A very Happy Birthday to my friend BlondeandConfused! This one was written especially for you. xoxo

Please enjoy this Takari fluff.

One afternoon, Hikari took a seat on a bench near the front of the high school. She caught within her earshot a group of students chatting about the next day being White Day, and about their plans of giving return gifts to the admirers who had spoiled them on Valentine's Day. They were all smiles, but Hikari could only feel the opposite.

"Are you alright, Hikari?"

A rustling of leaves from above her followed by a gentle drop at her side told Hikari that Tailmon appeared next to her. She noticed the look of concern on Tailmon's face.

"I'll be okay, Tailmon," Hikari said. "I just feel bad that I had to break up with Hideki."

It had been a week since Hikari delivered the news to her now ex-boyfriend Hideki, and although she tried to stay cheerful, the breakup left her feeling glum since then.

"You were just following your heart, weren't you?" Tailmon asked.

"Yeah."

But her heart always seemed to let her down in the end. Hideki was a nice, friendly guy in her class. She liked to hang out with him, and he treated her well to make the rest of the class jealous.

Being with him just didn't feel right. But Hikari still felt guilty.

Tailmon tilted her head, frowning. Then, she crawled onto Hikari's lap and nuzzled herself against her chest.

Hikari patted Tailmon's head gently. Digimon were unfamiliar with the topic of romance and breakups, so Hikari knew that Tailmon was at a loss of what to say. Still, Tailmon wanted to comfort her in that moment, and it got her to crack a smile.

"Maybe you should talk to Takeru?" Tailmon asked. "You're always happy when you're around him, and he knows how to cheer you up."

"Well, he's busy right now," Hikari replied. "Knowing him, he left his White Day gifts for his admirers at the last minute."

Somehow, that made Hikari even sadder.

"He always makes time for the friends that he cares about."

Knowing that Tailmon would persist, Hikari stood up, carrying her in her arms. "Alright, Tailmon. I'll give him a call later. But I'd like to go home first. Maybe a quiet stroll back with you can give me time to think."

"Oh, you're here, Hikari," Taichi said as he entered the apartment.

Hikari sat on the couch with Tailmon on her lap and Agumon leaning against her side, all of them watching TV together.

"I haven't been going out much, lately," she replied, and she was certain that Taichi had understood why. Before last week, much of her time outside of her classes was spent with Hideki.

As Taichi took off his shoes and set his school bag down, Hikari thought about how he handled romance and heartache. He was always comfortable with her in talking about a girl he spent time with, and he would answer her questions whenever she asked them.

When he sat down on the other side of Agumon, Hikari couldn't help but ask:

"How do you know when you love someone?"

Taichi turned to her, startled at the question.

"Uh, well…" He seemed to hesitate more as both Agumon and Tailmon seemed to stare just as intently while they waited for an answer. "I guess you just feel it. If it's in your heart that you want to be with that someone, you kind of just go for it."

"And what if my heart was wrong?"

Taichi sighed, rubbing the back of his head. "There's no easy way to say it, really. None of us are perfect. We'll go on what we feel is right, and what we think will make us happy. It won't always work out the way you wanted it to in the end, but, hey, at least you went for it."

After a few moments, Hikari turned to look at him. "Are you still thinking about the cookies?"

"I'm always thinking about the cookies."

Taichi stared at Hikari as though he waited for her reaction, and she stared back, trying hard to hold back her laughter. She couldn't.

"I think about cookies, too!" said Agumon

"I wouldn't mind some right now," added Tailmon.

Hikari knew that Taichi was smiling at her as she giggled for the next few moments.

"Thanks, Onii-chan."

"Sure."

Then Hikari looked down at Tailmon and shared a smile, and sat back to return her attention to the TV. She heard the crinkle of wrapping paper from Taichi and from the corner of her eye she saw that he was holding some pastries.

"Well, I don't have any cookies, Agumon, but I've got some milk buns if you'd like."

"Yes, please!"

"Have some, too, Hikari, Tailmon." Taichi held out two in front of them. Tailmon grabbed one and started munching on it happily, and Hikari reached for hers, recognizing the style of the sesame seeds decorated on top.

"You went to Takeru's favorite bakery," said Hikari.

"Yeah," Taichi said with his mouth full. "I can taste why, too. Give him a 'thank you' from me when you get the chance."

Taichi's reaction about Takeru was different than it usually was. At worst, he would grumble whenever Takeru joined Hikari at teasing him as well as Yamato - which neither younger sibling could help. But Hikari saw how highly Takeru thought of Taichi, and the only way to improve the current moment was seeing the bright smile on Takeru's face from hearing Taichi himself.

