EPISODE 36: Mending a Broken Bond
If hearing Kosuke say cruel and untrue things about her wasn't bad enough, Minako actually called Yun a retard and screamed at her face just because Yun was trying to help her! Yun cried for almost the entire night. Her heart was broken before, but now the pieces and fragments have just been cruelly stomped on. Of course, Yun could understand why Minako did what she did. She just lost Salamon, and it doesn't look like she believes that she will come back. Digimon are different from humans. Digimon don't really die. Their data just gets re-configured and they turn into DigiEggs and begin their lives anew. Who's to say that Salamon won't come back and not be the happy, cheerful, adventurous, and curious little wide eyed, rosy cheeked puppy she always is? But Yun was very hurt by what Minako said. She could tell that that wasn't why Minako texted her and asked her to meet at the park before LadyDevimon came and ruined the whole arrangement. But exactly why did Minako call her there? Yun didn't know for sure. But for as long as she lived, Yun knew that Minako NEVER let her anger get the best of her nor did she ever scream in anyone's face or call them names, especially not her closest friend! But something else lingered in Yun's mind. It seems there's more to Minako's breakdown than just Salamon being killed by LadyDevimon. Something Minako said bothered her and kept replaying in her mind.
"DON'T TELL ME THINGS THAT AREN'T TRUE, YOU RETARD! YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT IT'S LIKE TO HAVE KILLED YOUR OWN BROTHER!"
Yun knew for a fact that Kiyoshi had died. It was all over the news. She knew it was an accident. But exactly what did Minako have to do with it? Why did she say that she killed him? If anything, Minako's the type of person to want to give lives to people, not take them, so why would she even say something like that? Could there be more to it than meets the eye? Yun didn't want to pry, but she at least wanted to understand Minako's situation a little better. Maybe Minako was traumatized by Kiyoshi's death? Yun could see signs of this, as Minako used to be cheerful and outgoing, but over the break, she became more withdrawn, quiet, and lonesome. She thought she was seeing changes thanks to Salamon's presence. But it seems that now that Salamon's temporarily gone (or permanently, as Minako thinks), Minako's regressed or reliving the tragic day. But still, her situation doesn't justify what she just did to Yun, and Yun's feelings were still brutally hurt because of it. Lopmon, Cutemon, Terriermon, and Lucero tried their best to console her and mollify her, hating the fact that Yun is so sad and so heartbroken. But Yun closed herself off from everyone that night. She wouldn't even let any of them into her heart, not even her parents. Yun didn't want to tell them about what happened, but they were ungodly intractable and Yun had no choice but to tell them, about both Minako and Kosuke's sudden changes in character. She assumed that they would get mad, cause a big scene, and forbid her from ever befriending them, but strangely enough, they didn't. They didn't even say anything. They just sat with the rabbits and Lucero and tried to console her.
Thursday came, along with another grueling school day for not just Yun, but for everyone. Strangely enough, Minako didn't show up. Neither did Kosuke. She probably assumed Minako was still upset about what happened, but she didn't know what would make Kosuke absent from school. Was he sick? Is his mother keeping him home for reasons Yun couldn't fathom? Yun couldn't help but wonder. She silently promised herself that she would go visit Minako's house and pay her a visit. She brought with her some freshly baked chocolate chip cookies that Hisako had baked the night before for some friends. Hisako made an exception and gave Yun some before she left for school, only Yun wasn't going to use them for herself. Hisako could tell that Yun wanted to give them to Minako despite what happened and, although she did have some feelings of anger swimming around in her heart like a hungry shark, didn't protest or disapprove. But Yun is at school right now and both Minako and Kosuke aren't here.
"Minako-san and Kosuke-san are both absent today. I wonder why?" Lucero said.
"Yeah. Me too. I'll go to her house and pay her a visit after school," Yun muttered as she read more of Wind Up Tina.
"I'll bet she's still upset about what happened," Rena said.
"I can't believe LadyDevimon would be so cruel as to maim Gatomon like that!" Otoya exclaimed.
