Starful Redux

Chapter 4

Yamato gulped as he drove. Jun sitting beside him and smiling nervously too, "no need to be nervous."

Yamato took a deep breath, "I wish it was that simple… I think the hardest part about this is that for a while I promised Taichi-san if I found him. We would beat him up together."

Jun giggled, "you promised me that too," and both nervously laughed. Jun sighed, "he will be happy to see you."

Yamato stared blankly, "but I might not be happy to see him." Silence between the two as Yamato turned the street, arriving at Jun's parents house. Last time he was here, he asked for a blessing to marry Jun. He took a deep breath, "he's home alone, right?"

Jun nodded quietly.

Yamato unbuckled his seat belt and turned off the car's engine after putting it in park. "Let's do this... "

Yamato got out of his car and felt the weight on his shoulders. "Shit…" he muttered as his wife exited the car herself. Both closed the door as Yamato then began to walk forward. Each step getting more intense and his body feeling like walking away at this moment.

Then, he was at the front door. Taking a moment to imagine how Daisuke looked after all these years. He pressed the doorbell button, it rang once.

He waited only for a bit before the knob began to turn. He looked down as the door opened up.

"Yamato-san?"

He looked up and saw Daisuke tilting his head, confused. Daisuke was here. Tall and looking like how he imagined he would look, but a bit skinny.

"Daisuke-san, hey," Yamato smiled, noticing Daisuke matched his height. "You got taller."

Daisuke smiled happily, "so did you, come in. I guess since you are part of the family."

Jun walked forward, "I will have to invite him in."

"Right," Daisuke bowed a bit before letting them both in. Yamato smiled a bit before walking in.

Koushiro rubbed his eyes as he and his girlfriend Karen walked into a clean white office. "Good morning, Gennai-san," she waved.

Gennai, with a lab coat, turned and smiled as he was in front of a projector with a holographic map of Earth. "Koushiro-san, good to see you. How are you this winter morning?"

"Tired," Koushiro smiled before sitting down on a chair. Putting his laptop in front of him.

"Koushiro-san got a call from Yamato-kun," Karen informed as she took out a pen and suddenly the holographic earth moved to her. "And well, he wanted to have a meeting with Koushiro-san."

"Meeting with Koushiro-san?" Gennai raised a brow.

Koushiro nodded, "the most confusing thing he has asked me is that he even asked to meet you too."

Gennai froze, "really? Digimon?"

Koushiro sighed, "that's why I am here. I need to know if there was anything involving the Digital World…? Did it open?"

Gennai pulled up the projector and began to quickly type. Showing a holographic earth with a grid around it. Gennai scrolled around it, "definitely not… if there was even the slightest… this would be red."

"Great… now I'm confused," Koushiro sighed.

Karen crossed her arms, "maybe he does truly want to see Koushiro-san… is what I would say if he just didn't come over. But the meeting is a bit shocking, only a bit." With this, Koushiro became confused. Karen giggled, "my apologies, I thought we were being vague here. It's obvious what has occurred… Daisuke-san is back."

Gennai and Koushiro froze.

Koushiro raised a brow, "what makes you say that? You do realize what you are saying?"

Karen giggled, "Koushiro-san, it is a hypothesis, but trust me… I see it all connected. Yamato-san isn't in any kind of emergency. If he was, he would immediately inform us of the situation. He wants to meet you and Gennai. The two people in charge of the Digital World. And no offense, the least involved with Daisuke-san in terms of emotional issues."

Koushiro blushed, "what!? I'm involved!"

"You worked hard to find him, but I couldn't remember any anger you had when the drama went down. So they want you two to meet Daisuke-san."

Koushiro groaned, "but why? Let's say Daisuke-san did return… and okay, maybe I don't want to murder him for leaving Hikari-san with a child. Why with Gennai-san…? No offense."

"None taken… i'm even curious."

Karen leaned back, "my guess… Rei-san."

"What does Rei-san have to do with this?" Koushiro pondered. But before he could get an answer, an alarm was heard in the speaker.

"Yamato-san, Miyako-san and a guest have entered the facility."

Koushiro stood up, "guest…" He turned to Karen, "you're too smart for me."

Karen smiled, "I'm only smart socially. Dummy, but before they get here. Daisuke-san is probably unaware of Miyuki-san." Koushiro's eyes widened, "the guy left before Hikari-san confirmed to herself that she was going to have a baby. And trust me… if they both met. Things would be different."

Koushiro was going to respond before he heard the front door open. He turned and there he was. Daisuke walked into the facility. "Yup, she's always right…"

Gennai couldn't help but chuckle.

Karen walked up, stunning Koushiro. "You have grown, have you, Daisuke-san."

"Karen-san," Daisuke smiled softly.

"I'm surprised you knew my name. With only meeting me so few times," she tilted her head. "Where are your sister and brother-in-law?"

Daisuke pointed back as the two entered. "One Hundred Percent Correct…" she giggled as Daisuke stared confused, "it's nice to see you again, how have you been?"

Daisuke blinked, looking to the side, "good."

Karen stared, "oh…"

"Sorry," Jun clapped her hands and bowed, "I didn't want to shock you, but this was urgent."

"Urgent is correct," Koushiro composed himself and coughed. "Anyone else know?"

Jun shook her head, "other than my parents, we are the only ones that know."

Gennai walked forward, "it's nice to see you again, Daisuke-san." Gennai put up his hand and shook Daisuke's. "You have truly grown."

