A Midnight Confession

-2003-

Rika Nonaka looked across her friend's living room towards her friend. "So you wanna surprise Gogglehead?"

"Yeah. He's been working really hard recently between trying to make sure he passes and he's been more on top of hunting the emerging digimon than any of us." Henry smiled. "I wanna let him have a day for himself to be happy."

Rika sighed. "Not bad logic." She said, leaning against the wall. "That kind of thing probably would cheer Gogglehead up. He's been all upset lately."

Kazu spoke up next. "Yeah. Chumley's been real quiet all the time. He doesn't even yell back when I make fun of him or say stuff to him."

"You mean gross stuff." Kenta spoke bluntly. "Seriously Kazu you're a freak.."

"Case in point. Takato's birthday is in two days, April 17th, a Sunday." Henry spoke matter of factly. "So, we're gonna plan a surprise party for him. I figure we party on the 16th, then have it last until Midnight so we can do a big 'happy birthday' right at Midnight. Sounds fun, huh?" He asked. Everyone nodded in approval.

"Where exactly, though?" Kenta asked. "His parents may not be super in on it."

Rika sighed. "I might be able to help." She said, "I'll talk my grandma into using my place."

"... Seriously? You're gonna put yourself out there for Chumley?" Kazu asked.

Rika sighed. "Yes.. He's done a lot for me.. And all of us. So if he wants to have a fun stupid birthday party, we can use my house." She said, sighing. Truthfully her thoughts around Takato had become complicated recently. The two had been working together a lot more recently. Henry was busy a lot more, Kazu and Kenta were slow on the uptake, and so those two ended up on the scene first usually.

This led to them spending a lot of post battle time together. Going out to eat, or just walking together while Guilmon was entertained by whatever scenery he could find along the way. Rika found herself surprisingly pleased with her time spent by Takato. He was an idiot, but he had something that was somewhat endearing about him. Until finally one day she had looked up as she and Renamon got home.

"Do I have a thing for that Gogglehead?" She sighed. "No.. Of course not." She immediately answered her own, obviously rhetorical question. Rika didn't need a boyfriend, or care about dating.

But still, even as she laid in her bathtub, silently soaking in the hot water, her mind wandered. This happened a lot recently regarding their de facto leader. Her mind wandered to his acts of heroism in their battles over the years, his kindness. His dumb smile he used to flash whenever he saw her approaching an emerged digimon. A smile she noticed was a lot less present now, often replaced with a more thoughtful face.

"What is that gogglehead thinking about..?" She asked herself,standing against the wall of Henry's room.

"Huh?" Henry asked.

"Nothing.." Rika said. "I was just thinking about that Gogglead."

Kazu laughed. "Rika actually thinks about other people. Color me blown away."

Rika looked up. "Kazu, I'll give you a five minute head start."

"... Thank you I'm gonna need it, you're very fast.." Kazu rushed out.

Kenta followed. "I'll uh.. Leave too." He shuffled out after his friend.

Henry turned. "You good Rika? I'm not as tactless as Kazu, but still you aren't one to air your issues that openly."

Rika sighed. "I don't exactly get it either, Henry.." A red tint filled her cheeks as she thought back to her bathtime musings from nights prior. She shook her head. "It's just that.. Have you noticed Takato smiling less around you recently?" Rika asked.

Henry tilted his head. "I mean.. Maybe?" He scratched his chin. "The guy's been stressed so he smiles less period.. But I wouldn't say it has anything to do with me.. Is it happening to you?"

Rika sighed. "Not sure.. Maybe we're just fighting digimon whenever I see him… But still.. It's like.." She sighed. "Talking to him is.." She looked away. "It's fun.." She explained with embarrassment. "And I like talking to him.. I guess.. But then I look at him, and his smile doesn't last. It drops when I look at him, and he gets this dumb, thoughtful look on his face.."

Henry sighed. "Sounds like it's something you need to talk to Takato about.." Henry smiled. "But what's this about you liking a chat with Takato?" He smirked.

