One And Only Ichi (Yuiitsu Muni No Ichi)

Lost

After the remains of Mr. Nishimiya have been cremated and was later interred at his father's grave, Fumiko had been counting down the days until the social worker deem it appropriate to pluck Ichi out of the Sato family's care.

When the last memorial ceremony concluded on the forty-ninth day of Mr. Nishimiya's passing, they knew for sure that the social worker would be knocking on their door anytime in the coming days. And the day they've been dreading finally came one very early morning in the Sato residence.

There was a solid knocking on the door and Fumiko walked straight out of bed to get it, still half asleep.

Mrs. Sato emerged from their room with a less than pleased expression as her daughter walked to the door. "Who is it at this hour?"

But Fumiko's woozy eyes widened at the sight of Ms. Shigeru standing in their doorstep—and she wasn't alone. She acquired the help of two other government officers for the sake of, in her own words, quietly removing Ichi from the household.

"Wait, you can't just barge in here!" Fumiko exclaimed to no avail.

"It is well within our right to take Ichi into custody." She argued as the three of them walked into the living room. "Please ask Ichi to prepare himself already." She requested rudely.

Fumiko was unable to move from her spot, tears already brimming on the corners of her eyes. Mrs. Sato, albeit hesitantly, had no choice but to abide by the social worker's demands.

"Ichi." She called softly as she knocked on the boy's room. "May I come in?"

No answer. The mother and daughter exchanged worried glances. "Ichi, I'm coming in." Mrs. Sato said and pushed the door open only to find the room empty. "Huh? He's not here."

Fumiko rushed over to her mom's side then to the washroom. "He's not here either."

"Excuse me, what are you trying to pull?" Ms. Shigeru asked angrily but Mrs. Sato wasn't having it.

"Ms. Shigeru, I suggest you watch your tone. You are still in my household."

The social worker was obviously offended but decided against clashing with an angered mother. "My apologies but we have given you enough leniency. If you are purposefully keeping Ichi, you will face serious legal charges."

"Ichi is missing and our priority is to find him. I'll deal with your legal charges later on." Mrs. Sato retorted. "Come on, Fumiko. Let's ask the neighbors."

Mrs. Sato and the team of Ms. Shigeru were at Mrs. Kurokawa's doorstep, the landlady. Her already wrinkled face scrunched up even more at the news of Ichi's disappearance. "I thought I saw him earlier while I was watering the plants but I wasn't sure and he seemed to be in a hurry. Have you asked his friends?"

And that was exactly what Fumiko was doing. By high noon, she had called up Kai and Chiharu and met them at the park near their school.

"What happened?" Chiharu asked as soon as Fumiko came running toward them.

Fumiko shook her head, panting. "It's a long story. But do you know any place that Ichi might go to?"

"I'll try the natatorium." Kai suggested. "Maybe one of the guys saw him at least."

"I'll have my chauffeur drive around. You should come with me, Fumiko." Chiharu said, a concerned look on her face. But Fumiko turned her down.

"I can't. There are still places that I could try." She replied. Fumiko was pale from worry and exhausted but the two knew they couldn't convince her otherwise.

"Alright. Let's all stay in touch then." Kai instructed and with that, they go separate ways.

"Ichi, where are you?" Fumiko wondered with a heavy heart as she ran between places that Ichi frequented, often times with her or her entire family. Tears accumulated in her eyes, blurring her vision as she crossed out each one and still no trace of Ichi.

The three rendezvoused near Fumiko's house and standing at a distance was her mother and Ms. Shigeru's party. Fumiko's knees weakened as her friends informed her that they haven't located Ichi and the expression on her mother's face told her that neither have they.

"This wouldn't have happened if you and your husband didn't abduct the boy in the first place!" Ms. Shigeru spat.

"Ugh! How dare you?" Mrs. Sato questioned the woman, raising her voice. "We may have overlooked some things but to say that we abducted Ichi is outrageous!"

At that moment, Chiharu was craning her neck to get a better look at the social worker. "Wait, that's...Aunt Yuri."

She and Kai ran to the scene as the tension escalated, thinking Fumiko was right behind them but she was frozen in place.

"You have no right to talk about my late husband! You have no idea how much he loved Ichi like his own son!" Mrs. Sato shouted.

That statement awakened Fumiko and she staggered to hail a cab. She quickly boarded it without anyone noticing and as the taxi sped away, she prayed.

"Ichi, please be there."