Hi everyone! So sorry for the delay (and sorry for sounding like a broken record as usual!) But good news, I got a new job and my divorce has finalized :) Bad news is my new job is SUPER busy, but I'm writing whenever I have time! If you're still here, thank you for sticking around and your never-ending patience- truly appreciate it 3

Without further ado, please enjoy!

In the bathroom, Satoru was leaning over the sink as he rubbed his hair vigorously with a towel, his brows scrunched up in thought. There was something off about the way she was behaving. The words she was using… the way she was speaking…

He threw the towel on the floor as he stormed back into the bedroom. Something didn't seem right at all. He grabbed his phone, quickly tapping on his former teacher's number.

"Christ, it's 1 in the morning." Masamichi's voice was gruff, clearly laced with sleep. "This better be good, Satoru."

"Principal Yaga." Satoru released a breath he did not realize he had been holding. "Was Qian supposed to do three things for you?"

"No." The older man's voice turned solemn upon hearing his former student address him with his actual title. "What three things?"

Satoru palmed his face as he strode to the closet, grabbing his damp clothes. "I fucking knew it. Something's up." He tapped the speaker icon and threw the phone on the bed as he got himself dressed.

"What are you talking about?" There was a rustling sound from the line, most likely caused by Masamichi sitting up straight. His voice began to level in concern. "Satoru, what's going on?"

"I don't have time to explain." Satoru buttoned his pants, throwing his tank top over his head. "Qian disappeared somewhere and I think something is wrong."

"Satoru, tell me where you are-" But he had already pressed the "End Call" button. He shoved his arms through the sleeves of his flannel before opening the curtains, sliding the door open to the balcony. He tucked his phone into his back pocket and shot himself into the sky. The cold wind nipped his skin, like icicles penetrating his body that had just been warmed from the soothing shower. Activating his Six Eyes, he scrutinized the area for a familiar dark-haired girl. He bit back a curse, not only was it dark, but his Six Eyes could only distinguish those possessing cursed energy.

"Fuck!" He ran a hand through his hair in frustration. Where is she?!

Suddenly, his phone rang and he peered at the screen, recognizing the principal's caller ID. "Old man, I really don't have time for-"

"I called Shoko and Zeng. They are on their way to my office." Masamichi interjected curtly. "Get over here, stat."

Satoru opened his mouth to argue, but his mentor continued. "Do you really think you'll be able to find her alone? You know as well as I do that your cursed technique is shit when it comes to normal humans."

Shit. He had a point. He could fly around and try to spot her from the air, but that would waste too much time. It's not like he could teleport either and search every corner, every building, or every bush for her. Satoru bit back a curse and gritted his teeth. "Fine."

—-

When Satoru entered the principal's office, Masamichi was seated at his desk, clad in a quarter-zip sweater and joggers. Toshinori and Shoko were standing in the middle of the room, with the former wearing a loose t-shirt and basketball shorts, and the latter in pajama pants with a hoodie.

The doctor immediately whipped her head towards him as soon as the door opened. "Satoru, what happened-"

"Yo! Satoru!" His upperclassman grinned cheekily, raising a hand in greeting and Satoru released an exasperated sigh.

"What is he doing here?" He turned to Masamichi. "I thought you said just Shoko and Zeng were coming?"

Shoko opened her mouth, but the older sorcerer threw an arm over her. "Well, we were hanging out when I got the call. Old Yaga here sounded worried, figured I could help." He rubbed her shoulder affectionately. "Plus, wherever this cutie goes, I go."

Shoko's pale face turned bright pink and she slapped his arm off her shoulder. "S-Senpai!"

"Awww, look who has the stutter now?" Toshinori jested, pinching her cheek.

A vein throbbed in Satoru's temple and he struggled to keep his temper in check, his eyes flickering to the clock on the wall. He had already lost an hour from flying back to Tokyo. "I really don't care. Where's Zeng?"

"I'm here." They turned to see the eldest Tomioka sibling at the doorway, donning a trenchcoat and dark gray jeans. He crossed his arms, his gaze shifting between the adults before landing on Masamichi. "Yaga-san, I got your message but I can't stay long. My mother just called me and… my father hasn't come back tonight. It's not like him. She's starting to panic."

The principal sighed, leaning back in his chair. "... This can't be a coincidence." He took off his glasses, placing them on the desk with a soft 'clack.' "Look, I called everyone here who had recent interactions with Qian. Satoru, you sounded very worried, why don't you explain yourself?"

Zeng's neck snapped around towards the silver-haired sorcerer. "Did something happen to my sister? She told us she was staying over at Miyano's tonight."

