Case 01, Part 04
Monday, 7:30PM
If I didn't know better I would think Naru was getting his revenge because I almost burned his doppelganger to cinders last night. Although, it was not really him last night. I was not really sure… between him and his look alike my Hyper intuition interpreted them as… you know, the game where you had to spot ten difference from two similar pictures. At first glance they looked alike but my Hyper intuition wrote down a note below telling me, they were different. So I knew they were not the same but not what was different before I looked at both in the same time.
Onii-chan might have different interpretation. Twin or not our Hyper Intuition never came up with the same allegory for some reason.
Back to Naru-chan… the class had not started yet and he made me sit down in Kochou-sensei's office to hypnotize me of all things.
I didn't know he could do it but my senses flared with warning against the influence. I was a pretty good actress when the need arise but I had no idea how to act like a hypnotized victim. I tried to follow his instruction to look at blinking light on his laptop screen and matching my breathing but it just didn't work on me.
If anything, it stressed me out!
Vongola's Trivia by Reborn~
7. They're immune to any form of hypnotist, and most low level illusion couldn't fool them.
They couldn't get themselves affected even if they try, so don't bother. Seriously, it's a waste of time to hypnotize a Vongola.
At last it was over, and I was tired trying to get myself influenced by the hypnotist but it didn't work. Well, I heard about the chair and how Naru wanted it to move at least.
"Mai." He called me and it took all my self-control to not tensing. "I heard you got hurt last night?"
I raised my hand that was wrapped like mummies. "It's no big deal." The irony was that shoe cabinet didn't hurt me but I got hurt by my own flame. "It will heal before I know it."
He stared at me and I could tell he was trying to figure me out, most likely on why I was not affected by the hypnotist. I stared back at him, because I didn't know what else to do.
'When you want to bluff but you don't know the correct word, just let your opponent to make their own assumption! Don't make a fool of yourself to make up for something!'
So Reborn said, but if a genius like this guy was the one making his own assumption I didn't think it was wise.
He sighed, eyes closed briefly. "So… it didn't work on you."
"What didn't?" I tried to act clueless.
He snorted, "Well… I will leave this mystery for another day."
"Wait! Naru!" I stopped him, "Err… did you find something?"
"Of course I do."
I couldn't stop myself from smiling at that, "That's great… so do you need any help?"
Naru paused at that and said, "Come afterschool to the old building…"
Old School Building (Naru's POV)
I asked Mai and John to help me, because they were the most cooperative people I met in this investigation. The task was simple enough, set the equipment and the chair then we had to close all the entrance to the experiment room with boards.
Mai surprised me again, as if it didn't enough that she showed no sign whatsoever of influenced by my suggestion, nailing the nail on like an expert. It was like she was very used on this kind of carpentry work. I didn't ask though. However the first was a bigger mystery, because so far I had never seen anyone immune to hypnotist. Some was hard to be influenced but Mai in fact looked like she was trying and failing to be hypnotized.
It was fortunate I already know who was the culprit and Mai was unlikely the one next to Hara-san.
"By the way…" She began to talk in low voice, when she was next to me. "This is experiment for poltergeist?"
I nodded, "Yes…" I answered curtly, there was no hiding it from someone who couldn't be part of the experiment. "We will see the result tomorrow."
She smiled at me, beaming. "I can't wait."
I handed her a marker, "For now… please sign the board with your name."
Mai nodded and went to John to hand him one. They began to sign the board, John signed his name in neat italic. My eyes narrowed when I saw Mai signed hers in cursive, but then she tensed and signed the next board in Kanji. No one commented, although in John's case, he didn't notice this odd quirk.
The next morning…
Lin came with me today, most likely because he felt I had been left without supervision for too long. Then again today was the last day, so I let him came with crutch and all. He also insisted to help recording the experiment, as if he didn't get enough trouble to walk around with a crutch.
"Good morning." Cheerful greeting that had become familiar to my ears for the last six days could be heard, and Mai came running towards us with another lunch box wrapped in furoshiki.
