He started running when he was on the streets, far away from the Yagami residence. He didn't stop running until he was at the beach, the one place he could seek solace.
Yamato sprinted down the sand, and finally came to a sudden halt at the shore. He stared through the mist out into the cold sea, and then collapsed onto his knees, falling onto the sand and wrapping his arms around himself as he trembled and shook.
Taichi hated him. Taichi hated him. The thought couldn't seem to leave his mind, looping and looping until he was chanting it like a mantra, "Taichi hates me. Taichi hates me."
"Taichi…hates me."
Yamato choked, and the tears came then. The mist dissolved completely, and it was not the mist of the cold winter wind but the mist of his tears. He sobbed, shaking and shivering in the coldness of the beach.
He didn't know why he was crying. Because Taichi hated him? Because Taichi didn't love him anymore? He didn't think he still loved Taichi. Hadn't he not seen him for so long? So why the hell was he crying?
Alone. He was alone at the beach once again. Alone on the shore. He was alone, sobbing his heart out for a reason he didn't even know. Why was he crying? Because it hurt. Because he was hurt. It hurt so much, so fucking much. And he didn't know what else he could do except cry. He didn't think he wanted to do anything else except cry.
At least he wasn't crying in front of Taichi. Yamato remembered the first time he had cried in front of Taichi. Taichi had just stared at him, as if seeing him for the first time. Then the snowy cliff had given away below them and he would have fallen to his death had Taichi not caught his hand. He could have died then, in that cold, wintery place. But Taichi had told him he would never let go of his hand even if they ended up dying. And Yamato still wasn't sure if it was those words which had made him fall in love. But what did that matter now?
The last time he had cried in front of Taichi- Taichi had wrapped his arms around him and said he was sorry. But just now, Taichi hadn't said he was sorry. Taichi had said he hated him. That he didn't want to see him ever again.
He didn't have Taichi now. He was alone. Taichi wasn't there with him, to comfort him with his words from his kind and honest heart. Why would he, anyway? If Taichi had been there at the wintery beach with him, Yamato would bet he would just scoff and laugh at him and call him a cry-baby. "Cry-baby Ishida." He would say in that cruel, mocking voice.
Because Taichi hated him.
"He hates me." The words came out choked from his parched throat. "Taichi hates me."
"He hates me…" Yamato sobbed, burying his face in his knees. "Why…?"
He knew. He knew of course. Why wouldn't Taichi hate him? Like Taichi had said, he hadn't even wanted to see his face. He had been purposely avoiding him. He was the one who had been acting like a coward. He had gruffly replied to Taichi's calls, not giving him any chance to make any further conversation. He had given Taichi the notion that he hated him. So maybe that was why Taichi hated him now. Because he thought Yamato hated him.
But…he didn't hate Taichi. He didn't. But what use was that? Taichi hated him now. Taichi…didn't love him anymore. He had said so himself.
"I hate you, Ishida Yamato."
"He really hates me…" Yamato swallowed. He squeezed his eyes shut, "T-Taichi…"
There was the sound of footsteps. "So it wasn't girl trouble," he heard a smug, familiar voice say, "It was boy trouble."
Yamato gasped, and looked up, immediately wishing he hadn't. "Oh fuck no. Not now. Why now?"
He stared at the old man, then swiftly wiped the back of his hand across his eyes. "W-What do you want?"
"Oh nothing," the old surfer said, raising an eyebrow. "Just wondering why you were crying."
"I'm not crying." Yamato said gruffly.
"He hates me…" the old surfer said. He made a choked noise, smirking, "He really hates me…"
"So, who's the bad boy who broke your heart, boy?"
"Shut up." Yamato muttered. "No one broke my heart."
"Really."
"Ah, aren't you the boy who bought shaved ice in the middle of winter?!" He heard a new voice enter the scene.
Yamato bit his lip, and nodded at the owner of the shaved ice store. At least, he thought he was nodding at him.
"Why are you covering your eyes, boy?" The old man asked curiously, "Something got into them?"
"He's crying." The surfer said, his voice bored. "He just doesn't want to admit it."