Rika's face turned red again. "Sh-Shut up, Henry!" She grumbled. "I take it back! No conversation with that big dumb Gogglehead would ever be fun!" She said with exasperation, looking at Henry with a frustrated face.

Henry nodded. "Sure thing." He smiled. "You should hurry and go chat with your grandma, we gotta put this together tomorrow." He said. "We'll need someone to distract him while we're setting up and bring him there when it's ready, though.."

"Hmph. Let that dumb visor head do it." Rika said, crossing her arms.

Henry suddenly had a fun, slightly cruel idea. But considering Rika's behavior, he felt it necessary to test his theory. "I was thinking of Jeri."

"Jeri? Why her?"

"Oh you know.. It's pretty obvious."

"What are you talking about?" Rika asked, a confused tone laced into her question.

"Her and Takato have been dancing around for years. Think, they spend a cute date day together, and then they come back for a party. By night's end, he might finally ask Jeri out."

Rika suddenly caught his drift, a weird look on her face. "Oh yeah.. Guess that Gogglehead is head over heels for her.."

Henry nodded. "Yeah, surprised they haven't just finally gotten together and coupled up. Everyone has been expecting it since we graduated from grade school."

Rika turned. "Well.. Maybe.." Her face flushed slightly. "Maybe he just doesn't like her, huh!?" Rika insisted, an irritated tone rising up.

"Really? Do you think so? Who do you think he's got his eyes on?" Henry asked, a playful glint in his eyes.

"I.. I don't know- I'm not in his brain because I'm not an absolute Gogglehead! Why do you suddenly care what I think about that Gogglehead anyways!?" Rika asked, her pitch rising slightly. "Y-You like him or something, weirdo! Shut up!" She declared before Henry could even speak more. "I'm leaving. You can have Jeri or Kazu or whoever distract him! I don't care who he has a dumb pavilion lunch date with anyways! I'm glad it's not me! Sounds miserable!" She said, turning and slamming the door behind her as she left.

Terriermon stepped out of Henry's room. "Wow Henry, I didn't know you were such an instigator.."

Henry laughed. "I am not.. I was just testing a theory.. And it seems it was right."

"And what theory might that be?"

"Our Ice Queen has it bad for her little Gogglehead." Henry said with a laugh. "And you know, Takato came to me with a similar issue the other day.."

"So you mean.." Terriermon said. "They're definitely gonna couple up!?"

"Nothing is certain, Terriermon. It would seem they both are into each other, but that doesn't mean one of them will get the courage to ask the other out. And even if they do, they're both used to looking at each other with a thick layer of playful deprecation that often ends up being not so playful, and that might muddle the lovey dovey feelings they've got there enough to sink the ship before it even sets sail."

Terriermon sighed. "Sounds like someone needs to give them a nice earful of moumantais.." He said sheepishly.

"Right, you are my little friend." Henry laughed. "And depending on how it goes, maybe I could lend a helping hand." He said, turning. "But for now, it's best to scope out the situation." He turned. "Our priority is Takato's fun party."

April 17th came and Takato was leaving his house. He had been invited to Rika's today, so he was gonna go later, after he spent the day out with Jeri, who had invited him out. His feelings for Jeri had always been a bit complicated. He had crushed on her for a long time during the incidents leading up to and following his fight with the D-Reaper. Just before he turned eleven, he asked Jeri out, and she rejected him.

It hadn't felt great when it happened. Just about everyone had told him the two would be a great couple, and he was hopeful she'd say yes, even over his nerves. In hindsight he had catastrophically botched it, being the worst loser imaginable about it. Even if she liked him back, he honestly thought she was still right to reject him after he fumbled through a plain "will you be my girlfriend?"

