The cluttered living room of Haruhito Sugiyama's apartment. Suitcases are open, clothes are strewn about, and various items for a trip are haphazardly placed. Asahi practically bouncing on the balls of his feet, holding a map of Mexico upside down.
Asahi:Okay! Mexico, here we come! I've got the map, I've got my lucky travel hat, and most importantly, I've got the determination to find Mew!
Haru:(Shaking his head, meticulously folding a shirt) Asahi, the map is upside down. And I still think this is a long shot. I mean, a stuffed cat? All the way in Mexico?
Tokiwa:(Leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed) Let's be honest, the chances of Yume's little purple fuzzball ending up across the border are about as likely as me winning the lottery. Which, for the record, I don't even play.
Aki:(Quietly packing a first-aid kit) But Yume was really upset. And we did see that suspicious-looking suitcase disappear from the airport carousel. It's worth a try, right?
Asahi:Exactly! Aki gets it! Besides, it'll be an adventure! Imagine, we'll be like a team of intrepid stuffed-animal rescuers!
Haru:(Sighs, but a small smile tugs at his lips) "Intrepid stuffed-animal rescuers"? You're unreal, Asahi. Okay, I've got the essentials covered. Passports, plane tickets, phrasebook… and a surprisingly large amount of antiseptic wipes just in case…
Tokiwa:(Raises an eyebrow) Antiseptic wipes? Are you expecting a medical emergency during the Search for Mew?
Haru:Okay, maybe a little overkill, but you can never be too careful about Mexican germs. Or… rogue stuffed animal fluff, I guess.
Asahi:Hey, don't knock it! We need to be prepared for anything. I packed my detective kit too. A magnifying glass, a notepad… and a bag of cat treats, just in case Mew decides to show up.
Aki:(Managing a small smile) I think Mew is a little above cat treats, but that's a good idea, Asahi.
Tokiwa:(A smirk plays on his lips) A magnifying glass? In Mexico? Are we turning into a parody of a bad detective show?
Asahi:Hey! You never know! Maybe we'll need to examine paw prints. And speaking of paw prints… Akihito, did you pack those photos of Mew?
Aki:(Holding up a small stack of photos) Yes, got them right here. Front view, side view, and one where Yume was pretending to give Mew a bath.
Haru:Okay, look, as crazy as this all sounds, let's try to stick to the plan. We get there, we look around the places Yume mentioned she visited. And we keep an eye out for anything purple and fuzzy.
Tokiwa:(Pushing himself off the doorframe) Fantastic. We're officially on a wild goose chase for a stuffed cat. But fine, I'm in. Someone's got to keep you all from getting arrested for public displays of magnifying glass usage.
Asahi:That's the spirit, Tokiwa! Let's get this show on the road! And hopefully, Mew back in Yume's arms by the end of it!
(And so, Everyone grabbing their bags, a mix of apprehension and excitement on their faces, ready to head out the door. Meanwhlie, A brightly lit, slightly chaotic police station in Mexico. Papers are scattered on desks, phones are ringing, and there's a general hum of activity. Yume, Maira, and Kotoko stand slightly awkwardly in front of a desk, where a middle-aged officer, Officer Rodriguez, sits looking a little weary. He speaks with a slight Spanish accent.)
Yume: (Beaming, placing a flyer on the desk) ¡Hola! Officer, we're here because our friend… well, her very important cat… went missing!
Officer Rodriguez: (Sighs, then looks up from a report) Hola. A cat, eh? We get a lot of missing cats, señoritas, but mostly, they turn up eventually.
Maira: (Stepping forward slightly) This isn't just any cat, Officer. She's a stuffed one, a very special stuffed kitten, and our friend is incredibly worried. We think maybe she was accidentally taken by someone.
Kotoko: (Holds out the flyer, which shows a clear photo of a light violet kitten.) Her name is Mew. She's… she's very loved.
Officer Rodriguez: (Takes the flyer, examines it with a raised eyebrow) A stuffed kitten… and it's light violet? Muy peculiar.
Yume: (Nodding enthusiastically) Exactly! And we're prepared to offer a reward for her safe return! We know it's not a typical case, but she has real sentimental value.
Maira: We were thinking… (she glances at the other two) …five hundred pesos? Is that a reasonable amount?
Officer Rodriguez: (Leans back in his chair, considering) Five hundred pesos… for a stuffed… gatito? It is more than usual. Most people seek the real ones. But perhaps it will show how serious you are.
Kotoko: (Tears welling in eyes, voice trembling a little) She… she's like a member of our family. Please, Officer, we'd be so grateful for any help you can give.
Officer Rodriguez: (Sighs again, softening slightly at the girls' obvious distress) Alright, señoritas. I can take down the details. What exactly happened? And where was this… Mew last seen?
Yume: Okay, so… (she starts to explain the situation, gesturing with her hands)
Maira: (Interrupting gently) We were in the market downtown, near the fruit stalls. We think she might have slipped out of the bag when our friend was looking at mangoes.
Officer Rodriguez: (Making notes) Downtown market… mangoes… a light violet stuffed kitten… Five hundred peso reward… Muy bien. I will have my team keep an eye out. But, you know, there are many people and many things in the market.
Kotoko: (Voice hopeful) Do you think… do you think there's a chance we'll find her?
Officer Rodriguez: (Offers a small, reassuring smile) We will do our best, señoritas. We will do our best. Now, can you tell me more details… was there anything special about Mew? Any distinguishing features?
Mean Time, The alley reeked of stale beer and desperation. El Diablo, muscles rippling under his sleek black coat, padded silently, his amber eyes gleaming in the dim light. Vasquez's voice, gravelly and low, echoed in his ears.
Vasquez (O.S.): Find it, Diablo. The gato… the violet one. Bring it back, and your next steak will be prime. Fail, and you'll be sleeping with the rats. Understand?
El Diablo let out a low growl, a rumble deep in his chest. He understood perfectly. He sniffed the air, his powerful nose twitching. A faint scent of lavender – the ridiculous perfume Vasquez had insisted was on the cursed stuffed kitten – drifted on the breeze.
Suddenly, a tiny squeak pierced the night.
Mew (Squeak): Meeeew…
El Diablo froze. He located the sound: a hidden nook behind a overflowing dumpster. He cautiously approached, every muscle tense, ready to pounce. He saw it then: a ludicrously fluffy, light violet kitten, eyes stitched onto its face staring blankly ahead. It was surprisingly clean, ridiculously soft-looking.
El Diablo, accustomed to the brutal reality of dog fights, found himself momentarily confused. He expected a struggle, a fight, but the kitten only trembled slightly.
El Diablo (Growl): (A low, rumbling growl, more of a perplexed sound than a threat.)
He nudged the kitten with his wet nose. The kitten didn't move.
Vasquez (O.S.): Diablo! What's taking so long? Is that… mewling?
El Diablo hesitated. He looked at the kitten, then at the dark alley, then back at the kitten.
El Diablo: (A whine, almost unheard) It...it's not fighting back, Vasquez.
Vasquez (O.S.): Fight back? It's a stuffed kitten, you fool! Just grab it and bring it here!
El Diablo picked up the kitten gingerly in his mouth, his jaws surprisingly delicate. The soft fur was surprisingly pleasant against his teeth. He carried it carefully, all his ferocity seemingly melted away by the unexpected softness.
El Diablo: (A quieter whine) It smells of…lavender.
Vasquez (O.S.): Just get here with it! And don't you dare get any of that… lavender… on me.
El Diablo, carrying his odd prize, began to walk, the strange, unexpected weight of the stuffed kitten somehow heavier than any opponent he had ever faced.