"Crying?!" The owner of the shaved ice store exclaimed, "Why?!"
"'Cause someone broke his heart."
"Oh." The old man- the kinder old man sounded concerned, "Well, do you want to talk about it?"
He didn't want to talk at all. He just wanted to cry, so why couldn't they leave him alone? He wanted to be alone. Because if he couldn't be with Taichi, he would rather be alone.
Yamato let out a choked sob. He really should stop thinking about Taichi. But he couldn't. The stupid brunet wouldn't leave his mind. Idiot. Taichi was an idiot. "Why the hell am I crying over an idiot?"
"H-Hey…" the shaved ice store owner said hesitantly as Yamato sobbed helplessly, "Are you alright?" He looked over to his companion.
"Eh, not my problem." The old surfer said, grimacing. "I have no idea how to comfort a crying kid."
The owner of the shaved ice stand sighed. He shot his friend a quick glower, then made his way to Yamato's side, patting his shoulder. "Hey, it's okay…"
Yamato sobbed softly as he felt a comforting arm around his shoulder. It was embarrassing crying in front of strangers-people he barely knew, but he couldn't be bothered to give a damn about his pride at the moment. He hugged his knees to his chest, curling up as he tried desperately to sob all the pain in his heart out.
It didn't work. It didn't work at all. Why the hell was it not working? Wasn't crying supposed to make you feel better? He didn't feel better at all. In fact, he felt worse because his mind still refused to let him stop thinking of Taichi so he would stop crying already.
So he just stayed there, crying on the beach with the comforting arm which probably belonged to the owner of the shaved ice stand around his shoulder, the cold winter wind not helping his throat at all. Even the old surfer was silent as he sobbed. Or was he even there? Maybe he had gone away.
"Well," he heard the old surfer's scratchy voice. So he hadn't gone away after all. He cleared his throat. "There's someone else on this beach during winter."
"A girl."
A girl- Shizuka. He was supposed to meet Shizuka at the beach today. And now she had come to the beach. She was at the beach, whereas he was in no state to face her right now. The last thing he wanted was for her to see him cry.
Yamato prayed that she wouldn't notice him, that the old surfer and the owner of the shaved ice stand were blocking her view of him. He tried to keep his sobs quiet, but almost choked, coughing.
"There, there." The shaved ice store owner patted his back as he lifted his head and gasped, trying to get back his breath. "Relax or you'll choke."
"I am already choking." Yamato thought in frustration as he coughed harshly, inhaling quick breaths of air.
"Eh…Yamato-kun?!" Oh fuck. Yamato coughed as Shizuka ran over to him, crouching down and putting a hand on his shoulder. "Are you alright?!"
"F-Fine…" Yamato coughed one final time, then exhaled.
"I was wondering where you were," Shizuka sounded like she was smiling, "I thought you were busy today, Yamato."
"Yeah…"
"Eh? Is something the matter?" Shizuka seemed to have noticed his disorderly state. She peered over at his face, before her sky blue eyes widened, "Yamato, a-are you crying?"
Shit. "Crying?" He smiled through his tears, "I'm not. It's just…the…snow. The melted snow." Wonderful excuse, Ishida. Brilliant, really.
Oh God, she had seen him crying. He was never going to live this down. His cool image was ruined. She wouldn't look at him the same way ever again.
But Shizuka just looked at him with sad eyes and reached out a gentle hand to wipe the tears away from his cheeks. Her fingers were soft and warm, as warm as the warmness in her eyes. "Don't cry, Yamato."
He wished she hadn't said those words. He really wished she hadn't said those words, because somehow they brought more tears to his eyes and he was soon choking up again. He saw through a blurry mist Shizuka's clear sky blue eyes softening, before she pulled the back of his head towards her, and he found his face buried in the warmth of her coat. And he cursed the warmness of her coat for it only made him sob all the more.
"Well, how pathetic," he heard the old surfer's taunting voice, "Crying and having a girl comfort you."
"Shut…up…"
He felt Shizuka's arm protectively around him, "Please don't say that," her voice was firm. "He is really hurt."
