Black★Zero

Chapter 5: The Shooting Stars Lost In This Darkness

Rushing through the streets sweating bullets from the heat, as Yuu saw she was nearby and thought of checking at the hospital, she spotted Kagari walking down the street. Thinking it was odd to see her visiting alone, she rushed after her as she called out, hoping she might know something. Leaning over catching her breath, she asked, "Hey, did you see Rei at the hospital Kagari? Or even anywhere at all? She's gone missing since late last night." Shaking her head, she replied, "No. Why has she gone missing? Did she run away?" Mildly let down, Yuu evasively explained, "Not too sure, but she worries about Mato just like you worry about Yomi. So don't stress out a bunch and make me run all around town twice, ok?"

Placing a hand over her chest, Kagari stated, "Kagari is fine. We just have to wait." Then she surprised Yuu as she leaned closer and looked her in the eyes seriously, questioning, "Where was Rei before she disappeared? What places are left to search?" Shying away from her gaze, Kagari had always been difficult to deal with for Yuu. Childish personality aside, she essentially ignored the concept of Japanese honorifics and had an odd habit of speaking in third person. Such curiosity over someone she barely knew seemed unusual as well, making her worry memories of her own disappearance might be resurfacing. Not wanting it to get worse, before any ideas to help search came up Yuu turned to flee. "No worries, I'm sure I'll find her! Just leave it to the great me, wahaha!" Catching hold of her by the sleeve though, Kagari stubbornly insisted, "No, Kagari will look for her too!"

Returning home already expecting Yuu not to be here, Saya assumed she'd probably stay over at the Kuroi's or a club member's home to avoid her for a while. Making a cup of coffee and trying to calm her mind after all the recent stress, she smiled at how a shorty like her was still manager for a basketball club. Mato had been the rising star of the basketball club just like in middle school, Yomi had joined the volleyball club again, and former captain Arata Kohata even kept in touch with Mato, having chosen different schools in the hopes of facing each other on the court someday. Restoring the normal daily lives of those children was all she could think of, but no matter how desperately she tried it all seemed to backfire on her every time.

Noticing the alert on her answering machine, as Saya saw the number of messages she nearly dropped her coffee mug, nervously reaching for the button as she muttered, "What now?" After just one message, she bit her lip thinking, "What have I been doing?! How can I save anyone when I couldn't even help a girl who was suffering right in front of me?!" Picking up the phone and dialing, Yuu's concerned voice quickly blared over it. After a deep breath to calm herself, Saya firmly said, "Calm down Yuu, I've already heard. I can kick myself all I like when this is over, but right now I have to bring her back." Cementing her determination once again, she silently swore, "I'll take back everything stolen by the otherworld's darkness, without becoming lost in it myself..."

Sitting at a bus stop in the setting sunlight discussing with Saya about the situation, Yuu made sure to keep an eye out for Kagari who was supposed to meet her there shortly. Confirming Rei was nowhere to be found, Saya concluded, "She has to have gone in again. That girl, she somehow manages to pass between worlds as easily as falling out of bed. I think I need to have a word with her other self about this." Hearing that, Yuu had to laugh at the irony, "Now you're scolding them? Gonna have a word with Black Gold Saw as well?" Pausing briefly, in a less than confident tone she answered, "If I can. I want to understand her- No, all of them."

Yuu just smiled, proudly thinking to herself, "Even if you overdo it a bit, you're also amazing." Then she made sure Saya could hear as she called out, "Hey Kagari! How'd it go?" Approaching as she rose from the bench, Kagari just shook her head. Frowning, she crossed her arms and concluded, "Hmm, it's super late y'know? We've tried our best, so for tonight let's leave it to the police and head-" Closing her eyes and placing a hand over her chest again, Kagari interrupted, "Rei is... fighting." As Yuu stared at her strangely, she opened her eyes with a blank, hazy look in them adding, "Somewhere far." Sighing over the phone, Saya quickly ordered, "Bring her with you."