Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon.
The Dreamer
Chapter: 8
Well, this is certainly a pickle, thought Takato as he stared out the window, watching the sun as it slowly made its way towards the western horizon. Oh man, I hope that whatever it was that Jeri wanted to talk to me about wasn't too important. I'd hate to have her wait around for too long just because I was dumb and forgot to do my homework.
Takato sighed dejectedly as he turned back to the essay that he was supposed to be writing for Ms. Asagi. He wasn't at all that far along into it. Just a couple paragraphs for what was supposed to be a page and a half. A glance up at the clock revealed that he was only fifteen minutes into his detention. Leaning his head into one hand Takato tapped the end of his pencil on the booklet that his teacher had given him, trying to find the inspiration to say something more, but found himself presently unable to do so. It seemed so stupid to write a page and a half on the subject of doing homework and its importance in a student's life. Personally he didn't see much reason to have homework at all except to make a kid's life difficult. The page and a half also seemed a little bit extreme too. Why write so much about something when you could make a point about it in half the space and time?
Certainly one of life's greatest mysteries, thought Takato sarcastically. Maybe I can find a digignome around here somewhere and see if it can't turn me up a completed version of this essay. Yeah. And Terriermon will swear off wise cracks and become a saint. In my dreams.
…
On second thought, better lay off on the dream jokes for a while. It's not healthy for me…
Takato groaned inwardly as he began to once more doodle in an attempt to break up his writer's block and finish the assignment. It looked like it was going to be a long afternoon.
I just hope that Jeri's okay, the boy thought as his pencil aimlessly scribbled across the paper.
Jeri sat on a swing, her hands loosely holding the chain links as she watched Rika pound Kazu into the ground in yet another game of digimon while behind the visor-wearing boy Guardromon cheered on in encouragement, giving mostly useless advice while at the same time loudly pointing out potential moves that his partner had in his hand. Not exactly the subtlest of digimon, but Guardromon did have a good heart (or whatever the mechanical equivalent was for a robot) and tended to be the more logical of the duo. Well, with the exception of the card game as he wouldn't stop talking about the sheer awesomeness of Kazu's skills and whatever dastardly plan he was setting in motion. Not that they would have made a difference when combating Rika of course. Few players came as good as she did, and even fewer were able to defeat her in a match.
Jeri giggled lightly as she watched Kazu throw up his hands in irritation as Guardromon ruined yet another, perfectly good move by talking about it before it could even be unleashed while Rika shook her head in silent bemusement at their antics, an expression that was matched by Henry, Terriermon, Kenta, and MarineAngemon as they watched the match unfold.
Rika had arrived at the playground area of the park not to long after they did, it having become something of a regular meeting place for them as it had more room for them all to romp around in comparison to Guilmon's shed (when considering Guardromon's size this was an important fact to take into consideration), and since knowledge of digimon had become more common place few held any worries about hiding their partners from prying eyes. The only ones who still maintained their wariness was Takato (though only when going to areas where Guilmon wasn't as well known) and Renamon, who in tune with her warrior instincts preferred to follow her partner at a discrete distance and remain unobserved by the human eye. It was understandable from Jeri's point of view. Not everyone looked kindly on the existence of digimon. There were still a few concerned parents in Shinjuku who refused to let their children play with Guilmon, MarineAngemon, or even Calumon despite their obvious friendliness. Jeri felt that that kind of reaction was understandable too. After all, digimon were well known for causing havoc within the city, and the D-Reaper and Parasimon invasions were still far to fresh in everyone's minds to forget easily. A little bit of wariness was important because of that.
The sound of Guilmon groaning from his spot on the ground next to her caught Jeri's attention. Smiling softly the brown haired girl reached down and gave a light pat on the top of the red dino's head. Guilmon had been a little depressed when he found out that Takato had been stuck in detention again, and until he saw him again there was very little that could cheer him up and that included the promise of Guilmon bread, a fact that had left everyone in stunned amazement and Terriermon checking the sky to see if meteors were raining from the sky to deliver doom upon them all. Returning her gaze back to the match ahead of her Jeri remembered Rika's own disappointment when she learned that Takato had remained at school. It wasn't anything completely obvious, and it was certainly a far cry from Guilmon's own disappointment over the matter but it did seem like a lively light had gone out in the red headed Tamer's eyes upon discovering that Takato wasn't around for her to thrash. Or maybe she was reading too much into things, a product of her having overheard Rika's conversation with Renamon back during the Hanami celebration. Much like Kazu was reading too much into Takato's buying of ice cream for the Digimon Queen (a fact that Jeri herself still found funny despite present circumstances). Kazu had unwisely remarked on Rika's disappointment, and subtly hinting at her reasons for being that way.
