The museum trip went by smoothly like they had thought and fortunately, the environment between them did not get awkward after all the misunderstanding and confessions. The next day, the class set out for Mount Hiruzen for hiking and other activities prepared by the teachers, they were already there so might as well travel a bit more before returning tonight.
"Okay guys, we have prepared some games for you, we will be pairing you in a group of four and you will have to find the flags that we have hidden all over the mountains."
Hearing this, some students groaned in annoyance while others lit up, eager to participate in the challenge. Kuni looked at Aether to gauge his reaction and of course, Aether like any protagonist was excited for this activity, his eyes sparkling as he returned Kunis gaze. Kunis' heart felt full of affection, his hand itched to hold Aethers but for some reason Aether started walking away. That took Kuni out of his stupor and he looked around just to find out Aether is in a different team than him, Venti stood beside him reading about pairing up with the party's mood killer.
"Sir, I want to change my te-" Before Kuni could complete his sentence the teacher interrupted, explaining how the teams are made for the students to get to know eachother better and all that teamwork bullshit, Kuni blocked the stupid lecture out and looked at Aether longingly. His eyes met Aethers, finding an amused smile on Aether's face as he gestured Kuni two thumbs up for good luck.
Kuni was paired up with Venti and some other two guys whose names he didn't care to remember, Aether was also paired up with the kids he had never seen before, more like he didn't remember or cared about their existence. Kuni sighed, it was going to be a long day.
All five teams were set off on different trials reaching the top of the mountain, whoever reaches the top first with all 10 flags gets special treatment and benefits during the bonfire, they can even request their own individual tents if they want. Honestly, that ignited something within Kuni, he does not want to sleep in a cramped tent so might as well win this game, it's a piece of cake for him.
By the time Kuni and his team reached the top of the mountain, it was almost sunset already, but he was pleased to find out they were the first ones there.
"Yoo hooo" Venti exclaimed as he ran towards the teacher to show him their flags and claim the VVIP treatment prize. Kuni requested for his individual tent as he planned and went to sleep in it till it was time for dinner.
He fell asleep thinking of Aethers soft smiles and melodious voice but was woken up by a commotion outside. It looked like everyone was running around frantically and screaming about something his groggy brain couldn't comprehend.
"Kuni", Ventis' frantic scream as he entered his tent without permission awakened his brain and pissed him off at the same time.
"Who gave you the right to call me Kuni?" he asked holding his head, "Why are you-"
"Aethers missing," Venti once again interrupted his thoughts but this time, Kuni was more then awake, he stood up abruptly without a single thought as asked,
"What do you mean Aethers missing?" He asked as he left his tent with Venti, "From what I know, Aether should be the last person to go missing like this."
"I know, come with me, the teacher is interrogating the guy who last saw Aether" Venti led the way as some teachers were busy calling emergency services on phone, another teacher was making search parties with the remaining students. They went to the teachers' spot on camp and found 2 teachers and 1 guy frantically discussing something. It looked more like they were interrogating a criminal than any normal discussion.
"So you're telling me that both you and Aether got separated from the other two boys and only you came back?"
"Yes Sir, I wandered around accidentally and when I got back, there was only Lucer and Arie left."
"But the other two say that you left with Aether, ushering Aether to show him something."
"Sir I swear I am being framed by these two, how come only I will return? I am sure these two did something to Aether and now are pinning the blame on me, taking advantage of their number."
"What the fuck do you mean by that??" Kuni grabbed the dude by his collar furiously, he couldn't believe what he was listening to. "Do you think we are shooting a drama over here?"
"Kuni, leave. We are solving the issue. Go help the search teams instead." the teacher said with finality in his voice.
"But-" Kuni started
"No." Venti squeezed his arm, "Lets go look for Aether, that is our priority right now, its going to rain soon too so we must hurry."
"Fuck!" Kuni cannot help but agree with Venti, after all Aether is his first and only priority, he will leave this to teachers for now and deal with Aethers team later on his own.
They walked towards the teacher that was making search teams. Kuni and Venti joined beside Xiao.
"Any updates?" Venti asked Xiao.
"None so far." Xiao replied, his hands flexing at his side, he looked both angry and worried.
"Okay great, Kuni and Venti, please join Xiao and Teacher Ganni, you will be deployed to the south-west. Please take care and stick with the teacher, we don't want any more students to go missing."
"Where is a proper search team?" Kuni asked
"We have called emergency services but it will take them some time to arrive, we are in the mountains after all. Till then, we must do what we can." Teacher Ganni replied as they walked towards the woody part of the mountain. "Stick close to me and don't wander off too far okay?"
"Aetherrrrr," Venti shouted at the top of his lungs cupping hands around his face.
They have been searching for Aether for 40 minutes now, the rescue team has also joined them 15 minutes ago but so far, no clue about Aether had been found and it had started to drizzle. They need to hurry before this drizzle turns into a full blown shower.
All kinds of thoughts are going through Kunis' head, maybe Aether really did just get lost or slipped or something similar? Or worst of all, that one of the guys killed him and dumped him somewhere.
Kuni shook his head, no way, I need to stop thinking like this, he thought to himself.
"I am telling you guys, it was the Milas guy the teacher is interrogating." Venti mentioned to both Kuni and Xiao, "I have always seen him look weirdly at Aether, with a hateful look in his eyes."
"I don't care if it's him or the others." Xiao gritted his teeth, 'If something happens to Aether, they are all as good as dead."
"Shh" Kuni hushed them down, "Do you hear that?"
"Hear what?" Venti asked, looking around
"I think I heard something over there," he pointed to the bushes to their right. All of them decided to approach it and parted the bushes, the bushes were hiding a little slope behind them.
"Be carefu-" Xiaos comment was interrupted by Venti's scream as he slipped and fell down.
"Oh my god this dumbass." Kuni commented exasperatedly.
Venti's scream alerted teacher Ganni as he approached them, ready to go after Venti.
"GUYS I FOUND AETHER." Before they could go down the slope they heard Venti scream.