12.
Somehow, Takumi and Ken ended up working for the same woman, properly this time. And Takumi was like a much more relaxed Daisuke (which wasn't Daisuke at all, if he was being honest) so Ken felt no more uncomfortable than he had expected to, all things considered. Cases were anything innocent (Ken still didn't know how a cat had gotten trapped in an air vent, though for whatever reason it made Takumi's eyes mist over a little) to some truly disturbing ones (Something called the Perfect Girl Project which had made him watch his friends like a hawk for a week and a half).
And every day when they left, Arata would meet with them for tea at the local tea shop.
"Aren't you broke?" Takumi asked at one point, as he fed his own Terriermon a cookie.
Arata snorted. "Please, I'm not Nokia. I've got plenty of money for this."
"Mm. Too bad I'm third-wheeling the whole thing."
"Too bad you're what."
Ken choked on his drink. "You're what?"
Takumi only grinned, watching Arata's face turn an uncomfortable shade of red. "Oh were you guys both not aware at the same time, my bad."
"I kidnapped him."
"Yuugo tried to kill me and we're still-"
"Taku, if you do not kindly not talk about my best friend that way-"
"Oh so it's only okay if you do it?"
The two of them fell into easy bickering once more. For once, Ken was relieved as he was able to sink into his cushion with his food and just think a very simple,
What.