"She IS a devil Digimon, y'know? I'm not really surprised that she's so evil. But you have a point," Yun told her. Yun was going to quietly read more of her manga until some unwanted gossip caught her ear.
"Omori's not here today, is she? It's not like her," Iniki said, pointing out that Minako's chair is empty.
"Who cares about that loser egghead. She's better off under her little rock anyway. Or maybe..." Seiko said.
"Maybe? Maybe what?" Tomoka asked.
"Maybe she's planning to off herself," Seiko said in a low whisper maliciously. What she didn't know was that Yun heard it, and Yun was nothing short of appalled.
"What do you mean?" Iniki asked.
"I heard this on the news. Two months ago her little brother died, and then she tried to throw herself in a river! It's hilarious how low she's sunk!" Seiko laughed upon reaching that last sentence.
"Is she suicidal?" Tomoka asked.
"Of course she is! Why else would she be absent? Maybe she's planning on-" Seiko wanted to finish that sentence with a crude and caustic suggestion, but she didn't get to do so.
Why? Because Yun kicked her desk. Hard. So hard, in fact, that it almost fell over! Tomoka and Iniki grabbed it before it could fall, but Yun looked down at Seiko with nothing but anger and rancor in her green eyes.
"What do you want, retard?" Seiko yelped.
"Don't EVER say stuff like that about people! Especially if you don't know anything about them! Minako? Trying to kill herself? How could you be so heartless as to even THINK something like that?" Yun yelled angrily. Seiko stood up from her seat.
"But it's true! I'm not making this up!"
"Yes you are! Admit it, Shimizu!"
"You don't get, Wakamiya! Your egghead friend is suicidal! Didn't you see it on the news? She tried to kill herself after her brother died! Pretty pathetic, right?"
"You're wrong! You need to mind your own business!"
"Alright, what's going on here?" Mrs. Kamogawa exclaimed as she stepped in between the two girls. Yun was the first to speak.
"Shimizu keeps spouting crude nonsense about Minako!" Yun yelled as she pointed right to Seiko.
"It's not nonsense! It's true!" Seiko yelled.
"Shimizu, it's not nice to discuss horrible things like suicide in this school. You should learn to keep your thoughts and assumptions to yourself. We don't discuss people's personal lives in such a manner," Mrs. Kamogawa told her sternly.
"But Kamogawa-sensei!"
"Not another word, missy. Go back to your seat and prepare for your next class," Mrs. Kamogawa told her and left. Seiko, unhappy that she took Yun's side and not hers, sat back at her desk, making the fight come to a cessation.
But despite this, Yun couldn't get what Seiko said out of her head. She tried to put it behind her during class, but it just kept lingering in her mind like a virus eating away at a computer's data. Yun couldn't wait for school to end so she could visit Minako and confirm for herself that what Seiko said is nothing more than attention-craving nonsense. She wanted to believe that that was all it was. Finally, the final bell rang and school ended. Yun and Lucero had Hisako take them to Minako's house instead of their own house. Hisako dropped them off, and Yun knocked on the door. Minagi answered it.
"Oh! Why, hello Yun-chan and...um, who are you?" Minagi greeted Yun kindly, but had never met Lucero before so she got confused.
"This is Lucero, my friend," Yun said.
"Hello," Lucero said.
"Come on inside," Minagi said as she invited them inside. Minagi made Lucero a glass of orange juice and Yun had some water. Minagi also brought out some snacks for them. Yun didn't touch them.
"So...how's Minako doing? I noticed she didn't come to school today," Yun said.
"Yes. That's true. She insisted on staying home," Minagi said. Yun looked a little dejected. Her one suspicion was confirmed. But she still needed to confirm that other one. But how could she do it without sounding like she's prying? She didn't want to invade her friend's private life, but she wanted to confirm that what Seiko said is nothing but nonsense. She had to try...and she took the plunge.
