The next day Kari trudged home from school. It was getting dark and she shivered pursing her lips because she didn't bring a jacket. She was nearing her home when she saw a familiar person down on the seawall,

"Joe?" She wondered out loud. She had been worried about Joe. He hadn't been around much and it broke her heart to see how it was effecting Gomomon. She then saw Mimi standing near joe, she jogged to the stairs and opened her mouth to speak, "I'm a coward." Joe confessed and Kari stopped and listened.

"Why does it always have to be us? Why can't someone else do it for a change?" Kari felt saddened by Joe'a words. She could feel his pain.

"You know Mimi, at least being a narcissist means you're doing something. Unlike a coward like me." Joe then turned and marched away. Kari could hear Mimi sniffle and the girl turned the other way and left. Kari stood alone on the steps. The rain was falling harder but she paid no attention. Joe and Mimi were feeling lost and she could feel it. She felt her small body shrink as she thought about how small Joe and Mimi must be feeling. A small tear rolled down her cheek and she wiped it away, "they need help." She whispered. She hung her head thinking about Joe's words, they need help and all I could do was stand here. I think the coward here is me. She closed her eyes a moment and then opened. She inhaled and wiped her cheeks. She needed to get home. Kari turned and slowly made her way up the steps and went home.

As Kari walked into the apartment she could hear Tai on the phone,

"Matt just lay off Joe for now. Whatever he's got going on just let him take his time! I can't talk about this I'll see you at school." Tai hung up the phone and sighed. Kari stood still wondering if he knew she was there. His shoulders sagged and he went into his room. Kari's lips parted, why is everyone in pain? She thought and again she felt a pang in her chest as she thought about her brother. Kari changed her clothes and after dinner she let herself into her brothers room. She decided she would try to figure out what's going on with her brother. She swivelled the office chair she was sitting in and faced her brother,

"I heard you on the phone today." She started and Tai kept his head down as he cleaned his soccer cleats.

"I think I saw a new side to you." Kari continued,

"you seem to understand Joe. That maybe he's avoiding something so being with us means he has to face it." Tai wiped his cleats,

"yeah something like that." He said in a low voice. Kari pressed her lips together,

"so maybe you understand Joe because you are going through the same thing. You avoid Matt because facing him means dealing with what you're avoiding." Tai gritted his teeth,

"isn't it past your bed time?" He said bitterly. Kari's face fell. She knew she was right, she just hated how much it weighed on her brother. She wanted to try and comfort him but thought better of it.

"You're not in this alone Tai." She whispered and she stood. She didn't look back at her brother, she wanted to leave him alone. So she left his room and went into her own.

Tai woke up still in a funk. What his sister had said the night before was true. He hated how insightful Kari was. He looked around not seeing Agumon. He shrugged believing he was probably with Gatomon eating He groaned as he got dressed. At least I have a game today, that'll help. He thought. He went out into the kitchen and was surprised to not see his sister or their digimon,

"er, mom? Where's Kari?" He asked and his Mom picked up a flower pot and brought it to the sink. "She left already." She hummed and Tai frowned, he shook his head and pulled out his phone he had a message from Izzy. He quickly opened it

Tai,

I've got the digimon with me and Leomon. Apparently Ogremon has been infected and Leomon has been trying to keep an eye on him. Leomon is giving me lots of information on the distortions. I'll fill everyone in later after the festival.

Izzy

Tai was shocked at the news that Leomon was here. He pocketed his phone and grabbed his soccer bag, Izzy said he'd fill us in later, he thought to himself trying to focus on what he had to do for the day instead.

Once at school Tai could see the festival was in full swing. There were food carts and classroom restaurants as well as performers. Tai ducked through the crowd. He saw Matt on stage and kept his head down. He just wanted to get to the field and warm up.