"Yes," Daisuke blushed a bit, "thanks Gennai-sama…"

"No need for formal titles. I want to be treated as a friend."

"Y-yes Gennai-san!" Daisuke said nervously.

Karen pat Daisuke's shoulder who flinched, she hummed, "interesting, you must have been living out in the streets. You look slightly malnourished."

Daisuke looked down, "y-yes, but I wasn't living in the streets."

Karen raised a brow, "Daisuke-san, would you like something to eat."

Daisuke nervously shook his hand, "if it's not needed."

Karen interrupted, "nonsense, you probably need some meals yourself." She turned, "come, we have delicious foods in the facility."

Daisuke looked over at Jun and gave him a slight nod of approval. He followed her as they headed across the room. Their steps echoing before going through some doors. Leaving the four others now in privacy.

Jun sighed, "I'm glad Karen-san knew we were gonna bring Daisuke-san."

Koushiro blushed, "you knew that Karen-san knew!?"

Jun nodded and went to sit down, "yes and we also sort of determined how your response would have been by it." Koushiro's jaw dropped, "what? We couldn't have Taichi-san or Sora-san here, could we?"

Koushiro defended, "m-maybe I wouldn't have told you if I knew."

Yamato sat beside his wife, "but we couldn't take that risk. Not with this," he chuckled.

Koushiro glared a bit, "of all people, Yamato-san, I'm shocked that you are taking his return well."

Yamato glanced over, before staring up, "Daisuke-san doesn't know Hikari-san is pregnant. And from what I am aware, I didn't intend to get her that way…"

Koushiro grabbed a seat, "Karen-san was right," he sighed. "Then what? What happens from here? Drama will be inevitable."

Yamato smirked, "you probably know what I am planning."

"Rei-san…" Koushiro rubbed the back of his neck. "You know Daisuke-san being part of the New Protective Plan won't save him from the drama itself. Hikari-san could still like you know… be mad at him. Make him pay child support."

"But Rei-san is the only one who wouldn't hate Daisuke-san. From what you told us a while back," Jun crossed her arms. "Look, we can't hide Daisuke-san forever and we especially cannot pretend that he won't try to be involved with Miyuki-san's life once he discovers what happened, but I don't want him to just be isolated. And suffer."

Koushiro took a deep breath. "Truly difficult," he exclaimed, "this would have been easier if Daisuke-san already met with Hikari-san…"

Ken Ichijouji walked out of the train station. Not many people were in sight as snow slowly fell. He looked up, "this feeling… it's still here."

He looked at his wedding ring.

"I wonder if Miyako-san would like to visit Hikari-san," he mumbled to himself, watching in the crunching snow.

Karen took a moment to blow on her coffee cup before taking a quick sip. Looking over at Daisuke-san who was doing the same.

As Daisuke took a sip, Karen smiled, "I made it myself. Coffee is sweet, huh?"

Daisuke looked over and looked to the side, "it's very sweet."

Karen stirred her coffee. It was pure black, "yes, very sweet… before he took out some sugar and poured it into the coffee."

Karen leaned back, "tell me Daisuke-san, anyone you are looking forward to seeing?"

Daisuke smiled, "maybe Ken-san. I wonder how he is doing."

Karen nodded, "he was your best friend. I never really saw you two around. Since he had Miyako-san, but Koushiro-san told me a lot about your friendship."

"I'm glad," Daisuke chuckled, "I remember seeing you around. My apologies for not talking much."

Karen waved her hand, "non-sense, we were both teenagers. Yes, teenagers, it was so long ago, yet it feels like yesterday. Koushiro-san confessed to me. Did anyone confess to you, Daisuke-san, ever?"

Daisuke jumped a bit, looking to the side, "I-I don't remember anyone confessing…"

Karen stopped herself from taking a sip. "I see. You're cute Daisuke-san. A handsome young man now, a cute kid back then."

Daisuke blushed.

"None of the girls of the original twelve interest you?" Karen's question made Daisuke flinch. "Mimi-san was a cute one, Koushiro-san told me drunkenly that he once had a crush on her. Sora-san is not bad either. Miyako-san is very beautiful in her own right. And Hikari-san was the cutest one." Karen took a sip, "I wonder if any of them caught your interest."

Daisuke stopped, Karen looked over curiously. Seeing a sad look on Daisuke's face. "I liked Miyako-san for a time." Her eyes widened from this. "I thought she was my type of girl, but… I thought she always belonged to Ken-san though. Till now. I don't like her like that now though," He said, seriously, "those emotions passed."

Daisuke took a sip of the bitter coffee, "Hikari-san actually was my first. This was before I disappeared. She… well… I think you can imagine what a guy as foolish as me would say about that."

Karen averted her eyes, "Hikari-san was your first? I see and you're not disappointed that she moved on and had a child?"

Daisuke shook his head, "I never expect someone to wait for me for about 5 years. As long as she is happy, I don't mind." He turned with a bright smile, "I just hope all my friends are happy."

Karen was stunned.

Daisuke noticed, "what is it?"

Karen shook her head, "nothing I thought I forgot to turn off the stove, but turns out… I am just imagining things." She put her cup of coffee down, "the sandwiches will be ready soon. I will be right back, I need to check up on Koushiro-san."

And she walked across the room to the double doors where she met Koushiro on the other side. "Hey…"

Karen passed him, "Daisuke-san truly doesn't know Hikari-san had his child."

Koushiro stopped and turned, "but… wasn't that the theory?"