Chapter Text
The streetlights flickered over the streets of Makochi, illuminating the sidewalk that the group would continue to follow as they made their way to Furinen Orphanage. Two girls walked at the front of the four, the older one looking over her shoulder to shout at the tall, grinning boy behind her about whether he got enough eggs for the recipe they were supposed to follow. The boy wasn't listening because he was trying to pet the other, shorter boy's head of black-and-white hair while he was shouting and turning the color of the tomatoes sitting at the bottom of the grocery bag he was holding.
Kotoha sighed deeply, turning to look back at the younger girl by her side. Natsuki was nervously looking between the older kids while fidgeting with her hands.
"Soo," Kotoha started, a smile growing on her lips, "you like omelette rice now, huh?"
Natsuki jumped, quickly looking back at Sakura, who was still fighting off Umemiya's advances to pet him like a really angry cat.
"N-No! I… I mean…" She bit her lip, looking down at the sidewalk. Her hair fell in front of her face to hide the fact her cheeks were turning red.
Kotoha's smile softened. She brought her hand up to gently lay on Natsuki's head.
"I get it," she said.
Her eyes went back to Umemiya, who was now rubbing a pouting Sakura's head.
"We always want to be just like our older siblings."
~~~
Just upon reaching the next corner, Kotoha felt a sudden force ram into her chest.
She fell as if in slow motion, feeling the air escaping her lungs, and watching as the grocery bag she had been holding fell to the ground.
The next time she blinked, Natsuki was fighting against the hold of some masked figure who was dragging her down a nearby alley. Kotoha watched Sakura race past her as she tried to gather her bearings, and felt Umemiya grab onto her arm. He lifted her up, and once Kotoha was back on her feet with the air back in her lungs, she was immediately following in the direction of Sakura. Umemiya was right beside her.
As she ran, she felt the shock beginning to ebb, and what was left was a mixture of confusion and anger. Confusion over why this random person came out of nowhere just to take a young child, and anger over not being able to stop it from happening.
Finally, rounding two more corners, Kotoha and Umemiya could see Sakura.
But he was alone.
Kotoha rushed over to him, seeing that he was kneeling on the ground. She tilted his head so she could see what was causing his pain. It was a spot that was growing in size and sending blood dripping down the side of his face. She held it gently—at least, until Sakura slapped her away.
"Who… what?" Kotoha found herself looking at Umemiya for guidance.
Umemiya just shook his head slowly, looking perplexed and worried. He then fished out his phone to contact nearby Makochi residents, the rest of Furin, and the head of Furinen Orphanage.
~~~
After two days of searching (and healing, on Sakura's part), the town came up empty handed. No one could get in contact with the police, either.
It was in a stressful meet-up at Cafe Pothos that Shitara Yuki—the head of the orphanage—decided to try one more desperate attempt at finding the young girl under his care.