Takato was a royal mess that Saturday night as he paced back and forth, back and forth inside Guilmon’s little home. Guilmon curiously watched his friend pace all around, smelling something definitely not right in him.

“What’s wrong Takato?” he asked in his sweet childish voice.

“Nothing…well something…Oh I don’t know!” The thirteen year old moaned, racking his fingers through his messy brown locks. He then turned to Guilmon and tried to state himself a little better. “You know I’m still too young to be thinking about stuff like this. I mean what’s the rush? Does it really matter that in one hour Henry is going to be taking her out on her very first…” He paused, unable to get the last word out.

“Date?” Guilmon added in innocently.

The goggled youth snapped at the spoken word. “He can’t take her out! I wanted to take her out! Oh man, why do I keep messing with myself?” Bemoaning his fate, he merely slumped against the wall and sighed.

Guilmon listened and watched Takato and tried to put it all together in his mind what it was that was bothering him so much. Disliking it when his partner wasn’t his happy, enthusiastic self.

After puzzling it over a little, he decided to start with a question. “Are you talking about Jeri, Takato?”

“Yeah, how’d you guess?” He asked.

Guilmon smiled his toothy grin. “Because you blush a lot when she’s around.”

Takato mentally cursed his light skin.

“Are you not happy that Jeri is going out on a date? Is it wrong for her to date?” He asked curiously.

The last thing he needed was for Guilmon to think that dating was wrong and he tried to explain. “No, it’s not wrong for her to date. It’s not wrong to dates period, but I don’t want Henry to date her.”

“Why?”

“Because it doesn’t mean anything for him to be taking her out. He’d just be taking her out on a date and Jeri deserves to go out with someone that really likes her.”

“Like you?” Guilmon asked.

“Yeah like me!” Takato said, nodding firmly.

The big, red reptile puzzled a little more. “So why aren’t you taking her out on a date?”

His partner sighed miserably. “Because I’m an idiot.” He admitted finally to himself. “Man, why am I even whining? Henry told me to ask her and I kept saying no. Why am I such a damn coward?”

Guilmon whined softly at his friend’s unhappy words and nudged his stomach comfortingly. “You’re not a coward, Takato. You were just nervous. Can’t you ask her now and go on a date with her instead of Henry?” He suggested.

Takato smiled wistfully as he stroked Guilmon’s head. “I wish I could, but it’s an hour until Henry goes to pick her up and I know this because he told me.” Suddenly he frowned curiously to himself. Why did Henry tell him that? For that matter, why did Henry also tell Takato exactly where he was going to take her and what time the movie they were going to see was starting?

'Oh you are an idiot, Matsuda!' He berated himself and after giving his digimon a quick hug, went running down the stairs.

“Takato! Where are you going??” Guilmon cried out.

“I’m going on a date!!” He called back as he headed straight towards Jeri’s home.

TBC…