Morning sunlight filtered into the classroom, warm and golden, but no one felt its warmth. The seat beside Souta—Luna's seat—sat empty, untouched, far too quiet for a girl who always arrived early. Souta kept glancing at it unconsciously, tapping his pencil against his desk. With every passing minute, a strange dread coiled tighter in his stomach. Luna never missed class without informing someone. Especially after last night… after she promised to meet him.
He tried to shake the thought off. Maybe she was sick. Maybe her father kept her home. Maybe she overslept. But none of those excuses felt right. Not when she had been running to meet him. Not when she had forgiven him. He could still see her smiling gently in that memory—her hand slipping into his by the river, her laughter ringing like bells through the summer wind.
Haruto leaned forward from behind. "You okay? You're looking pale."
"Just… didn't sleep," Souta muttered. "I waited for Luna. She didn't come. I thought maybe she needed time but…"
Beru, sitting across from him, spoke softly, "Maybe you should talk to her today. Properly." But even she felt a prickling unease spreading through the air.
When homeroom started and Luna still hadn't appeared, Souta couldn't sit still anymore. Every second ticked louder, every minute sharpened his worry. By lunch break, he slammed his notebook shut and stood up abruptly.
"That's it. I'm going to her house."
The others exchanged glances. Haruto rose without hesitation. "We're coming."
"Souta," Beru said gently, "she wasn't at the park, her phone is off, and she didn't come to school… She might need help. And so do you."
Souta nodded, grateful beyond words. Even Luna's absence felt less crushing when they stood by his side.
After school, the four walked toward Luna's mansion—Haruto, Beru, Tadao, and Souta leading with long determined strides. The mansion stood grand and serene on the outskirts of the district, with fountains, marble pillars, and a garden filled with rare blossoms. Usually it felt warm, almost magical when Luna welcomed them with her calm smile.
But today, the moment they entered the gates, they felt it.
Chaos.
Guards hurried in and out, speaking urgently into their earpieces. Maids stood shaking, whispering among themselves. The air was thick with tension, fear, and desperation. A glass vase lay shattered near the entrance, forgotten in the panic. The whole mansion felt like a storm had blown through it, leaving nothing but panic behind.
Souta froze. "What… what happened here?"
No one answered. A guard rushed past them, not even noticing the group. Haruto stepped forward, trying to calm the sudden pounding in his chest.
Beru grabbed Souta's wrist. "Stay calm. We'll find her. First let's talk to someone."
They made their way inside and spotted the elderly butler—Mr. Hino—standing near the staircase, giving urgent orders to junior staff. His hands were trembling slightly, something none of them had ever seen before.
"Mr. Hino!" Souta called.
The butler turned sharply, eyes wide with grief and fear. "Young Master Souta… Master Haruto, Miss Beru, Master Tadao… You shouldn't be here. The mansion is in no state for visitors—"
"What happened?" Souta demanded, his voice already breaking.
The butler hesitated. His lips trembled. His eyes dropped to the floor as though ashamed he had to say the words.
"Young Miss Luna… was taken."
The world around Souta collapsed.
Beru gasped, her hands covering her mouth. Haruto's fists clenched instantly. Tadao stepped forward, voice low but steady, "Taken? By who?"
The butler swallowed hard, his voice shaking as he continued. "Last night… while she was on her way to meet someone—" His eyes flicked to Souta. "—a group of men abducted her. They left no trace except a message to the Master."
Souta felt the ground tilt. His heart caved with guilt. Last night. She was going to meet him. And he had waited like a fool while she was being dragged away into darkness.
"What message?" Haruto asked sharply.
Mr. Hino lowered his voice. "They demand something incredibly valuable from the Master's business. A certain artifact—one that his rival has been trying to obtain for years. The man has hired a gangster to do his dirty work."
Beru frowned. "Why not call the police?"
"That… is complicated, Miss Beru," the butler whispered. "If the police are informed, they threatened to…" His voice broke. "To harm her."