"I'm sure he'll appreciate it."

Then, Hikari picked up her phone, with her first instinct to send a message to Takeru. The thought of visiting the bakery with him was bringing some cheer to her mood, and she wanted to do what she told Tailmon she would do, anyway.

Takeru had texted her first.

"How are you holding up?" he asked.

"Are you free? Let's meet up at the train station," Hikari answered.

Takeru followed up with an immediate response: "Be right there."

"I guess I'll send him your message sooner than I thought," Hikari told Taichi as she and Tailmon got up from the couch and headed toward the door.

"Don't cause too much trouble," he said, slouching into the couch.

"I'll get him to go with me to the bakery so that we can buy more milk buns. He'll probably want some help picking out something special for his White Day gifts tomorrow, too."

"Wait." Taichi sat up straight. "Tomorrow's White Day?!"

Hikari closed the front door without responding to him.

"He just told you not to cause too much trouble, and you're already starting for him," Tailmon pointed out.

"He'll live," Hikari said, continuing down the corridor.

Takeru greeted Hikari with a long, warm hug.

"You're smiling a little more today," he told her.

"Who wouldn't be happy to see you, Takeru?" Patamon piped up, sitting on top of Takeru's hat.

Takeru grinned. "So, Hikari, where to?"

"I thought you'd have some place in mind, you know, with all of the White Day specials going on," she said.

"Hmm. I'm not too worried about that. Besides, you're usually better at knowing the best places to shop. Maybe I'll be inspired wherever you lead me."

"Alright, then…" Hikari eyed him suspiciously. What was he planning for White Day? She took note of the stark difference in reactions between Takeru's calm demeanor and Taichi's sudden panic. Taichi must have had at least one gift on Valentine's Day that he wanted to return a gift for, and knowing Takeru and seeing the handfuls of chocolates he received, he was likely to have similar intentions.

"How about we head over to the cafe first? I'm craving a parfait," Hikari decided.

Both Tailmon and Patamon's eyes widened with excitement.

At the cafe, Hikari ordered a parfait with matcha and strawberry for herself, and let the Digimon partners order a chocolate parfait to share. Takeru ordered a cafe latte.

While waiting for their orders, Takeru told Hikari his story about running into Daisuke, Iori, and Ken earlier that day. He mentioned how Daisuke complained about an exam and Ken arguing with him about complaining too much. Iori stood there, watching them, but he and Takeru could only look at each other and sigh helplessly.

Hikari laughed as she pictured the encounter, and from the way Takeru told her about it. She enjoyed listening to his stories.

"Miyako thinks you're hiding from her," Takeru added. "She's been worried about you."

Hikari thought Miyako might have been just as helpless as the rest of her friends. "I did tell her I needed space."

"I get that, Hikari, really, I do. Even if, for a while, I thought you were hiding from me, too."

Surprised, Hikari looked into Takeru's eyes from across the table. She had seen that same look of concern in the past, back when she fell into darkness and her mind was clouded with thoughts of hopelessness. Perhaps the breakup was taking her back to that same place.

Back then, Takeru had found her and helped her out of that mess. Was it fair to keep him in the dark again?

"I'm sorry, Takeru," Hikari began, feeling guilty.

"No - I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that knowing what was going on. And especially since we see Hideki every day…"

The somber mood at the table seemed to change the moment the parfaits arrived. Both Patamon and Tailmon gasped in delight and gathered around their chocolate parfait, and Hikari took her spoon to scoop up the first bite of hers.

"Delicious…" Hikari said, suddenly in bliss.

"Welcome back," Takeru said jokingly.

She eagerly offered spoonfuls to Patamon and Tailmon, then to Takeru who followed up with a critique as he usually did whenever she shared her food with him. Hikari gathered that he inherited that habit from his older brother, Yamato, whose critiques were a complete opposite of Takeru's. When comparing the two, Hikari was grateful that she got along with the brother whose critiques were in her favor.

Halfway through eating her parfait, Hikari observed her Digimon partner relishing the chocolate parfait along with Patamon. She looked over to Takeru who appeared to be at peace as he held the large coffee cup to his lips and drank it slowly.

When they weren't laughing and joking with each other, Hikari found comfort in the moments of silence with Takeru.

Once the parfait glasses were empty and Takeru took his last sip, he set his large cup down. "Where to next?" Takeru asked her.

