Dear Naru,

Thank you for your email. But I have a few questions.

If this was company policy, why was it in the JSPR policy you asked me to write up with kanji when I first started working for you?

Also, how come everyone else has not received on? I did ask.

And finally, if this is a work related thing, why is it from your personal email and not a BSPR email address?

From Mai J

Oliver had found the email in his inbox when he had woken and had immediately begun typing a reply without so much as a thought for the fact Mai had made the effort not to include any kanji.

Dear Mai,

I see as usual you are too idiotic to reply to any of my requests.

As to answering your questions –

It is a relatively new policy that was not considered important enough for the JSPR branch at the time.

This was bullshit.

You were the only official employee, the others were technically consultants.

Technically true.

And BSPR is currently overhauling the IT system, and so I have been using my personal email for less important correspondences; logging into the system currently too tiresome.

Complete and utter bullshit.

Now respond with the requested information so I can update the records.

Idiotic girl. Why couldn't she just respond as she was meant to?

Why hadn't she said that she was fine? Or was her lack of information to cover up that she was struggling?

From Naru

He stared at the nickname for a while, wondering if it was appropriate. Then, deciding he didn't care, he hit the little sent button.

After showering, dressing and eating breakfast, Oliver returned to his room to collect his bag before going to work. But he had received a reply.

Dear Naru,

I think it is thoroughly unprofessional of you to conduct company business on your personal account. I am considering emailing your superiors in order to report you for negligence.

As to your request, I am doing fine. Masako got me a part time job at the head office of her TV show. I have to sift through suggested sites to find good places for them to film episodes. It's quite lucky really as my intuition has guided me to a few really good sites! No one there knows about my ability so I'm safe from them trying to extort more out of me. The pay is pretty good too.

How are you?

From Mai

Oliver read the entire thing twice before scowling. Why hadn't she just said that in the first place?

Then his eyes rested on the question. She had wanted him to reply. Or was she just being polite?

Huffing slightly, Oliver slammed the lid of his laptop down and shoved it into his bag with the charger. He would reply when at work.

His father was waiting for him in the living room.

"Ready?" Martin asked.

Oliver nodded and they both headed to the car, Martin waving to Luella as they left.

Five minutes into the journey, Martin spoke again.

"Are you alright Noll? You seem miffed by something."

"I wasn't aware my facial features were showing any emotion."

"That's what led me to this suspicion." Martin replied, chuckling. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing." Oliver said and turned to stare out of the window.

Martin was wise enough to let the subject drop.

"Lin and Madoka have invited the family to dinner this Friday, will you be joining us?"

"If I don't, Luella will complain."

"As will Madoka." Martin agreed. "What do we let these women do to us, eh?"

But it was not those women that were bothering Oliver.

When at the office, Oliver told his assistant to stop anyone bothering him and then closed his office door behind him. He pulled out his laptop and re-read Mai's email.

Dear Mai,

You will not report me for any such thing. Besides, no one will take such an email seriously as these things are too easily faked.

There, that would quell any stupid ideas the idiot had about reporting him.

As you have gained further employment I shall alter the records accordingly.

His eyes strayed to her last question. How was he?

I am working on many uninteresting cases that I have been forced to work. If your English ability wasn't so poor, even you would have solved them in less than half a day.

From Naru

Oliver sent the email, then minimised the browser and pulled his work towards him. More case files for review. More new cases that even a simpleton could solve. They weren't even worth the evidence of paranormal events.

Sighing, Oliver flipped open the next case file and began reading.