"That's a strange name" - guys no don't that joke should never work and yet it does because it's digimon.

We've wound ourselves back at the beginning. It starts with exams and ends with exams (this sounds like a remi's college life!) The difference is how it's felt. Before it was a burden, a necessary evil. Now, well they still are, but it's not as bad. We know Taiki won't keel over during or because of them, and that's enough honestly.

Don't worry Shoutmon, you'll find a way to meet. You're connected by your hearts or something.

I do like how this is a very dialogue lacking piece for Shoutmon, who is defined by his voice, yet it still gets across everything that needs to be there. a little too much so at times but like, shoutmon talks too much so it's ok.

This was a real muted ride, remi but considering the subject matter I think that's okay. It has plenty of jumping off points if you need them so that's good enough for me! If not it ends here and that's also okay! Thanks for turning my prompt into something thoughtful! Until next time!

Kiriha and Akari are also an interesting combination of people to talk to. Or at least share a conversation.

It's good to see this adventure has managed to even win Kiriha over, because honestly he needed it. Such a loner. At least Nene wanted companionship in the end. He was like a tsundere on hair gel.

The little combinations of anime and manga canons (and out of canons) are cute little nods to what's going on and a part of me is like, ok how will the rest of the manga be handled, but at the same time I'm not sure I want to know yet. If that makes any sense at all.

They were both tagalongs, but that doesn' make them any less valuable Kiriha. The weakest digimon in your army are practically tagalongs but look at them go. They're still useful. Don't be mean you silly boy.

I'm glad the rivalry is still going strong. If Taiki and Kiriha didn't have the other to push each other, it just wouldn't work out. They're too stubborn without a balancing act. And the only one more willing to dig his heels in is Shoutmon. And he's in next chapter, which is the last. No time to lose!

Another of a "leaning towards too preachy" chapter but considering this is the awkward communication chapter between one character we've barely seen and one character we're only starting to understand I think that's fair.

Still feeling a Kiriha and Tatsuya roleswap AU. Someone write it.

I think it helps that they're both feeling something from this. You do a good job in making it so that both of them are at fault for the rift between them. And they're both a couple of idiots about this subject because they didn't communicate.

I also like how Taiki admits he couldn't do this without everyone else. In the anime it goes unspoken and shown particularly in Death Generals, but I like that you have him say it here, especially since in the manga virtually nothing gets explained.

The frequent mentions of third options or possibilities is probably unintentional. It comes off a bit like overthinking which is fair. These are teenagers and they often overthink.

And with this, another part of the book is closed. Though if anything, it feels a little too cleanly cut, but then we have two chapters left, so we shall see if it's really just over because of one little hurdle. Anime isn't real life and real life is what these characters feel they''re living. Onward!

Well that answered part of my question from last chapter. Woop! Nene is hilarious though she is legitimately the most terrifying of all the main characters and it shows.

Anyway, something I really like about this story is how all our insights to Taiki's character are not from Taiki. We may have little moments of in his head but you could argue them as people guessing what's in his head. And that doesn't make them necessarily right.

I like how you reflect Akari and Taiki's relationship in this chapter. Usually she's pulling him back, keeping him from doing something stupid. But now she's pushing him forward to do something brave. It's a nice closing to her own job, even though it'd be nice to give her a duty of her own. Or at least a progression of her own. But that's for another story I believe.

Anyway, time for Tatsuya's pov! Feels long awaited, and it very well just might be. Let's do it!

Damn, lost my review in computer trouble. Oh well.

This is a really nice chapter. It feels like a wrap up for Zenjirou so to speak. He feels like he grew a little despite us not getting much of his perspective throughout. Or it feels like he hasn't anyway. It's nice to find that he's become... better. or at least more relaxed. And unlike both Kiriha and Akari his view of the others is much more balanced. Though it probably helps that Nene isn't there fo him to goggle at.

Speaking of Kiriha it's cool to see him there, with someone he canonically never really gets along with. Well that and Akari who he just doesn't interact with much. But it's good to see him forced to deal with having people around him who challenge him in some way, usually emotionally. that's a good thing because he tends to be a weenie with his feelings. We love you Kiriha, honest.

