Hikari watched as her daughter, Miyuki slept. She looked at the clock and noticed she would soon need to wake up in order for her to go to school.

Hikari took a deep breath and looked out the window. Seeing the light snowfall, she thought, another day…

Starless

Chapter 9

Daisuke brought a cup of hot tea. "My parents are working, so forgive me if this visit isn't exactly the most proper."

Hina glanced over at Daisuke, "it's fine."

Daisuke sat on the other side, "surprised to see you here Iori-san, moved?"

Iori looked down, "I…" everyone knew he was bad at lying. "My girlfriend, Hina-san, saw you around here. I wanted to see it for myself."

Daisuke turned to the young girl, "really?"

Hina nodded, "yes, I was just around shopping." She, on the other hand, could lie.

Daisuke nodded, "I see, well I'm glad to see you have grown. Everyone has grown."

Iori looked down and took a sip of the tea, "speaking of which… who knows that you are here?"

Daisuke finished his quick drink, "Jun-san, Yamato-san, Jyou-san, Koushiro-san, Karen-san, Erina-san, Mimi-san, and Gennai-sama. From what I know. That and my parents."

Iori raised a brow, "Gennai-sama?" He crossed his arms, "So formal towards him now?"

Daisuke blushed, "I know it's weird to hear from me."

Iori grew a smile, "more pleasant. Still, not used to it. My last memory of you was when you were just minding your own business. Truth be told, you've been gone for about five years, but I think our last conversation was six."

Daisuke took a sip, "right, sorry."

Iori was thinking all the while. They all know Daisuke-san is here… alright, it would be obvious though. His sister is married to Yamato-san. Mimi-san though… I would have expected her to spill the beans, but probably Jyou-san and Koushiro-san calmed her down. Still… way more people know. I thought I was the first.

"Daisuke-san, right?" Hina asked, "Let me formally introduce myself, I'm Hina. I'm Iori-san's long time girlfriend. It's nice to meet you for the first time."

Daisuke bowed, "and nice to meet you. As you know, I'm Daisuke Motomiya. I am a acquanitice with Iori-san."

"Acquaintance?" Iori questioned.

Hina interjected, "sort of being humble. You are the former hero of the Digital World. The leader of the Chosen Children."

"Acquaintance was only said because I don't know if Iori-san would consider me a friend after being gone. I don't mind if he doesn't. But yes," Daisuke blushed, "I was a hero once."

Hina asked, "do you not consider yourself a hero?"

Daisuke took a moment to drink tea, "I don't want to say like I contributed much recently. I gave the title of leader to someone else. I'm just living my life normally."

Hina glanced at Iori who gave her a concerned look. "Daisuke-san, do you consider yourself a bad person? Like at all?"

Daisuke froze, clearly not expecting this. He muttered some things as he was trying to form a sentence. "I… I don't think I am." Iori and Hina became silent. "I was gone for a while. I only returned and things have changed. I realized lots of people were hurt by my disappearance. Mostly my parents…"

And before Daisuke could continue, Iori spoke up, "you don't think anyone else would be affected by your disappearance?"

Daisuke stopped, "Ken-san, maybe."

Iori immediately realized it.

Hina took a moment, he… he didn't realize Hikari-san had his child.

Iori got serious, "you're not a bad person for that…" he looked at the table, "though, some of us were wondering where you were."

Daisuke frowned sadly, "I couldn't communicate back."

Iori clenched his fist, "why? Phones exist. Emails. Anything…"

Daisuke rubbed his arm, "it's complicated."

Hina got up, "my apologies, I need to go to the bathroom. Can you tell me where it is?"

Daisuke composed himself, "it's the first door to the left in the hallway."

Hina bowed, leaving the two boys alone. Daisuke's saddened look and Iori's determined look clashed before the pot began to whistle. Daisuke got up so he could make more tea.

