White hurried into his room, pushing the door open. Bell and Aisha both turned to him with shocked expressions. They weren't used to seeing him return so early—he usually came back late into the night.
"Papa! You're home!" Bell's face lit up as she rushed to hug him.
But White barely responded. His mind was already elsewhere, his hands scrambling to pack what he needed for the trip to Shu's school.
"Papa…" Bell's voice trembled with hesitation, but he didn't notice.
"Hey!" Aisha suddenly stepped in front of him, her sharp eyes locking onto his. "Bell is trying to talk to you. Don't you think it's rude to ignore her?"
Only then did White realize Bell had been standing silently, her tiny figure sulking, lips pressed into a pout. Guilt hit him like a stone. He knelt down in front of her.
"Sorry, Bell. I have to go somewhere important right now. If I don't leave, I'll be late. But don't worry—I'll be back, and when I return, I'll bring you something tasty."
"I don't want it." Her pout only deepened, anger flickering in her eyes.
"Why not? You don't like pudding? Or cake?" White offered with a weak smile, but she only turned her face away—towards Aisha.
"Why are you looking at me?" Aisha sighed, folding her arms. "Isn't it obvious? For days now you've been too busy. You come home late, don't play with her, and barely listen when she talks. Of course she's angry with you."
Her words stung because they were true. Ever since Shu and Zen entered the picture, White hadn't given Bell the attention she deserved. She wasn't lonely thanks to Aisha, but still… he had been failing his Bell.
He straightened up suddenly, making a decision.
"Bell, get ready. We're going on a trip."
Her round eyes widened. "A trip? To America? Italy?" She listed the faraway places she often saw on TV, sparks of hope lighting her imagination.
White chuckled softly. "Not that far. Somewhere closer to nature—the countryside."
"Yay! Big Sis Aisha, you're coming too, right?" Bell turned happily.
But Aisha shook her head. "No. I was only waiting here until White returned. Now that he's here… I have my own business to take care of. Bye-bye." With a flash of light, she vanished into thin air.
Soon, Bell and White were on a train. It was her first time, and she pressed her face eagerly against the window, fascinated by the rushing scenery. White, meanwhile, scribbled notes on a piece of paper, planning what he needed to do once they arrived. From the station, they took a bus and eventually reached their destination: Shu's school. Or rather, where it used to be.
The building was silent, swallowed by wild grass and trees. The air was heavy with abandonment.
"The school… it's gone?" White muttered, stunned.
The locals told him it had shut down two years ago—the very year Shu had graduated. Students had been transferred elsewhere, and nothing remained. His lead… gone in an instant.
Defeated, he wandered the area, asking around for any clue. That was when he found a small purse lying abandoned near the path. Curious, he checked inside for identification.
To his surprise, it contained a photograph of a middle school graduating class. His eyes immediately caught Shu's face, surrounded by other students. His pulse quickened. A lead, at last.
There was also a mobile phone inside. And just as he held it, the phone rang.
He answered.
"Hello?…"
"Hello, sorry, but that mobile is mine. Could you please return it?" A gentle female voice came through.
"Yes. Just tell me where to meet," White replied.
"Please wait at the police station nearby. I'll come there. Thank you."
The call ended. Bell and White made their way to the station. She was restless but chatty, while he kept turning over the small photo in his hand. A few police officers kept glancing strangely at them, but before long, a girl approached.
She had short brown hair, warm brown eyes, and an anxious expression.
"Um… excuse me. Are you the one who found my purse?"
"Yes," White replied, holding it out. "I found it near the old school grounds."
Her shoulders relaxed with relief. "Thank you so much. I was so worried. I should introduce myself—my name is Saki."
"White," he introduced himself in turn.
"Actually… if you don't mind, may I ask something? About the school?"
She blinked curiously. "The school?"
"Yes. In your purse, I found a photo of a class. Were you a student there?"
"Well, yes," she nodded. "Why? Were you… a student too?"
"No. But a friend of mine studied there." White pulled out the graduation photo. "This girl—here. Shu. Do you remember her?"
Her expression shifted. "Shu? Are you sure you mean her and not someone else?"
"I'm sure," he insisted. "Do you know anything about her? Anything at all could help."
Saki hesitated, then sighed. "Well, since you helped me… I guess I can tell you what I remember. Shu was… unique, in her own way."
"Unique? How?"
"She excelled at everything—studies, sports, you name it. The best student our school ever had. But… she wasn't good at talking to people."
White leaned in closer. "And?"
"Honestly, she seemed like a robot sometimes—no emotions, no reactions. Because of that, a lot of students bullied her. She once asked the teachers for help, but they ignored her."
The words cut deep.
"She was bullied… and no one helped? What about her parents?"
Saki shook her head. "She didn't have parents. Shu always said they'd died in an accident. She lived with her grandmother."
Maybe Shu lied about it so that people would not think ill of her family.
"Her grandmother…" White's heart pounded. "Do you know where she lives?"
"Yes. Here." Saki tore a page from her diary, scribbled down an address, and handed it to him.
"Thank you," White said sincerely, bowing slightly. With that, Bell and he parted ways with Saki, setting out again.
On the road, he mulled over everything he'd learned. Two things stood out like red flags.
First—Shu had been bullied, which explained her refusal to get close to anyone.
Second—she had distanced herself from her parents at least for middle school, hiding behind the story of an accident.
Her grandmother… somehow, White knew the old woman would hold the answers he needed. Bell, exhausted from the day, had fallen asleep. He carried her gently on his back as they walked the long road. After thirty minutes, the small house finally came into view—the address Saki had given him.
And with each step, White felt he was getting closer to unlocking Shu's past.