Souta felt his whole body shaking. His throat burned with helpless anger. "Where is her father? Let me talk to him. Please."
"He is in his private study," the butler said. "But he's… not in a good state."
"I don't care," Souta whispered. "Please… take me to him."
The butler nodded slowly and led them down the long corridor where portraits of past Ayame family heads stared down solemnly. Souta could barely breathe. Every step echoed like thunder in his ears. Every breath felt too heavy.
Finally, they reached the door of the study. The butler knocked gently.
"Master… your daughter's friends are here."
There was no answer at first. Then, slowly, the door opened.
Luna's father stood there—a man usually composed, elegant, and commanding. But today he looked shattered. His eyes were red, his tie loosened, hair disheveled, his hands trembling. Luna's mother sat in a chair behind him, clutching a handkerchief soaked in tears.
When Mr. Ayame saw Souta, something inside him flickered—confusion, grief, anger, helplessness, all mixed together.
Souta swallowed hard, then bowed deeply. "Sir… I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry."
Mr. Ayame stared at the boy's trembling form. "Sorry? For what?"
Souta's voice cracked. "She was… she was coming to meet me last night. I think that's when they took her. I should've gone to her house. I should've walked with her. I should've—"
Luna's father placed a hand on his shoulder, stopping him. "Souta… this is not your fault."
Luna's mother lifted her tear-streaked face. "Our daughter loves all of you dearly. She… she must have trusted you enough to go out at night. Blame the monsters who took her. Not yourself."
Haruto and Tadao stepped closer, standing on each side of Souta, silently supporting him. Beru gently held Mrs. Ayame's hand, comforting her with quiet words.
"Please," Souta whispered, "tell us everything. We'll help. We won't sit idle."
Mr. Ayame took a deep breath and nodded wearily. "A rival of mine… Sagara Rein. He has tried to seize control of a rare business artifact I possess. It holds immense power in the market—control, leverage, everything. I refused to hand it over. Yesterday, he sent gangsters to abduct Luna, not realizing what kind of daughter she is. She would never be used as a bargaining chip. But he doesn't care."
Beru felt a chill run down her spine. "What did the ransom message say?"
"That I have two days," he whispered. "Two days to hand over the artifact or… they will 'use her in ways that guarantee compliance.'"
Souta's vision blurred with fury.
Haruto slammed his fist against the wall. "Those bastards…"
Tadao's expression hardened. "We're not letting them keep her. And we're not letting them hurt her."
Souta stepped closer to Mr. Ayame. His voice was unsteady but filled with fierce determination. "Sir… I promise you this. No matter what it takes, no matter where they've taken her… I will bring Luna back. I swear on everything I have."
Mr. Ayame looked at him—at his trembling hands, burning eyes, and heart full of guilt and devotion. Souta wasn't just her friend. The man saw it clearly now: he cared for her far more deeply than he realized.
Her father placed both hands on Souta's shoulders. "Find her," he whispered. "Bring my daughter home."
Her mother broke into tears again. Souta stepped to her, kneeling gently. "I won't let anything happen to Luna. She's strong. She's brave. And she's waiting for us."
Mrs. Ayame cupped his cheek with shaking fingers. "Please… bring my daughter back."
Souta nodded slowly, feeling the weight of her plea settle in his chest like iron.
When the group left the study, they stood in the hallway silently. The mansion felt colder now, haunted by worry. But somewhere beneath that fear, something ignited—a spark of resolve.
Haruto crossed his arms. "We need a plan."
Tadao nodded. "We need clues. Anything."
Beru wiped her eyes. "We'll find her. Together."
Souta exhaled, lifting his head, eyes blazing with a new fire.
"We start now."
The four of them stepped out of the mansion, ready to tear apart the city if they had to.
For Luna.
For the girl who once fell off a cliff and trusted Souta to save her.
For the girl who once ran toward him with forgiveness in her heart.
For the girl whose light had gone missing—and whom Souta vowed to bring back before that light was extinguished.
---
To be continued...