Kenji didn't show up to school.
At first, I told myself maybe he was just late. Maybe he needed sleep, or maybe he just wanted a break. But as the minutes turned into hours, and every class passed without a trace of him, a pit began to form in my stomach.
By lunch, I had already texted him three times.
No reply.
I tried calling him.
It just kept ringing. No voicemail. No answer.
Something was wrong. I could feel it.
The rest of the school day dragged on like a blur. I didn't hear anything the teachers said. My thoughts were stuck on him. His face. The forced smiles. The silence between us growing longer with each day. What was he hiding? Why wouldn't he talk to me?
After the final bell rang, I didn't waste time. I rushed out the school gates and headed straight to his house. The sky was starting to dim, casting the world in muted blues and grays. I stood at his front door, heart pounding as I knocked.
Nothing.
I knocked again, louder this time. Still nothing. No footsteps. No lights. Not even a sound from inside.
I gritted my teeth, fighting back the panic rising in my chest. I turned and left, my footsteps heavier with every step. I didn't want to think the worst. I couldn't. But the silence was deafening.
When I got home, I barely noticed Haruka waiting by the door.
"Hey," he greeted softly, sensing something was off. "What's wrong?"
I shook my head, trying to keep my voice steady. "It's Kenji… He didn't come to school today. He's not answering his phone. I even went by his house but—nothing."
Haruka's brow furrowed. "You think something happened?"
"I don't know," I admitted, hugging my arms around myself. "But it's not like him. Not even a message."
He was quiet for a moment, then placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder. "Come on. We'll go look for him together."
I nodded, grateful beyond words. Maybe with Haruka's help, I'd finally get some answers… even if I wasn't ready for them.
The sun had already begun to set, casting long shadows through the trees as Haruka and I walked the empty streets. We'd been searching for hours. Every corner, every path, even the edge of the forest—we looked everywhere. But Kenji was nowhere.
I was just about ready to give up when my phone buzzed.
Kenji: Meet me at our usual spot. I'm sorry.
My heart jumped into my throat. I showed Haruka the message. He gave me a nod and we set off toward the clearing without a word.
The fading light painted the trees in amber and blood-red tones as we approached. And there he was—Kenji—leaning against a tree, arms folded, head down, like he'd been waiting a while.
"Kenji!" I called out, my voice trembling as I ran toward him. "Where have you been? What the hell is going on?!"
He didn't answer right away. When I stepped closer, I finally saw his face clearly—wet with tears.
"I'm sorry," he whispered. "I didn't know how to tell you."
"What do you mean?" I demanded, my voice cracking. "Tell me what?"
"They… the men in suits… the agents," he said, eyes full of regret. "They took my mom. Said if I didn't help them, they'd hurt her. They knew everything. About you. About the power. They said you were dangerous."
I froze. "What… did you do?"
Kenji looked away, unable to meet my eyes. "I told them where to find you. I didn't want to—but I didn't have a choice."
My heart stopped.
Before I could even move, everything around us exploded into chaos.
Red laser dots painted our chests and dozens of agents emerged from the trees—black suits, helmets, rifles raised and aimed directly at us. Haruka stepped in front of me on instinct, tense and ready to fight.
"What is this?!" he barked.
An agent stepped forward, his voice cold and flat. "The girl is a threat to national safety. She must be detained immediately."
Haruka glanced back at me, bewildered. "Sakura… what are they talking about?"
I couldn't answer.
I didn't even get the chance.
One of the agents moved in, attempting to grab me. Haruka lunged forward, but before he could do anything, he was slammed to the ground and restrained.
"Don't touch her!" he shouted, thrashing against their grip.
The panic inside me erupted. My vision burned violet.
My right eye blazed, and in an instant, I struck out with the Amouranth Flame. Purple fire surged from my hand, knocking several agents back. They shouted, scrambling to recover.
But then—
A sting in my neck.
Cold.
Heavy.
My vision blurred. My knees buckled.
Kenji's voice echoed in the distance, calling my name as everything faded.
Darkness swallowed me whole.