At 1:30 pm, in the city of Tokyo, a young girl of 17 years old and her friend, who was approximately the same age, were in a part of the city called, The Crossroads, enjoying the summertime air. It was a couple of weeks after summer vacation began in late July. The young girl's name was, Haru Yoshioka. Her friend was Hiromi. In May of 2002, over a period of roughly 3 days, Haru went through a series of events that changed her life. She encountered the Cat Kingdom, and was nearly forced to marry its Prince Lune. But a living cat figurine named Baron Humbert von Gikkingon and a large white cat named Muta, managed to get Haru out of the Cat Kingdom. She came out the experience a more self-confident person. In June of 2002, Haru chronicled her experiences in the form of a romace adventure novel called, Do Cats Talk?, which in Japan became a bestseller between the months of June and July. On this day, they were also talking about the disappearances of the 198 air force pilots from 10 countries, including Japan. The public wasn't informed of the disappearance of Uehara Morita.

Haru said to Hiromi, "It's just all so weird. 198 pilots from the air forces of 10 countries, including our country, disappearing without a trace, over a period of 102 days."

Hiromi replied, "Yeah, that is just too weird. Especially with how they're never found again. But the stranger part about it all, is that in every instance that the pilots disappear, there absolutely no signs of an enemy air force in the area at the time of the disappearances."

Haru said in agreement, "Exactly. But there is one thing I noticed that is in common with every disappearance."

Hiromi asked, "And what's that, Haru?"

Haru answered, "All the pilots before they disappeared encountered a strange kind of fog."

Hiromi said, agreeing with Haru, "Yeah, that's true. Do you think that the fog has something to do with causing the disappearances of those pilots?"

Haru said, "Maybe, but I'm not completely sure of it."

While Haru and Hiromi talking, an 11 year old girl dressed in a white t-shirt with a singular green stripe across the top and sleeves which went below her waist and pink shorts was nearby, about a couple of tables away from the table where Haru and Hiromi were sitting. Her name was Chihiro Ogino. A year earlier, she and her mother and father, Yuuko and Akio, entered into a spirit world. Her parents were turned into pigs, and Chihiro had to work in the spirit world's bathhouse, owned by the witch, Yubaba, in order to survive. She received help from a river spirit named Nigihayami Kohakunushi, or Haku for short. Chihiro and her parents, who were restored to their human forms, returned to the human world. Ever since those events, Chihiro has become an artist, and has made drawings based on her experiences in the spirit world. Her artwork has made her well known to many people, including none other than Haru Yoshioka who praised Chihiro's drawings since she was 16 years old. Chihiro was also a fan of Haru and her novel, Do Cats Talk?, praising her writing style. She and her parents have just arrived in Tokyo earlier in the morning. They came from their home in the mountains to the north of Tokyo, so that Chihiro can visit her old friends. Her parents told her to look for a member of the family that was offering them a place to stay while they would spend time in Tokyo. The family in question, was none other, than the Yoshioka family. Chihiro was absolutely ecstatic. They told her to look for Haru at The Crossroads, from what Haru's mother, Naoko, had told them on the phone of where Haru most often hangs out with her friend. Chihiro was all too willing and wanting to look for Haru, for it was her chance her favorite writer. Little did Chihiro know, that Haru also really wanted to meet her too. Indeed, Haru was expecting the Ogino family to arrive at her front door at any point in the day. But Haru didn't know Chihiro was looking her in The Crossroads, only a couple of tables away from her. Chihiro then walked over to the table over Haru and Hiromi, without she was there.

Chihiro, showing the back cover of Haru's novel which had a picture of her, asked Haru not knowing it was actually her, "Excuse me, have you seen Haru Yoshioka around here?"

Haru replied, "Yes, she's me."

Chihiro then became very excited as she said, "Oh my goodness, this is very exciting!"

Haru asked, "But who are you?"

Chihiro then calmed down as she said, "Oh my name. I'm Chihiro Ogino."

Then, as if Chihiro's excitement had transferred and permeated into Haru, she then excitedly said as she got up from her chair, "I've heard of you, Chihiro. I just absolutely am a super fan of your spirit world artwork. I really love your drawings of the bathhouse and occupants."

Chihiro, with her excitement returning to her, said to Haru, "I just adore your novel, Do Cats Talk?, it is a masterpiece in my eyes. The way your Koyomi character was nearly forced to marry Prince Lune was just so suspenseful. The saddest part was where Koyomi and Baron are on the roof of the school and they're saying their goodbyes, they reveal how they liked each other. I just wanted to ask, is the Koyomi character really based on you?"

Haru replied, "In all honesty, I can say she's a totally different person."

Hiromi then said to Haru and Chihiro as a compliment, "It looks to me like, until today, you both could only worship each other from afar."

Haru replied, "I guess you could say that, Hiromi."

Chihiro agreed with Hiromi's words.

Haru then asked Chihiro, "So, what brings you here, Chihiro?"

Chihiro answered, "My parents and I drove down from the mountains to the north of Tokyo, so that I can spend some time in the summer with some friends I had before I moved. It's, for me, such a privilige to be staying in your home during my visit."

Haru replied, "I myself consider it an honor."

Then, Haru's cell phone rang in her pocket, she took it out and answered it. Haru's mother was calling her to let her know that Chihiro's parents had arrived at their home and everyone's expecting Haru and Chihiro. Haru then hanged up the phone after she acknowledged this.

Haru then said to Hiromi, "Well, Hiromi, Chihiro's parents have arrived at my house, and they and my mom are expecting Chihiro and I. So, Chihiro and I must be heading to my house. We'll see you here again tomorrow."

Hiromi said, "OK, Haru."

Everyone said their goodbyes.

Haru then said to Chihiro, "OK Chihiro, I'll get us to my house, just follow me."

Chihiro replied, "Alright."

Haru and Chihiro then started on their way back to Haru's home. Little did either they or their parents know of the shocking news that would be shown on TV later in the day.