"You want to know where you can buy these... kaado?" Diluc repeated the question to the boy nervously looking up at him.

Takato fidgeted under Diluc's stare but eventually found the courage to mime with the pieces of paper in his hand, making it look as if he was shuffling...

"Kaado as in cards?"

The boy nodded in confirmation, happy he managed to get his meaning across. The electro lifeform that'd made its existence to permanently nest on Takato's hair elaborated.

"We're not exactly looking to buy cards, but commision some," Gigimon said with a much more understandable Monstadtian than his master. "We want custom made cards with Takato's drawings."

"Mou, Gigimon..." Takato pouted in the now already familiar catchphrase Diluc had long since added to his mental Takato-Dictionary.

The boy went on to speak in Inazuman, and though Diluc didn't understand a word of it, he guessed it was along the line of Gigimon being a better Monstadtian speaker than him.

"I study a lot while you sleep." Gigimon thumped his chest with his stubby leg, head held high as they finally returned to using Monstadtian.

"No wonder some of the pages are scorched up," Miss Ella chimed in and waved in greetings, her other hand hugging lesson materials to her chest. "My dictionary is expensive, you know," she said despite her chiding and joined them at the dining table. Adelinde who'd escorted her left the room.

Gigimon had the decency to look embarrased. "Sorry."

"So, what is this about commisioning cards?" Miss Ella asked. Gigimon unashamedly jumped onto her books when she dropped them down, much to her chagrin. "You're lucky you're cute," she said, pinching the creature's cheeks and getting static sparks on her fingers.

Ignoring him, she turned to Diluc and Takato.

"If you want an artist, I recommend Master Albedo from the Knights."

Diluc watched the boy beside him changing his expression from bright to frowning. He didn't use to do that, especially not when his favorite Miss Lisa was mentioned anywhere in casual conversation. Over the course of his mastery of the Monstadtian tongue however, he started to get jumpy whenever the topic of the Knights came up.

Diluc wasn't alone in his observation, though Miss Ella was less discreet about it. Not that his curiousity minded.

"Do you dislike the Knights, Takato?" she asked carefully.

The boy started at the question, stammering words in his native Inazuman. His eyes flitted about the mansion in uncertainty, settling on Gigimon only when the electro creature addressed him.

"You can tell them, Takato," the creature smiled in reasurrance. "You told me you'd trust them, didn't you?"

Diluc shared a glance with Miss Ella while his two charges talked. The hushes and whispers thrown between them eventually died down when Takato turned to him and Miss Ella.

"I don't like big people," the boy said, shrinking and hiding himself behind the dining table. Gigimon jumped onto his shoulder to give him a pat of encouragement.

"Big people as in adults?" Miss Ella asked to which he hesitantly nodded, eyes not meeting them.

"Master Diluc is good person, I know that now, so you okay. Other adults okay too, like Mister Elzer and Miss Adelinde. But adult with uh... power? Yeah, adult with power. I don't like." He frowned at the dining table, directing an unexplained resentment to the wooden furniture.

"He doesn't like governments." Gigimon supplied before blinking at them. "The Knights are government, right?"

"They are," Diluc said and leaned into his chair, his curiousity sated. This was new information, but he supposed for a child allegedly smuggled away from a dictatorship nation, trusting authority would be a dangerous prospect. Still, the knowledge that the boy looked up to him, enough to assuage his non-existent worry, almost pulled a smile at his lips. Not that he'd tell anyone that.

He looked at the boy and offered what he hoped was enough reassurance by unfrowning his face. Adelinde would scold him for being so cold towards a child, but he couldn't help it.

"Though I do distrust the Knights for my own reasons, you have no need to worry. They are reliable. For the most parts," he added after a pause.

Miss Ella sent him a strange look. She ignored him to focus on Takato.

"We know Inazuman officials can be... aggressive, but Monstadt's Knights aren't like that. Right, Master Diluc?" She smiled at the boy while stealthily pinching Diluc's thigh under the table. He swore to take retribution for this one day, but for now, he simply followed her lead.

"You have my word." He nodded and crossed his arms, remembering to put on a smile this time. Under the table, he silently grabbed the tiny hand offending him and dropped it back to its now satisfied owner. "If the Knights ever mistreat you, then they'll have to answer to me."

Takato looked at them with a blank expression. Gigimon noticed it and whispered in his ear.

