Chapter Text
The sun was shining in the sky; it was a splendid morning, no doubt about it. However, at Tokyo airport, three people could be seen walking, drawing a fair bit of attention. A well-dressed adult wearing a brown top hat stood out above all others. His companions were two children: a young lad of around 10 wearing a blue beret and a 5-year-old boy. They walked calmly toward the airport entrance, although, of all of them, the youngest seemed the most on edge.
"So this is Japan. When I was told the school was situated here, I couldn't help but wonder what the place would be like."
The man with the top hat spoke with a smile while elegantly holding the front of his hat. The boy in the blue cap seemed surprised, and the youngest just pulled a face, seemingly wanting to say something, but not quite eager to let it out.
"Professor, is this truly necessary?"
The man he referred to as "Professor" looked at the youngest of his companions with initial surprise, which was replaced by an understanding smile. It was true that this was a different continent, a culture a world away from his home, but even so, the man had faith in the young man he had taken under his wing.
"Always remember why we're doing this, Robert."
Robert sighed, remembering what had happened a few days ago, in the office of that famous professor where his apprentices were helping out. The man known as Professor Layton seemed to be reading a couple of letters sent by an old friend who worked in computing, discussing a... rather special case.
"I see. This is a truly unique and unprecedented case, perhaps... Perhaps..."
Robert noticed that the Professor was distracted. Despite his young age, the lad had proven to be an exemplary assistant to the man most people only referred to as the Professor.
"Professor, is there something troubling you?"
The Professor turned his attention from the letter in his hands to his young apprentice and smiled before shaking his head. More than worried, he was curious. An unprecedented case had been brought to him in such a way that he couldn't just ignore it, but... Should he be the one to solve the enigma? Or maybe...
"No, not at all, Robert, a new case." The Professor stood up from his seat and walked with his hands behind his back toward the window of his office, wondering if maybe it was time. "Tell me, dear Robert, what defines life? Do you think living beings are defined by their intelligence? Their origin? Maybe what they're made of? The truth, Dear Robert, is that no one can truly define what life is. Even we, as inhabitants of Earth, are merely a whim of the universe." The Professor smiled at the young man before speaking again. " Which leads me to ask you, would you care to go to Japan with me?"
Robert grabbed his chin in curiosity at the Professor's words. Japan. He hadn't thought about that country since that incident when his biological parents... In any case, he assumed it had to do with that letter the Professor had earlier, he wondered, what was going through the mind of the man who had taken him in as a disciple.
"I suppose it has to do with that letter you received this morning, doesn't it, Professor?"
The man looked at the younger man with a smile and nodded before taking his top hat and slightly lowering it, covering his eyes for a moment, before raising it again to continue with what was going through his mind.
"You're not wrong, Dear Robert. When we first met, I promised you I would always protect you, but I'm afraid this task will force me to break my promise. Still, I must ask, are you ready to face your destiny?"
The young man worried. It probably had to do with what happened when he went to live in London with the Professor, but even so, he couldn't help but be curious. That was how, finally, they found themselves in present-day Japan.
"My old colleague said, at dusk, something quite significant will happen in the Hikarigaoka neighbourhood, and that's where we're headed. Luke, do try to keep up."
The 10-year-old boy named Luke hurried after the Professor upon hearing this. His parents had let him accompany him on this adventure; he was terribly excited.
"Blimey! Japan! This is ever so different from London, Professor. What do you reckon, Robert?"
The little boy considered Luke's question. Of course, Luke wasn't the one who had to attend a school on the other side of the world and get used to a culture so different from his own. No, that was his own problem to sort. But he was a gentleman. He was going to accept this task, not just for the Professor's sake or this peculiar case, but because the Professor told him it had to do with his father.
"We're gentlemen, Luke. We must conduct ourselves properly. This is a different culture; we shouldn't look like common tourists."
Luke squinted at him. He was the one who'd spent the morning reading books on how to behave in the Far East. In any case, he adjusted his cap and decided Robert had a point. He ought to behave himself, too. He was Professor Layton's assistant, after all.
"Very well said, we are gentlemen. Right then, shall we press on? Time is of the essence, and I should like to get a bite to eat before we begin our investigation."
The Professor calmed the two young men. He found the dynamic interesting, but they didn't have time to waste. If his friend's letter was correct, they needed to concentrate. So, once they'd eaten and prepared, the trio walked through that neighborhood. Night had fallen. It didn't seem like anything out of the ordinary was happening, at least until something was spotted in the night sky. A huge white object was seen in the sky. It was a...