And so upon this catastrophic failure, he decided to hold that card close to his chest, and Jeri respected that. Takato only ever told Henry, and Jeri told Rika. And so as far as the group knew, Takato was still pining for Jeri, even if they were both oblivious to it. The only ones illuminated fully to the truth of the matter were Henry and Takato, as Henry had been the one Takato talked to when he finally got over his crush for Jeri by the time he was twelve, figuring he couldn't just keep hoping she'd suddenly want him as her boyfriend.

And Takato had been serious about moving on. When he thought about Jeri, he still had a friendly affection for her, but gone was the same feeling he once felt. Sure he still found her pretty, but his attraction towards her wasn't the same anymore. He mulled over these thoughts as he walked to meet Jeri. Those feelings he once felt for Jeri.. They may be gone.. But there was a new person who occupied his mind in a way similar to how Jeri once had.

"Rika.." He sighed aloud as he walked, thinking of the jean wearing, rough, prickly member of their group of unlikely Tamers. Why did it have to be her of all people? It was something he asked himself constantly. Sure he had this awkward, slightly antagonistic relationship with the girl, but it's not like he was too prideful to admit he also admired her. He understood why someone would like her.

"She'd never like me.. It's hopeless.." He kept his head down. In Takato's mind he was a hopeless loser, and Rika was special. Even if she was a jerk, she had a certain magic to her that was amazing. She was determined, hard working, strong, and deep down she was kind. "She's Rika Nonaka.." He said to himself. "And I'm just Takato…?

"What about you just being Takato?" Jeri's voice spoke up behind him.

Takato jumped and shrieked, turning to face Jeri. "Oh uh.. Jeri!" He said, facing her. "It's nothing.."

Jeri smiled. "If you say so.." She turned. "Well come on, we've got a few hours to kill before we go see Rika!" Jeri said, taking his hand. Takato was surprised by this but didn't resist as she pulled him along. "Let's get some lunch! I know a place that serves good Italian food!"

"Italian food? I've never really had it.." Takato laughed a bit. "Unless you count some boxed noodles.." He laughed nervously.

"Well then it's a great time to try it! Consider it a birthday present!" Jeri pulled him along.

Seated in the restaurant, Jeri ordered food and recommended a bunch of things to order him. Takato didn't want pizza when she recommended it, because he'd had pizza he just never thought about it much as 'Italian food' the same way you imagine a complicated pasta dish.

As Jeri ate her spaghetti happily, she looked at her friend. "So.. Takato.." She looked at him, her gaze lingering on him affectionately. "What's it like, almost being thirteen?"

Takato finished swallowing his food. ".. Pretty much the same. I'm still stressed over school, worried about more digimon attacks.. The only thing that's gonna change is the number.. It's weird.. I used to get so excited for my birthday.. Now after everything I've been through.. We've been through.. Celebrating is fun but.." He sighed. "It's a reminder that it keeps going. I can't just stay in the life I had after the D-Reaper.. There's no 'ending' like a TV show.. Davis and Tai had endings.. Happy endings.. Me? I gotta keep figuring it out.. And we're still fighting. Yamaki isn't even sure if the bio-emergences recently are just natural or caused by some bigger problem again. Part of me would like to be a Tamer and fight Digimon forever.. I mean it was basically my dream growing up.. But now.. I'm not so sure."

Jeri sighed a bit, wiping her lips with a napkin. "Yeah.. Life doesn't just have a 'happy ending' like in the movies and shows. Phases have their ends.. It's like chapters in a book."

"Yeah.. And sometimes stuff from old chapters comes up.. But it doesn't all stay the same." Takato sighed. "I wish there was something reliable that I could at least know would stick around for a while.."

Jeri nodded. "I.." She sighed. "I know how you feel.. We at least all have each other." Jeri offered.

Takato smiled. "Yeah.. And I remind myself of that all the time." He said. "Still.. Sometimes you want more.. Maybe it's selfish, I'm not sure." He looked into Jeri's eyes.

Jeri nodded. "I.. I think I get what you mean.. Now more than ever." She met his gaze.

