To see my thoughts, please read the notes in the end of thiss chapter.

PART 7: THINGS TAICHI SHOULDN'T SAY

He looked at Hikari at the morning, with that strange feeling that something different was going to happen. Well, he already regret telling Daisuke that. He whispered to himself:

"I shouldn't have said that! I know who Daisuke is and how my opinion is basically a rule to him! Oh god, I feel today will not be a good day–"

"You're worried about what you said to Daisuke-kun, I can feel it" - she said, while organizing her backpack for school - "I will tell you what Daisuke-kun did at class, okay?"

"H-Hikari! Can't you tell him he's fine? Because I don't want to see a brand new Daisuke! I like the old naive and innocent Motomiya Daisuke–"

"Of course I will tell him, and will you go to school today or will skip class?" - she glanced at him, her eyes telling Taichi she was serious. Just like Yuuko - "You're being a bad role model!"

"Geez, I'm not ready yet! I'm eating, let me finish my breakfast first!"

"Anyway, I'm going. I will meet Daisuke-kun right now"

"When did you meet Daisuke at this hour?!" - Taichi hissed

"We're classmates, oniichan" - she blinked - "And he lives at the building next to us."

Hikari left, but Taichi was still worried about the changes. Once Koushirou told him that Daisuke's speech had changed and it had made Koushirou uncomfortable, or the time Daisuke had asked Yamato to teach him play guitar and sing… Or even the 'Dark Side', Daisuke Kaiser.

Now he was scared to meeting Daisuke– No, a 'new' Daisuke.

"I should learn how to keep quiet when I'm with Daisuke" - he sighed, getting up from the chair and going to his room.

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Hikari found felt strange for not finding Daisuke in front his building, like the past three years. She waited a bit, expecting the goggle boy will appear running from the elevator and apologizing for being late. But this time… It was very suspicious.

"Daisuke-kun?" - she said, frowning at the shadow who came from the building.

"I'm sorry!" - he stopped in front Hikari, bowing his head - "I'm sorry for making you wait!"

"That's okay, I thought you had forgotten something…"

"No, I'm pretty fine! 100% fine!" - he pointed at himself, with a smile on his face. Well, seems Daisuke didn't try to change at all… Maybe Taichi was wrong.

"Sure, sure!" - she giggled - "Let's go, then!"

"Uh, where's senpai?"

"He's going a bit late to school today…"

"Really? I didn't expect him to do that! If he do that, they will not let him watch the classes!"

"To be honest we're really early…"

"It's good!" - he nodded - "Because you can chat and play soccer with your friends!"

"Oniichan was panicking about you changing yourself again, but seems he was wrong" - Hikari thought - "Maybe you decided to ignore it…"

"I need to talk to Miyako too, and Ichijouji…" - Daisuke continued babbling - "because we need to check the Digital World to see if everything is fine. We don't know if there's more bad digimons like Pukumon! And if the gate is still open, it means we're still needed, right?"

"Yes, but I think now it's okay… Vamdemon and Diablomon are gone."

"You can't rest without checking if all the bad guys are gone for real! The evil will not disappear, because there's a balance. Good and Evil are two faces of the same coin too! Good guys must exist to protect the world from bad guys. If not, what would a hero do after beating a villain?"

"You're right, but we deserve to rest too… Vamdemon and Diablomon caused so much troubles, then Pukumon and Boltmon…" - Hikari said, looking at Daisuke - "Heroes deserve to have a normal life too."

"Yes, we deserve," - Motomiya nodded - "but we can't relax if they decided to comeback. Because it's a balance, don't you think?"

"You wouldn't talk about this at this morning…" - she muttered - "Did something happen, Daisuke-kun? A new enemy appeared?"

"No, but I prefer to not lose focus" - he said with a serious voice - "If they catch us off guard, it will be worse" - he stopped in front the school's yard - "You know, I've learned with my mistakes in our previous battles. I was… too much irresponsible, I put your lives in danger…"

"But we're always putting our lives in danger to protect the worlds" - she shook her head - "You don't need to worry about it."

"But I care! I mean… I must be responsible, because I'm the leader" - he scratched his head - "If something bad happens, they will blame me first. If something happens to you or Takeru, Taichi-san or Yamato-san will kill me! So I can't let it happen."

"You're exaggerating, there's no evil digimon trying to attack us. You should relax a bit" - she smiled - "Anyway, you're a good leader, Daisuke-kun. Don't worry about it…!"

"R-really?" - he blushed - "A-ah, s-see you later! The guys are playing soccer!" - then Daisuke left Hikari, going to meet his soccer teammates.

"He didn't change…" - Hikari whispered to herself - "Yeah, oniichan was exaggerating."

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Taichi met Yamato and Sora at the class. Taichi told Yamato what he had accidentally told Daisuke; Yamato sighed, his blue eyes rolling and meeting Sora's. The Chosen of Friendship blushed a bit when he saw her giggling, and Taichi frowned.

"Yamato, I'm talking to you. Can you at least pay attention?!"

