Observer
It was an exceptionally hot day in Manila as Rion walked down a crowded street, heading for the park. He carried a small backpack filled with water and snacks, and a thin black sketchbook under his arm. It was an unexpected holiday for students that day, and Rion was determined to spend as much of it as he could drawing anything and everything he saw.
At the park, he found a vacant bench and sat down, watching as pedestrians walked past him in both directions. A few people rode bikes or skated past. A street vendor stood nearby, selling portable fans to tourists complaining about the heat.
Rion sighed and briefly fanned himself with the sketchbook. It was really hot. Hot enough to fry an omelet on the street.
Omelets! Rion, I’m hungry!
You’re always hungry, Guilmon!
Rion laughed to himself and opened the sketchbook, flipping to a page he had previously worked on. It was a rather silly drawing, with Guilmon on a skateboard, complete with helmet and knee pads, but Rion had managed to add a realistic quality to it. Looking back on it, he could see the shading and balance of weight on the skateboard, the speed lines, and the illusion of movement.
He flipped to a blank page in the sketchbook and looked around, trying to identify a new subject to draw.
A man walking his dog. A teenage girl jogging with earbuds in her ears. A street vendor selling balloons.
Rion mentally crossed each one off his list. Too boring. Not interesting enough.
His eyes then fell on a small group of people standing in a nearby grassy field. Each of them held intricately carved Arnis sticks and practiced complex moves, swinging and whirling the sticks through the air.
Rion was immediately reminded of his brother, Ryou, who was skilled in the Filipino martial art. As he continued to watch the people in the field, he imagined Ryou performing the same moves. Which immediately gave him an idea. He nodded to himself, and pulling out a pencil from his backpack, he began to sketch.
After several moments, Rion had the bare bones of a drawing: Ryou holding his Arnis stick, pointing it toward the viewer. His arms and legs were in a precarious position, looking as if he would fall over, but he maintained perfect balance. Drawn next to Ryou was Guilmon, holding his own Arnis stick and mimicking the same pose.
Rion smiled as he drew a mildly distressed look on Guilmon’s face as he struggled to hold the same pose as Ryou, not quite making it.
The sky suddenly dimmed as the sun was hidden behind dark clouds. Rion looked up, promptly closed his sketchbook and placed it in his bag as it started to rain.
Fortunately, he had a backup plan for times like this. He got up from the bench and headed over to the small net cafe on the next street corner. Once inside, he paid for his seat and settled in front of one of the computers. The light drizzle outside had turned into a full-blown monsoon.
Rion put on a pair of headphones and played a music playlist as he added the finishing touches to his drawing. He softly blew on the page and held it out, smiling at his handiwork.
“That looks great, did you draw it?” a voice spoke up.
Rion looked up and removed his headphones, seeing one of the employees peeking over the cubicle.
“Sorry, I didn't mean to bother you,” she said, “I just happened to see your sketch.”
Rion nodded. “I drew it.”
“You're really good,” the employee said, smiling. “I especially like the dinosaur. Is it a Digimon?”
Rion looked puzzled for a moment. “Uh… yeah,” he mumbled.
“A lot of people come here to play Digital Adventure,” she said, “I don't play myself, but I know a Digimon when I see one!” She looked around, then leaned closer. “You know,” she said softly, “They're making a Digimon anime in Japan for later this year!”
Rion raised his eyebrows. “Really?”
“Yeah. They're going all out, too. Anime, a card game, toys, everything!” She smiled. “We might see some of that stuff here in the Philippines soon!”
“That's cool!” Rion exclaimed.
She nodded. “Well, I’ll let you go now. I just wanted to say how good your sketch is.”
“Thank you!” Rion said.
“Thanks for your patronage!” she said, stepping away.
Rion leaned back in his seat, thinking. Then, sitting up, he typed a string of search terms on the computer.
An image of a group of kids and Digimon appeared on the screen, drawn in a slick anime style, with the words “Digital Adventure” written in Japanese in the corner.
Rion looked carefully at the kids. They didn't look exactly the same, but he could see some features of every one of his friends and himself in each of the kids. As for the Digimon…
Kodamon. Gazimon. Renamon. Patamon. Salamon. Terriermon. Lopmon. And Guilmon.
Rion leaned back in his seat again, absolutely floored.
So this was what his dad was working on. Their story, in anime form, shown to the entire world.
A surprised smile appeared on Rion’s face, and he immediately logged on to a videoconference window to call Ryou. He didn't care that it was 3 am in D.C. at that moment – he had to know more!
“Ugh… What is it, Rion?” Ryou’s sleepy and annoyed voice rang through Rion’s headphones, “This had better be important!”
As the video window showed a groggy, groaning Ryou, Rion cheerfully greeted him and launched right into his explanation.
“I just heard something really cool…”
Notes:
Yep, the Chosen Children’s story has just become an anime, a card game, and various other things! A perfectly good reason to call at 3 am, right? *snicker* Poor Ryou!