It was early May, the weather already warm, but a chill ran through Kanade's heart.
An abandoned keychain couldn't prove much on its own, but in the context of Yukino's disappearance, it was too coincidental. It had to be hers.
The footprints leading to the spot indicated she hadn't been abducted. Instead, it seemed she had ventured here of her own volition. But Yukinoshita Yukino wasn't one to break rules, nor was she the type to embark on a solo adventure driven by curiosity.
Because Kanade understood her personality so well, he found the situation even more puzzling. What could have possibly compelled her to climb over the fence?
Yet, pondering her motivations was pointless now. The priority was to act swiftly to locate her. Every moment wasted speculating reduced the chances of finding her.
More importantly, he feared she might encounter wild animals.
The feral cat from earlier had been dangerous enough. If she came across a venomous snake or something similarly hazardous, her proficiency in aikido wouldn't help. Yukino couldn't fend off creatures that didn't adhere to human logic.
Kanade steeled himself. Tucking the panda keychain into his pocket, he climbed over the fence and began searching.
Disordered Footsteps
At first, Kanade tried following the footprints. But just a short distance in, they became chaotic, scattering in all directions. Some even overlapped, forming confusing X-shaped patterns.
This only deepened his suspicion that Yukino might have gotten lost.
After considering his options, Kanade scanned his surroundings and spotted a large, flat-topped stone.
He climbed atop it, turned on his phone's flashlight, and maximized the brightness and volume. Setting the phone to play a pre-recorded message on loop, he placed it face-down on the stone. For good measure, he secured it with two smaller rocks on either side.
Satisfied with the setup, he adjusted his handheld flashlight to its brightest setting and returned to the center of the disordered footprints.
With the chaotic tracks as a reference, Kanade decided to systematically search in every direction, radiating outward from the central point. It was a gamble, but if luck was on his side, he might find her in under ten minutes.
The phone's looping message would help draw Yukino's attention if she was nearby, or assist other searchers if they arrived.
Having finalized his plan, Kanade took a deep breath, picked the clearest-looking path among the footprints, and started walking.
He hoped luck would be on his side.
Circling Back
Unfortunately, after following the path carefully, Kanade found himself back where he started.
"This doesn't make sense…" he muttered.
If Yukino had truly been lost, it was unlikely she could navigate so precisely, walking one direction only to loop back in the opposite.
It was as if she had deliberately mapped out a systematic search pattern, excluding possibilities as she moved.
The realization hit him like a thunderclap.
"That idiot…" he muttered under his breath.
With newfound clarity, Kanade returned to the center point. He examined the footprints once more and found another trail—one with noticeably shorter strides.
Without hesitation, he followed it.
This time, his instincts were right.
Not far along the trail, he saw a small figure sitting under a tree, knees hugged to her chest.
"Yukinoshita?" he called out, angling his flashlight downward to avoid shining it directly at her.
"Kanade?" Her head snapped up, her voice tinged with disbelief.
"Finally," Kanade exhaled in relief, his tension easing at the sound of her familiar, frosty tone.
"Why are you sitting here? Are you hurt?"
Kanade ran up to her, lowering the brightness of his flashlight as he crouched beside her.
Yukino looked momentarily surprised, her expression complex. But before she could dwell on it, she instinctively covered her ankle with her hand and said, "It's nothing. I'm fine."
"Don't lie," Kanade snapped, his patience worn thin. "If you're fine, why are you sitting out here instead of heading back? Do you think it's fun making people worry about you?"
"You…" Yukino's already fraught emotions tipped further into frustration. "It's none of your concern. I can handle myself."
She braced her hands on the ground, trying to stand. The moment she shifted weight onto her injured ankle, a sharp gasp escaped her lips.
"…" Kanade sighed, exasperated.
Ignoring her protests, he gently but firmly rolled up her pant leg, revealing a swollen, reddened ankle. The contrast against her pale skin made the injury even more glaring.
"This is what you call 'nothing'?" Kanade said coldly, leveling her with a disapproving glare.
It was clearly a severe sprain, likely worsened by continued use after the initial injury.
"…" Unable to refute, Yukino averted her gaze, sullen and silent.
"Any other injuries?" Kanade asked, his voice softening slightly.
"…No," Yukino murmured, shaking her head.
"Good." Kanade nodded, relieved she hadn't encountered any wild animals.
Gently, he helped her to her feet.
"Lean against the tree for a moment," he instructed. Once she was stable, he crouched down with his back to her.
"Get on. I'll carry you back."
"…" Yukino hesitated.
When she didn't move, Kanade grew impatient. "Are you seriously worrying about appearances right now?"
"I'm not…" Yukino shot back reflexively.
"Then hurry up. The trial run's almost over," Kanade urged.
"…"
Knowing she couldn't argue with him, Yukino reluctantly climbed onto his back.
Kanade felt a warm, soft sensation as she leaned against him. The contrast between her usual icy demeanor and the warmth of her body made him acutely aware of her presence.
Unlike carrying Kaguya earlier, Yukino didn't fully lean into him, keeping a more reserved posture. But her hands gripped his shoulders tightly, and Kanade adjusted his hold to support her weight without straining her injury.
"Your hand!" Yukino exclaimed, her voice a mix of shock and embarrassment.
"Stop complaining! I'm trying to keep you from falling," Kanade retorted.
He could sense her embarrassment, but he had no patience for it right now. To diffuse any misunderstandings, he added, "And don't overthink it. You're not exactly light as a feather, you know."
"You…" Yukino's face burned, but she bit her tongue.
Kanade sighed, deciding to change the subject. He reached into his pocket and pulled out the panda keychain.
"This is yours, right? I found it near the fence."
"!" Yukino's eyes widened in surprise before her expression turned complicated.
"How… How did you find it?" she asked softly.
"It was just lying there. Hard to miss."
"…"
No wonder she hadn't been able to find it.
But Kanade's words also made her realize something else—he might have figured out why she had left the trail.
"This panda… I like it a lot. Thank you for finding it," she murmured.
"I know," Kanade replied casually. He had chosen it for her, after all.
"…"
Lowering her head slightly, Yukino whispered, "Thank you…"
"See? You can be honest when it counts," Kanade teased, smirking.
Yukino's embarrassment flared, and she couldn't resist lightly headbutting his back.
"Idiot…" she muttered under her breath.
"What was that?" Kanade asked, glancing over his shoulder.
"Nothing," Yukino replied, her voice muffled.
Kanade shook his head, chuckling quietly.