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Chapter Text

The high school boy walked home through the road he usually took when he left. You could say, the distance between his house and school was not so far to be traveled on foot. Coincidentally, he had a senior who was also his neighbor. His parents trusted the senior to accompany him to and from school, so he didn't have to worry about going home alone.

On their way home, they always passed by a notice board where several papers were pinned, whether it was advertising brochures, events, or even lost pets. Usually, he always paid attention to the paper there—even before he entered high school—which contained a photo of a missing teenager, and he always hoped in his heart that the person being searched for would be found soon.

However, there was a moment when the high school boy noticed that the paper he always paid attention to was missing. For others, it might be a normal thing. Especially if the paper had been there for a long time, it would surely be replaced with a new announcement. But his heart seemed to reject that this was normal. It felt like something was amiss, but he didn't know what it was.

The boy began to ask his senior, whom he regarded as his brother, "Daichan, have you noticed anything different about this notice board?"

The one called Daichan looked at the notice board in surprise, "What's wrong, Yamachan?  It's just a normal notice board that we always pass by."

In truth, the class gap between Yamada and Daiki was between a freshman and a senior in the third year of high school. But Daiki wouldn't protest being called by someone he considered his brother by using the -chan honorific. It would be more uncomfortable if Yamada called him Arioka.

Returning to the current situation, Daiki continued to look puzzled at the notice board in front of him. Although it did seem like there was a space where nothing was pasted as if there was a paper that had been stuck there before, was this what Yamada meant?

"The missing teenager announcement is missing. Isn't that strange?"

Daiki became even more puzzled. Did he never pay attention to the notice board so much that he didn't even know there was a missing teenager poster stuck there before?

"Isn't it normal for old papers to be replaced with new ones? Besides, if the teenager has been missing for a long time, isn't it like holding a fog? With a little hope, you can find him in a fine condition."

"Don't talk nonsense, Daichan!"

It seemed like his senior's words had gone too far. Daiki might never understand what it felt like to be in someone's shoes who had lost someone precious to them. Yamada had never been in that position either, but he understood how painful it could be.

"Are you curious about that teenager? What's his name?"

"Inoo Kei."

Daiki's brain received the name with a feeling of familiarity. That name. Daiki had heard that name before. But he couldn't remember. Where and when.

"Do you know him, Daichan?"

His question made Daiki, who was still thinking hard, snap out of it, "Ah, I feel like I've heard the name before. But, I don't remember."

Yamada's face looked unsatisfied. His heart felt uneasy as if something was wrong. Yet, he didn't know who Inoo Kei was. But why did his heart and mind seem to want to know?

This feeling was really bothering him.

Chapter Text

The tiny fingers typed a name on the search engine hastily. The name seemed to haunt his mind. Blame his curiosity, always poking into matters that weren't his concern. Now, he kept refreshing the webpage, but the results didn't match what he intended.

Just a name and his photo. Inoo Kei. Yamada only knew that much. Yet, his fingers and eyes had been busy searching for the person in question. And the result was nothing. There were no news or even social media accounts related to the missing teenager. It's as if he had been 'deliberately' erased from existence.

This made Yamada more convinced that something was wrong. If indeed he was missing, why was there only a paper on the notice board that even only a few people knew about? Why not search, at least on social media, which was easily accessible to everyone? Or even if he was just an ordinary person, did he not have a single social media account? 

Yamada's mind started to race. With just someone he didn't even know, he could be bothered by this complicated matter. A small part of his heart told him he should stop investigating further. He didn't know why. His heart sensed a dangerous signal if he dug deeper into this. Yet, another part of him urged him to find out what had happened.

Yamada ruffled his hair in frustration. That night, he chose sleep over fretting about something he didn't even understand.

***

"Usually, if Ryosuke's eyebrows furrow like that, he's got a lot on his mind."

The quip from one of his shorter friends broke his reverie. Yamada grunted in annoyance and took a sip of his soda.

They were now in the school cafeteria. Yamada and Chinen sat side by side, while Yuto and Kamiki sat across from them.

"Chii, honestly, I'm itching to ask about this. But, I don't know if it's necessary. I also want to ask Yuto and Kamiki about it too."

"You're talking out of your ass. Where's Ryosuke who is always blunt when it comes to asking sometimes heartless questions?" Yuto interjected from his seat opposite Yamada. Kamiki nodded in agreement with Yuto's statement.

"What's wrong, Ryo?" Chinen asked again, making sure he wasn't left hanging by Yamada's question that had already made him curious.

"Do you guys know someone named Inoo Kei?"

The unfamiliar name successfully made the three friends' brows furrow. For some reason, the atmosphere of the cafeteria also felt quieter, as if pondering over Yamada's question.

"You know? I always pass by a notice board on my way to and from school. Every time I pass it, Inoo Kei's name on the notice board is always there. But yesterday, it suddenly disappeared. And you know, that night I immediately searched for the name 'Inoo Kei' on the internet and-"

"Ryo, Ryo, please stop."

Yamada started to notice that Kamiki and Yuto's bodies stiffened. They seemed to see something threatening. Yamada who was surprised by their behavior began to look back and realized what made them tense. Some third-year students were staring at them with wary eyes. Not just behind him, but also some tables in front of Yamada, filled with third-year students, were also watching them warily.

He had a bad feeling. Had they done something wrong to be stared at like this? What did those stares mean?

"R-ryosuke, I look like a criminal when stared at sharply like that by the third-year senpai."

Yamada could hear Chinen's trembling voice. Scared, yet unsure what to do. They could only hope the school bell would ring quickly.

***

Unbeknownst to them, the home bell had already rung. As usual, Yamada waited for Daiki at the school gate. He hoped the wary stares from the third-year students would stop after the break in the cafeteria earlier. But even after school, Yamada still received those wary stares from third-year students passing by. Worse, other third-year students he hadn't seen in the cafeteria were also staring at him like that.

'Daichan, please hurry out...' Yamada muttered, keeping his head down.

After a few minutes, the voice he wanted to hear came. Yamada smiled and greeted his awaited senior.

"Yamada, what's wrong?" Daiki asked innocently.

From his question, Yamada wondered, wasn't Daiki also a third-year student? Didn't he sense anything odd?

But on the other hand, Yamada felt relieved that his brother didn't look at him strangely like the other third-year students. At least, his heart felt much calmer when Daiki was beside him.

"Ah, nothing. Let's go home."

Daiki nodded and walked alongside his beloved junior. Occasionally, Yamada stole glances at Daiki, but no matter how he looked, there were no signs that his brother knew anything about the strangeness of the third-year students. It was better to keep this to himself from Daiki, he thought.

"Hey, you've been acting really strange. What's wrong? Is there something wrong with me?"

Daiki might feel uncomfortable being constantly stared at by Yamada. But being reprimanded made Yamada even more panicked because his strange behavior was caught.

"Umm... Daichan, I feel like I've been stared at by the third-year senpai since break. Does Daichan have no idea what's going on?" Yamada asked frankly. Whether he liked it or not, he had to express the thought that had been bothering him.

"Aah, I see. To be honest, I was also suspicious of their gaze which seemed to threaten something. But, no one told me about this. They should know that my relationship with you is very close."

Yamada's guess was not wrong. His brother knew nothing about this matter. However, this made him even more confused. Even to imagine tomorrow, Yamada had no idea what to do.

***

"Ohayou, Daiki-san!"

When Daiki and Yamada arrived at school the next morning, one of Daiki's classmates greeted him.

He smiled, "Good morning, Tama-chan!"

"Um... Can you come with me for a moment?" Tamamori asked Daiki while glancing at Yamada several times.

"Sure. Yamada, I'll head to class first!"

Yamada just nodded and smiled in response. Daiki followed behind someone he called Tama-chan towards the classroom, he thought. But his friend instead turned away from the classroom and stopped at a secluded spot in the school rarely frequented by students.

"Why are we here?"

"Daiki-san, can you warn your little brother not to act recklessly?"

"What did he do?"

"He mentioned a name that shouldn't be mentioned in the cafeteria yesterday!"

Being told like that, Daiki became even more confused. A name that shouldn't be mentioned? Whose name? Was there an unwritten rule like that in this school?

"Oh my God! Don't you remember?"

With his innocence, Daiki could only shake his head. His classmate, whose real name was Tamamori Yuta, could only facepalm. Was the person in front of him really that clueless?

"School hijacking. Do you still remember?"

"Of course! Who could forget such a horrible thing?"

"Do you remember the name mentioned by 'them'?"

"The name... Wasn't it-"

Daiki started to process the events of the past few days. Spontaneously, he began to understand the meaning of the third-year students' stares at Yamada. He slapped his forehead in frustration. How could he forget something this important! He felt like cursing himself for being too slow and unobservant.

"Thank you, Tama-chan! I'll definitely warn him about this!"

Chapter Text

"Yamada!"

"Oh, Daichan!"

Yamada, who had been waiting at the school gate, frowned when he saw the person he was waiting for running towards him as if he were being chased by something dangerous.

Daiki caught his breath before he began to speak, "Where are your friends? Chinen, Yuto, and Kamiki?"

"I think they've already gone home on their bikes. What's wrong?"

Daiki, receiving this information, could only ruffle his hair in frustration. He intended to gather the four of them, including Yamada, to explain the reason why his classmates were looking at them like that. It would be better if Daiki straightened out the problem since it was his negligence after all.

"Can you tell them to come to your house today? I have something important to tell you."

