The sun streaked the skyline with yellows and oranges. I squinted, my hand holding onto the banister as we headed upstairs and aboveground.

"Watch yourself," Kaito said as we walked along a busy path. 

He was the first to talk after our conversation had ended oddly earlier. I was grateful for that, because I wouldn’t have been able to get any sort of conversation going with him again easily, not after what had happened. It just felt strange. I told myself to stop thinking about this and to focus on my surroundings. People were heading in all directions, and traffic was fast moving.

"Is it always this busy?" I asked. Kaito was walking alongside me.

"Well, it’s pretty much downtown," he said. "And it’s rush hour. When I come here to pick her up, it’s not so bad, but always packed, more or less."

We were going to check around Rin’s school first, and then move on to some parks and neighbourhoods. Kaito had said that she might be lurking around the school grounds.

"You really think she would’ve come back to the school?" I asked. We were standing at an intersection, waiting for the 'walk' light to turn on. Skyscrapers and high-rises loomed over me, and the ground was lined with expensive-looking shops.

"It’s possible," he said. "Maybe she’s waiting for me."

I grinned suddenly, which was very weird of me, but I couldn’t help it. Kaito sounded so wistful and mushy when he said that.

Of course, my sudden, huge smile caught his attention. I tried to stop smiling but only managed to do so after he asked me what it was all about.

"Why’re you smiling?" He asked.

"U-Um, well…" I bit the inside of my cheek a little too hard, trying to stop smiling."Ow…it’s nothing, really!"

He frowned, staring at me.

"I’m sorry!" I babbled, shaking my head. "I shouldn’t be smiling at a time like this, I-I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I should be serious."

I furrowed my brows and tried to get my serious mode going. It wasn’t working, and he just stared at me as I made weird faces.

"Okay, this isn’t working," I shook my head. "I just thought it was cute."

"Huh?" 

Great, I’m just confusing him now.

"I thought it was cute of you to hope that Rin’s waiting for you," I said quickly. "Like, not in a demeaning sort of 'cute,' but a sweet 'cute,' like, 'cute couple' or something, and…"

"I get it, it’s fine," Kaito said with a dry smile. "Don’t worry about it. Thanks again."

"A-Again?"

"Yeah. Because I thanked you back in the subway, too."

"Right, right," I said quickly, before making a sharp turn in conversation. "It’s so bright, it hurts my eyes…"

"The sun’s reflecting off of the office buildings’ windows," Kaito said. He paused and started rummaging in his pocket. "I have sunglasses, if you want to borrow them."

"N-No, no thank you!" I said, walking faster. He kept looking at me with a strange expression on his face, though I could barely see it, given that the sun was blinding me. Suddenly, I slammed into something large and somewhat soft. "Ow!"

A hand grabbed my shoulder and pulled me back. I spun around and saw that it was Kaito, and then I looked at the person I had bumped into: a tall, stiff-looking businessman. He glared at me.

"I’m sorry!" I said to the man. He scoffed and walked away. 

"Let’s go," Kaito said. "And here."

He handed a pair of rectangular, black-rimmed sunglasses to me and I stared at them.

"Thanks," I said.

"It’s nothing," he nodded. 

They’re his sunglasses, he gave me his sunglasses…I wonder how they look on him.

I ended up picturing the eyewear on Kaito. This led to me scolding myself for doing so.

"Say, we should text Len," Kaito said after a few moments. I pulled out my phone.

Gumi: we’re above ground now.

Len: okay.

Gumi: any luck?

Len: would’ve said so if there was.

Gumi: okay. I’m sorry. We’re going to her school. Almost there.

Len: okay.

"He seems angry," I said.

"He’s just worried."

"You don’t seem to explode at people the way he does."

"He doesn’t do that often."

"True," I said. Kaito was absolutely right; Len was the sort of person who could always make you smile. He was a lot of fun to be around, and we had known each other since we were kids. Occasionally, he got like this, and I guess it seemed so extreme coming from him because it was so rare.

"He’s a good guy," Kaito said. I nodded silently. Rin’s school was coming into view. I could see the series of sharp, steeple-like structures against the bright orange of the setting sun. It was an old school, built nearly a century ago, before downtown was what it was, and the building’s exterior had been kept just as it had been, all those years ago.

"I hope she’s there," I said softly. "Rin…"

"So do I," Kaito whispered. 

We crossed another street and walked down a path that wasn’t smooth pavement, but stone. Black iron stretched into the distance, the pickets of a fence nearly my height. Slowly, we were leaving the hubbub of the city behind. It was quieter, almost eerie, but peaceful, too. On the other side of the fence I could see all sorts of trees; large, majestic ones, as well as smaller, daintier ones, which scraggly branches looming over little wooden benches and metal tables.

"The grounds are empty," Kaito said. "Makes sense. School’s been out for about an hour now, and most of the students live far away."

