Disclaimer : I don't own digimon

Hotaru waited the large cherry tree after school for her friends. Everyone was meeting up to go to the movies with Mimi. Shopping with Mimi the day before turned to be a new experience for Hotaru. She had never gone shopping with a bunch of friends before. Although they didn't get much purchasing done, they had a lot of fun. Hotaru was the first to arrive at the meeting place, because everybody else had after school activities to attend to. Usually Hotaru would tag along with Izzy to computer club, but lately she felt like she could maintain some distance between Izzy and herself. She had this unshakable feeling that he was going to break her heart. Even though Hotaru was used solidarity, she missed Izzy's company.

"Hotaru?" Hotaru turned around to see who called her

"What are you still doing here? " Damien asked. Damien was still in dark green uniform, and was accompanied by his father.

"How are you Hotaru? " Aki asked concerned, as he put one arm over his son's shoulder.

Seeing them together, Hotaru saw striking resemblance to each other. Damien had the same eyes and nose as Aki. Hotaru could hardly believe Aki wasn't Damien's biological father. They looked pretty similar.

" I'm good uhh-" Hotaru wasn't sure how to address Damien's dad. Should she call him doctor or uncle?

" I'm just waiting for my friends. What about you too?" she asked

"Dad was here to see the principle. After this semester I'm going back to America." Damien shot a glance at his dad. He was pretty upset about his father's sudden decision. Even though his father reasoning behind this decision was logical, Damien still didn't want to abandon his search, or leave his grandmother.

" You see Hotaru, Damien is going to Yale or Princeton, and He's more likely to get into these prestigious school if he were to apply to back home." Aki explained to the younger girl.

" Ohh I see."

"What are your plans Hotaru? Damien tells me that you could go to any university you want. You should apply to the Ivy leagues as well." Aki inquired.

" I haven't decided yet, but I want to stay close to my family. I'll probably go where Tai goes, or somewhere close to home." Hotaru explained.

Aki smiled in response. Aki wanted the best for Hotaru, and he was sure that going to an Ivy league College would be the best. He'd have to talk to Susumu about that later on.

"Hey Hotaru!" Matt said panting as he suddenly came next to her.

"uhh Hi Matt." Hotaru greeted in return.

Matt extended his hand to Damien and Aki. "Hi, I'm Matt. A friend of Hotaru's."

Damien and Aki shook his hand and introduced themselves. Aki looked at Matt suspiciously. He was a very handsome boy. He had ocean blue eyes, a few shades lighter than Hotaru, and locks of blond hair. He didn't like leaving Hotaru alone with this boy. The boy had a guitar strung to his back. Musicians were always bad new as far as Aki was concerned. What was Susumu doing, letting Hotaru be friends with a musician.

" We should get going." Damien said to the two teenagers. "Doesn't your shift at the hospital start soon dad?"

"Well I have some time. We can stay with you Hotaru until your friends arrive." Aki stated.

"Actually everyone is waiting for us at the soccer field. I just came to get Hotaru because she doesn't have a cell phone." Matt explained

The four departed ways, with Aki shaking his head grumpily.

She doesn't even have a cell phone. What is Susumu thinking?

"Finally they're here!" Cried Mimi from the bleachers. Mimi was sporting a white short shorts and a baby blue tank top.

The gang had gathered at the soccer field. Sora, Tai, Davis, Ken , Kari, TK, and Yolie were kicking the soccer ball around while the others sat on the bleachers watching. Jyou had gotten out of school early that day as well, but was reading a huge boring text book. Mimi, Cody and Izzy were sitting close by, teasing Jyou.

"They sure do make a cute couple." Sora said, as she stopped the soccer ball with her foot and looked up at her two approaching friends.

"Don't even think that!" Cried Tai, giving Sora a gentle playful shrug, and then turned around and gave the younger blond brother a dead stare. TK who was holding Kari's hand, suddenly dropped it while Kari howled with laughter. Everybody else joined in on the laughter while Izzy looked away. This did not go unnoticed by Mimi. I'll have to make my move soon She thought

"What's so funny?" Matt asked as he approached closer.