It wasn't uncommon for Yamada's three friends to visit his house. Sometimes they came without notice. However, it was unusual for Yamada to see Daiki himself asking him to invite his three friends over. There seemed to be something important that needed to be discussed, and it probably had to do with the cautious attitude of the third-year students toward them.

"Your behavior sometimes scares me. Let me guess, does this have something to do with the wary gaze from the third-year senpai?"

"The problem is much bigger than you think. I want to warn the four of you to be more careful from now on."

***

A knock on the front door of the Yamada family's residence was the sound Daiki had been waiting for. As expected, the three boys Daiki had asked to come appeared behind the door carrying backpacks.

Yamada, seeing this, looked suspiciously at his three newly arrived friends, "What's with the backpacks?"

"Is Mr. Yamada really calling us over in the late afternoon like this and making us stay out late? What if someone kidnaps us on the way home?" Chinen blinked playfully, making the homeowner feel disgusted by his fake cuteness. Well, it was cute though.

"So, what's the occasion for us to come to your house, Ryo?"

Yuto's question made Yamada refocus on the main topic. Daiki, who was already sitting on the living room carpet, began to invite Yamada and his three friends to come sit near him.

"First of all, I want to apologize to all of you. Maybe it's also my fault for not telling you about this beforehand." Daiki put on a regretful face in front of his four juniors.

"Anyway... wherever it is, whether at school or home. I beg you, please don't ask or find out who Inoo Kei is. You may not know the reason why third-year students would act like that just because of a name," he continued while showing a change in his face to more serious.

"Why, just a name, are we being stared at like that?" Kamiki, who had been silent, began to ask the question his three friends wanted to ask.

Daiki began to exhale heavily. The horror he felt when he was in his first year of high school was still vivid. Daiki and the rest of the school who knew nothing about this had to experience something that even Daiki himself didn't expect to happen.

"Two years ago, when I was in my first year of high school, there was a horrible event that had never been imagined before. And it was related to that name..."

That day was just like any other day. Yamada was still in his second year of middle school, so Daiki had to walk to his school alone. There was nothing strange or suspicious when he arrived at school.

Daiki stared at the blackboard in front of him wearily. The lesson at that moment was Math. One of the subjects that could make Daiki's head smoke. Amid Daiki's wandering thoughts, the speakers installed in his classroom suddenly emitted a static noise, so loud that it hurt everyone's ears who heard it.

This had never happened before. Entering the broadcasting room during class hours was forbidden. They could disrupt the teaching and learning activities. And even if it were allowed, if there were emergencies and something very important had to be conveyed immediately.

From the classroom window facing the corridor, a group of adult men could be seen walking past their classroom. If not mistaken, their direction was towards the corner stairs leading to the third floor of the school building. It just so happened Daiki's classroom was located at the corner of the building, so he could be sure that the intimidating-looking group of men was heading to the third floor of his school building.

Daiki distinctly remembered that the third floor of his school building housed the classrooms of the second-year senpai. Was their destination one of those classrooms? But, come to think of it, their school building had four floors, and the top floor was occupied by third-year senpai classrooms. It was likely one of the second and third-year senpai classrooms.

"Test! Test! Can you hear me?"

The voice succeeded in making the whole class, including Daiki's math teacher, silent as they listened to the heavy voice of a man from the speakers.

"Well, all of you in this school don't need to ask who we are and where we come from. Just listen, UNDERSTAND!?"

The loud shout echoed throughout the school. Daiki and his classmates could only stare blankly at their desks. Even their math teacher couldn't hide her anxious feelings.

"Your principal has been made quiet after continuously babbling about breaking through your school gates. Why? I'm sure some students here have also skipped class and broken through the gates during class hours, haven't they?"

Daiki could feel the tension in his classroom. He and his classmates had no idea who they were. Who were the adult men passing by their classroom? Who was speaking threateningly through their school's speaker system? They even brought the school principal along.

He had just begun to enjoy his high school life and had never done anything bad to have to deal with many intimidating adult men. Why did they terrorize his school like this? Who exactly were they?

"Perhaps you're tired of this old man's long-winded speech. Fine, I'll get to our point. We just want to advise all the inhabitants of this school not to act tough if you can't handle it yourselves. We're just warning you not to fall into the same hole."

Falling into the same hole. Daiki felt they were talking about someone. Don't do the same thing as someone who might be related to this school, whether that person is a student or a teacher.

"One of the students in this school once acted like a hero he thought he could handle. But, he's nothing more than a flea. From this story, I hope you don't act beyond your capabilities. That's all the advice from us."

The group of adult men who had passed by our class earlier returned with a desk and chair. Daiki and the whole class could only watch in silence as they passed by. His heart was pumping twice as hard as before.

"As a closing remark, we hope you don't need to find out and consider someone named Inoo Kei ever attended this school. Thank you for listening to our advice and don't forget to check out our 'gift' . Have fun continuing your studies today!"

The speaker was then turned off, leaving a quiet and heavy atmosphere. No one could speak. Everyone was still stunned and drowned in their thoughts. Daiki's math teacher also left the class without saying a word. This incident had passed, but there was still a feeling as if they were being watched.

Daiki began to digest the last lines spoken by the mysterious man from the speakers. Inoo Kei? Was that the name of the student they were referring to? If it was a popular student, Daiki would definitely recognize his face and name. But, the name was very unfamiliar. Daiki had never heard his name and had no idea which class the student named Inoo Kei was from.

The heavy atmosphere that filled his classroom began to dissipate when Daiki heard the noise outside their class. Students from other classes began wandering outside and shouting. Whether he wanted it or not, Daiki also left his class and sought out the source of the commotion.

Thick smoke rose high from the field. Daiki, who was on the second floor of the school building, could clearly see a desk and chair on fire. More precisely, it was deliberately burned and left in the field which was visible to all the school's inhabitants.

Daiki's eyes sharpened when he saw a girl on the side of the field crying uncontrollably and trying to approach the still-smoldering fire. Beside the girl, there was a boy who was also crying and trying to hold the girl back from running into the fire.

Daiki didn't know who the girl and the boy were on the side of the field. However, he could deduce that the two figures might be the closest people to the student named Inoo Kei.

Daiki now took a deep breath. For him, recounting such a horrific incident was very draining both mentally and physically. Even when telling it, he was filled with anxiety as if he were still being watched to tell a story like this.

After the incident, the school authorities also kept this incident tightly closed as if something as horrific as this had never happened before. Only the school committee, teachers, and current third-year students knew about this incident. Apart from lowering the school's reputation, they were also still afraid that those who were terrorized would return. No one knew.

"If Inoo Kei is just an ordinary student, why could he be involved in such a dangerous situation?" Chinen asked puzzled.

"Ordinary students sometimes can do more dangerous things without many other people knowing," Yuto replied to Chinen's innocent question.

Yamada was still processing the story Daiki had told. The story only made his curiosity peak even more. The fact that Daiki didn't know anything about who Inoo Kei was and those who were terrorized went to the school just for a student named Inoo Kei.

Who exactly is he? Why did the problem escalate to that extent? And if he shouldn't be searched for, why was his name and photo displayed on the notice board near his house? Doesn't that mean someone still hopes that Inoo Kei will be found? Doesn't that also mean that the student named Inoo Kei is not the troublemaker that people imagine?

Yamada's head seemed to want to explode at any moment. Hearing the story from Daiki only raised more questions in Yamada's mind.

Should I investigate it myself?

Chapter Text

"Yamada, are you thinking of investigating this by yourself?"

Daiki who heard Yuto's words, widened his eyes in shock, "Yamachan! I've already explained how dangerous it is! Don't act recklessly!"

After Daiki told the story, Yamada didn't say a word, remaining silent. Yuto and the three others in the living room were clearly suspicious of his strange behavior.

"Don't think anything strange! Besides, there's no point in trusting what Yuto says," Yamada replied lazily.

"I also know when to joke. You talk as if I lie all the time."

Yuto pouted, displeased. He was a bit annoyed by Yamada's words, which sounded like a rebuttal but were more like mocking Yuto for always lying.

"The Yuto we know is like that, isn't he?" Yamada said casually, receiving nods of agreement from Chinen and Kamiki.

"Just wait! I'll prove I can be serious too!"

***

A small-framed boy jogged around the streets near his house. On his days off, he liked to go for morning runs, waking up at sunrise to warm up his body which he usually lazed around during school days.

Even though he knew his friends, who had stayed over, were still asleep at his house, he didn't intend to wake them up. He just wanted to be alone to refresh his mind since last night. Fortunately, he managed to sleep through the night.

While enjoying his run and the scenery, a man caught his attention. The man had a tall body, almost rivaling Yuto. His melancholic gaze was fixed on the notice board in front of him. Yamada couldn't see his face clearly, only the left side from where he stood.

"Oh, a new restaurant has opened."

The tall man immediately spoke as he noticed someone nearby. Yamada silently stole glances at him. Despite his sad gaze, his tone didn't match the enthusiasm one might have for a new restaurant as he had said earlier.

When the man started to walk away, Yamada gathered the courage to ask. The poster of the new restaurant seemed to have just been put up on the notice board. It was exactly where the 'missing teenager' paper Yamada was used to seeing was located.

"Anoo... Can I ask you something?"

The tall man stopped and looked back at Yamada, "What is it?"

"Were you the one who previously posted the missing teen paper on this board?"

Silence.

There was no sign that the man would answer. Yamada couldn't understand the meaning of his poker face.

"I'm sorry if I'm asking a strange question. Then—"

"You're right. It was me who posted it."

