I…this is not good for either of us. It would only lead us to nowhere but misery. We need to break up."

"We can't." Sora said, her face emotionless. I looked sharply at her. She didn't meet my eyes. I was shocked. I immediately thought she didn't want to lose me. I was so wrong. Completely forgot to give her credit for her strong, reasonable heart.

Before I said anything, she beat me to it. "We just can't, Yamato kun, because we never ever have a real romantic relationship together, right?"

This time, she turned to look at me and I couldn't find anything to answer back. She continued. "We can't just break something that even isn't there, right?"

Her hands were shaking. I knew that it's not because of the air getting cold. Sora tried her hardest to be strong, to be reasonable even though it's against her emotion. Right then, I was hit, right at the face, with ashamedness of how selfish I was to almost jump up with joy at hearing that she admitted that we never meant to be.

I turned away from her, too ashamed to meet her eyes, uttering a word beyond my control. "Right."

"I'm sorry I misled everybody."

"I know." I took a deep breath. I had to say this. For Sora. For myself. "I'm sorry."

Sora closed her eyes. She didn't sound surprised to hear my apology. Perhaps she had expected this. Anyway, she asked plainly. "For what?"

"For unable to return your feeling."

Silence took place between us once again. We both felt that there's something more to be said, yet we couldn't utter it out. As if we were waiting for…

"When I said I misled everybody," She began, voice barely above the cold air. "I really meant everybody. Including myself. Especially myself. I told my friends that I asked you out. It's not a lie, was it?" That didn't need an answer. She went on, her voice bitter slightly. "Since you didn't object or protest or anything, they assumed that you accepted my feeling and we're dating. Rumors spread. I couldn't be any happier. Even though you'd never said anything, I knew that you never romantically liked me. But I was hoping that you would like me back, for real, one day." Sora wasn't finished yet. There's still more to come. I just knew it. Because it was simply what had got the mess so far.

"Why didn't you deny it?"

She asked the very important question. The one that I truly used to ask myself once.

Because I was shocked that Taichi misunderstood my feeling for her? Because the one I loved was a guy who was my best friend who thought I liked his childhood friend thus I couldn't tell him my true feeling? Because it was already too late to refuse the rumors that my only choice was to take the offer?

With whatever stupid reasons, to put in one word, I was an asshole. But I wasn't going to tell Sora that. Plus, it's not something to tell your supposed-girlfriend-turn-friend. At least, not yet.

I recalled the time when Taichi and she-whoever were going out and I found myself spending times with her. It wasn't bad. Actually, it was good to have someone by my side. Sora was a girlfriend material. Every guy could see that. I had heard that many guys had the hot for her. But, for me, every time Sora and I were together, it felt like a friend thing, not couple type of things.

I swallowed, trying to steady my voice before I replied sincerely. "Because I wished we could have been a couple, too."

"Really?" she asked, with a bit of surprise.

"Yeah." The wind was blowing gently. And I felt…relieved, somehow. Like there was a stone in my chest being lifted off. "I guess I was jealous of your bravery."

"My bravery?"

I explained. "You weren't afraid of confessing your love to someone."

My tone was honest and I was sure Sora could feel it. She gave me a small appreciate smile.

"And you were jealous because you didn't have courage to confess to the one you love?"

I should have been shocked by her tone and her question. It's as if she'd already known whom I liked. She might, though. Girls sense again. I remained silent. It was then Sora knew she's right.

"Will you?" she asked, teasing slightly.

"Maybe."

Sora blinked, then blinked again like she didn't believe what she's hearing.

"I can't believe it coming from you, Yamato."

"Why not?"

"Well, considering that tons of girls are screaming your name and showing you their affection, how could you be afraid of getting rejected?"

"Because it's none of them that I want?" I tried to play it off as a question. But it couldn't be truer.

"Right." Sora rolled her eyes at me. "But you would regret it if you didn't."

"Would you? If you had never told me, that is." I knew it's a bit rude to ask anything like this, but I was curious.

Sora sighed, but it's more out of habit, not of despair or annoyance. "To be honest, Yamato, I'm glad I did. Even though it hurt that you didn't feel the same way about me at the end."

"It would surely hurt if you are rejected at the first place."

"Not as much as feeling rejected when you're together."

Way to shoot me through my head. Or worse, my heart.

"Then why would I regret it? If I don't tell, we can stay as friends. And no one gets hurt. "

"Because as much as it hurts to get no feeling returned, it would only hurts more to keep it inside not knowing if you have a chance to be happy together."

Couldn't argue with that. I was lost of words. So I resigned, obviously.

"Guess you're right."

"Believe me I am." she said, preparing to leave. "I'm glad we talked it over. Now I can check out some guys without feeling guilty about it."

That amused me. "Good luck with it, then."

"What are you saying? I have my luck with me. But thanks anyway."

I laughed, so did she. Sora got up and managed to walk, not too fast, not too slow, as though trying to maintain her steps.

It took me a moment before I called out. "Sora!"

She stopped, but didn't turn around. "Yes?"

"I will see you at school tomorrow, right?"

She smiled. "Of course."