"The teacher will kick us out if he discover we're chatting" - whispered Yamato - "Also, why are you worried with Daisuke? The only thing he would do is trying something new!"

"But I like his usual self!" - Taichilaid his head on the arm, poking his eraser with the other hand - "Don't you remember what happened when he tried to change himself?"

"He tried to be a musician, a geek and the Digimon Kaiser" - Yamato mused - "Yes, and then he decided he would be himself, but it seems that he forgot about that."

"Yeah, he forgot… No, he said he would try to be less… Uh… Silly."

Yamato glanced at Taichi in awe: Daisuke trying to be smart?! Could it be possible?! Sorafrowned, worried with Yamato's reaction to whatever Taichi had told him. Yamato looked at the blackboard and then started to copy what the teacher was writing, because he had to pretend he had been studying. Taichi was dying because he didn't like that class.

"I wish I could skip classes" - Taichi thought, pouting. He took the notebook and started to copy too, just to let the teacher think he was paying attention in the class.

"What did Taichi say to Yamato?" - Sora mused, while writing on her notebook.

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After the class…

"You're worried because Daisuke is trying to be… Smart?" - Sora blinked, now talking to the others. Koushirou just shrugged, Yamato and Taichi nodded their heads - "And what's wrong with it? Daisuke-kun isn't stupid, but naive."

"I don't think he's stupid!" - Taichi replied - "But he's too innocent! Innocent enough to make us believe he wouldn't be able to do great things… Not like I don't think he wouldn't do great things, but we're not used to a smart Motomiya Daisuke."

"It could be a disaster again" - Yamato agreed.

"What's wrong with you two?!" - saidSora angrily - "Shouldn't you two support Daisuke-kun as his seniors?!"

"Sora-san, I think the problem isn't Daisuke-kun" - Koushirou interrupted - "but the fact Daisuke-kun is trying to change himself again, after that confusion on Valentine's Day."

"Yeah, Koushirou's right!" - Taichi nodded his head.

"But this time it isn't a sudden change" - he added - "I agree with Sora-san, I'm sorry Taichi-san."

"Of course it's a sudden change!" - the Chosen of Courage growled - "It was because I told him to show us that other side!"

"Oniichan!" - Hikari called him, approaching quickly, with Takeru behind.

"Ah? Hikari?" - Taichi and the other stopped; the little girl and the blond stopped in front of them. Taichi noticed Hikari was really exhausted - "W-what's wrong?!"

"I… I can't believe you were right!" - she said - "It's Daisuke-kun, he changed!"

"WHAT?!" - the seniors exclaimed in awe.

"What do you mean, Hikari-chan?" - Sora blinked

"Today," - Takeru started - "he stopped two fights and didn't let the kids play soccer near the principal's room window. And he solved all the math problems correctly!"

"I know he's good at math, but at class he's pretty bad!" - Hikari continued - "But today he was paying attention, he wasn't sleeping or chatting!"

"And why is this a bad thing?" - Sora frowned - "Daisuke-kun is just trying to get good grades… And keep his classmates away from troubles"

"Yes… He spent the recess reading a cooking book instead of play soccer; he didn't treat Takeru-kun badly and… He was telling Iori that tomatoes are delicious when eaten with other food!"

"And you two are worried just because Daisuke-kun decided to take care of himself and the others?" - Takenouchi sighed - "Hikari-chan, Takeru-kun, he's doing normal things. I'd be worried if he were doing something dangerous!"

"But Sora, don't you see? Daisuke is not being himself!" - Taichi said - "They're scared because they like when Daisuke do Daisuke-things!"

"Like sleep at classes, begin rude and getting into many fights?" - Hikari blinked - "Uh, no. We're not saying we hate this new Daisuke, we're telling you he changed… for good."

"And Taichi is still worried about Daisuke's improvement" - Yamato shrugged - "Sora's right. We should support our little pupil. I thought he was going to believe he's a ninja and jump from the roof."

"His old-self would do that" - Hikari and Takeru sighed.

"Yeah, that's right" - the others agreed.

"But why is oniichan not happy with Daisuke-kun's changes?" - Hikari asked - "it's good to know he's doing his best to improve himself…"

"Yeah, but… That's not like him! It's good, but all of a sudden?!" - Taichi said.

"Uh, what?" - Daisuke appeared behind Takeru - "Taichi-senpai didn't like it?"

Oh no, he had heard. Yamato and Sora stared at Taichi; Koushirou, Hikari and Takeru looked at Daisuke, who was surprised. And Taichi… He felt that he did a terrible mistake again.

"I shouldn't have say that…!" - he muttered.

"I… I told you I was going to change for good!" - Daisuke pouted - "Because everyone here changed, even you… Why should I be the same? We evolve like the digimon too, right? I think it's time to me to evolve too!"

"N-No! I didn't mean that…! I'm glad you're changing and evolving but–"

"Taichi, you have no tact!" - Sora snapped.

