"So what has Luke said?" Xavier asks, brushing some hair out of his eyes. "Any updates on our new teammates?"
"He's finalizing a list," Shinsuke says, lingering by the digiport, glancing back at him. "Another week or two, probably. It's a lengthy process to find the perfect combination of digidestined and partners. Trust me, a couple weeks are nothing."
Xavier hums. "So tell me what it was like, in the early days of digidestined. Before the internet was so huge? Was it fragmented and kind of... slow?"
Shinsuke laughs. "Not really, even when I was younger, the Digiworld hasn't been that different. It's still as cluttered and ridiculous as it is now." He rests a hand on a leaf, watching it clear and lace around his skin, chasing warmth.
"I wish I could've seen it," Xavier says quietly. "I can only imagine being a little kid and experiencing this place. Knowing Roamon from back then to now. Having that bond when I was lonely and sad, or just angsty and struggling. It must've been nice."
Shinsuke hums, holding Coronamon. "Hai, it was," he says quietly. "I would never give up that experience for anything. But there is some benefits to becoming a digidestined when older."
"Yeah?" Xavier asks. "What?"
"Well, it's not easy," Shinsuke says slowly, softly. "Being obligated to do missions as a child, trapped in this world, away from your parents and friends for what feels like weeks or months. Yes, things have changed, we have the portals now, but at the time..." He shakes his head. "Not easy at all."
Xavier swallows. "Yeah, well... when you put it like that," he says weakly, hands rubbing smooth circles against Roamon's forehead. "It does make sense not to want that pressure or danger as a child."
Shinsuke nods. "I understand being a lonely misunderstood child who just wants a friend who would always be there for you, but I think if I could've made a choice to meet Coronamon now, I would've probably taken it. The things I saw, and had to do, when I was so young... it was definitely traumatizing."
Xavier searches his face, a sad twist to his lips. Exhales shakily. "I'm sorry, man. I didn't really even think about it from that prospective. Well, as difficult as it was in the past, I'm still really glad you're here with us right now."
Shinsuke smiles at him, winks at him. "Hai, so am I. Now let's go back and see what kind of progress Luke has made."
"Sir, yes sir," Xavier says, finally holding his digivice up to follow Shinsuke through.