"And, crying is not a sign of weakness." Shizuka's next words were almost dry, "Have you never cried before?"
The old man didn't reply, and Yamato guessed he had shut up. He gave a weak smirk into Shizuka's shoulder. Who knew she could be so…blunt? It was almost, cool.
Why didn't I fall for her? She's understanding, caring and kind. Her eyes are beautiful, as beautiful as her heart. I should have been in love with her instead of Taichi. Maybe, if I had met her earlier, I would have been.
Taichi…I once thought part of the reason why I fell in love with him was because he's always bright and smiling, and his smiles made me smile too. But it isn't, is it? It can't be. It's not like it's the first time Taichi rejected me. I was still in love with him then.
But it's the first time Taichi said he hated me.
I feel more tears spring up in my eyes, and Shizuka holds me close. I cry, silently this time.
Shizuka – she wouldn't have hurt me like this. Why the hell are you not in love with her, Ishida? Or Sora? You dated her, didn't you? You liked her once. Sora's a nice and kind person and even if we didn't interact that much in the Digital World, I've known her for almost as long as I've known Taichi. Why did you have to fall for Yagami Taichi– the only one who has enough of you to break your heart?
…See Ishida? You're thinking of yourself again, aren't you? You're really such a selfish person.
You haven't changed at all.
But because you're such a selfish person, because it hurts you, you don't give a damn.
And your heart. Your fucking stupid heart. Weren't you supposed to be a loner? A lone wolf? How did the hell did you get it broken? You want to tear it out, don't you? Rip it to shreds and throw those painful pieces away into that ocean over there, that ocean just behind you.
It'd be great if you could, wouldn't it? Your heart would be gone, those pieces would sink in the deep blue ocean and be lost forever.
You wouldn't have a heart anymore.
No one would be able to hurt you anymore. Even when you want to give away your heart (like you so idiotically did), you wouldn't be able to because you wouldn't have a heart anymore.
…And then maybe, just maybe, the pain will finally stop.
…Why the hell did I open up my heart? Why the hell did I open my heart to Taichi? What was it about him that made me want to open my heart to him, to trust him?
Or maybe I didn't open up my heart. Maybe Taichi opened it up without me knowing.
Bastard.
Because I've always had this barrier- this barrier of ice I've built around my heart since my parents' divorce. It was to prevent myself from being hurt anymore, because I didn't want to be hurt anymore. If anyone was stupid enough to attempt to reach out to my heart, or even to hurt me, they would just be damaging the barrier. That wall of ice.
They wouldn't reach this heart of mine.
But then Taichi came along. And he was…so warm, wasn't he? So damn warm. It made me angry, because I had never met anyone so warm. I had never experienced such warmth. It made me angry, and it made me afraid. If I were to be honest to myself, I was fucking terrified. He affected me like no one else could. So I made the barrier stronger, fought with him to anger him, so he would leave me alone.
But he didn't. Instead, he came closer. He came closer and closer, and I allowed him to. Somehow, I trusted him.
But I was also fearful. I didn't know what he was doing to me, I didn't know what I was feeling. I didn't want to believe it was love.
And then before I knew it, he melted my ice, melted me with his warmth and his stupid kindness. Taichi…he's always been straightforwardly kind, he didn't look down on me, he didn't isolate me, he treated me as an equal. His kindness, almost hurt. The melting of the ice hurt.
It hurt when my defenses of years crumbled, even though he didn't know.
But then, when the wall of ice melted for the first time in years, and left my heart open to him, he didn't melt my heart. He didn't break my heart. He warmed my heart. He made me feel a kind of warmth I've never experienced before. A kind of warmth not even Takeru has made me feel.
And I guess that's why it hurts so much now. It hurt, when he first came into my heart. When he first invaded my privacy in that clumsy way of his. But his kindness warmed my heart.
But now, I don't even have his kindness anymore. I don't have that kindness of his which made me want to love again.
After so many years of not hurting, of having Taichi by my side.
And now, those years are gone.
Taichi's gone.
And I'm hurt again.
Because I'm alone again.
