Hands-On Training
You've been meaning to get into shape for a long time, really. It's just that you've never had the time before. Even now, you've only got a few months left until winter, with no clue how to use them for the best results.

Thankfully, you actually know someone who makes sure to exercise. Admittedly, a lot of his help has been unconventional, but given that your asking for a regimen for yourself and not a bird, you think it'll go over just fine. At the very least, it can't hurt to ask.

"Exercise? Really?" Kazuya asks you. "Weren't you studying with Haruka?"

You shrug. With how well Izzy's been doing, Haruka practically claimed him as her apprentice, to the point that you and Joe decided that you had better things to do with your time. You aren't actually sure what he's doing now, but you hope you'll see him around at some point.

"She's been... busy." Is how you finally decide to answer.

Kazuya nods. "Okay, then... same time and place as last year?" He suggests. You agree, because you've honestly missed that park. It's got a lot of good memories for you.

"Sure! And I'll bring Biyomon, too!" You haven't brought her anyplace with you recently, you need to fix that... can't have people forgetting she's around, after all.


You quickly learn that Kazuya is a lot more talkative when he's exercising than when he's just directing you to throw rings or shrimp around. Even when the exercise is more in line with what the two of you did with Biyomon than you'd expected.

"I wouldn't normally do it this way," He admits as you dodge another weak Spiral Twister from Biyomon. "But if Haruka thinks it's important to pass this sort of thing down, well... she'd know. She's the smart one.

"And you thought this was a good solution?" You complain.

"Less talking, more dodging!" Your partner chirps at you happily, and you get the feeling she's enjoying this a tad too much after all the times you did it to her last year. You follow her advice, leaping away from yet another stream of green fire that sizzles out before it hits the ground,

"Given that half of the hostile Digimon you meet are bound to be at least twice your size? I'd say this is pretty accurate." You want to retort that you'll never meet another hostile Digimon, except you're not even sure if it's true.

Sometimes, you really wish Parrotmon hadn't come in and messed up your life.


A lot of the other kids agree that hide and seek is not a practical game. You disagree, if only because Kazuya disagrees, and disagreeing with Kazuya on matters of physical activity can never end well.

Of course, Biyomon's a little traitor who would sell you out for food, which means that no hiding spot on the ground is safe. The whole city has become your battleground, made feasible only through your Digivices, as you make use of Odaiba's various stores, trees, and subway stations.

Honestly, if your parents knew what you got up to on Sundays, you're not sure they'd let you go out anymore. Certainly you've broken a lot of rules in your running about, and it's only quick thinking that lets you escape those situations.

Really, of all the things that could ever force you to lie to your parents, this never made anything near the list.

But then, of all the people in the world that could become your best friend, you never expected Biyomon to be there, either. So you guess it all evens out.


When you stop with your little program, it is thankfully not because your parents have found out, though you resolve never to mention to them the exact specifics of what you've been doing this fall.

It's winter. Kazuya does not like the winter. And he explains as much to you.

"Well, Rikuto may be... himself, but he and Otamamon had the right idea when it comes to temperature. Spring is nice, summer is perfect, fall is tolerable. Winter is... cold."
(Yes, that Rookie form is valid, so long as it's red.)
Well, yes. That's part of the qualifier for being considered a proper winter. You wonder how much of the cutoff for Biyomon's training was actually running out of ideas, and how much was the fact that it was the tail-end of November.

Before he leaves, he advises you not to push yourself too hard during winter. That it's a time for rest more than play, if only due to the cold. You listen, but that leaves you with the question of what to do next.

You have 32 months remaining. Choose your next project.
[ ] You're impressed by how Daigo manages to talk his way through anything. You should see if he'll teach you. (Time: 4 months. DC 70. Gain Intimidate and Diplomacy skills, improve relationship with Daigo)

[ ] It's called a 'Digital World', right? Does that mean it has something to do with the computer? (Time: 6 months. DC 85. Results: ???)​

[ ] It comes to mind that you've never met Joe's family. You should fix that. (Time: 1 month. DC 50. Gain Medicine skill, improve relationship with Joe.)

[ ] Apparently, Kazuya's sick and tired of Rikuto being a disaster in the kitchen. You might be able to eke out some lessons of your own, so long as you show up at the right time. (Time: 2 months. DC 45. Gain Cooking skill, improve relationship with Kazuya and Rikuto.)

[ ] It's been a long time since you, Tai, and Matt were all in the same place. Maybe it's time that changed. (Time: 2 months. DC 50. Improve relationship with Tai and Matt.)
 
