Akari choose to sit at the table which was in the most isolated section of the cafe, she quickly gestures the waitress to take her order and ask her if she could bring the coffee first, the waitress responded with a gentle smile and said: "sure, coming right up".

She then turned her attention towards the girl sitting across Akari and indicated her to order. Akari still doesn't know her name decided to stay silent and watched as the girl was gazing menu and finally decided that she will have a grilled sandwich along with hot chocolate.

Waitress noted her order and quickly disappeared only to emerge again after a couple of minutes with coffee in her hand. She put the coffee in front of Akari and waited for her to order something to eat. Akari thanked her for the coffee and after sensing that waitress is not going to go unless she orders, something to eat. Akari gave in and with a reluctant smile said:  "I will have the same grilled sandwich, please".

When the two of them were alone Akari sensed an unexpected silence on the table, for some reason the brat was hesitating. Unlike their previous encounters, she did not start to speak. Akari felt somewhat relieved by this and utilised this silence to sip up her coffee and found her mood improving.

With her improved mood, Akari decided to start the conversation and decided to ask her name first, " first things first at least tell me your name".

The girl realised that despite all her blabbering she did not told her name to Akari and smiled sheepishly at Akari and said " My name is Jessica, you can call me Jess if you want, I mean all my friends use Jess. Akari thought here we go again, this brat oops.. mentally correcting herself Jess never stop talking, a faint smile escaped her lips.

Jess realised that she had been talking unnecessarily again and stopped speaking and was quickly turning red under Akari's gaze. Just then their orders arrived the waitress gently smiled and placed their sandwich in front of them and said to Akari " you should eat more often, coffee alone won't fend you  ".

Akari just rolled her eyes towards her and the waitress signed and left their table. Jess was watching Akari closely and saw her vision shifting to some faraway place and despite several minutes had passed she was still wandering somewhere far off. Jess could not wait any longer and brought Akari back by clearing her throat.

It worked and Akari's attention was back on Jess and she asked her " tell me about your case and why you need my assistance".

Jess: "Finally, I was beginning to doubt my decision about you, you know".

Akari raised an eyebrow and continued to glare at her as Jess started to tell her about the case.

Jess told her about her friend Emily and how she went missing during winter vacations. She further added that neither police nor her family is paying any heed to this case and even saying that she just ran off due to some minor disagreement with her family and will be back once she ran out of money.

Akari was intensely listening and absorbing all details about Emily and observing changes in Jess's expression and body language when she was describing the case.

Jess was about to add some more details when Akari asked her " how you are so sure that your friend Emily is missing and did not run away like her family is claiming".

Jess quickly responded " even if she did run off she would not ghost me, she is more than welcome to stay at my home, my parents love her and are aware of her situation with her family. Indeed, she often ditches her folks when things get out of control but when it does she always comes to me. But this time, she just vanished without even telling me. I am telling you something is not right, she is in trouble. Please help me I need to find her."

Akari sensed the distress in Jess's voice and offered her a glass of water, Jess took it and drank water and just as she was wiping her mouth with a tissue, Akari told Jess to focus and asked her to tell more details about Emily.

Jess looked up and made eye contact with Akari and asked her " you, believe me right?  will you take my case? with a hopeful smile on her face.

Akari nodded and said: " I will take your case".