The two's conversation fizzled out, and they finished eating, paying for their meal before they left. Takato tried to split but Jeri insisted she cover it, after all it was his birthday. His insistence couldn't beat her determination, and he wasn't going to complain too much about eating for free and saving money.

The two walked, traversing the city in the general direction of Rika's place. They strolled through the park, past couples, mostly older teens and adults.

Jeri shifted nervously. She knew what she wanted to do now, but she was still nervous. She took a deep breath. "Takato.."

"Yeah, Jeri?" He asked.

She turned to face him. "You want something reliable right?" She asked, slipping her hand into his as she faced him. "Something.. More than friendship?"

"Huh?" His eyes widened. "I.." He looked away, slightly embarrassed. "Yes.. I suppose I do."

Jeri smiled. "Well.. I could be that.." She said.

Takato's pupils shrank, her turned to her. "Jeri.. You don't mean.."

"Takato.. A few years ago I said no because we were both too young.. I had lost Leomon, and everything after the D-Reaper.. It was too much.. But the more I thought about it over the years.. The more I.." She looked down. "I want to give it a try.. You're still my best friend all the same.. We've known each other for a long time. Will.." She sighed. "Will you be my boyfriend?"

Takato stared into her eyes. He was dumbstruck, not sure what to say. "Jeri I.."

"I know it's kind of rude to ask after I rejected you.. But I.. I'm pretty sure you're still interested in me.. Why else would you still talk to me?" Jeri asked halfheartedly.

Takato sighed. "Jeri.. I.." He sighed. "I talk to you because you're my friend. I care about you.." Part of his brain wanted to just forget about Rika in the back of his head. The girl he always wanted for almost two years was asking for him now. "It's.." He bit his lip.

Jeri looked at him. "There's someone else.. Isn't there?" She asked.

Takato looked down at her. "I.." He looked to his feet. "Yes.. Jeri you're amazing, you're one of my best friends, and I don't know what I'd do without you.. But I can't say yes.."

Jeri smiled weakly. "I.. I guess I should have known." She wiped her teary eyes. "Can't expect you to wait on me for almost three years.." She giggled.

He sighed. "I'm sorry, Jeri."

"Who is it though? This new lucky girl?" She inquired.

Takato sucked in a breath. "Calling a girl who's caught my eye lucky.. Not sure that's fair to her.." He looked up. "It's Rika.."

"Rika?" Jeri seemed a bit surprised. "I have to admit.. I never imagined it.."

"Yeah, me neither until one day I just started to.." He said. "But it's hopeless anyways. The fact that you even like a loser like me is some kind of stroke of luck.. She would never."

Jeri smiled. "Don't be so sure, Takato. You should tell her how you feel."

Takato shoved his hands in his pockets. "I break your heart and you're still giving me advice.." He smiled. "I don't deserve you, Jeri."

Jeri smiled. "Yes you do. We all deserve each other. Now let's hurry and get to Rika's place."

Takato nodded as they walked.

At the Nonaka residence, Rika finished the last touches of the planning. "Ok. Gogglehead and Jeri are g0nna be here any minute. Lights off and everyone go hide. If you screw this up, there will be violent consequences." She said.

"You're awfully worked up about this.." Henry laughed. "Even more than me." Rika swung a hand at his shoulder but he blocked it. His martial arts paid off. "Moumantai, Rika." He smirked, walking to his hiding place.

Rika rolled her eyes. "I just want that idiot to have a good time.." She said as she heard the doorbell ring. She walked over and took a deep breath, opening the door. "Gogglehead, Jeri."

"H-Hey Rika.." Takato said awkwardly, walking in. He stepped towards the main room. "Why's it so dark in here..?"

Rika stepped behind him and turned on the lights. Everyone leapt out. The humans, the digimon, everyone jumped out and yelled. "SURPRISE!" The shouts blasted a stunned Takato.

He stood there in shock, looking at the decorated room, the snacks placed out, all his friends standing before him. "No way.." He said. "You all did this for me?" He asked in an amazed voice.