The Trouble Trio
You, Tai, and Matt have fairly different schedules. This is something that you came to terms with a long time ago. But while the three of you all being in the same place has always been a rare thing, it's been more than a year, and given that you're all still friends, you think you could make more of an effort.

So you will. "Hey, Biyomon?" You sleepily ask your partner one night.

"What is it, Sora?"

"D'you wanna see Tai and Matt sometime soon? Like, both of them?"

"That sounds nice. You're happier when they're around, right?"

Well, they're only your human best friends. It'd be weird if you didn't like having them around you. "So, you think I should start inviting them over more often?"

"Why are you asking me? They're your friends." And you guess that she does have a point.

Mind made up, you decide to call your friends first thing in the morning.


It doesn't end up being just one visit, of course. It turns out that you like having normal people around, even if they know bits and pieces about Digimon and their world. You like being able to feel normal, even if it's just for a few hours every week or so.

You also like being able to turn Kazuya's somewhat sadistic idea of training on to someone else, just in case something like the Parrotmon incident happens again. Not that you do too much of that, what with it being winter and all. Nor would you be able to even if it were summer, what with them not having Digivices.

But you make it work. And if they glare at you a few times, it's covered up by smiles as you take your allowance to the cornerstore and load up on snacks, though you don't allow Biyomon to have any for the fact that, if you did, she'd eat it all.

She doesn't even deny it, though after so long she probably realizes how futile it is.

And in this daze of childhood happiness, you start to let the time run away from you, until you've stayed out until midnight and end up grounded for varying amounts of time, throwing off your synchronized schedules.

Matt blames Tai. So do you, sometimes, but you're mostly grown up enough to admit that you or Matt could have looked at a clock at any point during the day. Either way, with your planning shattered, it would probably take a while to figure out the next time you should all meet up, so you decide not to bother at the moment.

After all, this has been taking away from something that you really want to do.


You have 30 months remaining. Choose your next project.

[ ] You're impressed by how Daigo manages to talk his way through anything. You should see if he'll teach you. (Time: 4 months. DC 70. Gain Intimidate and Diplomacy skills, improve relationship with Daigo)

[ ] It's called a 'Digital World', right? Does that mean it has something to do with the computer? (Time: 6 months. DC 85. Results: ???)

[ ] It comes to mind that you've never met Joe's family. You should fix that. (Time: 1 month. DC 50. Gain Medicine skill, improve relationship with Joe.)

[ ] Apparently, Kazuya's sick and tired of Rikuto being a disaster in the kitchen. You might be able to eke out some lessons of your own, so long as you show up at the right time. (Time: 2 months. DC 45. Gain Cooking skill, improve relationship with Kazuya and Rikuto.)

[ ] Izzy and Haruka have been working on something lately. You're not sure what it is, but it's bound to be interesting. (Time: 3 months. DC 60. Improve relationship with Izzy and Haruka, ???)
 
Visiting a Friend
After the study group breaks apart, you honestly aren't sure if you'll see Joe again, especially this long after. Izzy not so much, especially with how proud Haruka is of him- you've seen him around quite a bit. But you and Joe have... less overlapping interests, though he does still talk to Izzy, the two of them having known each other for a while.

So, naturally, the next time you want to go see Joe, you decide to ask Izzy.
(Project roll: 60.)
"Huh?" He turns to you. "I mean, I can give you his address if you want, but that's about it. I'm a bit busy right now." There are several papers with Digicode written on them scattered about, though you don't understand all of the symbols.

"That'd be nice, thanks." You won't go today- Biyomon doesn't want to be left alone too often right now- but you make a note to do so in a few days.

"No problem." The conversation more or less ends there, as that's when Haruka arrives and, while you're curious about what all that Digicode's about, you should really be getting back to your partner about now.

"Well, I'd better go now. See you!" You turn and leave, but you still hear Izzy's voice calling to you.

"Say hi to Biyomon for me!"


Your first impression of Joe's family is... well, you can certainly see how he's related to them. They are all firmly ranked among the less-fun people you know, although the people you know include Tai and Kazuya, so your perspective may be just a bit skewed.

You also quickly figure out why Joe was in that study group. His father cares a lot about grades, especially the fact that there's a kid smarter than Joe who's years younger than him, even though said kid is Izzy and therefore not a healthy point of comparison.

Thankfully, just because the Kidos are less fun doesn't mean they're no fun at all, or you wouldn't even be here. A lot of the conversation more or less goes over your head, but long story short, you think they like you. You're not sure. You were passing notes with Joe in Digicode through the whole thing. Best use of a secret language ever.