Jeri had to say that she was mildly surprised when Rika, rather then get angry instead promptly told Kazu that he was obviously drawing the wrong conclusions from his observations. Jeri found it somewhat interesting that not only did she pick up on what Kazu was getting at in record time, but hadn't gotten angry over it. But again, Jeri wondered if she was reading too much in her friend's actions.
I'm starting to sound a little bit jealous, thought Jeri as she looked down at the ground and kicked at it with her feet. A familiar, kitsune shaped shadow materialized next to her as she did so.
"Something troubling you, Jeri?" Asked Renamon as she walked up to the young girl and placed a hand on her shoulder. Jeri blushed lightly as her grip on the swing tightened
"W-what do you mean?" Jeri stuttered as she felt her face burn even hotter.
Renamon didn't answer at first, and instead simply looked down at Guilmon who was still moping from his place on the ground. Renamon seemed to be contemplating whether or not it was appropriate to discuss whatever was on her mind with the crimson reptile in earshot. After a few seconds she spoke again, apparently deciding that Guilmon would be fine where he was.
"You seem to be agitated about something. I've observed humans long enough to know when something upsets them no matter how hard they try to hide it. Normally it's not my place to involve myself in someone else's affairs but I have noticed that you've been keeping a close eye on Rika ever since she and I arrived and you've been somewhat distant as well…"
Renamon let the sentence drift, letting her silence speak for itself while Jeri composed herself.
"Well…maybe a little," whispered Jeri and Renamon squeezed her shoulder in an attempt to comfort her.
"You're still wondering about what you learned during the Hanami celebration," said Renamon stating it as though it were a fact. Jeri swallowed and nodded.
"I am. I've been thinking about it for quite a while now. Maybe it's just silly of me to do so since that conversation you and I had but I can't seem to get it out of my head. I think about some of the things that Takato and Rika have done for each other, the way that they've acted around each other and I can't help but wonder sometimes…and then there's the dream that Takato had about Rika before he ever met her…"
"Jeri," interrupted Renamon. "Do you remember what we talked about before back during the Hanami celebration?"
Jeri nodded reluctantly.
"Do you still feel that because Takato had a dream about Rika, that it should have any importance about how the three of you conduct your personal affairs?"
Jeri looked down at the ground.
"Sometimes," she answered softly. "Sometimes I wonder about it. It seems so weird thinking about it. Digimon aside, it's not the sort of thing that you hear about everyday. Sometimes it makes me think that there's something special about Takato that sets him apart from the rest of us."
"Is that bad?" Asked Renamon raising an eyebrow in something that could be taken for amusement as she remembered Takato and Guilmon's transformation into Gallantmon's Crimson Mode during the Parasimon invasion, and before that when she and Rika had noticed something happening to him during the final battle with D-Reaper. They had been too far away to tell what was going on then, but they seemed to be glowing. Takato hadn't mentioned much about his mode change then beyond Grani helping, and only confirmed it in full detail after Rika's birthday party. As though she were thinking the same thing Jeri smiled and shook her head.
"No. It's more the opposite in fact. Of course," Jeri giggled. "He'd be special anyway, but him having a dream about Rika feels to me like it has something more to it. I know you and Rika say that we all choose our own destiny, and I believe it too, but…" Jeri's gaze went back to a certain red headed Tamer as she smiled triumphantly over Kazu as he wailed in displeasure over yet another defeat at the hands of the Digimon Queen. "…What if Takato's destiny is to be with Rika?"
Renamon looked at the brown haired girl impassively for a moment before looking up at the sky.
"Only if you decide to let it be that way Jeri," said the vulpine digimon as she folded her arms across her chest. "You don't know for sure how things are going to turn out and you are putting far too much weight on Takato's dream, anticipating things that might or might not happen in the future. Regardless of whatever Takato's dream about Rika means, and it could mean many things, there is one constant that you must keep in mind and that's your ability to choose. You can either choose to let Takato go or not, just like they have the ability to choose to be with each other or not. A simple dream does not change that, and knowing Rika she would prefer to have the choice rather then let a mere dream do the deciding for her."
