Koushiro woke up with sunlight hitting his eyes. '9 am, looks like I overslept!' He looked at Mimi sleeping over his arm and tried to removed it carefully. It was strange to see his longterm friend and secret crush so peacefully sleeping next to him. He stood up and grabbed the room's telephone:

- Reception? Hmm. Are our clothes back from laundry?

- Yes, Sir. Do you want them now?

- Yes, please.

- Right away.

A few moments later, the clothes were delivered to Mimi's room. Koushiro got dressed quickly as he still needed to go home to pick some clothes to take to the Ryokan, and also to change to a more casual look. He didn't want the others to find out he had passed the night with Mimi. He left her a note on the room's desk. 'I had to go home to change clothes. I can't wait to see you again'. He walked to her. It didn't seem real. He wanted to kiss her, but thought it inappropriate as she was asleep, so he kissed her forehead and left with an heart bursting with happiness.

Mimi woke up an hour after Koushiro was gone, with her head slightly aching. She looked at the time on her phone. '10 AM. I'M SO LATE'. She jumped from the bed an ran to the bathroom. She put her bikini on, got dressed, grabbed her bag and left for breakfast. She was able to catch the restaurant door opened. 'Phew. That was lucky. Though I better not eat too much if I'm spending the day on water...'. She ate some fruits and cereals, drank her coffee and left to catch the bus to Odaiba. When she finally found herself seated, she thought of Koushiro and the past night. 'When did he left?'. She checked her phone. 'Why didn't he text me this morning? Did he regret what happened?'. Those were some thoughts wandering on Mimi's mind. I'll send him a text myself: 'Hey' she wrote, 'I've missed you this morning... Just letting you know that I'm on my way to the hotsprings. See you in a moment.' She got out of the bus and walked to the Ryokan.

- There she is! Mimi-chan! – Taichi called.

- Sorry, I'm late! I overslept!

- You weren't the only one. Both Daisuke and Koushiro are late.

- Oh... Well, let's go in. Have I told you about room arrangements?

- Yes, Mimi-kun. We randomly separated in two groups. One room is for me, Yamato and Taichi, and the other is for Koushiro, Takeru and Daisuke. – Jou said.

- Alright then...

They entered the building and went to chose their yukatas.

- Mimi-chan... – Sora approached her – Are you okay? You know, since last night...

- Yes, yes. I told you not to worry about it. I slept really well and I'm over what happened.

- I'm glad... You do look different from when we parted last night. – Sora smiled.

Mimi returned the smile and they both entered the girls dressing room. They spent the day relaxing on the termal baths and the sauna, having massages, playing games and eating. It was almost dinner time and Koushiro hadn't appeared nor said anything the whole day. Mimi was happy to be with her friends and really relaxed during the day, but was starting to get worried about him.

- Taichi-san, have Koushiro said anything to you today? – she asked him when they sat for dinner.

- I sent him a text a few hours ago, but he didn't answer. – the boy replied – But don't worry. That's classic Koushiro. He drank a lot last night, so I guess he's still sleeping.

- Hmm.

At that exact moment, a red haired boy, dressen in a purple yukata, with big dark bags under his eyes and carrying a computer, appeared at the dining hall of the Ryokan.

- Sorry, I'm late!

- Koushiro! – everyone greeted him, except for Mimi who remained silently looking at him.

He walked over to her and sat at her side. 'Hi!'

- Hi.

- Did you sleep well? – he asked smiling.

Mimi felt hurt. 'Why is he asking me how did I sleep if he purposely left me alone and didn't bothered to answer my text or show up until now? And why is he grinning like that? It gets on my nerves!' she thought angrily to herself.

- No, not really. – she answered him dryly.

Sora was unintentionally listening to their conversation and looked at Mimi with an inquisitive face. 'Hasn't she told me earlier that she had slept really well?' she thought. Koushiro was taken by surprise by her tone and answer. He softly touched her shoulder. Sora found it odd and Mimi looked angrily at him.

- What's the computer for? – she asked.

- Oh, it's... hmm... I had to work on something, but I didn't finish, so I brought it with me...

- Did you work today? – Mimi asked.

- Well... Yeah.

- That's why you're late?

- Yes...

