[X] Talk to her family.
-[X] Let Madoka take the lead position. Play Moemura, deeply concerned about a friend, but who had to get dragged along by Madoka in order to actually come visit.
-[X] Try to gain information on Akagi's behavior (left due to an argument? hostile to parents? angry at competition results? unstable personality?), and any ideas on where she might hide to recover.
"...We'll want to talk to them, to find out more. You should take point on this." You explain, knowing that, for all the social competence you have gained, you can't fake the same earnest kindness Madoka exudes naturally. Besides, giving her a chance to play an active role will be good for her long-term survival.
Madoka smiles brightly at that, "Right! I'll do my best!"
Smiling a bit at her exuberance, you leap down behind the building and set her down before transforming back into your mundane form and putting on your glasses. A bit of magic throws your hair back into braids.
"I'm going to play the schoolgirl for a bit. Hopefully that will set them at ease."
Madoka frowns a little, looking at you, "...You look better without the costume, I think. It's kind of cute, but it really doesn't suit you."
You nod, grimacing a bit, "I don't care for them much either, but they help keep the attention down, and are a bit grounding, when I get excited."
She looks oddly sad at your words, but moves on, "Alright, so, I'm guessing we're classmates worried about a casual friend?"
You nod, "Of course. It's the simplest option for cover. It's fortunate we're not wearing our school uniforms.."
"Right. We don't know for sure where she goes to school, yet. What exactly are we looking to find out about?" Madoka asks, setting to tidying up her clothing after being carried for so long.
"What happened to Akagi, what she's like, and where she might go if she's in trouble. Preferably in that order--the second question is something we should already know, and the third might anger them if they've been searching for her."
Madoka nods, "Then I'll start by asking about why she hasn't been at school, and if she's okay. She's not, obviously, and it might upset them, but they'll probably explain. After that, I'll try to get them to just talk about her some, guess little things about her if I'm forced to. Once we've gotten what we can, I'll ask where she might go, if they haven't found a body, at least."
You go through your inventory in passing, trying to find anything that might help here, but you honestly can't think of anything that would.
"Okay, here we go."
Madoka walks up to the front door and knocks, and you have to rush to get in position behind her, pulling yourself into your "Moe" persona as quickly as you can.
After a few seconds, the older man from before opens the door, eyes slightly red and expression stern, "Yes? Who--" He cuts off as he sees the two of you, eyes widening slightly.
You fidget, trying to look intimidated to guilt trip him a bit, while Madoka jumps into the conversation head first, "We're friends of Akagi's. From school. We haven't seen her for a while...is she okay, sir?"
He gives you a long look, nodding slowly, "...No, I'm afraid not. Akagi is...you said you're friends of hers from school?"
Madoka nods, and you follow up after a moment of calculated hesitation.
He heaves a sigh, "Well, that's something, at least. I was afraid..." He shakes his head, "...I...I'm afraid she won't be coming back to school. My daughter..." He pinches the bridge of his nose, and walks inside, "I don't care anymore. Just come in for a moment. I'll explain."
The two of you exchange looks, then follow. He goes to the parlor, where he sinks into an armchair, waving the two of you over to the couch, "First of all? Don't go into a stranger's home without your parents permission. Even if you know someone in their family."
Madoka nods, "We know. We just...we're really worried, and we really want to know, so...please?"
He sighs, "Yes, of course. Akagi...I'm very sorry to have to tell you that my daughter is missing. The police presume her to be dead."
You gasp in feigned horror, while Madoka does the same--presumably more honestly than you, "What?! But...but...how? What happened?!"
He sighs, "I'm not entirely sure. She vanished last Wednesday--that morning, when I left for work, was the last time I saw her. Apparently, some other people saw her at the Garden Show."
"The Garden Show?" Madoka asks.
He nods, "I'm surprised she didn't tell you. We have a rose garden--it was my wife's, before she passed. Normally, we show it together, for competitions, but I had to work late that night. Apparently, something happened to the garden after the party--the roses are all gone, now." He sighs heavily, "And so's my Akagi. The police say she did it--that she destroyed the garden in a rage, then went somewhere quiet and killed herself."
Madoka bites her lip. You...you find yourself shaking, slightly. You don't understand why, but you can't seem to stop.
"Do you--" Madoka hesitates, then forges on, "Do you think that's true?"
He shakes his head immediately, almost snarling at you as he snaps, "Of course not!"
Madoka flinches back (you realize moments later that you forgot to, but he's probably not paying attention at this point), and he grimaces, voice softening, "Sorry about that, girls. No, Akagi might...she was stubborn, but I won't say she would never kill herself. She didn't have any real friends besides you girls, as far as I know, and she--" He pauses, and changes what he's going to say, "I've worried about her, before. There's one thing I'm sure of, though."
He looks Madoka dead in the eye, "She would never have destroyed the garden like that. She loved that garden--she would spend every evening out there, caring for the roses and making sure they were happy, as she liked to say. Even when they were sickly and dying, like they were a couple of months back, she still went out and tried to take care of them.
"Whatever happened that night, she didn't destroy the garden--which means someone else did. If my little girl killed herself, that's why. If she didn't..." He sighs, "I haven't given up yet, but I can't imagine she wouldn't have come home if she could."
Madoka glances over to meet your eyes, and you give a slight nod. She turns to him, and talks to him, "Do you know anywhere she might have gone, if she wanted to hide?"
He shakes his head, "Nowhere I haven't already checked. I was hoping you girls might know something."
Madoka returns the gesture, looking despondent, "We were friends, but she never mentioned anything like that."
You frown, feeling like you're forgetting something, but unable to bring it to the surface.
Akagi's father sighs heavily, "I see...well, please, come tell me if you think of anything. Even if she's...even if she's really gone, I want to be sure."
Madoka nods, "Of course. We'll do everything we can. Would...would you mind if we saw the garden? Maybe we might notice something the police might have missed, since we were friends with her?"
He smiles sadly, "Of course. I don't think there's anything for you to find, but...she'd want her friends to see the garden, even if it's not what it once was."
He waves over towards the door to the garden, "It's right over there. Feel free to look around. I...I'll stay here. Too many memories."
The two of you nod, standing, and Madoka walks over, biting her lip before putting a hand on the man's shoulder, "...We'll try our best."
He forces a clearly pained smile, "Thank you, but you should leave it to the police. No more parents should lose a child because of this." In spite of her words, he doesn't try to stop the two of you as you walk outside to investigate.
[To Be Continued...]