Act 1: Beating Heart

Segment 1: Come From Away

Chapter 1-3: Annoying Guy

The class bell was in twenty minutes, giving Segawa Takaharu more than enough time to have a Digimon TCG round. His confident eyebrows and expressive face were beaming with excitement. "Hey Kazu, check this out – new deck!"

Shimizu Kazuhiko readjusted the thick-rimmed glasses on his nose. The thick dark frame seemed a little too big for his round, androgynous face. "Yo, sick!" he exclaimed, "I heard the purple deck build is back in meta."

"Yeah bud, it's great. I've been putting this one together for a week now, since the last pack dropped," Takaharu boasted, "and I have to admit, it beat my previous decks flat out."

"You sure you weren't just trying to make it that way?" laughed Kazuhiko. His messily-waxed hair shifted back and forth with the rest of his head. "Must have been an investment, that deck."

Takaharu rolled his eyes. "Dude, trust me."

Kazuhiko replied, "I'll trust you if you can knock out my red deck." Takaharu made a noise of despair. "Oh, so you do still remember that time you didn't touch my security once!"

Takaharu swallowed nervously. It was pretty embarrassing since most of the class was huddled around them that time, too. "Okay, that was a bad draw."

Kazuhiko agreed. It was terrible luck on his friend's part, but it was funny nevertheless. "Anyway, get ready for it!"

They laid out the battlefield as they had for so many weeks before summer break. As they battled, a few people stood around them, curious if Takaharu would get his butt handed to him for the fifth time in a row. "Hey, guys, come take a look at this! Takaharu's winning for once!" one of them yelled out. Takaharu laughed nervously. Sure, he was up a card in security, but it was still on a knife's edge. Kazuhiko was just either a lucky guy in general or a great student of this game.

"And… ah, I guess I'll leave it at that." Kazuhiko scratched his chin. He had left a bunch of memory on the table for his opponent, but he was left with one security layer. There was an Ultimate on the table and a Digimon about to evolve out of the hatchery. He was behind tempo, and he felt he had to go for it now.

Takaharu looked over his cards intently and played with his short-trimmed hair. He squinted at his cards. Maybe, just maybe… He drew his next card. Aha! He could pull off a sacrifice with some neat trickery with some supporting cards to put a Mega on the table. Surely, he had the game in hand now. He sent a Digimon on the table to the trash to play his Mega, sending one memory over to Kazuhiko, but it allowed him to make his attack, knocking Kazuhiko's Ultimate off the table and into the trash. With the remaining Champion, Takaharu figured he could risk going after Kazuhiko's remaining security layer. "What's in the box, bud? What's in the box?"

Kazuhiko flipped the security card over. "Just a Champion, evenly matched. Well, I think that seals it," he sighed. He scratched his messy hair.

"Hey, you never know."

Kazuhiko drew his next card and made a sound of annoyance. He didn't need another high-level card because he couldn't do anything with it! "Yeah, that's it," he said, throwing down his hand.

The crowd of people cheered. "Takaharu's finally done it!" they cried. One of them massaged Kazuhiko's shoulders. "You're going to do some research on this purple deck after, aren't you?"

"I could, but I gotta prepare for university applications," he said as he cleaned up the playing field.

Takaharu raised an eyebrow. "So soon?"

"I'm thinking of applying abroad."

Takaharu and a few others gasped in amazement. "Dude, hardcore. Isn't that expensive though?"

"It kind of is, but my parents think I can do it. So I guess I'm going to try!"

Takaharu laughed. "That's the spirit," he said, putting his cards away as the teacher stepped into the classroom. "Hey, I'll send you my research. You might like it."

"Giving up your battle secrets so soon? That's not how you win," remarked Kazuhiko, grinning. "You're too nice."

Takaharu shrugged. "Hey, maybe I was making it all up."

"And you suddenly got better at the game? Okay bud, okay. We'll see how that goes next week." Kazuhiko had a feeling Takaharu was just following an existing meta. If he was, well, there should be some glaring holes in its abilities. If he could just find a deck build that shut down the chain of sacrifice then it would be so easy to nullify that deck.

