It's already 11:30 P.M. and Koushiro is still up. We see him typing away on his computer. He rubbed his eyes and glanced at the black, digital clock hanging on his bedroom wall.

Just a few more minutes... He thought and yawned, covering his mouth with his left hand. The door suddenly opened with a silent creak and a slice of light entered the room.

"Hey Tech," his father whispered as he entered the room in his blue bathrobe. "You still up?"

Koushiro nodded drowsily and rubbed his eyes. "I have to finish this by tomorrow."

His dad nodded and ran his hand through his hair. "What is it, exactly?"

"It's something for my friends, dad," Koushiro said in a quiet voice. "I...I have to express my gratitude to them somehow..." His voice dropped lower the moment he said "somehow".

His father smirked and adjusted his glasses to the bridge of his nose, "Oh alright," he said, "Just...don't stay up late, okay?"

"But dad, it already is late," Koushiro said in a sing-song voice.

"Knowing you, however," His father said, with a hint of amusement in his voice, "No hour is ever late." As Koushiro's father closed the door behind him, he murmured a "Good night" to his son.

"Yeah, good night," Koushiro replied as he focused on what he was doing.

"I've got to finish this by tomorrow…" he thought. "I mean, I need to return the favor to my friends."

Flashback (A day ago…)

Koushiro was spent his entire Christmas and New Year in his Grandparents' house far from Tokyo…And now, he was coming back! After going down the HUGE stairs from the airplane, he went back to the airport. After all those checking stuff, he was about to exit the place with his parents when someone hugged him from behind. He uttered a surprised cry and turned around. It was…Daisuke?!

"Ah!" Koushiro exclaimed and jumped a bit. "Hey Koushiro! The whole gang and I missed you! Especially Taichi, and Yamato, and Sora—"

"So, in short, you all missed me." Koushiro said as he twitched a bit. Man, did it feel funny when Daisuke hugs you!

Miyako then came from behind and tied a handkerchief around his eyes (you know, like when you're playing piñata). "H-hey guys, what are you trying to do?!" Koushiro asked.

"Oh don't worry, you'll see." Miyako snickered. Daisuke snickered along with her, "Yeah, you'll see."

They then "moved" Koushiro from place to place, leading him to who-knows-where.

A few moments later, Miyako removed the handkerchief. Koushiro then heard Daisuke yell, "NOW!"

"SURPRISE!" A group of people shouted. Wait, that group of people were the digi-destined. All nine of them (Daisuke didn't join, since he was just beside Koushiro, crossing his arms and smiling)! They were in Yamato's huge house. "You guys, it isn't my birthday!" Koushiro said as he giggled a bit. He couldn't believe it. A fully furnished party, just for him! There was even a dance revolution pad connected to a T.V. at a corner.

"Yeah, it isn't," Jyou said, "This is just our Christmas present for you!"

"But didn't you give it already in advance, before I left?" Koushiro asked, confused.

"Okay…so it's our 'Welcome home' present, then." Taichi said.

Miyako came up to Koushiro and said, "You know, Koushiro. I had to whine and beg just so my dad would allow me to get some stuff from our store for free for this party, so you better like it!"

"D-Don't worry, Miyako! I-I won't fail you!" Koushiro stuttered a bit. Miyako giggled, "Ha-ha! I was kidding! But seriously, have fun in this party. It took me and all the digi-destined to save our money just to buy these things." Koushiro's eyes went wide with surprise.

"You guys really did?"

"Did what?" Daisuke asked. Koushiro sighed. He repeated his question, more clearly this time: "You guys really bought everything here…with your own money???"

"Yeah, pretty much everything—" Taichi replied.

"We bought everything except my house." Yamato quickly cut in.

Everyone laughed.

"I can't believe you guys!" Suddenly, Koushiro's parents came from behind him. "Aren't they nice friends?" Koushiro's dad asked with a smile.

Koushiro smiled back. "Yeah…they are."

"Take good care of them, Koushiro," his mother said, "Friends like those don't always come around."

Koushiro nodded his head. "I will, mother."

