Mai sprinted down the streets, shielding herself from the rain with her bag. She forgot to bring her umbrella. The worst part is, the rain didn't seem to have signs of stopping. The office was just a 15 minute walk, but today, it felt like an hour walk.
The brunette sighed."I swear, the weather hates me today." Mai walked in, head low. "I don't even have extra clothes. . ." Mai really cursed her luck today. Her white uniform had become see-through and clung onto her for dear life.
"What if a customer walks in? Hurry up and move." a lad in black said. Mai jumped nearly a foot in the air. When did Naru exit his office?
Mai wasn't in the mood. "Sorry. . ." She heard her boss sigh.
"Idiot, you'll catch a cold." Naru scolded as he passed a towel to Mai. Mai caught it and began to dry herself. It had been three years since she started at SPR. Everything almost felt the same. Ever since Gene's body was found, Naru stayed in England for a month. After that, Mai and Naru had kept contact with Gene.
Even if nothing has changed in their daily routine, Naru had changed in a few ways. He was more open with Mai. He seemed to have favorited her from the rest of SPR showing it in his little ways. For example, taking her to England when it was Christmas or when they needed a break. He tends to care about her more and decided things on his own for her. A day after Mai had graduated, he decided to become her teacher. He'd teach her some things about science and English, but their main subject would be about the supernatural.
"Mai, do you have spare clothes?" Naru asked. Mai jumped out of the train of thought. She shook her head and smiled sheepishly. "Thought so." Naru had told Mai to use the spare clothes he had placed in the restroom and change into it.
Why is he doing this, Mai thought. Is it 'be kind to Mai' year in Naru's calendar? To Mai, it was like a dream that Naru showed kindness to her, but now that dream has become true.
Meanwhile in Naru's office. . .
Naru was having his usual conversation with Gene whenever Naru needed help with his life. Example, his love life.
Let me get this straight, you walked to the mall, bought her extra clothes, and walked out? The twins usually communicate with the mirror Mai gave to Naru on his 19th birthday
I see nothing wrong in that. Naru answered in his usual tone. If you listen closely, you can hear Gene snickering.
The wrong in that is you know Mai's sizes! Gene exclaimed.
It's not like I bought her underwear or anything. Naru venomously stated. Naru had just bought Mai a shirt and skirt.
Anyway, what do you need help on now? Gene knew something was bothering his twin.
A knock on the door disturbed the twin's conversation. "Excuse me Naru, can I come in?" It was Mai. Naru glanced at Gene and told him to mirror him.
Noll just tell her to get in. Gene bluntly stated. Sometimes, Gene wonders why Naru treats her coldly and nicely. Pretty confusing. . .
"Come in." Naru said. He quickly grabbed a book and started reading it at a random page. Mai opened the door, a cup of tea in hand. To be honest, Naru was stunned by her appearance, but in his head. She wore a 3/4 black sleeved shirt with a white body, and a midnight blue frilly skirt.
"Thanks for giving me extra clothes." Mai place the cup on Naru's table and smiled.
Point 1 for my 'lovable' little bro! Gene shouted. Mai looked at the mirror. Oh gosh have I been found out?
Naru needed to keep Gene's presence unknown to Mai right now. "What is it Mai? I don't pay you to stand around all day." Naru was satisfied when he saw Mai fume with rage, then change back to her usual self.
Mai took a deep breath and smiled. "I thought you didn't use the mirror I gave you." Mai had always thought that Naru never used it because she hasn't seen him use it yet.
"Of course I do. I need to see my face more often." Naru teased. Mai walked away, red with anger.
With Mai. . .
Geez that narcissist's ego is so bottomless, Mai thought. Well, I guess I have to get to work. Mai sighed and started filing.
She finished it in no time. What time was it? Mai checked her watch and sighed. It was only 8:00 and there were no signs of clients coming in.
Lin exited his office and headed straight toward the kitchen. Maybe he's thirsty, Mai thought. Seconds passed by and Mai slowly started to drift into dreamland.
"Mai, wake up." Naru shook the sleeping girl's shoulder. Mai just groaned and shook her head. Naru sighed. This was a lot harder than he thought. "Mai, if you don't wake up, I'll give you a mountain load of assignments." Mai's eyes shot open. She stood up and wiped the drool from her face.
Mai was turned into a cute color of red. "Ah, Naru hi. . . Is it time for class?" Naru pointed at the schedule he had given her previously and then to the clock. Today's class time is at 10:00. . . which was only one minute away. Naru placed a science answer sheet in front of Mai along with a small book.
"Write the answers in the answer sheet. Answer Pre-Test III in 15 minutes. If you have any questions, ask me." Naru then proceeded to take a seat in front of Mai and took out a book and his mirror. Stupd Narcissist, Mai thought.
10 minutes had passed and right now, Mai was in pinch. She had only five minutes to answer the last 5 remaining questions, and they were hard as hell. To make it worse, they were all in English.
"Naru, what's this sentence?" Mai asked. Naru looked at the word Mai pointed at. Naru wasn't surprised that Mai solved all the complicated problems without question, he was surprised that Mai couldn't understand just one question. Naru simply wrote it in Japanese after he said it in English and Japanese, then proceeded to explain it.
"Seems like your doin' well Noll! Look you even have a girlfriend!"a voice greeted in in perfect English. Mai and Naru looked at the owner of the voice.