"Answer here means explain. He's saying he'll beat them if they hurt you," the creature explained.

Diluc wouldn't say he'd beat them. He wasn't barbaric. But he approved of the translation nevertheless. Miss Ella was less amused.

Light returned to the boy's eyes when he finally understood their words. "Oh."

"You can trust Master Albedo," Diluc assured him again. "For your customized cards business, he'll be the best choice in all of Monstadt."

"...okay." Takato bit his lips but nodded, if hesitant. Gigimon patted his head like a proud father, pulling a laugh out of him when his hair began to stand from the static. "How do I ask him to help?" the boy asked while trying to keep his hair down, a smile taking over his frown from earlier.

"I'll go with you," Miss Ella offered, grinning. "Mr. Albedo owes me a favor anyway. He won't refuse you if I'm there."

"Yay, group trip!" Gigimon cheered.

When the entourage of three left the mansion in loud chatters, Diluc paid a visit to Elzer who was busy doing calculations on his desk. The papers strewn about the floor didn't seem to be related to the winery's profits, but Diluc supposed the man needed some rest from it too from time to time. He rested his hips on the desk's corner.

"If you don't mind me interrupting, Elzer?"

"Yes?" The man replied, still focused on the strange symbols he was writing with.

"The boy does know Miss Ella is an adult, doesn't he?"

"I'm sure he hasn't a clue, Master Diluc," the man said without looking up, seemingly even more fixated on his newfound hobby. "I suspect she just wants an excuse to act like a child, so she never tells him."

"Ah, that makes sense." Diluc nodded, absentmindedly feeling his thigh where the tiny woman had pinched him earlier.

Travelling through Monstadt was an experience. Growing up in a concrete jungle and daily conveniences spoiling him left and right, the proclaimed Nation of Freedom was both beautiful and... quite a downgrade.

He appreciated the vast green plains of course, and he made sure to keep it to himself lest he sound rude. But, he couldn't help but to have some opinions about their transport system. For one, a ride on a train back home would've easily halved the time taken for their journey, and then some. That said, if anyone from back home ever asked, he could at least brag about riding a horse-pulled carriage.

"Who was it that decided to run away from home in the first place?" Gigimon giggled in his ear when he mentioned it, their voice low so Ella wouldn't hear them, her Inazuman proficiency aside.

"Why you little..." He pinched the creature's cheeks hard, unable to stop his grin when Gigimon only laughed. He shook his head, chuckling. "Just be glad I don't know how to uncreate you."

Still, a carriage was better than walking back and forth from the winery to Windrise, he supposed. The then newly-born Gigimon asking "are we there yet" every step home hadn't lessened his exhaustion any when he'd done just that.

Huh. Home...

It was so easy to consider the winery as such the longer he stayed.

He was pulled out of his musing when Monstadt city came into view. Ella went out first and helped him mount off of the carriage. It wasn't much different than jumping off of a bus with how high the carriage was from the ground. Gigimon waved goodbye to the horses that only neighed in reply.

Oldstyle stone pavements decorated the streets from the main entrance, all the way to the Knights' headquarters. The journey was long, giving him enough time to appreciate the change of scenery. Strangers chattered wherever they passed by, their words so quickly spoken he couldn't catch them. Some who knew Ella greeted them and made small talks, but he couldn't help but notice almost all of them were grown-ups. As for the few kids they met...

"Why they call you Miss? They your friend, no? Why not call you Ella?" He asked as they ascend yet another set of stairs. Monstadtians really loved their stairs.

"Guess." Ella winked playfully at his question and left him standing confused while she walked ahead.

They eventually arrived at the headquarters, his legs tired from all the walking and climbing Monstadt's increasing elevation. Even if he hadn't already disliked the organization, he sure would hate coming here on the regular. And Ella said she came here daily, while also giving him lessons at the winery?

"We'd like to see Mr. Albedo," Ella informed a pair of knights guarding the entrance. Takato, wanting nothing but a chair to sit on, only followed her inside when they were let in. He got his wish for a seat the moment he passed through the door. His butt didn't appreciate the cold hard floor, however.

"Ack!" Takato looked in surprise at the person that had rammed into him. It was a girl some years younger than him, smiling up nervously knowing she was in trouble. For a brief moment, a small crying figure took the girl's place, her bloodshot eyes staring into the sky.

