Falcomon had turned his back on Minoru.

Lopmon was pushed over the edge by Shuuji, which caused the little Digimon to turn on his partner and kill him. Minoru was scared of something similar happening to him, which caused him to get hostile with Falcomon. Mean words were said because of fear. Words that weren't meant to be said. This resulted in Falcomon choosing to leave his partner and continue on his own. Even numerous attempts to get him to come back were of no use. Falcomon would not change his mind and instead ran away every time. Minoru was feeling really down. All the usual jokes, smiles and laughs were completely absent. He stayed mostly quiet and kept to himself, looking around in some slim hope of seeing Falcomon return to him. But that didn't happen.

I was still trying to think how I'd be able to cheer Minoru up at least a little, when something happened at the worst time. Garurumon and some of Arukenimon's goons flooded in and surrounded us. Everyone else soon regrouped, but Minoru was still kind of out of it, only focused in looking for his partner.

- Minoru..! Over here!

Aoi called out to him, but even that did nothing. It was like he didn't even hear her. The enemy kept closing in on Minoru, with him being an easy target, and looked like it was about to attack. I was the closest to Minoru. I had to do something. But what could I do, really? Anything would be better than just standing here! Even if it meant throwing myself directly in harm's way. I took off, running right towards Minoru, not thinking about anything else.

- MINORUUU..!

I yelled, reaching him and pushing him aside just in time. I took the full force of the enemy's attack and fell on my knees, immediately feeling the immense amount of pain. My head was hurting, and I felt something warm and sticky trickle down the side of my head.

- Takuma..!

Aoi gasped as she saw what was happening.

- Labramon, please!

she pleaded. Her partner was at it right away, and pushed the counterattack together with Agumon and the others. That gave their human partners the window to run to me. Minoru, too, had been pulled back to reality as I'd pushed him out of the way. Now he was on his knees next to me.

- Takuma.. Why?! Why would you do something like that..?!

he frantically yelled at me, holding me up by the shoulders. I answered with a weak chuckle, looking into his eyes which were full of agony and panic.

- Heh.. They would have hurt you instead.. I couldn't let it happen,

I was able to say to him. I could see tears welling up in his eyes. I didn't want that to happen.. I would have never wanted to see him cry. And now I was the very reason as to why he was that way.

- Takuma, you IDIOT!

Minoru did his best to sound angry, but was betrayed by his shivering voice. He was still holding me tightly, now hugging me, even. That was where my consciousness started to waver. My eyelids suddenly felt really heavy, almost impossible to keep open. And right there, in Minoru's arms my body went limp as I finally passed out. I failed to hear the pure fear in Minoru's voice as he called out to me.

- Takuma..? No, come on, don't.. TAKUMAAAA!

He broke down.

When I finally came back to, I was somewhere else. Laying on the wooden floor, staring at a familiar-looking ceiling. It was the school, our home base. How did they get me back here.. I wouldn't know. But I soon came to understand that I wasn't alone, as I heard muffled sounds coming from nearby. I carefully started to get into a sitting position, feeling my head carefully. My goggles had been taken off. I noticed them on the floor next to where I'd been laying. I had some bandages around my head, covering the wounds. So I'd been patched up and then left here with someone to watch over me. And that someone.. As I turned around, I saw that it was Minoru. He was leaning against the weathered wall, hugging his knees with his head buried in them. The muffled sound I'd heard moments before? It was Minoru. He was crying. My heart immediately sank in my chest. Oh no.. I would never, ever want to see him cry.

- Minoru..

My voice was shaking ever so slightly as I reached out to touch his shoulder. He very quickly proceeded to swat my hand away. He looked almost furious as our eyes met. But this anger was mixed with pure hurt and heartbreak.

- Don't you say my name like that after you gave me that goddamn heart attack!

he yelled, and rightfully so.

- I thought you died right in front of my eyes! Takuma, you absolute JERK!

I let him yell at me, it would be good for him to get all the bottled up emotions out.

- Do you even understand how I felt back there?! DO YOU?! No! You know nothing!

He started pounding my chest with his fists, although he did it weakly. Like he had no strength left.

- You know nothing about what it was like...

He was sobbing again, suddenly burying his head in my chest, breaking down once more. I couldn't describe how much it hurt me to see the happy, bubbly Minoru hurting like that. And it was because of me. I didn't have the right words to say after his justified outburst, so instead I just put my arms around him, holding him as he cried. I could feel his body shiver with each sob.

- I thought you died on me..

he kept saying. In a brief moment, as he moved, I saw that he had blood on him. My blood, from when he'd held me shortly before I'd passed out in his arms. I felt guilty about that, too.

. Minoru..

I finally said again, testing the waters.

- I don't know if you can forgive me for all of this, but.. I had to act. The enemy was coming right for you, and if I hadn't pushed you away.. you would have gotten hurt instead. I couldn't let it happen.. not after everything we've been through together,

I continued to explain since he didn't stop me.

- I'm so sorry I made you hurt like this, but.. I had to do it.

Minoru's sobs were slowly going away as he listened to me.

- You don't always get to be a hero, Takuma..

he then mumbled, now properly looking at me again. His cheeks were streaked with tears. He must have been crying for quite some time, even when I was still passed out. Another wave of guilt rushed right over me.

- Not always,

he repeated.

- Let me be your hero too, alright.. You think on that next time before you almost get yourself killed.

I really couldn't argue with that, so I nodded.

- I'll hold you to that..

Minoru told me right away. I absolutely knew he'd do just that.

- We can keep saving each other, alright? Don't forget about it.