Chapter Text
Ken sat, feeling with uncomfortable clarity as his leg muscles grew tighter, tense and tingling as they fell asleep, on the blanket Daisuke had spread out for the entire group. He’d gone viewing before, but it was always just with his family - a quiet affair, the four of them sipping their tea and watching the flowers sway. Nothing like this, with Daisuke fumbling about, trying to get a game of anything going, a crowded thrum of voices of the other chosen children all around him, chatting and laughing easily.
He sipped some of the matcha from his bottle, more for something to do than because he was thirsty. Being here felt - confusing, of course they’d been together all the time while fighting for the digital world, but that was over now.
And yet Daisuke kept inviting him to things, kept inviting himself to Ken’s house and Ken burst with joy at seeing him every time. He still - still thought about how he didn’t deserve the affection, the friendship, but he ate it up anyway, he’d been wandering the desert for so long that now he couldn’t help but drown himself at the first sign of relief.
“C’mon, Ken, we’re going to play tag! You should join!” Daisuke gripped his upper arm and pulled Ken out of his seat, forcing him onto his shaky legs and off to join some of the others in the more open grassy area so they would have some room, and Ken followed along even as his chest tightened so much it almost hurt.
He ran as fast as he could, Daisuke right behind the whole time, almost in their own world even as the others mixed and mingled and when Daisuke slapped his back electricity shot down his spine and he stumbled so as not to fall to his knees.
“Hey, woah, you okay?” Daisuke was right beside him immediately, a helping hand on the back he’d just smacked.
“Yeah, yeah, I’m - fine. Let’s keep playing.” Ken stretched up, bowing his spine back as he switched his hat inside-out.
“Okay, catch me if you can!” And then Daisuke was gone just as quickly as he had come into Ken’s bubble, leaving him to catch up instead.
Ken found himself running with a lighter step after that.