"So, what kind of case do we have today?"
It was spring, cherry blossom leaves dances in the air as they fell down the busy street of Shibuya. The sun was brightly shining on Monday morning. People enjoying the day with their friends and family. Others were having coffee and tea in outdoor coffee shops.
Her mind wanders around the place while her companion spoke about randoms stuff. The place brought back so many memories, happy and sad memories.
Then her eyes landed on familiar stairs. Yes, it was her old working place. She spent her days running inside the office, making tea, organizing files, spending time with her adopted family. It was a memory to cherish.
The man sitting across her took out a fairly thick document from his bag and place it at the top of the table. She gazes down and read the letters written on the cover, "Yukimura Haunted Mansion".
"Mansion?" She set down her teacup and started skimming through the files inside the folder. Her big chocolate orbs wandered in every corner of the paper. "This is located outskirt of the town. He didn't even mention if we should investigate or it needs an exorcism." She dropped the folder back to the table and sighed as she leaned back on her chair while rubbing her temples.
Her partner smile weakly and took the folder away from her, "haven't got enough rest lately?" The boy stared at her with concern as he waited for her to answer.
"Besides being a full time, a parapsychologist. It's hard being a teacher as well. I had to stay up late last night trying to finish my hand-outs for my next class after I heard that Professor Shizuzaki will be assigning us with another case."
"I couldn't agree more." The man pushed his glasses up on his nose bridge and smile.
She snorted, "yeah right, you have no qualms on managing your time Yasu. You've always been smart and an outstanding teacher."
The man chuckled, "don't say that, Mai. You're a good teacher. Everyone in your class loves you. They always liked listening to your adventures when we were young."
Her smile turned into a gentle one as she tried reminiscing the old days with the gang. She hasn't realized that it has been 7 years since they last saw each other. They stopped communicating when everyone got busy with their own business.
Ayako pursued what her parents always wanted her to be, a doctor. Monk joined his band touring all over japan. John returned to Australia and Masako continue her tv shows.
As for Yasuhara, after Mai graduated in high school. She was granted a full-time scholarship to Tokyo University. Not too long when she entered college she was reunited with him and discovered that Yasuhara was also taking parapsychology just like her. They've been studying under the same professor and eventually became partners when taking up cases anywhere.
"Did you ever wonder if they remember us?" Mai asked without knowing.
"Of course they do," Yasu answered. "Although, it wouldn't hurt to check up on one another. I guess everyone is pretty busy, huh?" Mai just nodded. She stood up from her seat and stretch her arms up, then took her large cup of coffee and slung her bag over her shoulder. Yasu did the same and they both walked out of the coffee shop.
Mai entered and sat on the passenger seat beside Yasu. Her partner turned the engine on and drove off to Tokyo U.
When they were gone a familiar black van stopped in front of the commercial building. A young man got off the car wearing all black formal wear and his warm black hair was ruffled by the wind. Another man got off the driver's seat and stood beside him as they both gaze upon their old working building 7 years ago. The young man turned his head to the man beside him.
"Lin, what did the others said?"
"Takigawa said he'll be on his way here by the time we arrive in the office. He'll pick up Matsuzaki along the way. John will be arriving tomorrow morning and as for Miss Hara, she'll be here in the afternoon." The young man nodded and made his way to their old office.
As he opened the door, they were welcome by their old furniture covered in white cloths. It was amazing even though that a few years had passed the room was kept clean and it looks like they were well taken care of over the past few year. Now, the young man wondered if someone had secretly been working around here. When they asked the building owner, he had no knowledge that someone rented or even used the place over the years but some of the people working on the building said that there's a young lady and a man came over a couple of times and cleaned the place.
Who could it be? The young man wondered but as busy as he is, he has no time to ponder about it but ye t he was secretly thankful for those people who took really good care of the place while there were gone.
Late afternoon, after they brought and arrange their things back to the office. Two familiar faces entered the door without any word said.