Yamada couldn't hide his surprise. He had been racking his brain on how to start investigating this. He knew almost nothing about Inoo Kei. Even just relying on a single photo and name could not let him know who his friends and family were. Yet before him, he met someone close to Inoo Kei. How could it be that easy?

"Why? What actually happened to him?"

The man's eyes stared firmly at Yamada. "If you're just curious, you better stop."

"But, weren't you also willing to display his picture and name, despite knowing it would put yourself in danger?"

Yamada could see the man trying to control his breathing. His stern eyes were getting fiery and red. It seemed Yamada had made a wrong move. He shouldn't have spoken rudely to someone he didn't even know. Yamada needed to straighten out his mistake.

"I no longer care about such things. Excuse me."

"Wait—"

"YAMADA!"

Yamada's words were interrupted by a familiar shout calling his name. He looked at the source of the voice lazily.

"Where have you been!? We were worried you'd been kidnapped for investigating alone!" Chinen looked at Yamada anxiously, checking every centimeter of his friend's body to ensure he was okay.

"Don't you know there's such a thing called morning run, huh!?"

Yamada turned around and saw the man was gone. His friends' arrival had ruined everything. He didn't even know the man's name. He wanted to curse them into stones.

"Who was the man you were talking to?" Kamiki asked curiously.

"Aah, just an ordinary guy. Let's go home."

Chinen squinted suspiciously. "You're acting strange. That man wasn't just an ordinary guy, was he?"

"Look who's talking. You call me a liar, but you're the worst one." Yuto flipped Yamada's taunt from the previous night.

Honestly, Yamada had no energy left to argue. Yuto always managed to rile him up.

Yamada took a deep breath to calm down. "Especially for Yuto, I won't make fried rice for you for breakfast. Just order delivery yourself."

"Serves you right."

"Oi Chinen! Y-Yamada, sorry!"

***

After a very short holiday, Yamada started his school activities again. It was boring and monotonous, but he had no choice but to get through it as best as he could.

"Yamada, I want to stop by the flower shop first."

Yamada could only agree when Daiki wanted to stop for a bit on their way home after school. Besides, there was no harm in wandering around a bit instead of going straight home.

They entered a shop filled with beautiful, colorful fresh flower arrangements. The shop sold various types of fresh and synthetic flowers that pleased the eyes. As Yamada focused on the flowers around him, he was surprised to see the tall man he had spoken to last weekend. He was busy looking at flowers, unaware of Yamada's presence nearby.

"Yamada, why are you hiding like that?"

Yamada, in a panic, signaled Daiki to be quiet. The way he seemed to be observing someone in silence made Daiki curious. Who could make his favorite junior hide like a rat?

Daiki followed Yamada's gaze and widened his eyes upon realizing who the person was. "Eh, that's Yabu Senpai!"

"Yabu senpai? Do you know him, Daichan?"

"Of course! He was the top graduate last year. No third-year student doesn't know a genius senpai like him."

Daiki's words successfully surprised Yamada. So, that person was last year's graduate. That meant, when Daiki was in his first year of high school, Yabu was already in his second year. Could Yamada conclude that Inoo Kei was also in the second year when the incident happened? But it's also possible that Yabu and Inoo Kei had a relationship like Yamada and Daiki, very close despite being two years apart.

Yamada's thoughts were interrupted when Yabu began to leave the shop with a few flower arrangements in his hand. He wanted to follow him. His gut told him that perhaps the flower arrangements Yabu had just bought had something to do with Inoo Kei. At least, Yamada could get a clue, even if it was just a little.

"Daichan, I want to follow him."

Daiki was clearly puzzled by Yamada's strange behavior. He really didn't understand why his junior was doing something like this. No, this was too creepy to stalk someone Yamada didn't know well.

"Yamada! What's wrong with you? That's rude, you know. What did Yabu Senpai do to be stalked by you like this?"

Even though Yamada was indifferent to Daiki's protests, Daiki had no choice but to reluctantly follow Yamada until their senior stopped in front of a house.

Yamada looked at Daiki as if asking for an explanation. But no matter how he looked at it, Daiki also had no idea who owned the house. Yamada could only sigh in frustration. His stalking had yielded no results at all. There was nothing he could take as a clue. There were too many possibilities for someone to visit a house with a flower arrangement.

They decided to go home. Yamada still felt very upset on the way back. Honestly, Daiki didn't know what to do to lift Yamada's mood. Let alone lift his mood, Daiki didn't even know why he was so upset.

However, without Yamada knowing, Daiki glanced at Yabu and saw someone open the door for him. That person. Daiki clearly remembered that face. He didn't really know the relationship between Yabu and that person, but it boggled his mind.

"Yamachan, you owe me an explanation."

Chapter Text

The footsteps confidently entered the flower shop. Every year, he would never forget this important day. The day he witnessed a horrifying event with his own eyes filled him with immense regret, even to this day. The day that changed his life 180 degrees.

It had been two years, but there was still a glimmer of hope in his heart that his friend was okay. Still healthy and doing his usual activities out there. He kept instilling such positive thoughts and faithfully waited for good news from him.

His eyes were busy selecting some beautiful flowers around him. At first, he didn't feel anything strange. However, there was something he felt and it bothered him a lot. It was as if he was being watched.

He didn't know if this was just his feeling or what. Since meeting that cute boy, he felt uneasy. He could be being watched and followed secretly without realizing it. For some reason, his curiosity was so intense that it made him shudder in horror.

He quickened his pace to reach the house he was heading to quickly. Fortunately, the flower shop was not too far from his destination. At least, he could feel a bit calmer when he reached the house.

Knock! Knock!

"Hai! Wait a minute..."

The voice from inside the house calmed him down. How long had it been since he met the owner of this house? They rarely met due to their busy schedules. But if there was time, of course, he would make an effort to meet up.

"Who is it? Oh my, Kou-chan!"

"Konnichiwa, Hikaru-kun!"

His smile made his eyes form perfect crescents. He missed his best friend very much. No, rather, he missed the times they spent together in high school. If he had a time machine, he want to stay in those days forever. No need to think about horrible things and such. But of course, that was impossible.

"Come in! Mizuki is in her room, pursuing her new hobby. I'm glad she finally started his new life. And of course, I have to move forward too, right?"

Yabu nodded in agreement, "You're right. Sometimes starting something new is also a part of life."

"Should I call Mizuki here? It feels like it's been a long time since we talked as a trio like this. Wait a moment!"

Yabu responded with a smile. As Hikaru climbed the stairs to Mizuki's room, his smile faded.

As a trio, huh?

"Kota-kun! Long time no see! How are you?"

Yabu put his smile back on, "I'm fine. It's good to see you're much better now. So, what's your new hobby?"

"I'm into designing clothes from unused fabrics. Next time, if you want to request a custom outfit, just call me!" Mizuki joked with a light laugh.

Yabu felt more relieved seeing Mizuki's much better condition than the last time they met. She had worked hard to rebuild her very chaotic life up to this point. Yabu himself hadn't even reached that level yet. After all, compared to Mizuki's wounds, his wounds were nothing.

Mizuki's face slowly changed when she saw the flower arrangement Yabu brought, "Those flowers..."

"Aah, this. Today is an important day for me. You guys... didn't forget, right?" Yabu asked cautiously. But it seemed, he was not received well.

Hikaru looked at Mizuki worriedly, "Mizuki, you should go back to your room. I-"

"I'm fine, Hii-chan."

"Kou! Is your purpose here just to talk about that again!? Don't you know how hard Mizuki has tried not to think about it? How long will you stay stuck in that dark past? It's been two years already, Kou!"

Hikaru had tried hard all this time to escape his downfall with Mizuki. They had made an agreement that they needed to consider that incident as something that had passed. Their lives were much better now. All they had to do was keep moving forward and let the past pass.

By remembering that dark past, no one knew if one day the defenses they had built so painstakingly would collapse in the blink of an eye. No one wanted such a thing to happen.

Hikaru's outburst made Yabu understand the word 'trio' Hikaru had mentioned before calling Mizuki. But he couldn't just accept it. Forgetting the incident and forgetting Kei's presence were two different things.

"But that doesn't mean you've forgotten Kei, right? There are four of us, not three."

Hikaru's face turned red as if holding back annoyance and sadness at the same time. Mizuki who had been silent, started sobbing upon hearing Yabu's words.

"You better leave before I kick you out. I don't care about the important day you mentioned. And I never knew anyone named Kei you're talking about."

Mizuki's sobs turned into a heart-wrenching cry. In her heart, it hurt deeply to hear such cruel words coming from his twin brother. Hikaru did all that for her. She wanted to curse his brother, but he also couldn't bear to remember everything related to Kei. His heart ached and conflicted.

"You don't know how to be grateful at all! You wouldn't be living such a safe life like this without Kei!"

Yabu walked out of the house feeling both angry and disbelieving. He never expected such cruel words could come out of Hikaru's mouth. Why did he have to go that far?

His steps slowly led him to a park. The trees and swings in this park were silent witnesses to the horrific incident two years ago. Every scene was still vividly recorded in his mind. How and what happened next as if he was cursed to remember it until the end of his life.

He was cursed, because he couldn't do anything.

He was cursed, because he could only stand still when it happened.

His cheeks heated as a drop of tears began to flow down. His lips quivered, holding back sobs from escaping his mouth. He crouched down and placed the flower arrangement on the ground.

He wanted to scream.

He wanted to cry like a madman.