Why hadn't he fallen for her? He should have. For if he had he wouldn't be crying now. Wouldn't be crying because of Taichi.
Shizuka was understanding, caring and kind. She had beautiful eyes and a beautiful heart. He should have been in love with her. Not with Taichi. For clearly it wasn't just Taichi's usual cheerful nature that had caused Yamato to fall in love with him. If it was, he wouldn't be so damn hurt by Taichi's cold words.
Shizuka wouldn't turn around and hurt him like this. He really should have been in love with her. Or Sora, even. He had liked her once, even thought he loved her. She was nice and kind and he had known her for almost as long as he had known Taichi. Neither Sora nor Shizuka would cause him to feel this much hurt.
There he was, thinking of himself again. But it hurt- it still hurt, and right now, he didn't give a damn.
Curse his stupid heart. This was why he had been a loner. He wished he could take his heart out and rip it to shreds, and throw those broken pieces away into the ocean, where they would sink and be lost for eternity. Then maybe the pain would stop.
Why the hell had he opened up his heart? Why the hell had he opened up his heart to Taichi? Or had he not- and Taichi had just melted the ice cold barrier he'd built around it? Melted the wall of ice he'd built over his years of being alone to protect himself from being hurt again, with his kindness and warmth? Taichi had always been straightforwardly kind, and it had almost hurt.
Maybe that was why it hurt so much now. For now, he didn't even have Taichi's kindness. After so many years of not hurting.
God, he wasn't even sure what he was thinking anymore.
"Yamato-kun…" He heard Shizuka whisper.
Shizuka. That was right. Shizuka. He was troubling Shizuka with his emotions. He had never wanted her to see this side of him. This insecure side he had managed to bury away for so long.
Yamato sniffed, then forced himself to inhale. Slowly, he drew away from Shizuka and the warmth of her coat. "Sorry…"
"It's alright…" Shizuka said as he stared into her soft sky blue eyes. "Do you want to talk?"
He didn't want to. He didn't want Shizuka to know how pathetic he was, crying over someone who didn't love him anymore. But he was tired of keeping everything to himself, bottling everything inside his heart. Look what that had done to him.
He nodded hesitantly, and Shizuka said, "Who hurt you, Yamato-kun?"
"Taichi." He wanted to say. "A guy. Not a girl like you think."
"Where should I start?"
"From the beginning?" Shizuka prompted.
He could. But where was that anyway? When had it all started?
The Digiworld of course. But that was too far back. Then he realized Shizuka meant where had his problems started.
Yamato sighed. He rested his chin on his knees, staring out into the far sea, "I'm in love with a guy." He started hesitantly.
"I know." Shizuka said. Her voice turned concerned. "What did he do to you?"
But Yamato was staring at her with disbelieving eyes. "You know?"
"Uhuh." Shizuka's smile was almost mischievous. "I…guessed." She admitted sheepishly.
Yamato stared at her, as that scratchy voice said smugly. "I knew it. It was boy trouble after all."
Yamato shot a glare at the smirking old man, "Just go away already," he grumbled. "Aren't you disturbed?"
The old surfer just shrugged at him, "It's not as if I'm gay."
The answer was so simple Yamato found himself rendered speechless. He wanted to say something back; what about all those Japanese traditions of family and filial piety? What about carrying on the family tradition? Wasn't he going against society with his sexuality?
"I'm bisexual." He managed.
The old man just shrugged again. "Same thing."
Yamato stared, until Shizuka said, "So what happened, Yamato-kun?"
He turned his attention back to her, when she was giving him that comforting smile. "We had an argument." He said. "He-Taichi and I were talking about our relationship. He wanted to keep it under wraps. I didn't mind, but when he said we could pretend to be interested in girls," he sighed, "I just, got angry. I had a girlfriend you see, and I broke up with her because I didn't love her."
"He made me angrier when he said to keep it a secret from his family," Yamato said, looking off into the distance, "Our close friend, Sora, who was my girlfriend and Taichi's childhood friend knew. Taichi's sister, Hikari, figured it out by herself. But Taichi's parents; they didn't know."
