Disclaimer: I own nothing

Chapter 9: As the bubbles fly with fireflies

Hikari couldn't hold back her tears anymore, and cried as the last part finished. For her, all of his statements... Really a big prove that he was really serious. He comforted and encouraged her, and told that there was still a chance anytime as long as a guy that she liked never went out with a girl that he liked. Yeah, as long as he didn't go out with someone else.

Is there no space for me to come in?

That statement haunted her almost every day.

Summer was going to end, signaling autumn to come very soon. In order to celebrate it, the Chosen Children decided to come to the Fireworks Festival that was usually held in the end of summer. All of Digimon also said that they wanted to spend their time at the Digital World more, and will be back once summer was over.

"Hikari-chan, your pink Yukata (1) really fits you!" Miyako said.

"Thank you, Miyako-san," Hikari said, smiling at her. "your lavender Yukata looks great on you!"

"But it was unique idea to use Yukata based on our crest's colour, except to Miyako-chan," Sora said with her red Yukata.

Before the festival started, girls were decided to gather first at Mimi's house in order to discuss about their Yukata since this afternoon. Mimi suggested that they should use a Yukata based on their crests' color, except for Miyako, of course. "Yeah, that's my awesome idea!" Mimi said with her green Yukata, such as her crest of Sincerity. "Anyway, Sora-san, you look so great!"

"You too, Mimi-chan!" Sora answered.

"Yamato-san would be stressed enough later," Miyako teased.

Sora just blushed, later sighing due to their habits. Hikari couldn't help chuckling and feel sorry to Sora.

"Hikari-chan! Don't laugh! I guess Takeru-kun would be shock enough with your beauty!" Mimi added.

"Yeah, and later, he will say: Hikari-chan, I like you! Please, make me to be your boyfriend!"

Miyako started interlocking all of her fingers as she closed both of her eyes and dreamed like a crazy maniac, that later Mimi joined her and they laughed and got hysterical like crazy maniacs altogether. Sora and Hikari, for sure, had known that both of them looked so great to be sisters. And Hikari knew one new thing: Mimi was more suitable to be Miyako's jogress partner than her.

"Both of you," Hikari said, hiding her blush. "can you just keep silence, please?"

"Yep, until your blush calms down," Miyako said, giggling and smirking like an evil.

Hikari sighed. If Tailmon were here, she would have asked her to give Miyako a punch. Sora, who had noticed about Hikari's discomforting aura with this, quickly changed the topic as fast as she could, "So, all of us were ready, right? Let's go!"

After they used the Geta (2), they started to head to the Firework Festival, where the boys were waiting for them.

"Hey! Right Here!" Daisuke shouted as he waved his hand, welcoming all of them. He used a yellow Yukata and of course, with his goggle on his head. "Nice Yukata, ne, Hikari-chan!"

"Thank you," she answered him, smiling friendly.

"What about me?!" Miyako asked excitingly.

"You... look… err… great! Yeah, great!" Daisuke answered, sounded as if he were doubted with his own answer.

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY SAYING LIKE THAT?!" Miyako shrieked.

"Whoa, calm down Miyako-san!" it was Ken, who's just arrived with his dark-blue Yukata.

Miyako, who heard Ken's voice, quickly turned his head to see Ken, eyes were filling with hopes. "AHH! KEN-KUN! YOU LOOK SO GREAT!"

"T… Thank you… You too… Miyako-san," Ken said, giving her a sweat-drop.

Miyako's eyes sparkled as Ken told her that she looked great with her Yukata. She screamed as loud as she could, and almost faint because she was too happy with this, only if Daisuke didn't slap her back rudely. Even though the rest knew that she was overreacted with this, but they could only chuckle.

"SEE? SORA-SAN, MIMI-SAN, HIKARI-CHAN?! HE SAID THAT I'M GREAT! I'M GREAT~~~"

"Minna!" it was Taichi, together with Yamato, Iori, and Takeru.

Hikari took a glance at them as she felt a bit disappointed with them, especially to Takeru who just used his usual white clothes and short pants like he had always used during summer. A selfish part of her was that she really wanted him to use a Yukata.

"Hey girls!" Taichi shouted. "You look great!"

"Thank you, Taichi-san!" Mimi said.

"Nii-san, you told me that you wanted to see Sora-san with her Yukata, right?" Takeru chuckled.