"Naru-bou! It's been a long time!" The monk chirped as he entered the office and sat beside the young man. He spares the monk with a glance before returning back to what he was reading. The man beside just chuckled with his attitude. Same old Naru, he thought.
"My, my, you haven't change Naru, still the silent, ever sarcastic, Naru we know seven years ago. But I must say you looked more handsome than before." The priestess/doctor stood in front of Naru with her one hand over her hips and her other hand holding her white blazer.
"I see that you, Miss Matsuzaki, you haven't lost your good taste." The narcissistic man commented without looking at the doctor, the corner of his lips tugged into a smirked. The Priestess only smiled back and sat beside the monk.
The door opened once again and the famous celebrity medium showed up, as always she wore her signature kimono. She covered her mouth and nodded at the priestess and monk to acknowledge their presence and immediately sat beside the head of the research team.
"Naru," she called, the man stopped reading and put down the black notebook to looked at the medium. "It's good to see you." The young man only nodded showing no emotions. Slightly disappointed the medium tried to change the topic, the one that would catch the attention of the tea-loving narcissist. "Have you contacted Mai? I'm sure she would be happy to hear that SPR will be back on business." And it did, she saw the immediate change of mood from the young man. Now, she knows that he is still into the girl he rejected and left heartbroken, seven years ago.
The two fell into silent, they weren't sure if the medium was right to mention the young woman who they haven't talked for almost five years now. Monk and Ayako only exchanged glances at each other before one of them dropped the bomb about what happened these past few years.
"You see..." Monk began.
"It's been five years since we last talked to Mai. We haven't heard anything about her besides that she proceeded in college after she graduated in high school." Ayako admitted.
The tea-loving narcissist gave them a surprise expression for the first time and that give away what he really feels about the young woman.
He's still into her, they all thought.
The automatic door slides open as the two walked inside the institution. The girl at the front desk gave them a sweet smile as they walked closer, "Good morning, Taniyama-san! Yasuhara-san!"
Mai groaned but then smile, "Mai's fine. I feel like I'm really that old to be called Taniyama-san." The front desk officer only chuckled.
"Don't mind her, she's being dramatic lately." Mai slapped him playfully on the arm. "Ouch!"
"Anyways, is Prof. Shizuzaki inside?" The officer nodded, "alright, we'll be on our way. Thank you!" Mai waved at her before proceeding to take the elevator.
After reaching the designated floor, she entered a lab, greeting people on lab coats while they were busy monitoring and taking notes from data flashed before the monitor.
Mai and Yasu also passed by some of their colleagues in the field and went straight to their chief to report. Mai pushed the glass door as she entered, the old man wearing a lab coat turned his attention to the people who entered his office. A smile was evident on his lips as they approach him.
"Ah. Taniyama-sensei, Yasuhara-sensei. If I'm not mistaken, you should be at the University having your class. What could be the problem bringing you all the way here at the institution?"
Mai adjusted her glasses on her before speaking, "It's regarding the case you want us to take. There are a couple of questions I need to clarify before heading there." Mai said as she took a seat in front of the table.
"Ah yes, about that." The professor scratched his cheeks and smiled sheepishly at them, causing Mai to looked at him in confusion. "I forgot to tell my secretary that there's no need for us to take the case."
"What?" Mai was surprised. The professor gave an apologetic smile.
"The Yukimura family called that someone had already accepted the case before we could say yes to them. So, there's no bother going outside of the city."
Mai's fist whitened, she gritted her teeth in annoyance. She burst out, "WHAT THE HECK?! Just like that, we're out?! I canceled all my classes just for this case and it would be for nothing?! Argh!" She grabbed her bag and went out of the office. Yasu apologizes to the professor before following Mai out of the institution.
"Mai! Wait! Where are we going?" He caught up with the furious parapsychologist as they walked in the middle of the car park. He grabs her by the arm gently to stopped her from storming away from him. "Hey, calm down, would you?"