"Alright everyone, good morning class!" the teacher announced.

"Good morning!" the students responded in unison, standing and bowing.

With class over for the day, Kazuhiko was about to leave when Satsuki stopped him at the door. "You wanted to tell me something, I heard," said Satsuki.

Kazuhiko blinked. He was rubbing the back of his hand. "I did? Ah! Right, right, I almost forgot. Weren't you applying for university abroad?"

"Yeah, I was thinking about America somewhere. Why?"

Kazuhiko seemed disappointed. "Oh, huh."

"Something the matter?" she inquired, an eyebrow raised.

"I, uh, guess we might not be in the same process then. I was going to try my hand at the UK or Europe."

Satsuki's hair flicked as she tilted her head. "Europe? Oh, I get it. You were going to do architecture after all, huh."

"I wanted to do something a bit more technical, but I'm not the best with math or science like you, so architecture seemed the best choice."

"Nothing wrong with that."

Kazuhiko rubbed his arm insecurely. "I guess, but sometimes I just look at the people in class and think I'm… I'm kind of dumb, you know?"

"You? Dumb? Hardly," Satsuki crooned. "I've seen your portfolio already. It's impressive," she remarked. "I can imagine some of those buildings being erected out in Chiyoda, to be honest."

"You think so, huh? That's what my parents said too, but… I guess I never truly believed them." Kazuhiko seemed relieved. "It's reassuring. Thanks, Satsuki."

"Any time." She continued on her way to her locker. So maybe Kazuhiko was a bit more grounded than she thought.

Kazuhiko watched her disappear down the hall. Really, though, he was still a bit disappointed. America? Maybe he could change plans now, but he was already in a few interview rounds with some schools in the UK and Germany.

Takaharu, meanwhile, had an afternoon swim practice. Goggles pulled down, awaiting the starting blip, he stared at the water intently. Instinctively, his feet left the platform as soon as the blip registered somewhere in his mind. The cold water no longer surprised him as he kicked his way back to the surface and settled into a tight rhythm. Out of the corner of his eye he could see a teammate cut ahead, but not by much. It seemed this time Takaharu had a little burst of speed compared to before the summer. Confidence high, he made his flip and turn at the other edge of the pool and sped up his rhythm, hoping to sprint back the last lap.

The rest of the swim blurred by. Takaharu looked up at the time board. He'd barely come out on top in the hundred-metre butterfly. "Hey, Takaharu, good effort! That's a half-second off! Very good kick form," said his coach. Takaharu raised his hand in thanks, still a bit breathless from the sprint, and high-fived the swimmer in the lane next to him. "Keep it up!"

"Hey, if you keep at this, you might make it to competitive," complimented the swimmer in the other lane.

"Ah, maybe. Maybe," said Takaharu. At his age, though, it was a little too late, and plus, he wanted to focus on other things. He wasn't quite as into doing sports as Asuka was. She was already impressing enough at the amateur level to get some looks from up top.

The swim practice ended after a half-hour, as it was a brief session since the summer competitions had ended and people were being given a bit of a break. It was enough time to go scope out the guys playing tennis.

"Oh, Yuuka, you're here too?" Takaharu asked. Ishida Yuuka didn't seem the kind of girl to be interested in sports. She was a pretty slim girl herself, although she was just about average height. Her slimness contrasted with the bulk of her backpack, which always seemed to have everything in it, like that one time she happened to have a first-aid kit despite not knowing how to use it. Her medium-short black hair fell straight down to just below her jawline. It was a basic style, but she carried it well.

She nodded. "Mother didn't need any help with the shop today, so I had some time to look around. It seems Ryuta is on court."

"Oh, he is. I wonder what the score – wow." Takaharu blinked and raised his eyebrows. Koyama Ryuta had handed his opponent an egg in the first set? "That's… that's something. I kinda feel bad for the other guy."

"I know this isn't competitive, but Ryuta… he seems competitive."

