Author note: This is sort of a transition chapter, because I wanted to do alternating POV, but Koji doesn't have anything else to say or do, so I had to add something in between.
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Shibuya station had been deserted for nearly ten years.
Right after the "incident" that happened at the station-the whole station was torn up, the result of a "computer malfunction"-repairs had begun, but after the repairs were well underway, the public suddenly revealed a strong desire to leave the station alone.
Fear and paranoia drove them away, and not enough people seemed brave enough to go into that station again. (For Americans, think 9/11 and the fear to go on planes after that, though I guess this is a bit stretched) Some lost family members in that tragedy, others barely escaped, but one thing was certain, no one wanted to go near that station again. Except one.
Or, more specifically, a small group of "crazy youngsters." The few who knew what really happened. For them, Shibuya was a reminder of good things, the changes for them that improved their life. They would go back and recall, sometimes even gloat, over their achievements, but they never told anyone what really happened.
The digital world was their little secret. Even amongst themselves, they rarely discussed it, and when any one of them visited the station, not another one was ever there. In that way, it was truly a sanctuary.
The "crazy youngster" who was visiting today didn't think there would be anything different about this particular visit. He was looking for the usual reminder. Yet, as of now, the visit had been anything but usual. He had met Tommy on his way, someone he had said good-bye to the same time he said good-bye to…good-bye to Shibuya the first time.
And the person he often connected with that station.
He couldn't say that he had not talked to the digi-destined since they separated ten years ago. The group called each other every week after they went back to their usual homes, but after a while, the calls became less frequent, and when two of their number went to America, everyone buried themselves in their own work and never spoke to the others again. Until now.
A battered sign loomed before him. The door into the station was open in welcome. He looked down the street in search of…well, he wasn't quite sure of what he was looking for…but he did find something. Or someone. There was someone standing at the other entrance, looking left and right but not seeming to spot him. It was a woman, a well dressed, beautiful, young woman, and he had no idea what she was doing here.
What if it is…
Paralyzed, he watched as she pushed open the other door and stepped inside, the door swinging softly behind her.
He blinked slowly, and suddenly came to a realization.
No, it can't be…
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Author note: Okay, I thought this might be a shorter chapter, but I guess all my chapters are short. One of my goals in life is to sometime write a novel with chapters longer than one page…a high, far out dream…