"Wanna hit the bookstore?" Hikari asked back. "It's been forever since I've gone to one."

"As you wish."

Once they were all finished, they headed toward the bookstore, but not before Takeru took care of the bill.

Hikari was going to all of the stores that she wanted, and Takeru didn't seem to mind at all. After Hikari found a new book that she was excited to find on the shelves, she led Takeru and the Digipals to the accessory shop, where she found a cute pair of earrings. Then, they went into a pet store, where Hikari caught the attention of a Kishu puppy. Squealing with joy, she picked him up and cradled him in his arms.

"Tailmon, look!" she said, the Kishu nuzzling his cheek against her. "Isn't he so cute?"

"Hmph," Tailmon said, turning away unimpressed.

Patamon sat atop Takeru's head, staring at the Kishu in amazement.

"He looks like a new friend!" Patamon exclaimed.

Hikari and Takeru exchanged knowing looks, and Hikari set the Kishu down on the floor. Takeru let Patamon fly down, and the puppy yelped with glee while Patamon a few inches above him, flapping his wings in greeting.

As Patamon attempted to include Tailmon with their playtime, Hikari stood beside Takeru from afar. In that moment, she realized that she was in a much better mood than she had been all week.

"Can I be honest with you?" she asked Takeru, who was cradling a kitten that was dozing off in his arms.

"When aren't you?" he asked.

"I've been wondering why I've been so down about the breakup, when I wasn't happy being with Hideki, after all."

Takeru turned to her to listen.

"He wasn't a fan of animals," she continued. "We liked some of the same music, TV shows, and movies, but he didn't seem interested in talking about them. Especially not about books. And whenever we ate food together, he wanted to stick to whatever was on his plate."

"That sounds like all the things you don't like."

He wasn't that great of a kisser, either," she added, which she instantly regretted once Takeru gave her a look. "Don't get me wrong. He was sweet and really caring. I had fun. But I get it - everyone's different and that's okay. I don't blame him for any of it. I just blame myself for being together with him for so long even though I knew it wasn't right."

"At least you did what was right for yourself, Hikari. It's okay to think it was right at first but be wrong later on. We're human, and we make mistakes."

A soft purr was heard near Takeru's chest. They both looked to see the kitten was stirring from its slumber.

"Hideki's been down, just like you," Takeru went on. "But it's hard not to be after a breakup. He'll get better, and I know you will, too. You're recognizing a mistake and learning from it. Maybe one day, I'll get over my mistake, too."

Hikari raised her brow. "What do you mean by that?"

The kitten's meowing grew louder and began to fidget even more. Takeru was left no choice but to turn around to return the kitten to the store. When Hikari returned to Tailmon, she found her stare grumpily ahead while the Kishu licked her cheek while Patamon giggled madly.

As she promised Taichi, Hikari made sure to stop by the bakery - Takeru's favorite one. She bought a dozen milk buns to bring home to Taichi. Everyone also indulged in sample slices of the bakery's chocolate castella cakes, which Hikari thought were delicious but didn't want to bring too many sweets home.

"Is there anything else you want?" Takeru asked. "It'll be my treat."

"Takeru, you've done so much for me already, I can't even begin to thank you for today-"

"Please, Hikari. I want to do this for you."

Maybe it was the way his voice lowered or how firm his tone was, but it somehow caught Hikari off guard.

"W-Well, fine…" she stammered, her face warming up, but she thought of her most favorite pastry. "One chocolate cornet."

"Just one?"

"Okay, two. One for Tailmon."

Takeru stared at her long and hard.

"Three. Three chocolate cornets," was her final answer.

Takeru gave her a playful smirk - a favorite expression of hers on him - but it seemed to fluster her even more at that moment.

"Hikari?" Tailmon asked, her ears perked up and her eyes wide with curiosity.

"I'm fine," Hikari replied in a hush, even as her heart was racing.

When Hikari thought that Takeru and Patamon were going to part ways with her and Tailmon, Takeru decided to walk them home and carry the bag of pastries for her. She went along with it, given that he was her best friend and she was comfortable being around him.

There was also the fact that she wanted to stay with him as long as she possibly could.

"Are you sure you're ready for White Day?" Hikari asked while she walked alongside him.

Takeru laughed. "Why are you so concerned about it?"

"I'm skeptical. You don't seem concerned at all, and I know you want to make sure that a girl knows how special she is."

Only their footsteps were heard after that, and Hikari began to wonder whether she said something that troubled him. But she heard him laughing again.

"Funny you should say that, Hikari. You're right. Maybe I should be concerned."

