A/N: Written for the Prompts in Steps Challenge, Step 3 (ficlets b/w 100 and 1000 words), prompt 1 – gracious.
Awe from Afar
Professor Takenouchi was not off-seated by many things, things the general populace would be in a collective state of shock about. For instance, when his daughter mentioned seeing a giant bird and an orange dragon in Highten View Terrace, he didn't see any reason to doubt that. Not that it was an incident that occurred regularly – but with how close Japan was, as a whole, to the spirit world, he thought it was inevitable that someone somewhere would see something of the sort.
And if it was his daughter…well, his daughter was a part of Japan, of the world. So long as she was safe – and she had been, peeking through her bedroom curtains, he saw no reason for worry or alarm or anything but a curiosity that couldn't be satisfied (because the seven year old really couldn't say much more and his wife didn't seem to believe her).
And when he heard about the chaos in Odaiba, his first thoughts was that there was something other-worldly involved. As there was, his wife and daughter explained when he arrived home on a university vacation to see the pair getting along better than they had in years. And when he heard his daughter had acquired a guardian angel in another world – well, he was more concerned about the rest of the trouble she got into…and fascinated with said guardian angel.
He must have been one of the few non-Chosen who thought it unfortunate the Digimon had needed to return to the Digital World. He would have loved to meet the infamous Piyomon he owed his family to, not only for thanks but also because of fascination – but it seemed fate had other plans. Disappointed was all he could be – not shocked and scared like his wife had been. And when Digimon had shown up in Kyoto along with a Chosen Child in pursuit – sure, he might have been a little frightened, but he was more in awe at the sight of all of them.
But when he found himself raising a Digimon of his own…well, that was a bit of a different story. One he wasn't sure he was cut out for. It wasn't really the same as researching and admiring them from afar.