Okay hi everyone. So I have been working on this novella for Nanowrimo and while obviously a lot more is planned ahead, I decided I can edit a little bit in my spare time and start posting it bit by bit. I have put a lot of effort into this so please read it and leave me some feedback. I do hope you will enjoy it. Oh also, if Yuujin seems OOC and not outgoing like he is in canon, that is on purpose. He was used by his own 'mother' and essentially told that he was simply programmed to be close to Haru. That has to leave scars so yeah I hope you enjoy my version of Yuujin. I'm a Psychology student, I can't help it.

Chapter 01: Fragile

Five years had passed since the defeat of Leviathan and four years since Oozora Yuujin had been able to return. Things had changed a lot in the last five years but one thing that hadn't changed was the closeness between the entire group. Despite everyone being busy in their own lives, Haru made sure everyone got together every week on a week to week basis to see how they were going.

They got together at Ai's house usually, because there was enough space for them to move around and it also allowed them to Appliarise the Appmon so they could move around freely. It was just another usual day at the Kashinoki Bookstore and the Appli Drivers and their Appmon along with Ai were hanging around in the hideout.

"Really?" Haru said, eyes widening. "The election is tomorrow?" Hadn't it been only last week when Eri was talking about the election being in a month? Or had time flown by so fast that he hadn't even realized it?

"Yeah!" Eri was standing on a chair and all attention was on her. "It's tomorrow so make sure you guys vote for me ok?"

Ai giggled a bit, eyes shining with her usual warmth and enthusiasm because she had always been a big fan of Eri. "Of course we'll vote for you. You've been working really hard too."

"Eri-san came on tenth place last time," Hajime said scrolling down on his phone as Rei peered over his shoulder. "Maybe this time, she'll be one of the Nine Gods, ne Oniichan?"

Rei shrugged. "That depends on how much effort she puts in. The amount of hard work she puts in, the better chance she has of getting votes."

"Eri will definitely be one of the Nine Gods!" Astra said, pumping a fist in the air. "Will she? Or will she not?"

"Of course she will!" He and Musimon chimed in together. Haru shook his head at them, knowing everyone was in their own way attempting to show their support for Eri and truly did believe she would be okay even if it would be tough to compete against the popularity of the others. Rei was trying to get her not to relax so she would give it her all even if he could have phrased that better. Oh well…that was Rei-kun and the way he was. He may not be as enthusiastic as Astra or as encouraging as Ai but he could tell the other was just trying to be supportive in his own way.

"I'm sure you'll do great ne Yuujin?" Haru said smiling as he turned to his best friend who was sitting next to Ai and had not spoken a word. He didn't speak all that much anymore and was not his outgoing, confident self that he had come to know from his childhood. Yuujin still talked more when it was just him and Ai there, but around the others – even around Offmon, he could be more quiet than Rei was! It was something Minerva had warned him about back then…and he knew his memories with that Yuujin weren't real but the feelings were. And he knew Yuujin knew that but he supposed his friend just needed time.

Yuujin smiled although it didn't reach his eyes and glanced at Eri. "Ai-chan tells me you've been working hard so I'm sure it'll help like Rei-kun said."

"Of course it will!" Dokamon said excitedly, jumping up and down on the sofa. "Eri-chan has been training really hard with Coachmon!"

Eri pumped a fist in the air and nodded. "Yeah! Definitely. I'm going to be one of the Nine Gods this time!"

"We have some news as well," Hajime chimed in. "Oniichan and I managed to get a better apartment. Oniichan has been working really hard and it finally paid off."

"It's a really good one too," Hackmon mused as well and it was obvious he was smiling under his hood especially when Rei flushed a little bit at the words.

"I haven't signed the agreement yet," Rei muttered, crossing his arms and looking to the ground.

Haru smiled warmly at him. "Still, you have been working pretty hard to give Hajime a better life. I'm glad you guys are getting a bigger place."

"Yeah," Rei muttered, looking up at him and he smiled even bigger at his friend, causing him to flush and look away. Haru blinked at this odd reaction because Rei had never responded to him in such a way. He glanced at Gatchmon but he didn't seem to have noticed a thing because he was happily munching on his favourite sweet. He was about to say something when Ai cut in.

"That is wonderful," Ai agreed in her soft voice, a small smile gracing her lips. "Is it in a different location?"

"Yeah, it's closer to my school," Hajime said softly. "I can walk there even without Oniichan having to go with me. He still worries so much."

"You are his little brother after all," Eri said nodding. "It's natural to worry about those you care about. I hope my Mom gets happy once I become an idol. I really want to make her smile."

"Ne Rei why do you always look so embarrassed when Haru compliments you huh?" Astra said teasingly and rather out of the blue but then again this was Astra, so that wasn't too surprising. "Hajime, Hackmon, is there something Rei is hiding from us?"

"Is he?" Musimon added.

"Or is he not?" Astra continued.

"Of course he is!" Both said together as Rei turned even redder.

"I have no idea what you're talking about," Rei said although he still wouldn't look at Haru which caused the green-haired boy to look between Astra and Musimon (who were chuckling) to Hajime and Hackmon who seemed to be avoiding looking at one another.

"I'm not sure what you're talking about either," Haru admitted, rubbing the back of his head before glancing at Yuujin and Ai. "What about you guys?"

