Chapter 1: Last Day of Summer

A year and a half had passed since the defeat of MaloMyotismon. Everyone had gone back to their lives. The Digimon were living now with their partners in the normal world, but they were going back and forth often to repair the damage done. They still kept it a secret though. It was something that connected them together, something they did not want to share even with their close relatives.

And so it was that summer was once again over. It was still hot outside and the Digidestined were returning from their summer vacations.

Kari's apartment

"Mom, Daad! I'm hooomee!" Kari shouted as she entered their apartment. Hmm…no one home? she thought. As she closed the door she saw the apartment was unchanged. Her parents had not done anything new during the summer. Tai was off for the vacations with his football club. They were supposed to return later during the day. Her parents, however, usually waited for her at home. As she made her way through to the kitchen she noticed a note on the fridge.

We're visiting your dad's colleague.
Be back tonight.
Food is in the fridge.
Love, Mom&Dad

Kari: Well Gatomon, I guess it's safe for you to come out.
Gatomon: Finally…it's so warm in that bag. So where is everyone?
Kari: They're gonna come back later. We have some lasagna. You want some?
Gatomon: Yes! I'm starving. We have normal food now…your grandma at the country side sure knows how to cook, but it's all weird things…
Kari: Yeah…I've been going there for a while now. I don't get it…
Gatomon: What?
Kari: Well…I wanted to go to Paris this summer…At least for like a week, to see TK. But, no, I have to go visit grandma, while Tai can do whatever he wants…sometimes my parents are too protective, they think of me as a little girl who has to do as she's told and not live at all.
Gatomon: I'm sure they have their reasons.
Kari (angry): Well they should stop! I want to do what I want not what they want me to do!
Gatomon: Admit it! It's not because they told you to go to your grandma's…you just wanted to see TK in the city of love (Gatomon had a big grin).
Kari (blushing): NO! That's not true! I wanted to…I mean I wanted…
Gatomon: I knew it! You totally have crush on him! Visiting him is the only thing you complained about! Why don't u wanna visit Davis or Yolei or Cody? (seeing Kari blushing even more) Why don't you tell him?
Kari: NO! Are you crazy?! I can't do that. What if he says no? What if he thinks of me only as a friend?!
Gatomon (thinking of the time TK rescued Kari from the dark world): Well…I doubt…

At that point the door opened. "Kari we're home! And we picked up Tai on the way!" her mother shouted. After hugging everyone they all laughed together for a bit until each of them decided to unpack while their parents prepared the dinner.

Unpacking was quite easy for Kari. She had not taken many things with her. At the country side she did not care for appearances. There were some boys who liked her. Hiro in particular was crazy about her. He tried every day to get her attention, but she was always reluctant and blew him off easily. All summer she had thought about someone else, but he never really wrote her as he used to during the last year. He had also not come into the digital world. She went there every once in a while to help the Digimon in need. She met Izzy and Mimi also Cody and Yolei, but all others were too busy during the summer.

I wonder what happened there this summer…he was never like this…maybe he just had a great time and wanted a bit of time off from everyone…it can be…

Gatomon: What are you thinking about?
Kari (startled): Nothing…just that I have to take a bath and there's still sooo much to do for tomorrow!
Gatomon: Oh, you just got a message!
Kari: Really?! WHO?!
Gatomon: Relax…it's Hiro…if he tells you one more time how many animals he rescued, I'll kill him myself!
Kari: Don't be mean. He just likes me too much…
Gatomon: And you are kind of giving him hope.
Kari (flinching at the word hope): I'm not…
Tai (busting in): Hey sis! You're not what?
Kari: Nothing! What's up?!
Tai: I need to use the bathroom.
Kari: So? You need my approval?
Tai: Weeelll… seeing the circumstance as tomorrow is the first day of school, I thought you will need it longer (grinning)
Kari (annoyed): What's that supposed to mean?
Tai: Aren't you gonna see TK tomorrow, smoochie smoochie?!
Kari: TK AND I ARE JUST FRIENDS! GET OUT!
Tai: You can lie to yourself all you want! Come on! Everyone sees how you look at him!
Kari: WHAT?! Who does?! Tell me!
Tai: Well, me…and that's actually about it…but I know you dear sis…I know (with that he left)
Gatomon: Well…for once he is quite smart (smiling)

Kari then took her stuff and closed herself in the bathroom for an hour and a half, doing precisely what Tai had foretold. She didn't want to admit it, but she did care how she looked, especially since she was going to see TK the next day. After dinner they went to bed awaiting the first school day.

Meanwhile TK's apartment

"Mom! Mom! We're home!" TK yelled.

