Author's Note: Hello everyone! Here's a new Mimato fanfiction to anticipate! I present to you the first chapter of Salad Days~

Salad Days

Chapter One:
Reunion

28th December 2014

He ruffled her hair and patted the head of a sobbing strawberry-maned girl. Ishida Yamato let out a heavy sigh of relief as he let go of the girl from his embrace.

"I missed all of you guys so, so much," a teary-eyed Tachikawa Mimi then reached out to the blue-haired Kido Jyou. "I was so scared I thought the plane could malfunction in any minute!"

She shared the same embrace with everyone else.

"Mimi-chan, please, you know how I hate unplanned surprises!" exclaimed Jyou. His glasses masked his angry eyes fighting his tears as he held her tight. He playfully messed her hair after they broke from each other's hold.

It was Izumi Koushiro's turn to be wrapped up by the lady's arms. His small hands and thin frame did their best to give the most reassuring hug. "Did you have your stuff with you now?" Koushiro asked, obviously trying to steer away from the sentimental stuff.

"Ahh.. yeah." mumbled Mimi. She noticed that she and Koushiro are now at the same height. She squeezed him before she let go. Yagami Hikari, whom Mimi thought of as a baby sister, had taken the curves. Puberty did her well. Hikari took the initiative to collect the seemingly-gaijin in her arms. "It's okay, Mimi nee-san!"

Takaishi Takeru, who is now inches taller than herself, looked like Yamato with enhanced charisma. He joined the embrace. "You're safe now, Mimi nee-san."

Yamato rolled his eyes; he had already foreseen this melodramatic arrival of Tachikawa Mimi, with or without a storm. He looked through the glass windows of Narita Airport. Well, NHK definitely did not expect this, he thought. He could see the clouds move as if they were froth being stirred in the gloomy sky, pouring snow. He looked back at the pink-haired Mimi, all dressed up in the fashion of a true New Yorker, babbling about her "near-death" experience on board to the others, with tears liberally falling as his girlfriend Takenouchi Sora cradled her. He faintly smiled.

"Mi-chan, you can ask Sora how many times I nagged her if you're going to be okay!" said their "leader", Yagami Taichi, as he pulled her out of Sora's and hugged her. "We were terribly worried!"

"Thank you, Tai-kun.."

"We should get out of here first, before the storm worsens," said Koushiro, who was scrolling through his smartphone. "It won't get out of Japan until sixteen hours or so."

Without hesitation, they walked out of their way from the terminal, with everyone taking a piece of Mimi's luggage. Falling behind, Mimi eyed the back of their figures, taking note of the slightest changes among her friends. Familiar faces, different people. Things have changed, thought Mimi. But they are good changes!

She liked how Jyou grew out his hair and how Koushiro still looked the same, only taller. Hikari and Takeru turned out to be attractive kids. Taichi was even more attractive than the last time she saw him, and his unkempt hair and lean figure were bonuses. Sora was prettier and girlier now and is dating Yama – where is..? she stopped her tracks to make a headcount, as to make sure a certain blonde haired boy wasn't missing.

"Did you forget something, Tachikawa?" came a voice behind her. Mimi looked over her shoulder. She smiled upon seeing a handsome face.

"I thought I lost you, Yamato-kun."

She always was aware of his attractiveness. She remembered how Takeru, Palmon, and the others would tease them both that they were each other's crushes during their adventure at the Digi World. She remembered an eleven-year-old Yamato, flushed in red, telling her not to misunderstand, and that they were only being paired up because they're the most attractive in the group. Although clueless of what it really implied, her ears went pink as if it heard songs when she heard him say she was the prettiest – even if it was indirectly. It was the only serious and more personal conversation they had, and the closest one to not being a series of bantering.

She suddenly felt odd. He was definitely more handsome, but the change made her feel estranged to him. If there was anything that stayed the same, it was her relationship (or the lack thereof) with the blonde. Even after America, they barely kept in touch. The only time they did talk was when she congratulated him and Sora, apart from birthday and holiday greetings. A wave of sad emotions washed over her. Maybe she was of little value to the one supposedly bearing the Crest of Friendship. Maybe it's because they're too different? Too different to invest a friendship and work it out.

Yamato – he was a stranger to her, after all.

The Yamato now had his cheeks pinker and warmer. This girl, he thought, annoyed. What did she mean she thought she lost me? Why does she always say the weirdest of things..

"You are so blunt, Tachikawa." But he knew Mimi, the crest-bearer of Purity, was always like that. She was always straightforward, with a tongue of a sharpshooter. She says anything, does everything she wanted, and tells everyone how she felt, even if it was unsettling. She was simple to understand, he knew her even before she knew herself.

Mimi's doe-like eyes glared at him. He felt his cheeks warm again as her glare pierced him. She was frowning, quite upset, probably thinking why he's not so warm to her, but he just couldn't take her seriously.

