Intermezzo: Soul Searching: The Makinos
"I know what I need to do, but how?", Ruki was asking.
"You'll need to talk to them", Rumiko said. "I suppose we could invite them? Ask their parents to ask the Tamers to come"
"It all seems so... inadequate", Ruki was saying, "'Sorry 'bout that' doesn't seem enough..."
"You do what you can", her mother explained. "Yes, an apology does seem inadequate, but at least it's a start. If that's the best you can do, then that's what you do. It's better than nothing".
"I... hurt so many..."
"That doesn't matter. You didn't know them and you can't find them to apologize. There's nothing you can do about that now. You just have to do the best you can with what you have. No one can ask any more of you than that".
"Listen to your mother for a change", Seiko added. "If you set your standard as perfection, you will always come up short and others will always disappoint you. That has always been a problem with you. You believe you have to be perfect at everything you do. That's what led you into doing all those horrible things, it's why you were so willing to believe everything Icedevimon, Catsuramon, and Zhuqiaomon told you".
"I admit it: I was somewhat of a neglectful mother. I paid my career too much attention, and you too little. I should have said something when I noticed you weren't bringing friends home like the other kids, or you were avoiding extracurricular activities. I should have asked, even if you refused to talk about it. I should have at least let you know I was ready to listen when you were ready to talk about it. If not right away, then some day.
As for Renamon, it would have been nice if you'd introduced us. I can understand why you didn't. Kids keep things from their parents all the time. We've all done that, and it's not a bad thing. It's a part of normal life".
"It's just that I ruined so many lives... yours..."
"You can stop right there", Seiko reprimanded. "It's true, if you had never been born, I'd probably be a vice president. Your mother would have her own modeling agency. However, if your mother had said, 'Not tonight, honey' that day, then someone else would be here instead of you. We would have done the same things. I would have resigned to help your mother care for her child so's she wouldn't have to do it alone as a single mom. She would still have set aside her dreams of a modeling agency for the sake of her child even if it wasn't you. You had nothing to do with it. We don't blame you for ruining our lives, as we don't consider out lives ruined in the first place.
"You need to learn the differences between things you can control and those you can't. Yes, your father disappointed you. Yes, he broke a promise. It happened before, and it'll happen again. Look at the alternative of never trusting others. Sure, you can avoid a lot of heart-break, but at what price, Ruki? Is it really worth it to shut out everyone who would try to be your friend? You said it yourself: a thousand digimon wouldn't love Lilithmon the way Renamon loved you. She wouldn't have become your partner in the first place if she didn't see something worthy in you. Can you see for yourself what that is?"
"What if they don't forgive..."
"That's their choice, Ruki. They may not. They may go on hating you forever. That's on them, not you. It's your life, and the only one whose forgiveness really counts is your own", Seiko explained. "You can't fix it; you can't bring Leomon back. You can't erase the past. You can only do your best to make it as right as you can. Once you've done that, it's over. You need to get on with your life, and not make the same mistakes again. That's all anyone can reasonably ask".