"Ummm...sorry if this sounds weird and inappropriate to mention, but earlier today, in homeroom, Shimizu and her friends were saying mean things about Minako. They kept saying that she tried to...umm...kill herself once. I don't know what made her think something like that, but it was pretty awful. Of course, Kamogawa-sensei and I yelled at her about it, but you know how persistent she is when it comes to thinking weird and untrue things about people she hates. I don't think it's true at all. I mean, Minako? Killing herself? That's stupid! She wants to give lives to people, not take them, let alone her own! It was pretty stupid of Shimizu to say something so horrible as that...right?" Yun explained.
Right when she said it, Minagi stopped where she was and froze. Yun saw this and immediately regretted mentioning it.
"Umm...I'm sorry! I wasn't trying to sound mean or rude or anything! I'm just saying what I heard in school! I don't-" Yun tried to convince Minagi that she wasn't trying to pry or make herself sound like she knows anything about it and is trying to rub it in her face, but Yun has a reputation for having everything she says heard the wrong way and misinterpreted the wrong way. Thankfully, Minagi didn't get mad or anything.
"It's okay. I know you don't mean any harm. You're a good girl, and I believe that. But..." Minagi sighed and sat in the living room. Yun sat down next to her. Minagi slipped her hand in Yun's and looked at her with a straight look.
"Normally, I never discuss this with people outside the family, but since you've been such a great friend to her, I might as well tell you since it sounds like you don't know. I wish what Shimizu said really was nonsense, but...it isn't. It's true. After Kiyoshi died, Minako did try to...take her life," Minagi explained in a low and pained whisper.
Yun and Lucero were both frozen in place. Minako actually DID try to take her life? Seiko was right all along! But why, when Minako's dream is to give people a new start in life and find world peace?
"Why? Why would she...want to do that?" Yun croaked sadly. Minagi's head drooped downward.
"She blamed herself for Kiyoshi's death. She kept claiming that it's her fault that Kiyoshi died. They got into a fight before we went on the picnic, and Minako was stubborn about it and wouldn't let it go. After he died, she planned to throw herself in that river. Thankfully, I managed to find her and stop her before she could jump, but...it was traumatizing for all of us," Minagi explained.
"I'm sorry. I didn't know," Yun muttered.
"It's quite alright. Also...Minako actually gave up on the idea...because of you," Minagi told her.
Yun looked up at Minagi. "What? Because of me?"
Minagi smiled a bit. "Yes. I remember overhearing her talking to herself once, saying that if she really did take her own life, she'd be leaving you behind, and that you'd probably blame yourself for what happened. Yun, I'm sorry for everything that's happened between you, Minako, and Kosuke, but she really does love you. You've been such a great influence on her these past years, and I'm really grateful."
Yun suddenly stood up. "Me? Be a good influence on people? No way! That's not true at all! I'm stupid, annoying, a freak, a parasite, a retard, and I constantly cause trouble to people around me! People say so! Nenji's mom says all of that to my face and it's true! Everyone else agrees! I'm a terrible person and a worse friend!"
"That's not true, Yun-chan!" Minagi exclaimed. "You're a wonderful person! You shouldn't think that the mean things others say to you are true. They're not. They just don't see it."
"But...I'm not-" Yun tried to contradict her, but Lucero put a hand on her mouth.
"Don't say it," Lucero told her. Yun, seeing that it was pointless to contradict Minagi, looked at the bag in her hand.
"I'll take these to Minako," Yun said as she walked away from the living room to find Minako's room.
She did, and she saw that the door was open. She walked inside and saw Minako lying face down on her bed, with her purple digivice and yellow DigiEgg-Salamon's DigiEgg-still in the same place Yun put them. It broke Yun's heart to see Minako so dejected, so abject, and so crushed by despair. She gently put the bag of cookies next to her.
"Mom made those. I know how much you love chocolate chip. I...I'm sorry, Minako...for being such a terrible person and an even worse friend. Sorry for being such an annoying pest, not that I mean to be. But Salamon isn't really dead. She's inside that egg. But you don't believe me, do you? You're right. I am a retard, and a big one. I'm sorry for being so. Bye," Yun whispered sadly, then left. She and Lucero left the house and went back home.
What Yun didn't know was that Minako was stuck inside a dream...well, going down memory lane, of course.
