Disclaimer: This story is mine and nothing else! Digimon doesn't belong to me.

LunaOpAznG3: Okay, I promised to update this story soon so I did. Enjoy!

Chapter 4: You worry too much!

(Kouji's pov)

"I forgot something in there."

"What was it? I'll get it for you," the assistant nurse replied.

I grew annoyed. She didn't really want me to come in the office in the first place. "I'll get it myself, thank you." With that, I pushed my way past her as she shrugged and walked away.

I headed towards the second bed on the right, the only one on that side that was occupied. The beds on the left side were more popular because of the windows there. I knew Izumi didn't care for that. The white curtains moved beneath my fingers, enough to let me peek inside.

I saw Izumi sitting up and sighed inwardly. "She doesn't know how to take it easy," I thought. Then I realized that there were little drops falling onto the insanely clean sheets. "Her teardrops." I mouthed. I wondered why she was crying.

"Izumi?"

"Kouji!" She stood up and turned around quickly to look at me square in the eye. "I thought you went to class."

I averted my eyes from hers for an instant before starting over to the wooden side table. "I forgot this." I picked up a silver watch from the top of the table.

"Oh," she replied.

I hesitated for a moment to tell her the real reason why I came back. "I didn't actually forget this. I left it here on purpose."

"Huh? Why?"

"Because I needed an excuse to be alone with you," I muttered quietly.

Cheerfully, she said, "Bet you didn't want the guys to tease you, if they knew." I nodded mentally.

"Can we talk? Or do you feel too tired?"

"No. You know I'm not a weakling, Kouji." She sat down on the bed again. "So, let's talk."

"Um… I-I'm worried…about you." I squeezed my fists tightly behind my back, being careful not to crush the watch in my right hand.

"Well, thanks, I guess. But you don't have to be." She stared at me curiously.

"Don't lie. You've been acting strange lately. You look horrible too." I let that last sentence slip before biting my tongue. "I mean, you look really stressed out."

"I suppose so." Izumi twirled a strand of her hair slowly.

"You've been hiding something from us. Whatever it is, it's making things difficult for everyone, especially you. If you keep pushing yourself too hard, you might-"

"Kouji, I told you, I'm not a weakling! I can take care of myself," she interrupted. Then there was a silence. I didn't know what to say back. I've never been yelled at by her except for when we were in the Digital World.

Her face softened then. "Sorry. I never wanted to burden you or any of our friends." A long pause ensued. She started to cry again. "I wish I could tell you what's going on, but I can't! I don't know what's wrong with me."

Thinking that there was nothing else I could do at the moment, I took one of her trembling hands. "Here, I'm giving this to you." I placed my watch around her wrist and fastened it.

(Izumi's pov)

I felt a little spark as his fingers brushed against mine. But at the same time I was confused. "What for?"

"It's not just a watch. There's a built in walkie-talkie. I have another one at home. Whenever you feel down, you can call me with that. I just want to help you get better." He blushed slightly. I understood how hard it was to say those last words and how hard it was for him to have this conversation.

"Thank you. I'm really glad that we're friends, Kouji." I smiled more than I've smiled in a long time.

"Me too," he replied.

"I think I'm going to sleep now." I figured that would make him less worried. "My mom and dad aren't home now so I'm stuck here for the day." I also added, "You should go before you'll be too late."

"You know I don't care about that." He said good-bye and left. I looked down at the watch he gave me. It was beautiful and had little wolves racing across the surface. After a while, I laid down and actually had a very happy dream.

(Kouji's pov)

I left the nurse's office, looking back at Izumi's bed. I shook my head, thinking that I still hadn't gotten an answer from her on why she was so weird these days. But, she didn't even know. The clock right above me read 8:10. Still, my walking pace stayed slow. I was already late. It didn't matter how late anymore though.

(Izumi's pov)

"Hi everyone!" I met up with Takuya, Junpei, and the others. My dad wasn't home yet and my mom couldn't pick me up today so I had to walk home and go on the train. She said that the adoption papers needed to be signed downtown even though I haven't told her that I agreed to anything yet.

I thought about adopting Mitsuki's daughter while I was resting in the nurse's office. I finally made up my mind and it wasn't really something I had to think over a lot. All along, I really wanted a little sister and no matter how busy I will be in the coming months, I'll take care of her for my parents.

"Izumi! Feeling better?" Tomoki asked me. I patted his head.

"Of course! I wouldn't be out here if I wasn't."

"Good to hear," Junpei said. I smiled back. When we were far away from school and in a quiet street I decided to make an announcement.

"Hey, you guys? I have to tell you something." They all stopped walking and looked at me.

"What is it?" Takuya asked.

"Um… my mom wants to adopt her cousin's child. What do you think of that?" I already made up my mind, but it didn't hurt to get their opinion about it.

"Cool. But I thought you said you couldn't possibly take care of younger children, remember? It was when Kouji and Kouichi first met," Junpei said.

"Oh yeah. Changed my mind. I was sort of irresponsible back then." Tomoki burst out laughing.

"No way! You were the most responsible girl we knew," Tomoki said. I smiled again. He thought highly of me. I felt strangely pleased that he did.

"Thanks. Oh I also wanted to say something else."

"Okay, shoot," they all said.

"You know I fainted in the morning. I've been really stressed lately so maybe that's why. Thank you for worrying about me, but you don't have to for now."

"For now? What does that mean?" Kouichi asked.

"When I find out what's really bugging me, then you guys can worry. I realized today that I can't ever hide anything from you all."

"That's right. Glad you learned a lesson," Takuya whispered in my ear. I pinched his arm to get back at him.

"Don't rub it in." I guess I should be used to his obnoxiousness by now. Anyhow, I felt a big weight lifted off my shoulders after talking to them.

Soon, Tomoki, Kouichi, and Junpei left. Kouji, Takuya, and I walked to the train station as usual. As Takuya bought our tickets, Kouji pulled me over to one side.

"I didn't think you'd tell us straight out like that," he told me.

"Oh really? I thought you said you learned being honest from me."

"When did I say that?" he asked.

"You don't remember? Two years ago, out of the blue." I watched him as he recalled back the memories of our past.

"Yeah, I guess so." Kouji then sighed. "What a long day. You know my dad's going to be pissed off that I was so late this morning. Oh well."

"Idiot. Just explain that you were worried over your friend. Unless you want to get in trouble." I thought he would've come up with a good plan. After all, Kouji thinks a lot!

"Good idea," he replied. Takuya showed up just then. "Alright, let's go home!" We boarded and left, waving to each other once more. I felt happy suddenly. A feeling of joy rushed into me. My friends, I'm so lucky to have them.

End of Chapter 4

LunaOpAznG3: Do I write too much dialogue? Anyway, wasn't Kouji so cute back there? Sigh. I hope that scene with him and Izumi didn't sound too mushy. But, I can't wait to write more scenes with just those two! XD Review! Review! Review! By the way, my birthday is this Sunday! (July 18th)