She noticed Lin's presence and gave him a deep bow. "Hello… it's a shame our previous meeting is in unfavorable situation, once again I deeply sorry for causing your injury."
Lin obviously didn't like Mai but courtesy had to be paid so he gave her a curt nod. "Ah, it's due to my carelessness. Thank you for the fruit basket and flower, you didn't have to…"
Mai sent Lin fruit basket and flower? That was very thoughtful of her, though it seemed she got someone to send it for her.
"Here." Mai placed the familiar lunch box near me and a thermos. "Your breakfast… and tea."
I wanted to refuse but knowing Mai, she wouldn't let me. The first time I tried to refuse, she pouted and said since she gave it to me it was mine to do as I wish. It was also up to me to throw it to nearest but and dared me to do so in front of her.
She had this strict policy about proper meal. So I just let her put the box beside me, I will eat it later just so she wouldn't complain. Beside, there was no point wasting food someone worked hard to prepare for me anyway.
Lin raised an eyebrow at us, but I didn't care. He never tried changing Mai's mind when she was set on something.
Old school building, experiment room (Mai's POV)
I was so glad I asked Tojo-san to send fruit basket and flower to Lin-san. I knew it was manipulative of me to lower the tension the next time I saw the man who got injured when trying to save me. Lin-san looked tense around me though, and I could sense that he didn't like me. Although it was a little strange…
I was no stranger to hatred and dislike but it kinda bugging me to be in proximity of someone who dislike me and I was going into a building my intuition told me to not go inside.
"Haah…" This must be how a caged animal in zoo felt in the middle of earthquake, knowing the danger that would happen but unable to leave. "Yes, the signature is still there… nothing change." I confirmed as John and I recheck the board with our signatures. He was not as bad as Reborn but Naru had a taste for drama too it seemed.
Fortunately Naru didn't prolong the drama and pried the door open, and I saw the chair was not in its original position Naru had marked.
It was vain but when I knew what to look, it was not hard to see the sick colored smoke that was identical with what I saw from Kuroda-san ghosting around the chair that had toppled over against the wooden wall.
"Shibuya-san, the chair moved," John pointed the obvious.
"Yes it did," Naru said, he looked very smug.
Miko-san interjected, "Wait a minute. What's going on here?"
Instead of answering, Naru headed toward laptop and announced. "Thank you for your cooperation. I will leave by sometime today..."
Apparently the drama was not over yet, I wouldn't be surprised if Naru was distantly related to Reborn. Then once again another argument start the moment Naru confidently stated the 'Land subsidence' analysis was still valid.
Bou-san snorted, "You better stop while you're ahead. Can land subsidence really cause all that?"
"Land subsidence is a sufficient explanation for the case the principal presented to me." Naru replied smoothly.
I stepped forward and said to Bou-san who cowed the moment I started to speak. "Beside… it didn't change the fact there is 7.5 centimeters difference between east and west part of this building." I reminded them. "Unless there is a need for a spiritual being to splint this building too?"
"Well…" Bou-san swallowed nervously.
"Then, what made the windows shatter? The knocking is definitely not because of land subsidence." Miko-san pointed out.
Naru had waited for that question to come up. "That was a poltergeist…look for yourself." He stepped aside so all of us could watch the recording. At first the chair was in the middle of the room, then it slid backward before knocking the wall behind roughly before toppled over to the side. The original position we saw the chair was in when we entered the sealed room.
Bou-san cupped his chin, "That was legit poltergeist… we should exorcise it right away."
Naru shook his head, "That would be unnecessary." Then he explained, "Yesterday I gave everyone an autosuggestion." I was very tempted to roll my eyes when he was looking at my direction meaningfully.
Kuroda-san's eyes widened, "When we were in Kochou-sensei's office!"
He nodded, "Half of poltergeist incidents could be blamed to human, but as you can see we sealed the room beforehand so it's not a prank that could be committed physically."
John-san glanced at the door, "Yeah… even if the door or other entrance could be opened, they won't be able to replace our signature."
Naru continued, "When the culprit narrows to human, the profile usually are those that're 13-15 years old. But sometimes they're caused by teenage girls under a lot of stress who want to be noticed by others."
