(Kazuto's POV)

I felt my body was made of lead, finding it hard to even take a step closer to the bag in front of me.

"So, do you know who this belongs to?" The custodian questioned.

"Yeah," I mumbled. He forced himself to walk up to the bag he knew all to well, and picked it up in his hands.

With a sudden urgency, I ran out the classroom, down the hall, and to Shino's apartment, hoping this wasn't a big deal as I thought it was.

Once I got there I didn't bother taking the elevator, wasn't fast enough. I ran to her room as fast as I could, going up the stairs. When I reached her room I couldn't help but bang on the door.

"Shino?" I called through the door but I didn't hear a reply.

I quickly looked under the doormat and saw the key was placed differently. If I recall, the key wasn't placed on the bottom right corner of the doormat. It was always to the top left corner. She always placed it there...

I took the key and unlocked the door, and walked inside. Everything looked in order. But she wasn't here. There was no sign of struggle. But I had to make sure.

Last time she took her nerve gear. Remembering where she usually puts it, I searched there. I began to search her room and it wasn't there.

I doubt she's with him, but what if she is?

I take out my phone and dial Tsuboi.

"Hello?" I heard Suguha's voice answer.

"Suguha, is that you?" I questioned, slightly confused.

"Oh hey its Kazuto," she chimed.

"Put him on speaker," I heard a murmured voice I assumed was Tsuboi.

"Yo Kazuto, what's up?" He replied.

"Have you seen Shino today?" I questioned.

"No, why?" Tsuboi asked, his voice sounding grim.

"She disappeared," I mumbled. I heard car tires brake on the other sid of the phone.

"Are you okay?" I questioned, clearly alarmed.

"Where are you?" Tsuboi asked sternly.

"Shino's apartment," I replied.

"I'm on my way," Tsuboi replied before Suguha hanged up. I sighed, and start on Shino's bed. Something tells me this isn't like last time. I began to text Rika, Keiko, and Asuna if they've seen her after school somewhere. They all replied no.

Something caught my attention though. I saw a pink earring on her floor. Shino doesn't wear earrings, as far as I know. This wasn't hers.

I heard footsteps run down the hall and heard knocking on the door. I opened the door to see Suguha and Tsuboi, clearly out of breathe.

"We're here," they declared. They must be dropped of Rika before they got here.

"Guess what I found?" I held up the pink earring.

"Ooo that's cute," Suguha took the earring and stared at it.

"But Shino doesn't wear earrings," Tsuboi replied.

"She doesn't, right?" I asked in confirmation.

"Her ears aren't pierced," Suguha responded.

"So if these aren't Shino's, does that mean someone was in here?" Tsuboi questioned. I lifted up Shino's backpack.

"I found this at her school, just laying there in the last class she was seen in. And her nerve gear isn't here, and we found this earring," I mumbled. They gave me questioning looks.

"And?" They questioned. I sighed.

"Means something must've happened to her at school. Someone came here to get her nerve gear and happened to drop this earring," I explained. They still looked very confused. I sighed.

"Something tells me it was more then one person who did this. She wouldn't just leave her phone behind, much less her backpack and notes. She wouldn't ditch class either. So that means there was foul play at work. While she was in school someone must've been here, but I'm suprised they didn't leave a mess looking for for the nerve gear. Which means they must have cleaned up before they left. Neat freak maybe?" I replied. They looked at me in awe.

"Good work Sherlock," Suguha exclaimed.

"But this means someone took Shino," Tsuboi growled. Suguha frowned and looked down at the earring.

"Wait, doesn't Shino have a neighbor? We can ask her if she saw anyone come by," Tsuboi exclaimed.

"But she went to school, I know because I dropped her off," I refuted. Tsuboi frowned.

"It wouldn't hurt to try," he mumbled.

"She couldn't be home anyway, she'd still be walking from school by now. There's no way she'd be in her apartment," I replied. Suguha just sighed and walked out the door, to Hikari's room.

"She won't be there," I said, following her, so did Tsuboi. And to my surprised, Hikari answered the door. She was in her PJ's.

"Oh hi Shino's friends, boyfriend," she chimed.

"How are you here?" I questioned. She giggled.

"I didn't feel to well, so I was sent home for some rest," she yawned.

"In that case, did you see or hear anyone go near or into Shino's apartment?" Tsuboi questioned. She lifted a brow and tapped her lips with her finger in thought.

"Nope," she concluded.

"You sure?" Suguha questioned. Hikari nodded.

"I'm sure. Why, what's wrong?" She asked worriedly.

"Shino's gone missing," Tsuboi mumbled. She gasped, covering her mouth with both her hands.

"Say it isn't so?" Hikari pleaded.

"I'm afraid its true," Suguha mumbled.

"Be right back, don't you move!" Hikari said before closing the door on us. We all had questioning looks on out faces. She came out with her school outfit on.

"Sorry, I didn't know what to wear so I just picked this," she sighed.

"What do you mean?" Tsuboi asked.

"Ima help you guys look for Shino," Hikari cheered.

"Yay," we all said in a monotoned voice. She was oblivious to our lack of excitement, she locked arms with both me and Tsuboi.

"Let's do this," Hikari chimed.

***

Authors note: Hikari is the girl in the picture. Closest thing I can imagine she looks like. Don't worry, more coming your way!

Until Next Time!

-InGameProdigy