(flashback)
It was about five months after Minako's eighth birthday. Minako had noticed that Minagi had been getting sick a lot lately, often throwing up for having strange cravings for strange foods, like pickles and raspberries. Later, she was told the big news.
"Huh? You're pregnant? What's that mean?" Minako asked.
"It means Minagi here's going to have a baby soon. You're going to be an older sister, Minako!" Tatsuha told her with a perfectly radiant smile. Suddenly, Minako herself was smiling hugely.
"I am? Oh! Oh! Is it gonna be a boy or a girl?" Minako asked excitedly.
"We don't know yet. I'm currently in my second month. My doctor says I'll be due in December," Minagi told her.
"Whaaat? December? I don't wanna wait that long! That's too far away!" Minako complained.
"Well, babies inside mommy's belly need to take their time and grow. If they're out too early, bad things might happen," Minagi told her.
"Oh! Think of it this way! You'll have a little brother or sister as a nice little Christmas present! How's that?" Tatsuha said.
"That'd be nice! Okay, I'll wait. But I wanna be the one who names it!" Minako exclaimed.
Over the next few months, Minako was vigorously and excitedly waiting for her new brother and sister. She was so excited, in fact, that she went on the computer and looked for suitable names on the internet. The task seemed long and perilous, but Minako found a boy name that she became fond of: Kiyoshi. The name is written with the characters for pure and uncorrupted, which is exactly how babies are like. She wanted to know if her little brother or sister would become a good, pure, kind person, so she decided that if the baby is a boy, it would be Kiyoshi. If it was a girl, it would be Kiyoko. But she had a pretty decent list of girl's names she liked: Masuyo, Naoko, Hiromi, Kasane, and Hotaru, the latter being the name of Minako's second favorite Sailor Moon character (Minako somehow coincidentally has her number one favorite character's namesake, first name and middle name and all).
But then Minagi's due date came, and oddly enough...her water didn't break. In fact, it didn't break until about a month and a half after her due date, right past Minako's ninth birthday! Everyone found this odd. But finally, her water broke and she went into labor. She was taken to the hospital. Minako and Tatsuha went with her, but they had to sit in the waiting room. Almost three hours passed, and the wait was agonizing (and boring, according to nine year old Minako). Finally, a smiling doctor came out with big news, but he told it to Minako first.
"Congratulations, little missy. You have a new baby brother. You're an older sister now," The doctor told her kindly.
Tatsuha and Minako rejoiced in a fluffy of joyful screams and cheers. Later, they got to see Minagi and the new baby boy. Minako's heart was immediately stolen by the big, plump baby and his chubby cheeks, his head full of light brown curls dangling all over the place, his small, deep green eyes, his pudgy but tiny hands and feet, and his curling fingers and toes. Immediately, Minako had the boy's name in mind: Kiyoshi. Minagi wanted to name him Tatsuya, but Tatsuha said that sounded too much like him, so they put it in as his middle name, and thus, Omori Kiyoshi Tatsuya was born.
Sadly, Kiyoshi only got to live for two years, and Minako lost all of her joy and love because of it...that is, until a tiny, cream colored, rosy cheeked, violet eyed talking puppy came into her life.
(end flashback one, begin flashback two)
This takes place after the battle with Goblimon. Minako and Salamon walked into the back yard where nobody could see them. Minako was quite shaken by what had happened, and she didn't want to believe that a TV show could actually be real! But she touched the little creature, she talked to it, fed it, took care of it, and in return, it protected her from danger. Not only that, the little animal could actually talk! Once they got into the back yard, Minako turned around to look at the peppy little puppy.
"Wan! That sure was close! But I'm glad you're safe, Minako!" Salamon exclaimed with a cute smile.
Minako looked at her strangely, which Salamon found odd.
"What's wrong? Do you not like me?" Salamon asked, starting to look sad.
"You're...you're..." Minako stammered. Finally, she scooped Salamon into her arms and literally squeezed her.
"SO CUUUUTE!" Minako squealed as she hugged her new little puppy friend. Salamon didn't mind the hug and rubbed her face against Minako's. Soon, Minako put Salamon down.
"I never knew you Digimon actually exist. I thought it was just a silly cartoon," Minako said.
