Chapter 13: The call of Light and Hope

Hikari stepped out of the room and looked around. The living room was bright with natural light, and she could vaguely hear the sound of running water from the shower. Hikari made her way over to the kitchen and mindlessly made four bowls of cereal. She brought them to the table and placed one in front of Tailmon, who had evolved from Plotmon to be able to eat easily.

They were about halfway through their cereal when the bathroom door opened and Takeru came out with just a towel around his waist. He saw Hikari and he immediately went red.

Takeru: "H-Hikari? W-What are you doing here?"

Hikari: "Well you brought me here last night so…"

Takeru: "I-I thought Onii-chan would have brought you home…"

Hikari: "Well, guess he decided not to. I prepared some cereal for you and Patamon. You can have it after you're done being flustered over there."

Takeru's face somehow got even redder, and Hikari knew she just had to tease him more.

Hikari: "Why are you so flustered?"

Takeru: "W-Well, I wasn't expecting you to be here…"

Hikari: "Please, I've seen you like this before."

Takeru: "T-That was like four years ago."

Hikari: "Whatever, go and change so you can join me for breakfast."

Takeru: "In case you didn't know, it's like 12.30 right now."

Hikari looked up from her bowl of cereal in shock.

Hikari: "Seriously?"

Knowing that Hikari would probably continue to press him, Takeru had gone to his room but left the door open as he changed out of sight.

Takeru: "Yep. It was around 12 when I went to take a shower."

Hikari: "What time did you get us home?"

Takeru: "Umm not sure, somewhere around 7-8?"

Hikari: "Wow, we must have been exhausted."

Takeru came out of his room, fully clothed and with Patamon, and sat opposite to Hikari, giving her a small thanks before starting to eat his cereal. After they ate, Hikari sat by the couch as Takeru went to clean their bowls. When Takeru finished, he went over to the couch and was mildly surprised that Hikari was talking to her mother. When she finished, she put her phone down and looked at Takeru.

Hikari: "Umm, you gonna sit?"

Takeru: "Oh, err was just wondering why you haven't gone home yet. I thought you would have gone to see your mother once you were awake."

Hikari: "Umm, yeah, normally I would… but there's something I need to do here…"

Takeru: "Oh? What is it, if you don't mind me asking."

Hikari: "Erm, c-can you err sit down?"

Takeru went to Hikari's side and looked at her with an expression that was mixed with concern and confusion.

Takeru: "Are you ok? Did you have nightmares again?"

Hikari: "N-No don't worry it's… n-not about my nightmares."

Now Takeru was confused. Usually, the two of them could read each other pretty easily, yet now Takeru couldn't tell what Hikari was going to say or why she was so nervous.

Hikari took a few deep breaths before she spoke up.

Hikari: "Umm, Takeru, y-you know we've been by each other's side since we were e-eight, right?"

Takeru: "Yeah?"

Hikari: "Umm actually b-before I say anything, can you p-promise me something?"

Takeru: "What's the promise?"

Hikari: "No matter what, w-will we always be f-friends?"

Takeru gave her a weird look.

Takeru: "Well, we are such good friends, I don't think anything can break it that easily."

Hikari: "Ok, well… Takeru, you've been a very good friend for me… but recently… I've been… well I've been erm… Gosh why is this so hard to say…"

Takeru: "Don't worry, take your time."

Hikari: "O-Ok… thanks… s-so there's this guy that I really like… but I-I don't know what he thinks…"

Takeru's face remained neutral.

Takeru: "Ok, so I assume you want me to give you advice?"

Hikari: "Umm yeah."

Takeru: "Well, I think you should just tell him."

Hikari: "B-But what if he says n-no?"

Takeru: "I'm pretty sure they wouldn't. You already have quite a bit of admirers… just look at Daisuke."

Hikari: "S-So you really think I should tell him?"

Takeru: "Yeah, but out of curiosity, who is it?"

Hikari: "Umm…"

Takeru: "Do I know him?"

Hikari: "Yeah… you know him very well."

Takeru: "Hmm, is he in our school?"

Hikari: "Yes…"

Takeru: "Same class?"

Hikari: "Yes…"

Takeru: "Alright final question. Is he a Digidestined?"

Hikari: "Yes… part of both groups actually…"

Hikari's hands immediately went to her mouth, as she stared at Takeru. Takeru stared back at her with an equally surprised look. They say there in silence for a few seconds before Takeru spoke up.

Takeru: "M-Me?"

Hikari tried to form words but she couldn't so she just nodded her head and refused to make eye contact. There was another silence as they both processed what had just happened. It wasn't long before Hikari spoke up.

Hikari: "I-I'm sorry. I s-shouldn't have said a-anything. I-It's fine if you don't feel the same way."

Takeru: "W-Wait. I-I didn't answer you yet…"

Hikari: "It's fine, Takeru. I'll… I'll understand if you d-don't…"

Takeru: "I feel the same way."

Hikari's head immediately flew up, allowing Takeru to see that her eyes were slightly wet.

Hikari: "W-What?"

Takeru: "I feel the same way as you."

Hikari: "R-Really?"

Takeru: "Y-Yes, Hika. I really lik-"

Takeru couldn't finish his words as he felt himself falling backwards and something on his lips. His eyes widened as he realised what was happening and closed his eyes and kissed Hikari back. It was soft, tender and innocent. After a few seconds, Hikari pulled back with a very deep blush on her face.

Hikari: "S-S-Sorry."

Takeru: "Erm… d-don't worry about it… i-it felt good…"

Voice: "Well done, you two!"

Takeru and Hikari immediately turned their heads towards the front door where they saw Yamato with his phone in front of his face and they could barely see his large grin. Sora was behind him with a small smile.

