Chapter Ten: Back Home

The excitement of Kari receiving her Digivice and Gatomon was still fresh as the group decided to call it a night. Alex offered to walk Kari home, but she shook her head.

"I think I'd like to see where all this started," she said, looking at him with a soft smile. "Besides, I haven't spent much time at your place."

Alex hesitated for a moment but nodded. "Alright. Come on, it's this way."

As they walked, Gatomon padded alongside Kari, her tail swishing softly with each step. Guillaumon followed close behind Alex, his usual enthusiasm tempered by the calm of the evening.

"So," Kari said after a moment, glancing at Alex, "your parents know about all this?"

Alex chuckled nervously. "Yeah, they do. My dad's... well, he used to be a Tamer too. He gets it."

Kari's eyebrows shot up. "Wait, what? He used to do this?"

"Yup," Alex said, stuffing his hands in his pockets. "Him, Rika, and Henry were a team. They went through a lot back in their day."

"Wow," Kari murmured, clearly impressed. "Guess it runs in the family."

Guillaumon tilted his head. "Takato's pretty cool. He tells good stories!"

Alex smirked. "Yeah, and he likes embarrassing me in front of people too."

When they arrived at Alex's house, Kari took a moment to take it in. It was a cozy, two-story home with a small garden in front, illuminated by the soft glow of porch lights.

"Come on," Alex said, leading her inside.

The house was warm and inviting, with the faint smell of freshly baked bread lingering in the air. Kari immediately noticed the framed pictures on the wall—photos of Alex's family, including a younger Takato and a woman she assumed was Alex's mom.

"Your family's so... normal," Kari said, smiling.

"You say that now," Alex muttered.

Takato appeared in the doorway to the kitchen, wiping his hands on a towel. "Hey, you're back! And you brought a friend."

"This is Kari," Alex said, gesturing to her.

Kari smiled politely. "It's nice to meet you, Mr. Matsuki."

Takato grinned. "Just call me Takato. And it's nice to meet you too, Kari. Alex talks about you a lot."

"Dad!" Alex groaned, his face turning red.

Kari laughed, clearly enjoying his embarrassment. "Good things, I hope."

"Of course," Takato said, winking. "You two hungry? I just finished baking some bread."

"That'd be great," Kari said, her eyes lighting up.

As Takato headed back to the kitchen, Alex sighed. "See what I mean? He can't help himself."

Kari nudged him playfully. "I like him. He's funny."

They settled at the dining table, where Takato brought out a plate of warm bread and butter. Gatomon and Guillaumon sat nearby, quietly observing.

"So, Kari," Takato said, sitting across from them, "how'd you end up with a Digivice?"

"It just… appeared," Kari said, looking at the lavender device in her hand. "And then Gatomon showed up right after."

Takato nodded thoughtfully. "Sometimes, Digivices find people who are meant to be Tamers. It doesn't always make sense at first, but there's usually a reason."

"Like fate?" Kari asked.

"Something like that," Takato said with a smile. "And if you're part of this now, it means you're stronger than you think."

Kari glanced at Alex, who gave her a reassuring nod. "I hope so," she said quietly.

After they finished eating, Takato left them alone, retreating upstairs to give them space. Alex and Kari moved to the living room, where they sat on the couch. Gatomon curled up on the floor nearby, her eyes half-closed but still alert.

"I still can't believe this is happening," Kari said, leaning back against the cushions. "A week ago, my biggest worry was passing my chemistry test. Now I have a Digimon."

"Yeah," Alex said, chuckling. "It's a lot to take in."

She looked at him, her expression softening. "Thanks for letting me be a part of this, Alex. I know you didn't have to."

He shrugged, feeling a little awkward. "You kind of forced your way in, remember?"

Kari laughed, then reached over to take his hand. "Still, I mean it. I'm glad I'm here."

Alex felt his face heat up but squeezed her hand gently. "Me too."

They sat in comfortable silence for a while, the weight of the day finally settling over them. For Alex, having Kari by his side felt like the missing piece of the puzzle. And for Kari, being part of this new world felt like the start of something incredible.