Chapter 71: Let's Go Home Together
Takeru's small hands gripped the hem of his shirt, his eyes wide and shimmering with unshed tears. "Is Mizuki leaving again?" The youngest of the group looked up, his face a portrait of pure reluctance. "Why do you have to go? Aren't we happy together?"
Mizuki softened, opening his mouth to comfort the boy. "Takeru..."
Before he could formulate a proper explanation, Taichi stepped forward, cutting him off with a confident wave of his hand. "Takeru, you don't understand. The reason Mizuki is doing this... it's all for us."
"For us?" The children blinked in unison, a collective wave of confusion washing over their faces. They exchanged bewildered glances, clearly failing to grasp the hidden depths of Taichi's logic.
Taichi crossed his arms, adopting a serious, almost scholarly posture. "Think about it. After Etemon's attack this time, did you guys realize anything?"
Mimi tapped her chin, her brow furrowing in thought. "Realize anything... you mean that the enemy is really strong?"
"But he was only an Ultimate level, right?" Takeru asked, tilting his head.
"Strength? No. More accurately, it's about influence," Izzy interjected, adjusting his laptop strap. He stepped into the center of the circle, commanding the group's attention. "Based on the fact that Etemon was able to track us down the very second we set foot on the continent, it's obvious he controlled a massive surveillance network and a huge sphere of influence."
Izzy's expression grew grim. "If he hadn't been so arrogant—if he hadn't rushed over to deal with us personally and instead just sent waves of his subordinates to ambush us—we would have been in far greater danger. Imagine it: endless battles, wave after wave of enemies. We wouldn't even have time to catch our breath. Even when we tried to sleep, we'd have to keep one eye open, constantly watching for attacks in the dark."
A heavy silence fell over the clearing as Izzy's vivid description painted a bleak picture in their minds. Several of the children shivered, wrapping their arms around themselves as the phantom chill of exhaustion and paranoia set in.
Taichi nodded approvingly, picking up the thread. "Exactly. Remember what Aegiochusmon told us? The Server Continent is infinitely vaster than File Island. The enemies we face from here on out won't be any weaker than Etemon. In fact, they'll probably be much stronger. And under those circumstances, it's only logical that their territories and armies will be far larger than Etemon's ever were."
For a fleeting moment, as he laid out his tactical analysis, Taichi exuded an aura of calm wisdom that rivaled even Izzy's sharp intellect. He turned his gaze toward Mizuki, his eyes softening with deep gratitude.
"Therefore, Mizuki taking over Etemon's territory right now is his way of securing a fallback route for us. No matter what horrors we encounter out there in the unknown, we will always have a safe haven to retreat to." Taichi paused, his voice dropping to a gentle, emotional register. "Or rather... a home."
Taichi looked at Mizuki, his chest swelling with unspoken emotion. "Mizuki... you're worrying about us again."
Mizuki stared blankly.???
He looked at the circle of children. Led by Taichi, every single one of them was gazing up at him with teary, deeply moved expressions. If this were an anime, several massive, glowing question marks would be hovering directly over his head right now.
No... the only reason I'm doing this is because I wanted to keep a strategic piece in reserve! Mizuki screamed internally, his stoic facade masking a whirlwind of sheer bewilderment. Wait, am I really that noble? Why didn't anyone tell me?
His eyes darted to the side, landing on the usually aloof blonde boy. And that guy! Ishida Matt! Never mind the others, why are you looking at me with such a warm, friendly gaze?! Hey! Your edgy lone-wolf character setting is completely breaking down!
Desperate for a scapegoat, Mizuki's gaze snapped toward BlackGatomon, who was lounging nearby. It's this Digimon! I swear, ever since she showed up, everyone else has started walking down this bizarre path of overthinking absolutely everything. So, you're the true source of all evil here!
As if sensing his intense internal glaring, BlackGatomon suddenly twitched and let out a delicate sneeze. "Achoo~"
She rubbed her little black nose with a paw, her blue eyes blinking in confusion. "That's strange... Could I have caught a cold?"
She shook her head, immediately dismissing the thought. "No, that makes absolutely no sense. Bathed in the glorious, supreme radiance of Lord Mizuki, how could I possibly succumb to a mere mortal illness?" She muttered to herself, dramatically tracing a symbol over her chest with her claws. "Mizu-men~ May Lord Mizuki protect me~"
Mizuki's eye twitched.
That's it, I can't take it! Seriously, my fists are physically hardening right now! What kind of cultish Digimon is this? 'Mizu-men'?! Are you absolutely sure you're a proper Digimon?!
But just as the indignant thought crossed his mind, Mizuki abruptly froze. A sudden realization hit him like a bucket of cold water. Wait a minute... thinking about it carefully, neither Tyilinmon nor BlackGatomon actually act like proper Digimon...