He wanted to see his figure in a good state.

Is that even possible? After seeing what happened, is it still possible to see him in a good state?

"Of course. Kei is still out there. He is just missing."

Chapter Text

"Huh!? Yamada, are you crazy!?"

Daiki was utterly shocked when he heard Yamada's full story about his first encounter with Yabu near the notice board. He couldn't help but wonder, if that person wasn't Yabu, he couldn't be sure if Yamada would have made it home safely that morning. How could he be so bold as to question someone he had just met? How many times did he have to tell that stubborn boy that his actions were extremely dangerous?

Daiki rubbed his forehead in frustration, "Yamachan, can you not do something like this again? If something happens to you just to satisfy your curiosity, how am I supposed to explain it to your parents?"

"Yes... I'm sorry, for making you worry. But, nothing happened to me, right?"

Daiki let out a harsh sigh. He was indeed grateful because, with Yamada's reckless actions, they were one step closer to the truth behind the school hijacking incident. Honestly, he wasn't as curious as Yamada. But now that it had come to this, he also needed to know the truth. After all, he wouldn't let Yamada act alone again.

Suddenly, Daiki recalled the moment when he tailed his senior. The person who opened the door. Daiki was sure it was the same person he had seen during the burning tables and chairs on the field two years ago. That man was there, crying while holding back a girl who wanted to run toward the flames. If his guess was correct that Yabu was close friends with that person, then there was no doubt that Yabu was also Inoo Kei's close friend.

"Next time, you can take me along to investigate this matter. Understand?"

Yamada laughed amusedly at Daiki's behavior, "Stop acting like that. You're just like my mom."

***

The man walked, occasionally tightening the jacket he was wearing. That night, the weather was quite cold and damp. However, it didn't stop him from going to the nearby convenience store. He needed to restock the snacks at his house, which were already empty.

As he left the convenience store, someone ran past him quickly. The person was shouting a name that sounded very familiar to him.

"YABU KOUTA! WHERE ARE YOU!?"

His heart skipped a beat. He didn't hear wrong, did he? His feelings became uneasy. He had just tailed him this afternoon, had Yabu just disappeared? What had actually happened?

"Umm... What's going on?" he asked as the person who had been acting frantic began to tire of running.

"I-it's all my fault. I kicked him out of my house. Initially, I wanted to apologize for being harsh to him. But, his apartment was empty, and he wasn't at the park he usually visited. I didn't know where to find him now. I don't want to repeat the same incident again."

The same incident.

He clearly understood what that person meant. However, that was what made his heart beat even faster. He couldn't let that happen either. He wanted to help him.

"I'll help you find him. Ah, my name is Arioka Daiki. I have absolutely no bad intentions or anything. I'll explain more after we find Yabu Senpai."

Daiki could see the person looking at him confused. Maybe he was digesting the meaning of the word 'Senpai' that came out of his mouth. He finally nodded and smiled at him.

"I understand. Thank you for helping me. My name is Yaotome Hikaru."

Daiki recorded the name in his mind. Yaotome Hikaru. The name wasn't familiar to Daiki, just like Inoo Kei. Hikaru might have been just an ordinary senior who didn't stand out, so Daiki felt he had never heard the name before in school.

As the two of them ran, Hikaru suggested splitting up to widen the search area. Daiki agreed and started turning into a small alley that led to another main street. His eyes sharpened, scanning the surroundings, hoping to see someone resembling his senior. Unfortunately, the dark night narrowed Daiki's vision. Despite the streetlights and lights from the houses, it didn't allow him to see clearly until he was close to the person he was passing.

"YABU SENPAI!"

"YABU KOUTA-KUN! WHERE ARE YOU?!"

Hikaru's steps suddenly stopped when he heard sounds like groans and punches. He listened carefully to the sounds and slowly approached the source. His eyes caught two adult men on the roadside, hitting something that was lying on the ground. Correction, Hikaru was sure they were hitting someone.

"HEY, YOU! STOP!"

Hikaru shouted to stop the actions of the two adult men. He could see them cursing and running away, leaving the person they had been hitting. Hikaru immediately ran to the victim and realized it was the person he had been looking for.

"Oh my God! Why are you beaten up like this!? Who dares to do this to you!?"

"H-Hikaru. I'm one step closer to the truth about Kei. I-"

Hikaru felt tightness in his chest seeing his best friend struggling to say that he was okay, "Don't talk yet! Let's go to the hospital!"

"I'm fine, Hika. I-"

Hikaru saw his friend vomit blood from his mouth. At that moment, his hands quickly pressed the emergency button to call an ambulance. He had to think clearly in a critical situation like this. He had to save him before it was too late.

***

Hikaru didn't know how long he had been sitting in the chair beside the bed like this. His eyes continued to watch his friend, who was still unconscious. He had no intention of sleeping, even though it was past midnight. Let alone sleep, he was still in shock from what happened earlier.

He couldn't bear to see his friend beaten up with such severe injuries. Fortunately, the doctor said the wound was not as bad as imagined. With Hikaru's quick action, Yabu could be treated quickly before it became more fatal.

"Hii-chan, get some sleep. Let me take care of Kota-kun," Mizuki offered.

She was as shocked as Hikaru when he heard the news that Yabu had been beaten up like this. However, she clearly understood that his twin brother was more devastated than she was. He witnessed and found Yabu beaten up like that. Moreover, with the incident this afternoon, Hikaru must have deeply regretted saying such cruel words and had to meet Yabu again in this condition.

"I can't sleep, Mizuki. You go to sleep. I'll wake you up when Yabu awake."

Mizuki pulled a chair and sat beside Hikaru, "Alright, I'll talk to you so you won't get bored."

"Alright, whatever you want."

"So, who was the little guy with you earlier?"

"Ah, that's Arioka Daiki. Our junior in high school. If I'm not mistaken, he should be in his third year now. I told him to go straight home because he has school tomorrow."

"Oh, I see. I'm glad you didn't search for Yabu alone. I was very worried."

Hikaru looked at Mizuki, who had leaned her head on his shoulder. Their lives were better now, but Mizuki still worried about things from the past. Still anxious if Hikaru or herself walked alone outside. Still worried that they would come back.

"They won't bother us anymore. You don't have to worry about that anymore. Mmh?"

"Mmh."

Mizuki's short answer ended their conversation. She had fallen asleep with her head still perched on Hikaru's shoulder. His eyes returned to watch his best friend, who showed no signs of waking up. His mind began to work, thinking of reasons why Yabu could be beaten up like that.

Wait, Hikaru suddenly remembered the important point from Yabu's words before he lost consciousness. Yabu said he was close to the truth about Kei. What did that mean? Wasn't the reason for Kei's disappearance obvious? Could there be another reason besides that?

"H-Hika..."

His body jolted when he saw his friend—who had somehow regained consciousness. Mizuki, who had been sleeping leaning against Hikaru's was also startled and wanted to scold him. But, she held back when she realized Yabu had woken up.

"Kota-kun! We were worried about you!" Mizuki smiled in relief.

"I'm sorry for worrying you. I was too careless."

Hikaru felt the regret in Yabu's hoarse voice. He shook his head strongly. It should be him apologizing, not Yabu.

"Don't push yourself to talk yet, go back to sleep. When you're better, you can tell me everything."

"But-"

"Tomorrow, I'll invite Daiki. I think he also wants to hear your story."

"Daiki? You weren't alone when you looked for me?"

"Yes, he's our junior from high school. He helped me find you and bring you to the hospital. I thought it wouldn't no harm in returning the favor."

Yabu responded to his words with a smile. He forced himself to go back to sleep as Hikaru instructed. Honestly, Yabu still felt a lot of pain throughout his body. He really couldn't say he was better now. He still needed more rest to ease the pain. So that tomorrow, he could thank them and tell them everything in a better condition.

Chapter Text

"Daichan, where are you taking me?"

The younger boy still wondered where his brother wanted to take him. After school, Daiki suddenly grabbed his hand and led him to a place Yamada didn't know. Plus, he had to carry a basket of fruit that his brother had somehow bought along the way. Daiki said nothing and kept walking toward his destination.

As Yamada stood at the sturdy building in front of him, he became even more confused. Why did Daiki take him to the hospital? He was perfectly fine, and there wasn't anyone he knew who was sick or being treated here. What exactly was his purpose?

"Daichan, who are we visiting anyway?" Yamada was getting more and more annoyed since his brother had been silent and kept dragging him along.

"Yabu Senpai."

Yamada's annoyance turned into shock, "Huh!? W-why, what happened to him?"

Daiki remained silent as he continued walking toward his senior's hospital room. He already knew the room number because he had been the one to help bring Yabu to the hospital. Yamada's visit was unexpected, considering how curious the younger was about Inoo Kei. This moment was a chance for Daiki to clear up the misunderstanding Yamada had caused during his first encounter with Yabu.

Daiki gently knocked on the door, "Excuse me..."

"Come in."

Daiki bowed politely, followed by Yamada with his basket of fruit. He smiled awkwardly, unsure what to do after dealing with Yabu again. The incident that morning made him feel even more embarrassed and guilty.

"Oh, you're that cutie!" Yabu exclaimed while pointing at Yamada, who scratched his head and smiled sheepishly.

"Daiki-san. Once again, thank you for helping me. Please, sit comfortably on the sofa with your friend."

Hikaru smiled warmly as he welcomed Daiki. Yamada placed the fruit basket on the table near the sofa and sat down with Daiki. Honestly, he was very confused about the situation. He felt like a stranger among them. Also, Daiki had helped him? When? And for what reason?