Not that you didn't pick up anything, of course. One of Joe's brothers had a book on first-aid out and you caught a few glimpses of some of the pages. Not exactly what you were trying to learn, and you didn't get much of it, but you are now positive that you can apply a bandage without somehow destroying half the skin on the patient's arm.
(Sora has gained the skill: Medicine at +1)
You and Tai have, of course, sworn never to speak of the time that happened to anyone else. And now you know for sure you can avoid a repeat scenario. So it doesn't matter anymore, does it?

You have 29 months remaining. Choose your next project.

[ ] You're impressed by how Daigo manages to talk his way through anything. You should see if he'll teach you. (Time: 4 months. DC 70. Gain Intimidate and Diplomacy skills, improve relationship with Daigo)

[ ] It's called a 'Digital World', right? Does that mean it has something to do with the computer? (Time: 6 months. DC 85. Results: ???)

[ ] Apparently, Kazuya's sick and tired of Rikuto being a disaster in the kitchen. You might be able to eke out some lessons of your own, so long as you show up at the right time. (Time: 2 months. DC 45. Gain Cooking skill, improve relationship with Kazuya and Rikuto.)

[ ] Izzy and Haruka have been working on something lately. You're not sure what it is, but it's bound to be interesting. (Time: 3 months. DC 60. Improve relationship with Izzy and Haruka, ???)
 
Koushiro Izumi and Haruka Yamaguchi's Crowning Achievement
You can't help but think about what Izzy said that one time. If he knows about Biyomon, he knows about the Digital World. And if he and Haruka have been working on something recently that would require him to know about it... intriguing.
(Project roll: 91)
Thankfully, they're rather open about it. Well, as open as they can be with a mystery project that has apparently come about as the result of a casual remark made one afternoon back in the fall, which isn't much, but it's still something. They even invite you to the big unveiling, which is apparently fairly exclusive: DigiDestined and Izzy only, and they couldn't find TK's address to send him an invitation.

You accept it, of course, noting that with how the project's apparently going, it'll be ready for presentation in just a few months. You're not sure what to do until then, but eventually decide on introducing Izzy to Biyomon. It's only fair that they meet, after all.

"Fascinating..." He mumbles once he gets to see her properly for the first time, instead of perched hidden in a tree just outside the library window. "I'd wonder where she got such vivid coloration from, not considering what I know. And even then... you say she's never actually been to the Digital World?"

"Not since before I hatched," She confirms. "This world is really all I know."

"I see..." He examines her for a bit longer, most likely out of curiosity from having never actually seen a Digimon in person before. Well, not up close, anyway. He has vague memories of an explosion and big monster fight in a time that just about line up with Parrotmon.

Not that anyone really talks about Parrotmon anymore. It's accepted as a thing that happened, but everyone gets quiet whenever it's brought up, Daigo and Haruka especially. So it just doesn't get brought up anymore, and life goes on as well as it can.

You hope it can stay that way for a long time.


For an event that involves a grand total of seven people counting Biyomon, it's played up quite a bit more than it actually should be. Kazuya's even cooked for it, which is great, because everyone agrees that he makes the best food out of everyone there.

The Yamaguchi apartment is... well, you can certainly see how Haruka lives there. Her parents have apparently been out on business for a while, which is the entire reason she was even able to do this project.

The place is a mess, really. Notes scattered everywhere, the tv has coffee stains on it somehow, and you don't want to know how those burn marks got on the couch. Let alone the curtains in singed tatters, though according to Daigo, that bit's Rikuto's fault.

The first thing Kazuya does once he shows up with food is start washing the dishes so you all have something safe to eat off of. It is that bad.

"Sorry about that..." Haruka apologizes. "I'm doing my best really."

"The sad thing is, it's true. It looked much worse last week," Izzy tells you, though from the glare the apartment's owner shoots him, he wasn't supposed to say that.

"I can believe that," Rikuto says. "There's a reason she got along great with the Numemon, and it's not that Stegomon makes a great climbing toy."

"You people are horrible," She groans. "Just horrible! And to think I invited you all here to see my crowning achievement, something that should have been made possible long before now but was put off due to a lack of manpower and hardware. Behold!"

She gestures to Izzy's laptop. It's turned off. "Oh, for the love of... would my apprentice please start up his computer?"

"S-sorry, Miss Yamaguchi," The redhead stammers, before his fingers start to fly across the keyboard in a way you've never seen before, outside of odd sci-fi films. "There!"

The screen doesn't look that much more impressive now. But then Izzy starts to type again, and symbols start to be displayed on the screen. Symbols that you recognize, although mostly from paper and your Digivice.