"You won't look any prettier with wrinkles on your forehead," he pointed out. He masked his fascination with mockery.

"Well that's so sweet of you," retorted Mimi. Before Yamato could reply, Taichi called her out from the front.

"Mi-chan!" everyone else looked behind them. Yamato realized that he and Mimi were several yards behind the group, and it made him feel wary of it. The pink-haired Mimi skipped her way to Taichi and Sora, and latched her arms on theirs. Mimi looked back at Yamato, stuck her tongue out and gave him a playful look.

Still the same Tachikawa, he thought. But – she was definitely prettier, and he felt no less than guiltier when he caught Sora staring at him.

The ride back to Odaiba was anything but quiet. Mimi, Sora and Yamato sat just behind Jyou and Koushiro. Hikari, Taichi and Takeru were behind them. Taichi was loudly munching from a bag of Cheetos which he found in Mimi's luggage.

"If you manage to open my red trolley you'll find something there for you, Takeru-chan," teased Mimi, her front faced to the people at the back seat.

"But I can't open it Mi-chan. Just tell me the code of this thing!" exclaimed the younger blonde as he attempted to open Mimi's lock once again. Takeru cracked the knuckles of his left hand; he felt slightly dizzy from trying to decode Mimi's lock for thirty minutes now.

"Buuuuut it's more fun! You'll love it, I'm sure!" She turned to Hikari. "I hope you liked it Kari-chan," Hikari grew up to be interested in photography. She bought her a camera and a couple of films at a novelty shop in Brooklyn.

"Of course, I love it nee-chan," Hikari happily held a vintage Hasselblad camera on her lap. "It looks exactly like from the catalog we were looking at!"

Yamato grunted as he mentally criticized the song playing in the car. Mimi insisted everyone (him, particularly) to listen to this band she likes, The 1975. Without much of a choice Jyou had connected her iPod to his car's stereo.

The band was foreign and so was their music. He did admit, it was rather appealing, but it was hard to catch some of the words despite his better-than-most-Japanese Engrish because of the vocalist's accent. I suppose this is what the trendy people in America listen to? He thought. It wasn't that bad, and he gave Mimi the credit for having "decent" taste – in Yamato's standards anyway. He still preferred solid alternative or punk rock, Japanese or English – but if anything, the song somewhat suited his feelings and surroundings right now.

"Oh my God!" Takeru exclaimed. Apparently, Mimi's code was her birthday, only in backwards.

Mimi smirked.

"I knew you'd like it!"

"Like it? More like love it!"

"Gosh, Mimi, if there was such a thing as Santa Claus of the Year, hands down you're my bet!" remarked Taichi, who received a pair of limited edition Adidas cleats from the girl.

Yamato looked over to see what it was about. "What is it, Takeru?"

"Look, aniki! Mimi nee-san got me a vintage set of calligraphy nibs and a notebook. The one with The Hobbit cover!" The set looked vintage (and expensive), all right, the nibs all bronze and gold in color placed in a small antique chest; the Moleskine was larger than an ordinary notebook, and it was nutmeg in color. Mimi knew Takeru's fascination with novelty items, and that they talked about his plans for his "upcoming" epic novel over chat.

Yamato turned to Mimi and smiled in sarcasm. "You do know you can buy that for 30% off at a stationery shop in Shinjuku, right?" Mimi glared at him and was about to retort when Takeru cut in.

"It's okay, Mi-chan! I'd never buy something like this for myself even if I want to," said Takeru, grinning.

"Gee Yamato, who twisted your panties?" mocked an amused Taichi. The blonde sent him a deadpan glare.

Mimi smiled, satisfied that Takeru liked it, and proceeded to check her luggage for other gifts.

"Jyou-kun, Kou-kun, do you want to see what I have for youuuuu?" teased Mimi as she rummaged through her luggage over the car seat.

"That's lovely Mimi-chan but I am driving – and you're so noisy!" yelled out Jyou. Mimi chuckled. She always knew that was his way of affection. She got Jyou the rare medical books he was searching in all the bookstores and library databases in Japan. Thank God Jyou's English is excellent though, thought Mimi. Else he won't be able to understand anything.

"Buuuuut. It's good. It's reeeaaally good. What about you, Koushiro-kun?" she called out. She got Koushiro a smartwatch.

"God, Mimi-chan can be so imposing," complained Jyou to Koushiro.

"I'm not talking to you anymore, Kido! Koushiroooooo-kuuuuun what do you say?" she yelled back, already preparing to give him the gift.

"It's okay Mimi-chan, probably late.. I'm kind of busy, hehe," replied Koushiro, who was playing an RPG with phone.

"But you guuuuys….." She never kept quiet and continued to pry.

Yamato rolled his eyes. Tachikawa. Always the same Tachikawa, he thought.

