"Welcome to the Chiba Police Department, how may I help you?"

"I'm here to report a missing person."

"Alright. And what is his or her name?"

"Hikigaya Hachiman, male, age 30 and has been missing for the past 24 hours."

A full day has passed since my husband left home. The dog slept on the bed so I slept in Yuki's room with her.

That damn dog keeps sniffing Hachiman's pillow for some odd reason. I don't understand a thing about dogs. But I guess if a cat had done that, it probably means the pet misses their owner.

"Is there anything else? His last sighting? His last whereabouts?"

"I.. do not know. I've tried to call him multiple times but he either never picked it up or forgot about it. I'm deeply worried about him. I'm his wife, Hikigaya Yukino. If it helps... we got into an argument and I kicked him out of the house for personal and safety reasons. His dog shown up but not him."

"We will investigate further into it. Write your phone number so we can send you the latest clues about his whereabouts."

It was then I noticed that I was treated as a normal civilian. My case will not be their top priority. I was always used to the special treatment and being prioritized after my Nee-san.

Even so, I urged the office to prioritize on searching for my husband. I don't know if it was selfishness or the amount of worry inside me, boiling, and waiting to erupt.

"You must do it immediately. My husband... My husband is mentally unstable at the moment. He hasn't taken his medication for the past few weeks. He's a military vet and he's extremely dangerous. He might end up hurting people."

It seems more of Hachiman's background begin to worry the officer, who immediately was concerned about the situation.

"Say no more. Any more intel?"

I tried to go through the endless amount of memories with my husband and only found a few.

"He has a gun, a pistol to be exact. I recall it being a glock or something like that. I'm sorry that I don't know anything about guns. He also has severe PTSD and can break at any moment. I have his service dog inside the car, along with my daughter. Will the service dog be of any use?"

People underestimate how dangerous a mentally ill veteran could get.

Recalling what happened when Hachiman found about his little sister being cheated on. He managed to escape out of the hotel, sneaked into a house without making a noise and call out a sniper from a building.

"Just bring something of your husband's belongings and our K-9s will do the work."

"Got it. I'll be right back."

I exit out of the police building and head back to the family car where the dog and Yuki are sitting in. The only reason why I brought the dog was because it would be a huge asset to help find my husband.

And the only way I was able to get the dog in the car, was to bring Hachiman's pillow which had it's scent.

"Sorry, dog. Yuki, try to calm the dog down for me."

I had to grab the pillow away from the dog, who being barking and whimpering as Yuki attempt to calm it down. I run back to the police station and gave the officer the pillow.

"His scent is on this pillow. His service dog sniffing it all day is enough proof. Yet for some reason, it won't tell me where my husband went. Please do this as quickly as possible."

"Thank you, ma'am. I'll try to get our best detectives that are free for the moment. We will notify you within 24 hours if we have any first clues. And keep in mind, if we fail to find a missing person within 3 weeks. That person is presumed dead and we can't do anything about it."

My body felt like it had gone through 24 hours of studying.

The thought of my husband? Presumed dead? There's no way. He can survive on his own. He has been trained to survive on his own. He's an expert at everything about survival. I recall him talking to the old veteran about jungle training in the Philippines.

"I understand that, sir. Goodbye."

"Goodbye."

I left the building and walk back to my car. The dog was jumping around and freaking out inside the car, startling Yuki. I reacted immediately and opened the door.

"Mommy, Delta is crying a lot! You shouldn't have taken the pillow away from him!"

"It was the only way possible. Here, let me find something that your father has in this car."

I opened the trunk of the car and see Hachiman's jacket he wears when it snows.

"Give this to the dog."

I closed the trunk and handed Yuki the jacket.

"Here you go, Delta. Calm down, boy."

The dog slowly calm down when it smelled Hachiman's scent again, but it was now on the jacket. At least this means K get to sleep on my own bed now.

"It worked. Thank god."

I was relieved that it somehow worked. I sit on the driver seat and then turn on the engine. I then drove out of the parking lot and back to our home.

"Mommy.."

My daughter asked out of the blue.

"Yes, Yuki?"

"Do you think you were too harsh on daddy? Maybe he doesn't want to see us anymore because he thinks we hate him."

"Your father's mistake almost got you hurt, Yuki. This is the second time it has happened. You were only a baby when it happened the first time."

I didn't want to use the term 'killed' on such a young child. Yuki does not need to know about the real world yet.

"I know that. But he made an honest mistake."

"And he shall be held accountable."

"Mommy. Do you love daddy or no?"

That question took me by surprise. I was hesitant to speak at first because this was the first time she has ever asked me this and talked to me in such a loud manner.

"I... I do love your father. But sometimes.. he drives me nuts. And sometimes I am at my own limit where even I can't take care of him. It is completely complicated for you to understand. Once we find your father, and once you get older, you will understand how broken he is. Right now, he's suffering a lot. And he will continue to suffer if we don't find him. And to just sum it all up, Yuki... Yes, I do love your father."

"Should we tell Auntie Yui and Auntie Komachi about daddy? I think they can also help find daddy."

"The police will handle it. We just need to wait for them to respond."

...

And so hours passed by.

If I didn't tell the officer about Hachiman's conditions and background, it would've taken a few days for them to even start the operation.

I tried to tell Yuki to ask the dog where Hachiman went.

"Delta, where is daddy? Mommy needs to know."

The dog, of course, didn't respond and only sat next to Yuki, as if it is protecting her even inside the house. The dog was also overprotective with me at some point.

I had to take the dog out for a walk so it wouldn't use the bathroom in the living room, or the kitchen, or even the bathroom itself.