'Replaced by that stupid machine.' Mimi thought. Sora was looking at the two of them, analysing their behaviour. 'Koushiro, when will you learn?' she sighed. They all had dinner together, but Mimi and Koushiro barely exchanged any more words. After dinner they went to a small festival the Ryokan staff organized. When there were only a few minutes until midnight, Sora sat everyone down in a circle. Koushiro was typing on his computer. 'Okay guys, it's time to give Mimi her birthday presents!' Sora said.

- Mimi-chan! This is from me, Daisuke, Ken and Iori, even them not being here, they wanted to participate.

Miyako gave Mimi a pink round box.

- I'm liking this already! – she said, and everyone laughed.

Mimi opened the box and saw a beautiful silver bracelet, with four tiny stones: blue, red, black and yellow. She smiled widely.

- Do you like it? – Miyako asked.

- I love it! Those are the colors of your D3's, right?

- Right! That way you can have all four of us with you when you're alone in America. – Daisuke answered.

- Daisuke! – Miyako scolded him.

- I'm sorry. It came out wrong. I meant to say that this way you won't feel alone ever again. Hopefully...

- I got it, don't worry. – Mimi smiled at him – Thank you, I really love it. But what about those two hoops between each stone?

- Ah, that would be our gift to you! – Jou said, crawling next to Mimi. His watch beeped three times signaling midnight. – Happy birthday Mimi-kun! He gave her a small pouch. Inside was a grey bead resembling a cross and an X overlapping.

- Your crest! I love it! – she wrapped her arms around Jou's neck and gave him a tight hug. Koushiro had stopped typing for a while to watch Mimi's reaction to the present. He quickly returned to work after seeing her embracing Jou.

- O-okay... I'm glad you like it! – Jou pushed her away, blushing – Let me help you. Where do you want to put it?

- Next to the Iori's yellow stone, of course. I'm keeping them paired together like the Digimentals! – she answered lively.

Next was Sora. 'Mimi, mine is a double present, as you get both mine and your own crest!'. Taichi and Yamato were next, followed by Hikari and Takeru. They all gave their crests in form of a bead to Mimi, and she hugged each one of their friends. Koushiro was the last to give his.

- Can you guess what it is? – he said, laughing nervously. "Why am I nervous?"

Mimi smiled and opened the pouch, there it was the purple bead, the last crest to complete her bracelet. She thanked Koushiro and gave him a quick hug. Sora was again looking attentively at them. 'That was a cold hug. Even the one she gave Yamato was nicer than that, and they don't really tal- Wait.' She stood there in awe looking at both her friends. 'Is Koushiro the guy Mimi likes?'. Koushiro was looking disappointed. 'Does he like her back?'. Mimi had stood up to get the birthday cake she ordered, so Sora moved next to Koushiro.

- Is everything okay, Koushiro-kun? – she asked.

- Yeah...

- You don't seem very happy.

- It's just... Do you think Mimi is mad at me?

- A little bit, perhaps... What happened?

- I'm not sure.

- Then talk to her.

- I'm afraid of what the conversation would turn to be, honestly. I always end up making Mimi mad.

- My thoughts are that she's mad because you weren't here for the whole day. And you brought your computer for the night.

- I had to. I have something prepared for her. For us all...

- Really? Then I don't know what you're waiting for. Here she comes!

Koushiro looked at Mimi as she placed the cake on a small table. He walked up to her.

- Mimi...

- Yes?

- Are you mad at me?

Mimi looked straight into his shinny black eyes.

- Why did you leave in the morning? – she murmured to him.

- I had to. I left you a note...

- I didn't see it.

- But I did, I left it on the table. I'm sorry you didn't find it.

- What about the text I sent you?

- I-I... forgot to reply – he murmured – I can see how this all seems really bad from your perspective, but it wasn't intentional. I'm sorry I was late as well.

- It's okay.

- Mimi...

- It's your loss.

- Don't you want me to be here? I'm here now. Stop acting like this, please. – he said, feeling hurt.

Mimi was caught by surprise by that request. Koushiro usually walked away when something hurted him, rarely confronting people or feelings. Mimi was the opposite. But there he was now, asking her to stop hurting him.

- I'm not doing this on purpose. I'm really angry you didn't spend the day with me. And that you have left in the morning... after I told you that I like you.

- I told you I like you too. Don't you believe me?

- I guess... – Mimi said, while looking away.

- You don't have to guess. – Koushiro moved away from her and grabbed his computer. He placed it on the small table near the cake. – I'll show you.