Renamon let a small smile appear on her face and she looked down at Jeri, feeling a sense of relief as she saw that she shared the same humor in her estimation of Rika's desire to choose her destiny.
"Yeah. You're right about that," said Jeri, grinning. A second later the grin vanished and was replaced by a contemplative expression. After a few seconds she spoke again.
"I am curious about one thing though, and I know that it's rude of me to ask and that you did answer it during Hanami but…I would like to know if you have an idea as to what Rika feels for Takato, if they've changed at all since we last talked about this."
Renamon frowned slightly, not sure if that was something that she wanted to answer. She was aware that there were…differences in the way Rika interacted with Takato ever since the Hanami celebration but they were mostly subtle clues and difficult to notice and even harder to interpret. She had considered approaching Jeri about it not to long ago so as to try and get a better understanding of the emotions that her partner might be experiencing, if what she suspected was the case that is. She had decided against it in the end as she felt that doing so could potentially lead to the sort of difficulties that Jeri was experiencing now and she didn't want Jeri to make a decision that she felt was out of her hands. As vixen thought about this a memory of Rika singing her song to Takato in the park entered her mind and her azure gaze settled on her partner as she collected her cards and began to reshuffle, this time with Henry as her next opponent. It seemed so strange that she would do such a thing for Takato, and even stranger that he would ask it of her. Perhaps not as odd as the thought of Takato dreaming about Rika before even meeting her but there it was. And then there was that new light that she saw in Rika's eyes ever since that day in the park. It was a small light now, but if it were what she thought it was, would it grow? And if she told Jeri her suspicions how would that affect her? Renamon looked over at Jeri, her eyes wide, curious, and imploring the vulpine to tell her the truth.
Renamon shook her head.
"I don't know," said Renamon. "I have my suspicions and doubts, but none of those can make anything in regards to what Rika feels for Takato certain and she hasn't discussed it with me. Besides, this is something that is best discussed between you and Rika only. As her friend, it would be better."
Jeri chewed her lower lip as she cast her eyes back towards the ground. Renamon once more placed a comforting paw on her friends shoulder.
"I…I guess that I already knew that, but…I'm scared Renamon. What would happen if I forced the issue? Rika's my friend, and…"
Jeri gripped the chain links of her swing harder as she found herself unable to continue pouring out her fears to the vulpine digimon. For the first time Renamon noticed that throughout all of this Guilmon had not moved or said a thing about what he had heard, but instead continued to stay where he was, no expression except a sad contemplation on his face revealing a single thing about what he was thinking. Renamon narrowed her eyes as she looked at the dinosaur but for the moment said nothing. A talk with him later would suffice.
"I don't think that you have to worry about that Jeri, but should you decide to discuss this with her it would be wise not to be confrontational about it."
"I know."
Jeri fell silent once more as she thought things over. Time passed, and after a few minutes Renamon came to the realization that Jeri needed to be alone now and she faded from view, leaving the girl alone with her thoughts. Jeri mouthed a silent 'thank you' as she went back over the events from the Hanami celebration and some of her own fears, suspicions, beliefs, and what she had said in regards to her two friends Takato and Rika. Despite what she had said to Kazu earlier she wondered if she was a little bit jealous. She knew that she'd be happy for them if they did get together and that they should be encouraged in such an event. That was just how she was. She couldn't bring herself to hate anyone for the happiness that they had which was why seeing Impmon with his Tamers and the look of joy on his face never bothered her. But she wondered if the idea of Takato dreaming about Rika made things different between them, as though they shared something that she wasn't a part of and in that way made Rika more special in Takato's life then she herself could ever be. When she had been making her way home after her first outing with Takato at the Sakura Trees she had thought a lot about their relationship, and remembered quite well that crushes don't often last, especially at the age that she was. She remembered a crush that she had once during the first grade. Of course she was much younger then and the circumstances were completely different to the here and now but that did not change the fact that she and her friends were growing up. Feelings and emotions could change over time and her own destiny was taken in a different direction from what she thought it would be.
Where did she fit into things now? She couldn't fight alongside her friends, and she couldn't protect them the way that they protected each other in battle. She enjoyed hanging out with them but…
Jeri sighed.
