**Toma Tanaka - Warakuma Shopping District | April 12th, Noon**

Eyes heavy, Toma fumbled with his wallet for a few seconds, getting money out and handing it to the cashier. Mumbling a tired 'thank you,' he grabbed the energy drink he had just paid for and stepped back outside. Cracking it open, he took a sip, already sick of the taste. It was the the fifth one he had bought since Aiko had stormed off the night before.

He had considered going after him, but decided it'd probably be better if they split up, as they'd cover more ground and all. Besides, Aiko seemed like he needed time to himself.

So, after finding out that Alexei knew no more than Kotori, he texted his mom, telling her he'd be sleeping at a friend's house, having decided he wouldn't stop searching for Noboru until the kid turned up. He hadn't been sure why he felt so strongly about the whole situation -- after all, Noboru was most likely okay -- but after a night of wandering and having nothing but his thoughts to keep him company, he was pretty sure he had his own motivations figured out. Or maybe he knew all along, and it just took him a while to admit it to himself.

Toma guessed he could see a little of himself in Aiko -- that he could understand the boy's relationship with his brother. Toma would have loved to say he was going as far as he was for Aiko, to help out a person who needed it, simply because he was a good person and that's what good people do. But he was doing it more for himself. For whatever reason, he saw Noboru's disappearance as a second chance -- a way to make up for past mistakes.

It was stupid, and it was selfish, but Toma didn't particularly care. As far as he was concerned, either Noboru would be found, or he'd drop dead.

He had ran around, asking anyone who seemed to be a student if they had seen the boy, but no one knew anything. Of course they didn't. Why would any one fucking know anything remotely helpful? That'd just be much too easy.

Frustrated beyond belief, but far too tired to vent it, he decided to get something to eat, as he had only been subsisting on energy drinks since lunch the day before. He went to the closest pastry store, and got a couple chocolate donuts. They *did* have actual food, but he ignored it and got his sugary junk. 

Holding his drink and food awkwardly in one hand and taking a bite, he texted Aiko with his other.

*Any sign of him?* was the simple message he sent.

Slipping the phone into his pocket, he stared at his terrible lunch, finding himself disgusted. His eating habits couldn't be healthy. Even the smell of the donut was making him nauseous at the moment.

With a frown, he took another bite.