Title: The Fourteenth
Series: Digimon Tamers
Focused Characters: Matsuda Takato and Katou Juri
Summary: Even though Takato doesn't realize it, February 14 and March 14 have always been special days for him.
Disclaimer: I do not own Digimon.
Note: I never thought I would write a story centered around a holiday. Though, I haven't read a story purely focused on these two lately, so I thought this would be a good time. The bold numbers (not necessarily important) refer to their ages. Constructive criticism is greatly appreciated!
5
Today was February 14, and Matsuda Takato was excited as a boy could be on Valentine's Day. He looked around anxiously, looking and waiting for his mother who was going to pick him up from another day at kindergarten. He was absolutely looking forward to the special Valentine's Day goods from his parents' new bakery.
Getting lost in his daydreams about yummy cakes and cream rolls, he didn't notice a small girl calling out to him until he felt a tug on his shirt.
"Matsuda-kun-"
"Takato"
"Huh?
Takato quickly explained that friends should call each other by first names, because they were friends and that's what friends do. He received a reply with the pout on the girl's face.
"But wouldn't they make fun of you if they heard you call me Juri?" She pointed at his two best friends across the yard.
"Ah… that's true." They now had matching pouts. "Then you can use Takato since everyone else does, and I'll call you Katou-chan!"
The triumph on his face after saying that was contagious, and Juri soon had a big smile on her face.
"Okay then, Takato-kun! Though, my mom has been waiting for awhile, so here!" She took his hand and put a small pouch in it. "Happy Valentine's Day!"
He looked at the present in his hand she left, only to see chocolate!
"Giri-choco? Tomo-choco? Wow!" He gleamed at his first non-family Valentine's Day present and yelled out loud, "Thank you!"
Ignoring the questioning stares of the people around him, he decided that he was definitely in the mood for his mom and dad's baking now.
10
"Let's have a contest!"
Takato and Kenta stared.
Hirokazu then got up and pointed at his two friends insinuatingly. "What's with that reaction? Don't you want to see who can get the most valentines this year?"
"Not really." "But we're still elementary school students."
Hirokazu then put a hand to his forehead and shook his head. "You two are such party-poopers. I bet you guys just don't want to see your defeat when my shoe locker and desk are overflowing with chocolates…"
"I'm in." Kenta was quick to stop Hirokazu from talking.
"What about the chumley over there?"
A sigh. "Fine."
The day after, Takato glanced around his school and thought everyone had completely gone mad. The hallways were filled with sugar-buzzed kids, boys stealing glances hoping to get gifts, and groups of giggling girls. Well, except for one lost soul.
"Hi, Jen!" Jenrya quickly replied with a hello and glanced distraughtly at the different people in the hallway.
"It seems like everyone's excited for valentines this year," Takato noted as he watched a classmate run around in joy with some chocolate.
"Maybe a bit too excited." Jenrya laughed. "I bet you Ruki has it worse though at her all-girl school."
"Yeah… she's probably stepping on everything pink she sees and muttering 'Stupid girls! Stupid boys!'" They laughed even harder at the thought of their fellow tamer's predicament. The bell then rang, signaling the boys to say their goodbyes and go to class.
At lunch break, Takato had to admit that he was starting to get anxious about the little contest going on. He had gotten a few obligation gifts and chocolate, and wasn't expecting more than that, but he secretly was hoping for a little more.
He groaned loudly, laid his head on his desk, and mumbled, "What am I going to do…"
"Hmm? About what?"
"Aah!" Takato instantly jumped up. A bit startled, Takato knew that it was Juri after years of her popping out of seemingly nowhere to talk to him. He turned to the girl on his right with a slightly embarrassed expression. "Ah, it's nothing… How are you today, Katou-san?"
"I'm alright! What about… Hey! I thought we agreed you were going to call me Juri now!" Takato instantly blushed at that.
"Sorry, force of habit," he assured her and was given back a smile in return.
"That's okay then! Anyway, the reason I came over here…" She took out a small package from behind her. "Happy Valentine's Day, Takato-kun!"