A loud grunt rolled across the court as the serve flew across the hardened clay and skipped off the volley line. His opponent seemed tired out already, and the return sailed off into the out zone. Ryuta rubbed the sweat off his forehead, gazing at his opponent down-court with his narrow and inset eyes. The sweat had washed out any wax in his hair, so the fauxhawk was plastered against his forehead. The next point and he would be up five games to one, and one game off the best-of-three match win.

"Do you ever find him a bit intimidating?" asked Takaharu.

"What do you mean? His frame?"

"Well, kinda. He is pretty muscular, but it's not that. You ever ask him a question about math before? Or, like, anything else in school?"

"Sometimes, why?"

Takaharu gave Yuuka a look. "He just walked me through some calculus like it was nothing," he explained. "But he's not even top of class. I wonder… does he try on exams?"

Yuuka blinked. "You think he's just being lazy?"

"I think if he was bothered enough to try harder, maybe he'd get right into University of Tokyo." Another loud yell roared across the court. This time, the response from the other side was a tired sigh and the gentle shaking of the link fence as the tennis ball rattled against it. Ryuta had been running his opponent across the court with some base play in the first set, as if just toying with his opponent, and now was hitting serves so hard that there was no reply from his opponent.

Ryuta stared at the movement of the tennis racquet, bouncing from foot to foot. The service was slower than before and easily returned. His opponent was forced into a soft backhand that came up short. Ryuta cut his own backhand short himself, dropping it right at the volley line. His opponent rushed for it but played a high ball at the net. Ryuta rushed forward, spotting the opening.

"Raah!" he roared, slapping the ball with intense force right between his opponent's legs. His opponent sighed. Ryuta spun his racquet around in his hands, returning to his own serve line. From behind him, he heard a tired complaint: "Can we just call it now?"

Ryuta shrugged and tidied his short hair. "Up to you," he replied curtly.

"I'm destroyed, literally. Agh… I've never chased so much in my life," his opponent groaned and kneeled on the hard court.

Takaharu whistled. "Yeah, I forgot… and then there's that coldness. Geez, he's cold," Takaharu muttered. "The guy could do with smiling once in his life."

"You know we've been in the same building for a few years now," replied Yuuka. "Surely you've seen him express some emotion before."

Takaharu stifled a laugh. "I thought he was an android." he joked. Yuuka did not seem amused. "Hey, it was a joke. I know, I know. He's human. It's just… he can throw daggers with his eyes, you know?"

"Maybe he's not that cold inside," Yuuka suggested. "Have you ever tried getting to know him?"

"It's hard getting to know someone who doesn't want to interact."

Yuuka sighed. "And you know that for a fact?"

"N-no. Like I said, he's intimidating. I never tried," Takaharu admitted.

"Never tried what?" asked Kazuhiko from behind.

"Photography club's not going on a shoot today?" asked Yuuka. "I thought there was supposed to be one."

Kazuhiko shook his head. "Next week."

"Oh, oops."

"Anyway, what were we talking about?"

Takaharu pointed at Ryuta walking off court. "That guy."

Kazuhiko cringed. "Why?"

"You seem bothered by him," remarked Yuuka, noticing Kazuhiko's darkened face.

"Well, the guy didn't really respond when I offered to teach him how to play Digimon, and I, uh, I guess he thinks it's childish."

"Let him think what he wants to think," replied Takaharu. "He's missing out on some intense battles and incredible passion!" he exclaimed, his fists shaking in the air. "Legendary fights between Jesmon and Apocalymon, incredible swings in the tempo of war between Digimo-"

"Takaharu," said Kazuhiko, "you're going to scare Yuuka off." An amused smile was plastered on his face.

"No, it's fine. I just have no idea what's happening," laughed Yuuka.

"Hey, do you want to learn? We should get more ladies involved, y'know, Kazuhiko."

"So you can date them? Is that why?" joked Kazuhiko.

"I – hey!"

Kazuhiko clapped Takaharu on the back. "I gotta go. Photography people are meeting up in a café today to discuss the themes for next month. See ya both!"

