"Sheesh, you would think that they would open up the lights considering the circumstances!"

"Well it's probably due to the way the house was set up. But the lights are really at their brightest," Hiro admitted while pointing at the ceiling. The lights DID seem brighter.

Pumpmon giggled while holding the huge lamp. "This is really nostalgic!"

"Hang on, why is Pump in the narrative?" Bokomon cut in. Just what Haneul was about to ask too.

"Oh, Pump's part of my team," SRS Hiro answered. "Y'know how you need 3 Digimon/Bakugan/Monsters for the All Stars? For our place, we have the title of MythiBall trainer, which allows you to have a team mix of any creature. Just six as a max, though. When I first showed up in the OD, I only had Mummymon and Gammamon, but soon I had Pumpmon, Candmon and Ekakimon join me with a Numelgon."

"Numel- YOU HAVE A GOODRA?!" Inaho gasped.

Dia's mouth went open. A Pseudo-Legendary Pokemon?!

"Well, Numel is just part of my team now for any MythiBall battles. I do join the Gaiazuna Tournament once in a while with Crescent over here," SRS Hiro said while jabbing their thumb at SRS Dan.

"It's basically what inspired the All Stars. The newer version, that is," SRS Dan added. "The team runs it to ensure no scandals. We work closely with various experts to ensure the tournament doesn't get corrupted. Tons of deep investigations and all that. Being transparent about things helps us make things fun for everyone as we celebrate diversity in our own way!"

"Huh. That's... Interesting," Hiro mused.

Was a world like that... Truly possible?

"Yeah," Gammamon agreed. "That hospital right?"

"Having my eyes nearly gouged out was not fun," Hiro darkly answered. "But it does give off those vibes huh?"

Dan aimed his flashlight around, holding his moonstone as he said, "I'm no Aura expert, but this place reeks of malice."

"Ah," Gulus agreed while munching on some chocolate. "And considering who we've battled so far in the less than a decade we've been on the team, it's weird."

"Either way, let's go meet the coroner and get information," Hiro said, walking deeper into the hallway.

Dan gulped a bit, but followed him in until he nearly tripped on something, making him fall and come face to face with a red liquid that made him scream.

Hiro's head swiveled over, and they had to resist the urge to facepalm. "Dan, that's clearly coloured water."

"E-Eh?" He blinked. Touching it, he realised Hiro was right and sheepishly smiled. "R-Right! Sorry about that."

Hiro couldn't help but sigh in exasperation. Seriously, what was up with this man at ti-

Man?

He paused. Since... Since when did he call Dan that? Dan was bigender, not just biologically male.

Since when did he...?

"Hiro? You okay?" Dan asked, snapping Hiro out of it.

"W-Who, me? T-Totally!" He lied. "I'm just a bit tired from work, is all!"

Dan frowned, but sighed. "Make that both of us. Let's get some rest once this is over, okay?"

"S-Sure!" Hiro agreed.

This was... Disturbing. Why did he feel so far away from Dan? Was this what Shinnosuke was talking about?

His footsteps quickened. Just... Why? Why did he feel like this? They've been dating for years now!

So why... Did he still feel like this? Dan was usually open but...

Why did he feel so closed off?

"That I can relate to," Ichita murmured.

Dan rubbed his neck. "Sorry..."

"It's no one's fault. Defense mechanisms need to be noticed first, so not being aware of it doesn't make it your fault," SRS Dan said.

"A defense mechanism?" Lia repeated.

"That's the issue Dan-sempai faced, right? He was so used to acting according to societal standards he covered all his symptoms easily, but it also came with a defense mechanism to protect himself if it got bad," Wuliang explained. "Papa had the same issue growing up. In Dan-sempai's case, he covered everything. Keeping himself detached from everyone protected them from seeing what he perceived as flaws. The painful thing both share is that... No one noticed until it was too late. By the time they realised, Papa had become jaded to reality, feeling like every mistake proved he was evil, and Dan-sempai was so broken he relapsed immediately once he was triggered by his.... 'Family'."

"Wuliang..." Yuga placed a hand on his shoulder. "You sound..."

"Angry? Of course I am. No parent should ever use their authority to treat their kid like crap!" Wuliang angrily retorted. "Papa and Dadda never did that! Papa tried a lot and he came out on top! Dadda was struggling yet all I remember are fond memories. Not once had he been angry at me. Both taught me so much so it makes me angry to see any parent mistreat their kid!"

The AB shared a glance as SRS Dan gave a sad smile. "That's the reality we live in. It's unfair, but all we can do is try. It matters just as much as success because it proves that moving forward even with unclear results you can still do it."

"Yeah," SRS Hiro smiled.

The group blinked. Wow, their growth and maturity really showed.

"Let's get back to the story," Dan decided, trying to hide the... Quiet sadness in his heart. He didn't know if he could reach that point in his life. A point where he could speak with genuine confidence...

"Dan..." Ichita squeezed his hand slightly.

"Alright." If SRS Dan noticed, he didn't give it away.

"Hey, Dan, Hiro," A familiar voice then spoke, making the two turn to see a doctor walk up to them.

"Kiriya-san!" Hiro smiled. "Emu-san called you over?"

"More of sent a kid to do that. I swear, how big can Wuliang's eyes get?"

"He's a kid. And what's he doing with Emu-san anyway? I thought he was interning under Shotaro-nii."

"He is. Just so happened he and Sougo were in the hospital when we got the call for the latest body."

"Wow, the demon king is really flourishing as a detective. Who would've guessed?" Gulus joked.

"Not me, but boy did Wuliang cripple me. I was helpless." He placed a hand on his heart.

Dan and Hiro both smirked.

"... You taught him that, didn't you?"

"Gammamon did. I had nothing to do with it."

