Author's Notes: I am kind of going to make up personalities for Tamotsu and Aoi since we barely saw them. I'm not gonna give them completely different personalities as if they were original characters but I am gonna try to give them more traits based on what their anime versions seemed to be. I sort of did this with the rest of the characters too but with them it feels weird because they really had like a minute of screentime (which made sense cause they really didn't have much purpose, but in this story I have in mind they do so I gotta write them in. )

Also Masao's mom used to pamper him a lot but she died. For real, I am not making this up, it is briefly mentioned. I was a little shook while reading it, I felt like it may be an important detail while characterizing Masao so imma add that in too. Anndd thanks for telling me about that line break thing, I read the stuff I wrote and it was totally confusing even for me heh, hope it works like this. Alright that's all:D

Someone was banging on the Mutou's house door early in the morning. The door was opened shortly.

"Oh, good morning. I think Tohru is sleeping, you want me to wake him up?" Aoi asked while informing her mom it was Natsuno who was at the door which didn't get any reactions from her mom. It was like Natsuno was a member of this house at this point, nobody questioned when he came.

"Natsu? Hello? Should I get Tohru? " Aoi started waving her hand in front of Natsuno's eyes to get his attention.

"No need, I am he- Natsuno! did you get in a fight or something?! I mean your eyes look kind of swollen, you need sleep to survive you know, it isn't something you can just pass."

"Natsu, you alright?"

"Yeah, never better." Natsuno finally talked. Then he walked in the house as if it was his own.

"So, Tohru, you were surely out of the village two nights ago?"

"You came here this early, banging at our door, waking the whole neighbourhood, to ask me this?"

"That was a yes no question."

Tohru chuckled a bit. This kind of attitude was what made Natsuno Natsuno. You would learn to be chill with it once you became his friend. Still no one liked being waked up early. He answered playfully but with a hint of annoyance.

"I recall telling you no for at least ten times just last night. Are you going senile at this young age, Natsuno?"

Natsuno looked at Tohru carefully. After putting two and two together and connecting Tohru's and Megumi's situations, he immediately knew he needed someone by his side and the first and only person who would come along inspecting something like this with him, was Tohru and he was involved with it too which gave Tohru even more reasons to help him figure this out . But, now that Natsuno was there, he couldn't help but hesitate.(What if I am overthinking it.) What he was about to say, in no way, made sense. (What if he doesn't take me seriously?) This was very well an option. If he was Tohru, he wasn't sure if he would take the nonsense of a sleep deprived fifteen year old seriously.

"So, what's up?" Tohru asked, with a calm face, ready to listen.

Good thing Tohru wasn't like Natsuno. There was no need to hesitate now, he had enough time to evaluate the situation last night and this was his best and quite frankly only shot. He didn't care how childish he would sound. He felt like he would spend many more sleepless nights until he figured this out. That was no good, he just needed to find out what was up and he would go right back into studying.

"You aren't the only one who was at Sotoba when you are supposed to be somewhere else."

"Wait, what is that supposed to mean? Who else?"

Natsuno let out an audible breath.

"You know that girl Masao mentioned, the one who was stalking me?"

"Oh, yeah! I can't believe I let that pass, I sort of forgot about that day mostly... What about her? You mentioned you knew her didn't you?"

"Yeah, actually you know her too. She was there that day."

"So it was that girl who got mad at you. No one likes a public rejection I guess... Wait, I don't know her though."

"That is because I am not talking about her. It was Shimizu."

Aoi's voice startled Tohru and Natsuno.

"Megumi?!"

"You were here this whole time?" Tohru asked.

"Well, yeah. I was awaken by the door too, I think I have a right to know what's up."

Natsuno thought Aoi's shocked response was interesting. He knew that in the end, he would have to confirm whether Megumi was there or not by asking Megumi herself. He actually didn't know where she lived but that wasn't the biggest problem. If two guys she barely knew randomly appeared at her door, questioning where she was the previous week he wasn't sure what kind of reaction they would get, especially if she really wasn't in Sotoba... He would rather avoid doing that. But the way Aoi answered, it was as if she was intimate with Megumi.