The little scattered NPCs around also build the tone up well, though I'm starting to feel the "how will this end" vibe coming back. It's kinda hard to keep on with what's going on, interesting character drama as it is, when we know the manga is just waiting to rear its head. I'm really looking for the consequences of all of this. Of Taiki being forced to a breakdown, of the world being left behind for so long. Also what canon this might be? kotone or no? nene or no? Or will that not be a concern? I can't wait to find out. Onward!

I like how muted this turning point is. It's very much fitting with the rest of the story where everything piles up and piles out until everything falls apart and sometimes it's not as loud as we think it will be.

Shoutmon is so awkward and I feel for him. Human problems must be absolutely weird over survival on a base level. I wonder if after Shoutmon becomes king he starts seeing more and more human problems. Or something similar at any rate.

Sadly all Taiki has time to do now is think. And that can be both good and bad. Cause he might think himself right back into the circle.

The only real negative I think is a personal one here, but I think it's kind of a reflection on XW rather than you. It's a little weird that the series makes Taiki's hang ups in both canons feel so small and petty and unimportant compared to everyone else's. And it's kinda like, it's different but not less meaningful. And this may just be a curse of the canon that really dismisses any of Taiki's concerns or ability to have them in favor of everyone else. But that's just me I think. :D

Congrats, remi. That was a very well written story. I loved this last chapter, with how Tatsuya got to meet Shoutmon, even though he was disguised with an illusion. If you ever make a sequel or spin-off of this, I’d love to read it as well.

That was a nice chapter to start wrapping things up. :) I see Kiriha’s going to be rivals with Taiki forever, it looks like. Lol. Kiriha definitely seemed interested in learning that the Digital World once had had no order. Akari is right, though. Their sources and his should compare notes.

Aww, that was a very nice conversation they had. I really do like how the two boys made up and became friends again. It’s clear there’s things Tatsuya wonders about, but will never learn due to the secrecy Taiki has sworn to the Digimon. That was a really nice character development chapter, remi. Well done. :D

Hmm, I do like the talk Taiki had with Akari. It was well needed, I think, for Taiki to finally go and see Tatsuya when he has the chance. I just hope he does go and see him, hopes the chance isn’t wasted.

That was a nice conversation Zenjirou had with the kendo captain. They got to know each other a bit better. The next part is a bit vague, but did the kendo captain rope Kiriha into a match? And I’m guessing Kiriha lost? Also looks like Zenjirou wants to be a General, after all.

I think I can see why you called the fic what you did now. Very clever, remi. :)

Oh Taiki, you got too wrapped up in whatever you were doing and you got sick because of it. You really shouldn’t have let it get too far like that. Now all you can focus on doing is getting better. And yes, Akari is right. Lol. Too much coffee is very bad.

Okay, I have to ask why Sano is disappointed with who Taiki has become. Taiki just wanted to help Sano, why would the other boy be disappointed? Doesn’t make very much sense. I also think Kiriha went a bit overboard there with the punch and derision.

With this chapter, I’ve seen into the mind of Taiki’s mother a bit more and I think you did a good job with this POV. With how the chapter is written, you can see how worried both his mother and Akari are. I have no idea where Taiki is atm, but I hope he’s at least safe.

Huh. Would they actually give a kid a ride like that in that truck. Weird.

I do like the idea of Kiriha and Tatsuya meeting. The two of them are so alike and so different. AU with wheelchair bound Kiriha and Blue General Tatsuya anyone? Anyway, it's interesting how Kiriha gets to the point of what he's looking for so quickly but not the point of what to do. Kiriha knows what to do regarding himself but not others. It's very black and white for him and for Taiki it turned grey too soon that the rest of him tried to stay black and white and failed.

I like that Kiriha doesn't give into Taiki's ideals, which is something that happens in the anime but not in the manga. Where Kiriha is firm in what and how he believes, just in the manga it's more the two of them learn to accept those things in each other. So here that isn't happening. Here Kiriha is demanding defense, a fight, something that Taiki cannot give and it's not happening and Kiriha can't do anything but be angry and try to drag out of taiki a realization taiki probably just refuses to accept because that put everything else he's done to waste for a second time, a mistake done to himself. Sometimes rivals are rude, sometimes they're helpful, but they always know how to push you, and Kiriha doesn't know the right way to push Taiki.

And yay the mom is here! I'm getting the sense that this story will end but not necessarily be over. You know? Like the story will draw pause and continue on in somewhere else land and that will be okay. There is more of an answer here than anything else, or at least the story of getting some answers.

Until next time!