A/N: We're halfway done! Yahoo!

Season: 01/02

Genre: Friendship

Characters: Yagami Hikari, Ichijouji Ken, Takaishi Takeru

-People bond over the strangest things. Can be considered a companion for "Ink"


50. Difficult

The look on her face was rather scary.

Ken sat nervously by Takeru, watching the ceiling fan with an avid fascination. Hikari smiled at him over the top of the paper, but it was strained, almost trying to stretch her skin off. His eyes caught Takeru's, who smiled sheepishly. It's fine, he mouthed at Ken, who looked at him with utter horror.

No, it's not.

All he had done was edit. Why was he the nervous one?

Maybe it was because the story was true and it was important.

Maybe it was because Hikari looked like she was about to cry.

Ken hated it when people cried. It always touched at his heart like a butcher knife. He, in a fit of reflexive anxiety, tightened his grip on Wormmon. The green worm snuggled closer, remaining focused on Ken's eyes.

"It's okay, Ken-chan," he squeaked, his tinny voice too soft for anyone but Ken. Ken smiled a little but looked away again. Takeru crossed his legs again, avoiding Hikari's gaze. Was it because he didn't want to see either? They were close... they were friends. It was okay... for Takeru-san to see her cry. But they weren't close... enough...

"Hikari-san!"

She looked at him with blurry eyes. Confusion lit them up like small flames. Takeru moved instantly to wrap his arms around her and Ken pulled the story back, placing it on the table. He wanted to place a hand on her shoulder, but stopped at the last minute, watching the tears fall.

Hikari touched her cheek. "Oh..." she whispered. "Oh. I'm sorry; I didn't mean to! I just..."

"Don't apologize!"

Takeru and Hikari both flinched and for some reason that scared him. "Don't apologize," Ken repeated softly as Wormmon scuttled back up his shoulder. "It hurts and we reminded you of that. Please don't say you're sorry. Please."

Takeru flashed him a small smile, one full of gratitude and agreement. Hikari blinked at them both, utterly bewildered. "But... I... you two worked on that story for me..."

"It made you cry," Takeru said simply. "That was my plan, but... somehow..." He gave a raspy chuckle. "Seeing it happen makes me feel like a jerk."

"But you aren't." Hikari shook her head, wiping her eyes. "You two are the best. You really are. You guys... tried to show others... what I really want to say."

"Thanks."

The two boys looked at each other and Takeru sighed. "I really don't get girls."

Ken chuckled. "Don't worry; neither do I."

"But you're supposed to be the genius."

"Takeru-kun," Hikari admonished.

The three of them laughed, and everything was all right.

Painful, but it was all right.