He didn't come home that night. Akihiko's carefully prepared meal sat uneaten — after hours spent poring over one of Misaki's cookbooks, to surprise him. He paced the room, lit cigarette between his lips. If he hadn't promised Misaki that he'd grant him more freedom, Akihiko would be out searching for him. The worry in his chest doubled with every tick of the clock. He hadn't called. Why hadn't he called?

Akihiko's heart fluttered — footsteps. The author launched himself towards the door before wrenching it open. There, looking quite perplexed, stood Aikawa-san. His editor blinked her watery blue eyes. "Is everything okay, sensei?" She asked, putting a hand on one of his stiff shoulders. Akihiko seemed to deflate, energy lost. "I don't know where he is." He responded, taking a seat on the plush couch beside Suzuki-san. The bear's black eyes seemed to shine. Aikawa glanced from the meal to the kitchen - where Akihiko had caused chaos, stained pots and pans stacked haphazardly on the countertop.

"I'm sure he'll be back soon, sensei. An argument over mess is never a long one." She said wisely, inspecting the charred remains of Usagi's fish stuck to a frying pan. "We didn't argue. He just hasn't come home." He muttered, tossing his cigarette into the ashtray. Aikawa looked up, surprised. "But it's so late?" She would've expected the great Usami Akihiko to be hunting down his lover by now. "I thought I should give him more freedom." He said begrudgingly. Usagi didn't want to be the villain, always forcing his love on Misaki. He thought that if he gave the boy space, Misaki would run to him of his own volition.

Maybe I was wrong. All this time, he felt trapped, hemmed in by a man he didn't love.

The thought seemed to form on Akihiko's face like a thundercloud. Aikawa, looking alarmed, pulled out her cellphone. "I already tried texting him" Usagi said softly, lighting yet another cigarette. His editor shook her head, thinking back to the days of Takahiro. Akihiko would often revert to his teen self during times of particular pining. He wouldn't eat, sleep or even write. If Aikawa knew anything, it was that she couldn't afford the heartbreak of a teenager on her hands.

Usagi flopped onto Suzuki-san, as though for comfort. "Okay." She said, snapping her phone shut. "Okay." Aikawa-san walked from one side of the room to the other. And back again. She bit her lip. Misaki wouldn't have left. Maybe he went out drinking? Maybe he told sensei where he was going this morning - but because sensei's...

Akihiko's phone buzzed against the glass of the coffee table. She darted to snatch it up before him. Caller ID unknown. "Hello?" She said slowly, backing away from a now upright Usagi-san.

"You have three days." The caller croaked.

Aikawa-san froze, letting him take the phone from her. He swallowed, something was wrong. "Who is this?" Akihiko questioned, his brow furrowing whilst the blood drained from Aikawa Eri's face.

"All I can say is your little plaything is safe - for now."

The dial tone hung in the air for a long time. Aikawa's mind flooded with questions whereas his had gone blank. "They have Misaki?" She quavered, lips trembling. Akihiko didn't speak. His jaw clenched.

"We have to call someone..." She concluded, the panic rising in her voice. "We have to call the police!" Aikawa pulled out her phone for the second time. Akihiko shook his head. "No, stay here." He commanded with such an authority she felt herself dropping the cell altogether. "Call Isaka, he knows how to trace calls." The author instructed, tossing the lit cigarette behind his shoulder as he made for the door. Aikawa reached for it before the whole penthouse went up in flames.

"Where are you going?" She yelped, as he ripped a coat from the stand beside the door. In his haste it came crashing to the ground at her feet. "Gathering information, of course." Akihiko replied, a far-off look in his stormy eyes.

The apartment rang quietly and the only sound seemed to be the absence of one. Aikawa whimpered. Her legs wobbled and she sank to the floor. Why, oh why would someone want to hurt Misaki?

Slowly, she dialled Isaka Ryuichiro's number.