"What about your parents?" Shizuka asked softly.
"My father is always busy, I hardly see him," Yamato said brusquely. "He and my mother are divorced. My little brother stays with her."
"Oh…" Shizuka bit her lip, placing an apologetic hand on Yamato's knee. "I'm sorry, Yamato-kun…"
"It's fine." Yamato said. He sighed, "To tell the truth, I'm not sure if my father will accept. He still doesn't know."
"But, when Taichi said that, I felt…hurt," Yamato confessed softly. "I felt as if I were an embarrassment to him, as if he was embarrassed by our relationship."
"That's why I got angry. I felt that Taichi was being an insensitive jerk. That's why I avoided him. I started to come down to the beach to clear my thoughts about him," Yamato murmured, "Meeting you, Shizuka…it made me forget about my own problem for a while."
Shizuka smiled at him, her clear blue eyes shining with relief, "I'm glad to have been able to help, Yamato-kun."
"It's Yamato, remember?" Yamato smiled back at her, feeling his heart lift up a little, "Thank you, Shizuka."
"You're welcome Yamato-kun, ah, no, Yamato," Shizuka smiled shyly at him, "Actually, I should be thanking you…"
"You already did." Yamato reassured her, and she grinned slightly at him.
"I did, didn't I?"
Yamato smiled as Shizuka giggled. He turned his gaze back to the ocean, exhaling, "Do you want me to continue?"
"Of course." Shizuka replied, smiling at him, "I would really like to help you with your problem, Yamato."
"You don't have to help me, Shizuka," he said softly to her. He smiled, shaking his head. "Anyway, during the course of our time together, Taichi tried to contact me. I mostly ignored him, or didn't give him a chance to talk when he called me. I was still…angry."
"Then you called me about your operation. I was really worried then, and I didn't know what to do. Taichi was the last thing on my mind." Yamato sighed, "But, I found a solution, as you know. And after that, well, I got that call from Sora…"
"Which was…yesterday, right?"
"Yeah. She was really worried about Taichi, she was crying," Yamato bit his lip. "So I promised her I would see him today."
"It turned out…that Taichi's been having problems with his family. When I went to see him, he wasn't at all the Taichi I knew…" Yamato clenched his fist, gazing at the shore with somber blue eyes, "We…got into another argument. Hikari, Taichi's little sister, came in and shouted at Taichi. He yelled back at her, even though he's been nothing but protective of her."
"That sounds…terrible." Shizuka whispered.
Yamato nodded. "I'm not sure what happened after that." He confessed quietly. "Next thing I knew, Hikari was turning to me and telling me about Taichi's past. Taichi got furious and told her to shut up. Hikari…she was crying. She shouted back at Taichi, and I guess…it eventually got to the point where Taichi said he didn't care about me anymore."
"Hikari told me he was lying. That…he didn't want to face his true feelings," Yamato felt tears prick in his eyes. "But, he called me Ishida. He's never called me by my family name before. And then, he said he hated me. That he didn't love me anymore."
"Yamato…" he heard Shizuka's sympathetic voice. "It's okay to cry."
Yamato shook his head, "It's my fault," he said. "I've been ignoring Taichi for so long. I didn't even know he was having problems with his family. I guess…I gave him the impression that I hated him," he laughed dryly, blinking furiously, "So that's why he hates me now."
"I don't even know why I was crying…I thought, that I didn't love him anymore."
"You must still love him then," Shizuka said with a soft, melancholic smile. "You're a kind person, Yamato…your love for someone wouldn't fade away that easily."
"Maybe you're right." Yamato murmured, raising his gaze towards her. "But, I've been nothing but selfish, really. I only cared about myself- I didn't care about Taichi at all."
"I'm sure Taichi-san will understand," Shizuka said reassuringly, "He's just going through a tough time."
"I know you're a kind person, Yamato-kun."
"Thanks, Shizuka. But, I don't know…" Yamato bit his lip, as he lowered his chin further into his knees. A tear slipped down his cheek as he wrapped his arms around his huddled form. "I just…feel so lost now. I don't know what to do. Taichi; I don't think he…loves me anymore."
