The moment Brennan missed the meeting—
Nobody thought much of it.
At first.
---
"He was busy."
Alice said.
"We all assumed he was busy."
The memory continued.
---
The group had a habit.
Every few weeks.
No matter how busy they were.
No matter what they were studying.
No matter what jobs they had.
They gathered.
Sometimes at a restaurant.
Sometimes at a park.
Sometimes in one of the dormitories.
Sometimes on rooftops.
The location changed.
The people didn't.
It was the one thing they always maintained.
---
Their little group.
Their little family.
---
Then one day—
Brennan didn't arrive.
---
"Late?"
Taai asked.
"He'll probably show up."
Raj nodded.
"He always does."
---
Hours passed.
No Brennan.
---
Akari frowned.
Chocomint became visibly worried.
Alice remembered checking the clock several times.
---
"He'll come."
She remembered saying.
"He probably got dragged into work."
---
Nobody believed it.
Not really.
---
Because Brennan was the type of person who would notify them.