"Even if I told someone to teach him how to do that, I would be proud regardless. Sougo is probably the one who taught him."

"He's like a snake."

"He IS a snake."

"He's a demon king."

"Are you two annoying me on purpose?"

"Are we, Dan?"

"I ain't sure, Hiro. Are we?"

Kujo Kiriya was amused. These kids were hilarious!

... Still, their body language...

He frowned. Sougo had mentioned his concern for the two when he had met him in the hospital when he met them a month ago at one of the team meetups, and he was seeing what the other meant.

Dan was quiet. Rare of the brawler whose energy matched the actual sun god's son. Hesitant. Eyes flickering. Hiding something.

Hiro seemed... Scared. Shaking. Shifting. Hugging Gammamon ever so slightly. Normally much more confident after Hokuto finally began rehab.

Insecurity, both reeked of it.

"You two are being idiots," He said with a sigh. He had to respect their space but years of having to deal with pining idiots (read: Emu and Poppy) left him with little patience.

"That is the most accurate description I've heard for those two all day," Jang said with a smirk.

Hiro's mouth went open, but Dan... Flinched.

"Not literal. More of back then, they had been so dumb about how the other felt," SRS Kaus deadpanned.

"Yeah, when Uncle Dan is teaching, he's really really good at it. Always finding the best ways to describe his teachings. People with high intelligence have a lot of creativity, you know," Wuliang agreed.  "Uncle Dan wasn't a MENSA genius, but it doesn't mean he's not smart. There are many other ways to define intelligence, so to say that they're idiots all because of a lack of academic excellence is downright false. You can be bad academically and still be very smart."

Hearing that, the others shared a glance.

"That... Was something that I struggled with," SRS Dan admitted. "Feeling like I wasn't good enough, like I had to fit into that mold of being smart academically. Our Yuga did too. He has ADHD like your Dan, so he knows more than anyone what it's like."

"He couldn't come because he had some fights to cover," SRS Gammamon said. "Yuga is funny, though. And Garga has acclimated so well to his style that nobody can believe he was so serious before."

"Him?" Ranma pointed to their Garga. "Not serious? What world?"

"I... Am both offended and curious."

"He, Yuga, our Ranma and Destroyer became full on Tubers, but Yuga and Ranma also like coming as guest battlers for the final exam to pass my subject," SRS Dan explained with a smile. "Last I heard, those two are backpacking up Everest."

"Ever-"

"-est?!" Yuga and Alec stammered.

"Hey, it's not impossible. Someone from our group actually did it at the age of 14."

"FOURTEEN?!"

"WHAT IS UP WITH YOUR GROUP?!"

The two shrugged nonchalantly at their incredulous looks. Mei had all but given up on deciphering the mysteries of the SRS. Even she had limits to her brain capacity. Seriously, she had a whole new appreciation for the SRS! They were INSANE. EVEN MORE THAN SHE THOUGHT.

Wait, while they were on that topic! "How do you even know what the other side was thinking? You're not psychics. That I'm sure of," She asked.

SRS Dan laughed a bit. "We asked around before coming here. Wanted you guys to get the full scope of the story."

"We must cut in then! Is there a quirk you still find annoying about the other?" Ion asked, her journalist mode activated while Ranma leaned in. Yuga's eyes lit up as well.

The two shared a glance before SRS Hiro stood up abruptly. "This man over here has no self-awareness and is WAY too humble!"

"Wha-" Everyone jumped. What the heck?!

"The theatrics, oh man, Bro," SRS Gulus said with a chuckle.

"I mean it! You have no clue how many times I come over to the first lecture every semester and he asks why some of his TAs have a starry eyed expression around him!" SRS Hiro protested.

"Obviously it's cause they admire the man who beats others while also accepting losses with a laugh, but this dumb dumb always says that he's nothing much," SRS Wezen said while yawning.

"Maybe cause he's the reigning champion  of the Gaiazuna Tournament too," SRS Drago agreed. "After 3 years of second place, he finally got the champion title and retained it like a champ."

"He's a total airhead!" SRS Hiro ranted. "He doesn't even notice when people ask him if he's single in 1,001 different ways! He just immediately challenges them to a brawl or offers advice about love!"

SRS Dan stood up as well, but still kept a firm grip on Yuci as he argued, "In my defense, I don't have interest in loving anyone but you, Sol! And they do eventually find their match!"

"Still!"

"If anything, YOU'RE even worse!" He added. "This one over here is OBSESSED WITH LOCKPICKING! Every single lock he finds, even if he has the key, he lockpicks! We have to go to Leo-nii every week just to disable the new alarm that the lock emits whenever it's lockpicked!"

"Locks can do that?!"

"In our place, kinda. But it's not just analog ones! He also does the same for digital locks! Even the ones he himself made!"

SRS Hiro flushed a bit at that, and SRS Dan stared at him.

But soon, SRS Gamma giggled. "They're less of pet peeves and more of endearing qualities to them though!"

"G-GAMMA!!!" Both chorused, red overtaking their faces in a flash.

Ichita and Koutarou both died of laughter. On. The. Spot. Mei and Haneul joined them soon after with Storm and Wagner as Ajit and Gulus burst out roaring in giggles.

"Let's just get back to the story! Please!" Hiro pleaded.

"DRAGO, NOT YOU TOO!!" Dan gaped at his partner chuckling like it was the best joke he had heard in centuries.

"That's not the most hilarious story those two have, I can reassure you," SRS Drago smirked while savouring the betrayed looks of his partner and Hiro. "Like we said, any adventure with those two is bound to be funny as heck."

"DRAGO!!!!" Both of them covered their faces. Man, this was EMBARRASSING!!!

"What a scoop!" Ion chuckled. "I love this very very much!"

A burst of laughter never hurt anyone.