"Nothing " Grumbled Tai as he picked up the basket ball. " Let's get going."

After the movie the gang, went out for dinner. It was a relief for the Kamiya kids because now they didn't have to go home and be their mother's guinea pigs. Since it was a beautiful evening, the gang decided to walk home. Tai, Sora, Davis lead the group discussing strategy for their next soccer game. They were followed by Cody, Jyou, Ken and Yulie, who were talking rather animatedly about a medical procedure that Yulie had seen on television. Fallowing them were TK, Kari and Matt.

"So Matt," Kari started "how come you lied to those two girls, saying you taken when they gave their numbers?" Kari asked, suspicious and surprised at the older blonds' recent behavior.

"Well young Kamiya," Matt said as he ruffled her young teen's hair " I didn't want to hurt their feelings by saying I wasn't interested."

"What's wrong with them?" Kari asked confused. "They very pretty and they seemed nice too."

Matt shrugged. " I just wasted interested."

"Since when do you miss out on a pretty girl's number." TK asked as he playfully poked his older brother.

Matt gave a mischievous smile to the young couple. "It was actually your girlfriend's idea." He stole a side glance at Hotaru who was walking behind him with Izzy and Mimi. Hotaru neither noticed Matt's conversation or him looking at her, because she was too deep in a conversation with Izzy about the upcoming awards ceremony.

"so everyone is going to the awards ceremony?" Mimi asked.

Izzy stopped talking and took a deep breath. He had forgotten that Mimi didn't know about it.

"Pretty much Meems." He said. " It's for outstanding youths in Japan. Hotaru, Ken and I are supposed to receive awards for academic achievements. Sora has been nominated for best upcoming tennis player, and Matt's band was hired because they wanted hip entertainment for us young people. So naturally Yolie, Kari, Tk and Tai are coming as family. I invited Cody and Davis since I had extra tickets. Jyou couldn't come because he has an exam that day."

Mimi was very proud of her friends for their accomplishments, but she very badly wanted to be there to see them be publicly acknowledged for it.

"Mimi," Hotaru said, as she took Mimi's hand. "I have an extra ticket. Would you come as apart of my family? I would be honored if you would."

Mimi was taken back. She knew Hotaru was kind, but this gesture bought tears to her eyes.

"Oh Hotaru! I would be honored. Thank you for asking." She said as she smacked Izzy across the head.

"Hey!" Izzy said, "You surprised me with your visit, or else I would've saved a ticket for you." He said defending him self

" So Hotaru, what are you going to wear? Did you see anything you liked yesterday?" Mimi asked

Hotaru shook her head. "Nothing really. I want it to be something special, but comfortable too."

"You should look at some designer clothing." Mimi stated

Hotaru shook her head. " It'll be too expensive. My parents are already looking for a bigger house since I moved back. I don't want to hassle them." Hotaru explained

"It'll be free if it were by Mimi." Mimi winked. " I heard she makes excellent evening gowns."

"Oh Mimi, I couldn't possibly ask you for that. It'll be too much work, and you're supposed to be on vacation." Hotaru claimed, deeply touched by Mimi's offer.

"Nonsense! As you said Hotaru, I'm family. If I can't make a dress for my sister, who else can I make it for? Plus I absolutely love making dresses, so not work at all. And you have the perfect figure, you'll make my dresses look more fabulous." Mimi said. Refusing to take no for an answer.

Hotaru nodded in surrender. "Perfect! Why don't you come over now, so I can get your measurements?"

"I'd love too, but my parents won't let me go anywhere alone. I need either Tai or Kari to come with me." Hotaru mumbled , slightly embarrassed by her parents over protectiveness.

"That's even better. Why don't all the girls come over to my house tonight? I can get all your measurements so all of you will be wearing piece by Mimi on awards night. We can have a sleep over!" Mimi said to everyone

The girls nodded in approval, excited in the change of plans.

"Can we come too?" TK asked sheepishly.

" Not a chance!" Laughed Mimi as she ruffled the younger boy's hair.