"I don't know why you're surprised. Taichi really is the best leader anyone could ask for. He still is our leader, and you know we'd all follow him to the end of the earth if he told us to go."

"I know that. Believe me, I'm man enough to admit now that I couldn't have done what he did with us back then. I couldn't have even begun to be who he was for us. He's my best friend, and I wouldn't want anyone else at the head of the Digidestined."

"Then, I don't understand the problem."

"I trust Taichi with my life. With the life of anyone and everyone on this planet. Just not my education."

"So, you're the Vice President?"

"So, I'm the Vice President."

- Sora and Yamato, at Odaiba High School, after Yamato formally accepted the Vice President seat

The class of 11B was surprised one Monday when the door to their classroom slid open without warning. This revealed the haggard looking and panting school council president, Taichi Yagami. He entered the room and shut the door an instant after he crossed the threshold. Taichi's eyes darted around the classroom, and then he grinned. "None of them are in here. Didn't think so."

The teacher, Mrs. Fujita paused in the middle of the math problem she'd been writing. Her hand pressed the chalk to the board with half a three trailing behind it. She furrowed her brows and began, "Look here…"

But Taichi was already halfway across the classroom. He interrupted her by pressing his finger to his lips and making a shushing sound in her direction. "Sorry, Mrs. Fujita. But pretend I was never here, alright?" Without waiting for the answer, Taichi finished crossing the room. He propped his hand on the sill and vaulted out an open window to the utter shock of all those present.

It took another second before one student remarked, "Aren't we on the second floor?"

No sooner after that was said, then the door was flung open for a second time. This time the person on the other side caused half the class to flinch. The other half was too dumbfounded and confused by what was going on to muster any sort of reaction. It was one of the great mysteries of the school. How did such compassionate and caring person also have one of the hottest and vicious tempers they'd ever seen? But since she tended to only turn her temper on one of two people (or both, depending on the situation), no one took much time to figure it out. It was a simple known fact.

No one messed with Sora Takenouchi. Not if they valued their life.

Given the state the president had been been in when he arrived and the close following arrival of her, it wasn't hard to guess the general gist of what was going on now. As the school council president was one of those two people, it was clear that Taichi Yagami was insane. Or had a death wish. Or both. The class of 11B was under silent agreement that it had to be one of the options as they gazed at the tennis star in their doorway. They could almost see the flaming aura she was emitting from her body. And then in a change so abrupt that quite a few students experienced mental whiplash, Sora's entire demeanor shifted in an instant. Hands on her abdomen, she bowed to the teacher. "Mrs. Fujita, have you seen Taichi?" she asked after she came up. A warm, gentle smile graced her lips. But if anyone noticed how her humble inquisitive tone hardened on the president's name, no one was going to call her on it.

However, Mrs. Fujita was still stunned that a student had jumped out of the window in front of her. She was pretty sure she should be reporting this incident to the principal. And getting medical assistance, as per her duty as a teacher, but at that very moment she was too shocked. Seeing the state her teacher was in, the Class Representative, a girl with long black hair in twin braids named Meiko, jumped to answer. "He jumped out the window," she supplied

Sora's eyes widened as her gaze jerked to the open window. Her lips twisted as her hand came up to cover her mouth. Unexpectedly, a snort accompanied by muffled laughter escaped. The class was once again stunned to silence for what seemed the umpteenth time. After all, that would not have been their reaction to hearing that one of their best friends had taken a two-story dive. "Well, it wouldn't be the first time he's almost died. And if a psychopathic, sword-wielding clown couldn't kill him, I doubt this would." Despite the epic (and probably traumatizing) story that was sure to be behind that statement, everyone knew better than to ask. Not to mention the fact that many were stuck on the knowledge that their president had apparently almost died enough times that it didn't even phase his friends anymore.

Her laughter died down before she shrugged. "Well, if he didn't want to do it that badly," she said. Under her breath, few could hear when she added in a mutter, "I probably would do it better anyway." Clasping her hands in front of her, Sora bowed once more to Mrs. Fujita. "Sorry for disturbing your class." And without waiting for an answer, the student council secretary left, sliding the door closed behind her.

There was a pause of a few seconds. Then, the sound of chairs and desks sliding across the floor echoed around the room as the students of 11B made a mass migration to the window. Useless chatter accompanied to move, as they were all wondering if anyone could see the signs of their student council president. But the ground below them was empty. More than half had been somewhat expecting to see his dead body lying there, so it was a relief to see that there was no trace of Taichi.

The students exchanged glances, wonder and bewilderment evident on most of their faces. It was quiet for a moment until one student asked a sudden question. His eyes still looked at the ground of where the body of Taichi Yagami by all accounts should have been. "Do you ever get the feeling that the student council members are all some kind of undercover superheroes?"

It was perhaps a sign, one birthed by children old enough to remember when their island had been besieged by monsters long ago, that no one bothered to even dispute the idea.

Tuesday arrived and by the afternoon, everyone in the school had heard the story. Rumors, as they were wont to do, abounded throughout the school. There were students who swore they saw the president sprout wings and glide to the ground. There were also those among the student population who were positive that a parachute (acquired, of course, from a top secret government organization of which Taichi was a part of) was involved. While a general consensus could not be reached about the specifics (not even by the class of 11B, who had witnessed the event first hand), everyone was sure of one thing: the student council members had to have some sort of secret.

It was rather unfortunate (for the Digidestined, at least) that none of the student council members heard one whit of a single rumor. After all, it wouldn't do for their undercover heroes (of whatever variety they may be) to know that they were onto them. Had they known, they may have been a bit more careful in what they said out loud.

