Ken sighed as the human world seemed to once more materialize around him. Leaning against the walls, he stared up at the ceiling, waiting for the others to arrive. Daisuke soon appeared next to him, tripping and falling over as he tended to do during the transition back, and didn't have enough time to move before the rest of the Chosen Children arrived. They all scrambled to get away from each other before the six Digimon also appeared in the room, but Daisuke, at the bottom of the pile, was too late. He cried out as the Digimon landed on him.

"Daisuke-kun, this always happens," Hikari said worriedly as Daisuke finally managed to get up.

Daisuke somehow managed to grin. "It sure does!"

"That's… that's not a good thing."

"Guys!" Tailmon exclaimed to her fellow Digimon. "Let's all stay over at Hikari's! Her mom can make us dinner!"

"Yay!" The Digimon all cheered, beginning to follow Tailmon out the door. Hikari gasped and rushed after her partner.

As he made his way out, Wormmon stopped next to Ken. "Ken-chan, are you okay?"

Ken nodded. "Yeah, I am. Go eat dinner with the others."

"If you're sure…"

"I am."

Wormmon stayed there a bit longer before slowly nodding. "Alright," he said, and moved toward the door. "You know where I am if you need me." And with that, he left.

As the others slowly began to leave, Ken got off the floor and started to go to the doorway. However, Daisuke, the only one remaining, grabbed his wrist. "Ichijouji."

Ken turned to him, surprised. "Hey, Motomiya-kun. What's up?"

"What was that bullshit you were saying to Wormmon?" Daisuke hissed out. "About you being fine and all that. You don't look fine."

"Really?" Ken murmured.

"Come over to my place," Daisuke suggested. "I'll get my mom to cook you dinner as well, and we can talk about it." He paused. "Does it have anything to do with… what happened today?"

"I'm fine," Ken said, looking away from Daisuke. "What happened today… It didn't bother me."

"That Digimon literally called you the Digimon Kaiser!" Daisuke hissed out. "It told you that no one truly cared about you! Look, I'd have a negative reaction too if I were you."

Ken looked back at Daisuke and stared at him blankly.

Daisuke groaned. "Just… come back to my place."

And staring at Daisuke's pleading face, all Ken could do was nod. "Alright."

A relieved expression appeared on Daisuke's face. "Good."

"I'm home!" Daisuke called out, opening the door. Ken warily glanced around before stepping inside. "And I brought Ichijouji!"

"Oh, you brought him?" Daisuke's mom exclaimed excitedly, appearing in Ken's line of vision. "I'll whip up some extra dinner real quick, then!"

Daisuke grinned. "Thank you!" He turned to Ken. "Well, now that you're here, I will enact my evil plan to get you to spend the night over."

"That… wouldn't be too bad," Ken admitted. "It was nice, the last time I spent the night at your place."

Daisuke's grin grew wider. "Glad to hear it! Now come on, let's go to my room and get something for you to sleep on. Then we'll go have dinner!"

Ken nodded and headed towards Daisuke's room.

The two later came out and had dinner that Daisuke's mother had made. Daisuke chatted with Ken, and for a while, Ken almost forgot about what had happened earlier that day.

But dinner ended too soon, and then Daisuke had headed to the bathroom, telling Ken that he would just take a quick shower and be back soon. Ken nodded and laid down in Daisuke's room, staring at the ceiling. The day's events began to replay in his mind.

The Chosen Children had encountered a Digimon wreaking terror on a town for no apparent reason. When the Chosen Children had confronted said Digimon about it, it had turned to Ken and said, "Really? You say I am evil for my actions, yet you work with the Digimon Kaiser. Or maybe, none of you really care about him. Isn't that right?"

The Digimon had eventually been defeated, but it's words had stayed in Ken's mind the whole way back. It all hurt, way too much.

"Ichijouji, I'm back!"

Daisuke appeared in the room, breaking Ken away from his thoughts. He smiled up at the other boy. "Hey, Motomiya-kun."

Daisuke plopped down next to him. "I'm guessing you're not feeling better right now?"

Ken jolted. "How-"

"You have that look on your face," Daisuke pointed out. "The one where you just… drift off… and remember." He sighed. "Look, what that Digimon said… it isn't true. I care about you. And so do the others."

"And how do I know you aren't making it up?" Ken muttered.

Daisuke paused, considering the question. "Well, I'm not too sure about it. I suppose I could potentially be a master manipulator, who knows." He laughed, and Ken joined him, quietly. "All I can do is tell you that I genuinely do care about you. I appreciate you, and I'm glad you're on our team." He paused. "I'm glad you exist."

"That's a bit far, isn't it?" Ken murmured.

Daisuke shook his head. "Nope! I'm glad you exist," he repeated.

Ken felt warmth in his chest, and he smiled lightly. "Thank you… Daisuke-kun."

Daisuke grinned. "No problem, Ken!"

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