[Continuing
The past
2012
After Aroshi and Kavei became friends]

The early morning air was crisp as Kavei made his way to their usual meeting spot, a sense of anticipation tugging at the corners of his mind. As he approached, he spotted Aroshi already waiting for him, her presence a welcome sight amidst the quiet stillness of the morning.

"Aroshi. What's up?" Kavei greeted her, his voice filled with genuine curiosity.

"Kavei. Hey~ you're here early," Aroshi replied, a playful grin spreading across her features.

"So are you. Where are we off to? And where are Kenma, Narito, and Ojiro?" Kavei inquired, scanning the area for any sign of their friends.

"The boys won't be coming," Aroshi replied cryptically, her eyes twinkling with mischief.

"Huh? But you told me they'd all be here," Kavei remarked, his brow furrowing in confusion.

"Right. I lied," Aroshi confessed, her tone teasing.

"And why exactly?" Kavei asked, his curiosity piqued.

"First, what do you think of my dress?" Aroshi asked, twirling around to give Kavei a full view of her ensemble. Her red frock, adorned with a white ribbon and a small blue stone, complemented her figure perfectly. Her hair cascaded in loose waves down her shoulders, and she carried a small white sling bag on her shoulder. Even her shoes, white with red lining, seemed carefully chosen. A touch of pink lip gloss added a subtle glow to her features, enhancing her natural beauty.

"Yeah, looks good," Kavei remarked, nodding in approval.

"And how do I look?" Aroshi pressed, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.

"Sure. Pretty," Kavei replied, his response lacking the enthusiasm Aroshi had hoped for.

"Really?" Aroshi asked, a hint of uncertainty creeping into her voice.

"Y-yeah. Why?" Kavei stuttered, taken aback by Aroshi's sudden change in demeanor.

"Heh. I went through all this trouble. Guess it was all worth it," Aroshi muttered to herself, a fleeting sense of disappointment flickering across her features.

"Worth what? Where are we going?" Kavei questioned, his confusion growing with each passing moment.

"Hmpf. I dressed up for our date today! You are so rude, Kavei Kun!" Aroshi exclaimed, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment as she realized her confession.

That day, when Aroshi declared it was a date, I didn't know how to respond. Was it really a date? I couldn't be sure, but I went along with it anyway. She took me to the park first, and as we swung on the swings and raced down the slides, her laughter filled the air, infectious and carefree. She ran around shouting "catch me," and I found myself chasing after her, the weight of the world momentarily lifted from my shoulders.

Then came the ice cream cart, and Aroshi proudly displayed her allowance, only to realize that it wasn't enough for two. Without a second thought, I purchased the ice creams, brushing off her attempts to reimburse me. Instead, I asked her to walk me home later that day, a simple gesture that seemed to ease her guilt.

As we wandered the neighborhood, talking and laughing, I couldn't help but wonder if this was what a date was supposed to feel like. It was far from conventional, but it was undeniably enjoyable. Aroshi seemed to be having a good time too, her smile radiant in the fading light of the evening.

The next day, Aroshi was absent from school, and concern rippled through our group of friends. Kenma, Narito, Ojiro, and I decided to pay her a visit, hoping to ease whatever troubles she may be facing. When we arrived at her house, we were greeted by her grandmother, a kind woman who welcomed us with open arms. But despite her warmth, there was an undercurrent of unease in the air, a sense that something was amiss.

[Continuing
The past
2012
After Kavei and Aroshi became friends]

"Granny. Why didn't-" Kavei cut off Kenma's question with a firm grip on his arm, pulling him back before he could say anything more.

"Kavei. What was that for?" Kenma whispered, confusion etched on his face.

"Let me ask," Kavei replied tersely, his tone cold as ice. Kenma could only nod in response, sensing the gravity of the situation.

"How are you today?" Kavei asked, mustering up a warm smile as he approached the elderly woman seated on the tatami mat.

"Ah, Kavei Kun? Is that you?" the old woman squinted, her eyesight failing her. "Can you come a little closer, child?"

Kavei obliged, crawling closer to her on his knees. She reached out, her weathered hands gently cupping his cheeks. "My, my. What soft cheeks you have, my child," she remarked fondly.

"Thank you, Granny. How are you doing today?" Kavei inquired, his concern genuine.

"I am very good today. Yes, yes. It is a little cold," she replied, a hint of frailty in her voice.

Kavei immediately sprang into action, turning on the heater placed in the corner of the room before returning to sit in front of the old woman.

"Thank you so much, my child. Aroshi isn't back home yet. She said she will be late from school. She didn't come with you, my child?" the old woman asked, her tone tinged with worry.

"N-no, Granny. She is really busy with this new project," Kavei replied, his words coming out in a rushed manner as he tried to mask his own concern.

"Oh, oh. Yes, yes. Children these days have so much to do. Do you want some green tea, child? I can make some for you and those three boys behind you," Granny offered, her kindness unwavering despite the uncertainty looming in the air.

"Ah, no no, Granny. We are fine. Take care of yourself. We will drop by," Kavei assured her, his mind already racing with thoughts of what could have happened to Aroshi.

As they exited the house, Kenma collapsed onto the ground outside, the weight of the situation finally hitting him. "She left home for school... where did she go?" he muttered, his voice trembling with fear and confusion.

"I don't know. She didn't come to school. There are a lot of things I can think of," Kavei admitted, his own worry bubbling to the surface.

"What are they, Kavei?" Narito asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Let's not talk about that. We should file a missing report," Kavei suggested, his mind already racing with the steps they needed to take.

"Can we do that? It's only been eight hours... I mean, in a legal sense," Kenma mumbled, his lips quivering with uncertainty.

"We can. Trust me. Let's go," Kavei replied, determination firm in his voice as they set off to seek help for their missing friend.

After we rushed into the Shinagawa police station and spilled everything we knew about Aroshi's disappearance, the search began in less than two hours. The authorities mobilized quickly, combing through every possible lead with determination. Aroshi's parents, who were living in the states at the time, were contacted immediately and made their way back to Japan as fast as they could. The days turned into weeks, but despite the exhaustive efforts, Aroshi remained elusive.

Weeks turned into months, and hope dwindled with each passing day. Eventually, the case was closed, officially marking the end of the search. Aroshi's devastated parents, along with her grandmother, returned to the states, their hearts heavy with grief and their minds haunted by unanswered questions.

As for me, life took a drastic turn. Soon after Aroshi's disappearance, I attended my late family's Swalens death anniversary. It was a somber occasion, made even more solemn by the shadow of Aroshi's absence. The fire that ravaged the Turners' home added another layer of tragedy to an already tumultuous time. With a heavy heart, I left their home and dropped out of school, unable to bear the weight of grief and uncertainty.

In the aftermath, Kenma made numerous attempts to reach out to me, but I found solace in solitude, distancing myself from the world and its reminders of loss. Ojiro managed to track down the house I had moved into, but fate seemed to conspire against our reunion. By the time Narito came looking for me, I had already moved on, seeking refuge with Shiraka for a time. When Narito finally reached the place where I had been staying, it was empty, a silent testament to the transient nature of our lives.

Three months passed, and with each passing day, the memories of Aroshi and the events surrounding her disappearance grew fainter. Without any means of contacting one another, we drifted further apart, our lives taking divergent paths. And now, here I am, grappling with the weight of a past that refuses to be forgotten, wondering if closure will ever come.

Next: Case Free Arc