"You did? So...we're not real?" Salamon asked.
"Well, it seems now you are...and I take it you're my...um, partner?" Minako said.
"Yep! I'm Salamon! I hope we can be friends, Minako! Wan!" Salamon yelped happily, which made Minako smile.
"If you want, you can call me Mina-chan. My friend Yun calls me that," Minako told her.
"Mina-chan? Okay! Hello, Mina-chan! Wan!" Salamon barked sweetly again.
"Y'know, I've always wanted a dog. I guess my wish came true, only you're a Digimon. But that's okay. But I may have to keep you a secret for a while," Minako told her.
"You do? Why?" Salamon asked innocently.
"Well, in this world, people don't believe Digimon are real, so if they see a little puppy talking, they might cause an uproar and get rid of you. I don't want that happening. Of course, not everyone might do that, but you never know," Minako told her.
"But can we still be friends?"
"Of course. I never said we couldn't."
"Whee! I can't wait to be friends with you! Wan!"
Thus blossomed the beginning of a brand new friendship.
But now even Salamon is gone.
(end flashback two)
Minako finally woke up from her very long sleep. She sat up and found her digivice and the DigiEgg next to her. She then remembered what Salamon told her. Digimon aren't like humans. They don't really die. They just get re-configured, turn into DigiEggs, and begin their lives anew. Minako knew this, yet she remembered going into a breakdown after she saw Gatomon get hit by LadyDevimon's Fallen Angel's Spear...and the horrible things she said to Yun. Remembering that she called Yun a retard, Minako shed a few tears.
"I'm so horrible! Not only do I agree with what Kosuke said about Yun, I actually let my anger and sadness get the best of me and call her a retard! She was only...trying to help! How could I be so insensitive and heartless?" Minako cried as she buried herself in her bed again. "Kiyoshi and Salamon must both be disappointed in me. I'm so sorry, Yun!...Kiyoshi...Salamon...I'm so sorry! I never should've done those things! I've been trying to apologize to Yun all week, and yet I screw the whole thing up! Now...I don't think she'll ever forgive me. Will I ever be at peace with myself?"
Minako remembered the friendship she shared with Yun, and all the memories they spent together. They were happy ones, and Minako always made sure to keep Yun out of trouble and speak for her when she couldn't put her own words together. Minako then remembered what Minagi told her. If she really took her life, Yun would be alone. Yun would most likely blame herself for Minako's potential death and possibly do what she tried to do. Minako didn't want that happening to such a sweet person. Then, she realized it right there: Yun's the sole reason why Minako didn't throw her life away that day! She wanted to avenge Kiyoshi's death by sacrificing herself, but if she did that, then Yun would most likely do what she tried to do, and she didn't want that. She believed that Yun deserves a live better than anyone. Not only that, she found a new friend in Salamon, who actually re-taught her what it means to really live, only Minako didn't realize it then. Salamon was always happy and cheerful about something, even over the littlest things. Minako was like that too. What good is there in dying when you might leave the people you love behind and maybe cause more death? Minako didn't want that. She sat up on her bed and looked up at the ceiling.
"Kiyoshi...Salamon...I'm so sorry. For everything. For causing you all to worry. I...I really do want to live...and peacefully, too. I want to do the things I want to do and I want to apologize to Yun and everyone else for the trouble I caused. I thought that by ending my existence, everyone else would be happy...but no. That's not true. Death only brings sadness, no matter the intent. You two may be gone forever, but I promise I won't disappoint you anymore. I'll apologize to Yun first thing tomorrow after school! I won't let anything stop me from doing so! But...I wonder if I can really do it? What if she doesn't forgive me?" Minako said to herself. But then she began to doubt whether Yun would forgive her or not.
She found her answer, but it wasn't anything she ever expected.
"You can do it, Mina-chan!"
It was Salamon's voice. It echoed in her ears. She stood up and looked around.
"Salamon? Is that you?" Minako asked.
Suddenly, a purple light glowed in front of her. Minako looked down to see her D-Heart of Peace glowing in a soft, warm violet purple light. Not only that, the DigiEgg on her bed is glowing in and out. Minako looked at the DigiEgg and ruminated.
