[Date: 19th April
Time: 9:30 am
Scene: Shinagawa international school
Year: 2016]

"I said all that, but how do I even help her..." I muttered to myself, feeling the weight of Aroshi's mother's plea pressing down on me.

Unable to keep it to myself any longer, I decided to confide in Kai. I recounted the events leading up to the phone call with Haibara, detailing the letter and the request for assistance in finding Aroshi. As I poured out my thoughts and fears, Kai listened intently, his expression reflecting a mixture of concern and determination.

But our conversation didn't remain private for long. Himeko managed to eavesdrop on us, her curiosity piqued by our hushed tones. She wasted no time in confronting me about the mysterious letter and Aroshi's disappearance. To my surprise, she enlisted Ryu to join her cause, proposing that we form a detective crew to solve the case.

"Detective crew? Seriously... this is a game for them..." I thought to myself, bemused by their enthusiasm. Despite my reservations, I couldn't deny the allure of the idea. Perhaps embarking on this investigation would offer a welcome diversion from our mundane daily lives.

As Himeko and Ryu excitedly discussed their roles and strategies, I found myself swept up in their enthusiasm. They made me swear not to involve adults in our pursuit of the truth, and I couldn't help but agree. After all, what was I supposed to say? "No, you guys are crazy?"

Himeko's determined glare and twisting smirk spoke volumes, conveying her unwavering determination to uncover the truth, no matter the cost. In that moment, it felt as though she was channeling the detectives from the comics she so admired.

And so, with our makeshift detective crew assembled, we embarked on our quest to unravel the mystery surrounding Aroshi's disappearance, or well, that is how it should be.

Seated in a circle on the tatami mat in Kavei's house, Kai, Kavei, and their classmates contemplated their next move in unraveling the mystery of Aroshi's disappearance. Despite Kavei's initial reluctance, they were determined to press forward with their investigation.

"So, what do you want to do?" Kai asked, breaking the silence that had settled over the group.

"Why are you asking? You guys wanted to do this. It's your idea," Kavei muttered, his tone tinged with sarcasm.

"Could you be any less interested... jeez. I guess I know where to start from though," Kai retorted, his frustration evident.

"Yeah?" Kavei's curiosity piqued at Kai's suggestion.

"Let's take a look at Aroshi's missing person report," Kai proposed, hoping to kickstart their investigation. However, Kavei couldn't help but snicker at the suggestion, much to Kai's annoyance.

"What a genius," Kavei remarked, his sarcasm not lost on Kai.

"Hey, come on. We gotta start somewhere!" Kai defended, his determination unwavering despite Kavei's mocking tone.

"How do you plan on getting your hands on the report?" Kavei questioned, his skepticism evident.

Kai's confidence wavered as he realized the flaw in his plan. "Oh... that..." he sighed in defeat, acknowledging his oversight.

However, Ryu, one of their classmates, offered a potential solution. "Niram-Kun, I have a friend whose father is in the police. I can ask them," he suggested.

"Convenient," Kavei remarked, sitting back on the support of his hands, his expression unreadable yet curious.

"Right? She's a student in our school," Ryu explained, hoping to alleviate any suspicions Kavei may have.

Silence hung in the air as they waited for Kavei's response. His contemplative gaze seemed to pierce through them, leaving them feeling uneasy. Eventually, Kavei shuffled to his feet, signaling for his classmates to leave.

As they exited, each casting puzzled glances at one another, Ryu couldn't help but voice his confusion. "Did I say something wrong?"

Kai shrugged, equally perplexed. "Who knows... But who is this friend of yours?" he asked Ryu.

"Souta Sebiki," Ryu replied, his voice tinged with uncertainty.

As the teacher's words echoed through the classroom, signaling the imminent arrival of summer vacation, a wave of excitement swept over the students. The anticipation of freedom from the confines of school filled the air with palpable energy, eliciting cheers and smiles from all around. For Kavei, it seemed as though time had flown by in the blink of an eye, ushering in the fifteenth of July with surprising swiftness.

Sitting beside Kai, as he always did, Kavei couldn't help but reflect on the passage of time. It felt like just yesterday when he had first stepped foot into the school, revealing fragments of his troubled past to his classmates. However, that tumultuous encounter now felt like a distant memory, buried beneath the surface as though it had never happened.

Despite sitting in close proximity to Kai, there was an unspoken distance between them. Gone were the days of exchanging words and sharing objects; instead, silence enveloped their interactions. It was as though a barrier had formed between them, erected by the weight of unresolved issues and unspoken truths.

As the classroom buzzed with excitement and anticipation for the impending vacation, Kavei couldn't shake the feeling of unease that lingered in the air. The events of the past year had left their mark on him, casting a shadow over his relationships with his classmates, particularly Kai.

Because Kavei had given up on looking for Aroshi with his classmates.