Maybe I'm thinking too hard, Jeri thought as she leaned her chin on the top of her hands, huffed a little in irritation and closed her eyes, hoping to lose herself and thereby reorganize her thoughts so that she could get a better perspective on things. And she knew that she would need to if she were to…
"Jeri?"
Jeri's amber eyes snapped open in surprise as she saw Rika standing in front of her, looking at her with a concerned expression on her face.
"Rika?!" Jeri said a little too quickly. "Hi! Um…what are you…?"
"I was getting bored listening to Kazu go on about his constantly losing to me so I figured I'd come on over and see what was up. You've been over here for a while now and you look like you could use a friend right now." Rika walked over to the next nearest swing and sat down in it, leaning forwards a bit and giving the impression that she was now the epitome of the patient, listening ear. Rika gave a brief glance at Guilmon before looking over at Jeri.
"So why the face?"
Jeri dug the toe of her foot into the ground nervously as she thought about how to answer that.
"Oh…it's…it's nothing…"
"Uh-huh. Right. I'm going to go out on a limb here so feel free to correct me if I'm wrong, but this wouldn't happen to be about Takato would it?"
Jeri's face turned cherry red as her eyes widened in surprise.
"Ah! Um…ah…"
"Thought so. You want to talk about it?"
"I…I don't know," said Jeri feeling a great amount of uncertainty flooding her mind. She wasn't ready to handle this now. She wasn't prepared. But then, she realized, she probably wouldn't ever be. All that was left was the decision to either talk about her worries, or not. "Maybe…"
Guilmon, as if sensing that the conversation was best left between the two females sniffed the air, got to his feet and trotted over to where the others were. Jeri and Rika watched him go for a few seconds before returning to their heart to heart.
"So what did Renamon have to say?" Asked Rika finally, a little bit more bluntly then she meant, but she harbored no hard feelings that whatever it was that was on Jeri's mind she had chosen to talk to Renamon about it. Truth be told, it made her feel as though Renamon were more a part of their group instead of being a digimon partner. It felt more natural that way.
Jeri didn't answer right away, and from Rika's point of view seemed to be retreating a bit. Feeling a little a mixture of exasperation and compassion for the girl that she counted as one of her closest human friends Rika reached over and placed a hand over one of Jeri's, earning a surprised gasp from the girl.
"Jeri," began Rika calmly. "You don't have to tell me if you don't want to, but you shouldn't act as if I'm going to throttle you over whatever is on your mind. We're friends, so you should know that whatever you have on your mind you can tell me."
Jeri smiled slightly; still unsure if she wanted to talk about this with her just yet, but at the same time she didn't want Rika to feel as though she were being left out of something important.
Maybe…
"How could you tell? That I was worried about Takato I mean?"
Rika gave a good-natured smirk as she brought her hand away from Jeri's.
"It's pretty obvious with the way that you two have been acting around each other lately. I'd blame Gogglehead for it if I didn't know any better. You've been a little out of sorts ever since that day during Hanami. Takato's been worried about you because of that you know."
"H-He is?"
"Why wouldn't he be, Jeri? He just respects your need to privacy enough to not go bothering you too much until you want to talk. He's weird like that sometimes. Either he tries too much to get involved in something and solve a problem for you or he takes too far of a step back."
Jeri gave a small smile remembering that was one of Takato's qualities that she liked the most.
"Yeah. He's a good guy isn't he?"
"Yeah," replied Rika, her smirk transforming into a smile that Jeri could only describe as being radiant despite its small size. It almost seemed to light up her face. "Yeah, he is."
Silence hung between them for a few more seconds.
"You're not going to tell me what's wrong are you?"
Jeri didn't meet Rika's gaze as she felt shame course through her heart.
"I'm sorry Rika, it's just…complicated. I'd like to tell you, and I will someday but…I just need some time to think about it, that's all."
Rika regarded Jeri for a moment, her gaze scrutinizing before she turned away and gave a light hmmph.
"You know, the way you said that one would almost think that I was involved in this too," the red haired Tamer muttered sarcastically, the statement making Jeri jump a little in shock. Jeri fumbled with the corners of her dress as she took that in, her heart pounding a fast, nervous pace in her chest. A thought came to her and she seized onto it like a lifeline, not at all sure why she had done so and in a way it scared her even more. Nonetheless, the girl took a deep breath and readied herself to dive into the metaphorical abyss.
