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Chapter Two: Changes

I sniffed a bit and smelled tea…No, this can't be true! My heart started to jump harshly which caused it to ache severely. I didn't dare to look up and my hands began to shiver. Thousands of pictures ran through my mind each of them including his handsome face.

'Mai…'

Now my heart stopped beating as a little tear ran down my face. I still kept looking on the ground.

He cleared his throat.

'Normally people look up when they bump into someone.'

I played with the thought of slapping myself so I would wake up. But everything seemed so real. And the way his smell tickled my nose…I could close my eyes and just sniffing it for hours…

'W…what are you doing here?' I really tried to sound assertive but failed in every point.

'I need an assistant since I re-opened my office here in Tokyo.' Naru stated.

Now my hands were trembling

'Who the hell do you think you are?'

I looked up into his face. It was the first time after one year.

His profile changed a bit, it was more defined now making him more handsome if that was even possible. I gazed into his eyes and his pupil widened just for a little second. I only recognized it because I knew him for so long. Of course his face didn't show one emotion.

'I am me, Mai…'

'Thanks, I noticed that already.' I snapped.

I took in a deep breath.

'And why didn't you just call like you would normally do?'

'I tried to but you wouldn't pick up.'

My cheeks flushed in embarrassment. I haven't heard the phone because my TV was too loud and together with my little concert in the shower I wasn't able to pick it up.

'So I thought that I might find you here.'

'Of course you would come back for business and nothing else…' I mumbled acrid.

'So you accept my offer?'

'No, I won't!' I answered harshly.

'You can't just show up after over 13 months and rehire me as if nothing happened between us. Besides I'm working in a restaurant and two jobs are way too much for me.'

I wrinkled my nose and crossed my elbows.

'If that is your choice I have to cope with it. In case you are going to change your opinion, my number from the office is still the same.'

I nearly slack jawed. He couldn't be serious. Is he even real?

I reached out my hand to touch his sleeve and it seemed quite real.

Then I realized what I just did and my head turned into a tomato. Naru raised a perfectly shaped eyebrow.

'What are you up to?'

'Uhm…just checking if you're real.'

'Don't be dense, Mai.'

'When you think like that why do you want to rehire me, huh? Provided you're talking like that to applicants for this job you'll never get any assistant in one million years!'

'Calm down. I want you for this job because you're familiar with it. Since there is a new case now I need someone who is experienced. I'm going to pay really good as well.'

Come to think about it, Naru offered me the best paid job I've ever had. But then an evil thought crossed my mind.

'I'll work for you again if you pay me twice as high as before.'

This would work out well…

'I had no idea you've adapted a business attitude, Mai.' Naru smirked.

What? I thought he would be puzzled just once in his life….

'But fine by me. When you're doing a good job there is nothing to object.'

I can't believe this guy!

I couldn't say anything. I just stood there in front of my school yard gazing at him like a total idiot.

'So I expect you tomorrow at my office at seven o'clock. Don't be late.'

And with that he turned around and walked away just like the day he departed.

I looked at the path he walked along a second ago and couldn't do anything but to stare at this spot when the sound of the bell made me jump.

'Oh no! I'm late!'

The next day I opened the office door from SPR and was shocked. It was completely empty! The window sills were covered with dust and there was a dire need of some fresh air. But why had the door been open?

'So you just came in time.'

I gasped. My heart skipped a bit as I turned around.

Naru raised an eyebrow.

'What is wrong?'

'You nearly gave me a heart-attack!'

'Then you should keep an eye on your surrounding, dummy.'

'Geez, you haven't changed a bit…' I sad as Naru wanted to lift up the last remaining box.

But suddenly, he stopped in his tracks and looked at me with a piercing gaze. Then he came up to me and his nose was just inches away from mine.

'I haven't changed, huh?'

I gulped and turned dark red.

He seemed to be satisfied by the reaction of my body for which reason he smirked and turned away from me.

I tried to get a hold of myself and started to wonder why Naru was packing the box outside, not inside.

'N…naru?'

'Yes, Mai?'

'Why are you packing the box outside?'

'Because we're moving.'

'Oh, okay. Wait….we're WHAT?'

'Just as I said it, Mai.'

'But why haven't you told me?'

'I told it you now.'

'But why did you want me to come here and not to the new office?' I raised my voice a little.

'In order to drive you to the new place so that you know where it is.' He stated calmly.

'Oh…this is very courteous of you.'

Since when does he care about how I arrive at my working place?

'Are you planning on standing there the whole day?' Naru asked and smirked a little.

I looked up and saw that he was already standing outside, waiting for me.

'I'm coming.'