Kari and TK stood in the crowd,

"so what's your brothers band called again?" Kari asked and TK smiled,

"world on a knife." He said and he flashed her a smirk. Kari was mesmerized by the charm TK was exuding. She quickly looked around her. She then spotted her brothers hair moving through the crowd.

"Hang on TK." She said and she quickly jogged over to her Brother,

"Tai Wait!" Kari called and Tai stopped to face her,

"why'd you leave so early?" Tai asked and Kari lowered her head,

"sorry I was just trying to give you some space. I dropped the digimon off at Izzy's" tai nodded

"I know I got a text from Izzy." Kari wanted to ask if he was okay but changed her mind

"I'll be at your game." She informed and Tai smiled

"really?" Kari grinned,

"yep me and TK will be there." Tai nodded,

"okay I should get going. I'll see you later." Kari nodded

"good luck!" She called as Tai moved into the school. Kari turned and saw TK walking towards her,

"everything okay?" Kari nodded,

"fine, we should go see Meiko and Mimi. Sora told me they were running one of the classroom restaurants." TK smiled,

"lead the way." He gestured and Kari giggled,

"dork." She teased and TK poked her side making her jump,

"gah! That tickles." TK laughed and did it again,

"well then move it and maybe I won't have to do tickle you." Kari gave him a look but smirked. TK was tempted to do it again but Kari swatted his hand,

"don't even think about it TK." TK laughed, he loved when Kari tried to get tough, she was so sweet that when she tried to get angry TK just thought it was adorable. She walked on ahead and TK couldn't help but poke her again

"TK!" She exclaimed and TK started howling.

Tai made his way through the school,

"Tai!" Tai stopped he knew that voice. He turned around and saw Agumon and Gabumon.

"Agumon? I thought you were at Izzy's?" Tai asked surprised. His digimon shook his head,

"we got hungry so Leomon took us here." Tai went wide eyed,

"wait Leomon is here with all of you?!" He asked in disbelief. Agumon nodded,

"yeah we're just tying to find some food." Agumon said with a smile. Tai put a hand to his face.

"Well I can't deal with this right now I'm on my way to warm up for a soccer game." Agumon smiled,

"no worries just tell us where the food is and that's where we will go." Gabumon then sniffed the air,

"hey something smells good." He said and Agumon put his nose up.

"Mmmm where is that coming from." He asked. Gabumon pointed up the stairs,

"I think up there." Tai cringed,

"erm, look guys just try not to be seen okay?" The digimon nodded

"sure thing." They then turned and started moving towards the stairs. Tai sighed they're gonna get caught he thought. He shook his head he didn't have time for worrying about the digimon, he had a game to play. He moved down the hallway and then to his disappointment saw Matt at one of the lockers. Tai sighed and approached him,

"hey I think the digimon busted out of Izzy's. I just ran into Agumon and Gabumon and they said Leomon brought them here." Matt went wide eyed,

"Leomon's here?" He asked and Tai nodded,

"yeah Izzy sent a text saying Ogremons been infected. I guess Leomons been keeping an eye on him and is now here giving Izzy information on the distortions." Matt nodded

"so are we meeting after the festival then?" Tai nodded and adjusted his soccer bag,

"hey can you do me a favour and check on the digimon? I've got a game I have to get to." Matt nodded

"sure." Tai was relieved and started to move. Matt then put a hand up blocking Tai,

"first, you need to talk to me. Why did Omnimon de-digivolve so quickly?" Matt was stern and Tai was shocked. He had hoped Matt hadn't noticed that. Tai gritted his teeth and looked away.

"You held back! That's why it failed. Why are you still holding back? We did the right thing! We had to fight Alphamon!" Tai clenched his fists, he heard Matt's words but struggled with believing them.

"You don't understand." Tai mumbled. Matt growled,

"talk to me! Tell me what's going on!" Matt thundered and Tai met his gaze. Tai seethed, he wasn't ready to talk about this. He was angry and he pushed Matts arm out of the way and ran down the hall towards the field.