Then again, perhaps not.

Regardless, during lunch that day, the students milling around the third year hallway were confronted by the sudden sight of Yamato Ishida chasing down Taichi Yagami. While this was a rare sight in and of itself, they were treated to this uncensored conversation:

"Stop running away from me!"

"Why? So you can hit me again?"

"Yes!"

"It wasn't my fault!"

"Oh, yes, it was."

"It was only a sneeze!"

"That caused a fire! And now, I have to start all over!"

By the end of the day, the entire student body had been informed of the new development. Their student council president could cause fires by sneezing. Somehow. Theories began to formulate, but still no one guessed the real truth. Which was in fact that it was Taichi's partner, Agumon, whom Taichi had invited for lunch from the Digital World, that sneezed out fire onto Yamato's homework. So, in a way, the Digidestined's secret was still safe.

Another tidbit of information came to light on Wednesday afternoon. It was a well-known fact that Taichi was one of the bravest people anyone in the school would ever meet. Anyone who had watched him play a soccer game (or spent any more than five quality minutes with him) could attest to that. It was also assumed by the many who had seen them that his greatest fear was the anger of Sora Takenouchi. That caused many to wonder why he did such things to rile her wrath, but then again, he wasn't called brave for no reason.

They were all wrong, of course. Taichi did not fear Sora in the slightest. There was a part of him that was nervous and wary (not fearful) of her temper. But he'd know the girl long enough that the larger part of him got a kick out of riling her up. He knew she wouldn't ever hurt him (her conscience wouldn't stand for it), so he knew he was safe.

There were only a few who were aware of what was Taichi's real greatest fear. Though, it wasn't that hard to figure out. Anyone who knew Taichi, even a little, knew he cared for his baby sister more than anything in the world. It wouldn't have been that far of stretch to realize that his greatest fear was that something would happen to his precious sibling.

But the students of 10F were about to create another theory of something else their president possibly feared. Or rather, someone.

The students had returned from their PE class and were milling about. They had to wait for their teacher to arrive to begin the next class. When the door slammed open, less than half the students were surprised to see that it was Taichi as he flew into the classroom, though some where in awe. Their student council president was legendary to them, even before the year began. The first years had all heard of the boisterous young man, some from older siblings, which then trickled to friends.

"I am not here, okay?" he said to them as he breezed through the room. He got a mute nod in reply, as many tensed in anticipation. Having heard the stories, the students were expecting yet another leap out the window. Even if it would not have been as impressive here on the first floor. They were quite disappointed (and baffled, to say the least) when the senior threw himself on the ground between the last two rows of desks.

Since they were all still looking at the president, most of the class missed the arrival of the second person to their classroom.

"Don't insult my intelligence, Taichi. It's demeaning."

Intimidating. Frightening. Stupid. These were not words anyone associated with Koushiro Izumi. And as the students gazed at the boy in the doorway, they were still not words anyone would use to describe him. The redhead was regarded as the smartest kid in the school and for his ability to do what seemed like about anything on a computer. He leaned against the door jam with his arms folded across his chest. A look that could only be called exasperation was plain on his face as he gazed at the spot where Taichi was laying.

Sheepishly, Taichi rose from the ground, scratching the back of his head. A chuckle escaped his lips. "Sorry, Koushiro."

Koushiro started walking to where Taichi was standing as he said, "Now, let us discuss this plan of yours."

To the surprise of everyone, a nervous smile sprang to life on the president's face as he took a step back from the younger (and shorter) second year. "Come on, Koushiro. When have I-" He cut off as Koushiro leaned up and whispered something in his ear. No one heard what was said, but those that could see Taichi's face saw his eyes widening before he looked at the treasurer. And then, the president walked out of the classroom. No fuss. No protests. Only simple compliance. Koushiro followed him, a rather triumphant, yet small, smile on his lips.

Stupid? Never.

Frightening? No.

Intimidating? Not really.

But the class of freshman learned that there were other way to control people's fears. That and that perhaps there was more to Koushiro Izumi than many people had thought.

No one saw the president on Thursday (or at least whatever he was up to that day). But everyone assumed something else was yet again going on as a few witnessed one Miyako Inoue wandering the halls, muttering to herself.

"Don't know why they sent me. Like he'd listen to me. What am I supposed to say to him? Oh, Great and Fearless Leader, I am unworthy of thy presence, but please listen to my plea before the Hallowed Heart of Love snaps and destroys the world in a rain of fire. Yeah, right. Like that would go over well. Might be funny to see his reaction, though. Seriously, where is Hikari when you need her? Or Jyou or Daisuke or even Iori? I'm probably the last person on the team he would listen to. Okay, that's probably unfair. Taichi's a great leader. He listens to all of us. But it's not like I'm one of his best friends or his logistics manager, like the others. I'm pretty much just a peon compared to the original eight. Oh, forget it. This is stupid. I'll just tell them I couldn't find him."

Though her words spread like wildfire through the student body, no one could glean much meaning from them. However, most did consider them confirmation on the group's status as undercover superheroes.

Thus it was that no one in class 11B even blinked an eye this time, not even the teacher, when Friday arrived and Taichi ran through the classroom and vaulted out the window yet again. Class continued as if nothing had happened. A few did wonder why no one came after him, but that was all the interruption his appearance caused.

And none of the Digidestined heard a word of the (almost) true rumors running rampant throughout the school about them.