"Yes we did Chumley, better be thankful!" Kazu said.

Henry nodded. "You've been busting your butt so hard recently that we figured you needed a good day to cool off. So we arranged, courtesy of Rika and her grandmother's hospitality."

Rika nodded, throwing an arm over his shoulder from behind with a smirk. "You can thank me later, Gogglehead."

Takato just stood in amazement. "I.." His eyes teared up slightly. He raised his arm and wiped his eyes gently. "Thank you guys.. Seriously.."

"Ugh, don't get all sappy on us. If you cry there's no point! Have fun, Gogglehead!" Rika insisted.

Takato wiped his face and smiled. "Y-Yeah! You're right!" He said, walking over and smiling. "Let's have some fun!"

And so it began, the group played all kinds of games. They sat around playing Digimon for a while, they played charades, Kazu at one point even forced Takato into a wrestling match that Takato half-heartedly accepted before letting himself lose.

Kazu was quickly knocked off the high horse by being floored by Rika who refused to pin him because as she put it, "You're gross and I would never touch you."

Takato had a great night. Around 11:45 the party had slowed down and the party was winding down to smaller chats between splitting groups. Takato took the opportunity to get up and walk away for a few minutes. He was enjoying himself, but Rika was in the back of his mind, as well as what happened earlier with Jeri.

No one noticed him slip away into the yard except Rika. Rika watched. "What is he doing..?" She mused to herself, looking at him. She thought a bit to herself. Her feelings for Takato were so complicated. She liked him, but he was an idiot. Yet she didn't care. She just knew that with the way she treated him, there was know way he'd ever go for her. Especially with Jeri around, and especially after spending the whole day with the aforementioned girl. "Damn Gogglehead.." She said to herself.

Henry walked up beside her. "Go talk to him.." He said, sipping his drink.

Rika turned. "I.. But it's Midnight in ten minutes."

Henry smiled. "I know.. But I get the feeling you need to talk to him.. It's more important than getting his happy birthday at Midnight."

Rika sighed. "I hate how knowing you are.. It's like you're inside my head."

"Takato wears his heart on his sleeve.. And you? You're not great at hiding being flustered." He snickered at her angry face. "Sorry, not sorry." He said, turning. "Now go, before he decides to come back in."

Rika sighed. "Ugh.. You're the worst, Wong." She smiled a bit. "But.. Thank you." She smiled a bit.

Walking outside and shutting the door quietly, she approached Takato who sat in the middle of the grass. "Hey, Gogglehead, you know the party is inside, right?"

Takato turned. "Rika?" He seemed a bit surprised but sighed. "I know.. I just.. I needed a minute."

"... Wanna talk about it?" She asked, sitting beside him.

Takato sighed. "Sure.." He took a deep breath. "Rika.. Have you ever.. Had a crush on anyone?" He asked.

Rika was immediately surprised by that question. "I mean.. Maybe." She said, slightly flustered. "Why do you wanna know?"

"I just.. I know I like someone. But I'm scared to tell her." Takato said. "And I don't know what to do."

Rika raised an eyebrow. "Scared to tell her? Haven't you already asked Jeri out once? What's making a fool of yourself twice?" She asked, a layer of humor covering her feelings.

Takato's eyes widened. "She told you about that?" He sighed, chuckling. "Guess that's fair.. I told Henry but.. That was years ago.. And this time.. Things are different." He said.

"Well even if they are, you should tell her how you feel again. Things may have changed for her too. You never know. It's astounding how much of a Gogglehead you can be. Dumb, sure, but I've never seen you be such a scaredy-cat over something as silly as a crush."
"Scaredy-cat?" Takato chuckled. "Guess you aren't wrong." He looked down and sighed. He then leaned back, looking at the sky. "You're right, Rika.. I just need to tell her how I feel.."

"Then go in there and do it." Rika felt her heart ache at the idea of him doing that, but she wanted to help her friend.