"Is that... Digicode writing?" Daigo asks, seeming unsure of what to say. You suspect he'd be more impressed if he knew that Izzy was currently writing out a poem that you vaguely remember from that study group last year.

"That's right!" Haruka confirms, the ever-present smile back on her face as she readjusts her glasses for the third time today. "We haven't done much on the actual programming front- that's for later- but it's a good proof of concept, and just think of the doors this could open! You've seen how alterations to previously existent Digicode could change the land around us, can you imagine what this could do if used in everyday computers?"

"She's going all mad scientist again..." Kazuya mutters. "Riku, stop her!"

"What do you expect me to do?"

"You're the one she's been crushing on since sixth grade!"

"What- she is not!"

"How have you not noticed this by now? Are you just that dense? Daigo, help me out here!"

Haruka continues with her presentation, seemingly unaware of the argument taking place. Or she pretends it's not happening.

You can never tell with her.


You have 26 months remaining. Choose your next project.

[ ] Joe's mentioned a class on wilderness survival happening this summer, maybe you should try it out. (Time: 2 months. DC 40. Gain skills related to wilderness survival, improve relationship with Joe.)

[ ] Learn to swim. It's summer, after all, and that means the beach! (Time: 1 month. DC 50. Gain swim skill.)

[ ] You're impressed by how Daigo manages to talk his way through anything. You should see if he'll teach you. (Time: 4 months. DC 70. Gain Intimidate and Diplomacy skills, improve relationship with Daigo)

[ ] It's called a 'Digital World', right? Does that mean it has something to do with the computer? (Time: 6 months. DC 82. Results: ???)

[ ] Apparently, Kazuya's sick and tired of Rikuto being a disaster in the kitchen. You might be able to eke out some lessons of your own, so long as you show up at the right time. (Time: 2 months. DC 45. Gain Cooking skill, improve relationship with Kazuya and Rikuto.)
 
Beach Day
"Hey, Sora!" You hear Tai call you, and turn to face him.

"What is it, Tai?"

"Well... my parents were planning to take us to the beach this summer. And they said I could invite my friends along, so I'm bringing you and Matt!"

"...You did remember to at least ask Matt, right?" You ask. You don't mind the idea of a beach day, but Matt can be... prickly, even if he's been opening up more in the past few years.

"Of course I did! What, did you think I was stupid?"

"I'm not sure you want me to answer that question." You just hope the weather's good...
(Project roll: 74)


Fortunately, your fears of a summer storm appear to be quite unfounded. It's a nice, bright day out with just the right amount of breeze. You could do without the sand, of course, but such is the price of being able to run and splash in the waves.

Tai decides to try and build a sandcastle, and before you know it, Matt's turned it into a competition and is asking Biyomon to donate feathers for decorations.

"What? No way! I need these to fly!" Your partner protests.

"Are you gonna build a castle, Sora?" Kari asks. You shake your head.

"No, I'm gonna go swimming."

"You can swim?"

"I can try." And try you do. You even think you do rather well, all things considered.
(Sora has gained the skill: Swimming at +7)


Not that you've done perfectly. You can sort of keep yourself afloat so long as you're moving, but the waves keep messing everything up. Still, by the time Tai and Kari's parents say it's time to go home, you have graduated from uncontrolled flailing to something a bit more dignified.

The results of Tai and Matt's contest, meanwhile, are inconclusive. Mostly because Kari bribes Biyomon with candy to fly overhead carrying a bucket of water and ruin everything. They're not very happy about it, but at least that bit's focused on Kari instead of you.

You're pretty sure it was a good day. But that leaves the question of what to do next...

You have 25 months remaining. Choose your next project.

[ ] Joe's mentioned a class on wilderness survival happening this summer, maybe you should try it out. (Time: 2 months. DC 40. Gain skills related to wilderness survival, improve relationship with Joe.)

[ ] You're impressed by how Daigo manages to talk his way through anything. You should see if he'll teach you. (Time: 4 months. DC 70. Gain Intimidate and Diplomacy skills, improve relationship with Daigo)

[ ] It's called a 'Digital World', right? Does that mean it has something to do with the computer? (Time: 6 months. DC 82. Results: ???)

[ ] Apparently, Kazuya's sick and tired of Rikuto being a disaster in the kitchen. You might be able to eke out some lessons of your own, so long as you show up at the right time. (Time: 2 months. DC 45. Gain Cooking skill, improve relationship with Kazuya and Rikuto.)
 
