Wake up, Princess

Chapter Four

Disclaimer: I do not own Digimon or any of its characters. I do not own Love Rerun. I own nothing.

Author's Note: Thank you, Reviewers. I appreciate your feedback and thoughts on the story!

For anyone who got a false update alert, I apologize. I was trying to replace chapters with slightly edited versions, but obviously doing that at 2:00am wasn't so smart. I sometimes fix small mistakes or change words, so you may notice little differences in the previous chapters.

This chapter is SOLELY devoted to Yamato, so all you Ishida fans will enjoy it (I hope). It's an exploration of his relationship with Mimi and thoughts on past loves, etc. Enjoy and Review.

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'…..' = thoughts

"..." = speech

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Yamato shuddered, a cold breeze sending a chill down his spine. Even though the season had changed from summer to autumn, he was hesitant to let go of the past several months and switch to warmer clothing. He thought his reluctance may be in part due to the troubles he was having with his girlfriend.

Although he had feigned nonchalance and kept up a calm facade, the truth was that the last couple of weeks had been emotionally brutal for him. Yamato walked on eggshells when at home with his girlfriend, and constantly questioned whether he was making the right decision to give her space or if he should be more proactive about helping Mimi recover her memories.

Even as a psychology student, Yamato was not sure how to approach the subject of their relationship and had let her set the pace for the time being.

Walking across his university campus, the blonde thought about the last six months and the significant events that had happened during the spring and summer of his 23rd year.

The biggest and ultimately happiest change in his life had been the blossoming relationship with his childhood friend and fellow Digidestined, Mimi Tachikawa.

It was an unexpected turn of events that flipped his world upside down.

In the beginning, he hadn't paid much attention to the cheerful woman and always assumed that they didn't have enough in common to become more than just peripheral friends.

Friends by association.

In truth, he had never tried to get to know her, and accepted her at face value as the spoiled and childish little girl she had been during their first adventure. Yamato never expected her to grow out of that self-centered phase and continued to call her Princess even though he was the only one who still did.

He didn't realize that Mimi had outgrown her selfishness to become an emotionally strong, resilient, and confident woman who could take care of herself. He never tried to understand her, so how could he know?

Yamato had been too busy protecting (some might say smothering) his little brother and battling with his own inner demons. He had no intention of taking care of another child, and wrote Mimi off quickly when she acted more like Takeru's age, and appeared to need someone to depend on.

He didn't want to be that person, so he was cold and ignored the girl, even when she made an effort to hang around him.

Eventually, she got the hint that he wouldn't be her protector and stopped trying to get on his good side. Instead, she focused on her friendships with the other Digidestined and their relationship had stopped being a priority for the both of them.

The two children were so wrapped up in themselves, and the hardships they endured, that they never made an effort to know each other past their initial impressions.

Mimi had pointed this out to him one late evening in a bar, while reminiscing about the Digital World.

[Flashback]

"I wanted to be your friend so badly back then." The brunette confessed, smiling fondly at the drink in her hand. Mimi swirled the ice in circular motions and the brandy swished around gently in the glass.

[Flash End]

He had expected her to order something sweet or fruity, which she admitted to liking as well, but the friend that he thought he knew surprised him by ordering a drink he never imagined she would enjoy.

After helping Mimi in the park the week before, Yamato's life had become nothing less than bizarre.

When she first showed up at his academic department with food that she had prepared herself, he was polite and accepted the gift, assuming it was a one time deal for helping her out over the weekend.

He hadn't questioned her when she woke up in a daze after passing out drunk in the park, and thought that her declaration of finding a new Prince Charming was just from the alcohol not having left her system.

After Mimi went home, he had believed the whole incident to be over, and was relieved to be rid of the drunk woman and back to his drama-free life.

So it shocked Yamato when she continued to bring him food and snacks every day for a week, and even started hanging out in his student office during her breaks. Mimi persistently asked Yamato to spend time with her off campus, which had made him uneasy.

At first he thought it was annoying and wanted her to stop pestering him when he had a lot to get done. Graduate school had left Yamato with little time to goof off and Mimi's sudden presence in his life was hard to ignore.

However, her food had been unexpectedly delicious, and Yamato unwittingly started to look forward to her dishes and stopped buying meals in the student dining hall.

