Training… training… For as long as she could remember, Meowmon had been under Elecmon's instruction.
She knew he meant well, but she still couldn't bring herself to like it. She hated pain, and battles always came with it. The daily combat drills wore down her will, and she couldn't find a reason to fight or a path forward. Her Digimon life felt aimless.
That continued until one day—
It was strange, as if fate tugged at her paws; Meowmon wandered out of the Village of Beginnings like something had pulled her along. Near the village, she met a very strange "Digimon."
When she saw him attacked by Kuwagamon, her body moved on its own. By the time she came to, Kuwagamon had been driven off by her and Elecmon together. Thinking back, it was probably her first real victory.
But she felt no excitement. She still hated conflict, because it brought pain.
And then, after everything ended, she heard a whisper at her ear.
"Thank you."
"!"
That simple thank-you, spoken just before he fainted, gave Meowmon a feeling unlike anything she'd known. To her, that tiny word tasted sweeter than the fruits of victory. Still young, she didn't quite understand why.
The night sky in the Digital World, unlike the city-dimmed sky of the human world, was clear and beautiful. Bathed in that brightness, the heart felt lighter.
Eli blinked and asked the timid Meowmon, "May I sit here?"
"Y-Yes… you may."
Her ears twitched, her tail flicked, but she nodded.
Meowmon had been sneaking glances at him too. Beyond her natural curiosity, she wanted to understand that earlier thank-you.
Speaking of which… he's the first Digimon to thank me.
"I'm not a Digimon. I'm human."
"Eh?!"
Meowmon froze. Eli smiled. "It's written all over your face."
Meowmon covered her eyes with her fluffy tail, flustered.
"Sorry—did I bother you?" Eli asked.
N-No… not at all.
For someone so shy, even this much conversation with a stranger was progress. Then silence fell again. Normally, Eli wouldn't press, but he sensed her true feeling: the quiet wasn't refusal—it was not knowing how to begin.
"Meowmon, I know I've said this already, but I want to say it again—thank you for saving me from Kuwagamon. My hard-won life got a second chance because of you. And you were amazing, standing up to something that terrifying."
He kept his tone light, mixing thanks with small talk, and the gratitude was genuine. Meowmon's heart warmed—until the topic turned back to defeating enemies. The warmth dimmed.
It's this again… beating enemies… why does everyone care about fighting? Doesn't conflict only bring pain? Anyone else, fine—but why you too…
Remembering Eli collapsing, she blurted the truth before she could stop herself. "It's not amazing at all… I hate fighting most of all."
"...!"
Realizing what she'd said, her fur stood on end. Seeing Eli's surprise, she drooped her ears and forced a laugh. "Heh… you heard that. Yeah, I really hate fighting. What do you think? You must think I'm lame, right?"
She braced for Elecmon's brand of response. Instead, Eli's words surprised her.
"I see. I'm sorry, Meowmon—I didn't consider how you feel." His voice softened. "And no, I don't think that's lame. Life's essence is to continue. Conflict can be a condition for survival—but it can also cut life short. Disliking conflict isn't ridiculous."
He paused, then met her eyes with a gentle steadiness. "You're a very gentle Digimon."
Meowmon froze. The words echoed—gentleness, not as empty comfort, but as understanding. Something eased inside her.
He really is different. The first… human to thank me. And the first to understand me.
Meanwhile, elsewhere—
"Chief Elecmon, is this really okay?"
"What?" Elecmon glanced back at Monodramon.
"Leaving Meowmon alone with that strange Digimon," Monodramon said, worry in his eyes. "She's one of the few in our Village of Beginnings who showed Holy-type power even in her In-Training stage. Devimon's been targeting Holy-class Digimon on File Island. If—"
"I get it," Elecmon cut in, shaking his head. "But it's fine."
He started to say more—then his pupils narrowed. Sensing something, he bolted toward where Meowmon had been.
"Chief Elecmon?!"
Koromon and Monodramon stared, then hurried after him.