"That's okay, I understand…" - Daisuke glanced at the ground, then he bent his body - "I'm sorry! I shouldn't do those things so quickly! You're not used to see me being… Different. You're used to the kid who stalked you and wanted to be like you, Taichi-senpai!"

"H-he's being polite…?!" - Taichi blinked - "B-but I am who should apologize! You're doing this to improve yourself and I… I thought you were going to do something dangerous and–"

"I'm sorry, senpai!" - he repeated.

"Taichi!" - Yamato and Sora kept staring at him, and the others just watching the whole scene. Of course Daisuke was really paranoid and if Taichi didn't approve something, he would do everything to please him. But now his best friends (except for Koushirou, who hadn't said anything except for agreeing with Sora minutes ago) were making him feel totally uncomfortable with that.

"Okay, okay!" - Taichi screamed - "I know! Daisuke, can we talk, please? And you all stay here!"

Daisuke accompanied Taichi, while the rest started to comment about that dramatic scene. While the goggle boy was scared of Taichi scolding him (wait, he did nothing wrong), Yagami was really tired of all the mistakes he had committed that day.

"Daisuke, keep doing your job" - he said - "if you're feeling you need to change, then go and change yourself. I was worried about you trying something too dangerous like before! We all like you for who you are, so don't try to change yourself for us, got it?"

"But I'm trying to be normal" - Daisuke said calmly - "because you guys get surprised every time I say or do something normal, like if I say something insightful, you all will find it strange! At the beginning it wasn't annoying me, but… Sometimes it really hurts, it makes me think you all are like my family. They don't think I will be able to achieve my dream, you know? They think I will be doing the same thing my father does, or another job. What I want is to be recognized! I want people to like what I do and be happy with it, enjoy the taste of the Ramen soup, the noodles, the ingredients… I have this dream since I ate my first Ramen bowl! But it hurts when you know you're able to do something amazing and… And the others just find it strange, unfitting…"

"Y-you're hurt because we get surprised when you're doing things that are normal to you?"

"Yes, I am."

"I didn't know… We didn't know, so… Why didn't you tell us before?!"

"Because you all would say I didn't need to change… Just like you said, senpai."

Taichi looked back and saw the others watching them from afar; they couldn't hear the conversation, but it didn't matter to the group. Honestly, Yamato, Sora, Koushirou, Hikari and Takeru were okay with that change… The only one who had been scared was Taichi.

And he was sure Daisuke's improvement meant a lot to his little kouhai.

"I'm sorry, Daisuke. I… You're not doing anything wrong; I am the only one who should apologize. But I swear I was worried about you doing something dangerous and end up hurting yourself, or even something more… serious."

"You're saying you were worried about me because you thought Iwasgoing to do something weird like the last time, like the Daisuke Kaiser?" - he looked at Taichi, blinking his eyes - "Well, I told you, senpai, I'd be less 'silly'. I'm not kidding, I've changed to make people take me seriously or they would never believe I'll be able to do something serious. And you know, I'm the leader! I must be serious in the battle, make the right choices for everyone… Have a great teamwork if we want to make a goal!"

"Yeah, I know… And honestly? You're doing a great job, Daisuke" - he ruffled Daisuke's hair - "That's what I meant! I was worried that you had gotten my advice wrongly, but thank god you didn't!"

"Of course I didn't! See, you're thinking I'm unable to understand complicated stuff."

"A-ah… I'm sorry!"

"How about you and the group gather at my place to eat my Ramen?" - he smiled - "I can tell mom you all are coming."

"Yeah, that's a good idea… You, Sora, Yamato, Koushirou, Hikari and Takeru? Are you going to invite Miyako, Iori and Ichijouji too?"

"No, only us. I think Miyako and Ichijouji are too busy… And Iori has kendo practice today."

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A writer's thoughts:

This chapter is the one I planned to make it be silly, with the Chosen discovering a new Daisuke and Taichi learning his influence on Daisuke... AND then we got this.
A Daisuke melting because he's tired of people thinking he's unable to be a normal person, to be good at something over soccer. I'd like to say, as a person very tired of Soccer because it's the stereotype most famous of my country, I totally support Daisuke's career in the epilogue. I know soccer is not that popular in Japan (Baseball is more, according to the last time I read about Japan and sports), but hey this kid only plays it for fun and a hobby. He doesn't want that.

And as I said previously, I don't like how 02 treated Daisuke. Making him a comic relief and a "tool" for Ken's development. I'm thankful the existence of the Movies, Dramas and V-Tamer special chapter for exploring and showing the Daisuke I love to draw and write - a human. So yes, this chapter I wrote before the sneak peak. I had no intention to make a foreshadowing to what will happen next. And you know how it will end.

Except it's not the end, this fanfiction will or put on hiatus until Daisuke's debut in tri. (shadows don't count, silly) or I will whip out the "I gonna guess what will happen on tri. next and make it my own AU where I'm pretty sure it will be far far away from what tri. staff had planned" card.

Not sure what I will do, but...
I will continue this fic, for sure.