[Year 2016
Time: 9:00 am
Date: April 17th]

The English classroom buzzed with the low hum of chatter as the teacher, Mr. Tanaka, stood at the front of the room, chalk in hand. "English is not that hard, students. Come on. Who would like to answer the questions on the board?" he announced, scanning the sea of faces before him.

"Me," Himeko and Kai chimed in unison, their hands shooting up simultaneously.

"Nope. Not you two. This time, I will call out your name instead. You will never learn if you sit there like dumb aliens. Hm... let's see... you there," Mr. Tanaka pointed at Kavei, his voice authoritative.

Kavei glanced around briefly before pointing at himself, meeting the teacher's gaze. "Yes, you," Mr. Tanaka affirmed, nodding in Kavei's direction.

As Kavei reluctantly rose from his seat, a murmur rippled through the classroom. "Sensei! He's the new kid," one student interjected, trying to garner sympathy for Kavei.

"Doesn't matter. This is basic grammar. I heard Kavei Kun got in through early admissions. Smart, huh? Come on up, young man," Mr. Tanaka dismissed the protest, urging Kavei forward.

With a resigned sigh, Kavei trudged towards the board, the weight of the chalk in his hand a tangible reminder of his impending task. Kai shifted in his seat to make way for Kavei's passage, shooting him a sympathetic glance.

Kavei quickly filled in the blanks on the board, his movements efficient yet devoid of enthusiasm. Handing the chalk back to Mr. Tanaka, he awaited the teacher's judgment.

"See? Anyone can get it right if they try a little harder," Mr. Tanaka declared triumphantly, waving the chalk in the air. "Good job, Kavei. Go back to your seat."

"Thank you, sir," Kavei mumbled, his voice barely audible over the rustle of the classroom.

Returning to his seat, Kavei flopped down onto the chair with exaggerated nonchalance, Kai shaking his head in amusement. "Gosh. You're so lazy," Kai whispered under his breath.

"Heh. I wasn't like this always, Kai," Kavei admitted, a hint of nostalgia creeping into his voice.

"What changed?" Kai inquired, curiosity gleaming in his eyes.

"Me," Kavei replied cryptically, his gaze distant.

"Oho. I thought I changed," Kai quipped, a smirk playing at the corners of his lips.

"Heh. Sarcastic much. But... seriously... I don't even know... it just sorta happened," Kavei confessed, his tone tinged with uncertainty.

"Yeah. Happens to everyone, dude. You're acting as if being 'lazy' is a rare disease... or maybe it is? Heh," Kai teased, trying to lighten the mood.

"Haha. No. Not that kind of kick. I'll tell you about this one time," Kavei whispered conspiratorially, leaning forward on his desk. Kai mirrored his movement, their cheeks pressed against the cool surface of the wood.

As Kavei recounted his peculiar experience during a race, Kai listened intently, a mixture of disbelief and amusement flickering across his features.

"What the heck? Sure, some race you had. Are you sure you're not overlooking anything about yourself?" Kai prodded, his brow furrowed in confusion.

"Nah, man," Kavei replied dismissively, shaking his head.

"...Did you eat today?" Kai asked, his concern evident in his voice.

"Oh yeah. Stuffed," Kavei assured him, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

"Good," Kai nodded, satisfied with the response.

Meanwhile, Mr. Tanaka, having observed the exchange between the two boys, tapped on the blackboard with his chalk, garnering their attention once more. "The boys in the third bench better stop whispering to each other before I double your homework," he warned sternly.

"Yes, sir," Kavei and Kai chorused in unison, their heads snapping up as they sat up straight, nodding obediently towards their teacher.

[Somewhere in the woods
Time: 9:25 am
Date: 17th April]

The dense forest echoed with the frantic screams of a young boy, piercing the stillness of the woods. "AH!! PLEASE! PLEASE DON'T HURT ME! HELP! SOMEONE HELP ME!!" he cried out, his voice trembling with fear as he sprinted through the tangled undergrowth. His heart pounded in his chest, the adrenaline coursing through his veins as he fled from an unseen threat.

As he ran, his foot caught on a thick root, sending him sprawling to the forest floor. With a cry of pain, he tumbled forward, his hands reaching out in a desperate attempt to break his fall. Rolling to a stop, he found himself face to face with a dark, ominous opening-a cave carved into the side of a rocky outcrop.

Without a moment's hesitation, the boy scrambled to his feet and darted inside the cave, his breath coming in ragged gasps. The dim light filtering through the entrance cast eerie shadows on the uneven walls as he pressed himself against the rough stone, seeking refuge from whatever lurked outside.

The sound of footsteps grew louder, closer, as the boy huddled in the darkness, his heart pounding in his ears. Tears streamed down his cheeks, mingling with the dirt and sweat on his face as he fought to stifle his sobs, his hands clamped tightly over his mouth in a desperate bid for silence.

Time seemed to stretch on endlessly as he waited, his senses heightened, every rustle of leaves and snap of twigs sending shivers of fear down his spine. The darkness pressed in around him, suffocating in its intensity, as he prayed silently for the danger to pass.

[Date: 17th April
Time: 7:30 pm
Scene: Kavei' house]

After a long day at school, Kavei sought solace in the familiar comfort of his home. The warmth of the shower eased the weariness from his muscles as he stepped into the hallway, a soft white towel draped over his shoulders. With a flick of his wrist, he switched on the television, the screen illuminating the room with a soft glow.

"Good evening viewers. This is Hitomi from EZR TV. This morning, a young boy named Daichi went missing while going to school. The picture is displayed on the screen. The boy was carrying a red school bag and wearing a light blue shirt and navy blue shorts. According to the shopkeepers and other people in the area, Daichi-san was not seen going to school. If you see this boy anywhere, please report to the police immediately. The detective and police quarters in charge of the case will be updating about the case now," the news anchor's voice filled the room.

"Oh. That's Yukina," Kavei remarked as the camera panned to a familiar face standing next to Hitomi.

"Good evening, Hitomi-san," Yukina greeted, her voice steady despite the gravity of the situation.

"Good evening, Miss Yukina Itsuhara. Can you tell us what the police have found until now?" Hitomi inquired, handing the microphone over to Yukina.

"They came across no suspicious vehicles or people. Witnesses claim to have not seen him head to school. Our search is still ongoing," Yukina explained, her tone measured and composed.

"Miss Yukina Itsuhara. Do you think this case is related to what had happened five years ago?" Hitomi pressed, her voice tinged with curiosity.

"We can't say anything for sure right now," Yukina replied, her fingers tapping the microphone as she delivered her response with a sense of solemnity. "It has been almost eleven to twelve hours since the boy went missing. We are still looking into all the possibilities. But I think what happened five years ago is why the report was given in and taken in early."

"Thank you, Miss Itsuhara. Next, let's hear from Mister-" Kavei's attention drifted as he reached out to switch off the television, the room falling into silence save for the soft hum of the device powering down. "Five years ago, huh," he muttered to himself, his thoughts drifting to memories long buried beneath the weight of time.

On hold: Case Free Arc
Next: Case Past Arc