Mai's face was red because of her outburst but then she tried herself to calm down and when she did she smiled apologetically. Yasu being a kind friend forgave her and offered to talk inside his car.
"So, what do you want to do?" Yasu started the engine, his partner sitting beside him.
"I'm going back to the university. I'm going to attend my class." She simply replied.
"What? Aren't you too late to start your class? I'm sure your students are all back to their dorms."
Mai pinches the bridge of her nose, "I guess, you're right. What time is it Yasu?"
"4:30, why?" He answered looking at his wrist watch.
"It's time to pick up Ichiro and Jiro." She buckled her seatbelt.
"Alright," Yasu drove off. "To your alma mater!"
"Yeah, see you!" Two identical boys went out of the school gate. Their messy warm black hair and pale blue eyes fit perfectly with their handsome face. All the girls were looking at them as they smiled at their friends.
"Ichiro, Jiro!" Their head automatically snapped towards the owner of the voice. Their smile grew bigger as they ran towards that person.
"Mai-neesan!" They both exclaimed as they hug the young woman standing in front of the black honda civic. "Yasu-nii! It's good to see you! What are you doing here? I thought you won't be home until Wednesday?"
"Change of plans, kiddo. We're going home." She happily said to the twins.
On their way to Mai's condo, the twins fell asleep in the back seat while Mai remained silent and Yasu was focused on the road. Mai watched the houses as they passed by.
The street looked familiar to her and then memories from childhood came back to her, it was her old neighborhood before her parents died and as if on cue, their old house came in sight. Everything felt in slow motion as gaze upon it, she told Yasuhara to stop all of the sudden. The car stopped, waking the twins at the back seat.
"Mai?" She didn't utter a single word and went off the car and walked up towards the old house.
"Mai-neesan, what are we doing here?" Ichiro stood behind her, looking at the house.
"Yasu, can you bring them home?" She said, still looking at the house before her.
"Yeah, sure, but what about you?"
"Come back here after you dropped them by the condo." She turned her head to twins, "lock the door when you're home. Don't open it to any stranger and call me when something happens. You got that?" She said sternly. The twins didn't complain and followed what she said. They went back to Yasu's car and left.
Mai sighed, she took a silver key from her bag and she was having a second thought if she should open it. It's been 9 years since she last stepped foot in this house. She knows it will only bring back the saddest memories of her life.
She took a deep breath and inserted the key on the keyhole and unlocked the door. When she swung the door open she was welcomed by the darkness. Once she stepped in, all the feelings that when she was in this house came back to her. It's like her mind were playing tricks on her, the once dark and lonely house was filled with light.
Her 13 years old self, ran inside their home, then she heard a voice she longed to hear from all these years. It brought tears as she gazes upon two familiar faces calling out to her younger self.
She always longed for them, she spent a short time with them but those memories she had with them were almost a happy one. She didn't realize that her tears were brimming in her eyes. She took a couple more steps and led her to the living room where they shared most of her memories with them here.
"Mai! Come here!" The younger Mai approached the couple sitting on the couch.
"Honey, we want you to hold on to this. This is the key to our house. Always remember that we worked so hard for this house and when we're not around anymore, remember that this house is a gift that we left just for you." That's right. It's one of her last memories of her parents. The surroundings turned back into a lifeless and dark house. Mai plonked down on the floor. Her tears weren't stopping, a sob left her lips. She started crying, she was silently crying. She thought she was already alright after all these of being alone.
"Mai?" Yasu's voice echoed inside the empty house. He entered the living and found Mai on the floor crying. "Mai! Hey, are you alright?" He knelt down beside her. He knows that no words can comfort her instead of speaking, he lends her a shoulder to cry on. He wrapped his arms around Mai and let her cry. "What's wrong?"
"I...I...it all came back to me...I thought I was alright...l-losing my parents...l-losing them...it...hurts Yasu..."
"Sshh...I know, Mai, I know..." He cooed.