"Boy, you're such a drama queen."
Yamato twitched. "Why the hell is he still here?" He turned and glared at the old surfer, "What did you say?"
The surfer smirked at him, raising his eyebrows. "So what if he doesn't love you anymore?" He jerked his head towards the ocean, "There are plenty of other fish in the sea."
"Besides, according to this pretty girl here, you're a kind person," he shrugged his shoulders as Yamato stared at him in surprise. "If he's treating you so badly maybe he doesn't deserve you."
"Haven't you ever thought about that?"
"But…I love him." Yamato thought, as another voice spoke.
"Hey Musashi, I don't think you understand," the shaved ice store owner said, looking at Yamato. His eyes held experience, and Yamato was reminded of the story about his wife and child. "It's not easy to let go of someone you love."
"You've always been in love with the sea, and it's always been there," he raised an eyebrow at the old surfer, "What if the sea goes away one day? How would you feel?"
Musashi scoffed, "It wouldn't go away."
"But what if it did? What if this beach was closed down one day? You wouldn't be able to see the sea anymore."
"…I'd just go to another beach."
"But it wouldn't be the same."
Musashi was silent then, before he sighed, "Fine." He said. "You win, Hiroshi."
"Boy," Yamato raised a slender eyebrow, "If you love him what are you still doing sitting there? Aren't you a man? Men don't sit around moping about how their love is gone. They go and," he jerked a thumb, smirking, "Get them back."
"It's not as if I can get him back." Yamato mumbled, averting his gaze. He sniffed, blinking back the tears in his eyes. "He doesn't love me anymore…"
Musashi seemed to be rolling his eyes, "You keep on saying that and he'll never love you again."
"Musashi!"
"What? I'm just telling the truth."
Hiroshi glowered at Musashi, who shrugged his shoulders. He exhaled, then turned to Yamato. "Yamato-kun, is it?"
Yamato nodded, and the man whom he had bought shaved ice from in winter smiled at him, "It'll be fine, Yamato-kun. I'm sure he still cares about you." He said. "Like your friend said, he probably still needs time."
Shizuka gave him a genuine smile, then focused her sky blue gaze on Yamato, "That's right Yamato-kun; I mean, Yamato!" She seemed to smile sheepishly at her return of habit, "Like this kind old man said, Taichi-san will forgive you," she said reassuringly, "I'm sure he doesn't really hate you! You'll soon be back together again."
"Really?"
"Uhuh! So…" Shizuka smiled at him, meeting his red-rimmed ocean blue eyes, "Don't cry anymore, okay?"
"Alright…" he felt embarrassed to have broken down in front of Shizuka, but it soon faded away at her kind smile, "Thanks Shizuka…"
"I'm sorry. So…please don't cry anymore, Yamato."
"Yamato?"
"It's nothing, I was just thinking…" Yamato said, shaking his head. He sighed, and stood up, "Then, I guess I'll be heading back. I have school tomorrow." Though he didn't feel like going to school at all.
"Alright," Shizuka smiled at him, tilting her head. She brushed away the brown locks of hair which had been blown by the wind away from her face, "See you, Yamato."
"Yeah. See you tomorrow, Shizuka." He said and she smiled at him.
He began to walk away, before he blinked when he remembered something. Yamato turned, regarding the old surfer and the owner of the shaved ice store with appreciative ocean blue eyes. "Um…thanks." He said with a hesitant smile. "For your advice. I really appreciate it."
Musashi blinked. "Even me?"
"Even you." Yamato gave him a wry smile. He inhaled, then bowed deeply to them, "Thank you, Hiroshi-san, Musashi-san."
"You're welcome, Yamato-kun." Hiroshi told him, smiling. "We were glad to help, weren't we, Musashi?"
"…Whatever." Hiroshi just smiled as Musashi looked away, "Take care, boy. Don't let him break your heart again."
Yamato smiled. Perhaps the old guy wasn't so bad after all. "Yeah."
"Bye Yamato-kun." Shizuka waved as he walked away.