Because of a memory he had of them as children when she told the group that she loved strange combinations, like strawberries and eggs cooked together, he had assumed her food would probably taste like poison. But it was so good that he polished off the entire bento, which elated Mimi and she teased him about doubting her cooking skills.

After all, she wanted to become a nutritionist and she explained how she aimed for her meals to be both delicious and healthy. Mimi told him about what ingredients she had used and how she wanted to feed him food that would give him more energy and focus for his studies.

Yamato had been touched and continued to accept her offerings, since at the time, he could think of no reason to turn her away. Yes, it was bothersome at times, but the tasty food had kept his mouth shut and soon her company became the brightest point of his day.

Instead of talking about shopping or frivolous gossip, Mimi would tell him about her own studies and ambitions for after graduation. She also asked many questions about his psychology research and seemed genuinely interested in fully getting to know him.

He found it easy to talk to Mimi and they often fell into amicable discussion about various topics, the blonde feeling completely comfortable around his old friend. Usually it took him awhile to warm up to people, but Mimi was a familiar face that he had already come to trust.

Getting to know her as an adult was a welcome surprise, and he found himself intrigued and attracted to the kind and confident woman.

He had unintentionally began to seek out her company and looked forward to her daily visits. So after a week of turning her down whenever she asked him to hang out after school, he finally agreed to grab a friendly drink with Mimi after her Friday evening shift at the cafe.

Yamato made the decision to show up at the last minute and she seemed startled to find him waiting for her outside her workplace. Her confusion transformed into happiness when he asked her to get a drink and she jubilantly led him to a classy speakeasy in the neighborhood.

[Flashback]

Seated at the bar, they ordered their drinks and contently sat sipping for the first several minutes. Mimi was overjoyed that he seemed to finally be opening up to her, and Yamato questioned his motives for inviting her out.

He was glad that they were becoming better friends, but was it really just that reason?

It was then that he noticed Mimi's drink of choice and they started to talk about first impressions and what happened to them during their first digital adventure. Hearing the woman confess that she had been hurt when he rejected her attention, Yamato felt guilty about the way he had treated her when they were children.

"Sorry. I didn't mean to leave a permanent scar. I had a lot going on at the time. And we were so different." He explained, unsure of how to improve the mood. "I mean, you and I hardly spoke back then."

"I know." Mimi continued to stare at her drink and smiled. Taking a long swig from her glass, she polished off the remaining liquid.

Turning to Yamato, she pointed a long manicured finger at his chest and jokingly accused, "You never gave me a chance. Tai-kun and you, both, only cared about Sora-chan and what she had to contribute to the group. You never noticed that I grew up along the way too. I may be searching for my Prince Charming, but I'm not some damsel in distress that needs to be rescued. Not anymore. I wish you had seen me a long time ago. Really seen all of me."

Even though she spoke the truth, it was obvious that Mimi was faking her upset tone and the smile never left her lips. However, Yamato was truly struck by her words and let them sink in and weigh heavily on him.

She was right in that he never really paid much attention to her, always distracted by the others. Whether it was Takeru, Taichi, Sora, or Jyou, he had always focused on friends that weren't her.

It wasn't all his fault. Their adventures had led them on diverging paths, and both children had grown close to everyone on their team except each other.

Unlike Mimi, he never thought about it unless someone else poked at his memories. Takeru had once before, and now she was reminding him as well.

Their relationship had entered a state of arrested development since the first moment they had met one another and put their worst selves forward.

A childish and spoiled brat, against a cold and indifferent boy with a chip on his shoulder. It was a high wall for two kids to overcome and form a true friendship.

"I see you now." He replied, but knew it didn't repair the past. "I wish I had noticed you a lot sooner."

"Took you long enough," she joked, ordering another drink. This time Mimi got a refreshing mojito and watched him finish his beer with a wide grin. "I'm glad you finally decided to come out with me. You probably didn't know, but I had a bit of a crush on you when we first arrived at camp. I liked how you were so protective of Take-kun. If you were mine, I thought you might look at me the same way."

Mimi sipped her drink distractedly, a contemplative expression on her face as she licked the fresh lime flavor from her rosy lips. She absently tapped the stone counter and her light pink nails stood out in the dim lighting of the bar. Yamato's eyes were drawn to the color and he watched her trace a heart shape.