He then rejoined his friends, who were playing Tekken 6 using the "Battle Pad"-thingy.

"Go Sora!" the girls cheered as Sora's character, Bryan Fury (he-he…don't ask), delivered his special move on Raven, Taichi's character. "Aww, come on, man!" the boys (except Jyou, Iori and Koushiro) groaned. "I WON'T LOSE!" Taichi exclaimed as he did some kicks and punches to Sora's character.

Koushiro grinned. "Mom's right." He thought. He then spotted Jyou on a near table, eating a pizza, laughing at the scene. Koushiro laughed along with him.

"AH! MY PRIDE, DESTROYED!" Taichi groaned as he lost and the instant replay played. Daisuke patted his back. "Don't worry, Taichi, I shall avenge you!"

"Unfair! You've already had your turn! I was next!" Iori said. "Iori's right, Daisuke, let him go next." Koushiro said. Daisuke sighed as he stepped back and let Iori put on the thingies used for the "BATTLE ARENA".

End Flashback

Koushiro smiled as he recalled. "That was one of the best presents I've ever received this season…which is why I'll have to do my best in paying them back!" he thought and smiled as he continued on with his work.

I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I

The Next Day…

I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I

"Koushiro…"

"Zzzzzzzzz……………"

"Hey Koushiro…"

"Zzzzz…"

Taichi sighed. "KOUSHIRO!" He said, a little louder this time.

Koushiro woke up instantly. "Huh? What? Where?"

"Dude, you slept through the entire class. That is so not like you." Taichi stated in a matter-of-factly voice.

"Oh…I slept…late…last night…" Koushiro groggily replied as he rubbed his eyes.

"Really? What were you doing?" Taichi asked, "It must have been something important." Taichi then grinned like a dirty, old man, "I hope this something isn't--"

It was like Koushiro got struck by lightning.

"Oh, it's nothing, Taichi, really," Koushiro said in a hurry, trying to shift the conversation. "Umm...may I borrow your notes?" he coughed.

Taichi smiled sheepishly. "Umm…I kind of…didn't write anything…"

Koushiro sighed. He then turned to the desk across of him, to Yamato, who was turning to leave.

"Hey, Yamato, did you copy the teacher's notes?"

"Yeah," was Yamato's reply as he got the notebook from his backpack and tossed it to Koushiro. "Just remember to return it to me as soon as you can," He reminded as he walked out of the classroom.

Taichi then hoisted his backpack up to his shoulders. "Dude," he said as he turned to Koushiro, who was packing his stuff, "I forgot to tell you, we're going to have a big test on Monday. Don't forget." Taichi then turned to leave, but stopped as he heard a soft "Thud" on one of the desks.

He turned around and saw Koushiro, sleeping like a baby. Taichi smiled a little, and sighed after. Taichi fixed Koushiro's things and it was a good thing Takeru came by the classroom to fetch something Yamato forgot.

"Think you can help me, Takeru?" Taichi asked as he hoisted Koushiro and carried him. Takeru nodded and smiled. "Sure. Just let me get something my big brother forgot."

After a few minutes, both Takeru and Taichi took Koushiro back home. Taichi was carrying the sleeping boy while Takeru was carrying his backpack. Although Taichi looked as if he had no difficulty carrying Koushiro, Takeru kept panting and grunting as he carried the bag that was nearly as big as Koushiro.

"Wonder what kind of stuff he puts into this thing?"

The pair eventually caught up with Yamato who joined them, since he lived in an apartment a few blocks from Koushiro's house.

After saying hello both to Mister and Mrs. Izumi, and answering a few concerned questions from them, the boys carried the sleeping digi-destined upstairs to his room and laid him down by the bed.

"Hey, his computer's on," Yamato stated as he turned it off. "He must've slept in front of it."

"Or forgot to turn it off," Taichi stated, poking the air with his index finger, "But whichever the reasing, he must have been doing something important to sleep that late," Taichi shrugged. The three boys didn't bother solving that mystery as they left Koushiro sleeping peacefully on the bed...

To Be Continued…