A heavy, invisible silence weighed down on him.
Whatever! Never mind! Either way, BlackGatomon is definitely the one at fault here! Shaking off the absurdity of his own partners, Mizuki forced his attention back to the expectant children.
He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Taichi, although I have no idea what strange, convoluted things you've been imagining... the reason I'm doing this really isn't for some grand, selfless purpose." He dropped his hand, offering a half-shrug. "Ultimately, it was just a whim."
He opened his mouth to clarify further, but as he looked at their earnest, gentle faces—faces glowing with absolute trust and admiration—the words died in his throat.
"But... forget it," he muttered, waving a hand in defeat. "Think whatever you want to think."
The moment the words left his mouth, Taichi stepped forward and clapped a heavy hand onto Mizuki's shoulder, grinning from ear to ear. "See? That's fine! Since you did it, just admit it openly. There's no need to be shy about being a good guy~"
Mizuki stared at him, his expression utterly flat.
Blissfully ignoring Mizuki's dangerously "kind" gaze, Taichi gave his back a firm, reassuring pat. "Alright, Mizuki. Since you have things you need to take care of, hurry up and go do them."
Taichi stepped back, his posture radiating a newfound maturity. "Don't worry about us. Not only did I find my Crest first, but Agumon has already achieved his Ultimate level form. Protecting everyone here is absolutely no problem for me now!"
His grin softened into a sincere, quiet smile. "After all, you've done more than enough for us. Now, it's about time it was our turn to do something for you."
Mizuki's breath hitched slightly. —!
The pieces suddenly clicked into place. Taichi's grand speech, his elaborate tactical analysis, his seemingly ridiculous overthinking—it wasn't just blind hero worship. It was a deliberate, calculated move driven by deep consideration and concern.
In Taichi's eyes, Mizuki was a powerful ally who always had his own mysterious goals, yet constantly chose to delay them to babysit the group. Taichi was using this entire "taking over the territory" narrative as a convenient excuse. He was giving Mizuki an out, ensuring that the group wouldn't become a chain around his ankle.
A strange warmth bloomed in Mizuki's chest, mingling with a deep sense of helplessness. The truth was, he really wasn't as burdened by them as Taichi believed. He had only tagged along because their paths happened to align. It was just convenient.
But looking at the fierce determination burning in Taichi's eyes, Mizuki knew better than to shatter the illusion. He was sensible enough to accept the grace being offered to him.
Taichi's sentiment quickly rippled through the rest of the group, sparking a chorus of unanimous approval.
Kari stepped up beside her brother, her bright eyes shining. "My brother is right. Mizuki, please don't worry about us."
Izzy adjusted his laptop, his expression resolute. "I will keep a close eye on our logistics and navigation. You can count on me."
Sora offered a warm, maternal smile. "Mizuki, you deserve to do the things you want to do. Constantly watching over us like a bodyguard just isn't fair to you."
Mimi twirled a lock of her hair, her tone light but sincere. "That's right! Since we've ended up in this crazy, wonderful world, wouldn't it be a total pity not to chase after your own goals?"
Takeru pumped his small fists in the air, Patamon fluttering happily above his head. "Mizuki, thank you for always taking care of us! Patamon and I will definitely grow super strong so we can help you next time!"
Joe pushed his glasses up his nose, standing a little taller. "Mizuki, please rest assured. I will absolutely shoulder my responsibilities as the senior student of this group!"
Finally, Matt shoved his hands into his pockets. He looked away for a second before meeting Mizuki's gaze, his voice quiet but firm. "...Thank you. I won't forget the things you said to me."
Once the chorus of voices faded, Taichi closed the distance between them. He stopped right in front of Mizuki, his brown eyes blazing with an unshakeable resolve, and extended a closed fist.
"Mizuki, believe me," Taichi said, his voice ringing with absolute certainty. "We are going to get stronger. We'll get stronger quickly, and we will find the way home."
He pushed his fist a fraction of an inch closer. "Let's go home together when that time comes!"
Go home, huh...
The words echoed in Mizuki's mind, carrying a bittersweet weight. He looked at the outstretched fist, a quiet melancholy tugging at the corners of his heart. I am not from the same world as them. His 'home' was a completely different reality, separated by boundaries far wider than the digital sea.
And yet, despite knowing the impossible truth of his origins, Mizuki found his arm moving on its own. He couldn't bring himself to reject the raw, unfiltered hope radiating from the boy in front of him.
"Yeah," Mizuki murmured softly.
With a quiet, solid thud, Mizuki's knuckles gently bumped against Taichi's.
"When the time comes... let's go home together."
"You bet!" Taichi beamed, a brilliant, hearty smile breaking across his face like the morning sun, sealing the promise between them.
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