"I got over it pretty quick when I learned that the cute blonde had a gruff personality, but I remember wanting to be someone that you cared for with the same ferocity as your brother. I know it was self-centered, and I was still a selfish princess back then. I don't blame you for writing me off, but a small part of me felt cheated when you didn't notice that I had changed too. I guess better late than never."

Mimi finished her mojito and licked her lips again, the shine of her gloss glistening against the minimal lighting above the bar. He didn't know what prompted him, but Yamato felt the sudden urge to kiss her and shocked them both when he did just that.

Leaning toward the woman beside him, he closed his eyes, and planted a soft and brief kiss on her mouth; he could taste the lime and mint from her mojito.

Her eyes had remained open and Mimi gaped at him in shock, her hands coming up to touch her lips. She was amazed by what had just occurred and felt her heart thump loudly in her chest.

'That was my first kiss...' she thought, mind going blank as her hazel eyes widened from the realization.

Feeling flustered, Yamato mentally struggled with his emotions and wondered what had compelled him to do something so random. Mimi had looked so lovely under the lighting and their recent bonding had messed with his emotions. He had felt the urgent desire to connect with her, resulting in the abrupt kiss.

Running a nervous hand through his golden locks, Yamato panicked, worried that he had ruined all of the progress the two Digidestined had made strengthening their delicate friendship over the past week.

"Mimi-chan, I'm so sorr-" He was cut off when the woman in question lifted a delicate finger and placed it over his mouth. Instead of being upset, Mimi looked thoughtful and had a mischievous glint in her eyes. Resting her chin against the back of her hand, she tilted her small face to look straight at him.

"That was my first kiss. You need to take responsibility for claiming it," she declared, reaching out to touch his hand with her free one. Yamato stared at her with a incredulous expression, thinking she was messing with him. There was no way such a beautiful and popular woman had never been kissed.

He remembered her drunken outburst about being a virgin, but that was something at a completely different level and Yamato couldn't believe she was being serious with him. "No need to tease me, Mimi-chan."

"Who said I'm joking?" She questioned, her voice both impish and sincere. "I wasn't expecting you to kiss me, but I didn't dislike it. Maybe this is a sign from the universe... How about it, Yamato-kun? Why not give us a chance?"

He didn't understand what she meant and removed his hand from her hold. "I'm sorry that I kissed you out of nowhere. I'm not sure what came over me. I know we're getting closer, but don't play with me."

"Like I said, who's playing?" With that, Mimi moved forward and placed her lips against the startled blonde's mouth. Pulling him closer by his shirt lapels, she felt him gasp and his body stiffen.

Caught off guard, Yamato could only stare at the woman who was kissing him, his movements tense and ridged from the shock. A few moments later, he closed his eyes and relaxed, letting his mouth react and deepen the kiss. Mimi didn't pull away, and they both got lost in the moment.

When it was over, Mimi smirked at the stunned blonde, and returned to her original easygoing pace. "It seems like you didn't mind it either. So how about it? Want to start dating, Yama-kun?"

Ignoring the new nickname she had given him, Yamato felt confused and overwhelmed by what had just happened between the two long-time friends.

"I need to go," he declared, standing up and rushing out of the bar without giving a proper response.

Remaining where he left her, Mimi frowned at his retreating form and ordered another strong drink.

[End Flash]

Yamato recalled how bewildered and dazed he had been the following Saturday. He had been very thankful it was the weekend because he would never have gotten any work done in his shaken state.

He had no idea how to respond to Mimi's sudden proposition and fled like a coward. In hindsight, maybe the reason he ran away was because he didn't feel like being her rebound after Jyou's rejection.

The blonde thought about his past relationships. Sora was the first person he thought of, even though she was not his most recent girlfriend. But she had been his first love and the only woman he had ever seriously cared for over a long period of time.

Even though it did not work out between them, she still carried a very special place in his heart as the first of everything. Every woman he had been with since Sora had been eerily similar to the red head, maybe not in appearance, but in personality and character.

Takeru was the one who had pointed out this trend to his older brother, and blamed it on their parent's influence. Yamato had initially scoffed at this explanation, but as a psychology major, the observation began to gnaw at the back of his mind.