"Should we split?" I asked as we approached a small break in the fence, which led into the school grounds. Small flowers, some white and some a light blue, were peppered along the sides of the stone sidewalk. After a few moments, Kaito nodded.

"Yeah," he said softly. His words felt as though they were leaving his mouth and being picked up and carried away by the gentle pre-autumn wind. "I’ll head to the field, in the back, and you can take a look around the front."

"Okay," I said. Kaito nodded once more before suddenly breaking out into a sprint, heading straight towards the back of the school. I watched as he disappeared, and then I started looking around the gardens in the front.

"Rin?" I’d whisper her name every now and then as I looked in between bushes and near shadowy corners, closer to the school buildings. There were gazebos but they were empty. With every spot I checked, I found myself wishing more and more that I’d see her somewhere, anywhere.

She couldn’t have just gone somewhere with a friend or something. She would’ve told Len or Kaito first. I approached one of the school buildings and peered through the glass window before trying the door. I didn’t expect it to be unlocked.

"Huh." I pulled the door open and took one step across the threshold, unsure of whether I should continue or not.

It’s just a school, Gumi.

"Right, right," I huffed and scampered in. I took a deep breath and looked around. There was really nobody in sight — the halls were empty — but the lights were on. I shoved all sorts of fears and worries aside before jogging down one hall and then the next, calling out Rin’s name very few seconds.

No luck. I was standing by the stairwell, catching my breath and thinking about trying the second floor and perhaps the roof. I had already looked around the first floor so I figured it was best to just continue. So with that, I started up the steps and worked my way to the second floor, chanting Rin’s name as I explored the empty halls. I popped into classrooms whenever I could and checked all the bathrooms, except the boys’ ones, because I just wasn’t brave enough to even try.

After completely scanning the second floor, minus the boys’ bathrooms, of course, I found myself peering up another set of stairs. Slowly, I started up them again, leading me to the roof of the small building. It got darker and darker and at the end, I was trailing my hands down the door at the end of the flight of stairs, trying to find the door handle.

"Here we go…" I found it and turned, inhaling as the door opened and a pillar of orange light rippled through the crack. Throwing the door open, I stepped out and scouted the rooftop. There really wasn’t any place where she could be, here. I crossed my arms over my chest, pausing for a moment and realizing something.

I can see so far from here. An excellent vantage point. Please, please be somewhere around here, Rin…

I walked over to the edge of the roof, careful with my footing, and looked down at the vast, grassy field. The rest of the school buildings were to my left, and the benches and little gazebos were to my right. Everything was soaking in the sun’s dying light. It was beautiful. I only wished I could see Len’s sister…

And then I did. I think I did. In fact, I could’ve sworn I did, like how you suddenly notice a bug moving along a wall, or a single snowflake falling and landing on your mitten. I saw a small, thin figure with a large bow on her head, standing near the edge of the field, where the grass and trees met the fence.

It’s her. Oh, thank God, it’s her!

I opened my mouth, ready to yell out her name. 'Rin!' I’d yell, and it would echo across the grounds and she would turn, and then I’d know it’s really her, and then Len would stop worrying, and Kaito would stop worrying, and Miku would stop worrying, and then things would get a bit better.

"Rin!" This wasn’t my voice. It washed over the schoolyard as a gust of wind swept through, blowing my hair all over. I pushed my bangs out of my eyes and looked down at the girl. She turned. 

"Rin!" The voice called again. Someone was running up to her. I was frozen in place, watching as the two bodies met and one embraced the other.

Kaito, it was Kaito. He found her. I sat down on the rooftop and smiled slightly, watching as he hugged her tightly, saying something that I couldn’t hear. I watched as her arms crawled up his back, her face buried into his chest. Maybe she was crying. 

I brought a finger to my cheek. Maybe I was crying. I sniffled. I was crying because I was happy. At least, that’s what I thought. That’s what I hoped. He cared about her so much. I was seeing a side of Kaito that I had never seen before, and with that thought, suddenly, I felt as though I was doing something wrong, sitting there as they held each other.

I should go…

I knew the real reason I was crying, of course.

You’re pathetic, Gumi. Sad, because you want to feel what it’s like to be in his arms, to cry out your troubles into his shirt.

But I couldn’t do that. I’d never be able to do that.

And that’s why you need to move on.

But I couldn’t do that, either. I was trying but I couldn’t.

Rin and him are so perfect together…I need to think about it like that. Maybe that will work. 

Either way, I was relieved that we had found her. It hurt to see Len, Kaito, and anyone else, really, hurt and upset. Rin meant a lot to me, too, and above all, I was relieved that she was okay.

I took one last look at the two, at the girl and boy holding each other so tightly that they might as well be melded, before wiping my eyes, biting down on my lip, and heading downstairs.

Guys. I'm tired. I wanted to complete another chapter before posting this one but I haven't updated (most things) in so long. 

I hope this chapter doesn't disappoint too much. <.<''