At one point, only 1 stranger passed by me and the dog instantly barked at him. The person showed no hostility, or didn't hold the slightest bit of suspicion. He only wore red shorts and a grey t shirt. Something my husband obviously won't wear.

Another incident happened with Yuki as well. Walking the dog, I had to take her because no one else could watch her. We stopped by a playground and Yuki wanted to play.

I was given some time off as the dog followed Yuki on the playground. I took a minute nap and heard the dog barking multiple times.

It seemed to have thought that the group of kids were a threat towards Yuki. I later found out that the kids were planning on making Yuki fall.

I was upset at how some people lack proper parenting skills. Every kid deserves a parent, but not all parents deserve kids.

I raised Yuki to be well mannered at everything. She's what every mother would want. I gave her the freedom I didn't have. Being controlled by my mother at a very young age.

"Mommy, Delta is always sad when we mention daddy. I think it's not a good idea for Delta to be sad everyday."

"The dog would be a useful asset to help find your father. Maybe the only reason why the dog refuses to look for your father. Probably because your father ordered the dog to not follow him or to promise him to not follow him. There would be other predictions but I think it's the best bet."

"So.. daddy hates us?"

"Hate is a strong word. I think your father is trying to avoid us. But he has forgotten that if a person is missing for 24 hours, we can file a report to the police. But considering that your father is an expert at practically everything involved with survival, military, and disguising, it would take a long time."

These were all speculations of what Hachiman is up to.

"Mommy.. Are you not sad about daddy missing? You seem way to calm about this."

Of course, Yuki.

I miss your father. I love your father to death. There is no man that can replace him. Not even a parallel version of himself. Not even a clone of himself.

But I won't admit to it. It just doesn't feel right to forgive a person that gave your child a loaded gun. It takes time.

Everything is possible, it just takes time.

"Emotions will only become a distraction. Right now, we need to focus on waiting for the police to call us back."

Ring! Ring!

I immediately pick up my phone, as I see it was the police who had called me.

"Hello, have you gotten a clue as to where my husband is?"

I said as soon as I clicked the green button.

"Ms. Hikigaya, we believe we found a major clue to where your husband is. Our K-9s tracked his smell. In only 2 hours, we were able to locate his car. In order to help us find your husband more efficiently, we advise you to come back to the Chiba Police Station as soon as possible."

Hachiman had another car?

And he has never told me about this car at all? It's no wonder how he managed to go somewhere far so quickly in 1 night.

"Where was his car found, to be exact?"

"In an abandoned road area. I'm sorry to say but the car your husband drove has been totaled. It looks like it went through a car crash or something. Though if it was a car crash, we would've found his body by now."

The last sentence sent chills down my spine. Just the way how the caller said it, just made me want to put the phone down for me to take a breather.

In that split second, I thought Hachiman killed himself in a car crash. Then I remembered that if that really happened, the dog would've been killed as well.

So a car crash or suicide attempt didn't take place.

"Is it okay if I look at the damage of his car once I get back?"

"Yes."

"Thank you. Goodbye for now."

I end the call and quickly grab my purse and sweater.

"Yuki, they might have found your father. We have to go now."

Yuki listened to me with no hesitation and put on her sweater and shoes. The dog followed everywhere she went like a pet. Of course, the dog is her pet. Not mine.

...

We drove according to the speed limit and hurriedly walk towards the police station.

"Hello, I am Hikigaya Yukino. I'm here to see a totaled car."

"Yes, would you list some more things before we give you the confirmation to see it?"

"I was told it looked like it went through a car crash but nobody was found there at all."

"You're good to go. Follow my lead."

I follow the male officer to where we were given direction. Yuki and the dog were allowed to come thankfully. I wouldn't let anyone besides the people I know, supervise my kids.

We were eventually led to a garage or some sort. I mean, you wouldn't be able to fit a car inside a small door frame so a garage or an autoshop would work.

"This is Officer Gaz, we have the victim's family here to come check out the destroyed vehicle."

I hated how the officer described Hachiman. I believe the term 'owner' of the car would have been much clearer and professional.

"Ma'am, your child and pet is not given the authorization to pass this area. We have other cars that contain blood and many more mature objects."

"I understand that. Yuki, you and the dog stay here. Sit on the bench and wait until I come back."

My daughter listened to me once more and sat on a free bench seat with the dog. The dog easily followed her so it was no problem.

But something tells me that the dog avoided even going past the area because maybe it saw Hachiman's car.

And finally, I get to see the car that my husband has never told me that he had bought. And what I found would haunt me for the rest of my life.

It looked nothing like a car now.

I couldn't describe it because there was too much to say. Sometimes, a lot of things are just not meant to be described at a certain point.

Then there were investigators around his car, looking at everything. They were writing the damage in their notes.

"I found something still working!"

One investigator shouted, which brought to my attention.

"What is it?"

Another officer asked.

"The owner of this car had a dash cam. It seemed to have been the only electronic working at this point. We could probably download the compressed video and see what happened during the crash."

A crash? No way, that couldn't have been.

Hachiman crashed his own car, and then leaves it to go somewhere to hide? That could have potentially happened.

"We must watch it now. I need to see where my husband went."

I desperately pleaded.

And eventually, my pleads were answered and I was taken to a different room where they play videos on a projected screen. Yuki and the dog followed but sat on a chair out of the room.

It was definitely Hachiman's car, to be carrying a dash cam and record everything. It reminded me of how he would always wear a head cam to record combat footage when he gets deployed. And then he sends me them. I only watched a few because I was in law school at the time.

A couple more officers and investigators were in the room as well. They too wanted to know what happened so they can solve this case.

"Are you guys ready?"

One of them asked.

"Yes, I am prepared."

I stood alone.

Click!

The dash cam starts playing.