"That… isn't true." Satoru muttered under his breath, recalling the real reason why Qian had traveled to Gunma in the first place. His fingers dug into his own palms as he clenched his fist… they were finally on the same page. He could still feel her lips burning into his own, how she felt snuggled up against him in the springs… They should be together right now, and yet… he placed a hand over his eyes. How could he have just let her leave like that? Now she's missing and it's all his fault.

Zeng raised a confused brow. "What are you talking about?"

Satoru snapped out of his rumination and waved his hand dismissively, despite the older Tomioka sibling opening his mouth to inquire further. "It's not important. What is important is that she's now missing." He placed both arms behind his head, gripping the back of his neck. "I was with her earlier tonight, and then she suddenly had to leave… saying she was coming back to the lab to do some things for Principal Yaga."

"But I didn't assign anything to her." Masamichi replied gruffly.

"Fucking hell." Zeng raked through his hair, which was already disheveled from sleep from its usual primed style. He stepped past the trio, seating himself in one of the chairs by Masamichi's desk as he cradled his head in his hands. His voice was unusually quiet with a soft tremor in his tone, revealing his fear. "Did she say anything else?"

Satoru thought back to their conversation. "The way she was phrasing things seemed a bit off to me. She specifically said something about doing 3 things-"

"I just have 3 things I need to do. Oh sorry, 6 actually… but the point is, I want to get 5 done before 9."

Satoru massaged his temples, squeezing his eyes shut to recall the specific words she had used. "She then said she had to do 6, but wanting to get 5 done before 9?"

Zeng's neck snapped up as he raised his brows curiously. "Wait, did she say anything along the lines of 'point', 'period', or some sort of punctuation?"

Satoru opened his eyes, his blue irises regarding him suspiciously. "...actually, yeah. How did you know?"

Zeng ran a hand over his face, his brow furrowing. "It was a game we liked to play as kids. Our mother tutored us after school because- well, she's crazy. But more so, she was worried about us falling behind. Once I was old enough, she would ask me to tutor Qian in her stead."

He smirked in nostalgia. "Math would be so boring, but if I gave the answer straight out, Ma would be pissed. So I instead came up with a way to phrase the answer as if I was holding a conversation. Like if the answer was pi, 3.14, I would say shit like 'don't forget tomorrow at 3, you have to periodically check your phone at least 1 time to make sure you had 4 bars of cell service.' Or something dumb like that. Obviously, our mom caught on soon enough, but we would still joke around like that to each other over the years."

Satoru blinked incredulously, as Toshinori scratched the back of his head in bemusement. "Damn, what kind of parent would force their kid to learn more school, after school?"

"Our father." They all turned to the entrance and saw Vivian standing in the doorway, her arms crossed as she leaned against the frame. "Though you never got to deal with it, being so gifted and all. Father kept trying to force it on me since I could never be as good as you."

"Aw, Viv. Don't say that." Toshinori grinned awkwardly at his sister. "But hey, you got my text!"

"Of course I did, that's how phones work, you dingus." She sighed, flipping her hair over her bare shoulder. She adjusted her cardigan, covering herself further as she folding her arms across her chest once more as she turned her violet eyes to Satoru. "What's got you so upset?"

"Qian is missing." Shoko responded, her voice cautious as she glanced at Satoru.

"So?" The hair on the back of Satoru's neck pricked upon hearing her bored tone. She placed a hand on her hip, glaring at her brother. "That's what you woke me up for, Toshi?"

"'So'…? What the hell do you mean, 'so'? that's my sister." Zeng growled as he scrutinized the woman. At the same time, Shoko took a warning step forward.

"Hitsunara-senpai." The doctor frowned. "That's not appropriate-"

"I'm just saying. She's a normal human, right?" Vivian stepped around them, plopping herself on the couch by the far wall. She inspected her manicured nails. "What's the big deal, people go missing all the time."

Toshinori's characteristic jolly gaze began to turn icy. "Hey, Viv, come on-"

Suddenly, the room dropped below freezing temperatures, the air becoming heavy with highly dense pressure as it turbulated through the floor. Masamichi simply placed his hands on the stacks of paper laying on his desk, preventing them from flying around, as Toshinori stumbled back slightly with a soft "Whoa!".

As cold sweat dripped down Vivian's cheek, Shoko raised a hand to massage her temple in exasperation. "Now you did it."

"Vivian. I'm going to be clear with you." Satoru's eyes were glowing as he raised his chin, glowering at the woman. "She isn't just some human. She's important to me, and I will not tolerate anyone saying otherwise. Do you understand?"

Vivian was gasping for breath as she met his gaze. "B-But, Satoru-"

"I said, do you understand?" His frigid tone shot daggers into her soul. Upon seeing the anguish and sincerity in his eyes, her heart plummeted to the ground.

He… really does care about her. She had never seen him like this before. It's… true.

