Just a one-shot inspired by the many interactions between Takuma and Aoi in Digimon Survive.
Disclaimer: Digimon, Digimon Survive, and all characters are owned by Namco Bandai and Toei Animation.
It was another long day of fighting Kemonogami…and keeping the team from ripping each other apart. Well, mostly Kaito, Shuuji, Ryo, and Miu. Being the defacto leader had to be stressful for Takuma. Aoi was surprised how quickly he adapted to the role but wondered if needed someone to talk to just as much as he was willing to listen to everyone.
She looked over at Labramon, Saki, Haru, Miyuki, Miu, Floramon, and Shakomon. They were still sound asleep, though she could have sworn she saw Haru blink. Maybe it was her imagination. Anyway, she slowly closed the door and made her way downstairs to see if Takuma was outside of the school.
Sometimes she would see him outside, with Agumon or by himself. Something about the moonlight shining on him made Takuma look different. Different from the Takuma she met when the summer camp begin. Wiser, more mature. Not to say that he was immature when they first met, but definitely more mature than Minoru. But it was like being in the world of the Kemonogami changed him somehow…
Oh my, what am I thinking? Aoi held her chest, her face warming up.
"Aoi?" She gasped when Takuma addressed her, forgetting that she was already outside. "Couldn't sleep either?"
"Something like that…I noticed that some nights you come out here with Agumon…or by yourself."
Takuma smiled. Warm, genuine, caring. "Yeah/ It helps to clear my head, calm my mind. All of this is still crazy, you know."
"Yeah." She walked up to him and joined him in watching the night sky. It reminded her of the days prior to arriving in the world of the Kemonogami. Those nights their teachers let them sleep outside under the stars. It would be great to do that here, but with all of the monsters roaming around this world it wouldn't be the most cautious of ideas.
Still, to watch the moon with a friend. It felt nice to not worry about Kemonogami for a moment.
"Takuma," Aoi paused when he turned to her. She grasped her hands. "You know you've always been there for us when we needed a shoulder to lean on. He faced her fully. "If you ever have something you need to talk about…I'll listen."
He looked as if he was trying to find something to say. Rubbing his cheek and face flushing. What could he be nervous about, Aoi pondered.
"Aoi, have I ever told you why I came to the Summer Camp?"
She didn't recall why but assumed it was to hang out with Minoru. "To hang out with Minoru, right? You two were always best friends before we met on the first day come to camp."
Takuma smiled. "That was part of the reason I wanted to go to the camp." His hands fell into his pocket and he turned to the side, looking up at the moon. "The other reason…I wanted to get away from my mother."
"Get away from your mother?" Was there something going on between them, Aoi thought.
He smiled again. "She treats me like a little kid. Always worrying, always making sure I packed everything. She made sure I packed everything for this camping because there was this one time when I was in Elementary School that I forgot my things and ran from the school crying for her."
Aoi covered her mouth to make hide her chuckle. Though it looked like Takuma noticed. He didn't say anything; he only smiled.
"When I was getting ready for the camp, I was in such a hurry to leave the house that I didn't hear the last thing she said to me. Being here in this world, fighting the Kemonogami, it's made me think about her. If I'll ever see my mother again. If we'll ever see our parents again."
So he did have personal things going on in his mind. Shuuji, Ryo, and Kaito made it seem like Takuma was their invincible, optimistic and moral bond leader. Maybe that's why he was trying to help everyone else with their troubles.
It helped to ease the sorrow of his own.
Aoi herself had the same feelings of her own family. Back when they first arrived in this world, when she first met Labramon, Takuma was the one who reassured her that she would see her parents again.
She placed both of her hands on his shoulders. Their eyes met, and despite being a grade above Takuma, he was taller than herself. Aoi had to lean her head back to look him in the eyes.
"Takuma…we'll all make it back to our world. We'll all see our parents and families again," She smiled, "it's like you said, if we all stick together and remain calm— we'll survive. And once we get home you'll be able to talk with your mother again."
At first, he looked surprised. Then came that smile of his. Warming, genuine; illuminated by the moonlight. Aoi felt her heart beating and her face warming up again. She took her hands off of Takuma's shoulders, slowly, and grasped them by her back. Takuma rubbed his cheek again— and was blushing faintly.
He turned to her. "Thank you, Aoi. Maybe I really did need some company after all."
"You're welcome Takuma. We should probably get some sleep for tomorrow now."
"Well…we still have some time before morning…and the moon isn't going anywhere." Aoi blinked at Takuma's words. "Would you like to sit outside for a while…and just…talk?"
She smiled. "Sure. Talking and watching the moon would be nice."
During their time in the Digital World Takuma never shied away from telling everyone how much they have changed since meeting at the Summer Camp. And the same goes for him. But Aoi knew that sometimes even someone who puts themself before others could use a shoulder to lean on.
On a Midsummers Night.