Ken Ichijouji was a genius. During his elementary and junior high years at the Tamachi School for the Gifted, he had almost always been at the top of his class. He had excelled in soccer, karate, chess, and computer programming. He had been on the news every day, and everyone had been amazed at his skill. He had been the Digimon Kaiser. He had been miserable.
Now Ken Ichijouji was no longer the Kaiser. He was the bearer of the Crest of Kindness, and he had a small group of friends. He was also a ninth grader at Odaiba High School, and he was no longer a genius. He was still fairly miserable, though. Because Ken was finding out that, where he had once excelled in everything, he now excelled in nothing. Oh, he still got good grades and he still knew how to play soccer. But he wasn’t even in the top ten in his class, and his best friend Daisuke Motomiya routinely beat him in soccer.
In short, Ken was now wretchedly average. And he hated it.
He had been thrilled when his parents took him out of private school, because now he could go to school with his friends. Then he learned how hard it was to be a fallen genius in the hell that was high school. He was antisocial, he was a nerd, and he was still despised by a multitude of jealous classmates pleased to see the great Ken Ichijouji struggling to get good grades.
Even worse was the fact that, of all his friends, he was the only one with no extracurricular activities. Daisuke was part of the soccer team. Hikari was a member in good standing of the Photography Club, and her would-be knights in shining armor Daisuke and Takeru were members as well. Takeru and Daisuke were also members of the Manga Club, where Daisuke happily got to show the world that he was better than Takeru at something. Takeru played guitar in the school band, proving that certain talents really are passed through the genes. Miyako, who was in tenth grade, was a member of the Computer Club, the Chess Club, and the Dance Team, where she put some of her natural exuberance to good use. Even Iori, still in seventh grade at Odaiba Junior High, was a leading member of the Kendo Club.
Ken was a member of his own personal club of the antisocial. He no longer considered himself good enough in soccer to feel comfortable on the team. He barely knew how to hold a camera, and he couldn’t draw anything beyond stick figures. He played no instruments, and he had trouble dancing. He was only average when it came to computers and chess, and he refused to be in a club where he knew they would expect him to be what he once had been, instead of what he was. Ken had no true friends outside of the Digidestined, despite Daisuke’s and Miyako’s attempts to make it otherwise. So, almost every day after school, Ken walked home alone.
Until the day he was late for math class. His science teacher the period before had asked him to carry some boxes down to the basement for her only a minute or so before the next period bell rang. As a consequence, he had been given a late pass and was making his way to his locker to get his math books. Ken was taking a short cut through one of the side hallways when he heard the sound of raised voices from nearby.
He turned to see two metal doors, side by side. On one was a sign proclaiming ‘Magic Users’ Club. Now accepting new members.’ The sign on the other door read, ‘Manga Club. Not to be confused with next door.’ The first door was halfway open, and inside two people were arguing. Ken curiously peered inside.
The three figures inside didn’t notice him. One was standing on the sidelines, watching the argument silently. He had long red hair and deep green eyes. Had Ken not recognized him, he would have thought that the red head was a girl. The boy was a senior, and Ken recalled that his name was Ayanojou Aburatsubo.
The other male in the room was slightly smaller, with a rounded face and glasses. His black hair was fairly unruly, and in the back it was tied into a thin ponytail. He, too, Ken recognized as a senior, one named Takeo Takakura.
The third person was the one shouting, and she seemed to have Takakura quite frightened. She had short blond hair and slightly slanted glasses, as well as incredibly large.....tracks of land. Her name was Mizuha Miyama, also a senior and president of the Manga Club. Ken had heard Daisuke talk about her. Takakura seemed to staring more at her breasts than her face.
“This is MY space!” Miyama was growling. “If I want to expand my club, you have no choice but to let me.” She laughed smugly. “We, at least, have more than two members.”
“You--we--I--” Takakura muttered incoherently. His face was quite red, but it seemed that was more from the close proximity of Miyama’s breasts than from rage.
“Since you’re so pathetic, Takeo, I’ll make you a deal.” Miyama pulled back, her chest bouncing merrily as she did so. “If in one hour you can find one more member besides yourself and Aburatsubo, I will let you have half my space. Half.”
