"Hey, Mom. I'm home", Takuya stated as he entered the kitchen.

"Where have you been Takuya? I hope you weren't playing in the street again".

"I was just…you know around", he replied.

Takuya looked over at the kitchen table and noticed that Shinya's birthday cake wasn't there.

"Ahhh, man. I really did miss all the cake and ice cream", Takuya whined.

"No, honey. Your father got held up at work longer than what we thought and won't be here until later tonight. I put his cake away, so that we can cut it together as a family", his mom stated.

Takuya furrowed his eyebrows in concern. "How did Shinya take it?"

His mom sighed. "I tried to explain to him why we had to wait, but he just got upset and locked himself in his room".

"Do you want me to talk to him?" Takuya offered.

"I'd really appreciated it, Takuya", his mom answered as a small smile graced her face.

"No problem. That's what big brothers are for", Takuya said as he started to leave the kitchen.

"Hey, Takuya."

"Yes?"

"Are you okay? You seem….different"

Takuya chuckled nervously. "I have no idea what you're talking about, but leave Shinya to me. No brother of mine is going to be sad on his birthday".

Once he was in front of Shinya's room, he knocked. "Hey buddy".

"Go away!" Shinya yelled. The way that his younger brother's voice cracked told Takuya that he'd been crying.

"Shinya, please don't cry. You have to understand that Dad can't-"

"I don't care! Just leave me alone!"

Takuya sighed. Just how was he going to get Shinya to cheer up?

That's when an idea popped into his head.

Deciding to put his plan into action, Takuya went into his room.

"Well, I might not be as good a drawer as J.P. or Bokomon, but I'll try my best".

An hour later…

Takuya knocked once again on his brother's door.

"Shinya, buddy. Open up".

"I said to leave me alone!"

"Well then, I guess you don't want me to give you your birthday present from me, huh?"

Shinya opened his door a peek. "What is it?"

"Tada!" Takuya stated as he proudly held out a journal.

"It's just a notebook. What a lame present" Shinya stated as he attempted to close the door again.

Fortunately, Takuya had managed to stick his foot to stop the door from closing.

"It's not just a notebook. It's the amazing, adventure packed story of the ten legendary warriors written and illustrated by yours truly".

Shinya hesitated.

"And if you open the door, I'll read it to you, Shinya".

"Well, since I have nothing better to do, I guess you can read it to me".

Takuya laughed, knowing that what just Shinya trying to give him a hard time.

Takuya spent the next hour telling Shinya all about his adventures in the Digital World, of course omitting the part about how he was Agunimon.

Takuya had just finished talking about how the warriors defeated Cherubimon when someone knocked on the door.

"Hey kiddos. What are you guys up to?" their father asked.

Shinya stood up from the bed and ran into their dad's arms, having completely forgotten that he was mad at him.

"Dad! Takuya was just reading me the best story!"

"Oh really? How about you tell me all about it over cake and ice cream?"

"Aww, but Dad! Takuya wasn't finished" Shinya pouted.

Takuya felt a small sense of pride knowing that he'd made his brother's birthday special.

"Don't worry, little buddy. I'll finish reading it to you later".

Shinya was thrilled. "Yay! Then let's hurry and cut my cake!" Shinya said as he dragged his dad into the kitchen.

Takuya chuckled as he put the journal on the bed and followed his family into the kitchen.