"Go in there..?" Takato raised an eyebrow. "Rika I.." He sighed, cutting himself off. "Jeri asked me out earlier today."

"Huh? But then why are you.." Realization finally set in on her face.

"I said no.. Because I don't like Jeri that way anymore.." He turned and faced Rika. "Rika.." He steeled himself. "The girl I need to confess to is already right here."

Rika's face lit up red. "Wait.. What are you saying, Gogglehead!?" She felt her face heating up more.

"I'm saying what it sounds like, Rika. I don't like Jeri.. I like you.. I'm not sure why, because I know it's hopeless, I'm just a big, dumb Gogglehead, and you're the greatest, the Digimon Queen, everything awesome in the world.. You're strong, determined, pretty.. I know I'm stupid.. And look like an idiot.. But it's how I feel." He turned to face Rika who sat there silently. Rika looked back at him, a bewildered look in her eyes. Takato immediately feared the worst and went into damage control. "Rika please just forget what I-" Her hand covered his mouth.

"Shut up. You talked, it's my turn now." She said, breathing in deeply. "Firstly.." She punched his shoulder and he winced. "That's for calling me pretty, Gogglehead." She sighed. "And second.." She looked down. "I.. Like you too.. I didn't know how to say it, and I was scared that you secretly would never be interested in me because.. I'm not always nice to you.. So I tried to push it down but.. I like you too, Takato.."

Takato looked at her slowly, pulling her hand off his mouth. "Can I talk now?" He asked. She nodded. Takato continued. "I honestly can't believe you were worried I wouldn't like you. You're so cool and awesome, it's really the other way around.. I can't believe you.. Like me.." He spoke softly.

Rika sighed and scooted closer to him, leaning against him. "So.. We both thought the other would never be interested.. Yet by some stroke of fate.. You like me despite my cold demeanor.."

"Yeah and by some divine miracle you managed to go beyond my thick head and Gogglebrain to find something worth liking in me.." Takato shot back. "So I guess.." He took a deep breath. "Let me just say it formally.. I like you, Rika Nonaka.. Will you.. Let me be your boyfriend..?" He asked.

Rika rolled her eyes. "You're so corny, Gogglehead.." She smirked. "I'll let you be my boyfriend on one condition."

"What condition..?" He asked hesitantly.

Rika smirked again. "You have to let me be your girlfriend." She said, a small giggle escaping her mouth.

Takato watched her giggle and he could only think about how cute it sounded, and how she would kill him if he said that. Takato took a deep breath. "I accept.. You can be my girlfriend."

Rika smiled. "Then you can be my boyfriend. But you better not expect me to go on boring dates and do sappy dumb stuff, ok!?"

Takato smiled. "Wouldn't ever dream of it, Rika." He stroked her shoulder gently.

Henry watched from the window with a small smile. Jeri stood beside him, watching too. "Guess it all worked out fine.."

Jeri nodded. "I'm glad.. Even if it hurts a bit."

Henry smiled. "Yeah.. But we'll find someone for ourselves someday. I'm just happy my friends are happy."

Jeri nodded. "Me too." She smiled. "So.. How long until their first kiss?"

Henry scratched his chin. "I say.. Between Takato's bone-headedness and Rika's attitude.. I give them.."

Jeri smiled. "Two months!"
"Two months is a little optimistic." Henry chuckled. "I give them four to six.. I'll say five to be safe."

Rika and Takato sat side by side in the yard as the clock struck midnight. Rika kissed Takato on the cheek suddenly. Takato's face turned red. Rika was red too, but she smiled. "Thanks for tonight Takato.."

"... Thank you too, Rika." Takato and Rika stayed there a while longer. Takato thought about his conversation with Jeri earlier. That something more. He wasn't sure if it was Rika, or if he and Rika would last, but he wanted to take the chance. He wanted to see where this went with her. And for now they were both satisfied to do just that.