“We won’t be able to find another member in that short amount of time,” Aburatsubo said to the incoherent Takakura. “Most people are in class right now.”
“Oh? Well, too bad for you, then!” Laughing scornfully, Miyama turned with the intent of flouncing out the door. She didn’t even notice Ken until she ran into him. The force of her chest knocked him to the floor, his books scattering everywhere.
“Ow...” Ken sat up, rubbing the wrist he had landed on when he fell. He glanced up at Miyama, who had stumbled backwards and nearly squished Takakura, who had been coming up behind her.
“Watch where you’re going!” Miyama snapped as she stood.
“You ran into me,” Ken informed her politely. Miyama’s face twisted into a sneer as she recognized him.
“Wait. I know you.” She sniffed. “You’re that genius kid, Ken Ichijouji. The one who became a worthless idiot a few years ago.” Miyama rolled her eyes. “You should have been watching where you were going. A popular person like me is far more important than an antisocial geek like yourself.”
“Bitch,” Ken muttered, not quietly enough.
“How dare you!” Miyama kicked Ken’s science book down the hall, then reached down, retrieved his dropped late pass, and tore it in half, stuffing the bits down the front of her shirt. “Hah! That will teach you to mess with Mizuha Miyama!” She eyed him smugly. “I should have known that you were a rude little loser, just like that friend of yours, Daisuke Motomiya. I don’t know why I even let him in the Manga Club. He’s almost as worthless as you are.”
Ken froze in the act of standing up. Enough that Miyama was insulting him, but now she had gone too far. Daisuke was his best friend, and he didn’t like hearing his friend slandered. Miyama then made the mistake of continuing.
“And then there’s that boy Takeru. His brother’s divine, but he’s nothing like him, with that hat straight out of Gilligain’s Island and that stupid smile always on his face. Then there’s that girl Hikari. Why are all those boys drooling over her? Her personality and her chest are both like cardboard. And of course, Miyako, the Queen of the Nerds. I’ve never seen a girl uglier. I hear you sometimes hang out with a seventh grader, of all things, a little boy who acts like he’s fifty! Can’t you make any other friends but freaks, Ichijouji?” Miyama began to laugh loudly.
Ken stared at her for a long moment, his blood boiling. He wanted to hit her, to shut her up, but he knew that doing so would only get him in more trouble. So he did the only thing he could think of doing. He strode past Miyama and stood before Takakura and Aburatsubo.
“Takakura-san,” he said respectfully, bowing. “I would like to join the Magic Users’ Club.”
Takakura stared. Miyama stared. Aburatsubo stared. Then Takakura let out a whoop.
“All right! We now have a member!” He stuck his tongue out at the stunned Miyama. “We’ll take that space now.”
“But--but I--” Miyama stuttered. Finally she shot Ken a death glare. “You’ll regret this!” With that, she turned on her heel and stalked off, seething with rage. Takakura ignored her. He pushed Ken inside the club room, which was a dark storage room behind the Manga Club’s meeting room.
“This is great. Now, as a member of the Magic Users’ Club, you are part of a close knit, fraternal society.”
“Very close,” added Aburatsubo, wrapping an arm around Takakura’s waist.
“Eep!” Takakura slipped away, rushing into a corner and pulling open a cabinet. He emerged carrying a folded outfit and a wooden stick that looked to have been painted at the top in the caricature of a bird, complete with beak and wings. The senior dumped the clothes and stick into the startled arms of Ken. “This is your uniform and magic wand. I expect you to be here for our meeting after school today. We meet twice a week in this room.” He saluted, smiling cluelessly. “See you this afternoon, new recruit!”
Ken was hustled out of the room, still trying to take in what had just happened. Once he was back out in the hall, Takakura gave him a thumbs up sign and closed the door. Ken stood alone, staring.
“What did I just get myself into?” he said aloud. Sighing, he collected his scattered books and headed for his locker.