"Are you close with her?"

"Well, not really. Not anymore at least. Me her and Tamotsu would play together when we were little, Tohru would sometimes join too. It's just weird, when you said her name, all that appeared in my head was the image of a little girl so I was shocked but it doesn't make sense for me to be shocked, we haven't talked in so long." Aoi seemed thoughtful as she spoke slowly. They were quiet for a few seconds. Then Tohru broke the silence.

"Wait, how is Shimizu connected to someone else other than me also being here while they weren't really here?"

Natsuno looked at Tohru and Aoi's intrigued faces. This was it.

"Because last night I heard from a not so reliable source that she has been out of Sotoba for a week but I could swear she was there in front of my window every night."

Tohru and Aoi exchanged anxious glances.

"Who is the unreliable source exactly?"

Natsuno shook his head.

"Doesn't matter. You guys would know where she lives, right? We can only be sure if we ask her ourselves."

Tohru immediately spoke.

"No idea, I just know she doesnt't live very near."

Natsuno looked at Aoi imploringly. She looked like she was scanning her memories. Finally she shook her head.

"I know the neighbourhood she is supposed to be in but, not the exact location."

"Alright, just take us there, then we'll find it somehow."

Tamotsu was awaken by his mom.

"What? It is way too early."

Yesterday was a long day. It was surprisingly displeasing and dull for a day filled with so many strange events. Like rumors going around about his brother being a creep at night(while Tohru had continuously denied being in Sotoba) and the whole gathering thing was okay but he couldn't really enjoy it. Now he just wanted to get some sleep but his mom wouldn't stop poking him.

"No it is not, everyone except for you is up. Tohru and Aoi are out already and your dads at work."

"It is summer, why won't you let me sleep in peace?"

"Go post this."

"You gotta be kidding. Why don't you just-"

Tamotsu stopped midsentence. That was another weird thing. She couldn't just send a message because there was no signal. He forced himself out of bed and grabbed the letter out of his moms hand.

"Who is this for anyway?"

His moms face lit up as she started speaking.

"This morning your father got a letter offering him a job in a fancy hospital. It is away from Sotoba but still, It would be so nice if he got the job. Anyways I convinced him to answer that we would at least come to the interview. " she said gesturing the letter in Tamotsu's hands.

"Wouldn't we have to move then?"

"We can be concerned about that if he does do good in the interview."

"Also did you say we? Why would you me Tohru or Aoi have to come to the interview? Are they hiring all of us? He had an entertained look on his face while asking the last question.

"The letter mentioned that the interview would last for a day, it is a prestigious hospital after all. They said his family could come for support and our expenses would be paid for staying overnight. Doesn't it sound great?"

"Sounds... Sketchy."

"That's exactly what your dad said, he didn't even want to go to the interview but him getting this job would be great for you kids. You can get a way better education if we move to a place with better opportunities and have more money. Besides even if it is a scam we have nothing to loose by just going."

"I wouldn't mind being rich" Tamotsu said as he got out of the house, making his way towards the nearest post box.

He wasn't sure how to feel about moving or his father getting a new job. He was attached to this place, living here ever since he was born and all. He was chill now but if they had to end up moving he felt like he would make a fuss.

He finally reached the location of where the post box was supposed to be. But it wasn't there. He could see that it was there once, but, it was dismantled. Why was it so hard to interact with anyone outside Sotoba nowadays? He moved forward to go find the other post box.

Akira was upset that Kaori wasn't following up on their agreement.

"But you promised we would go!"

"No I didn't!"

"Okay maybe you didn't say I promise but you were fine with it yesterday. What's going on? Is there something you aren't telling me?"

"...No."