Everyone was looking at them at this point of the conversation, not exactly sure if they were fighting or just talking.

- Everyone, please come around and sit. I have something to show you all.

They all sat in front of the computer screen. Taichi and Daisuke were both looking at the cake, wondering if Koushiro would take much time to say whatever he was planning to.

- This is what I've been doing the whole day and night. It wasn't easy to gather all that data in the same server... I had to upgrade it. Time was running out, but... Here it is. My personal gift to Mimi. I'm sure you'll all enjoy it as well...

Then, the computer screen lighten up to show a spacious room full of small creatures. A round green face came up first.

- PALMON!

- MIMI!

Everyone was looking dazed at the screen. 'Happy birthday, Mimi!' – Palmon said.

- HAPPY BIRTHDAY – several voices shouted from the screen.

- Koushiro gathered us all in here to wish you a happy birthday. I miss you so much, Mimi. I'm glad I was able to see you today, even though I can't be there.

- P-Palmon...

- Hey, don't cry! Aren't you happy to see me?

- I am... Very much!

- I'm glad! You're really pretty in that yukata. Now, can we sing you happy birthday?

Everyone sang happy birthday to Mimi, who was tearful through it all. At the end they cut the cake and although the Digimons couldn't eat it they didn't mind, they were satisfied enough for being able to see their human partners again. Everyone wanted their own time in front of Koushiro's computer to speak to their digifriends for a while. There was a big fuss around it, so Koushiro went for a walk outside. Mimi was sharing the computer with Jou, talking to Palmon and Gomamon, when noticed him leaving.

- I'll be right back!

She ran to catch Koushiro and found him at the Ashiyu. She sat down next to him, and put her feet into the hot water.

- Why are you here? – she asked.

- Too much confusion inside. And I wanted to enjoy the hotsprings...

- Oh...

- What about you?

- I... I wanted to talk to you!

- About what?

- To say I'm sorry for giving you a cold shoulder earlier, and to thank you for the surprise. I really loved it.

- It's nothing...

- No, no! It is something! You did it for me. I appreciate it. You kept on working on it through the night, even after I was so mean to you. I'm sorry. – she grinned playfully – Would you forgive me, Koushiro-kun?

Koushiro blushed remembering his own saying on the previous night.

- O-Of course I do. I'm glad you liked it.

- How did you come up with that?

- I knew about the bracelet, but... Last night I figured I wanted to give you something myself. Something only I could make.

Mimi smiled.

- You thought of it last night? When?

- Ummm... When you're sleeping. – he said while looking away, patting the back of his head.

- That's really sweet. – Mimi touched his hand and leaned closer.

- M-Mimi... – he said embarassed.

- Are you mad at me?

- No! I just... I'm not confortable with us being like this here. Someone could show up...

- So?

- I told you, I'm not confortable. You're my friend.

Mimi looked him in the eye – You don't consider me suitable for you, right? You said so yesterday.

- I don't consider myself suitable for you either. We're very unlike.

- Is that it? Is that what makes us not suitable for each other?

- In my opinion, yes.

Mimi laughed heartily.

- W-Why are you laughing? A minute ago you were looking angrily at me!

- Because you're an idiot, Koushiro-kun!

- Ehh?

- Do you like me?

- Of course I do!

- More than you liked your ex-girlfriend?

- T-That's not- You can't compare both situations.

- Answer me.

- I told you before... I didn't love her.

- And you love me? Is that it? – Mimi asked, taken by surprise.

- I DIDN'T SAY THAT. – Koushiro turned bright red.

- Maybe we should get out of the hotspring. You're starting to emanate heat yourself. – Mimi giggled.

- That's not funny... – Koushiro sighed.

- Well. I don't buy that theory of yours. You and your ex-girlfriend were much alike, both liked computers, studying and living away from the real world. If that didn't make you fall in love with her, that disproves your theory.

Koushiro was looking astonished at her – Well... I didn't test it many times to prove it right or wrong...

- Do you want to test it one more time?

- Yeah. I'd do it again...

- Do you want to start with me? For science. – Mimi giggled.

- I hope to start and be finished with you.

- That would ruin the experiment... – Mimi said while closing her eyes and placing her forehead on his.

- Screw the experiment! – Koushiro said, and leaned to kiss her.


Ashiyu is a hot spring "pool" where one can bath their feet. :)

Get ready for the final chapter! wowowo