As this was going on, Hina went into Daisuke's room. Which was technically the guest room. Inside, it was slightly dimmed, but enough for her to see. "Not the nosey type, but let's see…" she quickly realized something. How empty his room was. Only a single bed next to a small window. His bed was well made, but still. Nothing. Only clothes stacked up by a chair. Other than that, the room was empty.

Hina muttered to herself, "I know he just got back, but not even a backpack." She walked up to his bed, shifting through it. "No hidden phone, I didn't see anything in his pocket…" she kept looking around.

She took a deep sigh, "damn it… he isn't lying."

She quickly snuck out of his room. Noticing Daisuke was pouring some more tea for Iori. Their mannerisms were more calm now. She waited a bit to not throw suspicion. Slowly walking into the living room and seeing something on the couch.

She looked to see Daisuke chatting with Iori.

Closer, she got to the item which was a small pile of pictures. They were ranges of pictures of the Chosen Children, five years ago. Her eyes focused on one of Daisuke with Hikari. Both at a Christmas party, blushing as they try to smile for the camera.

She heard some footsteps. She looked to the side to see Daisuke there. "Oh, hey," he walked over.

Hina went with it, "sorry, these pictures caught my attention."

Daisuke picked them up, "my parents had them. Pictures of me with my old friends. Before I left," he said, organizing the photos.

Hina looked at the photos, "miss them?"

Daisuke nodded, "with all my heart. I wish I could see them all."

Hina gulped, "I mean yeah. Most of them have lived different lives. Almost everyone is married. Miyako-san is pregnant, Jyou-san has a kid and so does Hikari-san."

Daisuke got a somber smile, "I missed a lot, but maybe I can catch up. I met Genki-san, a cute little boy. I wonder how Miyako-san and Ken-san's baby will look. Also, Hikari's kid. I wonder if he or she looks like her."

Hina bit her lip, "uh, more like her father."

Daisuke nodded, "I see, we would love to meet him. I met almost everyone's relationship partner one way or another except for Hikari-san's. I thought it was Takeru-san, but I was told that Takeru-san married Annia-san."

Hina was lost, should I tell him? Should I tell him about Miyuki-san. No, I can't… if I do… but… I need to say something.

Hina was about to say something before Iori came by. "Tea is gonna get cold."

Hina gulped and looked down. Finally calming herself from telling Daisuke everything.

"Right, my apologies," Daisuke bowed lightly and walked past Iori.

When Hina was closer to Iori he said, "don't worry, I have a plan from here on out." Iori then turned around and walked with Daisuke. Hina wondered what this plan would entail.

Ken buttoned up his collared shirt before fixing his coat's sleeve. He was driving a taxi as he took out his phone. Seeing Miyako calling, "hello."

"Ken-chan!" Miyako sang playfully, "I woke up and you weren't here. Did you want to go to work early?"

Ken looked outside, "you could say that. I just wanted to get work done early. I feel like getting home and eating a fresh dinner."

Miyako giggled, "could always get ramen. They make their stuff fresh."

"They don't make it out of love," Ken then gestured to the driver to turn left.

Miyako giggled as Ken adjusted, "alright, I hope you have fun at work. Today I may just spend the day watching TV, but I'll always think of you."

"Me too," Ken smiled before saying, "bye," and hanging up. Taking a deep sigh before leaning back.

"Are you heading to work?" Taxi driver asked.

"Yeah," Ken looked out the window before saying, "just stop by that shop."

Once the taxi stopped, Ken paid and exited the vehicle. Sighing as he said, "been a while," he said as the taxi drove off leaving Ken in an empty street.

Taking a deep breath that could be seen, "where was it again?"

He walked down the sidewalk, snow crushing underneath his feet. He kept going until he saw a street he could recognize. He turned and accidentally almost bumped into someone.

"Sorry."

Ken's eyes widened upon seeing Daisuke.

Daisuke was first concerned that this person was mad when he bumped into him. But then his mind began to process it. Instead of wide eyed, Daisuke's lip quivered. Before taking a step back and saying, "Ken-san?"

"Daisuke-san."