Then she began to walk again-I saw her shoulders shaking—before broke into a run. I didn't need to see that she was probably crying. I knew she was.

Because if it were me, I might do the same—crying over spilt milk, but couldn't resist the urge to do and just gave in.

That night I came home late than my surprise, my dad was already home preparing meals. And the fact that he couldn't cook anything but convenience food frightened me a great deal. At least his food was edible, to my relief.

He asked me where I had been. I told him I was talking to Sora at the park. That caught his attention. He knew that I was going out with her a few times—I had told him when we had a chance to have dinner together. Those times were rare so we made a habit of telling each other about what had been going on in life. He ever told me once that there was a ghost in the station and everyone was so afraid of it that they refused to do OT at night, but it turned out to be a cat straying, which was a good thing.

He asked how we were doing. I said Sora was planning to check some guys out and I was wishing her luck. His eyes became wider, mouth opened and his chopsticks dropped. I would have laughed at his expression if only I wasn't drinking and didn't want to spray over the table. I quickly gulped down then let a few chuckle escape my lips.

"Why? I thought you two were going out…"

"We were, as friends more than as a couple, though."

"I thought you were happy together."

"We weren't, dad. But we just decided to talk and settle things today."

Dad put his hands down, along with his rice bowl. Leaning against the chair, he looked less stunned though there's still a bit of shock displaying. I took another bite of pock, then put my bowl down as well.

Neither of us spoke a word for a while, me waiting for dad to fully back to his self and dad waiting for me to further explain, which I knew that he knew that I wasn't going to, unless he asked, that's it.

Finally he blinked, closed his eyes, and reopened them. They were so clear that I suspected he actually saw it coming from the start.

"Is it good for you?" he asked. He wasn't angry or disappointed, it seemed.

"It is. For both of us."

He nodded, turning back to eat. So did I.

"You know," I started once we had finished dinner. "I thought you would be disappointed at me for not being with Sora."

Dad drank his tea, slowly and steadily, before replying. "If it's your decision, then I have nothing to say. I'll respect it. Though it's quiet a shame because I know she's a nice girl. Is there somebody? Was it why?"

"Yes." I said, staring at him in the eyes. "Right from the start."

"Did she know?"

"I don't think so. She just knew that I don't have romantic feeling toward her."

Dad nodded. Taking out his lighter and cigarette, he began to lighten it while I started cleaning the table. It was a while before I sat back on my chair and he spoke again.

"You know, Yamato," he exhaled. Smoke lingered in the air. "For the term about relationship, I'm the last person who has the right to judge you."

I listened intently. When he talked with that tone, I didn't want to interrupt. The seriousness and calmness showed that he cared.

"When your mother and I got a divorce, I didn't think that you would probably get hurt. I only thought, at that time, that it's for the best for us. Natsuko was going to take care of Takeru and you're coming with me. Never thought of how you would feel about our family failing apart and might not be able to see each other again."

He pressed the cigarette in the ashtray, looking up at me. I was a bit confused about why he was talking about his divorce. Dad gave me a small, apologetic smile before he continued.

"You are strong. You never blamed me for what happened and why Natsuko and I parted ways. And I am grateful of it. Then there're only you and me. I know you try hard to handle everything. You take care of the house, cook, clean. You take care of yourself, never involve in any wrongdoing, never get me worried. You've even taken care of me, despite how it should be other way round.

"You tried not to show it and I admit that, at first, I didn't pay attention. I drown myself in work, thinking you're fine. But one day I came home early, I found you sleeping, laying on the couch, holding a picture—a picture of our family together. I realized right then how much I had hurt you."

I lowered my head. I remembered that. Later I woke up, feeling a blanket protecting me from chill. I knew it was dad doing, but I had no idea of dad seeing that picture…because he didn't say anything, well, not until now.

"I realized then what a great son I have and I can't ask for more. You've put up with me all this time, why can't I do the same for you?"

I looked up hastily. Sure, it's something that one could only have guessed; however, I almost feared that he see through something deeper, the reason why I couldn't return Sora's feeling, which would certainly lead to any problem with society, with old tradition and people's belief. The sense of panic grouped about me. Then dad gave me this fatherly smile. I realized that he didn't know. Still, dad was willing to put up with whatever my decision was.

He trusted me that much.

Getting up from the chair and walking over, I hugged him. Awkwardly at first, then he hugged back, rubbing my back gently.

"As long as you're happy with it, Yamato." said dad kindly.

I nodded against his shoulder. When he released me, I could only smile in return.

Later, I laid awake on my bad, thinking over of the previous events. The certain question repeated itself in my head. Closing my eyes, my mind shifted between here and there. I got the answer the night after Hikari's request for advice. I was afraid. A fool who was afraid to lose little unimportant things he mistakenly believed he owned such as reputation and having a great fear of unseeing future and mistrusting his heart. Apparently, I most feared that if Taichi knew, he'd hate me. What a baka. I didn't even trust my best friend that time. I, of all people, should have known better than anyone.

At least a problem was solved. I breathed a sigh of relief before promptly fell asleep, dreaming of Taichi's face when his eyes shone with sincerity telling me that all he wanted was my happiness.

