Chapter 10: Doubts, questions and pauses.
A Focke-Achgelis Fa 223 piloted by Erika and carrying Maho, Kay, Darjeeling, Hana and Ayami was flying over the lake, headed towards the university team's camp.
Maybe we will find some information there…
Kuromorimine's captain thought.
"Do you think we will find any information once we get there?" Her Saunders colleague asked her.
Maho turned to look at her, trying to appear impassive.
"The easiest way to know is to go there and ask." She replied.
For her part, the St. Gloriana's commander let out a sigh.
"Assuming you can find her… What will you do then, Maho-san?"
Maho stared at her.
"What do you mean by that?"
"I mean that your… Actually, your mother disowned her. With the closure of Ooarai Miho will have nowhere to return to. I could host her at St. Gloriana, but..."
The blonde girl shrugged.
"…Then?"
Maho was silent at first, then said:
"I will try to convince Okāsan to admit her back into our family."
Both Kay and Darjeeling looked at her skeptically. Shiho Nishizumi was known for her iron fist, which was connected to a heart of ice. She was not one to tolerate weak and/or failures. It was very unlikely that she would have retraced her steps. But they both preferred to keep their thoughts to themselves.
In another area of the forest Saori was walking back and forth, while Mako, Yukari, Alisa, Orange Pekoe and Koume Akaboshi watched her. She was nervous, and it showed. At a certain point she stopped, clenched her fists and exclaimed:
"Why didn't they let us follow them? Ugh!"
"The Focke has a maximum capacity of 6 people, including the pilot." Koume explained, crossing her arms and leaning her back against a tree.
Saori glared at her.
"And thereby? They can send another one for us!" She replied.
"Don't worry… If Darjeeling-san and the others find out anything, they will report it to us." Pekoe told her, then sipped water from a canteen.
Too bad I can't drink some tea...
She thought.
Saori shook her head. A friend of theirs was who knows where, lost in a labyrinthine forest, ready to commit suicide at any moment (if she hadn't already done so)... And they acted as if they were at a picnic! Mako seemed to sense her thoughts, because she said to her:
"I know you're worried about Miho's fate... We all are here. But we must remain calm: allowing ourselves to be guided by anger can not only prove useless, but counterproductive."
"I know this well, Mako-chan!" She retorted, clenching her fists.
She put on a frown.
"But I… You see… I'm scared… Afraid that it's too late! If I can't save Miporin I will never forgive myself!"
"We are all afraid… But we can't give up. The searches are still ongoing, you will see that Miho will be found." Her childhood friend replied.
But alive... Or dead?
Alisa wondered, being careful to keep that question to herself.
As far as she knew, Miho had already taken the final step. What if they found her alive? That girl had no future, having been disinherited by her mother and Ooarai being destined for closure.
Only a miracle can save her... But I no longer believe in miracles.
She thought, looking up at the sky.