Chapter 13: I'm Not One of the Chosen
Mizuki had no intention of hiding the fact that he had used their data. What was done was done, and he had never been the type to shy away from the consequences of his actions. He was prepared for their reaction, whatever it might be. If they were angry or dissatisfied, he would accept it. He would do his best to make it up to them.
To his surprise, however, the children merely exchanged glances, their expressions showing curiosity rather than outrage.
Taichi, in his usual carefree manner, broke the silence. He stepped forward and clapped a hand firmly on Mizuki's shoulder. "Man, I thought it was something serious! Is that all?"
"It's just some data," he said with a grin. "If you needed it, Mizuki, you should have just said so. Take whatever you need." He winked. "Besides, I was worried I wouldn't get a chance to repay you for saving our lives back there. Now we can call it even, right?"
His words, though seemingly casual, were a subtle reminder to the others of the debt they all owed Mizuki for the battle against Kuwagamon. It was a glimpse of the sharp mind hidden beneath Taichi's boisterous exterior.
Kari, as always, was quick to support her brother. "Taichi's right, Mizuki. You don't need to worry about it at all. You saved us."
"In fact," Koushiro added, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose, "you could have easily kept this from us entirely. The fact that you chose to be honest about it…" He nodded, his expression serious. "That alone proves you're someone we can trust."
Hearing the reassurances from their friends, the last lingering traces of uncertainty in the other children's minds completely dissolved. Even the normally reserved Yamato simply gave Mizuki a brief, acknowledging glance before letting the matter drop.
As Mizuki confirmed that they genuinely didn't care, he couldn't help the thought that surfaced in his mind. 'Heh. They really are the DigiDestined, aren't they? So pure-hearted…'A wry smile touched his lips.'Which also makes them incredibly easy to take advantage of.'A wave of warmth followed the thought.'Still… this is the group from my childhood memories. Seeing them like this, so genuine… it really does make me happy.'
Just as he was lost in his reflections, Koushiro spoke up again, his tone laced with curiosity.
"Mizuki, now that you mention it, I noticed something earlier."
"When you talk about the DigiDestined, you always use the term 'you all'."
"That phrasing, it excludes yourself. Does that mean… you're not a DigiDestined like us?"
'Leave it to Koushiro to be the sharpest one of the bunch,'Mizuki thought, impressed.'He's incredibly perceptive.'
"You're right," Mizuki admitted, turning his pockets inside out to show they were empty. "Just as you suspected. I don't have a Digivice, and I'm not one of the Chosen Children."
"As for why I'm in this world… well, to be honest, I have no idea myself."
He saw their gazes shift between him and the towering figure of LadyDevimon beside him. Understanding their unspoken question, he answered it before they could ask. "I think I mentioned it before, didn't I?"
"LadyDevimon is my friend."
"It's different from the partner relationship you all have."
"It doesn't matter if Mizu isn't a DigiDestined!"
The words burst from LadyDevimon before Mizuki could say another word. In the next instant, a pair of powerful arms swept him off his feet. LadyDevimon, well over two meters tall, cradled the 1.59-meter boy against her chest as if he weighed nothing.
"Mizu was the one who saved me when I was lost," she declared, her voice thick with emotion as she hugged him tightly. "Mizu has been taking care of me this whole time."
"Even if he isn't one of the Chosen, it doesn't change anything. I'll do anything for him!"
Hearing the fierce conviction in her voice, Mizuki knew she was overthinking things again. He abandoned any thought of struggling out of her embrace. Right now, what LadyDevimon needed was his reassurance. Compared to that, a little awkwardness and his reputation were meaningless. He gently patted her arm, calming her down.
Taichi watched the exchange with a soft smile. "You two have a really great relationship."
At his side, Agumon tugged on his sleeve. "Taichi, I can hug you like that too!"
Taichi looked down at the adorable orange dinosaur and laughed heartily. "Let's wait until you're a little bigger, okay?" He ruffled Agumon's head. "But when it comes to friendship, I don't think we lose to Mizuki and his friend."
"Right, Agumon?"
"Mhm! We're partners, and we're friends!"
Beaming, Taichi took Agumon's claws in his hands and began to do a strange, celebratory dance on the spot. Across the clearing, Kari and Koushiro exchanged a look, a shared expression of fond exasperation at Taichi's antics.
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Compared to the original story, where the children stumbled blindly through an unknown world, Mizuki's presence provided their journey with a sense of direction. Under his guidance, the group made their way to the edge of the tropical rainforest.
They had arrived at the border of the Village of Beginnings.
But as they drew closer, Mizuki felt a prickle of unease. A faint, disturbing aura seemed to cling to the air, emanating from the direction of the village.
"Mizu?" LadyDevimon, still carrying him, immediately sensed the change in his posture.
"We were only gone for half a day," Mizuki murmured, his brow furrowed in concern. "Could something have happened to the Village of Beginnings already?" He looked up at her. "Let's hurry back and check."
"Mhm."
The children overheard their hushed conversation and quickly realized something was wrong.
"Mizuki, what's going on?" Taichi asked, his earlier playfulness gone. Having grown more familiar, he had started using Mizuki's name directly.
"Something might have happened to the Village of Beginnings."
Seeing their confused expressions, Mizuki gave them a brief explanation. "This is the Village of Beginnings, the place where all Digimon in the Digital World are born. I brought you here because, on File Island, it's one of the safest places you can be."
"Once we got permission from Elecmon, the village's guardian, you could have used this place as a base camp to explore the rest of this world."
"But now… I have a really bad feeling. I'm worried something has happened." He gestured ahead. "I'm going to check it out. You all should stay here and wait. Don't approach until you know it's safe."
With that, he nodded to LadyDevimon.
Receiving his signal, LadyDevimon spread her dark wings and launched into the sky, carrying Mizuki towards the heart of the village.
Taichi watched their retreating figures for a moment before turning to his companions, a determined glint in his eyes.
"We should go too," he declared. "We don't know anything about this world, but we can't just stand by and let someone else handle everything for us."
Without waiting for a reply, Taichi and Agumon broke into a run, chasing after Mizuki.
"Brother, wait!" Kari called out. "I'm also—"
"Kari, you stay here!" Taichi shouted back over his shoulder, not slowing down. "Koushiro, please look after her for me!"
"Huh?! Me?"
Koushiro stared, stunned, pointing a finger at his own chest. He turned to look at Kari, but she was already gone.
"Kari?!"
Watching her small figure dash after her brother, Koushiro muttered, "This is not good," and immediately gave chase himself. "Tentomon, let's go!"
"Alright, Koushiro!"
First Taichi, then Kari, and now Koushiro. With three of their members suddenly gone, a restless energy spread through the remaining children.
Finally, without a word, someone made the first move. In an instant, the remaining five kids and their Digimon partners were running, following their friends into the unsettling silence that lay ahead.
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