Yes. Kaori didn't want Akira to be worried. He didn't know about what had happened last night. She was absolutely terrified of those guys, what if they were after her. If they were she wasn't really hard to find. She was not going outside for something like spying on the cinema, she was not going to go along with Akira's agent game that day.

"I mean nothing is happening anyway, you may as well stare at these for hours and it would be the same." Kaori said holding her drawings."

Akira looked at the sketchbook, irritated then he focused on the two drawings next to each other. His eyes grew. He snatched the sketchbook out of Kaori's hands.

"I told you the likeliness of you seeing something interesting in my drawings was higher than you seeing anything interesting during your spying activities." Kaori said poking fun at Akira.

Akira completely ignored her words as he sat on the ground, still looking at the drawings with big eyes. He finally blurted out some words.

"Kaori, come look at these, they look the same on the first look but..."

Kaori lifted her eyebrows. She sat next to Akira on the ground and looked at what had left him so thunderstruck.

She had never seen anything like that, It looked like it was the work of an illusionist. But it wasn't, Kaori had done these drawings with her own hand.

The drawings were not drawings of the same building. The first one, the one she drew in the daytime was the one of the cinema. The second one, the one she finished last night was a drawing of a mansion. Even thought the buildings had different parts and structure(the mansion had extensions) when you looked without really focusing you felt as if you were looking at the same thing.

They both kept on staring at the drawings, trying to understand how such a thing was possible. Before they could find anything to say their mother burst into the room.

"Kaori, go take this to your dad's office."

"A letter? Why do I have to take it now, is it urgent?" Kaori hoped it wasn't. She really didn't want to leave the house.

"It says your dad is being called back from his old workplace. That place is one of the central parts, he'll probably be stationed again or they want him to go back to working there. Either means we'll have to move. Does that sound urgent enough?"

Kaori and Akira jumped from their places, too much stuff was happenning for them to process at the same time. Akira rapidly started speaking

"How can we know for sure and didn't we move recently? I mean it has been three years but... Maybe they are calling back for a reunion! Dad is likeable so they'll just have a nice day, a bunch of middle aged men hanging out having the last joyful moments of their lives. Not that dad doesn't have fun with us! And not that he'll die soon... He is very young! What I am saying is-"

"Just shut up and stop eating so many sweets. Kaori, go."

Kaori very slowly started moving.

"What are you waiting for? Hurry up!"

"Actually, I think I'll skate there."

Akira laughed.

"You'll skate? You are awful at it!"

Kaori ignored him and started looking for their skateboard. She and Akira had convinced their parents to buy them one as a birthday present but it was pretty expensive so they had to share it which didn't really matter anymore because the roads in Sotoba weren't appropriate for skating, they were too rough. Finally their mom left and Akira started speaking.

"Kaori, I'm going to the cinema!"

"Why, didn't you hear what mom said? Even if there is something weird with the cinema we may not be around."

"We don't know that for sure! Maybe if we find out what is going in the cinema we'll be like heroes! That way dad can find a job here and..."

"Akira..."

Kaori didn't know what to say. This place, felt more like home. She didn't know how to express it, Sotoba wasn't that different from where they used to live at all. She just wasn't ready to leave and she could see that neither was Akira.

"Anyways, I'm going. You can come later, or not..."

With this Akira rushed out of the house. Kaori sighed and hugged her skateboard close to her chest. She was taking it more for protection than for transportation. She slowly walked out of the house looking around cautiously. Just when she was about to move further she heard someone calling out.

"Hey!"

Kaori jumped and turned around immediately. She was holding the skateboard in her hands as if it was a weapon, ready to whack someones head with it.

(Oh no, not this girl)

Kaori slowly lowered the skateboard in her hand upon seeing who had called out to her.

"Uhm, sorry I thought you were someone else."

Tamotsu raised a brow, he didn't know anyone in the neighbourhood who would cause a reaction like this. He wouldn't have called out to her if he had known she was one of the people who was stuck in the cinema that day but it was too late now. He just had to get it over with.