Daiki nudged the still-confused Yamada, "Introduce yourself first."

"Aah, right. My name is Yamada Ryosuke. Nice to meet you. And I apologize for my rudeness last time," Yamada said, bowing politely toward Yabu who was sitting on his bed.

Yabu, surprised by Yamada's sudden bow, laughed softly. "Wow, it's such a small world. It's okay. Please sit down, Yamada. I didn't know you were friends with Daiki."

Yamada responded with a slight chuckle. Hikaru was now equally puzzled by this unexpected situation. However, he smiled at his two guests.

"Yabu wants to thank you for helping him. If there's anything you guys want, we'll make it happen."

"oh, no, it doesn't have to come to that. I was sincere in helping, really!"

As Hikaru said that, Yabu started to remember something. "Yamada, you wanted to know about Inoo Kei last time. I can answer your questions now. What do you want to know from him?"

"Wait a minute... Before that, don't you think you should explain what happened to you to end up in this state?" Hikaru interjected as he remembered what he wanted to ask when Daiki arrived.

"Oh, right. Sorry, Yamada. I guess I should answer Hikaru's question first."

Yamada nodded slightly, indicating that he didn't mind. Besides, he finally learned that the young man before him was named Hikaru. From the beginning, when he arrived with Daiki, Hikaru had warmly welcomed them and didn't seem bothered by Yamada's unfamiliar presence.

He had no idea how his brother had become so close with Hikaru, as far as he knew, they had only been trailing Yabu the previous afternoon. It was confusing the next day Daiki could know someone close to Yabu. One thing was for sure, he would definitely demand an explanation from his brother.

"After leaving your house, I went straight to the park where the terrible incident occurred. For some reason, I was just daydreaming and spending a lot of time in that park. And, it all started..."

The day was turning to dusk. Yabu remained seated on the swing, facing the spot where he had placed the flowers. His gaze was empty and somber.

He stayed like that until a voice awoke him, "Are you that eager to know what happened to Inoo Kei?"

He was stunned as if the voice knew his innermost thoughts. His eyes widened as he saw two adult men standing nearby. Who were they? Were they the ones who spoke to me just now?

"Why are you so surprised? Come with us if you want to find out."

Yabu continued to stare at them. His mind was weighing their offer. Should he go with them? What if they were part of the ruthless organization that Kei was involved in? Did they finally realize that Yabu was secretly looking into Kei?

"Alright, I'll come with you."

It was a risky and dangerous decision. Yabu knew that. But if he didn't accept their invitation, he would continue to wonder without ever knowing what had happened to Kei.

"Do you know where Inoo Kei is? He's still alive, right?"

The two men continued to walk ahead without showing any sign of answering his question. Ignored, Yabu kept asking them.

"Aren't you part of the group that kidnapped Kei? Are you taking me to him?"

One of them stopped and looked at Yabu sharply. "I'll make sure you can't move if you keep asking questions. Got it!?"

"Why are you yelling at me? You invited me to come, I was just asking. What's wrong with asking?"

"You'll find out when we get there! Just follow us and keep quiet!"

Yabu became more certain that these two were involved in Kei's disappearance. "Now I know you're part of the organization that kidnapped Kei, right? I've got your faces memorized now. So, before I report you to the police, can you tell me what happened to Kei?"

Thud!

A punch landed on Yabu's stomach. He collapsed in pain, having not anticipated the sudden attack. They started beating him relentlessly until he couldn't move.

"Let me whisper something to you. We also lost Inoo Kei. And about your threat, don't think we'll stop here. We'll be watching you from afar and keeping you quiet."

"HEY, YOU! STOP!"

He vaguely saw the two men running away as the familiar voice reached his ears. With all his might, Yabu tried to get up despite the pain in his body. He could see the super-worried face of his best friend approaching him.

"Oh my God! Why are beaten up like this!? Who dares to do this to you!?"

"H-Hikaru. I'm one step closer to the truth about Kei. I-"

It hurt like hell. Yabu even struggled to speak now. It felt like he had reached his limit.

"Don't talk yet! Let's go to the hospital!"

"I'm fine, Hika. I-"

Thick red liquid began to spill from his mouth. He could no longer lie to say he was okay. His body was very weak and there was no energy left in him. Slowly, his consciousness faded, leaving him in endless darkness.

There was nothing Hikaru could say after hearing Yabu's full story earlier. He was stunned by how much more significant the situation was than he imagined. He still felt disbelief but he also knew Yabu had no reason to lie.

"Yabu Senpai, doesn't that mean you're in danger? They even threatened you. I'm afraid they might do something worse in the future," Daiki was very worried about his senior's safety. If he could, he would want to keep him safe from harm.

"But, I'm still confused. They said that Kei was missing. Can I hope that Kei's whereabouts are no longer black, but gray?" Yabu questioned, still puzzled by what the two men had said the night before.

Hikaru didn't understand either, just like Yabu. With this new information, they could breathe a sigh of relief. At least, they knew Kei was still alive when he was kidnapped. However, this clump of information left them with more questions. What happened next? What was Kei's life like after escaping the organization?

Daiki and Yamada, still sitting on the sofa, exchanged confused looks. They had no idea what the two people in front of them were talking about regarding Inoo Kei. What did they mean by Inoo Kei being kidnapped and missing?

"Putting aside the Kei thing, I'm also worried about you. I'll be staying here with Mizuki in shifts while you're being treated. I don't want anything worse to happen to you."

"You don't have to be that worried. I don't think they were serious when they threatened me last night. How dare they just barge through the hospital like that?"

"Nothing is impossible, Yabu! Please, listen to me. This is for your safety!"

Yabu smiled sadly, "You're being too cautious. Well, I can't stop you if you want to stay."

Daiki breathed a sigh of relief. At least, his senior would be safer with someone to look after him.

"Anoo... I want to ask about Inoo Kei. Is that okay?"

Yamada hesitantly voiced the question he had prepared. He didn't understand, as the two people in front of him kept discussing Inoo Kei. He wanted to join the discussion and share his thoughts about Inoo Kei's problem, even though he had never met him.

Yabu gently patted his forehead, "Oh yeah, I almost forgot. Of course, it's fine! If you want to invite your three friends here, that's fine too. The more, the merrier, right? Those who threatened me can't just walk in either. Isn't that right, Hikaru-kun?"

The one addressed looked at his friend hesitantly. It was true; it would be safer with more people. He didn't mind if Yabu wanted to tell others about Inoo Kei. However, would Mizuki be willing to share issues concerning her own family with others? Hikaru worried that if he talked about everything related to Kei, his twin would fall back into a slump. He wanted to avoid the new life they had worked so hard to build from collapsing again as much as possible.

He didn't want that to happen.

"I personally don't mind. But I don't want to tell everything about Inoo Kei without Mizuki's permission. If I may, I'd like to ask for time to call Mizuki here before telling you and your friends."

Yamada shook his head slightly, "Of course. I'm sorry for being too presumptuous to ask like this."

"No need to apologize. This is also a form of my gratitude to Daiki. Of course, I don't mind. Just wait a moment." Hikaru got up and left Yabu's hospital room.

As the day turned to night, the three people in the room started to get acquainted with each other. Yabu had begun to learn who Yamada and Daiki were. Yamada also talked about his three friends, who each had different traits. He wondered why he had friends with such varied behavior.

Yabu also told his two juniors about who Mizuki was whom Hikaru had mentioned. At least, they could know about her before meeting her in person.

Occasionally, he joked about funny things Yabu had experienced with Kei, Hikaru, and Mizuki during high school. Daiki and Yamada who heard it were also caught up in the pleasant atmosphere. They imagined it as if they were laughing along with Yabu and his three friends.

"You know, Kei is a very nice person. Too kind, even. I never expected him to disappear from among us just like that. It feels like just yesterday I saw him smiling and laughing so sincerely. He has a truly innocent personality."

Both Yamada and Daiki felt a pang of guilt hearing Yabu's words. In their minds, it seemed impossible that someone as good as Inoo Kei had to go through something so cruel. Just imagining it made them feel uneasy.

"Yabu Kouta-kun! How are you doing? Feeling better?" A woman suddenly greeted him from outside the room.

"Mizuki! I'm better than yesterday! Thank you for taking the time to come!"

"I intended to visit you as soon as I finished my business!"

Yamada observed the woman called Mizuki. She seemed to be around the same age and had a face similar to Hikaru's, making Yamada more convinced that this was the Mizuki Yabu had mentioned.

"Oh, you're Daiki, right? Thanks for helping Hii-chan! I don't know how to repay my gratitude!"

Daiki shook his head slightly, "Really, it's nothing. I just wanted to help. Besides, I know Yabu was my senior in high school. In any case, I don't want anything bad to happen to someone I know."

"You're right. I'd be worried too. Yabu, what a brat!"

Yabu winced slightly when his chubby cheeks were pinched by Mizuki, "Alright, I promise I'll be more careful next time!"

Hikaru then entered Yabu's room, smiling as a greeting to his friend, who was also the patient.

"Mizuki, you might not like it, but Yabu and I decided to tell Daiki and his friends everything about Inoo Kei. Consider it a token of our gratitude to Daiki. Are you okay with that?"

Mizuki's breath caught. Her previously softened expression turned serious. Honestly, she didn't mind if Hikaru trusted that Daiki and his friends weren't bad people. She also trusted Hikaru.