Learning to Get By
You aren't sure why you take Joe up on his offer of survival training. Certainly, it's not something you'll have need of anytime soon. But you remember what Haruka told you, back when you asked her for the real reason she taught you, Joe, and Izzy Digicode. That you never know when you might need something.
(Project roll: 84)
So you decide to go, just to see what it's like. Just in case you ever actually need it in future. You hope you don't, but.... well, at least you'll have the option. And even if you don't, you'll have someone you know there, so it won't be a complete waste of time.


The first day you go to the class, the instructor splits you into groups of three. You're lucky enough to be in the same group as Joe, and one other girl with long brown hair who seems to really like the color pink. She immediately introduces herself as Mimi Tachikawa.

"It's good to meet you, Mimi," You reply. "I'm Sora Takenouchi. The grump behind me is Joe Kido." Said boy grumbles a bit at being called a grump.

Mimi pauses for a moment. "Sora... Sora... that name sounds familiar. You wouldn't happen to know Matt, by any chance, would you?"

You nod. "Yeah. Why?"

"We used to be in music group together, until it was shut down at the end of last year. I'm not sure why, though..." You remember that. You don't know the reason it stopped, either, but Matt wasn't very happy about it. Music is sort of his thing.

"I heard about that," Joe notes. "I think there was some kind of safety concern? I don't know, I just remember one of my brothers talking about it."

And by the end of the day, while you haven't learned that much, Mimi Tachikawa has been safely inducted into your group of friends.


Future sessions are more productive. At least, when it comes to learning new things rather than meeting new people. It quickly becomes apparent that Mimi likes you more than she does Joe, in that she's more helpful to you. Which is good, because she just so happens to be at the top of the class.
(Sora's climbing, medicine, and stealth skills have increased! Sora has gained the skill: Wilderness Survival at +4!)
Not that Joe's slacking, either. He's a lot better at the more intellectual side of things, such as recognizing various edible plants. You make a mental note to bring Joe and Mimi with you if you ever get stuck out in the wilderness for a very long time. Especially as Mimi has actually been camping before.

The three of you end the summer much more prepared for catastrophe than when you started, and promise to keep in contact. But you've never been one to linger on something after you've gotten results from it, so it's time to start looking towards the future!

You have 23 months remaining. Choose your next project.
[ ] You're impressed by how Daigo manages to talk his way through anything. You should see if he'll teach you. (Time: 4 months. DC 70. Gain Intimidate and Diplomacy skills, improve relationship with Daigo)

[ ] It's called a 'Digital World', right? Does that mean it has something to do with the computer? (Time: 6 months. DC 82. Results: ???)

[ ] Apparently, Kazuya's sick and tired of Rikuto being a disaster in the kitchen. You might be able to eke out some lessons of your own, so long as you show up at the right time. (Time: 2 months. DC 45. Gain Cooking skill, improve relationship with Kazuya and Rikuto.)

[ ] Study on your own some more. While Haruka's too busy to teach you, you're sure you can brush up just fine on your own. (Time: 3 months. DC 50. Train Knowledge: Real World skill.)

[ ] Pick up exercise again. You have ideas for what to do, even through the winter. Lots and lots of ideas. (Time, 7 months. DC 38. Train physical skills, partner's stats increase.)
 
'Let's Hack Reality! What Could Possibly Go Wrong?' Starring Sora and Izzy
You've been wondering something for a long time. What is the Digital World, really? You know it's where Digimon come from, you know that, under most circumstances, that's where Biyomon should have hatched, though, due to circumstances, she's never seen it. You know that your teenage friends have been there before. But that's all you really know about it.

"It's strange, isn't it?" Izzy muses one day. "That world has so many amazing things to discover, and yet..." Yet the two of you know so little about it.

Which, when you think about it, isn't right. Your life has been forever changed by Biyomon's presence, you know that much. And if it weren't for Haruka teaching him Digicode, Izzy wouldn't be anywhere near such an effective programmer...

You have an idea. It's probably not the best idea you've ever had. Can't be the worst, though. That one goes to following a dinosaur out into the middle of the city after you'd already called for backup. Or maybe that time you failed completely at medical treatment and ripped half the flesh off of Tai's arm, which most likely contributed to his getting sick that one time as much as spending time around Kari did.

"Why do you think they call it the Digital World, anyway?" You ask, leaning back in your seat.

"Miss Yamaguchi says it's all made up of computer data," He tells you. "Even the Digimon are, even after leaving their world, which is why Biyomon's feathers disappear so quickly after she sheds them." Huh. You'd been wondering about that.

"Is that why Digicode makes you so good with computers?"

"I dunno. I'd guess so, since she told me once that messing with old writing was enough to change the world around her. But any effective programmer would probably be able to mess with it from the inside."
(Project roll: 92. Why?)
"...What about from the outside?" He catches your meaning immediately, a questioning look covering his face for a moment.

