Aether is it?

It was raining again.

Luna walked home from school under a cheap clear umbrella, watching the rivulets of water slide down the plastic.

Her uniform clung to her knees. She was cold, but she didn't hurry.

She hated going home now.

Inside, the lights would be on even in the middle of the day, because her mom couldn't stand the house being dark.

It used to be so noisy.

Noctis crashing through the door after cram school. Ava showing up with that calm smile and a bag of snacks.

They'd sit at the table bickering over math problems or rolling their eyes at Luna when she wanted to listen in.

Now the house was too big, too quiet.

She turned down their street and saw the flyers.

Her mother kept replacing them.

Two faces side by side.

Noctis—his school photo, hair a little messy, smile tight like he'd been embarrassed to pose.

Ava—so composed, the perfect student portrait, but Luna remembered her real laugh, unguarded and warm.

MISSING.

PLEASE CONTACT.

Luna's stomach twisted every time.

She wanted to rip them down.

But she left them up.

When she got home, she hesitated at the door.

She could hear her mother's voice.

Flat.

Reciting the same answers over the phone.

"Yes. Still nothing."

"Yes, they left together."

"No, no fight before. They were fine."

"No, we haven't heard anything."

She opened the door as quietly as she could.

Her mom didn't even turn around.

Luna toed off her wet shoes and went to her room.

She didn't want to see her mom's face.

Not when it looked like that.

She tossed her bag onto the floor and curled on her bed.

She could hear the TV from the living room.

News chatter, weather updates.

Noctis always teased Mom for having the news on all the time.

He said it made her sound like a worried grandma.

Luna pressed her pillow over her head.

They'd done everything they could.

Police visits.

Checking security cameras.

Interviewing classmates.

Ava's family had done the same.

But there was nothing.

No trace.

It was like they'd been swallowed whole.

She heard the front door.

Heavy steps.

Dad.

He said less than he used to.

Sometimes he snapped at her over tiny things.

Last week it was because she left her shoes crooked by the door.

He'd bellowed at her like she'd set the house on fire.

Then he'd left.

Gone for hours.

She didn't know if he went to work or just drove around to scream in the car.

Now he came in and grunted.

Mom mumbled something back.

The TV kept droning.

She shut her eyes tighter.

Dinner was worse.

They tried.

They really did.

Mom set the table like normal.

Three plates.

Not four.

But Luna knew she was pretending not to see the space that should have been Noctis's.

Dad sat stiffly.

A muscle in his jaw kept twitching.

"Eat," he said.

Luna picked at her rice.

Mom didn't even eat.

She just stared at the news on her phone.

Finally Dad slammed his chopsticks down.

"This is ridiculous. We have to move on."

Mom's head jerked up.

Her eyes were glassy.

"Move on? Our son is missing."

"He's gone, Mayu."

His voice broke.

Luna flinched.

"He's not dead," her mom said, ragged.

They stared at each other.

No one spoke for a long time.

Afterward, Luna cleaned up the dishes.

She did it without being asked.

Because if she didn't, they'd just sit there.

When she finished, she went to the living room.

Her mom had fallen asleep sitting up, phone in her lap.

Her eyes were puffy.

The TV was muted.

Still on the news.

She covered her mom with a blanket.

Her dad was on the balcony, smoking.

He didn't smoke before.

Noctis used to gag theatrically if someone lit up near him.

Later that night, she lay in bed and scrolled through her brother's old messages.

The last one was short.

"Be back late. Don't wait up."

That was all.

He'd sent it at 8:49 PM.

They'd last been seen at 9:10 PM.

Together.

After the arcade.

Laughing.

Just gone.

She didn't believe they ran away.

She didn't care what anyone said.

Even the police had stopped asking about fights or drama.

Because there was none.

They were best friends.

Practically siblings.

She remembered Ava brushing her hair in the summer heat.

Noctis yelling that she'd get heatstroke if she didn't wear a hat.

The two of them bickering while Luna giggled.

Now they were both gone.

At school the next day, she hated how people looked at her.

Pity.

Or worse, interest.

Like she was part of some mystery.

Some kids whispered.

"Ran away together."

"Bet they're shacked up somewhere."

She wanted to punch them all.

But she didn't.

Because then they'd pity her even more.

Her teacher asked her gently if she was okay.

She lied and said yes.

When she got home, her mother was still replacing the flyers.

That night, she lay in bed and whispered:

"Come home, Nii-chan. Please. Bring her home too."

She wasn't sure anyone heard.

But she kept saying it anyway.

Because she didn't know what else to do.

Outside, the city roared on.

People forgot.

The world moved.

But in their house, time had stopped.

Waiting.

Waiting.

Because they were missing.

Not dead.

And that was worse.