However, it was tough for her to remember Inoo Kei. Let alone remembering, just hearing his name made her chest tighten and painful. The guilt could overwhelm her mind and heart again. If that happened, what was the point of the new life she had built so high? She didn't want to experience the extreme downfall she had gone through in the past again. It was painful not only for herself but also for Hikaru. Mizuki didn't want to go back to that time.

Mizuki took a deep breath, "If you trust Daiki and his friends, I'll trust your decision, Hii-chan. But I may not be able to retell the story again, or I might make an excuse to leave to avoid remembering that painful story."

Hikaru looked at his twin sister with sadness. Honestly, he also found it hard to tell or even hear everything about Inoo Kei. He felt just as guilty as Mizuki. However, he knew he couldn't let his guilt continue to control his life forever. He had to learn to face it and make the most of Kei's sacrifice for him.

For Kei's sake, he and Mizuki had to keep moving forward.

"Thank you, Mizuki."

Yabu, sensing the heavy atmosphere in the room, tried to lighten it up, "Since it's already getting late, how about you visit me again tomorrow with your three friends? Tomorrow is a weekend, right? You can ask as many questions as you like."

His two juniors nodded enthusiastically. At first, they felt bad around Hikaru and Mizuki, seeing how hard it was for them to even recall or talk about Inoo Kei. They had no idea what kind of issues the siblings had faced with Inoo Kei. What was clear was that Yamada felt relieved, because his curiosity would soon be answered.

Or maybe, just part of his curiosity.

Chapter Text

The five young men walked toward the patient's room. Last night, Yamada had already informed his three friends about everything he and Daiki discussed while visiting Yabu. When he went home, he made sure to ask about how Daiki got close to Hikaru. And honestly, he was very surprised when he heard the story. He hadn’t realized Yabu’s condition was that bad, considering his senpai had seemed fine and enthusiastic when chatting with him yesterday.

"Excuse me..."

Daiki’s polite greeting drew the attention of the room's owner. Yabu smiled, his eyes curving into perfect arcs. Daiki entered the room like a mother duck, with his friends following closely behind.

“Well, it’s nice to meet you all. Please, have a seat!” Yabu greeted them warmly, looking at each unfamiliar face he was meeting for the first time.

One by one, Yamada's three friends began to introduce themselves. Although the atmosphere was a bit awkward since it was their first time meeting their senior, Yabu took the initiative to create a lighter, more friendly atmosphere.

“Senpai, where is Hikaru-san? Why are you alone?”

In Daiki's mind, it was dangerous to leave his senior alone in his room. The story about the threats from the two strangers still lingered in his mind. He feared it could happen again.

“Hikaru said he wanted to buy something at a nearby convenience store. You don’t need to worry. I’m doing much better now,” he said jokingly, his eyes still curved into crescents that could make anyone smile.

“So, senpai, what kind of person is Inoo Kei?” Chinen asked, getting straight to the main topic.

“Kei is a very nice person. He's friendly and gets along with everyone, always willing to help, and he is smart too. Even if he were to graduate properly, there’s no doubt he would have been the top graduate, not me.”

Yabu sighed before continuing, “If I had to mention a flaw, maybe it was his mysterious nature. As friendly and kind as he is, he rarely talked about himself. I don’t know why, but I always felt like I don’t truly know who Kei is. He felt distant and unfamiliar.”

The five listeners sank into their own thoughts. It was becoming clear how difficult it would be to investigate further. Even Yabu, who had been close friends with Inoo Kei, didn’t know him well. Everything seemed so gray.

“I guess I should tell it from the beginning of how I met him and everything I know about his situation that got him involved with that ruthless organization. After all, I’d like to hear your thoughts and discuss this.”

Yamada, Daiki, and their three friends nodded in agreement with their senior’s suggestion. “Alright then, I first met him on my first day as a new student in high school…”

Today was Yabu’s first day of high school. None of his friends from his previous school were attending here. He felt like a complete stranger and had to start everything from scratch, making new friends and adapting to everything around him.

He should have prepared everything he needed to bring on his first day, but he ended up leaving the bento he had made that morning. His stomach grumbled, demanding food, but he didn’t have a single cent on him. What a rotten day.

Yabu chose to take a short nap at his desk to pass the time during lunch. At least while sleeping, he could forget his hunger. But his plan was interrupted when a pretty-faced boy approached him.

“Aren’t you going to eat your bento?” he asked curiously.

“I forgot to bring it.”

“Are you hungry? Come on, let’s eat together!”

Yabu’s sharp eyes glanced at the boy’s face, which showed a sweet, sincere smile. He honestly didn’t mind accepting the offer. It could also be an opportunity for him to make a new friend. But was it okay to share a bento just like that?

“I’m fine, don’t worry.”

“Come on, I insist!”

Yabu flinched as the boy’s delicate hand grabbed his, leading him toward a pair of desks where a boy and a girl were already enjoying their bentos. Yabu didn’t know what the relationship was between the boy who had invited him and these two students. But one thing was certain, the atmosphere became awkward as soon as he arrived.

“Hikaru-kun, he wants to join us. Is that okay?”

The boy sitting there flashed a wide smile, “Of course! What’s your name?”

“Yabu Kouta. Nice to meet you.”

“You don’t have to be so formal. Just relax,” joked the one called Hikaru.

“Yabu-kun, let’s eat my bento together!”

“But before that, you haven’t told me your name.”

“Ah, you’re right. It wouldn’t be right to share a bento with someone whose name you don’t know. I’m Inoo Kei. Nice to meet you!”

“Alright, Inoo… kun?”

“Haha! You’re so stiff. Just call me Kei.”

“Eh? Is that okay?”

“I don’t really like it when someone calls me by my family name. Kei feels more comfortable to me.” His smile remained unwavering, sweet, and genuine.

“Alright then, Kei.”

As Kei laughed at Yabu’s stiffness, the girl beside Hikaru introduced herself as Mizuki. Yabu then realized that Hikaru and Mizuki were twins, given how similar their faces were.

From here, Yabu’s friendship with Kei, Hikaru, and Mizuki began. They started opening up to each other and talking about many things. But deep down, Yabu felt that Kei had never truly opened up to his three friends. Everything about Kei still seemed mysterious.

Yamada had been listening intently to his senior’s story. New questions arose in his mind. Why didn’t Inoo Kei like being called by his family name?

“Yabu-senpai, did you ever think that the reason why Inoo Kei didn’t want to be called by his family name had something to do with why he disappeared? Did he have issues with his family?” Kamiki asked cautiously, trying to avoid touching on anything sensitive.

“At first, I never considered that, because after all, the reason for his disappearance was obvious. But, thinking about it again, it does make sense if it’s connected to his family. The problem is, I don’t even know anything about his family situation. Not to mention the problems, I don’t even know where he lived or what his family was like.”

This was clearly a serious issue. If Yabu himself didn’t know where his friend’s house was, how could they find clues easily?

“But, I do know that he mentioned a few times that he had a younger sister he called Aki-chan. Whenever we planned to hang out or just chill at a café after school, he always declined, saying he had to take his sister home. I think we might be able to find out more through her.”

“That’s quite difficult, Yabu-kun.”

A voice interrupted the discussion. The tall young man suddenly appeared and entered the patient’s room. They didn’t know how long he had been listening, but they were sure his presence would make the discussion more interesting.

“Where do you think you’ll find Inoo Aki? Don’t go too far with this. Besides, why are you so determined to uncover a reason that’s already clear? Kei disappeared because he was protecting me and Mizuki!”

The atmosphere grew tense. No one dared to speak. The young man who had just entered seemed displeased with what he saw as his friend’s futile efforts.

“Hikaru-kun, I’m sorry. Maybe you’re right, it's just me who always refuses to believe in reality.”

Hikaru put his shopping bag on the table near Yabu’s bed and rubbed his face in frustration. “No, I’m sorry for being too emotional and ruining the mood. I’m okay now. You can continue your story.”

For a while, silence filled the room. Yamada and the others felt guilty, thinking they might have overstepped. But Yabu regained his smile and looked at his five juniors.

“Well then, I’ll continue the story...”

Chapter Text

It didn't feel like it, but the first year of high school was coming to an end soon. Ever since they started, everything had gone so smoothly. They were still able to laugh freely, relax, and joke around. Everything still felt normal. Yabu hoped that things would stay this way until graduation.

However, just as he wished for that, a series of terrifying events struck his friends. It all started when the Yaotome siblings didn't come to school one day. Neither Yabu nor Kei knew why they were absent. They tried to contact Hikaru and Mizuki, but there was no response from either of them.

The next day, Yabu and Kei were shocked to see Mizuki arriving at school with a face covered in wounds and bandages. Hikaru, who came along, remained silent and said nothing. Yabu didn't understand anything, and neither did Kei. They wanted to see Mizuki laughing again and hear Hikaru's jokes. At the very least, they wanted to help in any way they could.

But no matter how hard they tried to ask what had happened to the Yaotome twins, they remained silent, only saying that it was a family matter. Yabu thought it might be best not to get too involved, especially since it concerned a family issue. However, Kei was determined to help, saying he would do anything to bring back Hikaru and Mizuki’s smiles.

This was clearly beyond Kei’s reach. He knew that whatever problems the Yaotome family had, they had nothing to do with him. But why did he care so much? Even Yabu couldn’t understand. He wanted to pull Kei back, to warn him that it could be dangerous for him.

But Yabu was a coward.

