The morning after the heartbreaking revelation at Luna's mansion settled over Sakura City like a heavy, unmoving fog. Souta had barely slept, haunted by the image of Luna's smile, her disappointed eyes, and the echo of her scream that he could only imagine. By the time sunlight seeped weakly through the clouds, he was already standing outside Sakura High's gate, waiting for the others, his fists clenched so tightly that his nails dug into his palms.
Haruto, Beru, Tadao, Aira, and Ren arrived one after another—their expressions grim, their hearts equally worried. It was strange to see an entire group of once cheerful students gathered not with the usual laughter of the Cosmic S.T.A.R. Club, but with the determination of people forced to grow up overnight.
Souta stared down at the concrete. "We have to find her today," he muttered. His voice was rough, tired. "I don't care if it takes all day, all night—anything."
Haruto placed a firm yet gentle hand on his shoulder. "We will. No matter what, Souta… we're bringing her back."
Beru nodded, eyes glistening. "Luna wouldn't give up if it were one of us. We won't either."
Tadao exhaled, his face unusually serious. "But we need a starting point. Right now, we don't even know where she was taken."
Ren adjusted his glasses. "Then we gather clues the only way we can—by retracing everything. The route she takes home, the places she usually walks by, the CCTV spots, everything."
Aira looked at Souta. "She was trying to meet you yesterday, right?"
Souta swallowed hard. "...yes."
"Then we start there." Aira squeezed his hand briefly. "At the park."
That was all they needed.
The six of them hurried through the streets—passing shops just opening, roads still wet from late-night rain, and sleepy pedestrians who had no idea the world had shifted for them. Souta's heartbeat grew louder with every step. Every corner reminded him of Luna—her quiet laugh, her irritated scolding, the way she looked away shyly when he teased her too much.
They reached the park bench where Souta had waited the entire night. The morning breeze rustled the leaves softly, as if mocking the absence of the girl who once sat here under the afternoon sun.
Beru looked around carefully. "Did she ever reach this place yesterday?"
"No…" Souta whispered, his throat tightening. "If she had… I would've known."
Haruto crouched beside the bench, his eyes scanning the ground with trained precision. He found a crushed plastic cup, cigarette butts, and old receipts—but nothing meaningful. Tadao circled the area like a silent shadow, checking anything suspicious.
Souta stared at the empty path Luna would have taken. "She was coming from her house… she must've passed the main road."
"Then let's check the CCTV on that route," Haruto said.
They hurried toward the main street, where the traffic had already begun picking up. Ren spotted a small electronics shop with a camera pointed outside. "Let's start here."
Inside, the shopkeeper looked up, confused by six high school students bowing so abruptly.
Haruto spoke politely, calm but firm. "We need help. One of our friends is missing. Could you let us check the footage from yesterday evening?"
The man hesitated, worried. But when Beru showed him Luna's photo and her trembling voice pleaded, "Please… she's in danger," his hesitation faded into sympathy.
They watched the footage together.
Customers walking. Cars passing. A mother holding her child's hand. Everything was normal… until the timestamp hit 5:42 PM.
Luna appeared.
Even through the grainy footage, her hurried steps were clear—she was running slightly, probably worried Souta might be waiting too long. Her hair bounced behind her, her schoolbag thumping lightly against her back.
Souta felt his throat close.
"There… that's her," he whispered.
But before they could breathe even a second of relief, a dark van rolled slowly into the frame, trailing behind her.
Beru gasped. "That's… that's them, isn't it?"
Tadao leaned closer. "Pause."
Haruto froze the screen.
The van was pitch black. No license plate visible from the angle. Shaded windows. It moved at a crawling pace—as if stalking.
Souta's eyes widened in horror. "They followed her from here…"
But the footage cut off soon after, Luna disappearing from view near the end of the street.
The shopkeeper looked apologetic. "The camera angle doesn't show the road ahead."
But even that little glimpse felt like a dagger to Souta's chest.
"We need more cameras," Ren said and they sprinted to nearby stores.
A convenience store. A bakery. A bookshop.
Some had footage saved, some didn't. They watched clip after clip, but the van always left the frame before they could catch another angle.
Hours passed.
Frustration began building.
Souta slammed his fist lightly against a table. "Why can't we find anything? Why are all these cameras useless!?"
Beru placed a small hand on his back. "Souta… we'll find her. Please don't break down."
Haruto closed his eyes briefly. "There has to be a spot we missed. Think… think carefully. Luna doesn't use shortcuts. She always avoids crowded markets."
Tadao snapped his fingers. "Then there's only one route left—the riverside walking path."
Ren nodded. "And that path barely has any cameras…"
"But it also means the kidnappers would have chosen it," Haruto said darkly. "Less witnesses."
A cold silence fell over them.
Without wasting time, they ran toward the riverside—a long, peaceful walkway lined with cherry blossom trees now barren without their spring petals. The river glimmered faintly, reflecting gray winter sunlight.
Souta stopped where the pathway curved.
He knelt slowly. "There's something here…"
A small glimmer beneath the railing caught his eye.
Beru crouched beside him. "What is it…?"
Souta picked it up with trembling fingers.
A tiny, broken piece of silver metal—delicate, ornamental—shaped like the edge of a moon.
Souta's breath caught. "This… this is from her hairpin."
Beru's hand flew to her mouth. "Luna's favorite one… her father gifted it…"
Haruto examined it. "It must've fallen when she struggled."
Souta looked at the fragment in his palm, his entire body shaking. "She was here. This is the first real sign we've found…"
Tadao looked down the long stretch of empty walkway. "If she dropped it here… they took her somewhere where cameras can't reach."
Ren inhaled sharply. "Like an old industrial zone… a warehouse… something abandoned."
Beru clasped her hands together. "But we don't know which one…"
Haruto's eyes sharpened. "We need to think like them. They wouldn't choose somewhere with patrols. It has to be a place far from civilians."
Tadao nodded. "The outskirts. The old port warehouses are mostly abandoned."
"That area is full of dead space," Ren added. "No cameras. Lots of hiding spots."
Souta stood up abruptly, his fists trembling with resolve. "Then that's where we start. I don't care how long it takes—we search every warehouse, every corner, every shadow."
Beru looked into his eyes and whispered, "We'll find her, Souta. She's strong."
But Souta shook his head faintly. "Luna may be strong… but this time, she's alone."
His voice cracked.
"And I wasn't there for her."
Haruto gripped his shoulder. "You'll make it right. And we'll be right beside you."
The wind blew across the river as if carrying Luna's soft voice far away, a faint whisper that only Souta heard in his heart.
The six of them began walking toward the direction of the abandoned port—each step heavy with uncertainty, fear, and unspoken determination.
As they walked, Beru suddenly stopped.
"Look," she said quietly.
Near the pathway, slightly hidden behind dry grass, was a faint tire track—different from regular cars, wider, heavier.
Haruto crouched. "This matches the kind of van we saw in the footage."
Tadao's eyes widened. "This is it. This is the lead we needed."
Ren exhaled in disbelief. "We finally have a direction…"
Souta clutched the broken silver fragment tightly. His voice was soft, fragile, and burning with determination.
"Luna… just hold on. Please…"
The river continued flowing smoothly—calm, steady, unknowing of the storm unraveling in their hearts. The daylight dimmed slowly, clouds gathering overhead as if mirroring their rising fear.
But now, at last…
They had their first flicker of a trail.
And they would follow it into the darkest corners of the city if they had to.
Even if it meant risking everything.
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To be continued...