"Really, now? What changed your mind?"

"The fact that I've been trying to do that all afternoon, yet, you still have no idea."

"...What?"

Hikari stopped in her tracks, and so did Takeru. Patamon and Tailmon stopped as well, staying a few feet behind and looking on in confusion.

"This… might not be the right time, Hikari," he began. "Maybe you still need space, but I just couldn't wait anymore."

"He's shaking…" Patamon said softly, to which Tailmon quickly shushed him.

When Hikari looked down at his hands, including the one that held the bag of pastries, she saw that he was trying to hide it.

"Can I be honest with you?" Takeru asked her.

"Of course," Hikari replied, her voice soft, and she felt uncertain as to what he was about to say next.

"I was never ready for White Day. I never planned on returning gifts to anyone this year. I just planned on sitting this one out."

"Oh…"

Takeru chuckled, and Hikari could sense that he was nervous. "But the more I thought about it, the more I realized there was only one person I wanted to spend it with. I just didn't know how to tell her, given the circumstances…"

"And… what are the circumstances?" Hikari asked.

"That she's got a broken heart, and I want to be the one to mend it."

Hikari's breath caught in her throat. At that point, it was obvious where this conversation was headed, and she believed that Takeru would reach his point in due time.

But she still wanted to help him get there.

"Maybe you should back up a little. How long have you felt this way about her?"

"Since that summer in 1999."

Hikari gasped. "That long?!"

"Isn't that when we all first met?" Patamon chirped from afar.

"But, Takeru…" Hikari stared at him, awestruck. "All these years, you've never said anything."

"Well, I wanted to play it cool, and let her go her own way while I went mine. Yet, the longer we knew each other, the closer we became. It just got harder to figure out how I felt, and harder to understand what my heart really wanted."

"So then, how did you feel whenever she had a new boyfriend?"

"I wanted to feel happy for her. I wanted to believe that if she was happy, then I would be, too. But, I just couldn't be happy."

Hikari realized then, that Takeru had been unhappy, even when she was in her relationship with Hideki. He was doing the same thing that she was - following his own heart thinking that it was right, even when it wasn't.

"It was different whenever I was with her, though. The way she smiled like the sun and her laugh sounded like a melody. Whenever she was happy, I felt it, too. Seeing her sad, I felt it just as much."

For a moment, listening to Takeru speak of a girl with beautiful similes made Hikari feel jealous. Then, she remembered exactly who he was talking about.

Her cheeks flushed as the thought set in. Crossing her arms, Hikari asked her next question.

"So, she's got a broken heart, huh? How were you thinking about mending it?"

"Oh - that's easy. I figured I'd start by taking her out and reminding her of all the things that brought her joy."

The parfait, the books, the earrings, the adorable pets, and the chocolate cornets that sat on top of the box of a dozen milk buns in the bag that Takeru was still carrying for her.

"But you let her choose where to go."

"A broken heart cannot be fixed without the owner's permission. I wanted to let her wander freely. It's the most surefire way to see her smile. And I knew - well, I hoped - that spending time with me was an even better way."

Contrary to his words, Hikari felt her eyes beginning to water.

"I've never given you anything for Valentine's Day, Takeru," she croaked. "I've teased you about the girls you've flirted with, and supported you for the girls you were actually serious about. How could you be serious about me? When you've seen me make mistakes that I'm bound to make again?"

"Hikari, you've given me more than you'll ever know after all these years. I could give you all of the gifts in the world and I still don't feel like it would ever be enough." Takeru gripped the handles of the bag in his hand. "I've made a mistake, too. The mistake of letting your heart break more than once. I love you too much to let that happen again."

"You love me?"

Tears streamed down Hikari's face. Were they of sadness? No, she knew that it couldn't be. Fear? Maybe. The fear of following her heart one more time - she could feel that. But there was something else she felt from those tears, something she hadn't felt with anyone else.

It was hope.

Takeru stepped closer to Hikari, and every step towards her made her heart beat faster. Her mind had gone blank, she couldn't find the words to respond, and she held her breath just as he stopped in front of her, only inches between them.

"Hey, now…" Takeru said with a gentle smile, and Hikari gave way for his hands to brush her tears away. "The girl I'm in love with hasn't told me how she felt. Don't leave me hanging."

Hikari looked into Takeru's bright blue eyes and thought about her time with him up until that moment. Deep down, she knew her feelings had been there all along, but they had never been brought to light until now.

This time, it just felt right.

"I love you, Takeru," Hikari said. "I always have."