Sora was fast asleep, leaning on his shoulder. Her eyelashes slightly fluttering, a warning that she might wake up anytime soon. Her breathing was rather heavy, though. She didn't get enough sleep after all. Yamato frowned as he recalled the events of yesterday evening. Now sound in mind, Yamato realized that maybe they were both wrong. That, or both of them are right, which meant worse if it was the latter.

Yamato held the auburn girl tighter. He won't –

"Yamato-kun!"

His line of thought was cut off, his emotionless eyes meeting Mimi's. "Here you go!" the pink-haired held out a rather smaller box. Unsure, Yamato stared at it and looked at Mimi again.

"Oh come on, just take it already," she grunted. Yamato took it and stuttered his thanks. Though he didn't have a clue what Mimi got him, but judging from what she gave to the others, he was sure it was something he will ogle at – and he didn't want her to see him lose his cool. He stuffed the box inside his guitar case.

"And Yamato-kun, could you give this to Sora-chan when she wakes up?" said Mimi as she threw him a smaller white box.

Yamato shook the box, trying to figure out what's inside.

"Hey! Don't do that!" yelled Mimi. She got Sora a chain necklace from a jewelry shop at the Upper East Side.

"Make sure you give it to Sora-chan, okay?" Mimi snugged up to the sleeping Sora, unconscious and clueless of everything.

Yamato just stared. The image felt rather peculiar. He realized he was never fond of seeing Sora and Mimi together.

"So, Mimi-chan," said Taichi, who was already eating up the rest of Mimi's snacks. "Which high school are you going to?"

"The same where you guys go, of course.. Why? You don't want me there?" she pouted.

"Nothing really. I guess we can all hang out just like we used to.. Except for Jyou, of course."

"I'm quite free 'til Spring," said Jyou.

"Yokatta! Good timing! I won't be entering school 'til springtime,"

"Sugoi! We can meet up after school then," said Hikari. "But what are you going to do for the time being, Mi-chan?"

Oh yeah, they still have school.. thought Mimi. She felt a bit left out and alone, not knowing what she'd do next after the winter break. Now that Sora has Yamato too, she won't be able to spend much time with her best friend.

"I don't know yet, but I'm sure Sora and Yamato will gladly accompany me," she teased. Yamato flinched upon hearing his name, and glared at her.

"Naaaaah – don't, Mimi. I swear being a third wheeler with those two sucks," disagreed Taichi, whom had several experiences being with the couple. Mimi sensed some bitterness, but maybe it was just her.

"It'd be nice if you'd get a girlfriend as well, Taichi." Yamato teased.

Wrong move, Yamato, thought Jyou, Koushiro, Hikari, Takeru – even Mimi.

"Well I was supposed to have one, if you can recall." Hikari nudged his brother by the elbow. Taichi let out a sigh.

"What is this? This is very childish." said an angry and confused Yamato.

"Aniki." Warned Takeru.

What the hell, the older blonde thought. And here he reckoned he and Taichi were over that. He turned away to watch the snow. Ahh. What am I saying… I can't blame him for feeling this way.

The air grew dead, tense, and cold.

Well, this sure is awkward, Takeru thought. Already sensing the bidding danger, he broke in.

"Well, Kari-chan and I aren't that busy, Mi-chan," said the younger blonde. Mimi fixated her smile.

"Arigato na. And because of that, I'll treat you both to places! I want to try out the new restaurants downtown!"

She turned to her side to check up on her friend.

Thank God Sora's asleep, thought Mimi. She looked over to Sora's side – Yamato staring out of the window. She tried to check out Jyou and Koushiro on front. She peeked behind, Hikari and Takeru trying out the gifts she gave them; Taichi had his eyes shut, trying to fall asleep.

She bit her lip and looked out through the window, watching other vehicles pass through the pile of snow. The rest of the trip came into silence, with nothing else but the songs in her iPod.

Things really have changed.

Author's Note: I know they should be adults by 2015, but I wanted to set their teenage years (they're around ages 16-17 in the story, Takeru and Hikari being 14 and Jyou being 18) at this time around because I want to play with their teenage characters set at this sort of time. I don't know, I just think this kind of setting is refreshing to the Digimon fanfiction community (particularly the Mimato community, since there seems to be a shortage of new fics every year).

Anyway, it's evident Taichi and Yamato have been having a rocky friendship ever since; Sora and Yamato's relationship is delicate right now; and Mimi's freshly-realized distance with Yamato alerts her. Yamato does care for Mimi, and does see her as a friend – but he is yet to realize that he isn't really being a friend to her at all. This story will hopefully establish the lack of evidence that their friendship existed the series, and develop it into something more. I assure that this is a romantic Mimato, and we'll get there.

Please review, it will be a big motivation for continuing the story! Thank you, everyone and keep on Mimato~~!