"Salamon...? Are you...there?" Minako asked in a whisper.
"I know you can do it, Mina-chan! I believe in you! You'll definitely be at peace with yourself! Don't give up!"
Minako walked closer to the glowing egg. She remembered that this was Salamon's DigiEgg, the one she found in the garden two weeks ago. She never thought she would actually see it again. But maybe, just maybe, Salamon really is alive? Minako couldn't let go of this possibility, even though she knew that death is eternal and inevitable no matter what. She krept closer and closer to the egg, and finally...
"Agh!"
It shone brighter than ever before, so much so that Minako had to closer her eyes and put her hands over her face! The room was lit up for one full minute. Soon, the light dissipated, and Minako found it safe to open her eyes and remove her hand and arms from her face. Little did she know that this time, she wasn't going to regret seeing what she saw, and what she saw made her remember everything. The egg shell completely disappeared! Her D-Heart stopped glowing as well.
Sitting on Minako's bed is a tiny, round, white, chilly bear head with two little round protrusions on both sides of it serving as ears. Her eyes are black and beady, but full of life and curiosity. Under it's eyes are two rosy pink blush spheres serving as it's cheeks. Minako remembered: this is Salamon's baby form! This is the creature that came out of the egg in the garden two weeks ago...when they first met.
The little Digimon looked up at Minako with her black eyes full of life and a cute smile on her face.
"Hi, Mina-chan. I'm back," The little creature said in a cute voice like Salamon's, only a tad higher pitched.
"Who...are you?" Minako asked.
"I'm YukimiBotamon...the baby form of Salamon," The little white bear head, YukimiBotamon, told her in a cute whisper.
Earlier, Minako felt as though her heart were a chunk of ice. Now, with the sight of Salamon-or YukimiBotamon in this case-looking up at her with her eternally curious and happy eyes, all of a sudden, everything felt warm, melted, and soft, even though the air around YukimiBotamon is chilly. But then again, YukimiBotamon IS a snow themed Digimon after all, so of course she'd feel a little cold. Minako thought that the road ahead of her would never have her footprints on it. Now she's walking on it with gusto. She could feel the warm tears slither down her cheeks. But she smiled. She gently and slowly scooped YukimiBotamon into her hands and lifted her up. YukimiBotamon fit snugly and perfectly into both of her hands, despite being a little smaller than them.
"YukimiBotamon...I'm so sorry. For everything," Minako said, her voice cracking under her sadness.
"It's okay. I forgive you. Are you going to apologize to Yun?" YukimiBotamon told her kindly.
"Yes. I am, and I will for sure. But I don't know if she'll forgive me," Minako replied.
"I think she will. I know you can do it, Mina-chan! You're my friend!" YukimiBotamon told her, she herself beginning to tear up. Minako then embraced her tiny baby Digimon and held onto her for a long, long time. YukimiBotamon didn't mind Minako's embrace.
After that, the two spent literally all of their time together for the entire day and night. Soon, they got tired and fell asleep. Friday came, and Yun didn't expect to see Minako today. But much to her surprise, Minako came!
"Mina-chan! You're here!" Yun exclaimed as she approached her. "Umm...are you okay?"
"Yes, I am. Thanks for worrying about me. I ate those cookies you got me. They were delicious," Minako told her with a smile. Yun and the other kids (except for Kosuke and Melody, who are ignoring each other and have been since their big fight) felt relieved to see her back in school. Unfortunately, there is one person who isn't so happy to see her.
"You're here, Omori? Hm. I thought you went and offed yourself," Seiko said. Minako didn't fly into a rage or start crying like before. Instead, she looked at Seiko with a straight look.
"Me? Off myself? I wouldn't do that. What would I gain from doing something like that? Can you tell me?" Minako asked.
"Uh...I...I don't...know..."
"Hm. I thought so. Oh, your soda's spilling on your skirt."
Seiko looked down and saw that the bottle of soda she's supposed to be drinking is spilling on her shirt because she didn't move from her positon. Now there's a big mark on her skirt.
