Yukinoshita Yukino was missing.
When Kanade heard the news, he froze, disbelief washing over him. Yukinoshita Yukino, missing? Those words seemed impossible to string together, yet they came from none other than Kato Megumi. That made it undeniable.
Still, to confirm, Kanade asked cautiously, "Yukinoshita… as in Yukinoshita Yukino?"
"Yes."
The response left no room for doubt.
"…"
Of course. Who else at Shuchiin Academy could bear the name "Yukinoshita"?
Kanade felt a wave of unease. His hand instinctively gripped Megumi's wrist.
It's human nature to react differently when something unfortunate happens to someone close. Though Kanade and Yukino weren't exactly friends now, worry for her still surged within him.
"When did this happen?" His tone was sharp with urgency.
"About 20 minutes ago, on the path between the second and third checkpoints," Megumi replied. Feeling the pressure on her wrist, she gently placed her other hand on Kanade's, attempting to calm him.
Kanade blinked, realizing his grip, and quickly let go.
"Sorry, I got carried away…"
Megumi shook her head. "It's fine."
"Did she say anything or act strangely before disappearing?" he pressed.
"No." Megumi shook her head again before adding, "After we completed the second challenge, we both… took a break. When I came out, Yukinoshita-san asked me to go ahead to the next checkpoint. She said she'd follow shortly."
"But she never arrived?" Kanade frowned.
"No. I went back to look for her, but she was nowhere to be found."
"…"
Kanade's mind raced. Yukino wasn't the type to enjoy activities like this, especially ones that required teamwork. She'd likely pushed herself to avoid inconveniencing Megumi—after all, Yukino hated troubling others.
She probably intended to complete the challenges as quickly as possible, asking Megumi to move ahead to save time.
But how could she have gone missing?
Though Yukino occasionally exhibited a hidden talent for getting lost, the path between checkpoints was clearly marked with stone tiles and signage. How could she veer off course in the middle of a controlled event?
The pieces didn't fit, and Kanade's worry deepened.
For now, though, he couldn't waste time overthinking. With the information gathered, he needed to act immediately.
Turning to the nearby student council member who had brought him the news, Kanade asked, "Has a search team been organized?"
"Yes," the member nodded. "The vice president set it up. She also sent me to inform you."
"Good. Thank you," Kanade said, slightly relieved. At least Kaguya had taken swift action.
Still, he wasn't fully reassured. The limited number of council members available for search parties might not suffice.
"Here's what we'll do," he said decisively. "Inform the disciplinary committee. Have them allocate half their members to the search, focusing not just on Yukinoshita's last known area but also along the paths between other checkpoints."
"But… won't that leave the patrols short-staffed?"
"Forget the patrols. Do you think enforcing school rules matters more than finding a missing student? Go now!" Kanade's sharp glare brooked no argument, and the member hurried off.
Kanade then turned to two nearby volunteers managing a checkpoint. "You two, grab some flashlights and come with me. We're heading into the field."
Not waiting to hear if they were council members or not, Kanade asserted his authority as the student council president, and the pair quickly complied.
"Megumi," Kanade said, turning to Kato, "I'll leave this station to you. If anyone asks, tell them the student council president took charge."
"Got it," Megumi nodded.
Satisfied, Kanade turned to the returning volunteers, now equipped with flashlights. Taking one for himself, he prepared to lead the search.
"Kanade-kun."
He paused, glancing back at Megumi, whose composed face now held an unusually serious expression.
"Please… find Yukinoshita-san," she said softly.
Kanade was momentarily taken aback before responding with a small smile. "Don't worry. I will."
The urgency in her voice surprised him, hinting that Megumi and Yukino had grown closer than he'd realized.
The Search Begins
Kanade led the volunteers to Yukino's last known location. Upon arrival, he quickly issued instructions:
"You two, take the path ahead and search in opposite directions. You can venture slightly off the trail but do not cross any barriers. Understood?"
"Yes, President!"
The volunteers headed off while Kanade stayed behind to inspect the area. His first stop was the temporary restrooms near the checkpoint.
Yukino had gone missing after stopping here, so it was a logical place to start.
The facilities were simple, built for emergencies. While checking the doors for occupants, he found nothing unusual. Moving outside, Kanade scanned the surrounding area, hoping for any sign of her.
Luck seemed to favor him tonight. Near the edge of the woods, a set of footprints caught his eye—distinct, deliberate, and clearly left by a single individual.
But something felt off.
The tracks led away from the trail, straight into the dense forest. It wasn't like Yukino to disregard the rules, especially when safety advisories explicitly warned against leaving marked paths.
Still, Kanade couldn't ignore the lead.
After a moment of hesitation, he decided to follow the footprints. He advanced cautiously, memories of the feral cat encounter keeping him on high alert.
Eventually, the trail led him to a section of the fence marking the forest boundary.
Kanade was about to double back and regroup when something shiny in the grass caught his eye.
He bent down to pick it up—and froze.
It was a panda keychain.
His heart sank.
It was the very keychain he had once gifted Yukino.