[Flashback, decades ago]
[Village of Beginnings, File Island]
[Digital World]
[Play Naruto OST - Sadness and Sorrow]
"I...was merely a Tsunomon, living in the village amongst the children hatched in that village"
A small spherical Digimon with orange and white fur, and a single curved horn on top of it hops around the village like an excited puppy, behind him is a Digimon that looks like a humanoid yellow-furred fox with tufts on its shoulders shaped like wings, one looks like a mane on her chest, and a long fluffy yellow tail with white tip, wearing purple sleeves around its arm frantically chases after the little Digimon.
"It was just a normal life in a normal village. Everyone lives happily like it's nobody's business...it was...until I evolved."
The little Digimon suddenly glows before it starts to grow, the Digimon now has a pair of arms, his horn changes its shape, becomes straighter, and a pair of tiny legs. As the glow dies down, Black Gabumon is in its place.
"It was the day when everyone started to look at me differently. At first, it was just mere curiosity, then day after day, that curiosity has slowly turned to fear."
Black Gabumon was stared at by a group of Digimon with curious looks. As time passes, those Digimons lessen, and the one that stays looks at him in fear instead of the curious look.
"Back then...I don't know what made those Digimons change...confused, I kept looking for answers...but, every time I asked, none of them gave me proper answers..."
B.Gabumon asked other Digimons the questions, and they didn't answer, instead, they either looked away in disgust, pushed him away out of hatred, or yelled at him to go away.
"And that isn't all...whenever we spar to improve ourselves, they all made sure the protector of the village was gone...and I got ambushed...back then, I don't know who it was...I can't do anything other than getting beaten up..."
Black Gabumon looked around his surroundings anxiously before several shadows tackled him to the ground. B.Gabumon tries to get away but is held onto the ground while he is attacked. His screams can be heard from a distance.
The fox Digimon was very busy handling the kids and overheard the scream and went towards the voice. She was horrified when she saw B. Gabumon lies on the ground unconscious, blood flows from underneath his furs and forms a puddle underneath him.
"I...didn't know who are they...I was shaken as the protector treated my wounds...trying to ask if I saw them, but I couldn't...I was just too scared...Then, I found out..."
B.Gabumon walks in the forest, adjusting his pelts to hide his scars, before noticing a group of Digimon talking and laughing. B.Gabumon was at first hesitant, but he decided that he should approach them.
It was the greatest mistake of his life, as he heard their conversation, he froze.
"Haha, that'll teach that idiot Black Gabumon a lesson!"
"Indeed! How is he that stupid!? He keeps asking about 'why', it's so annoying!"
"He didn't even realize that he's a damn virus!"
"Viruses are the worst! But I think he takes the cake!"
B.Gabumon was shaking, unable to process everything he had just before he ran off.
"I was scared, all I could think of were their conversations, unable to think rational thoughts. All I could think of was run...run until my legs gave in."
B.Gabumon panted before he collapsed on the ground, tears escaping his eyes as he sobbed. He wiped his tears before he ran off again.
"I...decided to run away...all with nothing but my body...and as I wander around the island...I found out...the world isn't a great place..."
B.Gabumon was kicked out of the store before the door was aggressively shut in front of him. B.Gabumon winced before holding his bruised stomach and wiping off the blood on his mouth.
"The discrimination was not just in the village, it was everywhere...all Digimons I encounter always either aggressive towards me, mocking me, or just indifferent...and the question I could think of is...why?"
B.Gabumon sat under the tree while using the herb he found near the forest to treat his wounds. Until, he heard a rustle from the bush, causing B.Gabumon to be alerted. He was surprised to see a yellow caterpillar with a pair of antennae sticking out of his head, a pair of black lightning bolt marks on where his eyes were supposed to be, and a blue beak.
"One day...I met Kuwagamon when he was just a Kunemon...he's the first friend I ever met for the first time...I was a bit ecstatic...I mean, how can't I...he's my first friend..."
B.Gabumon and Kunemon sit next to each other and talk while laughing. Then, they walk in a dark forest before they encounter someone, an orange and white furred Digimon with a lion-like mane, boosters on his shoulder, and several spikes on its back and chest, with drills sports on its head, knees, and the tip of its tail.
"Then, we meet another Digimon...who calls himself Dorulumon, and he knows our situation, inviting us to join him. We...accept his offer, without knowing what we had just accepted."
Dorulumon leads both Digimons into a camp full of Digimons. B.Gabumon didn't remember every Digimon he across, but he knew one thing they shared in common. They're all Virus, like him.
