Time went on as planned.

Both of the boys seemed to have forgotten the incidents that had pushed them together. Final exams were right around the corner, and Takeru of course was busy studying. He had no idea whatever the brunette was going on about, he was often seen either actually in the principal's office, or around it in general.

The blonde almost hated the way Daisuke seemed to affect his studies. He couldn't help but wonder if he was doing okay. Whoever hurt him last time seemed serious. Nobody he asked could give a straight answer. It seemed like Daisuke was in fights everyday, but this couldn't be true. He often stayed after class to get some tutoring done for the times he actually missed class.

Takeru didn't mind having something to take over his mind for a while. In fact, he rather enjoyed watching out for Daisuke even if he didn't say anything out loud. He had come to like the boy, much more than in the days belonging to the Digiworld.

Things had changed.

The brunette boy didn't seem as cocky anymore. He was still socially inept, that was for sure. It wasn't clear whether Daisuke even had any friends. He was often alone, or seen in the presence of a rather large, burly senior named Henry. Takeru would ask Henry whether he knew what was going on with Daisuke, but it was a fact that no one ever talked to Henry.

No one other than Daisuke, anyway.

The exams passed on by without any further incident, it wasn't even until a week after in which Takeru had another encounter with Daisuke.

Tachi sensei seemed to call Daisuke into his office after school hours quite a lot as a general rule. Takeru couldn't help but notice the slump of the shoulders as the brunette answered with a soft agreement. Before, he wouldn't doubt Daisuke's reluctance to study math, but now, Takeru began to wonder... Could it really be a teacher's harsh punishment?

After school was over, Takeru silently followed the brunette into his after school study session. It seemed pretty normal, didn't it? Daisuke sat with his head down over the notebook as Tachi Sensei told him what to do.

Takeru laughed at his mistake. Imagine what would happen if someone had known what he was thinking?

******

Daisuke felt awfully awkward around his peers. It never seemed to occur to him that they actually liked him. So, he stayed away.

It wasn't as if he hadn't tried. It just took too much effort to keep friends once he was out of middle school. People moved away, and it just wasn't the same. He had been in a trio with Kari and Takeru, but even then he didn't feel as if he belonged. He was always the third wheel, wasn't he?

Now that Hikari moved, Takeru didn't even come around to Daisuke. He was always off studying. Daisuke never even bothered to get into studying, there was no point. His parents were always going off about how worthless he really was. How he'll never get into a college, nevertheless a good one.

He sighed. Now he had a teacher on his case for more than college. At first, Tachi Sensei seemed to be really nice, teacher-wise that is. Until Daisuke started slacking off. Then he turned into the rabid monster from hell. If Daisuke didn't understand, he'd force Daisuke to understand.

Of course, Daisuke never understood it properly. Maybe it was his subconscious rebelling against something that was wrong, but it wouldn't explain why he was trying so hard consciously.

Even the one person he called "friend" didn't like him. He was always making him do things he didn't want to.

Everything was so wrong.

He didn't belong in high school. He didn't even belong in middle school. Daisuke Motomiya just didn't belong.

******

Hikari came over on Saturday. "For the reunion.", she said, but Takeru thought maybe she really did think of him as her boyfriend. After all, one does not write 'T.T. + H.Y. 4evr' on their algebra folder when they don't consider themselves to be romantically attached. Takeru forced a smile.

"Isn't the reunion at your house?"

Hikari beamed. "Yeah, I thought maybe we could walk together."

Takeru didn't downright hate Hikari, but sometimes, she proved to more than just a girl. She seemed to have gotten over her weak stage, and was becoming more obsessed with makeup and boys rather than things like "love". "I'd love to walk with you, Hikari. Hold on a moment though."

She nodded happily as she walked in, clunky heels and all. She looked around the room, and took a seat on the sofa. "How's school?"

"School? Ah, school's great. How's school for you?"

"Could have been better."

"Bad, huh?"

"Doesn't have you."

Ouch. Takeru winced. Maybe he should tell her he's not interested? Maybe he should tell her he's not interested after the reunion? Just ouch. "Yeah, school's boring without you, too."

Hikari smiled knowingly. "How's Daisuke? Do you still talk to him? I haven't seen him since I moved... Not that I've seen anyone else either, but you know."

Takeru didn't know. "He's fine, actually. Downright hard-headed rebel."

"That's why I never liked him. He could be so annoying, Takeru." Hikari scoffed, making a rude face.

Takeru turned to eye the other girl. He hadn't meant it in a negative way. Daisuke's determination was what made Daisuke.. Daisuke. Hikari had no right...

"Takeru?" Hikari called. "Ready to go yet?"

"Huh? Oh, sure."

With rather pressing thoughts in his head, Takeru went off unknowingly into what would later on become a rather eventful night.