Chapter Four: Entering the Digital World

"When the snowstorm stops, the rescue team should be able to reach us," said a bespectacled, slightly older child crouching nearby, his expression uneasy.

"I’ll try to send out a distress signal…" A younger boy, dressed in an orange jacket and yellow gloves, was tinkering incessantly with his computer. After a while, he shook his head, saying, "No luck. Both the computer and the phone are out of signal. It must be because of the blizzard."

"It’s alright, everyone. This wooden cabin is pretty sturdy—the snow can’t get in. And we’re not far from camp. Once the storm clears, we’ll look for a way out together," Tai remained undaunted, continuing to encourage everyone.

"Tai is right. The teachers will soon notice that we’re missing, so don’t worry; the rescue team should arrive shortly," Sora, gazing at the swirling snow outside the window, spoke reassuring words.

"Ahh, no, I wish I’d never joined this summer camp, boo hoo…" Beside her, a beautiful girl wearing a pink wide-brimmed sunhat and a red dress was crouched, sobbing. Qinfey handed her a tissue.

Though she was one of the protagonists, she was still just a child. Even adults would struggle to remain calm in the face of such an unexpected snowstorm.

"Thank you…" The girl looked at the boy beside her, his handsome face still composed, and suddenly blushed as she thanked him, her sobs quieting.

Qinfey smiled, unconcerned, then sized up the others with mild curiosity.

If his guess was correct, the bespectacled boy was Joe Kido, the one with the ever-present computer was Izzy Izumi, the slightly delicate girl beside him was Mimi Tachikawa, the silent blond boy at the window was Yamato Ishida, and behind him was his younger brother, Takeru Takaishi.

As if guided by fate, the group of protagonists had assembled, though the chosen children were still missing Kari.

"Eh? The snow seems to have stopped," Yamato, who had been silent, suddenly murmured in surprise.

Everyone perked up instantly.

Tai was the first to slide open the wooden door, looking at the snow-clad world outside, astonished. "It really has stopped."

"It’s snow, wow!" Takeru, wearing a green hat and jacket, seemed carefree, gazing at the thick snow outside as if he'd discovered a new world. He joyfully dashed out, eager to play.

"Takeru, be careful!" Yamato, worried about his brother, followed after.

Sora, shivering and hugging her shoulders, looked at the thick snow in amazement. "It’s so cold. I can hardly believe it’s summer."

"Hey, everyone, we should hurry and find the adults; in a situation like this…" Joe, the older and more rational one, urged the group to return, but was interrupted by Mimi’s exclamation.

"Izzy, Qinfey, come look!" Tai’s cry of wonder from outside made Izzy abandon his search for a signal, curiosity piqued, as he slung his laptop over his shoulder and headed out.

Qinfey knew what was coming. According to the story, they must be witnessing the aurora in the sky.

Thinking this, he stepped outside as well. Though the Digivice wouldn’t be his, watching them descend from the heavens was an experience worth seeing.

The aurora, magnificent as silk ribbons, flowed across the sky, capturing the children’s awe. Even Qinfey, who had anticipated the spectacle, was still shaken by the miraculous scene overhead.

"It’s so beautiful, so romantic."

"This is the first time I’ve ever seen the aurora."

"What a sight!"

"It’s so strange—how could the aurora appear in Japan?"

As the group stood entranced, Tai suddenly exclaimed, "Look—what’s that?"

"It’s coming!" Qinfey squinted at the sudden vortex appearing in the sky, muttering to himself.

Seven beams of light, like shooting stars, shot out from the vortex, plummeting towards the children, sending snow and earth flying…

All the children except Qinfey were terrified, ducking and covering their heads.

"As expected, I don’t get one. Still, I have Blackfang, and that’s enough," Qinfey thought, gently touching his backpack as he looked at the empty snow before him, unperturbed.

"Qinfey, I sense a familiar yet strange aura, up in the sky…" Blackfang’s voice came, sounding grave.

Qinfey nodded, unsurprised. The Digital World’s influence must be affecting Blackfang, since he too was a Digimon.

"Is everyone alright?" Sora was the first to recover, anxiously checking on the group.

No one was hurt; after all, the Digivices were meant to choose their partners—not harm them. Everyone was merely startled.

Suddenly, gentle white light shone from the seven craters where the beams had fallen.

The Digivices, as if alive, floated to the children, each instinctively grasping one.

"It’s not a pager… nor a phone…" Izzy examined the device in his palm, puzzled.

Qinfey furrowed his brow. He felt his Digivice heating up, as if something was about to happen.

"What’s that? Ahhh!" Before anyone could react, a bizarre tidal wave appeared out of nowhere, sweeping Qinfey and all the chosen children up in an instant.

The unsettling sensation of weightlessness and spatial distortion sent everyone’s vision into darkness, and they lost consciousness.

…

"Qinfey! Qinfey!"

In the haze, he felt someone calling his name, warm touches brushing his cheek, ticklish.

Struggling to open his eyes, he saw Blackfang licking his face; the creature had awakened before him.

"Qinfey, you’re finally awake. Blackfang was so worried about you."

Seeing Qinfey finally open his eyes, the adorable black furball nuzzled his chest, visibly delighted.

"Blackfang, we’ve arrived," Qinfey sighed, picking up the black furball with a smile of fulfilled longing.

"Arrived?" Blackfang tilted his head, not understanding his tamer’s meaning.

"It means you can come out and play freely now, no need to worry about being seen."

"…Play! Play! Play! Blackfang can play now~"

At the promise of unrestricted play, Blackfang seemed even happier than Qinfey.

Qinfey set down the excited Blackfang and scanned his surroundings.

He appeared to be in a primeval forest with strange plants, unmistakably bearing the unique style of the Digital World… Following the story, this must be File Island.

"I wonder where Tai and Sora are? Without the protagonist’s aura, it’s safer to travel with the main group," Qinfey mused, brushing off his pants and rising, intent on finding those familiar faces.

But in this tangled undergrowth, it would be no easy task.

"How did the scattered group manage to reunite, anyway?" Qinfey stroked his chin, hoping he wouldn’t encounter the ‘starter monster’ Kuwagamon while alone—he and the young Blackfang would surely be easy prey.

Tai and the others must have met their Digimon partners by now.

"Let’s go, Blackfang."

Without further delay, Qinfey beckoned the leaping Blackfang and strode away in a random direction; waiting around served no purpose.

"Should I try calling out? Tai and the others must know I’m here too—maybe it’ll work?"

"Ahhh!" Just as Qinfey was about to shout, a shrill, familiar cry rang out nearby, sharper than his own.

Hearing that voice, Qinfey instantly knew which child it belonged to.

Perhaps… Mimi Tachikawa had met her Digimon—Palmon.