"Baka! Don't spread…" Yamato said as he stopped, realizing his own word. "… it…"

Yamato and Sora blushed, while the rest were only just laughed with that, and Taichi was the hardest, of course.

"Oi, Takeru, why don't you use Yukata?" Daisuke asked him after he stopped his laughter.

"I don't want to use it~" was Takeru's answer. He rolled his eyes, folding both of his arms to his head.

"Takeru-san just wants to use Yukata if he has a girlfriend." Iori answered him casually.

"Hey!"

"So, it is still ten years left, eh?" Daisuke asked, teasing him.

Takeru just sweat-dropped with his 'best' friend's tease. He wasn't angry, fortunately, and knew that Daisuke was just joking. "Daisuke-kun, your joke is not funny!"

"Eh? It is so funny. Right, minna?" Daisuke asked.

But, neither of them agreed with him. Instead, they gave him a glare. Hikari was the one who opened her mouth first, giving a comment that was the beginning of the night's amusement things to happen. "Daisuke-kun! Your joke is out of limit! I hate it!"

"AH! I'M SORRY, HIKARI-CHAN! I'M SORRY!" he begged.

Hikari just gave him a chuckle, so were the others who seemed to get amused with Daisuke's childish behavior. Soon, the could hear a familiar voice. It was none other than Koushiro and Jyou's.

"I'm sorry for being late!"

"We've just arrived," Taichi said. "so, where should we go now?"

"We want to see a firework later at 21:00, right?" Yamato suggested. "Maybe we could split until –"

"Yeah, yeah, just go to your own date." Taichi said, cutting out Yamato's statement as he expelled both Sora and Yamato. "Sho sho!"

"Taichi!" both Sora and Yamato yelled and blushed. But pretty soon, Yamato grabbed Sora's hand and started to go with her.

"Have a nice date, lovebirds!" Taichi yelled as he waved goodbye to them. "Maybe we can go together. Let's go, Koushiro, Jyou," he ordered, as if he were a commander and Koushiro and Jyou were his assistant.

"Ah! Matte, Taichi-san!" Mimi said, joining them and they disappeared by the crowded people.

"So, just the six of us left," Takeru-kun said. "Where do you think we should go now?"

"Maybe we could just hang out together?" Hikari suggested.

"I'll follow Hikari-chan's idea," Daisuke said.

The six of them started to walk together, and enjoyed the festival. There were a lot of mini games, foods like the festival was usually held on, and everyone enjoyed it.

"Ken-kun!" Miyako said, pointing her finger to the shooter game. "Do you want to play this?"

"Well… If you want it…" Ken said.

"You can leave us if you want," Miyako said, as if giving everyone a signal to leave them alone.

They shrugged, knowing that Miyako was trying to get Ken's attention. One thing for sure, Hikari must prepare for Miyako's exaggerated story and imaginations about 'Ken-kun this, Ken-kun that' tomorrow.

"So, just left the four of us…" Hikari said.

"Where do you think we should go?" Iori asked.

"Maybe that way? I'm curious with that crowd," Daisuke said, pointing to the crowd.

They followed Daisuke's suggestion, later noticing that it was a bad idea. It was just a crowded of people who wanted to see fireworks, that would start later. The four of them separated due to those many people. Hikari on the other hand, started to get panicked with this. Her worried only increased even more as she felt that someone grabbed her arm and urged her to follow. She got panicked, thinking that someone wanted to kidnap her. But, she felt relieved once she noticed that the person only wanted to help her to come out from the crowd.

"Takeru-kun?" Hikari asked.

"I thought I won't find one of you and get swallow by the crowd! Pheew!" he said as he pointed the crowded people. "I think Daisuke-kun's idea was really bad!"

"Yeah, and thanks with that. Now we are officially separated with them." she said.

"Yeah…" he said, still looking at the crowd. "I wonder if they would make it,"

But truth to be told, she can feel her excitement about this. If they didn't follow Daisuke's suggestion, they wouldn't be alone like this. So, she didn't know if she should feel sorry or not.

"So, where should we go?" he asked.

"I don't know. Maybe that way?" she said, pointing the way.

"Hmm... that way is not as crowded as before. I think we could go there," he said, starting to walk away before he suddenly stopped his walk. "And Hikari-chan, might I… ask you a favor?"

