Digimon Adventure Tri: Echo

65) Chasing the Sun

The next day, footfall echoed throughout the hallway just outside of the Takenouchi apartment. Yamato and Sora walked side by side, their hands gently entwined, though neither one of them chose to comment on it. Yamato stared down at the ground as he focused on putting one foot in front of the other, letting out a measured breath along the way. This was just what he had needed whether he wanted to admit it or not. 

Sora had approached Yamato that morning with the surprise that she wanted to take him out of his apartment for the day. She was able to see that he was getting stressed under the weight of everything that was happening, and she wanted to do what she could to give him the chance for a break. She wound up dragging him out to lunch for them to enjoy one another's company for a short while just to talk about everything that was happening in their lives outside from the Digimon attacks. There wasn't much either one of them had to say on the subject of everything else going on, but he was still glad that he could act normal for a short while. He ultimately gave Gabumon the chance to sleep in, and Piyomon wound up doing the same thing. Their next fight with Devimon was bound to be a difficult one, and both Yamato and Sora agreed that their partners needed as much rest as possible. 

But in the end, their lovely morning had to come to a close, so they stood outside the Takenouchi apartment, Yamato having walked Sora back after their time together because he didn't want her going anywhere alone if it could be avoided. That was what he said out loud, but it was clear deep down that he wanted to spend more time with her. Even after all this time, Yamato still struggled to voice his care for her openly, not that Sora was much better. Even if she had the Crest of Love, she rarely if ever engaged in dramatic declarations of her affections for Yamato, though he was fine with that. They both handled their relationship well, and that was what mattered most. 

Yamato didn't even want it to end after they had enjoyed their time together so much. He had needed this break more than he realized, and once he was given the chance to breathe, he almost didn't want to go back to his regular life. He knew he didn't have much of a choice in the matter, but his desires burned inside his stomach regardless. He lingered outside the door to her apartment, his eyes cast down at the ground. 

"Something on your mind?" Sora questioned even though both of them already knew the answer. It wasn't as if anything aside from this had been on Yamato's mind for the last few days. He hadn't been able to free himself of his own thought process until Sora pulled him out of it, and she knew what impact it was having it on him. Both of them were fully aware of it even if they didn't say a word about it openly. 

Yamato's eyes fell closed. "I'm worried about him," he admitted quietly. "I know he's having a hard time with all of this, and... I wish there was something I could do to help, but what am I even supposed to say? I know he's getting better. He was able to help HolyAngemon appear, but... It's still hard for him. I can see it."

Sora hesitated for a long moment before she glanced down at the place where her hand was locked with Yamato's fingers. She looked up to him a moment later. "If you want to talk to him about all of this, I could come with you," she offered. "I don't know how much that's going to be worth, but... If you decide you want to approach him about everything, I would be happy to join you. I think we're all worried about him, Yamato. You don't have to think about helping him all on your own."

Yamato's hand squeezed tighter around hers, and he nodded gently. "Yeah... That would be nice," he murmured under his breath much to his own surprise. "Thank you, Sora. I think... I think that would help all of us."

"We can go tomorrow if you want," Sora offered. "I don't think I'm doing anything, and it might be best for us to get it out of the way before the next fight starts. After all, we don't know when Devimon is going to be lashing out at us next."