"Where's everyone going? Don't go!" Takato listened to the little girl crying into her brother's legs, begging in vain for their friends to return.

"Takato, you alright?" Ella's voice shook him out of his thought. He nodded absentmindedly and took her hand. She helped pull him up and began scolding the red-clad girl. "What were you doing, Klee, running around like that? Someone could've gotten hurt."

"Hehe. Sorry, Miss Ella," the girl said, not looking apologetic in the slightest. Her gaze landed on Takato. "Who's this? Huh, are you Razor's brother?"

"Apologize to us first." Gigimon huffed and stomped one foot, having landed beside Takato from the crash.

"Sorry for running into you." The girl turned to them somehow still flashing her teeth. Ella looked exasperated but Takato couldn't keep the amusement off of his face at her bubbly personality. "So, who are you? Name's Klee."

"I am Takato. This is Gigimon." His little friend still glaring at the girl aside, he kind of forgot what he was supposed to say when meeting new people. Was it nice meeting? Nice meet?

"Nice to meet you," Gigimon said for him with a huff. "Just don't run into people agai– Whoa!" He started when the girl picked him up and squished him against her cheek.

"You're so cute!"

"Wait, Klee. No!" Takato warned too late when lightning flashed in the area, followed by the loud thumps of thunder. After the flashes subsided and his eyes readjusted to the light again, he saw the damage that Gigimon had done.

"Klee! Did you set off a bomb?!" A blonde lady in white and green stormed out from one of the doors around them.

The girl in question didn't answer, only blinking her wide eyes as smoke floated off her person, static keeping her hair up on ends. She looked unharmed at least, but the scorch marks on the floor tiles would probably scare off anyone from getting close to Gigimon ever again.

The electro creature for his part looked remorseful, nervously laughing in the shocked girl's hold– In more than one way– and patting her as if it would undo what he'd done. "Oops."

Matsuda Takato:

Talents:-

Elemental Burst: Quo Vadis

- Takato launches a spear made of electro, dealing aeo electro damage.

A powerful burst of energy born of rage, only destruction lying in its wake. All shall fear the might of Gram.

Passive Talent: Crimson Mode

- When activating Quo Vadis, summons an electro armor that reduces damage taken by the current active character by a percentage of Takato's own base HP.

An armor born of compassion, protecting those who seek its benevolence. Aegis falters none against enemies.

Constellation 1: Why Must We Fight

- When Gigimon is on the field, refreshes skill duration and Gigimon becomes enraged, dealing single target electro damage to random enemies.

Cursed is the knight of shield and lance.

About Master Diluc:-

"I'm glad he found me and took me in. It's difficult being away from home, but Master tries his best to make the winery feel like home. I was afraid of him at first, you know. But he's a really nice man. I wonder why he's so cold with that eye-patch knight though. I saw some pictures of them when they were my age…

"Childhood friends to enemies, classic anime trope."

"You've never even watched an anime, Gigimon."

"Yeah, but you talk so much about them I have them memorized."

Matsuda Takato Story II:

Takato and Gigimon's presence brought a change to the mansion. Once a quiet place, the place was now a haven for laughter and joy, brightening the atmosphere wherever the children went.

It was not uncommon for Moco and Hillie to sneak in snacks for Takato while Adelinde wasn't looking. Or rather, the head maid simply chose to look the other way, pleased that someone was looking after their new occupant.

Elzer praised the boy for his genius in calculation, even if the boy himself denied it every time the topic of finances was brought up. The concept of algebra fascinated nobody else, for it was too perplexing and useless for daily maintenance of the mansion. But when Takato showcased it to Elzer while helping the man do the winery's tax, it became the man's lone obsession as he vowed to groom the boy into becoming the perfect businessman.

Ella was the tutor hired to teach Takato the Monstadtian tongue. Though not a child herself, anyone visiting the winery presumed her as such and treated her accordingly. Takato considered her a friend as there were no other children around. Neither she nor anyone else in the mansion saw the need to correct this misunderstanding for now.

For Master Diluc however, it ignited old memories. It had been so long since any child graced the hallways of the mansion, and even longer since a Ragnvindr heir took in one. Like his father before him, he vowed to protect his charge. But did he have what it took to not lead the boy to the same path he and a certain other had taken…