I stood behind the glossy counter of my parent's bakery. My hairnet slipped down my face as I angrily beat the lump of dough in front of me. The counter shook as though there were an earthquake every time I punched the dough. My eyes drifted up to see the horrified expression on the costumer's face. I left the dough alone as rubbed the back of my head. My face was bright red.
"Sometimes the dough just doesn't want to cooperate," I laughed nervously.
The customer was about to leave when my mom swooped in and saved the sale. She had a way with customers that I was obviously lacking. After waving goodbye to the customer with a large smile on her face, my mom turned to glare at me.
"What were you doing? You almost lost us another customer!" she yelled.
"I'm sorry but Dad told me to make another loaf of bread but then you told me to watch the counter. I didn't know what to do so I just kinda tried to do both," I responded.
"Go on break," my mom said in a fierce tone of voice.
I nodded as my head hung low to the ground. I reached up and ripped my hairnet off my head then threw it into the trash. I proceeded to take off my apron and hang it up on my special hook that my mom had made when I first started working at the bakery four years ago. She thought it would be a good way to keep me busy.
I walked outside and sat down on the cold cement beside the side door. I pulled my knees up against my chest and laid my head down.
I've been trying my best to do things right but ever since Guilmon left but I feel like such a mess. No matter how hard I try to move on with my life I just end up being enticed by the memories of him. I can't get him out of my head, regardless of how much I want to.
All of a sudden the side door creaked opened. I looked up and a slight smile moved across my face. She smiled back at me before sitting down beside me. She blushed as her short dress went up a little too high; I pretended I didn't see as she yanked it down. She went on to fix her reddish brown hair that she has been growing out for a year now. Then she laid her eyes on me.
"Are you okay?" she asked as she touched my arm.
"As okay as I'll ever be," I replied avoiding eye contact.
"I remember a time when I felt that way. I also remember a certain someone who helped me get over those feelings and get back to being the person I wanted to be."
I blushed at the memory. It seemed like so long ago that we were fighting D-Reaper and even longer ago that Jeri was anyone else other than the cheerful person I've always known her to be.
"I found these when I went for a walk a few days ago," Jeri commented.
I looked over at the yellow goggles in her hands. Aside from a few bumps and dents they looked the same as they always had.
"You went back to check, didn't you?" she asked.
I nodded, "I know the portal has been closed for a long time but I was just hoping that maybe it opened again."
"But why did you throw these away?" Jeri questioned as she looked down at the goggles.
"I don't need them, I'm not a Tamer anymore," I answered.
"Of course you're still a Tamer," Jeri smiled.
My body electrified with a warm tingly feeling as Jeri leaned over and placed the goggles back on my head. Our faces were inches apart. I was hoping for something to happen but she was just checking to make sure they were on right. She smiled a very sweet smile and then leaned away from me.
We sat in silence for a few moments. I felt warm summer air flushed over me. I could smell the intoxicating scent of Jeri's strawberry and melon shampoo. I grinned as I looked up at the bright sun that laid low in the sky.
"Do you wanna go for a walk before it gets too dark?" I suggested.
She nodded joyfully at the idea. I stood up and then offered her a hand up. We both blushed as our hands touched.
"Aren't you going to tell your parents you're leaving?"
I shook my head, "I won't be gone that long, they won't even notice."
We walked down the back roads with our hands at our sides. Every so often our hands would touch and the tension between us would accelerate.
When we were nearing Shinjuku park Jeri grabbed onto my hand. My face turned bright red as I stared at her.
"It was going to happen eventually," she stated.
"I guess," my voice stuttered. I could feel myself getting sweatier by the second.
We walked through the crisp green grass of the park, all was beautiful. Everything was perfect. But I couldn't help but get a little sad. Every time I come here I think about the day Guilmon left... how he just floated out of my arms and out of my life.
"Is it okay if we go check?" I asked in a hushed voice.
"Of course," Jeri replied.
We changed our direction and walked up the stairs to the place Guilmon once called home. Jeri squeezed my hand. I looked at her before walking through the gate. When we walked inside I avoided looking to save myself from disappointment. I tried to get my eyes to focus on the one place my heart wanted to look but I couldn't. Jeri let go of my hand and tugged onto the sleeve of my shirt.
"Takato look."
I glanced over. My jaw dropped.
"It's not possible," I whispered.
Down the once dark gravel covered tunnel was a bright shining light. We stepped forward to get a better look. Finally after four years of waiting and wishing, this moment had finally come. Because down at the end of that tunnel, the digital port was open.
Out of nowhere I began to hear a loud beeping noise. Jeri reached into her pocket and pulled out her digi vice. Her face lit up as it began glowing. I watched as a single tear formed in the corner of her eye. Her eyes were dependant on the screen. A river of tears flowed down her face as she smiled wider than I had ever seen before. Her eyes sparkled as she held the digi vice up for me to see. I began crying too as I looked at it; because there in the middle of the screen was a digi egg, just waiting to be hatched.
