*Chapter 36: Aftermath*

July 13, 2016. NSIA Reception Hall, beside the main HQ in North City.

It was morning. The sky was clear. White clouds projected into a bright blue sky like cotton on canvas.

The Reception hall was crowded with parents and guardians of the children, waiting for individual calls. The children had been taken to the primary Recovery Room where medical personnel checked them and provided breakfast and other formalities. Parents were restricted from entering until clearance. NSIA Officers assured guardians that the children were just under observation for safety and would be handed over as quickly as possible. Security was very tight.

One by one, individually, parents were called to meet their children.

“Family of Tanaka Hiroshi, please proceed to Interview Room Two.”

“Family of Yamamoto Ito, please proceed to Interview Room Five.”

“Family of Nakahoshi Akiko, please proceed to Interview Room One.”

Taking photos, media, and news reporters were completely restricted there for safety measures. Police and guards were holding them outside the main entrance gate of NSIA.

Rey Hoshimora was kept elsewhere. In another waiting room, alone, guarded by two guards, waiting for his parents to show up. He was seated on a sofa, facing the end of the room where the reception office was. Rey seemed like he was looking for someone else. He suddenly noticed Daichi Matsura at the reception. Rey stood and went to Daichi, completely ignoring the guards telling him to stop.

Daichi looked at Rey.

“Oh, the Minister’s son. Did you have your breakfast?” Daichi asked.

Rey nodded.

“That was brought from a five-star, only for you. Do you need anything?”

Must badly wanna see his mama and papa… Daichi thought.

“Your parents are almost here,” Daichi said. “You will meet them as long as they get here, don’t worry. Just tell me if you need anything.”

But Rey wasn’t thinking about his parents. He was searching for something. Daichi understood.

“If you were to ask about that friend of yours, kid, then I’m afraid I can’t do anything.”

“But—” Rey stopped mid-sentence.

“I told you, there’s no one named Anya here. All forty-two kids including you are rescued, and all of their parents are found. No one until now reported anyone missing besides the forty-two.”

“Aghh… I’m telling you I saw her.” Rey said, huffing.

Daichi leaned down closer to Rey, his voice low. “You probably saw a ghost.”

Rey flinched.

Daichi chuckled. “I was just joking, kid.”

And as he was leaving, he stopped midway and turned back at Rey. “Don’t worry, kid. Everything is safe. I’m assuring you that.”

Daichi simply smiled and continued walking.

A few moments later, the door to the reception hall opened.

Rey immediately turned his head.

A woman hurried into the room, looking around anxiously.

“Rey!”

His eyes widened.

“Mom!”

Ayaka Hoshimora rushed toward him and pulled him into a tight hug.

Rey wrapped his arms around her.

“Mom…”

Ayaka held him tightly, almost as if she was making sure he was really there.

“I was so worried about you,” she whispered.

“I’m okay, mom…”

Ayaka pulled back slightly and looked at him from head to toe.

“Are you hurt anywhere?”

Rey shook his head.

“No.”

She touched his hair and smiled, though her eyes were still filled with worry.

“Thank goodness…”

Rey looked around.

Then his expression changed.

“Mom… w-where’s Father?”

Ayaka paused for a moment.

“Your dad is a busy person, you know.”

Rey looked at her quietly.

Ayaka smiled.

“He is in an important meeting. You know how busy he gets.”

Rey already understood. But he didn’t say anything.

“Oh… okay.”

He forced a small smile anyway. For a moment, neither of them said anything.

Meanwhile, near the reception hall…

A man stood among the crowd.

He looked like an Asian man wearing black glasses, a colorful checkered coat, and a suspiciously thick hairstyle that looked almost like a Mexican-style haircut. The hair was obviously fake.

He casually looked around.

Then he reached inside his coat and pulled out a camera.

Click!

He quickly took a picture of the reception hall.

He looked at the camera screen.

“Gotcha, babe!”

He adjusted the lens and zoomed in. His eye moved closer to the camera shutter as he tried to get a better shot.

“Hmm…”

He raised the camera again.

Click!

But this time, all he saw through the lens was Daichi Matsura’s face.

“…”

Daichi stared directly into the camera. The man slowly lowered it. Daichi looked at him.

“What’s your name?”

The man pushed his glasses up.

“Li Wei Chung.”

Daichi just stared at him.

“…That’s your name?”

“Yes.”

“Sure.”

Daichi glanced around the hall.

“This place is restricted. Only parents and guardians are allowed inside.”

“Oh, I see. I am actually here to—”

“What’s your kid’s name?”

The man froze.

“…”

Daichi raised an eyebrow.

“Your kid. What’s their name?”

“My… kid?”

“Yes.”

The man looked away.

“About that…”

Daichi held out his hand.

“Camera.”

“Excuse me?”

“Give me the camera.”

The man hesitated. Daichi simply stared at him.

“…”

The man slowly handed it over. Daichi checked the camera. There were two pictures. He opened the first one. Then the second.

His expression remained completely blank.

Delete.

He deleted the second picture. Then he opened the first.

Delete.

He deleted that one too. He handed the camera back.

“There. Now you can leave.”

Daichi grabbed him by the shoulder and started walking him toward the entrance.

“Wait! I can explain!”

A few seconds later, Daichi pushed him through the main gate.

“Have a nice day.”

The gate slammed shut. The man stood outside, completely silent.

He slowly adjusted his fake hair.

“Tch… That’s why I hate government buildings.”

Daichi watched him walk away from behind the gate and sighed.

“These reporters will do anything for a little TRP.”

Then he turned around and returned to the reception hall.