Over the last several months, after he split up with his most recent girlfriend, Yamato spent a substantial amount of time reflecting and analyzing his past relationships from a more clinical perspective, trying to disprove his brother's theories about his tendencies when choosing lovers.

Takeru compared Sora and all of the other women to their mother, Natsuko. He believed that his older brother preferred women who reminded him of their mother, and out of all of the Digidestined, the bearer of the Crest of Love had been the most motherly and caring out of the group.

Since Yamato had grown up missing the love and care of his mother, he subconsciously sought it out in his relationships.

The older of the siblings had laughed it off and ignored the boy's pseudo-psychological reasoning.

However, Sora did resemble his mother Natsuko in many ways; they were both mature and nurturing, and wanted to take care of their loved ones almost to the point of suffocation.

They were over-protectors.

Yamato had also inherited these traits to a lesser degree, especially when it came to his little brother and close friends.

He often wondered if their dual nurturing personalities were the reason why sorato hadn't worked out, even though they loved each other.

As his parents had proved, sometimes love just isn't enough.

It was this rebellious part of himself that had prompted Yamato to call Mimi later that evening and reply, "Okay. Let's date." He wanted to prove Takeru and his own misgivings that they were wrong.

Going out with Mimi would be the proof he needed to convince himself that he wasn't still affected by his mother's abandonment, and he was definitely not seeking out women that reminded him of what a good mother should be.

Yamato figured it didn't matter if he was her rebound. In his mind, it wasn't as if their relationship would last, and at least they could help each other to overcome their personal issues.

"Okay," Mimi had replied over the phone and asked him to meet her for a date the following day.

Agreeing to go on their first date, Yamato had hung up and wondered what he had gotten himself into.

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Several months passed by since they started dating. Yamato had never anticipated how rewarding and comfortable it would be spending increasingly more time with his childhood friend. The couple took it slow and limited physical intimacy to kisses, and light touches here and there while cuddling.

Their interactions and companionship was notably different than any other relationship he had ever been in. Yamato had assumed that he'd be forced to do unpleasant activities while dating Mimi, like frequently shopping or made to watch sappy romantic movies. However, he enjoyed all of the time that they spent together, and he realized how much he had underestimated the captivating woman.

They spent most of their shared time doing mutually pleasant activities and made an effort to see each other regularly. Both of them were quite busy, and free time was precious, so it really meant something for the two to schedule opportunities to chat on the phone or physically see each other on a daily basis.

The first difference Yamato noticed about dating Mimi involved their electronic communications. While Sora had sent numerous texts asking him about his day, including minute details such as what he had eaten, and who he had met, his current girlfriend didn't seem to mind all of the small stuff.

Mimi's messages offered updates about her own activities and kept Yamato informed about her life. Sometimes they included minor updates like what she planned to do that day, while other texts might describe something interesting she had learned in class.

The brunette often sent him observations and thoughts about random things and didn't expect him to respond. She just wanted to share a part of her day with him and didn't need him to reciprocate.

Through her messages, he learned more about Mimi.

In comparison, Sora would get annoyed or upset if Yamato didn't respond in a timely manner, and would resort to calling him to find out if he was ignoring her.

On the opposite side of the spectrum, Mimi was always surrounded by distractions, and she had numerous friends to keep her occupied, in addition to double majoring and working a part-time job.

She was so busy, Yamato was surprised by her regular texts.

In a way, it was Mimi's way of showing that she cared about him. As active as she was, she wanted him to know that she hadn't forgotten Yamato and wished that he could be with her.

He had never meant to dismiss any of his past girlfriend's messages, but the blonde would often become pre-occupied and didn't prioritize texts during the weekday. Mimi was one of the few people busy enough to appreciate this.

But, at the end of every long day, Mimi always made a point of sending a 'Good night. Sweet dreams!' text.

Even if it arrived late, the message was always delivered before midnight. Seeing the words every single night, he slowly began to realize that the Digidestined of Purity truly cared about him and wanted Yamato to know that she was thinking of him.

After awhile, he began to send her short updates throughout the day too.

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Music was another activity that they had in common, but never pursued together. Everyone forgot that Mimi was actually a lovely singer. Only Jyou and Taichi experienced her brilliant singing voice.