"Professor, I think I'm seeing things. There's a massive egg in the sky."
Luke was the one who spoke. Robert was too astonished to say anything. The Professor, who rarely wore a negative expression, had a serious but somewhat taut expression, as if what he was seeing was rather dangerous.
"You're not seeing things, my dear Luke. I see it as well, and I believe Robert does too."
The Professor saw Robert, who seemed tense. He could have sworn that if he weren't so accustomed to peculiar things happening in his life, he would have screamed. The enormous egg in the sky caught the Professor's attention again when it opened and the shell disappeared, leaving only a few stars in the air and a huge bird that looked like some kind of mutant parrot.
"Professor, I think I just saw computer data when the egg left. How is that possible?"
The Professor didn't respond immediately to Robert. On the other hand, he pulled both children behind him as the enormous bird flew past them. The wind from its flapping wings was no illusion, so this was what his old colleague was referring to. It wasn't just that life was damaging the local network; they were somehow escaping into the real world. Robert looked at this worriedly, but the animal disappeared from his sight.
"Professor, I can't see it anywhere anymore."
The Professor adjusted his top hat and looked for the animal when he heard a loud noise coming from the street ahead. It must be there. If they wanted to solve this mystery, then they had to hurry and find the bird.
"Come on, we can't lose sight of this. Stay right behind me."
Layton ran with his apprentices after that enormous bird. No one could believe it. In front of them, that enormous bird was fighting against a kind of orange T-rex with a shell on its skull. Its blows caused gusts of wind, and Layton held his hat to keep it from flying away while he stood in front of both boys. Robert covered his ears as he heard the cry of the giant bird. It was like the voice of a normal parrot, but much more human and powerful. The orange monster growled loudly.
"Professor, what on earth are we looking at?"
The Professor looked at those things while the letter came to mind. So that was a Digimon. The Professor didn't respond immediately, not because he didn't want to, but because he grabbed both children and jumped to the side when that bird threw the dinosaur to the ground, causing a gust of wind that lifted dirt and debris. This could have severely injured them if he hadn't acted at that moment. This was dangerous, but they had to solve the mystery.
"That's, my dear Luke," Layton sighed as he made sure he was out of range of the Digimon before finishing his answer. "It's what they call 'Digital Monsters,' in other words... Digimon."
The three of them watched the bird try to finish off the Dinosaur, but suddenly a whistling noise stunned them all. It seemed to come from where the dinosaur was lying, and as if that called to him, he woke up furiously, aiming at the bird.
"Mega Flame!"
The armored T-Rex's enormous shot hit the bird. A white light blinded everyone for a moment, and both monsters disappeared, as if they had never been there. The Professor thought about this enigma; it was one of the most complex he had ever faced, and yet, he couldn't say he didn't want to solve the mystery.
"Professor, I think we have a very curious mystery on our hands."
Robert wanted to avoid showing his anxiety, but Layton smiled at him. He understood why he felt overwhelmed. This case was personal to him, and besides, they had just witnessed something unprecedented, which made him wonder how his colleague knew this would happen, although they would soon find out.
"Always, wherever there's a mystery, there's Hersel Layton, isn't that right, Professor?"
The professor turned around, there he was, his former colleague. Although they studied together, archaeology wasn't his thing. However, they didn't lose touch even when he became a renowned computer scientist, the man who worked with Robert's father on the Digital Monsters project.
"Jonathan, old Jonathan Jacobo. You eccentric old man, I can't fathom how, but somehow you knew this would happen. Is that why you sent me the letter?"
Jonathan smiled at his old friend, emerging from the shadows. He was dressed in black, a polo neck, and a lab coat. He adjusted his glasses and, running his hand through his brown hair, said something to Layton that made everyone present confused and fall silent.
"I didn't send you a letter. An hour ago, I found out someone sent you a letter, but I assure you, Layton, it wasn't me."
The silence felt heavy around the group as Layton let out a sound of surprise, taking his hat in his hand and a thought crossed his mind, this case was getting more interesting. Five years later, on August 1, 1999, 7 children were sent to the Digital World, however, this was not entirely correct, there were eight children on that trip, thus begins the story of Robert Layton, better remembered by the DigiDestined children as Ryuuzaki Nanohudou.