Butter-Fly Effect

You decide to leave Tai and Kari be, assuming that their partners won't do anything like burn down the apartment building. Not that you were too worried about it, but... it's Tai and Agumon. The last time you left him and Kari to their own devices with a Digimon of that line, things took a pretty quick turn for the worse.

...Honestly, sometimes you still wonder what people think happened to that vending machine.

Still, you think those two were the ones most dangerous to leave alone, but they seem to be doing fine... maybe you should just relax and go see Matt. And check if Gabumon's been enough to tidy it up. Matt and his dad are better than Haruka at keeping their living space clean, but that really isn't saying much when she has no adult supervision and a diet of takeout.

You think there might have been coffee in there, too, at one point, because of the stains on the TV, but she was complaining about the machine breaking last year, and it was still broken the last time you checked, so you're not counting it.

So, yeah, when you think about it, the place Matt lives could look far worse.

That doesn't mean it looks all that great.

"I'm honestly wondering what they'd do without me," Gabumon comments, shoving a basket of laundry to the side.

"They've managed so far," You point out. "And it wasn't exactly the worst I've ever seen."

"Is that green-haired girl's place really that bad?"

"She managed to get coffee stains on the television. And uses her kitchen for chemistry projects. I'm not sure, but I don't think she's been eating there." You know Kazuya takes food to her, sometimes, when she vanishes into the guest room/computer lab for a week or so, but you also know he brings his own plates and silverware to that. Some people just should not be allowed to live on their own. "You'll see what I mean. Once she solves the keychain thing, she'll probably call everyone over to show off."

"You sure about that?" Matt asks. "I mean, it's their friend that got on the wrong side of Piedmon. It feels like the sort of thing they'd keep... personal." Normally, you'd agree, but normally, the Dark Masters aren't a part of the picture. At least, not a major one.

"They would, maybe, if we didn't have to save the Digital World," You admit. "And they might put it off and move the meeting place. But that's how Izzy and Haruka handle big discoveries." At least, as far as you can tell. You don't normally go to the presentations.

...Actually, you can't remember the last time they bothered giving you an invite, but you really don't mind that. Even if it might have helped, a bit, with knowing what was going on right now.

"...I guess you're the one that actually knows her." When you think about it, Matt really doesn't have much contact with your predecessors. In fact, you aren't entirely sure he'd actually met them before this whole thing started. "And... actually, you met Himekawa too, didn't you?"

"Given that I was there when she left..." Sometimes, you wonder what it would have been like if Matt and TK had joined the hunt for Kari and Agumon.

More collateral damage, probably. Like there hadn't been enough of that to begin with.

"Well, okay, yeah, but that still puts you ahead of the rest of us. Except for Tai, apparently... So, what do you think about...?" He doesn't really continue the question, but you sort of get what he was asking. Hopping between two worlds, suddenly all of your friends have Digimon, everything to do with Maki, or the Dark Masters, or anything else... You've all been through a lot, and to everyone on the outside, it's barely been a day.

So... what do you think of all that?


[ ] It's been a fun adventure, but you're glad for the break.

[ ] You're glad that the rest of your friends have Digimon now. You like having people your age to share DigiDestined things with.

[ ] You wish things weren't so complicated now. It was easier when there were just seven of you.

[ ] You could all have died so many times. And you'll have to go back and risk your life again, because that's your job. The thought scares you.

[ ] You don't really have an answer.

"Well... It's nice to see that you all have Digimon now," You finally say. "I mean, a lot of you knew beforehand what being a DigiDestined is like, so it's not like I couldn't share things with you, but it feels... better, this way. Like, everyone understands a bit more." The dangers of the Digital World, the long journeys by foot... it's not the sort of thing you'd like to try to do on your own, or even just with Biyomon.

"I'm not sure having the entire fridge cleared out in one day is something I wanted to understand."

"That's not what I meant!" Though you do sympathize. There's a lot of cool stuff you'd probably be able to have if your family wasn't spending so much money on food. "It's just that... all the other DigiDestined weren't exactly my age, I barely ever saw TK, and the ones that are older than me had already done everything." Reach the Mega level, save the Digital World, rapidly outpace everyone else in ways that seem somewhat concerning... they've done that, and you haven't.

At least, you don't think you have. Not that you spend enough time talking to non-DigiDestined to really figure it out.

"...I'd say you're exaggerating, but I've actually met them now," Matt sighs. "But they're also all crazy, so..." You'd take offense on their behalf, if you weren't aware that his words were entirely true. No, those four aren't sane by conventional standards, and that's okay.

"What makes you think that?"

"The shrimp-patterned apron was a pretty big hint." Fair enough.

---

Now, to visit those who didn't know about Digimon ahead of time. You'll start with Mimi, because you know she'll just be doing something silly like playing dress-up with Palmon, and not making you think about anything serious.

Or. Well. You hope so. But Mimi's the kind of girl whose priorities, once she's done being adventurous, start with food and a hot shower, so it's probably a safe bet.

When you get to where she lives, you see Palmon planted in the dirt just outside the building. "Palmon, what are you doing here?" You ask. You know that she can photosynthesize- Mimi's lucky, not having to lose so much food- but it's also getting pretty late now. You aren't sure you want a small plant-creature to be outside after dark.

"Mimi's trying to psych herself up so she can introduce me to her parents!" The little Rookie replies. "She's been in there for a while, though..."

...Okay, you should probably help with that. Somehow.


[ ] Go inside and see Mimi.

[ ] Stay outside with Palmon.