"Wait, really?" Takeru asked, now searching her eyes which were now watering again.

"Really."

That was when Takeru leapt forward, throwing his arms around her and closing the gap between them with a kiss.

Hikari was stunned. Her arms fell at her sides as Takeru held her tightly with his lips pressed against hers. He pulled away a moment later, watching her and waiting for a response that she was too stunned to give. The look in his eyes told her that he was starting to doubt himself.

But she never wanted him to, not when she shared the same feelings for him. Reaching for Takeru's shoulders, Hikari pulled him close and lifted herself up to kiss him back.

It was a few moments until she heard a giggle behind her. Patamon and Tailmon had been watching them all along, although they looked at them both patiently and with adoration.

Had she not realized that Patamon and Tailmon were still there with them, Hikari would have kept her lips on his a little bit longer.

"We should probably keep walking," Hikari said, giggling nervously with her face feeling hot. "I want to see Taichi's face when we bring these milk buns home to him."

"You know what, me too," Takeru responded in agreement, although his cheeks were tinged with pink.

Patamon flew up to Takeru's hat and Tailmon joined Hikari at her other side as they continued to walk. Hikari didn't realize until a few feet ahead that Takeru had slid his free hand onto holding hers.

"Is this okay?" he asked.

Hikari interlocked her fingers with his. "Of course it is."

"Oops, I forgot the key," Hikari said once they reached the door to the apartment. She knocked on the door, knowing that Taichi was home, but grew annoyed after a few minutes had passed.

"Maybe he isn't home?" Takeru asked.

Hikari groaned. "I'll just text him."

Once she set her phone down, she saw from the corner of her eye that Takeru was watching her.

"What is it?"

He must not have realized what he was doing, because the next moment he looked away with a new blush forming on his cheeks.

"It's nothing," was his casual but nervous response.

Hikari had realized then, that Takeru was always watching her, and she was slowly beginning to understand why. He was always looking out for her, encouraging her with no other explanation other than love.

"Takeru," she said.

"Hmm?"

"That chocolate cake from earlier. You've still got some on your face."

"Oh, really?"

"Yeah. For someone who cared about how he looked, I would've thought you'd notice."

"Maybe I'm just too comfortable around you to care."

"Let me." Hikari lifted her finger towards the corner of his mouth, drawing herself towards him.

Takeru might have figured it out seconds before, but he didn't have crumbs to begin with. It might have been why, after Hikari lightly brushed his cheek with her hand, he accepted her kiss that followed.

And that was when the door finally opened. Both Hikari and Takeru broke off the kiss and turned to Taichi with their arms around each others' waists.

Taichi appeared to be at a loss for words. Hikari took a moment to exchange a glance with Takeru before turning to Taichi again.

"Hey, Onii-chan," Hikari said with a smile. "I was wondering when you were going to answer the door.

"Are you two being serious right now?" Taichi asked.

"Hikari bought you milk buns," Takeru replied, lifting the bag forward nonchalantly. "There's a dozen in here."

"Didn't you say you wanted to thank Takeru for suggesting them?" Hikari added.

Taichi was confused. "How are you not answering me? When did you two become a thing?"

With a grin, Takeru replied, "You're welcome, Taichi. I told you they were amazing."

"Did I hear more milk buns?" Agumon asked behind Taichi.

"Fine, I'll leave the subject for now." Taichi took the bag of pastries from Takeru. "But you better have an explanation for me later, Hikari."

Taichi walked back into the apartment, leaving Takeru and Hikari in a fit of giggles.

"I guess the cornets are for me, too?" Taichi asked loudly from further in. "I know these can't be your favorite, Hikari…"

"He's messing with you, now," Takeru told Hikari, wearing a smirk.

"I can deal with it. I won't let him take away your gift from me."

"Even if he does, I'll just buy you more tomorrow."

Hikari knew that if she told him that he didn't have to, he would still buy her gifts regardless, so she settled for responding with another kiss before they finally said goodnight.

When Hikari and Tailmon entered the apartment, they found Taichi and Agumon at the kitchen counter, both with milk buns in their hands. Taichi had left the cornets on the side to give to Hikari, who, after a few more minutes of dancing around the subject and aggravating Taichi, finally confirmed that she and Takeru were an item.

"It was about time you two confessed," Taichi said. "I'm happy for you."

And now, knowing that her feelings were out in the open, and her heart was going in the right direction, so was she.

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A/N: Thank you for reading! I hope you liked it! I'll keep my profile updated with me updates and writing updates, too.