Chapter 15
Miku and Saki sat on the floor of the rooftop under the night sky.
"I finally got to hug her, feel her… But it wasn't enough to make her stay, Miku… They all left…"
Saki looked at her hands.
"I know, Saki… But this just tells you that Shiho is okay. You were able to see she was all good, right?"
Miku tried cheering her up, Saki looking up at the stars.
"I guess so… but… she looked confused, didn't she? What if it's been so long she doesn't remember who I am?"
Miku looked at the stars too.
"Yeah… But let's think it might be because she didn't know where she was…"
Saki sighed.
"I really hope you're right, Miku…"
Airi had sent dozens of messages to Shizuku, calling multiple times too.
A week had gone by already, and sure, Shizuku wasn't the brightest with technology but she was quick to respond most of the time.
She had gone to her house, her parents telling her they hadn't seen her either.
She wasn't anywhere to be seen.
The next day, Airi had to go to school, of course.
She was feeling a bit down still, lost in her own thoughts before she bumped into someone in the corridor.
"Ah! Sorry, Airi-senpai…!"
Airi had met Saki when she'd asked her for a handshake and an autograph, and they hung out a couple of times after too.
Saki looked shaken up by something.
"Are you okay, Saki?"
She asked, going to lean on a windowframe.
"Oh, it's really nothing…"
She replied, Airi frowning in disbelief.
"Your face says otherwise. Really, is everything alright?"
Saki sighed, her backpack falling to the floor.
"It's just… I haven't seen many of my friends in some time and… I guess I feel abandoned in some way…"
"Oh… you mean Hoshino? It's true I haven't seen her around either."
Airi said, Saki nodding as she let herself lean on the window frame beside the idol.
"Yeah… I haven't seen Shizuku either. Not even her family knows where she is."
Saki looked at her, her worried face suddenly changing into one of determination.
"Airi-senpai… A childhood friend of my brother and I is looking for his friends… Would… Would you like to try and find our own friends together?"
Saki asked, Airi's eyes widened.
"Uh--- Sure… Let's do it."
The empty Sekai was somehow emptier than usual, Miku and Rin sitting on the floor.
"They haven't been here in a while, Rin…"
Miku said, Rin braiding her hair.
"I know… They'll come back, I think."
Miku looked down.
"..."