Yamato blinked. He felt as if he was forgetting something. He turned and stared at Shizuka for a while, who was smiling at him, then he remembered.
"Ah, I almost forgot," Shizuka blinked as Yamato advanced towards her. He stopped, slid a hand into his pocket and brought out a ticket. "Here."
"Eh?"
"It's…a ticket for my band's upcoming concert. I thought I'd give it to you before I forget," Yamato flushed slightly. He cleared his throat, then smiled at her. "I'll be singing the song I wrote for you, so…I kind of want you to be there."
"Oh…but isn't this really expensive?" Shizuka asked hesitantly as she received the ticket with careful fingers. "Are you sure I can have it?"
"Of course! You're my friend, aren't you, Shizuka?" Yamato smiled at her, "It's for you."
"Ah, is that so…" Shizuka said. She smiled shyly, "Thank you…Yamato."
"No problem." Yamato smiled back at her, then turned.
"He's a really nice boy," Hiroshi commented with a smile as Yamato walked up the beach. "You don't find teenagers like him often. I wouldn't mind having him as a grandson."
"I guess."
"You're fond of him too, aren't you Musashi?"
Musashi just shrugged. Hiroshi shook his head, and turned to Shizuka, who was staring after Yamato, "You should go back too." He told her kindly. "It's getting late."
Shizuka blinked at him. Then she smiled, "Yeah I should," she said. She bowed, "Um, thank you for helping Yamato-kun, Hiroshi-san."
"No problem," Hiroshi replied, smiling, "He bought shaved ice from me and ate it during winter. He really made me feel touched."
"That does sound like Yamato-kun," Shizuka smiled fondly. She bowed towards Musashi, "Thank you too, Musashi-san."
"…Tch."
"Oh don't mind him, he's always like this," Hiroshi told her, waving his hand in an off-hand gesture. He turned to his friend, gesturing. "Come on, Musashi. We should leave."
He made his way up the beach, Musashi following him, glancing behind.
"Don't stay too late, girl."
"Alright." Shizuka smiled and the old surfer looked back to the front.
Shizuka waited until they were halfway up the beach before she cleared her throat.
"Gabumon, you can come out now."
Red eyes blinked. Gabumon peeked out from behind the fishing boat, and saw Shizuka looking at him. He winced slightly, before making his hesitant way towards her. "You knew I was here?"
"I heard you." Shizuka said, smiling at the digimon. "I haven't been able to see clearly until recently, so I'm sensitive to sounds."
"Oh." Gabumon said. He sighed, "Yamato didn't notice me."
"He was too distressed," Shizuka said softly, bending down so she was at Gabumon's height. "You heard everything, didn't you?"
"Yeah…" Gabumon bit his lip. "I was secretly following Yamato. He was acting weird when he came back yesterday, but he wouldn't tell me what was wrong. I was worried about him."
"When I saw him cry, it almost made me cry too. I wanted so badly to comfort him. It broke my heart." Gabumon sniffed, wiping away a stray tear from his eye. "I wanted to do something to help ease Yamato's pain."
"But then those two people came…" Shizuka looked at him sympathetically, and he continued, "I…haven't seen Yamato cry since way back then…" Gabumon's red eyes softened at the memory. "I didn't know that he and Taichi…"
"Yamato knew Taichi-san since they were young?"
"Uhuh. Back when they were kids," Gabumon nodded. He seemed to contemplate. "Thinking back…Yamato; I guess he liked Taichi then, they were close from the beginning. But I didn't know they got together after Yamato broke up with Sora."
"Oh." Shizuka said. She bit her lip, staring at the ticket to the Teenage Wolves concert in her hand.
"Shizuka?"
Shizuka sighed. "Hey, Gabumon?"
"Yeah?"
"Do you know where Taichi-san lives?"
"Eh?" Gabumon blinked at him. Shizuka looked at him with a searching gaze and he nodded hesitantly. "Yeah…why?"
Shizuka smiled. She clutched the ticket Yamato had given her tightly in her hand, her sky blue eyes filled with something Gabumon hadn't seen in them before; resolution.
"Would you mind taking me there?"