"That is... I don't know," He admits. You grin.

"Let's find out."


That was months ago. Izzy's been on his computer nonstop since then. You've been helping, mostly by assisting to translate the occasional garbled error message. You'd recruit Joe, since he knows more Digicode than you do, but for the fact that he's apparently trying to be at the top of his class, and you don't think that bothering him over your pet project would help with that.

On the plus side, you're picking things up as you go along. As it is, you're a lot more helpful to Izzy than you were once you got this whole thing started.
(Sora's Digicode Programming skill has increased.)
"I think we're almost to a breakthrough," He tells you one day in early winter. "Don't quote me on this, but I managed to find a significant amount of data that wasn't there before. I'm not saying it's the Digital World itself, of course, but we might have attained an access terminal, of a sort. We should at least be able to see in, if nothing else. Maybe even send messages!"

That idea... You don't really have anyone in the Digital World that you'd like to send messages to, let alone that you could get a hold of. But it's an interesting idea, and you might be able to make friends, besides.

"Well, what are you waiting for?" You ask, and his fingers start flying across the keyboard in a way you've never seen before, sped up by excitement and the anticipation of discovery. Symbols appear and disappear on the screen at a rate completely unprecedented.

You're not sure why they say DigiDestined do things better. Izzy might be in the know, but he certainly doesn't have a Digivice, and he's scary smart. Smarter even than Matt, and for the longest time, Matt was the smartest person you knew short of Rikuto, the least intelligent in a group of supergeniuses.

You wish Biyomon were here, given that this is likely to be your first real glimpse of her world, such as it is. But she doesn't like leaving home in the winter, and you don't try to force her. It's not like either of you could have known that today was going to be the big one.

The clattering of keys stops. "Huh." Izzy's voice is subdued, as if uncertain about something.

"What is it, Izzy?" You peer over his shoulder, and immediately see what he does.

Options. Lots and lots of Digicode, and options to choose from, although you're not sure what any of them are. "That's... a lot..." You mumble

"Yeah. I don't even know which one to pick. Do you have any ideas?"


[ ] Primary Village

[ ] File City

[ ] [UNTRANSLATABLE] Castle

[ ] [UNTRANSLATABLE]

[ ] Gennai

[ ] [NOT JUST UNTRANSLATABLE, BUT LOOKING, EVEN ON-SCREEN, LIKE AN ELDRITCH HORROR]

[ ] Get someone else. Now.
-[ ] Haruka
-[ ] Daigo
-[ ] Kazuya
-[ ] Rikuto

[ ] Let Izzy choose. Will pick at random from the above.
 
If There's One Thing You Don't Want to Hear From a Mad Scientist...
"W-we should get Haruka," You decide, honestly a little freaked out by just how far you've gotten. You're pretty sure that this was not supposed to happen.

"Good idea," Izzy agrees with you. It's unquestionable by this point that Haruka is a mad scientist, but at least she's a benevolent one. All things considered, it could be a lot worse. "I mean, I can't even translate half of this stuff!"

"You think she'll be mad?" You ask, already starting to feel a bit worried at the thought. It's hard to believe that someone with pink glasses could be so scary at times, but she seems to have turned it into a science, as well as everything else. You know she probably wouldn't hurt you, but she terrifies you all the same.

"I don't know," He admits. "Either way, I think that's enough for the day." You agree, because if you're not going to take one of the options right now, there's little use hanging around.

"Think I should bring Biyomon next time?" He shrugs in response to your question.

"I don't know. Miss Yamaguchi means well, but if she tells us to stop..." You have to stop. Because she knows what she's doing much better than you do, being the smartest in a group of supergeniuses. You trust her judgement.

You just hope she trusts you.


When Haruka sees the computer, and what you have helped Izzy uncover, she stands there for a moment, as if in shock. She reaches out to where the laptop sits on its owner's desk, and her fingers tap at the keys for a moment, before she stands up again.

"I have to make a call," She declares. "Don't touch anything just yet, just stay here, and I'm sure it'll turn out just fine." She immediately leaves the room, making a beeline for the Izumi family phone. "Hey, Daigo? We need to talk."

"Well, she didn't tell us to get rid of it, at least," Izzy suggests, but the uneasy grin on his face tells you that he's just as nervous as you are.
"Of course it's important! My apprentice found something, and I need to ask you."
You nod. "That's true." Still, you're glad you didn't end up bringing Biyomon with you after all. Not that she ever particularly enjoyed your little programming sessions, but that's never actually been the point.
"Tell me... what exactly happened to Maki?"
"Still, to call someone else so quickly... what do you think it is, Sora? You've known her longer, after all."

