Hello, everyone. I think I'm just going to write replies to the reviews now that it's an option instead of saying thanks to everyone here.

I hope everyone likes this chapter. It's too kawaii. ^_^...


Chapter Two: Aches

The smell of spring filled the air as the breeze cooled the grass and drifted clouds forward. A black and white flash was bouncing to and fro along the grassy field, and laughter could be heard.

Taichi loved soccer. It was so easy to play since he knew the rules and how to dodge penalties. In his free time, he loved it, but at school he loved it more. At school he was often showing off, and his ego landed him the team captain position. The team adored his skills, and he adored their admiration.

The year of the digidestined's trip to the Digital World, Taichi had met a newcomer to his soccer team. The boy was a little mahogany-haired, light-skinned, computer nerd. Taichi remembered Koushiro's first day at practice; he could barely land a kick to the ball. He recalled that Koushiro finally gave up on the third day and assumed position as bench warmer, and Taichi didn't know the boy well enough to not give up on him.

Obviously, he had another chance to not give up, because as soon as Taichi kicked the ball into the goal, a voice greeted him from behind. "Good afternoon, Taichi."

Taichi recognized the voice, but his full given name was a bit odd. He whipped his head around to see Koushiro dressed in a red soccer shirt and long white shorts. "I-Izzy? You're going to try sports again, huh?" Taichi asked in shock.

Koushiro smiled timidly and spoke, "I could use the extra curricular in athletics."

"You said that last time," Taichi chuckled.

"Duck Tai!" one of the boys yelled.

Taichi had been hit in the head too many times to ignore a warning. Out of reflex he stumbled out of the way of the incoming ball. A smack was heard, and Koushiro was down. Three boys rushed up to them and asked concerned questions.

Taichi scrambled to his feet and placed his hands onto the younger boy's shoulders, "Izzy! Are you alright?"

Koushiro was sitting upright now that Taichi had his shoulders. He looked up and smiled nervously, but his cheek was red from the hit of the ball. "I have a slow reaction, I guess," he said.

One of the boys chuckled nervously and pulled Koushiro up by the hand, "sorry about that, Izumi."

Taichi smiled thankfully to his teammate.

"Do you need to go to the nurse?" another boy asked.

Koushiro shook his head, "I'm fine. Thank you." He placed his hand onto his cheek and nodded to Taichi.

"Okay, Izzy, since you were bench warmer last time, I'm going to act as your personal trainer," Taichi told his friend with a grin.

"Okay," Koushiro answered simply.

Taichi blinked in shock, "what?" He put his hand onto Koushiro's forehead, "hold it, guys. I think he has a concussion."

Koushiro backed away, "no really, I'm fine. I just think I need to expand my hobbies from the computer. Exercise is excellent for the body, and I don't want to die early just because I didn't get physical."

Taichi smirked, "well, you're in for a great semester, Izzy."

Koushiro smiled again and nodded.

"And no electronics on the field, Izumi!" of the boys laughed.

Taichi grinned, "yeah, no computers on the green." He took Koushiro's arm and pulled him along, "come on!"

Koushiro only followed.


Mrs. Izumi perked up as she heard the door close and shoes being shucked off. "Izzy, is that you?" she called as she sat on the couch.

Koushiro dragged himself into the family room and plopped onto the couch beside her. He looked flustered and worn out. "I'm home, Mom," he groaned.

Mrs. Izumi noticed that her son was wearing a soccer uniform, "oh, so you did try sports again? Your father will be happy."

"I know I'm helping my body by doing this, but right now I am just in pain," he mumbled.

"It's a good burn, son. My, you haven't exercised so much in a very long time," she giggled.

He let out a breath and stood slowly, "Tai said that I should soak in a hot bath to relax my muscles. I didn't know that I really had any until today; just something you don't notice until you work to improve it."

She smiled a bit more, "oh, you're on Tai's team? I'm so glad for that."

Koushiro was a bit taken aback by her reaction, "why is that, Mom?"

"Well, you two hadn't been spending much time together anymore," she answered.

"That's not because we're drifting apart. He's been busy, and so have I," he told her in a light defense. "But now that school is back in session, we'll become tighter than a-"

Mrs. Izumi put her hands up, "please, son, no difficult-to-understand metaphors."

Koushiro smiled nervously and bowed his head, "I...think I'm going to soak my mangled and aching body now. Excuse me, Mom."

"Do you at least want a snack first?" she asked. "I know how sports can work up an appetite."

"No thanks. I can wait until dinner," he answered as he bowed his head once more and left the room to enter the bathroom. He locked the door and took off his shirt when his phone vibrated in his pocket. He blinked, taking it out, "who would be calling?" The phone was mostly used for emergencies or for calling his parents, so he never expected anyone else on the other side of the line, but wouldn't one know it; Taichi's name showed up on the ID. Koushiro quickly pressed the accept button and spoke, "hello?"

"Izzy, hey," Taichi's voice rang out.

"Hey, Tai," Koushiro mumbled in shock.

"I just wanted to call and say good hustle out there today. I wasn't expecting such effort from you. Actually, you're not half bad for a newbie," Tai told him.

Koushiro blushed, "um, thanks. Good hustle from you as well. And I will continue to put as much effort that is needed for the games and practices, because I believe a person should try their best at whatever they do, especially if they have chosen the activity."

Tai got a bit silent then spoke again in a lower tone, "so...why did you decide to join soccer again? And don't say that you needed the activity for school, because I asked Kari, and she said you only needed one credit."

"You asked your little sister that, and she knew?" Koushiro asked in a mutter.

"Don't change the subject. Tell me," Tai urged.

Koushiro frowned; there was no way he could lie to Taichi, not that he didn't want to, but Taichi knew him so well that he could pick out the falseness. "I joined because..." Koushiro started. He swallowed and decided to tell the truth, "because I wanted to hang out with you more." A blush rose to his cheeks again.

"Because you want to hang out with me more?" Taichi asked with a smile. "Well, I'm really glad you joined the team. Believe it or not, it's not that we don't need more brawn, but we need more strategists, and you would be perfect for it."

Koushiro smiled, "really? Thanks, Taichi."

There was brief pause.

"You did it again, Koushiro," Taichi said as his face heated up. He smiled more.

"Sorry! I won't do it again. It's um..." Koushiro stammered.

"You can call me by my full given name. I don't mind," Taichi said with a grin. "I like calling you Koushiro sometimes, too. It sounds...cool."

Koushiro blushed more and stammered again, "I have to uh, um, I need to go now, Tai. I'll see you tomorrow."

Taichi nodded, "okay, Izzy. I'll see you tomorrow. Remember to wash your uniform and bring some awesome brain power tomorrow afternoon for practice."

Koushiro smiled, "okay. Thanks. Bye, Tai."

"Bye, Izzy," Taichi spoke back.

Koushiro hung up and smiled timidly, "wow, I feel better than when I woke up today, and I was pretty excited about practice this morning."

Taichi, lying on his bed in his room, hung up his phone as well. He continued to smile happily, "a whole semester of Koushiro playing soccer with us. It's like I'll get to spend double time with him. This is great." He blushed a light shade of pink, "Koushiro..."

"Did you call Izzy?" Hikari called from down the hallway. "Can I use your phone now? I need to call Dad."

Taichi didn't hear her from his own thoughts. He closed his eyes and smiled more.


Sorry that it was so short. I will write more next time. Promise. ^_^...

A review would be nice. Thank you!