He spaced out a bit at realizing it was a gift from the girl he secretly (or was it not-so-secretly?) liked and then switched to a huge grin on his face. "Aw, thanks Juri!"
She let out her breath that she was subconsciously holding and explained, "I made some chocolate with Kurumon yesterday. Well, more of I made it and Kurumon taste-tested." She paused at remembering the day's events and then prodded Takato to take the package. "Well, take it!"
Takato then proceeded to take it from her hands and carefully opened it. The grasping of the fact that he got another gift and the suspense of finding out what was in it thrilled him. Takato found himself face to face with chocolate shaped like Guilmon. No one could deny the awe on his face. Overcome with happiness, he suddenly hugged the girl in front of him. He couldn't see it, but the shock shown on her face wore off with a look of happiness as well.
"I'm glad you liked it!"
"Of course I would!"
At that moment, Takato felt like joining his classmate in running around with joy.
15
He had thought Valentine's Day when he was younger was crazy, but he had thought wrong. In his last year of junior high, Takato decided that maybe the mood around this time just got worse each year. He yawned and leaned back against the tree he was sitting under. His mom had made him help with the baking due to the several special orders made this year. Not that he minded, he honestly did like baking at times and wasn't as vocal about it compared to other hobbies, but it had taken a few hours for his family to finish all the orders.
Maybe a few moments of peace, despite the bustling around the whole area, would be good for him.
When he woke up, he noticed someone sitting next to him. Judging by the short skirt of the uniform, the unknown person was a girl that he actually knew quite well. While just staring ahead, he said, "Juri, you didn't have to wait for me, you know."
She shook her head. "No, it's fine! Besides, I got to people-watch and do some thinking."
He smiled. One of their favorite pastimes was to just watch other people move around and do their own thing. She continued, "Everyone is especially busy this year, especially Miki and Ayaka since graduation is next month."
Graduation. He genuinely forgot about the whole idea of graduating for awhile. He looked at her and asked quietly, "Are you going to miss them?"
She paused for awhile and answered truthfully, "I will. Though, Ayaka is going to the same school as us. The three of us promised we'd still meet up, though. A girl's promise!"
He honestly couldn't relate. All the Tamers, save Ruki and the others not their age, were moving on to the same high school. He then heard, "But I'm glad the two of us are going to the same school!"
"Yeah!" He wholeheartedly agreed.
"Enough about this topic, we should be talking about Valentine's Day, not something so depressing!" Takato groaned. A girl's point of view is different from a boy's point of view, after all.
"Then what should we talk about?"
"Hmm… I don't know. Can I visit your family's bakery after school? I think my brother really likes those cream rolls your dad makes."
"Sure!"
A pause.
"Takato, here! Happy Valentine's Day!"
He took it and looked at the amazingly-wrapped box of chocolates. He was never going to be able to give an adequate White Day present back. Until he realized…
"Honmei-choco?"
"Yeah…"
Both of their faces were flushed. Takato felt lost in what to do. He always secretly wanted something like this to happen, and Juri of all people (His mind screamed "Thank you, gods!), but his mental rejoicing distracted him from what he should do.
Juri was the first to move. "I guess I'll go…"
He watched for a second or two, felt his body move without thinking, and exclaimed, "I like it! No, I love it! Thank you!"
She turned around and saw the sincerity on his face. He was then rewarded with one of her biggest smiles, something he always liked, and decided that this year's Valentine's Day would probably be the hardest to beat.
AN: On Valentine's Day in Japan, only girls give chocolate (and other gifts) to others. Giri-choco literally means "obligation chocolate" and is given in Japan to classmates, coworkers, family, etc. Tomo-choco means "friend chocolate" and is obviously given to friends. Honmei-choco means "sweetheart chocolate", and for schoolgirls, it's usually used as a love confession or to give to your boyfriends. Don't worry about Juri! Takato will get his chance to give on White Day (March 14) which I most likely will write. Thank you for reading!