"Not really," You admit. "I mean, I only really met her the once before the study group, and whenever she'd drop in on me and Kazuya, while you're her appurent- appirenta- her student." You never did figure out how to say that word.

"Well, yeah, but... I've never seen her like this before. It's strange." You both ponder on Haruka's strange behavior for a moment before she's back in the room, glasses askew and chewing frantically on her lip.

"What's wrong?" You ask her.

"Nothing. Well, nothing that wasn't there before, at least," She mutters. "But this... this could be big. There's so much potential here..." She looks hopeful for something.
She seems to be lost in her own world again. "Um... Miss Yamaguchi?" Izzy ventures.

"Oh, right. Well... this is a nice project you've got going here, especially as I know I didn't teach you half of the Digicode for this stuff. And I'm surprised I didn't think of this sooner. But you're getting into something you don't really have a means to understand at the moment and I'm sort of worried about what you might do with it. I'm not sure I'd trust myself with this power, honestly..."

"But you taught us how to do this," You point out.

She huffs out a sigh. "Yeah. I did. Guess this is just a consequence of that, huh?" A small laugh, but there's no humor behind it. "I- I'm not going to stop this project in its entirety, but... I don't want you working on it without supervision. Any sort of access to the code behind Primary Village or- or the castle, has to be restricted, and that's not even going into that one." She gestures at the option on screen that made you think of an eldritch horror. "That- that thing is sealed away for good reason, you know."

You decide to listen to her. Anything that can make your older friends panic is something that you don't want to mess with.

Of course, this also cuts short everything you've had planned recently, since you, Haruka, and Izzy don't really have overlapping schedules, so...

You have 19 months remaining. Choose your next project.
[ ] You're impressed by how Daigo manages to talk his way through anything. You should see if he'll teach you. (Time: 4 months. DC 70. Gain Intimidate and Diplomacy skills, improve relationship with Daigo, ???)

[ ] Apparently, Kazuya's sick and tired of Rikuto being a disaster in the kitchen. You might be able to eke out some lessons of your own, so long as you show up at the right time. (Time: 2 months. DC 45. Gain Cooking skill, improve relationship with Kazuya and Rikuto.)

[ ] Study on your own some more. While Haruka's too busy to teach you, you're sure you can brush up just fine on your own. (Time: 3 months. DC 50. Train Knowledge: Real World skill.)

[ ] Pick up exercise again. You have ideas for what to do, even through the winter. Lots and lots of ideas. (Time, 7 months. DC 38. Train physical skills, partner's stats increase.)

Sora has gained 2 levels! You have 6 stat points to allocate.
[ ] Write-in (Vote by plan)
 
How to Make Friends and Confuse Enemies
With your days more or less free now, you have to think of something else to do. The fact is, there's not a lot really available to you, because even when you can think of something you'd like to do, you need to win your parents over. And you just can't do that. You can't talk circles around people the way that Daigo does with a single sentence.

...Now there's a thought.

"Mom, I'm gonna go see Daigo today, okay?" You ask for permission, hoping desperately that she gives it.
(Project roll: 73. Note to self: Obtain better dice.)
"Sure thing, sweetie," She replies, and you let out a breath you hadn't realized you were holding. "Just remember to be back before dark, and take Biyomon with you!" Right, you're almost out of food. If you're not going to be there for lunch, may as well preserve what little you have.

"Got it!" You nod, and gesture to your partner to follow you as you head out the door.



"So... you want me to teach you how to talk to people." Daigo sighs, before continuing. "I really should have expected this... you and Tai are a lot more alike than most people realize, you know that?" You consider asking what, exactly, Tai has to do with this, but decide against it.

"But... you'll do it, right?" You ask, trying not to sound too desperate.

He nods. "Now, I think the best place to start would be basic etiquette. You'd be amazed what you can get out of people just by being properly polite." He launches into a story about a city-state of toy-like Digimon that has you captivated from the very beginning, from when they found said civilization dwelling under a manhole cover to its destruction at the hands of the tyrant Puppetmon. He skips around parts of the story, despite being so lost in nostalgia.

You recognize, of course, that this story is drawn from real life, and are properly horrified at the destruction described, all because one Mega knew exactly what to say in any given situation.

But you also recognize the point of this story: This is what the power of words can do, and you believe it entirely, because the one telling it to you just knows how to navigate a conversation in any direction he chooses. And he's going to try to teach you to do the same.

You can't wait.