Clarice (TK's mom): OH! Hey I was expecting you later! Why didn't you tell me you were coming home earlier?!
Jaques (his grandfather): Ah, ma cherie, we wanted to surprise you!
Clarice: Father, you are here too?
Anne (his grandmother): We're both here! Surprise!
Clarice: WOW! I'm so happy! Come in! Make yourselves comfortable.
Jaques: TK please put that toy away and help me with the bags. Jesus Clarice, what is wrong with this boy? He is 16 and he still walks around with a toy in his hands!
Clarice: Well he is very attached to it!

TK smiled towards his mother. She was one of the few parents who knew what was going on with the digital world. Patamon was now part of the family. As his mother showed his grandparents to the guest room he went to his room. Ah…the smell of home he thought.

Patamon: TK? What's wrong?
TK: Nothing why?
Patamon: You look, I don't know…nostalgic?
TK: Yeah…a bit…I'm happy to be here again! Tomorrow is school again…I wonder if they all changed?
Patamon: Probably! I can't wait to see Gatomon!
TK: Yeah…Kari…too bad she could not come and visit us in Paris…at one point her messages about that Hiro guy were annoying…
Patamon: I knew you were annoyed by it…but don't worry, you're her best friend.
TK (looking a bit weird): Yeah…we're best friends!

TK turned on his PC and saw his old background. A picture of him and Kari trying to take a selfie. She looked marvelous in his eyes. He thought he made the picture worse. After browsing a bit through his PC, TK lay down on his bed and closed his eyes. He had grown more since the beginning of the summer. During summer he had been busy with a lot of extra activities. His grandparents had forced him to go to several sports at once and follow arts classes. It had been a difficult summer but he had found many new friends. For a moment he lost track of time until he heard someone shouting.

Clarice: TK! Dinner is ready!
TK: Be right there mom!
Patamon: Bring me something later, please!
TK: Sure! I bet mom made something extra just for you!

Anne: Clarice this is exquisite! You should give me the recipe! Oh and tomorrow I will cook! What kind of mother would I be if I were not to spoil you both!
Clarice: Ah mom, don't worry! TK you didn't say much since we came? Is something wrong?
TK: Oh nothing…I'm just tired from the flight.
Jaques: Ah, my dear boy, you've been absent the whole summer!
Anne: Jaques, that's not true, leave him alone!
TK: I just miss my friends…
Clarice: Don't worry, you'll see them tomorrow!
Anne: Say TK, you promised me to show me pictures of your friends?
TK: Oh yeah, but that can wait…
Anne: No…I'm feeling good and I want to see them!
Clarice: Yes that should cheer you up TK! Wait I'll bring them.
TK: Oh man…
Clarice: Here it is mom! TK come! You know your friends better!
Anne: Ah, beautiful. So who is in this picture?
TK: That's our group of friends. First the guys…That there is Tai. He is really cool. Plays football non-stop and has the biggest guts I've ever seen! Next to him is Matt. That there is Joe, he is now studying to become a doctor!
Anne: Wow! Smart boy! And this?
TK: That's Izzy. Computer genius! Next to him is Cody, who tries to be like Izzy…The guys in the corner are Davis and Ken…
Anne: Yeah, you told me about them!
TK: Yes! Uhm the girls, that's Yolei. She lives in the building. She is Ken's girlfriend. Next to her is Mimi. Really funny and totally crazy from time to time…That there that's Sora…Matt's girlfriend.
Anne: Always wanted to see her! She is pretty!
TK: Yes she is!
Jaques: Hey…she's your brother's girlfriend!
Clarice: Ah Father, you and your comments…
Anne: And this girl next to you?
TK: That's Kari. She is a great friend. Always helpful...cheerful…and not to forget really beautiful!
Clarice: Yes…she has quite an impact on most of your friends!
TK: Well…
Anne: Listen to me…this girl be careful…usually girls like her keep nice boys like you on their hook!
TK: Huh? Kari? AH NO! You're mistaken, we're just friends nothing more (his mind was racing at the thing his grandma just said…was it true…no not Kari)…Davis is the one who is crazy about her… HAHA
Anne: They do look good together…
TK (his smile disappearing): Hm…if you think…

Clarice had her ideas about him and Kari. She thought there was more to their friendship than they both admit, but she also saw that Kari never gave in or showed any other emotion than friendship towards her son. So he must have been right. Still she knew it was uncomfortable for him to talk about her.

Clarice: It's getting late! We should go to bed now!
TK: Great idea! I'm really tired!

As TK went to his room he brought some food for Patamon. Then after chatting some more with Patamon he went to bed.