Me: Hello~ everyone! I have a new chapter for you guys! Now, before I can be interrupted, I want to say something. Please, please, puh-lease PM me if you have an idea for an OC. They can't have a partner unless you want them to get one later on (and please specify); you need to give me their gender, name, hair/eye color, age (they do not need to be the same age as everyone else), relationship to Takato (not romantic, more like friend type. For example: sibling-like friendship). Another thing, he/she has to be the son/daughter of a baker (at least one parent is a baker) as this is one of the main reasons I am willing to let someone else make another OC. Once again, PM me or I will not accept the… application. I would like to have one before Tuesday or I will get my sister to make me one.

*crickets*

Me: Is there seriously no one else with me in my Author's Room? *gets up and leaves*

*elevator music plays and a sign fills the screen* PLEASE EXCUSE THE DEPARTURE, THIS AUTHOR'S ROOM IS MORE OF AN AUTHOR'S HOUSE. THIS MAY TAKE A WHILE AS IT HAS MANY, MANY DOORS, BOOBY TRAPS, AND DEAD ENDS. *music continues to play *

Me: *5 hours later (just kidding, I'd probably get murdered by you if that were true)* I have no idea why I had this place built like this. Sometimes, even I get lost.

*cricket*

Me: So everyone left you too, huh, cricket? I couldn't find anyone in this hell hole called my author's room… house… thing… *sigh* I guess it's just you and me then…

*silence*

Me: OH COME ON! Is it really that hard to listen to me? Do you know how much effort it takes for me to actually say something correctly? Or how long it takes? You know what? Fine. Fine. I know that when I say something, I either sound stupid or smart, delayed or too quick, high or just fucking lazy. But I don't need you and I certainly don't need your-

*elevator music starts to play loud enough for the ranting to not be heard and more words appear on screen* PARDON THE INCONVENIENCE, THE RANTING OF THE AUTHOR, IN NO WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM, HAS NOTHING TO DO YOU FINE READERS. IT IS MERELY A LATE NIGHT AFTER A VERY BORING DAY. THOSE HERE IN THIS CRAZY PLACE HOPE THAT YOU DO NOT QUIT READING THIS STORY BECAUSE OF SUCH AN EVENT. PLEASE READ AND REVIEW… THAT IS, IF YOU ARE STILL HERE. *elevator music continues to play*

Me: *over the annoying music* Hey! Who is making those slides?!

Going Your Way

Chapter 5

First Day of School

Eastern Quadrant: Real World

Kari's POV:

Today hadn't started out very well. Tai was sick and had thrown up on his bed, which ended up in a morning clean-up and caused me to leave the apartment later than usual. I had expected TK to be in class before me, but even now, he wasn't there. I wonder if TK's sick… The bell rang just seconds before Davis ran inside.

Mrs. Suji started taking role, muttering to herself every once in a while. When she got to TK, she didn't call for an explanation or mutter and moved on. That made me even more curious.

"Mrs. Suji!" Davis called, "Where's TJ?"

She sighed and looked up at him, "Mr. Takaishi is showing a new student around the school and has been marked for an excused tardy. He should be back within a few minutes."

Class went on, boring as usual, until a knock was heard at the door.

"I'm finished Mrs. Suji!" TK's muffled voice called from the other side.

"Thank Mr. Takaishi, you may come in." The door slid open and my best friend walked over to Mrs. Suji and whispered in her ear, "Thank you for letting me know. Go sit down." He nodded and sat at his seat next to me.

"I heard you were showing a new student around," I teased, "Are you a gentleman now?"

He playfully huffed, "I've always been a gentleman, you just never needed one."

"Ouch," I giggled, "But I'm positive a lady would love to see you be a gentleman."

He smirked and looked around. He slowly turned back toward me, "What lady? I don't see one."

I sighed, "How did I walk into that one?"

Mrs. Suji cleared her throat, catching the attention of the class, which had drifted into their own conversations when TK walked in, "Now class, I have been informed that we have a new student. I would appreciate it if you would behave, for once," she turned to the door, "You may come in."

A boy with brown hair and red eyes nervously walked in. "Um… hi?" he sheepishly waved at his 'audience'.

"Introduce yourself and sit over there by the window," Mrs. Suji directed.

"Right…" the boy said, a little uncertainly, "Well, my names' Takato Matsuda… I like to draw… um… anything else?"

Mrs. Suji was about to shake her head when Davis shouted, "Do you play soccer?" … of course…

"Well… I played it for PE, but not on an actual team."