(Sora has gained the skill: Diplomacy at +5! Sora has gained the skill: Intimidate at +7!)
You enjoy your conversations with Daigo. And it is conversations, for the most part. He's gained his incredible social prowess through experience, and you're nowhere near a match for him, probably never will be, but you still pick up on a few things.

For one thing, you've gotten a lot better at recognizing visual cues, such as they are, though you suspect you can only read Biyomon so well due to being partners for years, and that other non-humanoid Digimon would be nowhere near as simple. You've begun to understand the importance in tone of voice and have made efforts to control your own body language, though that is very much a work in progress.

You've also started to understand Daigo a lot more, as much as you can understand someone that effortlessly steers a conversation in any direction he wishes and ends with everyone agreeing with him. It's small things, like how he always answers the phone by the second ring, no matter what time of day or night it is or the slight gaps in his stories that seem to be cutting something- or someone, out of it.

There's something missing here, of course, but you don't get any clues about it until one day in spring, when he glances at the calendar and winces.

"What's wrong?" Biyomon asks.

"Sorry, I just- I forgot what day it was," He admits. "I'm supposed to meet the others down at the park this afternoon... DigiDestined meeting."

"I'm a DigiDestined," You point out.

"I suppose you are, but- you're going to follow me even if I don't invite you, aren't you?"

You're both aware that this isn't entirely true, that he could still talk you into and out of anything he wanted, but for whatever reason, he generally tries not to do that. It's an open invitation, either way.


[ ] Attend the meeting.

[ ] Do not attend the meeting.

[ ] Say you will not go to the meeting, secretly follow. (Requires so much stealth and deceit, it's not even funny.)
 
As Life Goes On
"I- no, I don't think so," You decide. If he didn't invite you until you pointed out that little tidbit, it can't be that important. "Just go, okay? I'll figure something out." By which you mean you're going to take Biyomon and your allowance to the corner store and stock up on junk food.

Something he probably realizes, given how long he's known you. "Right. Thanks." You're not sure if he's thanking you for letting him go, or for not making him try to talk you out of it. He's weird like that.

Still, you leave at the same time, and you exchange glances with your partner. "Chips and soda?" You suggest.

"Chips and soda!" Your Digimon chirps back, though you make a note not to let her have any of the drinks. When she does, it tends to end with at least one expensive thing broken, and that is never good.

(Random event roll: 2)

"Chips.... chips..." Your eyes scan the shelves, looking for the perfect snacks, while Biyomon takes more of an interest in the drinks. You know you probably shouldn't be letting her around the fizzy things, for fear she'll find something of interest, but her talons are significantly less likely to puncture soda cans than chip bags.

"Hi!" You turn in surprise to see a girl not that much older than Kari with purple hair. "Is that your bird that just knocked down all the orange soda? Because if it was, you should probably help clean it up..."

"Yolei!" An annoyed voice, from the general direction of the register. The girl winces. "How many times to I have to tell you not to wander the store?"

"I swear, Chizuru ruined this for everyone..." She mutters, before walking away. It takes a few seconds for you to remember what she just said.

"Biyomon!"



That's really the most exciting thing that's happened to you recently. Daigo's been leaving to meet with the others more and more often, and eventually your lessons are cancelled entirely, because between school, his same-age friends, and you, something has to give.

But you suppose you should be glad for what you got. At the very least, you're confident about talking to kids your age that aren't Tai... or Matt... or Izzy... but the point still stands that you're a lot better at navigating a conversation than you used to be.

Either way, that's in the past. It's now time for you to think about the present.

You have 15 months remaining. Choose your next project.

[ ] Apparently, Kazuya's sick and tired of Rikuto being a disaster in the kitchen. You might be able to eke out some lessons of your own, so long as you show up at the right time. (Time: 2 months. DC 45. Gain Cooking skill, improve relationship with Kazuya and Rikuto.)

[ ] Study on your own some more. While Haruka's too busy to teach you, you're sure you can brush up just fine on your own. (Time: 3 months. DC 50. Train Knowledge: Real World skill.)

[ ] Pick up exercise again. You have ideas for what to do, no matter what the weather might be. Lots and lots of ideas. (Time, 7 months. DC 38. Train physical skills, partner's stats increase.)

[ ] It has been mentioned before that it could be possible to teach Biyomon to Digivolve at will. You're not sure where to start, but you think Rikuto might know! (Time: 4 months. DC 60. Partner's stats increase, improve relationship with Rikuto, gain the ability to attempt to Digivolve Biyomon into Birdramon at any time.)

[ ] Mimi insists on a shopping trip. You aren't sure why. But at least you're not the only one who's suffering... (Time: 1 month. DC 20. Improve relationship with Mimi, Joe, Matt, and TK.)
 
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