Yabu wasn’t as brave as Kei, who was willing to break through and see what the Yaotome family’s problems were. He could only watch as Kei walked away, leaving him behind, leaving him as if he were a stranger once again.

But isn’t that the truth? From the beginning, it had only been the three of them. If Yabu hadn’t forgotten his bento, would Kei have still offered his lunch to him? Yabu was just an outsider who had somehow entered their friendship.

What was Yabu supposed to do now?

The peak of the problem came when horrifying rumors began spreading at school. Whispers and disgusted glances were directed at Yaotome Mizuki, who arrived at school with fresh wounds on her face. Yabu didn’t know where the rumors had started. He only heard from people that Mizuki was a cheap woman and that her injuries came from the rough men she served.

Yabu was furious and deeply upset upon hearing such vile gossip. He knew Mizuki’s character well and was certain that she would never do something so degrading. Yabu trusted Mizuki, and so did Kei.

On the same day that the rumors spread, Yabu and Kei found Mizuki crouched down, sobbing in a secluded area of the school, one rarely visited by students or teachers. Hikaru was beside her, gently rubbing his twin sister’s back, his emotions a mix of sadness, chaos, anger, and frustration.

"Mizuki..."

Kei’s soft call made Mizuki look up. Her face was already as red as a tomato.

"Maybe this isn’t the right time, but can you tell me everything? About the rumor and your family’s problem. It’s not true, is it?"

His voice was so gentle, so soothing to anyone who heard it. Mizuki continued sobbing, looking away.

"They’re right. I am a filthy woman. So don’t bother being friends with a seductress like me."

Kei looked at Mizuki with sadness. "I don’t care if you’re dirty or whatever. As long as you’re Mizuki, I don’t care. I want to be with you in both happy and difficult times. We’re not strangers, Mizuki. We’ve spent this past year together."

Mizuki’s sobs grew louder, more sorrowful.

Kei pulled her into an embrace. Mizuki continued crying, soaking Kei’s uniform with her tears. Yabu stood nearby, watching. Once again, he was in awe of Kei’s bravery. He couldn’t do what Kei did so easily.

After Mizuki calmed down, Kei suggested they all go to a café where they could talk. With Hikaru and Mizuki’s agreement, they finally decided to tell Kei and Yabu everything, starting from the moment when they were absent from school.

A few days ago, Mizuki and Hikaru were ready to leave for school. But their house felt eerily silent. There was no clattering of dishes, no aroma of breakfast cooking, nothing from their mother as usual. Where had their parents gone?

Knock! Knock!

The sound of knocking shattered their confusion. Hikaru, taking the initiative, opened the door, ready to ask their parents a flood of questions. But his tongue froze when he saw two unfamiliar adult men standing at the door. Not his parents as he had expected.

"Who are you?"

"Where is Yaotome Mizuki?"

Hikaru’s heart pounded. His instincts told him these men had bad intentions. He didn’t know what, but he wanted to keep them away from Mizuki.

The two men barged into the house, approaching Mizuki, who stood frozen in shock. "Don’t touch her! Who are you really? Where are my parents?"

One of the men looked at Hikaru indifferently. "We’ve already negotiated with your parents. They agreed to sell their daughter to us because they couldn’t pay off their debt."

Hikaru’s legs weakened at those words. He refused to believe it. His parents wouldn’t be that cruel, not to the point of selling Mizuki. No, he couldn’t believe these strangers who had barged into their home.

"Lies! My parents would never be so heartless!"

One of the men stepped closer and pulled out a phone from his pocket. "We can show you proof if you don’t believe us."

Hikaru’s heart pounded harder. The man showed him a message history with his father. Hikaru couldn’t deny it—that was his father’s number. But why? Were his parents planning to run away without any explanation?

Rushing to his parents’ bedroom, Hikaru found it exactly as he feared. Neat and empty. The heavy furniture was still there, but all his mother’s personal belongings were gone. Why? Why had they abandoned them?

What was Hikaru supposed to do? This wasn’t his or Mizuki’s fault, yet all the blame seemed to be placed on Mizuki. What had Mizuki done to deserve being sold like an object? No, Hikaru would never allow Mizuki to be treated that way. If he could, he would take her place. But they only wanted Mizuki.

The men forcibly dragged Mizuki away. Hikaru fought with all his might to stop them. But they easily pushed him aside. His strength was no match for them, and he was left in helpless regret as their car sped away, taking Mizuki with them.

Hikaru didn’t know what they had done to Mizuki. He hated himself for failing her. He was even angrier at his parents, who ran away without any explanation—about the debt, about whether they had been threatened. Hikaru had no answers, and that enraged him.

Maybe, for the rest of his life, he would never forgive his parents.

A car stopped in a parking lot somewhere. The girl, who was with two men far older than her, wasn't sure where she was. She was truly scared and frustrated, but she couldn't do anything to fight against the two men. Let alone resisting, even her twin brother, who was much stronger than her, had been powerless against them.

When they ordered her to get out of the car, they handed her a change of clothes they had prepared. Of course, people might get suspicious seeing two rough-looking adult men walking around with a high school girl in uniform, especially since school hours had already started.

"Change your clothes in that restroom over there. Then come back here."

The girl obeyed and walked toward the indicated restroom. She unfolded the clothing and was shocked to find that it was a one-piece dress with a very short skirt, leaving her thighs barely covered. Honestly, she was extremely embarrassed, especially at the thought of facing those two men again. She had no idea what was going to happen to her next.

In her mind, she desperately wanted to escape when the men let their guard down. She wanted to run away from their grasp. However, her steps did not match her thoughts. She was afraid and ashamed to approach them, but she was even more terrified of running away. Perhaps something even worse would happen to her.

"Mizuki! Come on in!"

The girl, called Mizuki, let out a small gasp when one of the men suddenly draped his arm around her shoulders. She was truly scared now, even more, when she began to realize what kind of building they were entering.

A club.

A club whose signboard was lit up with bright, colorful lights every night, dazzling anyone who passed by. Inside, it was filled with people looking to escape their stress and lives, even just for a moment. Dancing, making out, getting drunk. Almost every sinful act could be found in every corner of this place.

And now, Mizuki was stepping into it. Mizuki, who wasn’t even in her second year of high school yet. She was entering this building.

The two men seemed well-acquainted with the bouncer at the club’s entrance, allowing Mizuki who was still held by one of them to pass through without any trouble. Her heart pounded even faster. The booming sound of dance music grew louder in her ears. The man showed no sign of letting go of his hold on her.

When they reached a table surrounded by a plush sofa, the two men sat down casually. His arm was finally off her. However, Mizuki only lowered her gaze, unsure of what to do in this uncomfortable situation. She repeatedly tried to pull the hem of her dress down in discomfort.

"Mizuki-chan."

Mizuki-chan? He called her with the "-chan" suffix. Even her best friends, Kei and Yabu, never called her that.

"Do you want to know why Yaotome-san was willing to sell you to us?"

Mizuki's eyes widened instantly. She desperately wanted to know. The man who raised her had the heart to do such a thing. Why? What was the reason? Was paying off a debt more important than his own child?

"Yaotome Hitomi, your father, used to be a drug addict. He owed us a lot and would do anything to keep that secret from being exposed. Foolishly, he chose to protect his comfortable life over his own daughter."

Her head could have exploded. The information she had just received was far from anything she had ever imagined. She wanted to refuse to believe it. Her father was a good man who loved her and Hikaru dearly. He couldn't be as terrible as these men made him out to be.

And if they were bringing up debts and drugs, did that mean these two men were drug dealers? If that was true, her father had truly dragged Mizuki into hell.

"I know, it must be hard for you to believe this, right? Don’t worry, we’ll treat you as we should."

Mizuki shook her head vigorously. The air inside the club was suffocating, and the loud dance music only made her head spin. She needed fresh air to clear her swirling thoughts.

"I need some fresh air. Excuse me."

For the first time, Mizuki spoke just to ask for permission. However, the two men did not seem pleased.

"Trying to run away?"

Mizuki shook her head again. "I-I won’t run away."

Without warning, one of the men forcefully grabbed Mizuki’s arm. She gasped and felt intense pain from his iron grip. He dragged her towards the back door of the club, which led to the alley beside the building.

Mizuki collapsed as soon as the man roughly let go of her arm. She was terrified. She had made him angry. What was she supposed to do now?

"Honestly, I just wanted to play it safe. But I can't let you act as you please like that. Do you think we’re stupid enough to trust you?"

Her body trembled with fear. She had no intention of running away. Mizuki had genuinely wanted fresh air. However, to the man, it had meant something else.

"Are you planning to seek help after this and accuse me of hitting you? You didn’t even resist when entering the club. You enjoyed it, didn’t you?"

Mizuki shook her head frantically. The man’s gaze made her feel disgusted. She was not that kind of girl. She wasn’t a seductress. She was just scared and powerless to fight back.

"I-I didn’t enjoy it."

"Huh? Your voice is too soft."

"I didn’t enjoy it! Stop looking at me like that!" she snapped.

Yes, Mizuki snapped at him. She could no longer accept his words. She had had enough of going along with his game. She was sick of it. She wanted to go home and make them kneel, begging for forgiveness from her twin brother, whom they had treated so harshly.

But what she received was a hard slap from the man’s rough hand. Her cheek reddened and throbbed in pain. She had no dignity left now.

"You have no right to resist. If you want all of this to stop, tell your father to pay his debts. Do you understand?" The man crouched beside Mizuki, whispering threateningly.