Now or never…
"What if you are?" Jeri said weakly, causing Rika's face to whirl about in surprise. Time seemed to stand still as they looked at each other, shock etched into both of their faces.
"What did you say?" Rika said quietly, her tone plainly evident that she had not been expecting that at all.
Jeri looked away, feeling her face flush in shame as she gripped onto the swing sets chains all the harder. Rika took a moment to reprocess what she had heard before speaking again.
"You can't be serious! That's just…you've…" Rika stumbled over her sentences as she tried to find a bit of coherency in what she was trying to say before looking at Jeri's face once again. "You are serious, aren't you?"
Jeri nodded slowly.
"Why?"
Jeri blinked. "Wha…?"
"Why'd you think that…that I was at all interested in Takato?"
Jeri bit her lower lip.
"Remember when I teased you about Ryo during the Hanami celebration, when we met up with Henry's family? You went off into a patch of Sakura trees and…I was going to apologize about that and…I…happened to hear your conversation with Renamon." Jeri saw Rika's eyes widen at that revelation. "I heard a lot of things then. Things that I don't think I was supposed to know…like Takato's dream about you."
Rika's mouth worked in an attempt to say something. Anything.
Alas, it was all in vain.
Jeri continued.
"And I couldn't help but think about what that could have meant. And there were some of the other things that you said about Takato, like how he confused you over some of the things that he's done. I'll admit that he can be a bit goofy sometimes…"
"Jeri…"
"…And…huh?"
Rika swallowed, but didn't say anything right away. She had expression on her face that Jeri couldn't quite place, and that made her worried. A tension seemed to fall between the two friends as they sat on the swings. Rika's mind was awhirl with confusion. This was a lot of information to take in all at once and she wasn't too sure how to approach this from there. The fact that Jeri had overheard the conversation that she had with her partner, and not only that had actually learned about the dream that Takato had about her…
…It kind of disturbed her.
I haven't thought about that dream in a long time, thought Rika as she nudged her foot on the ground, pushing the swing backwards so that its chain squeaked as it moved. I can't remember the last time I even thought about it seriously. Takato was just a goofy, weird kid in those days. I didn't imagine that I would be as involved in his life the way I am now…as his friend. Funny how things work out…
But how do I talk about that with Jeri…when I don't even understand it myself?
Rika frowned.
"Tell me that you don't think that stupid dream even means what I think you're thinking…"
"But…what if it doe…?"
"Jeri? I think that we should clear the air about a few things here. Takato and I…we're just friends, okay? You shouldn't have to worry about that, and it's not worth dwelling on anyways…"
Jeri shook her head. This was not how she wanted the conversation to be going right now. But then, she didn't exactly want to have it to begin with.
"…As for that dream…I don't know what that was about. I don't usually have a clue what goes through that weird head of his anyway. His dreams least of all and I'm not too interested in finding out anything more about that particular one."
Jeri's face snapped up to Rika's, eyes wide.
What…?
"You're not…?"
Rika shook her head.
"No. I'm not. It hasn't been an issue in all the time that we've been friends…well, except for once but I wouldn't exactly have called us friends then. At any rate, it's not an issue now, and it shouldn't concern you. I'm still surprised that you even thought that I thought of Takato in that way just because of that stupid dream."
Jeri blinked.
"So…you don't…? But…what you told Renamon during Hanami…"
Rika turned toward Jeri, her expression unreadable.
"Look. I was a bit upset at the time. And…maybe a little bit confused too. I…"
Rika paused and raised an eyebrow.
"Just how much did you overhear anyway?"
Jeri blushed again.
"Um…I know that Takato asked you to go cherry blossom watching with him on your birthday. Something about you not liking surprises."
Rika looked away, closing her eyes as a light shade of red crossed her cheeks. Jeri found herself faintly amused by it.
"Hmmph. That's right. The stupid Gogglehead blabbed about your surprise party over the phone and he was trying to apologize to me. Sometimes it's like his mouth can't catch up with his brain and he just says the first thing that makes sense. Not like it made sense to begin with but…well…it was just a little weird being with you and Takato that day. It almost felt like we were going to watch the cherry blossoms…"
Jeri suddenly giggled, and all of a sudden the tension that had been building up between them began to lessen.
"That's what you were doing actually," Jeri teased. Rika scowled.