“Hey, Ken, you okay?” Daisuke whispered to his friend. Ken had stumbled into class fifteen minutes late, stuttering an apology and producing no late pass. Luckily, Ken’s reputation as a ‘sweet and honest boy,’ as the teacher had put it, preceded him, and the teacher had let him come to class without getting detention or having to stand out in the hall. Ever since he had sat down, however, Ken had been off in his own world.
“Hmm?” Ken barely looked at Daisuke. The dark-haired boy was scribbling randomly on his paper, unable to concentrate.
What was I thinking? I joined a club for Magic Users! There’s no such thing. When word of this gets out, I’ll be a laughingstock. Ken shook his head violently. No! I can’t let anyone hear of this, least of all Daisuke and the others. They’ll all think I’m an idiot...I’ll just have to be careful when I go to meetings, that’s all. He briefly considered quitting, but he felt as if that would cowardly of him. His impulsiveness had gotten him into this, and he felt obligated to see it through.
“Earth to Ken! Earth to Ken!” Daisuke’s voice brought Ken back to reality. “Class is almost over and you’ve barely even looked at the worksheet. Are you feeling okay, man?”
“I--I’m fine,” Ken stuttered, blushing for some unknown reason. “Just....thinking, that’s all.”
“Another bad day?” Daisuke knew that his friend was prone to occasional fits of depression.
“No....not exactly. I’ve just got a lot on my mind right now.” Ken settled back into an uncomfortable silence, trying to block out the feeling of Daisuke’s eyes on him and attempting to calm the butterflies fluttering around in his stomach.
“Oh...well, if you decide to let me in on what’s wrong, I’ll be here, okay?” Daisuke gave him an encouraging smile, and Ken felt a warm flush spread throughout his body.
What is wrong with me today? First I join a club that I know nothing about, and now I keep feeling so nervous around Daisuke....why am I feeling this way? He glanced up through his shield of indigo hair at Daisuke’s face. His friend’s expression was earnest and heartfelt, and it made Ken’s skin tingle.
“I don’t have any club meetings today,” Daisuke informed him. “You wanna walk home together?”
“I....can’t.” Drat! I forgot that Daisuke has no extracurricular activities today! Ken hunched lower in his seat and prayed for the bell to ring.
“Why not?” Daisuke’s expression hovered between curiosity and hurt. Ken was silent, mentally scrabbling for an excuse.
“B-because...” The bell rang. Ken practically leaped from his seat. “I’ll tell you later.” He dashed out of the room before Daisuke could stop him.
I hope he doesn’t think I ditched him, Ken thought miserably as he darted through the halls. A sudden thought struck him, and he froze. But I did ditch him. What if he’s mad at me? He suddenly had a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach. I hope he’s not mad. What if he tells the others and they get mad at me, too? What if--Hold it, Ichijouji. You’re getting ahead of yourself. Daisuke’s my best friend, and he won’t stop being my friend just because I did something wrong. If he can forgive me being the Digimon Kaiser, I think he’ll forgive me blowing him off just once. I’ll apologize to him later. That decided, he continued weaving through the halls, trying to calm the nervousness he was still feeling.
For once, he was not elated when the final bell rang. Ken trudged very slowly towards his locker, allowing the halls to empty somewhat before he headed for the club meeting room. He clutched his uniform and wand to his chest, trying to hide them from view. Ken’s eyes darted down the halls, hoping that no one would appear and catch him in the act.
In the act of what? Going to a club meeting? You really are paranoid, Ichijouji.
“There you are!” Takakura’s voice made him jump. The senior strode up behind him, with Aburatsubo hot on his heels. “Ready for your first magic lesson, new recruit?”
“Um...yes?” Ken ventured. He was feeling even more nervous now. What exactly was Takakura going to teach him anyway? Card tricks?
“Good! Now, go get on your uniform and we’ll meet you outside!”
“O-outside?”
“Just a precaution,” Takakura assured him, blissfully unaware of how many doubts he had suddenly placed in Ken’s head. “Don’t worry, I’m sure you’ll be fine. We’ll be waiting for you.” He walked off with Aburatsubo following behind.