"I…understand." She choked out, turning her chin away in defeat. Finally, Satoru straightened his back and the atmosphere turned back to normal. Toshinori breathed a sigh of relief as Masamichi grumbled something about 'kids still being kids' under his breath. Shoko released a breath before turned to Zeng.

"So, Zeng, you're saying she was actually speaking some sort of code?" Shoko interjected, folding her arms over her chest.

"The possibility is high, I don't think she would speak that way otherwise." Zeng stood from his seat, turning his hip to reach over Masamichi's desk. He leaned forward and paused, waiting for the man's permission. Upon seeing him nod, he grabbed a stack of post-its and a pen before turning back to face the silver-haired sorcerer. "Gojo, what were the exact words she said?"

Satoru closed his eyes, desperately trying to recollect every word she spoke.

"She said, 'I just have 3 things I need to do… 6 actually… but the point is, I want to get 5 done before 9.'" He pinched the bridge of his nose. "Then, she asked if she can ask me '1 thing' about 'those 3 things'. She wanted me to let Principal Yaga know that 'she'll get to him by 9 on the dot…", saying she 'felt bad keeping him waiting 2 extra days'."

Shoko peeked over the older Tomioka's shoulder. "3…6… point… 5… 9. Then 1… 3… 9… dot… 2." She read out loud as the latter scribbled down the numbers. "36.59 and 139.2. What in the world do those mean?"

"Prices?" Zeng straightened his back with a sigh. "But that doesn't seem right."

"And then, she also did this." Satoru repeated the four-finger motion that Qian gave to him. "But I don't know if it means anything."

"Help." They turned to Toshinori, who's expression was suddenly uncharacteristically solemn. "It's the universal distress signal. It signifies someone is in trouble but are unable to verbally say anything out of danger."

Satoru raised a brow. "How do you know that?"

Toshinori raked a hand through his hair. "It's been promoted all across the world, especially in the western hemisphere. I've seen it in commercials when I was in England." He raised his arms behind the back of his head, releasing a loud sigh. "I've been on a few missions where that was actually used, had to break down a few human trafficking rings and was only able to follow a trail because people were smart enough to use that signal."

"Jesus." Zeng groaned. "I think I remember watching a commercial or something about that a long time ago. I didn't realize it was a real thing."

"Now the issue is, gentlemen and lady." Masamichi folded his hands across his desk. "Qian clearly is in trouble, and she left us breadcrumbs. Time is of the essence."

Satoru's blood was boiling. Images of her in pain flashed through his mind once more and he shook his head vehemently. No, he had to stay focused. Getting emotional wasn't going to do anything. "I can search around. She can't be that difficult to find."

"Right, 'cus how many dark-haired girls are there wandering around Japan, especially those with minimal or no cursed energy?" Toshinori quipped jokingly. "That narrows it down to… oh, I don't know, everyone?"

"Do you have any better ideas?" Satoru countered as Shoko jabbed the older sorcerer in the ribs.

The man threw up his hands in defeat. "Sorry, sorry. Just tryna' lighten the mood."

"We could try googling the numbers." Shoko offered. "Maybe something would turn up."

"Coordinates." They turned to Masamichi, who rotated the monitor of his computer around so the screen faced them. "I figured while you were all bickering, I'll try to use what you kids are so obsessed with nowadays: the internet."

"Well, look at you, old man!" Toshinori rushed around the desk, slapping the principal hard on his back. "Using technology like a pro!"

As Masamichi grumbled something inaudible, an overwhelming burst of cursed energy suddenly dissipated throughout the room, causing the stack of papers to fly off the desk.

"Damn it, Satoru!" The older man roared, trying to pin them back down as Satoru immediately turned his heel to head out the door.

"Hold it, Satoru." Shoko took a step forward. "We need to scout ahead first. This could all very well be a trap."

"Does it look like I give a shit?" He growled, his eyes glowing ominously.

"She's right, Gojo." His gaze flickered to Zeng, who stepped forward. "Let's take a minute to come up with a plan."

"That would just be wasting time. I don't have that." He turned away once more before suddenly he felt a hand on his shoulder.

"Gojo. This is my family." Zeng glared at the man. "Trust me, no one wants to save them as much as I do. But let me reach out to my mother."

Satoru studied him for a moment. "I'm surprised you, of all people, are trying to stop me. You're being oddly calm about all this."

Zeng steadily met his eyes. Green clashing against blue. "Trust me, Gojo. I am far from calm, but if it is our mutual… 'friend', he no doubt has something planned. We are most likely her and my father's only chance, if we fuck up, we can lose them both. We need to have a good shot at this, so let's figure this out right here and now."

Satoru regarded him for a moment longer and soon, the air began to placate, growing slightly less suffocating as he forced himself to regain his composure. "Alright, what should we do?"