Yamato could remember the shrill sound of her singing when she tried to belt out a song while they were traveling in a narrow sewer. The small space had made her louder and her voice had echoed unpleasantly off the walls. Because of that incident, the other Digidestined believed she could not sing.

It had been a pleasant surprise when Mimi started singing a long to a Teenage Wolves' song and her voice had been a charming falsetto. She admitted to being a fan and had memorized a couple of his songs for karaoke.

Although she wasn't in a band, Mimi had continued to develop her musical talents in the choir club during middle and high school. Of course, Yamato had not paid enough attention to know this.

The two spent many pleasant weekends lounging on the couch, enjoying the music and each other's company. When they weren't singing, Yamato would often strum a random melody on his guitar and Mimi would lean against his shoulder and hum, or sometimes she fell asleep in the cozy atmosphere.

Watching his beautiful girlfriend nap, illuminated by the sunlight, Yamato would occasionally think of his ex, Sora, and how she had done the same thing back when they had dated in their youth.

It was one of the positive memories he had of their tumultuous relationship, and he could almost forget about the bad stuff when he recalled how much the red head had cherished those quiet afternoons together; in love.

However, it was only when they were together that Sora was at peace and their relationship seemed effortless. The problems arose when they were apart and they were unable to overcome those obstacles. When they were together, she was secure in their feelings for each other and everything seemed good.

Suddenly, there would be a worried call in the middle of the night because he had not responded to any of her texts. She would show up unexpectedly during band practice or at his home on the weekends. She always asked questions about what he was doing and where he was going.

Why couldn't she come too? Why was he so busy lately? Why didn't he need her help? Why didn't he let her make him better?

Yamato and Sora had always gotten along well and had similar characteristics. That may have been what initially drew them together, but eventually led them to end their long 4.5 year relationship.

They had been young and thought that love was enough. It was the naivety of this belief that had kept them hanging on for so long, even when they were fighting more than laughing when together.

The holders of the Crest of Love and the Crest of Friendship were both protectors that cared deeply for their loved ones. Their feelings could be so intense that the need to take care of others could at times become the need to control; to ensure their friends would not get hurt or experience hardship.

Both had the tendency to smother and overprotect the ones they loved, which became a challenge when these emotions became directed at each other.

Sora had admired the solitary boy's strength and ability to place his brother before himself. She respected him, and in time, her affection grew into feelings of love.

Yamato had been surprised when the red head confessed to him on that memorable Christmas Eve. He hadn't been emotionally prepared and almost turned her down. After all, he had always assumed that she was in love with Taichi and never doubted the compatibility of his two closest friends.

However, Yamato had also been flattered and decided to act on the tenderness that he felt towards her since childhood. They became an unexpected couple on that fateful night and the rest is history.

Things had been wonderful in junior high and they successfully transitioned from friends into lovers. Sora had been his first everything.

They trusted each other more than anyone else, and Yamato learned a lot from his relationship with Sora, especially regarding his own personality and what he expected from a romantic partner.

Yet, all of the good times couldn't erase the difficulties they endured because of one another, and all of the heartache they experienced as a result of their too similar personalities.

Sora wanted to take care of him, but Yamato didn't need to be taken care of. Because they both possessed such intensely protective and loving personalities, this reality eventually became the catalyst that drove a wedge between them.

Yamato was an independent man who was more comfortable taking care of others, and didn't respond well to being coddled.

Maybe it really was because his mother had left at an early age, and he grew up picking up after his father and little brother, essentially filling the space where his mother should have been.

The level of care and vulnerability that he was willing to share with Sora was not nearly enough for the emotional and nurturing girl. His independence and self-sufficiency had exacerbated her insecurities and poked at her internalized desire to be the only one he needed.

The problem was he loved Sora, but didn't need her.

Maybe they weren't done growing up, but for Sora, what he could give wasn't enough.

The older he got and matured, Yamato realized that he wasn't the same insecure and damaged boy that he had been in the Digital World. He didn't need a mother to take care of him.

He was becoming a resilient young man, and the motherly tendencies that he had once found so attractive in his youth had become suffocating.

Yamato knew that this incompatibility would eventually lead to their mutual heartbreak, but he continued to hope things would work out on their own because he had loved her.