What would come later, come later. I would take it all.

Perhaps I should wish the 'later' would come a little slower so that I could prepare myself better.

Taichi confronted me about my break-up on Sunday's night. Right after spending the afternoon being dragged to shopping with a certain person, namely Sora.

Before you ask why I didn't tell him myself, I will have you know that on Saturday, I was at band's rehearsal getting bitched out by Akira. I ended up telling him, Takashi and Yutaka all details about Sora and dad. Needless to say, they congratulated me, laughing and happy for me. I wasn't aware of it until they got me practice so hard that I could barely move next morning. Akira said it was my punishment for making them worried. Damn, I really have some nice friends. I slept through the day, though.

So back to the story, I gloomily woke up and groaned when I heard the door bell. I was more than ready to punch whoever that dared to disturb my beauty sleep and kick them out, telling them to get lost. I was very wide awake, intention forgotten; however, to see a brunette head with the face that I saw in my dream.

Taichi stood there, slightly out of breath as if running a marathon, looking at me with…what? Concern? Hurtful expression? At the moment I could comprehend of nothing, standing dumbfounded like an idiot. Taichi's little voice brought me off my gaze.

"Yamato…can I…can I come in?"

"…what? Oh, of course. Sorry."

I held the door for him before closed it softly behind his back. Taichi didn't go far. Instead he turned to stare at me. I raised an eyebrow. He seemed to snap out of it and went to living room. I followed him, stopped by the kitchen to bring him some drink. Looked like he needed it.

I handed him a glass of water which he accepted, nodding his thank. Taichi gulped down one whole then turned to me, a wary, amused smile on his lips. I raised both eyebrows.

"What?"

"Did I… umm…come in a bad time?" he asked, gesturing to my messy pajamas; a baggy t-shirt and black boxers. Not being modest, I snorted.

"What could have been worse than getting interrupted in the middle of sleep?"

"Getting interrupted in the middle of sleeping with someone?" he grinned slyly. I grunted.

"Taichi, you know, dirty jokes aren't for you. So give it up already."

"Oh, at least I try." He shrugged. "You really slept this long? It's not like you."

"Not my fault. The band got me exhausted." Taichi opened his mouth. I cut him off before he started. "As I said before. Dirty jokes aren't for you. Quit it."

I want to my room to put on some pants. When I came back I saw him unconsciously fiddling with his fingers. I sat down next to him.

"What's wrong?"

"Sora said you two were not together anymore." He went straight to the point. I nearly lost my balance and fell off the couch if I wasn't fast enough to catch the cushion.

"How…" I mumbled out of disbelief, then recalled his words. "Did Sora tell you?"

Taichi nodded. "She was visiting Hikari. And before I knew it, I was kidnapped! I had to load the stuffs she bought in exchange for a giving lunch for my labor. I'd never known Sora was a slave driver. She bought so many girly stuffs that have embarrassed me sometimes. Don't ask. I asked why she didn't drag you along. She told me during lunch."

"Good thing, then. I kind of don't know how to tell you. With her being your friend since childhood and all." Sora was very rational as usual. From what Taichi told me she didn't even blame me when she could. Good old Sora. She must have told him so that he'd get the first-hand information and not misunderstand me for hurting her.

"Why didn't you tell me before?" Taichi asked, face saddened.

I sighed. "Because you seemed happy with the whole thing."

He blinked. "So you went out with her because of me?"

Indeed. "Sora's nice, you said. I knew you cared for her and thought I'd give it a try. It just didn't work out."

Taichi lowered his head, voice mumbled. "Sora also told me another thing."

That caught me off guard. "What else did she tell you?"

"That you've had feelings for someone else." He turned to me, a slight frown appearing between his eyebrows. "Is it true?"

"Yes."

I answered with all my honest. Something flashed in his eyes that had gone so fast. He turned away, biting his lips so hard it almost bleeded as if not wanting to let a single word out.

I heard him whisper. "I'm sorry. I didn't know that…"

"It's alright."

Then he quieted down, thoughts getting through his head. Taichi refused to meet my eyes. So I cupped his face, slowly but gently, to direct him to look at me. I was instantly startled at what I witnessed.

Taichi's beautiful cacao eyes shade to tears, lips trembling uncontrollably, hands that ghostly touched mine also shaking. I would never image that only one word could break down someone so strong. He looked like he wanted to cry.

"Tai…" I breathed, still in shock.

Taichi's eyes only got wider, perceiving the situation. He swiftly got up and ran to the door, putting on his jacket, bawling over his shoulder as he saw that I was lost of words.

"I've got to go. See you later, Yamato."

At that, he was gone, leaving me with the air of confusion whirling around.

To Be Continued…

Red: I blame the lateness on Ishida Masaharu, who convinced me to give him a role in exchange for a secret photo of his son or else he wouldn't get off my back. When I agreed and finished this chapter, he gave me a picture of baby Takeru. Stupid bastard.

Koromon: if you got something to say, the review button is there, at your service. But even if you don't have anything to say, the review button is still there, at your service. :D Come on guys! I know you want to.