Chapter CXIX: Lost and Found II
Back at the apartment, the silence is deafening. Nobody moves, nobody breathes. The tiny apartment seems frozen in time as the two groups stare at one another.
Akiko stands quietly near the doorway, dressed in a modest gray hoodie and dark joggers. Her once-familiar purple hair is tied neatly into a ponytail, secured by a scrunchy. She looks thinner than before, exhausted from days of hiding, but her eyes remain gentle.
Beside her stands Kota in a wrinkled black shirt that looks as though it has survived an entire war against laundry baskets.
Everyone simply stares. But glad they found them, and enough say that Akiko, and Kota are still alive, standing right in front of them. The television is muted but "First One Who Confesses Loses the Game" anime is on it.
For several long seconds, nobody says a word. The suspense stretches so long that even the apartment clock sounds loud by every tick of the second hand and the movement of the minute hand.
Finally, breaking the wall of silence, Kota scratches the back of his head.
"Uhm... hi... guys?"
The dam breaks instantly.
"KOOOOTAAAAAA!"
Asahi launches forward first. Enmei follows, then Gin. The three practically tackle Kota into a group hug.
"Dude! You're alive!" (Asahi)
"You idiot!" (Gin)
"You absolute buffoon!" (Enmei)
Kota nearly falls backward.
"DUDE WHAT THE HECK?!"
The three continue squeezing him.
"We thought you were dead!" (Gin)
"We rode a train for four hours!" (Asahi)
"I skipped two anime episodes for this!" (Enmei)
Kota's face turns red.
"Dude's WTF?! STOP IT! I'M NOT GAY!"
Meanwhile, on the opposite side of the room, Akiko finds herself immediately trapped in the arms of her own family as Hatsune, Hina, Hana, and Hayato, all four of them rush to her simultaneously. The result is less of a hug and more of a family pileup. Akiko disappears entirely. Only the top of her ponytail remains visible.
"AKIKO!" (Hayato)
"My baby!" (Hatsune)
"YOU SCARED US!" (Hina)
"DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY TIMES WE CALLED YOU?!" (Hana)
Akiko doesn't answer. Instead, tears quietly roll down her cheeks. For the first time since disappearing, she feels safe. A soft voice comes from behind.
"Hey."
Everyone turns to the door, as Masashi, Haru, Himari, Yui, and Natsuki stands awkwardly near the entrance. Kota quickly wipes his face.
"Oh, right. Guys you may come in, all of you"
The five enter and Kota points inside.
"Close the door. Please."
The door shuts, and the locks click. The apartment becomes crowded immediately. Despite having a living room, one room, and a kitchen, it's like from a small house to a can of sardines or a box of rats. The sofa becomes occupied within seconds. Gin claims one chair, Enmei steals another. Masashi somehow ends up sitting on a folded blanket. Haru sits on the floor without complaint. Yui and Himari squeeze together on the couch. Natsuki remains standing.
Meanwhile, Akiko and her family migrate toward the dining area. Despite everything, Akiko begins preparing food. The sound of boiling water soon fills the apartment. Nobody stops her, yet cooking seems to calm her. Soon, the smell of udon begins spreading throughout the room. Then comes the question everyone wants answered.
Hatsune folds her arms.
"Alright."
The room quiets.
"I want to ask this straight."
Kota gulps. Hatsune narrows her eyes.
"How and in God's name were you kids thinking of running away and living in an apartment like this?"
The room instantly becomes quiet again. Kota rubs his neck.
"Ma'am..."
He exhales.
"We didn't want to alarm anyone."
He glances at Akiko.
"But we had no choice."
Akiko nods. Kota continues.
"If we stayed in the city..."
He pauses.
"We honestly think we'd be dead by now."
Nobody laughs nor nobody interrupts. Even Enmei remains silent like a jukebox being unplugged. Hayato leans forward.
"Hmm, alright explain then."
Akiko takes over.
"Bro, there were two people threatening us."
Her hands tremble slightly.
"Also, we think they're the same people who manipulated Tengen and Hanako in doing things to us in the first place."
The room immediately grows tense. Asahi exchanges looks with Natsuki. Akiko continues.
"I almost got killed."
Everyone freezes. Hina nearly drops her cup.
"A hooded girl put a knife against my neck."
The room becomes colder.
"And another hooded person threatened Kota."
Kota nods.
"In doing so, in order for us not to be threatened, I asked them what they really want us to do. They told us, that we need to vanish from the city. And we did it to protect ourselves from their threats."
Hana raises an eyebrow.
"Then how did you two financially supported your needs while staying here?"
Akiko looks down and explains,
"Me and Kota started earning on an emergency fund. Kota handled and stored it since maybe I would spend it on many things. We used that fund during these 9 days, in order to survive. "
Silence follows. Then Enmei speaks.
"Do you know who they are?"
Kota and Akiko exchange looks. The answer isn't simple.
"Maybe.", Kota raises both shoulders.
"But we're not sure.", Akiko raises both hands and shakes her head.
Asahi suddenly sits forward.
"Bros, actually, according to the investigations, led by Mr. Amane, Principal Fukushu, and Ms. Ezura, "
Everyone turns toward him.
"They've identified two major suspects."
Akiko immediately looks up. Asahi continues.
"The names are IceBurgh and MapleSyrup."
The reaction is immediate. Akiko's eyes widen and Kota's expression darkens. The two look at each other immediately. Then simultaneously—
"It's them."
Everyone freezes. Asahi blinks.
"You know them?"
Akiko nods slowly.
"IceBurgh..."
She lowers her gaze.
"That's a name I haven't heard in a long time."
Kota sighs.
"MapleSyrup."
He folds his arms.
"That's a name almost connected to a Canadian snake."