"AAAAHH! Oh no!" Seiko yelped as she put her bottle of soda down on her desk and looked down at her skirt, which is now covered in soda.
Nenji and his flunkies noticed it and laughed.
"Hey look! Shimizu peed herself!" Nenji exclaimed maliciously, and his flunkies laughed loudly in reaction. Seiko's face turned red like a beet and she became incensed.
"No I did not, you fat slob!" Seiko yelled back.
Mrs. Kamogawa gave them both detention. Minako put her bag on her desk...and YukimiBotamon is inside, peeping out from within it! Minako actually brought YukimiBotamon with her to school!
"Are they the mean kids you told me about? Nenji and Seiko?" YukimiBotamon asked in a whisper.
"Yes, sadly," Minako said.
The rest of the school day went smoothly, with YukimiBotamon silently sitting in Minako's bag and watching everything going on. She was quite surprised that Minako went to a place like this, where teachers teach the kids various lessons, where kids listen and don't listen at the same time, where they read books, take notes, and participate in projects. YukimiBotamon had always heard about school, but she often wondered what human school was like. She only had a vague memory of Digimon school, but that was it. Not only that, she had been told a lot about Nenji and Seiko and how mean and cruel they are, but she had never actually seen them. She had always been curious about what they looked like and how they acted, and now she got her wish, and they really were nothing she ever expected! But then again, the only humans she ever interacted with were the members of the Digimon Brigade. That was all, so it was to be expected after all. Despite all the exciting things going on (in YukimiBotamon's point of view), she kept quiet all day to make sure she didn't draw any unwanted attention to herself. She especially didn't want to draw the attention of Seiko and Nenji, who would most likely make a big scene regarding just about anything! Who knows what would happen.
At recess, Minako showed YukimiBotamon to the Digimon Brigade. They felt glad that Minako's come back to her senses, though they did notice that Kosuke and Melody are still straight out ignoring each other and not giving a rat's hat about anything. Yun didn't get to talk to Minako for very long because she had to be called in for something. Minako used this time to apologize to everyone regarding her rather inopportune and inappropriate behavior. Seeing how sincere she was about her misdeed, they decided to smile at her and forgive her, which made Minako and YukimiBotamon happy, though Minako had to confess that they were quite surprised by their ken and didn't expect them to forgive her right off the bat. But they made amends and everything's back to normal...well, almost everything.
When school finally ended, Minako asked Yun if she would meet her in the park after school. Yun agreed, but had to go home to get Lopmon and Terriermon first. It didn't take long. Like last time, Lucero accompanied her. Yun saw Minako sitting in the gazebo playing with little YukimiBotamon happily without a care in the world. Right when she saw Lopmon, Terriermon, and Cutemon, YukimiBotamon immediately hopped right in front of them.
"Lopmon! Terriermon! Cutemon! Hi!" YukimiBotamon exclaimed with a big smile as she let herself be embraced by the three happy bunnies.
"Oh! You're alive! I'm so glad you're alright, my dear friend!" Lopmon cried out with a smile, and it must be confessed that she got a tad teary eyed when she hugged YukimiBotamon.
"So...what Digimon are you again?" Terriermon asked, looking a little confused.
"I'm YukimiBotamon now! Don't worry, I'll be Salamon again soon," YukimiBotamon told him kindly.
"You're so cute, kyu! Brrr! And chilly, kyu!" Cutemon exclaimed, then shivered upon getting rather close to YukimiBotamon.
"Sorry I'm so cold (physically, not personality-wise). I can't help it," YukimiBotamon said.
"It's okay! We're just glad you're back! But I still wanna kick LadyDevimon's butt for what she did to you!" Terriermon edicted.
"Good luck with that," YukimiBotamon said.
"Why don't we go and play?" Lopmon suggested. YukimiBotamon hopped on Lopmon's ear, and the Digimon ran to another part of the park to play together, happy that YukimiBotamon is here. Lucero, Yun, and Minako smiled as they frolicked and played like old friends.
"They get along so well, don't they?" Lucero asked.