"What are you doing here, Krimson?" Naru hissed. It was a boy. He had blue hair that reached his neck. His right eye was a really light gray that makes it look blind, while his left eye was a honey color. He wore a striped black-and-white sweater with a wide-mouthed skull in the middle. His jeans were ripped and slipped a little to reveal his boxers. Those two belts must have been for design if they couldn't hold that up! Chains hugged his side, hanging off the belt in all their silver glory. A piece of ripped cloth was tied loosely to his belt at the back. (A/N: CHECK OUT THE LINK IN THE END ;))
Mai looked at the two, clueless of what they were saying. Sure she understood English if it were at an easy pace, but not when they're speaking fast.
Krimson noticed how confused Mai was. "Hm, can't understand us?" Mai nodded at his questioned. Krimson smiled. "Well, Japanese will do." Mai was surprised on how he had no accent at all.
"I'll ask again, Krimson what are you doing here?" Naru was pissed. Having someone from his past come here wasn't all that great.
"Calm the hell down. I come with a client genius." Krimson answered in a sing-song voice. "Auntie sent me here to bring her friend so you'd investigate. If you say no. . . A monster will haunt you."
Mai was so lost. She felt so left out.
"Mai call Lin. Krimson, go to the kitchen." Naru commanded. The two did as said. Mai went to Lin's office and knocked three times before opening the door.
Mai poked her head into the Chinese man's office. "Excuse me Lin, there's a client." Lin nodded and gestured that he was coming. Mai made a bee-line to the kitchen and bumped into Krimson. "Sorry."
"No, I'm sorry." Krimson apologized. "Hm, let's play a game."
Mai placed the kettle on the stove. "What kind of game?"
"A guessing game." Krimson cheered. "You have to guess what gender am I!" Mai smiled.
"You're a male. Isn't that it?" Mai guessed. She heard him snicker.
Krimson stuck his tongue out. "You'll find out later."
Their conversation was interrupted when the kettle started to whistle. Mai readied the tea and brought it outside with the help of Krimson. After handing it out, she grabbed her notepad and pen. Might as well take down some things they might miss, Mai thought.
Suddenly, the door swung open. A tall girl with eyes so light they looked white stood, her dark hair nearly covering her face. She wore a light blue hoodie and black skirt. Striped black-and-white stockings adorned her legs with brown boots climbing to her knees. She scanned the room, looking at each person. Then she sighed - a tired, hollow sigh.
When she spoke, her voice was laced with a faint foreign accent: "Alright, it's not like I wanted to be the one to explain, but someone was being a bitch about it. . ."
Her gaze went to Krimson, who just smiled innocently.
"Um, excuse me?" Mai spoke up. "I don't understand."
The girl walked over to Mai and stared at her with those eyes too light. ". . . I'm sorry," she said. "This must be confusing. I'm Leon Yurevich. Krimson's girlfriend."
"You're a bitch." Krimson smiled, but there was no humor in it. "Honey, didn't I tell you to keep that a secret~?"
". . . Oh yeah." Leon then said, "I'm sorry. Let me start over. I'm Leon Yurevich, Krimson's friend."
"THAT DOESN'T MAKE THINGS BETTER."
Naru cleared his throat. "How may we help you?"
"Ah. ды (Dy)." Leon turned to Naru. "My boyfriend - I mean, friend. . . Krimson, do we really have to keep it a secret?"
Krimson was covering his face. He was obviously embarrassed. "Do what you want," he hissed.
"Okay. My boyfriend and I have been staying in this inn at Ikebukuro. It's a two-story inn that used to be an orphanage, or so we heard. Everything was normal at first, but strange things have started to occur. Banging. Footsteps. Things being moved. Whispering - children's voices, to be exact. Usual things for you." Leon paused for a moment, letting that sink in. "Then things got worst after two weeks. People in the inn started to get attacked. Nursery rhymes were written on the wall in blood - trust us, we've checked. Strange, old dolls have appeared as well. We have tried burning them, but they keep appearing again and again. Then when you enter one room, it's a whole different room. But when you enter again, it's your room. Then children in old kimonos appear, begging for a game."
She sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Goddamn, if I knew this shit would happen I wouldn't have come."
Krimson smirked and leaned over to the girl, whispering into her ear. It was too low to hear no matter how much the other two strained their ears.
For a moment, Leon stared at her boyfriend before grabbing his head and slamming it against the coffee table.
"I see." Naru paused. "Give your information to my assistant. We'll come tomorrow. Please request a room for our base, and don't forget the rooms where we will sleep, Krimson."
"Thanks, sweet face." With that, Leon turned and left. Naru sighed. Before going to his office, he got the answer sheet from Mai's table. Lin went to his office without another word.
"Well Mai, Here's the address and contact information." Krimson passed a card to Mai. "Now that your boss is gone, I'll tell you the answer to that little game we had."
Mai was actually curious. "And?"
"I am a-"
Naru cut Krimson off. "Mai call the rest. Tell thim that we're leaving tomorrow." Mai glared at her boss' office.
Jerk, she thought.
Krimson walked to the door. "Well, guess you'll know later. 再见 (Zàijiàn)." With that, the boy left.
Jeez Naru, you could have told me at another time, Mai thought.
Wrath: Hi Hi Hi! Hope you liked my story! Umm. . . I don't like. . .
Nes: Huehuehue she's a sloppy-assed person and had her sister edit everything.
Wrath: NES! YOU FUCKING IDIOT
Links and other stuff:
Krimson's clothes: pin/510806782708209094/
Zaijian in English means Bye
AwesomeMango's link: u/4759293/AwesomeMango
Nes: Review, Follow, Favorite, Anythin! Bye~