"Right, well, I was looking for the post box I mean it isn't where I remembered it was so..."

"Oh, right, it should be over here."

Kaori turned around, Tamotsu following. Kaori could see it wasn't in its usual place yet kept walking towards it as if it would appear once she was in front of it.

"I am sure it was here, but..."

"I see, the one in our neighbourhood was dismantled as well." Tamotsu saw the letter in Kaori's hand.

"Did you have to post a letter too?"

"Oh, not really, no. I just need to get this to my dad, it is about his job-"

"Is it a job offering? My dad got one of those too!"

"Well, not completely a job offer but something of the sort."

They stood there for a split second.

"Weird coincidence, huh?"

"Sure is."

Once Tamotsu was out of sight Kaori finally reminded herself why she had the skateboard with her and why she didn't want to go out in the first place.(Those guys...)She started running towards her dads office.

Masao woke up to a note. Good morning, we are taking Hiromi and Chika to see the circus we saw on those flyers. You wouldn't get up so we left. We'll be back by 9 pm or so.

Masao stared at the note for some time. Hiromi and Chika. Left without you. We are leaving with Hiromi and Chika, without you.

Then he finally reacted throwing a temper tantrum, screaming as if anyone would hear.

"Haaaaah, those brats are getting to see a circus all the way outta Sotoba If I wanted to, I bet they wouldn't have gone with me! They left me here too! All alone, while they'll be having fun! This is so unfair! How come those brats get all this special treatment, what have they done to deserve it? Maybe they'll be sold to the circus!"

If only. He would never be able to get rid of them that easy. He started remembering what happened in the morning. He was awaken by someone jerking him. But he had just told them off as he was sleepy.

They could have said something, if they really wanted to, they could have got him to get up somehow. They had done this on purpose.(Mom wouldn't have left without me!)

His eyes were filled with tears as he was tearing the note apart. Not necesarily because he missed his mom as a person, he couldn't even remember her that well. He just missed the treatment. He felt like his mom would not have let them go without taking him, his mom was always by his side.

He felt like an outcast in his own house while he shouldn't be. (Sister in law and those brats came later, they should be feeling out of place.) yet they had taken over the house and now they were leaving him out.

He remembered seeing the flyers a few days ago, apparently a traveling group was coming near Sotoba and the tickets were very cheap. If that is so, it is probably going to be very sloppy anyways Masao thought, trying to convince himself it wasn't worth it anyways.

Masao had been frowning so hard for the last five minutes, staring at the torn paper with hatred. He wasn't going to allow it. If they were having a good time, he would have a GREAT time. He stepped out of the house. His hands were fists, he was stomping on the ground loudly, he was determined to force himself to have a good time. Then he would tell them about it, they would see.

As a habit he was walking towards the Mutous house. On his way he ran into Tamotsu. His face lit up.

"Hey Tamotsu!"

"Hey Masao, what's up?"

"Nothing, want to hang out?"

Tamotsu shrugged.

"Sure, what do you have in mind?"

Masao hadn't thought about that. Whatever he would do had to match up with what they were doing. He grinned.

"How about, we go to that cinema?"

Tamotsu gulped. He had no idea why Masao would want to go again after last time.

"For real? We got locked last time, that's bad luck don't you think? That place is weird anyways."

Masao frowned. He was a bit scared of the cinema too but now his jealousy and the need he felt to prove to his family that he had such a good time while they were gone, was surpassing his fear.

"Are you making excuses cause you don't want to come?"

"That isn't it, didn't you hear what I said?"

"I see, you don't want to hang out."

Tamotsu let out a tired sigh. There was no way out of this, it was impossible to have a sensible argument with Masao.

"Okay, let's go see a movie. It isn't on me if someone locks the door on us again though."

Natsuno Tohru and Aoi were looking around with fed up faces.

"Aoi?"

"I-, I am lost you guys, let's just ask for directions."