Ai just giggled. "I didn't before but it's pretty obvious now. Ne Yuujin-kun?"

Yuujin did smile now and even though Haru had no idea why but he was glad to see his friend having such a genuine smile on his face. "Yeah, it is." He walked over to Haru, wrapping an arm around his childhood friend's shoulders. "But when you do realise it, just be careful ok? Sometimes, you never really know a person."

Haru stared at his childhood friend for a few moments and looked around at everyone. Eri was elbowing Astra and chiding him, Dokamon was chatting with Gatchmon and Musimon, Hackmon was talking to Hajime and Offmon was hiding behind Ai's legs. As Yuujin's words replayed inside of his head, he felt his cheeks turning pink as the meaning sunk in. Could it really mean what everyone was saying? No, Rei was socially awkward so it might just be his inability to accept a true compliment. Ne Rei why do you always look so embarrassed when Haru compliments you huh? He had noticed it a few times that whenever he did say something positive about Rei, the other would blush and avert his gaze. Rei also hadn't been meeting his eyes for long when they talked. Did…this was odd for him to think because while he and Rei had become close friends, it was odd to think that Rei might possibly think of him as something more. He felt his own face heat up at the thought of Rei liking him beyond friendship. Maybe he should talk to him? No! That was too embarrassing. He couldn't do it. He just couldn't. What if everyone's assumptions were wrong?

"Haru?" Gatchmon said and Haru blinked, having not realized that his partner had come over to him.

"Gatchmon? I thought you were with Dokamon and Musimon," Haru said, willing the redness to fade. It was too bad he couldn't see and make sure it had faded away.

"Yuujin has been calling to you for the past few seconds," Gatchmon said. "So I came over to check if you were alright. What's up?"

"I'm not sure," Haru muttered. How was he supposed to explain it to Gatchmon? His Buddy was awesome but he wasn't exactly good when it came to emotions and he wasn't really sure about this whole situation himself so he had no idea. He felt Yuujin squeeze his shoulder.

"Haru, why don't you talk to him?" Yuujin asked quietly and Haru tilted his head to the side, looking at the other seriously.

"Because if you're wrong, it could make things really awkward between the two of us," Haru admitted honestly. "It took me a long time to get Rei-kun to open up to me and to trust me as his friend. He didn't trust anyone at first, especially not me." He averted his gaze. "Back then, he thought I was naïve and weak. It wasn't until we fought Sakushimon together that he began trusting me and coming to help me in future battles. I know things have changed since then…but well, what if you guys are wrong?" He didn't want Rei to distant himself from them again because it was easier than facing what was in front of him.

"Haru…" Yuujin said softly as Gatchmon moved to sit on his other side. "I admit, I won't pretend to be an expert on emotions. I've barely started to realise my own ones. The memories of your childhood…our childhood may have been fake…I'm not the confident person I was programmed to be but even now when I'm trying to find myself again, there is one thing I'm sure about. That's that I did grow to care for you and for Ai-chan as well. I was programmed to be your best friend and be the ideal best friend you could have but it grew past that. Minerva knew that which was why she made me an Appli Driver. As for Ai-chan, I grew to care for her outside of what I was programmed for." He flushed a bit. "I mean, I didn't have to and most girls seemed to like me back then but Ai-chan was really the only one I could call a friend out of those. But I can tell one thing about Rei-kun. He's not easy to read but he genuinely cares about you a lot. Even if we are wrong about those feelings being more than friendship, I know that he won't abandon you as a friend over it."

Haru blinked at Yuujin talking about his own feelings and found his own eyes travelling to Ai who was watching them from a distance. That part was true. Yuujin and Ai had always gotten along even before he really knew how to talk coherently in front of her back then. He had never before thought to as why. He had always assumed it was just because he and Ai were friends, that Yuujin was programmed to be Ai's friend too. But maybe that wasn't true…he was still a little shy being so expressive with Rei but Yuujin seemed to have a lot of faith in the fact that Rei wouldn't drift away from him and he did trust Yuujin's judgement.

"You really think so Yuujin?" Haru said, wanting to believe every word of his friend's words.

Yuujin smiled softly. "He warned you about me back then remember? He knew you wouldn't listen because of how close we were but he was worried about you so he said it anyway."

Haru nodded. He remembered it clearly. He had been upset with Rei-kun for even suggesting that he not trust Yuujin back then but it hadn't stopped the other. He exhaled deeply. Well, maybe he would ask Rei about it. Hopefully, this would turn out okay. "Okay, I'll talk to him. But Yuujin?"

"Yeah?" Yuujin replied.

Haru smiled. "Please take your own advice too. You deserve happiness too."

Yuujin managed a sad smile. "Maybe someday, Haru. I'm still not sure of myself in a lot of things. I need to find out. The person I can really be. I want to keep evolving and be the best I can be before even thinking about that."

Haru reached out, squeezing Yuujin's hand gently. "Just remember. You don't have to do it alone. I'm here for you, Yuujin. I'll help you find the person you want to become. So will Ai-chan and so will Offmon if you let him in."

Yuujin squeezed his hand back. "I know." He didn't say anymore than that but Haru knew. His friend still wasn't ready and that was okay. They would wait until he was.