"Sure, what is it?" she asked him

But, he hid his face as he gave her his order. "Could you… hold my hand..?"

Once heard it, she felt that her cheeks started blushing. "I mean," Takeru quickly explained. "I mean, I'm afraid if we will get separate! Is that okay?"

Hikari kept blushing with that. Even though he was just afraid that they would get separated again, but honestly, this was what she had been looking for. As she gave him a nod, his hand moved closer and started to hold her hand. She could feel that his hand held hers tightly, knowing that he was afraid if they could just separate again. They started to walk with their hands stayed together. He walked slowly, knowing that Hikari was too difficult to walk fast due to her Yukata and Geta. And after this long, she never knew that his hand was bigger than hers. His big hand, really covered her tiny one.

No doubt that heart started to thump faster, and she felt it when she put her hand around her chest and, it beat really fast. Even though they had ever held their hands to each other at Mimi's welcome party*, but this time was different. Maybe because at that time, she hadn't realized her feeling yet, and assumed him as her best friend. They kept silent during their walk and meanwhile, she secretly thought about him a lot in her mind, and ended up her being blush.

"Hikari-chan. Do you want a toffee apple? (3) You love it, eh?" he asked. "Hikari-chan?"

"E... Eh..? Wha... What..?" Hikari blinked quickly.

"I asked you if you want a toffee apple." he repeated. "Do you want it?

"I want it! That is my favorite!"

Hikari's eyes sparkled as she heard 'toffee apple'. It was one of her favorite snack since she was a little kid, that she would only find out during the summer festival. They bought two toffee apples and licked it slowly, hands still locked. Hikari just looked at the blond boy shyly, but surely.

"Ah!" his voice woke her up. "There's a soap bubble seller!"

He looked very excited like a little kid, while the brunette could just chuckle with his cute behavior, knowing that was one of his favorite childhood game. "Do you... want to play it..?" he asked her, wondering and using his cute puppy eyes.

"Haha! This one is your favorite, right? It has been long time since I played this. Let's buy and play it!" she told him and received a nod and smile like a cute little kid. she added. "But, I need to finish my toffee apple! My hands are full!"

"Really? The road seems not as crowded as before, so I could release your hand if you –"

"Don't!" she interjected, only noticing her fault once she received a confusing look from him and quickly made a good reason. "I mean, I'm afraid if we could be separate,"

"Well, if that's what you really want," he said.

Soon, they finished their toffee apples and buy the soap bubbles, and she noticed his excitement on his face, that would make everyone laugh if they saw it.

"Where should we blow this?"

"Maybe we could find a quieter place?" he suggested and she agreed.

"Maybe this is a good place," he said, as he finally let off his hand and sat on the green grass. "Sit here,"

Hikari nodded and sat beside him. Blushing, she glanced at her hand. It was red like her face, and felt so hot because he was the one who held it. Thank goodness he had never noticed it because he was too busy to open the soap bubble, and blew it. As the bubble flied, he giggled cutely like a little kid who had just got a toy or candy from someone. For Hikari, this was a cute moment of him, and she couldn't do anything, except giggling with his cute behavior.

"Is something wrong?" he asked me, still giggling.

"No, you look so…" she said. "never mind."

She didn't want to hear his reaction if she told him that he looked cute while blowing the bubbles. And so, she opened her soap bubble, and started to blow it just like he did. This really reminded her with her childhood when she blew a soap bubble during summer breaks with Taichi. As she saw the bubble flied, she noticed a light surrounded the sky, and she knew it wasn't a light, or a firework that hadn't been started yet.

"Fireflies!" she said.

"Ah, you are right!" Takeru said. "I haven't seen fireflies during this summer. I could only hear the insects,"

"So pretty…" Hikari smiled.

She put her soap bubble and took her camera that she brought, and started to take a photo of it. She felt heartwarming because the fireflies were so beautiful, and it also reminded her when she went to the summer festival with her family several years ago. As she saw the fireflies, she noticed that he was enjoying it altogether, with a little blush on his cheek, and a smile firmed on his lips. For her, he looked so cute, and he really looked like a little kid in this moment. The light that came from fireflies really surrounded him beautifully, and he smiled warmly. She can do nothing but smiling with his cute habit, realizing that her cheek started to get redder. Subconsciously, she took her camera and motioned it.

CLICK!