"Yeah. Maybe they were all friends back when they were in the Digital World," Yun said wistfully.
"Could be. We had days like that too, y'know?" Minako said. She reminisced and ruminated about those happy days for a bit, then remembered that she needed to do something. She looked at Yun with a straight face.
"Yun, I...I feel terrible about what I said and did both yesterday and a few days ago, and I just want to say that I..." Minako felt as if she were going to choke at the last part, but she spit it out anyway. "I'm so sorry!"
She bowed before Yun and stayed in that position.
"I'm so sorry for hurting your feelings this past week! I shouldn't have done any of that! But I'll admit this: the only reason I agreed with Kosuke back then was so I could stop him from going on a rampage. I'm not sure if you remember, but when he has his mind on something and he wants people to agree with him but don't, he goes nuts. I wanted to stop him from doing anything that would hurt you even more...but I guess it backfired, didn't it? And I'm so sorry for calling you a retard last night! You were only trying to help and I really appreciate it, even though I was lost in my anger and sadness yesterday. I relived Kiyoshi's death and I lost it when Gatomon...got hurt. I got so wrapped up in my sadness that I forgot about everything around me. I know, I shouldn't have done those things. You have every right to be angry with me and to not forgive me. It's fine, but I want you to know how sorry I am, and I want us to be friends again! I don't believe all those mean things that Kosuke said about you are true! I don't believe a word of it!"
Minako expected Yun to go on a tirade or to break down crying. Minako didn't expect Yun to forgive her or to believe what she was saying is true, but she did it anyway in the small hope of winning her heart again. But oddly enough, no sound came out of Yun's mouth. Minako looked up and saw Yun looking down wistfully, even sadly.
"What's wrong?" Minako asked.
"You...don't have to ask me to forgive you. I know it was all because the stress of losing Kiyoshi-kun and Salamon got the better of you. But really, what Kosuke said is true. I am a retard, a parasite, and a problem for everyone," Yun said.
"No! That's not true at all!" Minako exclaimed.
"Yeah it is. I can't do anything helpful for people and no matter what I say I always make them mad. You and Kosuke are both right," Yun whispered.
"We're wrong! It was wrong of us to say those things! Don't believe it, Yun!" Minako yelped.
"I...I do want us to be friends again...but...I'm afraid that if I do, I might annoy you more, hold you back more, and cause you more trouble than ever before. I always do those things, don't I? Everyone else says so. Ayaka, Kosuke, Nemoto, Nemoto's mom, Seiko, everyone. They all agree."
"Well I say screw them! They don't know anything! Yun, you're wonderful! Don't say that you're not!" Minako yelled.
Lucero put a hand on Yun's shoulder. "She's right. Thou art a kind, gentle person who cares about other people. Isn't that enough?"
Lopmon, Terriermon, Cutemon, and YukimiBotamon appeared.
"Yun! Quit your angsting and accept Minako's apology! I can tell she's serious!" Terriermon exclaimed with his arms crossed.
Seeing this, Yun decided to put her negative feelings behind her and smile at Minako, though it must be confessed that she's still traumatized by what happened. It's understandable, really.
"It's alright. I...forgive you, and I want us to be friends again. I'm sorry for being a bad friend," Yun said.
"You're not a bad friend. I was being the bad friend, and Kosuke's being one right now. Umm...do you want to hang out here for a while? We don't have homework. Oh! Umm...do you still want to go to the picnic with me? Everyone else said yes, so-"
"Yes. I'll go with you."
Minako hugged Yun when she said that. Yun smiled and hugged her back. Lucero did also.
"Awww! A group hug!" YukimiBotamon cried out happily.
"Should we join them?" Lopmon asked.
"I say let's do it, kyu!" Cutemon yelped as she jumped on the trio of kids. Lopmon, Terriermon, and YukimiBotamon followed suit.
From then on, they hung out together for a long time. They played with their Digimon, talked about lots of things (like their fond childhood memories, their newest anime, manga, games, the situation with LadyDevimon, etc.), played outdoor games together, watched the scenery together, sat together, everything. Yun and Minako wished that days like this would go on forever.