"Hey, get back here so I can reply to that!"

"I said see ya!" Kazuhiko jogged away to get his bicycle before Takaharu could come up with a retort.

Takaharu sighed. Kazuhiko wasn't entirely wrong. "Hm? Who's that?" Something out of the corner of his eye caught his attention. It was Ryuta. He had already packed up and looked to be heading home, if it weren't for something that had distracted him. He pulled out his phone from his pocket. "Uh…"

"You should go say hi," suggested Yuuka.

"Why don't you?" asked Takaharu. His voice trembled.

Yuuka seemed amused. "I figured he'd be more likely to reply to you than me."

"Wait, really?"

"Mmhm. Go on, then."

Takaharu seemed rooted to the spot. "I, uh, I guess. Um." Yuuka gave him a light nudge to get him moving. He gingerly approached Ryuta, who was intently checking his phone for something. Takaharu made sure to give him sufficient space. "Hey, Ryuta?"

Ryuta grunted "Yeah?" without even looking up.

Nervousness was all over Takaharu's face. "I, uh, saw you out there," Takaharu fumbled, hoping he would respond to a compliment, "and i-it was incredible."

Ryuta didn't respond.

Takaharu scratched his scalp and laughed unsurely. "You ever think about competitive?"

"No," he uttered.

"Wait, really?" Takaharu was taken aback. Was he really out here to clown on amateurs then?

"Yes." Ryuta looked up from his phone, deep, brooding, narrow eyes staring intently at Takaharu, who swallowed. It was that face again, when he had his head down and eyes up, that really struck fear into him for some reason. "I've been asked many times. I have no interest in it."

"So…" Takaharu realized what it was about that stare. It was almost animal-like, and combined with his fauxhawk, it made Ryuta look a bit like a bird of prey.

Ryuta raised an eyebrow. "What do you want?" he growled.

Takaharu waved his hands. "N-n-nothing, I guess. I, uh, just wanted to say hi." Ryuta went back to his phone. Takaharu shifted his backpack around. "Hey, Kazuhiko and I were thinking about-"

"Starting a Digimon card game group? I heard. No thanks."

Takaharu's shoulders fell. "I see." There was an awkward pause.

"If that's all, I have to go." Ryuta walked away just as Takaharu opened his mouth.

Yuuka walked up beside Takaharu. "I see it went… okay?"

"Sheesh, what an annoying guy," complained Takaharu. "If he's got some issues, at least he shouldn't be taking it out on everyone else."

"Is that what he said? He seemed in a hurry." Yuuka crossed her arms, a look of concern on her face.

"I – well, he didn't – um, he was, I guess, but he didn't say what was wrong." Takaharu turned to Yuuka. "Are you going to ask him about it?"

She stared into the distance for a while. "Yeah, I will. It's final year. I'm worried about him," she remarked.

Takaharu crossed his arms behind his head. "If he gives you a hard time, too, let me know. I'll put some sense in him."

"Please don't rough him up."

"I won't, I won't, obviously. Besides," Takaharu added, "I'm sure he'd be the one roughing me up if it came to that."

"Can you two not irritate each other? Thanks."

Takaharu made a noise of exasperation. "With that kind of attitude? I'm surprised there aren't others who don't hate his guts by now." His phone bleeped. "Aah! I promised Izumi I would change Tailmon's box and feed her and, whoops, I'm late!"

"Tailmon…? You named your cat Tailmon?" Yuuka was incredulous. "Man, you and Kazuhiko really are obsessed."

"Hey, not fair, that was my sister's decision!"

"Sure. I believe you," Yuuka replied, throwing him a peace sign. "Anyway, good night!" She hefted her backpack and walked away.

Takaharu growled and rubbed his temples. "Man, that Ryuta guy is a real piece of work," he muttered as he made his way out of the tennis courts. Home was a good walk away, and he figured he might as well stop by to pick up some waffles from a newly-opened bakery. Supposedly they were Belgian style, and they had little bits of crystal sugar cooked into them, and Izumi had longed to try one.