Chapter Text
Hey, I know it’s been a while…too long if I am being honest.
But can we talk?
In person?
Those twenty words caused in Taichi Yagami more anxiety than any text he had ever received in his entire life. For a while he left the text unread. How could he not? What was he supposed to make of those twenty words after all?
Of course it was not just the words themselves, but the context around them. The sender had for most of his life been Taichi’s best friend in the entire world. Closer to him perhaps than his own sister. In fact, not only his best friend but his first real friend. From soccer, to the Digital World, and to everything else that followed. She was there always…until suddenly she was there no longer.
Questions that seemingly came with no answers dominated his mind. So many questions, so fast, that it felt more like an angry white noise. Thoughts buzzing together in a kind of chaotic harmony, until the individual questions could no longer be distinguished from one another. One question managed to eventually worm itself atop the discord.
Why?
Taichi considered ignoring the messages despite knowing that he never could. In truth, he was not even certain why the idea even crossed his mind. It had already been a rather long day and Taichi’s plan had been thus; stop at a convenience store, get a quick and cheap meal, go home, eat that said meal, then fall flat on his face and hope tomorrow was a better day.
The text had announced itself during the trip from his fellowship in Kasumigaseki to Edogawa where his new apartment was located. Taichi was so surprised to see Sora’s name flash on the screen that he had almost dropped his phone fumbling to catch it. He still stopped at the convenience store as planned, purchasing a cup of instant ramen and a sports drink even though he had suddenly lost his appetite.
It felt as though it took Taichi all the energy he had left to climb the stairs of his low rise, fish out his key and open the door to his dark apartment. After turning on the nearest light, he tossed his meal on the small kitchen table with a thud and sank down onto his couch, where he remained for a good hour in a state of borderline disassociation.
Once Taichi came to terms with the fact that he had to respond, he reached the next juncture, and that was wondering what exactly he was supposed to say to his estranged best friend.
Taichi wondered aloud when the last time Sora had sent him a real text message. He had only had this current phone for a bit over a year, and checking their chat history, he saw a single message before today’s series of message:
“Happy birthday Taichi!”
He had responded with a belated and simple.
“Thanks Sora! Hope you’re doing well.”
She had never followed up but then again neither had he. Because apparently that’s how far their relationship had devolved; becoming a series of generic messages one might send a coworker they hardly know. He had had short but earnest conversations with even Mimi and Jou in that time, he had chatted occasionally with almost every member of the team in fact at some point or another over the past year; just not his own best friend.
And now seemingly out of nowhere Sora was reaching out, not just to say hello, not just to wish him happy birthday or to offer congratulations on his fellowship. She had not even done that for his university graduation. Sora was asking to talk. Not over the phone, but in person. And Taichi could not even remember the last time that he and Sora hung out one on one. Had it even happened once since high school graduation? He was not certain; and that alone spoke volumes.
First he pondered what the heck he could possibly even say in response.
Hey Sora! Of course we can talk, just tell me where and when!
The mere thought of such a message felt asinine to Taichi. There was no use in acting like things had not changed. He knew it and obviously so must Sora. Yet here she was reaching out anyway.
As Taichi reread the short messages over and over again, some clarity returning to him, one thing became abundantly clear to him. Sora was reaching out about something rather important. Such a message had not been conveyed in words but rather the lack of words. Taichi reasoned that the first brief text held little context, it was an awkward introduction which implied Sora felt similarly uncomfortable about the current state of their relationship. No, the key, Taichi figured anyway, was the contextless request for a meeting followed up by the request that it be in person. Sora was basically saying here, this is too sensitive for a text message or phone call.
An immediate instinct to anger passed quickly. In this moment, the past few years did not matter. Sora was attempting to bridge the gap, telling Taichi in a simple way that she really needed to talk to him. It was not lost on Taichi therefore that it likely serious. What form that seriousness took was impossible to ascertain without talking to her. Though it did not stop Taichi’s imagination from running wild:
Was she perhaps leaving Tokyo for a job and wanted to say goodbye? Were perhaps she and Yamato getting married? Breaking up? Was she pregnant? That one made Taichi wince for reasons even he did not fully understand. Or maybe tragedy had occurred? A death in the family perhaps?
But these musings were ultimately pointless. It was nearly 11pm when Taichi finalized his response to Sora.
Taichi: Hi Sora. I’m sorry it took me a while to respond; it’s been a bit of a long day for me.
Taichi: I’m not sure what this is about, but of course we can talk.
Taichi: If it can wait until the weekend that would be ideal. I’m doing a fellowship with the new Digital Entity Crisis Response Agency and the workload has been intense.
Taichi: Maybe we can go get lunch on Saturday. We could meet halfway somewhere.
Taichi: But if this cannot wait, I will find a way to make it work earlier. Just let me know.
A deep sigh echoed through the quiet apartment once it was done. Taichi hadn’t moved from the couch since he returned home, his instant ramen still sat untouched in a plastic bag on the kitchen table. He figured that was the end of the matter for tonight at least. Truly exhausted, he forced himself to stand up and started to walk over to the kitchen. That is when his phone, which he had left on the couch cushion, buzzed then buzzed a second and a third time.
Sora: That is totally understandable Taichi, this is not so emergent that it could not wait till Saturday.
Sora: If it would be ok with you, could I come to your place instead on Saturday? I would happily pick up lunch on the way. Maybe some takeout ramen for old times’ sake?
Sora: I hate to impose and be so vague, it is nothing dire exactly. I would really like to catch up. And there are some things that would be easier for us to discuss in private. Would that be ok with you?
Taichi read it over a few times and could sense the veiled urgency in her words. A vestige perhaps of days where they could read each other by a single expression. This time Taichi did not allow himself to overthink things, he knew he would be here all night otherwise.
Taichi: Yeah sure, that’s no problem. I’ll just need to tidy a bit. Want to say around 1pm? That would give me some time to get ready.
Taichi: And Ramen sounds perfect btw. There’s a mom-and-pop ramen bar not far from my new apartment that’s no slouch. I think you’ll like it. I’ll get Tonkatsu with extra pork belly and tamago.
Taichi followed up by sending a link to the restaurant.
Sora: As if you need to remind me of the Taichi special, rich broth extra protein. I’ll ask for chilly on the side since you sometimes spice things up. I got you.
Taichi found himself smiling at that message.
Sora: And you said new apartment? I didn’t know you moved. Sorry I’m so behind on things. All the more reason for us to catch up and don’t worry too much about having the place spotless. Send me your details when you can.
Taichi was slightly startled at this. He wasn’t expecting her to have her address of course, nobody but Hikari had been to his new apartment. But he had told Yamato about the upcoming move last time the two of them got lunch. He almost made mention of it but thought it petty and instead just sent Sora his new address.
Sora: Thanks Taichi, I’ll see you Saturday ramen in hand.
Taichi left the conversation there, his phone battery was getting low and he was dead tired. He had already been exhausted when he got out of work, by this point he no longer had the energy to boil water for his instant ramen. Wobbling slightly as he stood up, Taichi grabbed his sports drink from the bag on the table, turned off the light, and shuffled off to bed; his mind still a buzz with the implications of their text exchange.