Another week of school started wonderfully with blue skies and and a warming sun. Since the day was so nice, the whole school was permitted to have their lunch outdoors within school grounds. Surrounded by hundreds of mingling students, Davis, Cody and Yolei sat at their own table.

Cody and Yolei were enjoying their meals they bought at the cafe. Cody was happy to have his prune juice, not because he liked the taste but because it gives him an edge in the art of Japanese swordsmanship. Yolei was munching down on her meat-filled dumplings, which were still hot.

Davis, on the other hand, was a different case. Rather than eat his meal as though there was no tomorrow, he only twirled his lunch around with his fork. Looking blankly at his food, he let out a sigh.

She's gone...

When Yolei was about to eat her fifth dumpling, she looked up to Davis. Gently wiping the mess off her mouth with a napkin, her eyes couldn't move away from Davis' features. Remembering the feeling within her that Davis has awakened, she once again felt a tingle in her body and smiled to herself. But as Yolei looked on, she noticed a sense of sadness that Davis has drowned in.

I wonder what's bothering Davis? I gotta do something.

"Hey, Davis! Want to try one? It's still pretty hot," Yolei said, offering Davis a dumpling. Hearing Yolei's voice, Davis woke up from his trance and turned to Yolei.

"Uh... no thanks. I'm not that hungry," Davis quietly responded. This took Yolei by surprise. Hearing what Davis said almost caused Cody to choke from his prune juice.

"Davis, you can't be serious! You never refused a dumpling, before! That's your most favorite delicacy!" Cody said in shock.

"Well, sorry to disappoint you, Cody. I'm just not that hungry, that's all," Davis said quietly. As Davis' eyes were going to lower again, he felt somebody sitting so close to him that their bodies were touching.

It was Yolei, and she was holding a dumpling right to Davis' mouth.

"Come on, Davis. Why don't you be a good boy and just take a bite. Just one bite, please?" Yolei asked, sounding almost like a child. As Yolei wore a smile for Davis, Davis' eyebrows went crooked.

What's up with this girl?

Hoping Yolei would return to normal, Davis took a bite out of her dumpling. Yolei didn't blink once as she watched Davis take a chunk off. As Davis was done, he didn't realize that he left a mess at the edge of his mouth.

"Man, talk about being a messy eater. You're even sloppier than Upamon," Cody said. Yolei let out a quiet giggle.

"Here, let me wipe that off for ya," Yolei said. She grabbed a napkin and gently wiped the smudged mess off of Davis' face. Davis couldn't understand why Yolei was being so nice to him. Usually, those two wouldn't really get along well.

"Hey, Davis... I was wondering later on this week if we could..." Yolei started, feeling her blood rush to her face. As Yolei was about to finish her sentence, a greeting from afar interrupted her words.

"HEY, EVERYBODY! Any room for us?" When all three of them turned to who was speaking, they saw T.K. and Kari heading their way. Yolei and Cody waved to them and beckoned them to sit at their table.

When Davis saw T.K. and Kari heading their way, his heart froze. Quickly, Davis gathered his books and got up from his seat.

"Davis, where are you going?" Yolei asked.

"I... I gotta go. I'll see you guys at the computer-room like planned, okay?" Not wasting any time, Davis took his books and rushed off. Bewildered by Davis' actions, T.K. and Kari sat together with Yolei and Cody. Cody and Yolei were just as bewildered.

"Man, I wonder what crawled into Davis' pants? He sure didn't look like the good 'old energetic Davis we all know," T.K. said. Everyone, especially Yolei, pondered on the same question.

"Well, I'm sure he has his reasons. So, guys, what's the news?" Cody asked. Kari smiled to Cody's question, secretly holding T.K.'s hand.

"It all started when T.K. and I were going for a jog last Friday..."

*****

"When are those guys gonna get here? I'm getting hungry!" Upamon said.

"Don't worry. As soon as we return to the DigiWorld, we'll eat to our heart's desire!" Patamon said. Poromon and Upamon hopped around happily, remembering how tasty the food in the DigiWorld was. DemiVeemon, however wasn't so happy.

"Hey, DemiVeemon, what's the matter?" Gatomon asked.

"I think there's something wrong with Davis. Last Saturday, when he returned home, he was so... sad. He cried... and he cried... and he c-cried..." DemiVeemon explained, feeling as though he was about to cry himself. Gatomon tried to comfort her little friend by patting him on the head.

T.K., Kari, Yolei and Cody entered the computer room, happy to see their little Digimon friends ready to travel with them to the DigiWorld. All the Digimons hopped into the arms of their friends, who were carrying backpacks filled with picnic goodies. All, except DemiVeemon.

"Where's Davis? Where is he?" DemiVeemon asked in a worried manner.

"No need to panic. I'm right here."

As everyone turned around, they saw Davis enter the computer lab. DemiVeemon leaped into his arms and gave him a hug.

"Oh, Davis! I was so worried about you!"

"Why is that, DemiVeemon?"

"I... I thought..."

"Come on, guys! Let's talk later and act now! Time to have some fun in the DigiWorld! DIGIPORT OPEN!!!" Yolei shouted happily. Now that Davis has finally joined the gang, she felt even happier. Holding their Digivices at the computer screen, everyone got sucked in. Defying the laws of time and space, they entered the DigiWorld!

*****

"Awright! You finally got here! Took ya long enough!" Ken said, accompanied by Wormon. Setting foot into the DigiWorld let them feel as free as the eagles. After laying their picnic blanket on the ground near the lake, Yolei, Kari, Gatomon and Hawkmon prepared the utensils and some goodies. T.K., Ken, Cody, Armadillomon, Wormon and Patamon went fishing.

"Hey, Davis! Why not give us a hand? We might need your muscles to catch us a big one!" Ken said. Yolei blushed and giggled to herself, remembering how strong Davis was when he lifted her off her feet.

"... no, that's okay. There's something I gotta do. I'll see ya in a few," Davis said. As Davis wondered off into the woods, Veemon followed him.

"Davis, dontcha think it's too dangerous to be out here by yourself?"

Davis didn't bother to answer him. With eyes straight forward, Davis walked on. After walking many more meters away from the others, Davis stopped at his tracks as he was in a dense section of the forest. Seeing himself surrounded by many trees, he began to make a pair of fists.

"Veemon... I want you to return to the others. I want to be alone for awhile," Davis said, not looking at Veemon once.

"Davis, what's the matter? Why don't we talk? Talking helps," Veemon asked. Davis' fists were beginning to shake uncontrollably.

"Veemon... I'm asking you as a friend. Please... leave me..." Davis said slowly, eyes still looking in one direction.

"Davis, why don't we return with the others? Kari's serving-"

Davis smashed his fist into a branch, smashing the branch right off the tree.

"DAMNIT, VEEMON! I WON'T REPEAT MYSELF! GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE!!" Davis screamed, a tear trailing down his face. Still, Davis kept his eyes in one direction, not looking once at Veemon. Never has Veemon seen such rage from his friend before. The blue digimon felt as though a demon put its ice-cold grip onto his heart, and it wouldn't let go. Reluctantly, Veemon ran off to the others.

Seeing he finally has his privacy, he let out a scream and smashed another branch, and another. Branch after branch fell to Davis' feet, feeling his rage. As he continued to use his fists, his knuckles began to bleed. But he didn't care.

"Why? Why did Kari choose T.K. over me? What does he have that I don't?" Davis continued his onslaught. He watched his blood fly out of his knuckles, but his rage blinded him from his pain.

"T.K.... damn you... DAMN YOU!!!"

... to be continued