The Search for Camelia

Seito Shouichi had hidden in the shadows, seeking refuge inside Akiyama Suzuki's apartment for the past month. His best friend, Morimura Ayane, had been beside herself with worry over his extended absence.

Four weeks ago, when the news of Yoko's suicide reached Ayane, the shock hit her as hard as anyone else. She had known Yoko not only as the local café owner but as a comforting, familiar presence in her life for the past ten years. Yoko had always treated Ayane with a motherly kindness, offering her snacks and a warm cup of black coffee as if Ayane were her own daughter. The café had been more than just a place to get a drink; it was a sanctuary where Ayane could spend hours reading, doing homework, or simply escaping from the world outside.

Despite Ayane's efforts to make a difference, in the end, it wasn't enough. Her actions seemed as futile as whispers lost in the wind. Maybe this world truly was cruel, she thought, her resolve shattering under the weight of that harsh truth.

However, a week later, when Ayane saw Shouichi manage a smile — like he always did — she felt a flicker of relief. It was as though that smile alone reassured her that life could still go on. Surely, there was always light at the end of the tunnel, wasn't there?

But that hope shattered quickly. Her optimism, which now seemed naïve, crumbled when Shouichi began to slowly fade from her life and everyone else's. She had once viewed him as strong and unbreakable, but that perception had been distorted by her admiration and affection for him. She had forgotten that beneath his unwavering smile, he was just a human being — fragile, vulnerable, and capable of breaking.

As the days passed, Ayane couldn't accept his absence. After a week with no sign of him, she found herself standing outside his house, ringing the doorbell repeatedly, waiting for a response that never came. Every call to his number went straight to voicemail, her pleas unanswered, echoing back at her through the empty silence.

Another week drifted by with no trace of Shouichi, and desperation gnawed at her heart. With no other options left, Ayane did the unthinkable: she broke into his house in the dead of night. But inside, she found nothing but a cold, abandoned space, a home that hadn't felt human touch for weeks.

"Damn it, Shouichi! Where are you?" She muttered, biting her lip in frustration.

Ayane's search for the missing boy consumed her. She asked anyone who might have known him — members of the rugby club, classmates, even his ex, Ishikawa Misaki. But every inquiry led to dead ends. It was as if Seito Shouichi had vanished from the face of the earth.

One Friday evening, as the air grew chill and amber lights painted the town in a soft glow, Ayane wandered alone down the bustling streets of Hoshimashi district. A nagging suspicion gnawed at her; maybe Momo was hiding him from her, though she had no concrete proof. Determined to uncover the truth, Ayane decided to follow Momo, to see if her hunch was correct, that Tomako Momo had been sheltering Shouichi all this time.

The thought of it pierced Ayane's heart. If Momo really was offering him comfort, Ayane wasn't sure if she could bear it. She wished she could have been the one to provide the security Shouichi needed, but it seemed he'd already forgotten about her, turning to Momo instead.

"I just wanted to be the one for you… idiot," She cursed under her breath, feeling the sting of unspoken words and unfulfilled hopes.

The Maid & Tea Bliss was busy as usual when Ayane watched from a distance.

"There are two maids today… hmm…" She noted.

After a short while, it seemed like the two maids were arguing about something, with the shorter one bowing apologetically several times. "That must be Momo," She concluded, distinguishing them. Then, Momo swung the door open and hurried out of the store. "Bingo! Time to tail her," Ayane thought, acting quickly.

After jogging for about 10 minutes to keep up with Momo's short strides, Ayane followed her to a supermarket. The maid dashed through the crowd and headed straight for the milk section.

"Oh… so Momo just forgot to buy supplies. That's why her big sister was mad at her," Ayane speculated, scratching her forehead. "This is useless! Stop wasting my time, Tomako-san!" She screamed internally, agonising over another dead end.

Then, Ayane spotted someone she hadn't seen in ages. She couldn't believe her eyes — Suzuki of all people was off work at 5:15 PM. Akiyama Suzuki had already changed into casual wear, indicating she must have left work a while ago.

"It seems I forgot about Suzuki-san entirely…" Ayane mused, processing her thoughts. "Shit! If someone's missing, the police should be involved. What's Suzuki been doing all this time? Judging by her carefree attitude, I think I know why."

Ayane instantly found a new target. She had been following the police officer for some time. "I'm tired of wasting time like this. I'm confronting her," Ayane decided.

"Good afternoon, Suzuki-san!" Ayane greeted her with a tap on the back while the officer was humming, happily browsing the meat section.

The officer flinched and quickly turned. "Oh? It's you, Ayane-chan?! G-Good afternoon…" Suzuki's face turned pale, sweat beading on her forehead.

"It's been so long since I last saw you!" Ayane spoke coldly, glancing at Suzuki's basket. It was filled with large portions of meat, unlikely for just one person.

