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On a lightly breezy spring day in late March, Sora strolled along the sidewalk by herself. She walked past the trees of sakura and plum that were in full bloom, and the sun lit up the bright, blue sky.
But Sora found her attention downward at the front yard of a house she walked past, its garden bursting with a colorful array of flowers that her mother would love to stop and look at. Sora's eyes fell on the poppies that sprouted right in the middle of the flower bed. Even after graduating high school with Taichi and Yamato, she felt uncertain about her choice in attending a university. Was the specialty she chose for herself captivating enough, or did she find more interest in the art of ikebana?
Another thing she didn't want to think about, but it always lingered in the back of her mind: what about Piyomon and the Digital World? She and the other Chosen Children had lived through yet another Digimon battle with their partners in the real world. Would there ever come a point where she could no longer choose to fight?
She nearly walked into Yamato with her head lowered as she was deep in thought.
"I think we all still feel uncertain about the future," he told her once she explained that she had been worried. She gave him no further details, but with him, she felt comfortable with telling him that much. It seemed as though there was a sense of understanding when she looked into his eyes that reminded her of the flowers of Baby Blue.
The two of them walked together in silence, and Sora took in the gentle breeze that rustled the leaves and sakura blooming above them. When they walked into the local park, they spotted the odd sight of Koushiro sitting atop the grass in the middle of the lawn. His laptop was nowhere in sight, but with or without it, the expression filled with curiosity on his face made his presence as prominent as a lupine, its bright violet color contrasting against the vivid green blades.
"What are you doing here, Koushiro?" Sora asked.
"Well, I'll begin my last year of high school soon," explained Koushiro, "so I figured I needed to clear my mind before I have to put my focus into everything."
"Are you thinking about the future?" Yamato asked him.
"I'm not certain that I want to right now."
Then, Koushiro leaned back and slowly outstretched his elbows on either side to lay back against the grass. Sora shared a look with Yamato before deciding to join Koushiro and following his suit.
"Would you look at that, like youths in a bed of roses," came a voice, and Sora turned her head to see who had shown up to stand above them.
"Hey, Jou," Yamato said. "Why not join us? The 'roses' are fine down here."
"What do you mean by that?" Koushiro asked.
"'A bed of roses' is a metaphor that refers to someone's comfort zone," Sora explained and watched Jou set his backpack down and sit down, then lay down with them.
"Oh. Well I'm glad it's not literal. I'd rather not lay down and ruin anyone's flowers."
Sora laughed, then, she noticed that both Yamato and Jou had closed their eyes. She looked to Koushiro who looked back at her, curiously.
"It's nice to unwind like this before getting back into the daily study grind," said Jou with a sigh.
As silence fell among the four of them, Sora felt the soft breeze brush against her skin, and when she closed her eyes, too, she heard the birds' sporadic chirping, and then felt her own self basking in the warm light of the sun. She could feel what Jou meant. Why not just lay here in peace and enjoy their surroundings, like white magnolia buds before they were ready to bloom?
Sora didn't know if she was ready to 'bloom'.
"What are we doing?" asked Mimi's voice, and Sora kept her eyes closed. "Why is everyone laying down and sleeping like this?"
"We're avoiding our responsibilities," replied Jou.
"We're on our 'bed of roses'," added Koushiro.
"Ohh," said Mimi. "It kind of fits with all of us here like this, doesn't it? It's almost like we want to stay where we were like before, together, in the Digital World."
"It certainly does not fit the metaphor, but I see where you're coming from."
So did Sora, who felt a tug at her heartstrings from what Mimi said. Those times were not easy, but to go back to when she was ten years old with Piyomon at her side…
"I'd also like to mention that we're here to enjoy our peace and quiet," Yamato muttered.
Mimi let out a squeak, and Sora did not need to open her eyes to picture Mimi holding her hand to her lips. "Sorry!"
When Sora opened her eyes to peek at what was going on, she caught Mimi stare apologetically at Yamato, although the unspoken words between the two of them caused Mimi to lay next to him. Even as Mimi fell silent, Sora knew that Mimi stood out from their group, whether she meant to or not. To her, Mimi was a hydrangea, bright, bold, and beautiful among the rest.
Takeru and Hikari had joined soon after, his smile as sunny as a yellow gerbera, Hikari a flower of light. He was about to start his first year of high school along with Hikari, so Sora did not expect them to feel as much pressure toward adulthood as the rest of them. Still, their presence was fitting as they all lay together, facing the sky, their emotions connected.
Sora closed her eyes again, knowing that there was one more missing in this flower bed.
"Ah, there you are. I've been looking all over for you."
Sora's eyes opened and this time, it was Taichi standing over her with his hands on his hips. She sat up and he sat down next to her.
"I didn't know you were all going to meet up," Taichi added, confused.
"We didn't mean to do this, Taichi," said Sora. "We all kind of found our way here."
"It's about time you showed up, too!" Mimi added.
"The new school year is starting for us," Sora continued. "It seems like everyone else doesn't want it to start. And…"
Sora hesitated to reveal her own feelings to him, even when the others admitted similar feelings. But Taichi watched her, waiting for her to answer, his expression concerned.
So, she just said it.
"I'm not sure I want it to, either. There's just… a lot to figure out."
Sora's eyes looked away from Taichi's as she explained, and when they drifted back, she noticed he looked pensive for a moment. But then, his lips curled into a smile as cheerful as an orange daisy.
"Maybe we'll be able to figure it all out someday," he said, his eyes as uncertain as the rest of them, but his smile was good enough to reassure her. Soon, he joined everyone in laying against the grass with his hands behind his head. His eyes were still open, and he was looking to the sky.
Sora returned to lay in her spot. She absorbed the absence of anyone talking, but she knew that they were all thinking about their own futures, each with their own doubts, but also their excitement on what might be in store. Regardless of what the future might hold for her, Sora found comfort in being surrounded by her friends who understood her best.