One girl from the back spoke up next, "Do you have a girlfriend?"

His eyes widened, "Wha- no… I don't…" he blushed.

More questions were thrown out, but the only one he had really answered was whether or not he played basketball, which got the same answer as Davis' soccer question.

When the questions were over with, he ducked his head and walked to his desk, where he pulled out a sketchpad, occasionally muttering to himself.

When lunch rolled around, Davis had practically dragged Takato to 'the hangout' after he got his food. It was kind of a surprise that Cody and Yolei already knew about him though.

"Hey, Takato!" Yolei yelled as she waved at us.

"You already know him?" Davis asked, a little surprised.

"Well, he does live in our building," Cody told us.

"That would make sense," Ken pointed out.

"Hey, Takato, I have a question," Davis said, catching Takato's attention, "Do you wear contacts?"

He looked genuinely confused as he answered, "No, why?"

"It's just that your eyes are red," Davis rubbed the back of his head.

"Sora's eyes are red, too," TK pointed out, "but they aren't as… bright?"

"I think the word you're looking for is vibrant, TK," I laughed at him, "plus, they're more of a brown than a red." He only shrugged.

Takato also laughed and got up to throw away his trash, when Yolei decided to speak up, "What's with your style choice?"

"Huh?" he looked at himself, and came to a realization, "Oh! You mean my goggles!"

I'm pretty sure we all blinked at the mention of goggles.

"Yeah! I'm just wondering why they're strung through one of your belt loops and not on your head like Davis," Yolei clarified.

I directed my attention to the pair of goggles hanging by his side as he answered with, "I just thought I'd look ridiculous with them on my head."

The goggles weren't like any I had seen before. The rim (more like everything but the lenses) was a gold color with some red designs on the side. The lenses looked black, but were more of a silver if I looked closer. Lastly, they lenses were like rounded rectangles with the sides being a little more ovalish than straight. I had to agree, even with them matching most of his outfit, they looked strange enough by themselves.

"Cool goggles, dude," Davis commented.

"I have a question," Ken stated, "Where did you live before you came to Odaiba?"

There was a slight pause before he smiled brightly, "I used to live in Shinjuku, lots of memories there," he looked at his watch, "My parents should be calling me any moment now."

"Why do they need to call you?" TK asked.

"You remember when I was heading up to the apartment?" Yolei, Cody, and TK nodded, "Well, I was alone then and still am. My parents travel a lot for work and they call to check in on me."

"But why did you move?" Cody decided to speak up.

"The last place apparently had termites and my parents decided to take the chance and send me to a better school. Or, in their words, 'broaden my horizon.'"

"Why not live with a relative then?" Ken asked.

I don't think they have very many schools in Okinawa… do they?"

Ken chuckled, "I guess not. But did you live by yourself in Shinjuku?"

Takato shrugged, "Not really, I lived with a family friend that owned a bakery, but they'd send me some money every once in a while and I'd help out around the bakery as thanks." A ring was heard from his pocket, "Excuse me." And he ran off to take the call.

"I can't imagine not having my parents around," Yolei commented.

"Neither can I," Ken agreed.

"He's a little strange, like Davis, ("Hey!") but he seems to be pretty friendly," TK observed, as he watched Takato talk animatedly on the phone.

"I wonder if he knows about digimon…" I mused aloud. (FYI: in this fic, digimon aren't really, actually known like in the anime)

"I doubt it," Davis said, "he seems a little too preoccupied to be a DigiDestined," then he smiled, "I wonder if he'll join the soccer team!"

"I thought you just said he seems a little too preoccupied, Davis," Ken poked fun at his best friend.

"Humph," Davis huffed and crossed his arms, looking away from Ken, "No one's too preoccupied for soccer!"

The whole group laughed. "We'll see Davis," I told him, "He might join the basketball team instead."

"What?!"

"He did say that he played basketball for PE at his old school too, Davis," TK pointed out as Takato started walking back toward us.

Davis blinked, "Oh."

Nothing really interesting happened after that and lunch finished soon after. Two periods later, we were allowed to go to our clubs or head home.

Me: Okay, I know, I know, that was a short(ish) chapter compared to the others, but I was a little pressed for time if I wanted this up before the weekend. Please, please, please read my first note at the top of the chapter because I don't feel like repeating it. Also note that it says to PM me or I will not accept it… So… review and please send me an OC application before Tuesday! … Oh! And I apologize for what I typed earlier, I was feeling a little off and… well, angry/tired. Thanks!