But none of them made a move to do so. All of them knew the consequences of asking help around here. The nosy folk would butt in, asking "why do you need to know" or "what business do you have with her?" and many more questions Natsuno could think of which he didn't want to bother answering. Tohru saw the building ahead and spoke up.

"Look where we are, she definitely doesn't live here."

Natsuno looked to see what Tohru was pointing at. The cinema. That boy had said Megumi hadn't been around for a week. When had she left exactly? Natsuno regretted not asking. While thinking this over and measuring the cinema, Natsuno saw a figure ahead. He walked a bit further to see it clearly.

No way.

"Natsuno?"

"I found my info source."

"Huh?"

Tohru and Aoi followed Natsuno with confused faces.

"Hey, you!"

"Aaaaghh"

While suddenly rising, Akira hit his head at the branch of the three he had been leaning against.

"W-What? I was just resting. This three is very comfortable you know, would recommend. But don't actually come, it is mine so..."

Akira spoke while looking at the teenagers that had appeared with a partly angry partly terrified face.

Natsuno raised a brow. Why was he acting so sneaky? Now that he thought about it, this was weird. A child hanging around in this forlorn place by himself...

"Don't worry, I am not here to question you or anything. I just want to ask something."

Akira's eyes narrowed and he nodded.

"You said Shimizu was out of town, right? When had she left exactly?"

"The very next day after we were in that cinema, you three were all there, right?"

Natsuno Tohru and Aoi nodded. Akira turned back to Natsuno.

"Why are you so curious anyways? Did something weird happen with Megumi too?!"

Natsuno's eyes grew.

"What do you mean too?"

"Nothing much really. It's just that- A few days ago I saw... someone unrelated leaving the cinema, even though it is no longer in business and later mom said that person was, well, he was supposedly out of town. Again, it is probably nothing, I was about to leave." Akira blurted out, uncomfortably, his voice shrinking with each word. He slowly tilted his head to see what kind of faces they had on.

The big surprised faces were not what he was expecting. The older boy in the back spoke.

"So it really isn't just me!"

"What about you?!" Akira asked loudly with excitement. Seeing people who seemed to also be suspicious of something was so exciting and relieving, all his energy had returned to him.

"About the same thing happened with him. Let's go confirm if Shimizu had been here or not now, then we can talk about the other things with details. You know where Shimizu lives, right?"

"Yeah! She's basically our neighbour. I'll take you guys there right now if you promise to tell me what you know."

Natsuno nodded. Akira enthusiastically passed forward them, he was bouncing so quickly. They followed after. Though they couldn't make it far before they ran into some obstacles.

Masao and Tamotsu seemed to be approaching them.

Upon seeing Aoi Tohru that kid and Natsuno walking away from the cinema Masao was boiling with anger once again. Aoi and Tohru. Even they were excluding him. And with Natsuno too. Even though he was new and even though he was such a pain. How come he was being accepted with his attitude. He was silent as he stared at them, bristling with anger. Tamotsu greeted them.

"Hey, are you guys seeing a movie too?"

Aoi shook her head.

"No, how can we? The cinema is closed."

"Oh, really?"

Thinking about it now, he did remember hearing something like that, how had he just forgotten? He couldn't help but release a sigh of relief, knowing that they wouldn't be able to go to the cinema.

"So, where are you guys going? We'll come too, right Masao?"

Masao wanted to scream no. Not with Natsuno there. But if he left now, he didn't have anywhere to go or anyone to hang out with. He snarled slightly, crossed his arms and shrugged.

"Whatever."

This can't be happenning Natsuno thought. There was no way he could get them off his back too. They had started out as three people. Now they were six. All this, only to ask Megumi where she had been the last week. He didn't know what would happen if she just said yes and the mystery was solved. He didn't even know what would happen if she said no. The idea that Megumi had been out of Sotoba all week still sent shivers down Natsuno's spine. If that was the case he really truly had no clue as to what he should do next. He wondered what the kid had to say. He seemed so determined, Natsuno felt like what he would tell them was going to be big.