Digimon Adventure Tri: Echo

64) Mysteries Beyond

Koushiro had been sitting in his office for the last two hours or so, typing away at anything he could think of that could possibly require his attention. With the previous Chosen Children having shifted their center of operations back to the headquarters of the data bureau, that meant Koushiro's office was painfully empty of everyone aside from himself and Tentomon. He knew that was probably for the best; the other members of his team all needed time to make sure they were ready for everything that was bound to be waiting for them when they next went to the Digital World to fight against Devimon, the Emissaries of Chaos, or whatever other powers were waiting for them in the shadows. 

Tentomon was enjoying a back of chips from his place on the couch, and Koushiro focused on everything stretched out on the screen in front of him. One leg bounced up and down on the spot as a way for him to get out his lingering anxieties. It seemed like they were all worked up about everything these days, and Devimon was just another treat on top of the pile of lovely gifts they had been offered by the universe as of late. Koushiro had gotten better, but he knew that the other members of his team were still getting tired because of everything that was happening. The others were doing what they could to help Takeru, and Koushiro had heard from Miyako that Iori was doing what he could to reach the point of being able to Jogress with Takeru when the time was right. Koushiro didn't know when they could look forward to the return of Seraphimon, but he appreciated Iori going out of his way to take initiative on that level. It was bound to prove useful when the battle picked up once again. 

Koushiro was so wrapped up in his work that he didn't even notice there was somebody else in the building until after he heard a knock at the door above the general din of his fingers clacking against the keys. "Koushiro?" someone questioned, and Koushiro perked up, pushing his head out from behind the computer screen in front of him. 

"It's Meiko," Tentomon said as Koushiro came to terms with the same revelation. "Can I let her in?" 

Koushiro nodded without missing a beat. He rose to his feet, leaving his computer where it was so he could focus as much as possible on his upcoming discussion with Meiko. He was secretly glad to have made some space between himself and the computer for a short while, and he knew it was going to serve him well when he eventually went back to surveying the Digital World for signs of other threats. He had taken to searching for any traces that could lead back to the power that had killed Seraphimon, but every attempt to find more information had ultimately come up short. It was like the culprit had appeared and vanished in the blink of an eye without anyone noticing. 

Koushiro opened the door, and Meiko could be seen standing on the other side with Meicoomon at her side. Koushiro smiled gently before stepping aside, giving them both the chance to walk inside. "Come in," Koushiro said simply. He waited until after they were both in the room before he shut the door and moved to the couch, sitting down next to Tentomon. His partner was finishing off the last few chips in the bag he had taken to eating from after arriving at the office, and he tossed his trash away a moment later. 

Meiko and Meicoomon sat across Koushiro, and he could tell just how nervous the former was. Meicoomon was as unreadable and stoic as ever, and Koushiro could only hope that meant Meiko wasn't coming with news that was too brutal and dreadful. "What is it?" Koushiro questioned, figuring that they would get more done if he started the conversation rather than leaving that responsibility up to Meiko. 

The dark-haired girl hesitated before she let out a sigh, and Koushiro realized she was holding something tightly in one hand. "I... I have a question," she began. "I've noticed something strange going on with my Digivice as of late, and... I thought you would be able to give me some answers." 

Koushiro tilted his head to the side slightly. "What do you mean?" he asked. He had been operating under the assumption up to that point that Meiko's Digivice was the same model as everybody else's from the original team of Chosen Children. If that was the case, then any technical difficulties from her Digivice should have applied to the others, but her anxiety certainly made it seem as if that wasn't the case.