They were both caring individuals that had a lot to offer the right person. Sora and Yamato had grown up with each other, and their love had helped both of them become better people and wiser adults. In the end, they amicably decided to end their relationship in senior year of high school.

It had hurt like hell.

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In his current relationship, cooking together was an activity that uniquely belonged to Mimi and Yamato. As a nutrition major, she taught him how to prepare meals that didn't come from a box and encouraged him to eat healthier choices that would improve his energy levels and overall well-being.

The blonde knew how to cook, but he normally prepared instant foods like simple packaged curry or fried tempura dishes. Growing up, it had just been his father and him, so Yamato was the one responsible for all of the household duties.

As a result, he knew his way around the kitchen and was used to cleaning up around the home. Mimi had looked forward to her visits to his apartment because it was always so clean and tidy.

When he first cooked for her, she had been impressed with his independence and ability to take care of himself. After several dinners that consisted of unhealthy and fatty ingredients, she took it upon herself to teach him how to prepare proper meals.

Mimi enjoyed cooking and was happy when Yamato seemed keen to learn about nutrition and improve his culinary skills. Most people wanted to eat Mimi's food, but didn't put in the effort to learn her favorite dishes and cook a homemade meal for her in return.

The warmth and satisfaction he felt in his relationship with Mimi had been a complete surprise.

Yamato found himself becoming increasingly attached to her and his affection for the young woman grew with every happy memory they created together.

It was the kind of relationship that he never had with a woman, and he didn't know what he was missing until Mimi had prompted him to take a chance.

Mimi wasn't Sora, or his mother. She didn't rely on him for emotional affirmation, but made room for him in her life by choice. The beautiful brunette had her own ambitions and didn't need any rescuing, but appreciated the care and warm feelings that being with him provided.

They were both very different people, with independent lives outside of their relationship, and didn't need one another to live well.

However, being together made their lives better, and both Mimi and Yamato could feel their mutual affection begin to grow into something stronger over time. It wasn't love, but they were slowly collecting more happy memories together.

Yamato could feel himself begin to fall hard for Mimi and was starting to see a real future with her, which is why he agreed to move in together, even though it was out of the norm for Japanese couples.

Instead of letting things just happen, Yamato decided to make an intentional effort for their relationship to last and become stronger; the kind of love that can endure all challenges.

Love doesn't happen overnight and Yamato was ready to take the plunge with Mimi.

If only fate hadn't stolen the opportunity away before the two Digidestined could welcome the new adventure of falling in love.

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Arriving home, Yamato checked the time and wondered if he should start preparing dinner.

The night before, Mimi had come home looking troubled and had locked herself in her room with only a quick goodnight to the blonde who had been waiting for her to get home from work.

He didn't ask any questions because she had appeared so distressed and Yamato only hoped that she would eventually open up to him.

"Mimi, I miss you." Yamato said a loud in the empty apartment and gazed sadly at the wilting lilies on the coffee table.

He walked over to the flowers and hesitated before throwing them out.

"Their times up."

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A/N: Yamato's chapter and POV took so long to finish writing! He's experiencing a lot of heartache right now, but doesn't know what to do about it. I feel for him as the one who was forgotten. :(

For those of you who are team Michi or Jyoumi, your time will come in future chapters. I decided to devote this entire chapter to Yamato because I needed to cover how he began to care for Mimi.

Since they didn't have much of a relationship before, I tried to develop Yamato's feelings in a realistic way.

I also threw in some of my personal opinions about why I thought sorato would never work out and why I thought mimato was possible, even if they had different personalities. Opposites can attract too! They have things in common, even if it didn't seem like it in the beginning. They both matured.

Even if he isn't endgame (it's possible, but I'm still undecided), Yamato has played a huge part in Mimi's life over the past six (forgotten) months and their relationship progress and history needed to be covered before I can write future chapters.

Both past and current POVs need to be explained before I can develop the characters based on their present circumstances. Now that the story and character POVs are mostly set up, I can delve into new relationships and character development.

The last past-focused part I need to write is Mimi's POV, so the next chapter will cover her thoughts through flashbacks and also include her date with Taichi.

If you are looking forward to the next chapter, please provide feedback and REVIEW!