It had been two days since they had turned Takeru back to normal, and Ken was in turmoil. Everywhere he looked, he could see Daisuke�s face in his mind�s eye. The image haunted him, and he couldn�t get his friend out of his mind.
I don�t understand it. What is this feeling? Ken shook his head. He was so confused, so unsure about all this. Was he really feeling this or was it just some fabrication brought on by too much stress?
�Hey Ken!� Daisuke bounced up beside him, startling Ken out of his thoughts.
�Oh! Hi Daisuke.� Ken ducked his head and let his hair hide his face from view, effectively concealing his madly blushing cheeks.
�Are you ready for the meeting later? I can�t believe Takakura�s going to teach us how to fly!� Daisuke�s eyes sparkled at the thought. �I can just see it now....me and Hikari, soaring through the sky together....�
Ken felt an unusual pang in his heart. Before he could think better of it, he asked,
�What about me?�
�Huh? Oh, you�ll be there too, Ken.� Daisuke smiled at him. �It�ll be me and you and XV-Mon and Stingmon, and we�ll have a race in the Digital World. I�ll win, of course, but you�ll be close.� He laughed and slapped Ken on the back. �Won�t it be cool?�
�Yeah. Cool,� Ken said without enthusiasm.
�What is wrong with you all of a sudden? You�re always being so gloomy!� Daisuke groused, putting his hands on his hips. �Cheer up! It�s a good day and we�re going to learn how to fly. Geez, Ken, can�t you ever be excited?�
�I am excited,� Ken said defensively. �I just have a different way of showing it, that�s all.�
�Well, to me it looks like you�re brooding again,� Daisuke told him. �If that�s excited, then I�d hate to see you depressed.�
�You�ve seen me depressed, Daisuke,� Ken reminded him, smiling slightly.
�I have? Oh, yeah, I have!� Daisuke gave Ken his usual clueless smile, and Ken found himself thinking about how endearing that smile was. But that was Daisuke: ignorant, innocent, impatient but always sweet.
Stop that! Ken ordered himself. I don�t understand these feelings. Why can�t everything go back to the way it used to be? I�m so confused now, nothing makes any sense anymore...
�Ken? Earth to Ken? Hey, pal, are you awake?� Daisuke waved a hand in front of Ken�s eyes. The pale boy blinked twice, then turned to look at him. Daisuke gave him an injured look. �You were ignoring me,� he pouted.
�I was not. I was just thinking,� Ken told him.
�About what? About me?�
�Certainly not!� Ken said quickly. How did he know? �I was just thinking about-- about the flying lessons, that�s all.�
�Oh! Well, you were still ignoring me.� Daisuke sniffed. �That was rude of you, Ken.� This time, Ken burst out laughing, which is what Daisuke had intended.
�Look who�s talking! I think you invented the word �rude.��
�Who, me? Nah!� Daisuke waved a hand. �Just ask your mother. She thinks I�m a �kind, sweet boy. And such a good influence on Ken-chan!�� His voice went up an octave as he mimicked Ken�s mother. Ken gave him a playful glare and tackled him into the grass.
�Hey!� Daisuke struggled to sit up. �What was that for? If we�re late to school because of this, it�ll be all your fault, Ichijouji!� Daisuke tried to sound severe, but it didn�t quite work as he was laughing to hard.
�You were the one who started it,� Ken reminded him from where he sat opposite his friend, waiting for him to sit up. �You were practically begging to get beat up.�
�You two enjoying yourselves?� The two boys glanced up to see Miyako, Hikari, and Takeru standing nearby, watching them with interest.
�Ken started it!� Daisuke said quickly.
�I did not!�
�Did too!�
�Did not--No, never mind, I�m not going to start arguing like a five year old.� Ken stood and brushed off his uniform, trying to regain some sense of dignity.
�Who are you calling a five year old?� Daisuke said challengingly as he stood.
�Later, you two,� Hikari giggled. �We�ll be late.�
As the group headed towards the school, Daisuke flashed Ken another brilliant smile.
�Ha! See, it worked!�
�What worked?� Ken gave him a quizzical look.
�I cheered you up.� Daisuke put his hands behind his head. �I tell you, Ken, I�m a genius. An absolute genius.�
Ken didn�t reply. He was too busy trying not to laugh.