"That's true! I've missed you a lot. What about you, Ayane-chan? Are you here for grocery shopping too?" Suzuki asked, clearly trying to deflect.

"Something like that… Are you buying groceries for yourself?"

"Yep!" Suzuki replied with a smile, maintaining her composure.

"That's quite a lot of meat. Wouldn't it spoil before you finish it?" Ayane asked, pointing at the obvious.

"Eh? Oh! These? I've… um… I'm just too lazy to buy them often, so I freeze them. Hahaha," Suzuki stammered, offering a weak but convincing excuse.

"Right… right… You wouldn't have much time after work, would you?" Ayane continued the casual conversation.

"Yeah! I've been super busy with all the cases, so…" Suzuki said, reluctantly bidding her farewell. "I'm going now, okay?" She slowly turned her back on Ayane.

"Haven't you heard?"

"What?" Suzuki turned to face Ayane, her expression twisted in fear.

"Seito Shouichi… He's been missing for over a month now."

"Oh… really?!" Suzuki feigned surprise, though her acting was poor.

"You wouldn't happen to know anything, would you?" Ayane asked bluntly, her purple eyes boring into Suzuki.

"No…" Suzuki appeared uncomfortable by the question.

"Sorry to trouble you then… See you," Ayane said before assuming she'd left the supermarket.

It didn't take much to rattle Akiyama Suzuki. Everything the police academy drilled into her was about catching culprits and bringing in the bad guys. They'd never taught her how to deceive or lie convincingly, and she was terrible at it. Ayane had already seen through her façade and figured out that Suzuki had been sheltering the lost boy all this time. Still, Ayane needed to see the truth with her own eyes.

She knew exactly where Suzuki lived and decided to wait outside. It didn't take long — within twenty minutes, Suzuki arrived, casually parking her car in front of the building. Ayane watched as she climbed the stairs to her apartment, shopping bags in hand. She led to room 205 as though it were just another ordinary evening.

***

While Suzuki struggled to find her key card, Shouichi poked his face out from behind the half-open door to greet her. "Good afternoon, Suzuki-san!"

"Oh! Hello, Shouichi-kun!" Suzuki waved as she hung the shopping bags on both arms. "Silly me, couldn't find the key card. Hehehe," she laughed lightly.

"Welcome home!"

"...Umm! I'm home!" Although it was new for Suzuki to say that, her heart felt light and warm.

"No worries, let me help with the bags." Shouichi grabbed the shopping bag and placed it on the kitchen counter before walking back to the entrance.

"Phew! That's a lot of stuff." Suzuki continued to tap her pockets. "I could swear I had it in the left one… Did I drop it somehow?" She wondered aloud without noticing Shouichi sitting on the ledge.

"Let me help with your shoes, Suzuki-san." Shouichi politely reached out to assist.

"Umm… Thanks, but that's a bit much, Shouichi-kun. You don't need to go that far," Suzuki flushed slightly. The idea of grooming a boy to do this sort of thing was a little off-putting.

"Don't worry about it, I'm in your debt after all. It's the least I can do," Shouichi said, neatly putting her shoes away in the shoe rack. Since there was no reason to refuse his kindness, she nodded a few times.

"So, Suzuki-san, would you like to have dinner first or dessert?"

"Eh? That's strange. What's for dessert?"

Shouichi didn't answer but slowly glanced towards the bedroom.

"M~May I have dessert, please?!" She blurted out, her cheeks flushing as she followed her heart. "Sometimes, I just want to be honest with myself and my true feelings," She added in a whisper.

While the two pretended to indulge in dessert, Ayane spotted Suzuki's key card on the kitchen table. She tapped it lightly where the doorknob was supposed to be. After a few seconds, the door automatically unlocked.

Ayane slipped into the living room and peeked through the bedroom door. Her hypothesis was correct. Suzuki and Shouichi were locked in a passionate embrace, occasionally letting out soft, pleasurable moans.

Ayane was speechless from the shocking scene.

***

The elegant girl, Ayane, left the keycard on the kitchen table and left the room. Looking at her trembling hands, it was the first time that she understood the meaning of "defeat", losing someone she dedicated her heart and mind for.

"Why couldn't it be me? Why Suzuki-san of all people?" Her mind wandered with the weight of sorrow, starving for explanation when there was none.

As she walked down the narrow, empty street, tears streamed relentlessly down her delicate cheeks. She wiped them away with trembling hands, hating herself for feeling so weak, so vulnerable at this moment. 

The sight of the man she loved seeking solace in someone else, while she stood there unnoticed, tore at her heart. The pain was sharp and all-consuming, more excruciating than anything she had ever felt before.

"What should I do? Yoko-san?" The girl softly cried, whispering and pleading for the loved one who got away.

***

After a while, Suzuki spotted her lost key card supposedly on the kitchen table and murmured softly, "Silly girl, you've returned my card after all…"