The Ultimate Stride | Prince of Stride Fanfiction |

48 | Gone

| {Riku's P.O.V.} |

I knew the moment I barged into the club room that something weird was going on.

Everyone looked... upset?

I was running (quite literally) late, so I initially assumed that they were peeved about my tardiness, but there was a certain air about them that told me otherwise.

Nothing felt right.

    Saisei wasn't there that day because they were preoccupied with a meet-and-greet their production manager had planned for them, so only the Hônan members were present.

    Instead of being greeted by a warm, lively, and chaotic environment, I was met by a penetratingly cold silence that prickled at my ears.

    Dan-sensei was the only person in the room who was standing. He was situated in his usual spot by the whiteboard, but instead of there being some sort of intricate practice plan scribbled across it's width, it was empty, and his hands were shoved deep into the pockets of his charcoal-grey slacks.

    It was like the world had lost it's axis and we were aimlessly floating into the abyss without really knowing anything about it.

    I hate this atmosphere, a voice in the back of my head fretted. It reminds me of the days Tomoe left me at home.

The fearful part of me wanted to run back to my bedroom and avoid whatever strange phenomenon that was bugging my friends, but my more reasonable side kept me grounded at the entryway with my senses alert and my thoughts askew.

"Um," I broke the heavy silence. "What's up, guys?"

Nana's eyes were fixated solely on the coffee table in front of her. They were trembling as she answered me.

"She's gone."

I took a step forward. "She? Who're you talking about, Nana?"

"Kyouko," Hozumi said almost angrily. "She's not here, and we have not a single clue as to why she's so late."

    "Are you sure that she's gone? I mean, I was late, too. Who's to say she isn't on her way?" I asked with wavering confidence, and Dan-sensei's deep voice met my ears.

    "We tried contacting her, but we haven't gotten any form of response. I wouldn't be unsettled by this if it weren't for the fact that she pretty much always answers her phone," he said monotonously before looking me straight in the eyes. "It has me concerned, and I believe something is wrong."

My heart dropped like a rock in my chest.

Kyouko... she's...?

"W-what do you mean? Haven't you tried looking for her?" my voice cracked and shook like the ground in the midst of an earthquake.

Heath stood from his seat on the couch. If you didn't know him you would've assumed his expression was calm, but I knew better. He looked drained- like someone had stripped him of his playful nature only to leave a rigid frame of flesh and bone.

    "We were waiting for you to get here before we went to look for her. We should really get going," he said with a sense of urgency, and everyone quickly rose from their places.