Sayaka busied herself about the kitchen. She didn't have the heart to tell her
husband's friend to leave, but when he did, everything would be all set up for
dinner. The slender woman went about keeping the rice and meat warm in the
meantime. As she worked, she began to worry about Sousuke. What if he was
getting hungry? Too polite for his own good, he would never say anything even if
he was.

After some thought, Sayaka thought it would be best if Sousuke ate dinner
before his parents. She did not like to bother him when he was in his room, but
she would feel guilty if she did not give him the option. Quietly making her way
down the hall to her son's room, she was surprised to not only find his door wide
open, but to find his room empty as well. Undeterred, the woman checked into
every room of the house, but found no trace of her timid son. Sayaka's innards
began to twist as she tried to reason with herself why Sousuke was nowhere to be
found.

Her alarm was greatly heightened by the simple fact that Sousuke was not a
wanderer. Not even as a curious toddler did he stray very far from where he was
supposed to be. Sousuke was a good boy. He didn't do things like stepping
outside without telling anyone. Sayaka shivered as she swallowed her self-
consciousness and approached the only room she had not checked. She knocked
politely before sliding the screen. As she poked her head in, her eyes darted
across the room, praying for a glimpse of those familiar glasses. Her anxiety grew
when she saw only her husband and his friend.

Tohru could see by the look on her face that his wife was upset. "What's the
matter?" In an unsteady voice, the woman asked, "Have you seen Sousuke?"
Tohru looked confused. "I don't understand. Shouldn't he be on the way home
from school right about now?" Feeling light headed, Sayaka clutched the side of
the door. "N-no. He came home early and went to his room, but he's gone."

The woman's frail body began to tremble uncontrollably. Fearing that she
would pass out, Homura rose from his seat and took hold of her shoulder. "Calm
down. I'm sure Sousuke is somewhere around the house or maybe he just
stepped out for some fresh air. Don't you think you're overreacting?" Tohru stood
up and moved towards the door. "He's right. You know Sousuke-kun. He's never
too far from his room."

Sayaka was forced to sit down while her husband and Homura searched the
house. Finding nothing, the two men went outside where they noticed Sousuke's
shoes still placed neatly on the front step. For reasons he couldn't quite pin down,
seeing the still present shoes unsettled Tohru. He worried that perhaps his wife
wasn't overreacting after all.

Both men jumped when Sayaka dashed through the open door. She was
panicked. "We have to find him! We have to find him! We have to find him!"
Tohru grabbed his hysterical wife by the arm, pulled her to his chest and shook
her. "Calm down! We'll find him!" By then, several people from neighboring
homes had come outside to see what all the noise was about. While Tohru tried
to calm Sayaka, Homura questioned the curious observers.

No one had seen the little boy and the evening was only going to get darker. A
few of the men offered to help search for the lost boy. Even though a hollow had
not been reported in the area for years, some even decided to bring weapons.
The wives rushed over to calm Sayaka who was shivering and sobbing. She
hiccupped through strangled breaths. "I have to find my baby! He can't survive
out there! Let me go! I have to find him!"

Tohru had no time to feel shock or dread. He had to find his son and bring him
home. Taking command, discussed with the search party the most likely places his
son could have retreated to. They decided to go to the school grounds first. Even
though no one would be there, it was familiar scenery for the shy boy. It had not
occurred to any of them at the time that Sousuke would seek just the opposite.