"Not funny. What I meant was he actually forgot about the whole thing after that Parasimon business, and then having to go to Hanami with you two…"
"I know," interrupted Jeri. "I've…given that a lot of thought since then. I'm a little bit sorry about it. I mean, since you don't normally like that kind of thing but it was fun having you around."
"It was," said Rika, smiling in remembrance. "All things considered, it was. I don't regret it."
Another pall of silence fell between them for a brief moment as the two girls collected their thoughts.
"So…you don't care about Takato in that way?" Asked Jeri tentatively.
"What did I just get finished saying Jeri?" Said Rika with a hint of annoyance as she looked over at her friend. Amber met amethyst, and for a second it seemed like Rika's eyes were trapped in Jeri's, as though the brunette's gaze drove to will an honest answer to her question. Rika felt as though she wanted to pull away but forced herself not to. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Jeri looked away, a thoughtful expression and, strangely enough, a smile on her face.
"You know, if you do like Takato, I wouldn't have a problem with it," said Jeri as she slowly rocked her swing back and forth. Rika furrowed her brow, silently mouthing the words that Jeri had spoken. It looked as though that she were about to challenge Jeri on that assertion when the girl came to a stop and got up from the swing.
"When you see Takato next time," said Jeri. "Tell him that I said hi. And that I'll talk to him tomorrow."
Rika cocked an eyebrow as she got up from her own seat.
"I'm pretty sure that you can tell him that on your own. I mean he's only in detention…"
Jeri shook her head.
"My dad wanted me to be home early to help out at the restaurant tonight. I wanted to talk to Takato before then but…well, you know. But I'd really appreciate it if you told him for me."
Rika frowned but nodded. She wasn't at all too sure what to make of Jeri's attitude right now. Heck, she wasn't sure what to make of anything that had gone on between them just now. Of all the things that she had expected this certainly wasn't one of them.
All right. I guess that this is something that we'll just have to postpone until later, because you owe me one big explanation for all this. I don't think that even Kazu has ever confused me this much."
Jeri smiled but didn't leave just yet. Rubbing one arm uncertainly Jeri looked down at the ground.
"Um…Rika? We're still friends right? I mean, I'm sorry that I acted this way…it's not normally like me…"
Rika just smirked and placed a reassuring hand on her friends shoulder.
"You even have to ask? Come here…"
Rika pulled Jeri into a hug, and the brown haired girl returned it gratefully. They held the hug for about a minute before pulling away. Jeri sniffed, realizing that she had been crying a little out of fear of losing Rika's friendship over something as silly as this. It seemed so stupid looking back on it now…
Jeri and Rika made their goodbyes, and after doing the same to the others Jeri ran off down the twisted paths of the park, making her way home. Rika watched her go for a moment before walking back to the others and sitting herself down with them beneath the dinosaur hut, feeling strangely exhausted for some reason. Rika leaned back against a leg and closed her eyes. She could feel the gazes of her friends as they watched her expectantly.
"Well? What?" She asked, not even bothering to open her eyes to confirm her suspicions. She knew that they clearly expected some kind of explanation. She wasn't all that surprised when Henry spoke up.
"Was everything all right over there?"
"Everything's fine. Just…a little complicated. Jeri had a few questions that she wanted to ask and it took her a while to get around to asking them, that's all."
"It sure looked rather intense, whatever it was," said Terriermon, sarcasm strangely absent from his voice. Rika shrugged it off. Any day that she didn't have to deal with one of his bad jokes was a good day in her book.
"I'm sure that it had something to do with Takato," said Kazu. "Though I have to say, the way that they looked over there you'd think that Rika was involved in some way that was more then just a listening ear…"
Rika frowned mentally. There was something in the way that he said that that she didn't like. It almost sounded like an implication.
Second time too…"Kazu," began Rika in a soft, warning tone. "Whatever it is that you've got going through your mind right now let me tell you just now that you're already way off base. I'd advise you to watch what you say in the future because you're already on thin ice as it is."
While Rika tuned out Kazu's exclamations to the contrary Rika turned her mind back over what she had said about him being off base, what she had told Jeri, and what Jeri had told her.
"If you do like Takato, I wouldn't have a problem with it…" whispered the ghost of her conversation with the puppet loving girl. Rika pushed the thought away to the back of her mind…
…But with memories of Hanami, and her conversation with Jeri still fresh in her mind, she wondered.
12