The squad collectively pauses. Asahi, Gin, Enmei, and Natsuki; all look at one another because they know exactly who he means. Akiko finally says it.
"IceBurgh is Homura Aizawa."
The room goes silent.
"And MapleSyrup..."
Kota finishes.
"Eloise Murasaki."
Shock explodes.
"What?!" (Hayato)
"No way!" (Asahi)
"HER?!" (Natsuki)
"You're kidding!" (Gin)
Even Hatsune nearly drops her drink. Meanwhile Haru looks confused.
"Wait, who are we talking about?"
Masashi raises a hand.
"Same question."
Kota begins pacing around the apartment like a detective solving a murder case. His fingers rub his chin, acting like The Thinker just walking back and forth repeatedly.
"So that's why. It all makes sense now."
Akiko nods.
"Throughout our relationship, those two kept trying to sabotage us. They kept interfering and kept causing problems. But every attempt failed." (Kota)
"Back during the start of senior Highschool, Homura planned to steal me from Kota twice. One in a school, and one on a train." (Akiko)
"Yeah, but we showed him who's boss at the end of the train." (Kota)
"Damn, sounds like a real infinity train from My Sister is a Demon" (Enmei)
"SHUT UP!" (All except Akiko and Kota)
Kota continues pacing.
"Then, that one time Eloise got close to me, and hypnotized me, but glad Akiko showed her true loyalty." (Kota)
"Yeah, actually me, Himari, and Hanako made her suffer the consequences", Natsuki rolling her eyes.
"Loyalty, is at its peak. Semper Fidelis, or should I say, Sic Semper Fidelis (Thus always loyalty)", Akiko smiles, and puts a hand around Kota. Kota smiles, and continues,
"Eventually they teamed up, they wanted our relationship to collapse, and they wanted us separated. Sabotaging it bit by bit until the blow came to us."
Akiko smiles softly.
"But we stayed true."
Kota returns the smile.
"Love never dies."
Gin places a hand over his chest dramatically. He grabs a cup, and places it diagonally on his mouth.
"The love is strong with these two."
Haru immediately points.
"Bro." (Haru)
"What?" (Gin)
"Did you seriously quote Space Wars?" (Haru)
Gin looks offended.
"I believe I quoted A New Generation."
The room erupts into laughter. Even Akiko and Kota laughs for the first time in days. The mood lightens. Then Hina asks another question.
"Wait, what did you two use to survive here?"
Hana nods.
"Food isn't free."
"Unfortunately." (Hayato)
Akiko explains.
"I had to reiterate again, we had used the emergency funds."
Kota nods.
"We prepared them years ago, in case something happened."
"Well."
Enmei spreads his arms.
"Something happened." (Enmei)
"Very something." (Natsuki)
The room laughs again.
"It's not what looks like bro!" (Akiko)
Then Asahi becomes serious. He exchanges glances with Gin. Following to Natsuki, then Enmei. The four quietly move together, forming a strategy circle. The others watch, and whispering begins.
Several minutes pass, and eventually Asahi turns back. A confident smile appears.
"I've got an idea."
Everyone looks up.
"What idea?" Kota asks.
Asahi shakes his head. He points toward the couple.
"In order for you two to return safely, leave it to me, I have a plan."
The details remain secret, but the smile on his face worries everyone especially Enmei because every time Asahi smiles like that, somebody ends up doing something ridiculous.
The next morning arrives quickly. The return trip is surprisingly uneventful. No more hooded figures, no threats, nor attacks yet only train ride and coffee. And Enmei accidentally falling asleep on Gin's shoulder.
"Oi, get off you green-haired loli-lover" (Gin)
"No, and stop saying my name like that." (Enmei)
"Bro, you are one, and please get off" (Gin)
"I'm comfortable now like this" (Enmei)
"Yui is looking at me like I had done something wrong to her. (Gin)
"Wait, wha-", Enmei looks beside him, and sees Yui's sadistic look.
"Well, well, well, I thought you will sleep on my lap whenever this happens huh?", Yui teases him.
"Yes milady, I'm sowwy", Enmei leans into Yui's lap and sleep.
Asahi and the others facepalm. Eventually they reach home.
Akiko steps through her front door. The moment her grandmother sees her, she breaks down completely.
"My Aking!"
The older woman wraps her in the strongest hug humanity has ever witnessed. Akiko disappears again and only the ponytail remains visible.
Meanwhile, across the neighborhood, Kota arrives home. His mother opens the door and their eyes meet. For a moment nobody moves. Kota braces himself as he expects yelling, scolding, lectures, and maybe flying chanclas (slippers). Instead, his mother embraces him tightly with tears streaming down her face.
"The important thing..."
She whispers.
"...is you're back."
Kota closes his eyes. For the first time in over a week, he feels home.
Later that day. At the Whatevs Café at the old mall, Asahi, Enmei, Gin, and Natsuki gather together. They call Principal Fukushu, Mr. Amane, Ms. Ezura and the others to report that Akiko and Kota are not back in town. The report is simple.
"Ma'ams, Sirs, Kota and Akiko are back."
Everyone breathes easier.
"They'll attend school Monday."
Inside the faculty office, Principal Fukushu lowers his phone, relief spreads across his face. Across the desk sits Mr. Amane with coffee in hand. The aroma is strong as the coffee is from the coffee beans from a province in the Philippines know for its heritage and robusta coffee. The principal sighs.
"I hope this plan works, Honorable."
Mr. Amane smiles.
"It doesn't need to be perfect, Sir."
He lifts his cup.
"It only needs to fool the enemy."
Principal Fukushu nods.
Outside the window, clouds slowly drift across the afternoon sky. For the first time in days, hope finally returns.
Yet somewhere beyond the city, two people are still watching. Two names, IceBurgh and MapleSyrup, and they still don't know, that their prey has already come home.
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