Mizuki glared at him sharply. The man, noticing her defiant stare, raised his hand again toward her. He was clearly furious at her audacity. She should have had no choice but to obey, as her father had already sold her to them.

'I can’t endure any more days like this.'

The atmosphere in the café felt heavy. Mizuki’s tears fell again as she recounted everything. To be honest, even Yabu himself could never have been as strong as his friend. Here, he felt surrounded by people who were strong and brave, unlike himself, who simply went along with the flow of life.

Between her sobs, Mizuki struggled to continue, "Since that day, they agreed to let me attend school as usual and return to them afterward. After we part ways here at the café, I’ll have to go back to them. It feels—"

"I won’t let you see them again."

Hikaru sighed in resignation. "If I could, I wouldn’t let Mizuki keep going through this either."

"I’m serious, Hikaru."

Hikaru’s eyes widened in shock. "Kei, what are you planning to do? This is our problem. You don’t need to do anything!"

"Your problem is my problem too. I’ll help however I can."

"Kei! Please, we’re fine. Don’t act like this."

Yabu could only listen to the heated debate between his friends, Kei and Hikaru. But then, something even more terrifying happened. Their argument was interrupted by the arrival of two unfamiliar men standing right beside their table.

Judging by Mizuki’s terrified expression, they were likely the men from her story.

"Sorry to interrupt your little chat, but your time with Mizuki-chan is up. We have to take her now. Let’s go!"

Kei immediately stood up. The two men looked at him dismissively. Mizuki clung tightly to Hikaru’s hand, unwilling to let go. She was utterly terrified.

"I’ll take on Mizuki’s father’s debt. I’ll be responsible for it."

Yabu wanted to check his ears. He thought he had misheard Kei's words. But his friend's gaze was firm and serious, truly a look Yabu had never seen before from the gentle and calming Inoo Kei.  

"Kei!"  

"You should think carefully about your words, kid. The debt isn't small, you know. Come on, Mizuki-chan."  

"I'm serious. As long as you don't touch Mizuki again, I'll do anything to take on the debt."  

"Kei! Please stop! I'm fine. I have to go with them now!"  

"What’s the actual amount?"  

"KEI!"  

One of the men smirked at Kei's bold question. "Stay quiet, Mizuki-chan. Your friend here is quite interesting. Alright, come with us for a moment."  

The two men walked out of the café, followed closely by Kei. When he reached the door, Kei turned around and gave his three friends a sweet smile. Yabu didn’t understand the meaning behind that smile.  

But Yabu knew a little.  

That sweet smile was the beginning of Inoo Kei’s suffering—one that would lead to the school hijacking incident.

Chapter Text

Two months had passed since they entered their second year of high school. For the Yaotome siblings, it had been three months of peace without any disturbances from their father’s debt collectors. Their best friend, Kei, had taken on everything. Even a thousand thank-yous wouldn't be enough to repay Kei for what he did.

Everything truly felt like it had returned to normal. The gossip about Mizuki had vanished as if swallowed by the earth. There was no need to worry about tomorrow. No need to worry when the school bell rang. No need to worry if 'they' would come again.

It was all over. Thanks to Kei.

That’s what Yabu believed—until he saw a missed call from Kei. His brows furrowed as he stepped out of the shower and checked his phone. The clock read 9:30 PM. It was unusual for Kei to call this late at night. Yabu knew Kei well—he wasn’t the type to make phone calls. He preferred to send texts.

Worried, Yabu called Kei back, hoping it wasn’t something urgent or something that would make his heart race. He believed his friend was okay.

“Moshi-moshi.”

“Kei, why did you call me?”

“Was I bothering you? It’s nothing, really.”

Through the call, Yabu could hear the sound of motorbikes and the wind blowing. Was he outside? In this chilly autumn weather?

“Kei, where are you?”

“I’m at the park near the cinema.”

“All right, I’m coming.”

Yabu quickly put on a jacket and brought another one, just in case his friend was out there in only a T-shirt. He didn’t know why, but something told him he had to go. The park wasn’t far from his house, but he didn’t want to waste any time walking, so he took his motorcycle.

From outside the park, Yabu spotted someone sitting alone on a bench. As he walked closer, he confirmed it was Kei. He waved to his friend, who greeted him back with a warm smile.

A warm smile.

Yabu wished he could protect that smile, keep it from fading.

He was about to sit beside him—when his legs froze. Behind Kei, several men were approaching. Seeing Yabu’s sudden change in expression, Kei turned to look behind him too.

It all happened so fast. Yabu saw with his own eyes how his friend was dragged away by several men and thrown into their car. Blood stained the ground near the bench.

Kei had been struck in the head with a wooden plank.

Yabu saw it all. Saw his friend, still conscious, collapse.

And yet, he did nothing. He just stood there. Frozen.

Why? Why was he born a coward?

He should’ve stopped them before they hurt Kei. So Kei wouldn’t have to suffer alone. And if their goal was to kidnap Kei all along, then at least he could’ve gone with him—for witnessing the abduction.

But that’s not what happened. Kei was gone.

He had just wished to protect that smile—and now, it wasn’t just the smile that had faded. It was everything. Yabu wasn’t even sure he’d ever see that smile again.

The chill of the autumn night froze his chest. It hurt. He hugged the jacket he meant to lend Kei, burying his tear-stained face into it.

He screamed, though it was muffled by the jacket in his arms.

Now, he would have to carry that regret wherever he went.

***

“Yabu-kun, what’s with you today?”

He only shook his head and ate his lunch with zero enthusiasm. They were eating their bento on the school rooftop.

Mizuki sighed in frustration. “Kei’s not here either. What’s wrong with everyone today?!”

“It’s Kei… He’s the reason I’m like this,” Yabu mumbled, just loud enough for his two friends to hear.

“Kei? Wait, do you know why he’s not here today?” Hikaru guessed.

Yabu nodded.

“What happened? What’s wrong with Kei?”

Yabu closed his eyes, trying to steady himself from yelling or crying again. He was exhausted, having not slept a single minute the night before—only crying and screaming.

“K-Kei, he—”

His hand holding the spoon shook violently. The incident had left him traumatized, paralyzed with fear. He wasn’t even sure if he could tell Mizuki and Hikaru. But they deserved to know.

Hikaru gently took Yabu’s trembling hand. “It’s okay. Take your time.”

Yabu tried to steady his breathing. Then, he began to explain everything that had happened the night before. Eventually, tears fell again. He tried to stay calm, but his shoulders trembled uncontrollably.

“Kei… Did he lie to us?”

“Did he not actually pay off all the debt? Is that why this happened… Why?”

“NE! YABU-KUN! WHY DID THIS HAVE TO HAPPEN TO HIM!? WHY!?” Mizuki shook Yabu, who was still sobbing. She was desperate—just as desperate as Yabu and Hikaru.

“This is all my fault too. I should’ve stopped them from taking Kei. I was too scared, Mizuki!”

“Both of you, stop blaming yourselves! Acting like this won’t bring Kei back! Please, stop!”

Hikaru was at his wit’s end. He was filled with regret too, but he knew this kind of guilt wouldn’t help anyone. It only made things worse.

After Hikaru’s outburst, silence fell between them. They sat quietly, each lost in their own thoughts and sorrow, letting the autumn breeze ruffle their hair. They tidied themselves up just before the bell rang, returning to class like nothing had ever happened.

They thought they could act normal after that. But when a group of grown men entered their classroom, their composure shattered. While their classmates might not have known who the men were, Yabu recognized two of them. They were the same men who had once harassed Mizuki.

As Yabu thought this, the classroom speaker let out a loud static noise. One of the men walked toward Mizuki’s desk, not far from his.

“Mizuki-chan, where’s Inoo Kei’s desk?”

Mizuki’s body trembled as she slowly pointed toward the empty seat in the back. The man smiled and walked toward it. He signaled to the other men while the voice on the speaker continued:

"Perhaps you're tired of this old man's long-winded speech. Fine, I'll get to our point. We just want to advise all the inhabitants of this school not to act tough if you can't handle it yourselves. We're just warning you not to fall into the same hole."

Yabu understood exactly what the man meant. And that’s what made him so angry. They were making it seem like Kei was in the wrong. Yabu wanted to speak out—but he remained silent.

"One of the students in this school once acted like a hero he thought he could handle. But he's nothing more than a flea. From this story, I hope you don't act beyond your capabilities. That's all the advice from us."

“What a load of crap!” Hikaru snapped, making everyone turn to him.

The men were now leaving the classroom—carrying away Kei’s desk and chair. That’s why Hikaru dared to speak out. Yabu didn’t understand why they were taking Kei’s desk or where they were taking it. But it gave him a very bad feeling.

"As a closing remark, we hope you don't need to find out and consider someone named Inoo Kei ever attended this school. Thank you for listening to our advice and don't forget to check out our 'gift'. Have fun continuing your studies today!"

Gift… Could it be…?

Hikaru and Mizuki bolted out of the classroom. Yabu followed right behind them. Through the window, they could see smoke rising from the school field. His heart pounded in his chest.

Did they really have to go this far? Why?

When they reached the field, Yabu’s legs gave out. Kei’s desk and chair were engulfed in flames. Mizuki sobbed uncontrollably, trying to approach the fire. Hikaru wept too, holding Mizuki back. The scene was terrifying—for them and everyone in the school. None of them had imagined the enemies would go as far as to invade their school and destroy school property.

Everyone was truly shaken by them. Especially Yabu, Mizuki, and Hikaru. They would never forget this day.

Not for the rest of their lives.