Hikari immediately threw herself backwards as Takeru began to sit up, both had very deep blushes.

Takeru: "O-Onii-chan! W-W-When did y-you get h-here?"

Yamato: "Just in time to see what happened. Let's see, send this to the group…"

Hikari: "D-D-Don't! Don't send it!"

Yamato: "Relax! I'm only sending it to our first group."

Takeru and Hikari felt their phones vibrate and both of them hesitantly opened their phones to see a few messages responding to the video Yamato had sent.

Friendship: "We now have video evidence that they are not 'just friends'."

Sincerity: "Finally!"

Reliability: "Nice"

Knowledge: "Send help I can't see."

Love: "Kou, you alright?"

Knowledge: "I was looking into their Digivices when they became very bright I can barely see Joe help"

Reliability: "Don't worry I'm coming over"

Friendship: "Why did you reply? It's not like he is going to see it"

Sincerity: "How are you texting if you can't see?"

Hope: "It's Koushiro never underestimate Koushiro"

Takeru and Hikari looked away from their phones upon hearing Yamato's voice.

Yamato: "So, is your excuse of just best friends still valid?

Takeru: "Umm… kind of?"

Hikari: "I think we should just keep this to ourselves. Only our families will know, that work with you, Keru?"

Takeru: "Yeah, I'd rather we keep it like that anyways."

Yamato: "Why would you want to keep it a secret?"

Takeru: "Why do you keep your relationship with Sora a secret to the public?"

Yamato: "Ok, that's because people would make a big deal out of it due to my band…"

Takeru: "And I'm your brother, so I'm already dealing with enough popularity as it is."

Sora: "He does have a point, Yamato."

Yamato: "Alright, so who is going to know exactly?"

Hikari: "Family only. But not the new Digidestined."

Yamato: "Let me guess, Daisuke?"

Takeru: "Yeah…"

Yamato: "Alright, I'll keep note of that."

Takeru: "So why did you two just come into the house?"

Sora: "Did you really think we would just leave you two to handle yourselves? You two are practically the babies of our group. We would definitely make sure you two are well taken care of."

Yamato: "Also mom would have literally killed me if I did anything else. Not that I don't want to do this…"

Sora: "You two can just sit back and relax. We'll go handle lunch for you two."

Takeru/Hikari: "Ok!"

Just then Patamon and Tailmon burst out of Takeru's room.

Patamon: "See? I told you Yamato was here."

Tailmon: "You are lucky I held you back. If you went out, you would have ruined the moment."

Takeru: "What are you two doing?"

Hikari: "Wait, when did you two go into Takeru's room?"

Tailmon: "We went in while Takeru was washing the bowls."

Patamon: "We wanted to give you two some privacy."

Tailmon: "And you almost blew it when you wanted to go say hi to Yamato and Sora."

Patamon: "At least it still worked out."

Hikari: "Wait… if you could hear Yamato coming in… then doesn't that mean you were listening into everything?"

Takeru: "Oh my god. I forgot those two both have very enhanced hearing."

Hikari: "Oh well, they would have found out soon enough. Our partners would have been like the second to know of any of this."

Yamato: "You guys are still standing? Go sit on the couch and watch some TV or something while Sora and I make the food."

Takeru and Hikari sat on the couch with their partners in their laps. They mindlessly turned on the TV as they snuggled up close to each other. Physical contact was very common between them even before today so they didn't even feel uncomfortable.

Hikari: "Keru?"

Takeru: "Hmm?"

Hikari: "Don't change for me, ok? Don't start doing things like dressing up in expensive clothes or something to try and impress me."

Takeru: "Don't worry, Hika. I was also thinking the same. I don't want what we have to change that much."

Hikari: "Yeah, plus everyone kept on saying we were acting like a couple already so I guess there isn't much to change, is there?"

Takeru: "Yeah, it's just… more official now. Except we have definitely got to be careful when near our school. A lot of people would recognise us, and I'm sure it will somehow get out to the public."

Hikari: "Sigh sometimes it would be nice if your brother wasn't so famous among teenagers."

Just then Yamato and Sora came out of the kitchen with lunch. Yamato faked a look of hurt as he turned to Hikari.

Yamato: "I heard that, Hikari. I'm hurt you would think of me like that. Who else is going to write your song?"

Takeru: "Song?"

Hikari immediately blushed.

Hikari: "Umm it's nothing really…"

Yamato: "Don't lie, I know the song is for Takeru."

Takeru: "You wrote a song for me?"

Hikari nodded her head but kept her gaze down… that is, until Takeru started to burst into laughter and ran to his room. He came out a few seconds later with a paper in his hands.

Takeru: "Looks like we really are soulmates, huh? I also wrote a song for you, I just never came around to asking Onii-chan to make it properly."

Yamato: "Actually, when do you think you guys will announce your relationship?"

Hikari: "Maybe New Years?"

Takeru: "Yeah, or maybe when the Digital World is safe again."

Sora: "Then why not Christmas? Yamato is going a gig then. It'll be much easier to show it's official."

Yamato: "Good idea, also, since you also have a song for Hikari. Why not make a special appearance during my gig? I'm sure it would be great. You guys have around five months to practice anyways."

Takeru: "But we don't really know how to play instruments…"

Yamato: "Considering how much you two cared for each other, I'm pretty sure you two have memorised these lyrics by heart already. Plus, five months will surely be enough time for you two to practice for this. You could actually start a little early, Takeru. I've more or less finished Hikari's song already."

Hikari: "Thanks Yamato."

Yamato: "No problem."

The group ate their lunch enjoying the company of one another as they slowly started to discuss their plans for their music.

That's it for this very Takari centric chapter. I'm hoping y'all have enjoyed the story so far, we are a little over halfway done with the Kaiser arc.