He realized that Hikari took a photo of him, and stopped blowing for a moment and saw him with such a shock on his face. He looked at her, confusingly. "Hey!"

"I'm sorry! I took it without realizing it! You know that… this is my bad habit, eh?" she asked.

"Yeah, I know," he shrugged. "It's okay,"

"Anyway, Hikari-chan," Takeru added. "your Yukata looks pretty good. I forgot to tell you this stuff,"

Her face lightened. "Thank you."

For her, if he also used Yukata, she would have told him that he looked so great with it, no matter what color that blended on his Yukata, or how cheap his Yukata was, because she knew that he would look great on every Yukata that existed. The fact was he didn't use it. As it, he continued to see the light from the fireflies.

"Ne, Takeru-kun," she said.

"Eh?"

"Why didn't you use Yukata?" she asked him.

"Well, Iori-kun told you before, eh?" he said. "I want to use Yukata… with... umm... my girlfriend… someday…"

"With –"

She tried to ask, but it was cut by his look at her and a small smile that firmed on his lip so that she closed her mouth and nodded; he didn't want to discuss about it. She, for sure, knew that one day, he would have a girlfriend, maybe his dream girl, the girl that he really liked, the girl that he really desired, the girl that he really wanted to protect, and the luckiest, of course. Once the conversation was over, a silent wrapped them together along with that yellow fireflies, as if neither of them dared to open a conversation, not until she decided to break it.

"Ne, Takeru-kun,"

"Hm?"

"Would you promise me… something?" she asked, biting her lip.

"Sure, what is it?" he asked.

"If one day… one day you get a girl that you like, or maybe… you have a romantic relationship with someone, would you promise me… promise me that… that you won't forget me..? We can still be a best friend, right?"

She bit her lips. Though she was never doubted that he would ever forget her once he found out his happiness, but it was always haunted her once it happened. She can tell that he was surprised with her question, that later he smiled and brushed Hikari's hair aside. "Of course, Hikari-chan. You are my best friend that I will never ever forget,"

She felt her cheeks got rosier, and felt relieved so that she nodded, as she leaned into his touch. "I promise that you will be the first person who would know about my relationship,"

"But…" he added, curiously. "Will you also promise me not to forget me… if you have a kind of romantic relationship… with someone?"

Of course, she was also surprised that... he will ask the same question. She nodded shyly, giving him a shy smile, answering his question. "Of course, Takeru-kun…"

She touched his big hand that brushed her hair, though she never even knew that… she would ever be his girlfriend someday. After the conversation, Hikari continued to blow her soap bubble. The bubble flied as she tried to let her sadness to fly away and joined together with the fireflies. She felt sad, really sad because she was a coward, and a hopeless romantic soul. But she tried to hide it, and hoped that he won't notice it so that everything would be okay.

But, even though she let go her sadness to fly away without wings... she won't let her feelings… to go and fly together with it… For her, it was just... too precious to let it go...

"Hey, do you want to go back to the others? I guess they have been waiting for us…" he asked.

She nodded as he offered his hand once more, and she held it once more and those fuzzy feelings came once more. The warmth... still felt the same like before.

As they arrived, he quickly pulled out his hand to avoid the teases from the others, even though she was pretty sure that they will tease them because they walked alone together. And like he had expected, the rest had waited for their arrival and like she had expected, the teases were happened. It started from Taichi and Miyako, that later another companion joined. It didn't last long because the fireworks started to spread beautifully with some beautiful color filled it in the dark sky, so that they faced the sky and saw the beautiful firework. As the firework spread, she glanced at Takeru, who was smiling warmly with that, and she could notice a satisfied smile. She couldn't do anything, but just gave him a small smile.

Because everything about him and himself... was her precious treasure…

1. Yukata is a Japanese garment, a casual summer kimono usually made of cotton or synthetic fabric, and unlined. Yukata are worn by both men and women.

2. Geta is a form of traditional Japanese footwear that resemble both clogs and flip-flops. They are a kind of sandal with an elevated wooden base held onto the foot with a fabric thong to keep the foot well above the ground.

3. Toffee Apple is apple covered in a hard toffee or sugar candy coating, with a stick inserted as a handle. Mostly I read in manga, toffee apple is one of snack that sold during Firework Festival.

Thanks to google!

*: they were holding hands and I took a reference from there.