Ken wandered into the club room to change. It was still small and dark; apparently Miyama hadn’t gotten around to honoring her part of the deal. He changed quickly, feeling rather foolish. His outfit consisted of black pants and a white short-sleeved shirt, along with a strange cape composed of two squares of cloth. The front square hung down in front of his chest and the other square covered his back. The cape itself was black, but in the center there was a purple circle with a white six-pointed star inside it. In the center of the star was a small symbol also in purple. He also had purple gloves, dark purple shoes, and a pointed hat with a purple swirl on it. The outfit, coupled with his wand, made Ken feel like an idiot.
“Please don’t let anybody see me,” Ken whispered under his breath as he headed outside to meet Takakura and Aburatsubo. Unfortunately, luck was not on his side.
“Well, look at the little magician!” Ken whirled to see Miyama standing behind him, laughing derisively. “Don’t you look cute.” She fingered his cape and hat. “Like a little boy playing dress up.”
“Shut up,” Ken grumbled, and rammed his wand down on her foot. Miyama cried out in pain and grabbed her foot, dancing around like a maniac. Ken allowed himself a small smile of triumph and walked past her without looking back.
Takakura and Aburatsubo were waiting for him in a little wooded area just behind the school.
“Now, Ichijouji,” Takakura said, “are you ready for your first lesson?” Without waiting for an answer, he pulled out his wand and a small card, which he placed near the jewel in the center of the wand. “Your first lesson will be to make a flower grow. Aburatsubo!” The red head came forward and planted a seed in the ground in front of Takakura.
“Observe.” Takakura pointed his wand at where the seed was. “Abaraka ikisome nanaki metio!” His wand glowed briefly and a small red rose popped out of the ground where the seed had been. Ken stared.
How--how did he-- The dark-haired boy couldn’t believe it. There must be some sort of trick involved. There must be.
While Ken struggled to retain his grip on reality, Aburatsubo stepped over to the rose and picked it. He wrapped an arm around Takakura’s neck and presented the rose to him.
“It’s so beautiful, Takeo,” the red head said in a low voice. Takakura paled and slipped out of his grasp, laughing nervously.
“Your turn, Ichijouji!”
“Um....but how do I...?” Ken left the question hanging. Takakura handed him a card.
“Just point your wand at the seed and recite the spell words. It’s easy, you’ll see.”
“All--all right.” Taking a deep breath, Ken placed the card on his wand and pointed it towards where Aburatsubo had placed another seed. He closed his eyes and recited, “Abaraka ikisome nanaki metio!”
Nothing happened.
Ken sighed, lowering his wand. Who am I kidding? Even if it is real magic, I could never do anything like that. Not anymore.
Takakura observed Ken for a moment, then nodded.
“I think I see your problem.” Ken glanced up at him. “You need to have faith, Ichijouji. Believe in yourself. If you don’t, your magic won’t work. Try again, and this time, have confidence in yourself.”
Confidence? Ken lowered his eyes. How can I have confidence? I’m not good at anything anymore....I’m worthless... Nevertheless, he closed his eyes and raised his wand again.
“Abaraka ikisome nanaki metio!” Ken called out. Remember....believe in yourself. I have to have faith that this will work. But how can I have faith in this when I’ve never had faith in myself? I’m always plagued by doubts...
Daisuke. The name sprung unbidden to his mind. Daisuke’s always believed in me. I never asked him to, either. He just does. He wouldn’t believe in me if I couldn’t do anything, would he? Daisuke would tell me to have confidence in my abilities. If he was here, he’d tell me that I can do anything if I put my mind to it....
Ken’s wand began to glow. Suddenly, the area was covered in purple light. Ken’s eyes flashed open just in time to see a small rose sprout out of the ground.
“I did it!” Ken’s face was flushed with pride.
“I knew you could.” Takakura smiled at him.
“You can stop now,” Aburatsubo said. Ken glanced at him curiously, then followed the older boy’s gaze back to the flower. It was still growing, and was currently nearing the size of the trees.
“Ulp!” Ken turned to Takakura. “Ano, Takakura-sempai....How do I stop it?”
“Um....” Takakura gazed up blankly at the flower. “I’m not sure.”
“WHAT?!”