"I...was oblivious of what I have just got myself into...but, they all are so welcoming...so, being the naive Digimon I was, I ignore all the red flags...figuratively and literally..."
Several scenes of B.Gabumon joining an army of Virus Digimon destroying village after village, tearing down each Digimon they come across, and so on.
"I...I didn't even realize my wrongdoing...I just destroy, destroy, and destroy...until the time I try to end another Digimon..."
B.Gabumon extends his claws covered in blood and is about to attack, but a Patamon turns around and B.Gabumon froze, seeing the Digimon's face. It reminds him of himself.
"I saw it...the look of fear the Digimon gave at me...it...it's the same as when I was attacked...I finally realize...I just turn into something I fear of..."
B.Gabumon looks at the cracked mirror nearby, his black scales and pelt are now covered in blood.
"...a monster..."
B.Gabumon sneakily walks out of his camp with a look of sadness before he runs off.
"I...don't know what else should I do...so, I just do what I did back then...run, run, and run..."
B.Gabumon ran into the forest while panting before he heard several footsteps behind me. B.Gabumon didn't get a chance to turn back as Dorulumon pinned him down.
"Why are you running away, child?" Dorulumon snarls.
"I...I can't...I can't do it anymore..." B.Gabumon said, trying not to cry. "I...I only want to find a place where I belong! I...I never ask to be hated...I never ask to join an army full of Digimon hellbent on slaughtering everyone...I didn't want to give more reason for others to hate me more..."
Before Dorulumon could answer, they were surrounded, much to their confusion. Kunemon crawled out of the forest with a large sinister grin on its face before the rest of Digimon started to ambush not only B.Gabumon but also Dorulumon, surprising both of them.
"What's the meaning of this!?" Dorulumon snarls before hebits off a Gazimon's throat and tears its head off its shoulder before piercing another Gazimon's chest with his drill tail.
"Oh, nothing...just thinking of changing the camp's leadership," Kunemon said with a cruel tone as more Virus Digimon started to pop up, charging towards both B.Gabumon and Dorulumon. "B.Gabumon...to think you would betray us by siding with Dorulumon..."
B.Gabumon looks at Kunemon's sinister expression and freezes, unable to expect the first friend he meets to be this cruel. Dorulumon knocks everyone off before grabbing B.Gabumon in his mouth and running off.
"We...end up walking in separate ways...I just wanted to leave everything while Dorulumon didn't know what to do...I was as lost as him until a bright light blinded me and...I end up in your room."
[Flashback ends]
[Field Forest, Appli Archipelago]
[Digital World]
"...and the rest is history..." B.Gabumon said as he looked to Kirishima, who didn't say a word. "Now...you know who I truly am...you must feel disgusted by me, right? For all the heinous things I did...putting fears on others..."
Kirishima didn't say anything, which started to make B.Gabumon to be anxious.
"Why...why didn't you say anything, damn it!" B.Gabumon roars. "Tell me! Tell me how much of a monster I am! Tell me how fucked up I am! Tell me how I simply prove them right!! Just say something, damn it!! Yell, scream, scold me! Please-!"
B.Gabumon froze when Kirishima didn't do any of those and instead pulled him into a hug. B.Gabumon never felt so confused as Kirishima tightened his hugs.
"This whole time...you've been punishing yourself...distancing yourself from others...refusing to look at other Digimon's eyes...you can't stop feeling guilty..." Kirishima said before gently rubbing his back.
"...why...why aren't you mad?" B.Gabumon asked shakily. "I...I did those horrible things...I...I gave in...I was a monster...I was a villain!"
"...you've punishing yourself for this is enough..." Kirishima said. "I...didn't want to punish you more...when you keep doing it to yourself..."
B.Gabumon starts sobbing, unlike the previous attempt of Kirishima hugging him. This time he hugs back.
"Besides...how can I abandon my friend who needs help..." Kirishima said.
"...y-you still consider me as friends?" B.Gabumon asked.
"Like it or not, you're stuck with me, buddy," Kirishima said with a large grin. B.Gabumon looks at Kirishima before leaning into his body with a smile, a tear escaping his eyes.
"T-thank you..." B.Gabumon mutters as Kirishima rubs his head gently. "I...I'm going to make it right...I...I'm helping other Digimons...to atone for my sins..."
"...and when you did...I'm right by your side, buddy...till the end of the line." Kirishima said as B.Gabumon nodded slightly. They blink when they hear a snore and turn to see Weathermon already fall asleep. Both look at each other before giggling together before they watch the night sky.
[To be continued]