Soaring through the pitch-black night sky, Koshiro's hands flew across his laptop keyboard, anxiously searching for Gennai's coordinates.
Over the past ten years, he had spent a great deal of time tracking Gennai.
But he found very little.
The only thing he was sure of was that Gennai had been corrupted by fragments of Apocalymon and was gradually being darkened.
"I can't find him. There's no leads at all."
However, after nearly half an hour of effort, Koshiro looked defeated, slamming his laptop shut.
If Gennai were that easy to find, would he have had no news for ten years?
The last hope was shattered.
"So, sacrifice is the only way after all." Koshiro stared at the Crest of Knowledge program by his hand, gritting his teeth.
Generally speaking, a Chosen Child could only activate one emotional Crest.
The human body has its limits.
Triggering too many Crests would only lead to physical collapse and gradual digitization.
In the end, they would turn into a Digimon devoid of self-awareness, forever trapped in the Digital World.
Koshiro understood this better than anyone.
But the current situation was that he had no one left to rely on.
Taichi, who once led them courageously at the front line, was missing.
Joe, who was highly anticipated and given the Crest of Sincerity, for some reason, had yet to arrive.
Sora and Yamato... best not to mention them.
And Mimi, that figure who lingered his dreams…
"To say goodbye before even uttering that one sentence..." A bitter smile involuntarily formed on Koshiro's face.
He understood.
In his heart, he knew better than anyone.
"Perhaps the reason I hate Yamato so much and sympathize with Taichi..."
"Is because I see myself in them… that powerless version of myself."
Ten years in the real world.
Mimi had crossed the ocean to live on the other side.
With her pretty face and cheerful personality, she quickly integrated into foreign circles, becoming a popular, socially active person.
And Koshiro?
He just silently held onto his laptop, watching from afar.
Watching her dance with abandon, blossoming gorgeously under the spotlight.
Watching her being pursued by countless boys, laughing and scolding like a fairy who had fallen to earth.
Watching her fall in love, experience heartbreak, fall in love again, the expressions of joy and sadness on her face.
Just watching.
Countless times, Koshiro had also wanted to muster his courage.
Put on a suitable suit, style his hair handsomely, and stand before her.
"Um, Mimi, I was wondering if you could..."
"Sorry, I have a call. Let's talk later." What he got in return was a cold brush-off.
In her eyes, his image never lingered for even a second.
Hah.
Or perhaps, it wasn't just her.
Koshiro looked at his own palm, at the dark laptop beside him, and laughed self-deprecatingly.
In the eyes of all the Chosen Children, except maybe Taichi, what difference was there between him and an automatically functioning computer?
'Koshiro' when needed, 'Random Extra' when not.
His appearance, his existence, everything about him...
From the very beginning, no one remembered.
But, even so, Koshiro's eyes still held a light.
He was different from Joe. He wouldn't be swayed or manipulated.
The calmness and wisdom of a tech geek were deeply ingrained in Koshiro's bones.
"I want to save the world. Not for others, but for my adoptive parents, and for my close friend Taichi."
"So, this is the last time. The last time I'll do something driven by purely human, emotional impulse." Koshiro took off his school uniform and threw it forcefully.
It drifted westward with the sea breeze, with the roaring air currents.
He took out his phone and dialed the number he had simulated thousands of times.
Beep... beep... beep...
Beep beep.
"Hello, this is Mi…"
"I like you! I like you more than anyone else! I've been deeply infatuated with you since ten years ago! So, no matter what, you must be happy!!"
He said it!
The salty sea breeze carried a few glistening drops to the corner of his mouth.
Salty, but liberating.
"Um, calm down. This is Mike, Mimi's boyfriend."
Across the ocean, a blond, blue-eyed boy looked at the receiver in his hand, stunned.
Leaning against him was a fashionable, curvaceous young girl. It was Mimi.
"Mimi, some guy named 'Computer Repair' sent you a message. Do you know him?"
"Hmm... a childhood friend, I guess? Haven't been in touch for ages. Not very close." Mimi thought for a moment, slightly frowned, and shook her head.
She had an impression of Koshiro, but it was limited to 'the boy who's good with computers'.
Compared to partners like Taichi, Yamato, and Sora, who left deep impressions, she couldn't really connect him to anything specific right away.
"I see. I'll reply for you then." Mike shrugged and picked up the receiver.
"I've conveyed your feelings to Mimi. But sorry, she doesn't seem very close with you. My apologies. I hope you find someone better."
With that, he hung up the phone.
And embraced the young beauty beside him again, kissing her.
…
Above Tokyo.
Koshiro stared blankly at the phone in his hand, the dial tone buzzing in his ears. His spirit gradually grew hollow.
'Not close?'
'Ten years of secret affection, ten years of watching, ten years of camaraderie.'
'In the end, all I got was...'
'Not close'?
'Sigh. I should have expected it. It's fine. I didn't have much hope anyway. Right, I'm just a friend. Seeing her happy is enough.'
The rational genes in Koshiro's mind made him desperately restrain himself.
He can't break down.
He definitely can't cry.
Emotions are humanity's greatest weakness. Once this breach is broken, no one will be able to save this world.
'For my adoptive parents.'
'For Taichi.'
"Crest of Friendship Program, compile."
Koshiro bit the tip of his tongue hard, using the sharp pain to disperse the disappointment inside.
He opened his laptop, his hands dancing across the keyboard like spirits.
Focused, rational, earnest.
Koshiro, having entered an absolute state of concentration, took only fifteen minutes to write a Crest of Friendship Program suitable for himself.
A glistening, translucent Crest shimmered with a faint, fresh red hue.
That was his life's blood, his true blood.
"AI, open the Digital Gate immediately. Prepare to summon Gabumon."
Ding. Digital Gate opening.
Ding. Error. Error. Captured by abnormal signal. Digital coordinates transferring.
Just as Koshiro had everything ready, preparing to open the Digital Gate and complete the evolution, the data void before him suddenly displayed a stream of garbled code.
The pre-set coordinates shifted to another location.
"Is it Apocalymon? Or just an accident?" Koshiro's pupils contracted sharply, his face tense, as if facing a formidable enemy, he looked towards the gate.
A long leg, clad in a black boot, slowly stepped out.
A man.
He was tall and imposing, wearing a mask of vengeful flames that hid his face and expression.
But that sinister, mysterious aura, and the aura of a conqueror fit to rule the world, made anyone who saw him feel awe from the first glance, not daring to offend.
However…
What surprised Koshiro the most was…
"Agumon?! Why is it with you?!"
Looking at the familiar figure before him, Koshiro exclaimed in shock, his face full of astonishment.
Standing beside the man who emerged from the Digital Gate was a yellow, dinosaur-like Digimon.
Its eyes were bright, its claws sharp.
It was none other than Taichi's former partner, Agumon!