I narrowed my eyes at that, so I was right… I closed my eyes recalling the image of poltergeist, the smoke like energy from negative emotion I sensed. So that was how poltergeist worked.
"However, the culprit is usually unaware of doing this." Naru added. "So to find out, the method to determine the culprit is using autosuggestion. It will make the event to occur. And it was controlled to an extent."
"...Then the culprit is?" Miko-san asked curiously, impatient with how Naru dragging this on.
"Is..." He trailed off before his eyes land on one person, and it didn't take long for the rest of us to follow his example.
"...Me...?" Kuroda's voice was shaking, before she denied strongly. "How can that be...!"
His eyes were didn't waver as he stated, "You are the prime suspect."
"Are you saying that it's all because of me? That poltergeist?" She was scared but at this situation, comfort was not something I can offer to her. She had to face this problem head on.
"You're the likeliest to be responsible for the poltergeist." Naru stated with conviction. "You said… there were ghosts of soldiers and nurses there. But the fact of the matter is…" He glanced at me, "As Mai said, this school is over eighty years old… there never was a hospital here. An air raid never occurred here, and the school was never used as a hospital before." He listed on.
"How can that be...?" She was shaking now, and I was reminded of how she reacted when I confronted her the first time about the attack on her person.
"—To sum it up, you were mistaken or perhaps the rumors got to you. Didn't Miko-san say that you're not spiritually sensitive?"
"Yes, that's right. I'm sure I wasn't wrong," Miko-san confirmed. "This one… I didn't lie. I would not joke about this." She had her pride after all. "At least not enough for me to see her as someone capable of seeing spirits and the likes." She turned to Bou-san. "Right."
He nodded, "Yeah… if she is, I would sense it like how I can tell Hara-san could…" The mentioned medium nodded in agreement.
"Whether Kuroda-san did that on purpose or whether she just pretended to see them... Even now I am not so sure," Naru continued to explain. "However….The equipment did not show any presence of spirits. Plus, Hara-san didn't sense any."
"Yes, that's correct," Masako said, nodding her head.
"This was very baffling at first to me, but considering her statement and data my equipment gathered so far…" Naru's eyes narrowed. "Logically the blame should be shifted to human… and that is you."
I had to applaud Kuroda-san to not break to tears by now, this person had no delicacy at all. The poltergeist had rattled him for a moment after all.
He crossed his arms "I heard that your sixth sense have made you rather popular in school. Ever since middle school, you have been admired for them. However our analysis on this building is against your claim on ghost presence… and what would happen if people finds out that the cause is land subsidence?"
Bou-san was the one who replied, "She will lose their trust…"
Miko-san seemed to feel sorry for her too. "...So at first, you didn't have any powers, but because of this…"
"...That's right. In order for Kuroda-san to get everyone's attention, ghosts would have to exist. So to her, ghosts must exist in the old school building." Naru finished.
It was her desire to be special that caused this.
Bou-san sighed, "So... she unconsciously made poltergeist activity that happened since Naru-chan announced the land subsidence."
Naru uncrossed his arms, glancing at me. "However… it didn't mean she is without power, for causing this much disturbance she must be a latent psychic." Then began explaining, "Someone who has psychic powers. Even though she is unaware of it, she may have some PK."
Oh my, so he was suspecting me for being a latent psychic? Does my intuition count as psychic powers?
Miko-san then pressed on, "Then how about when I was locked in?"
Hara-san said in a low voice, "You locked yourself in." Apparently she was not afraid to pick an argument either.
"What, you're saying that I forgot I locked myself in?" She shot back.
"Are you saying you didn't?"
I stepped forward, and Naru frowned at me. "Let me explain this one..." I glanced at Kuroda-san. "It's unpleasant but you have to be responsible…" It was partly my fault.
Kuroda nodded hesitantly, "Yes… Sawada-san."
Naru pulled out a nail from his pocket then handed it to me, I inhaled deeply before speaking. "I found this when I was picking the lock." Then I corrected, "More like I noticed this nail sticking out of the door, and I distracted you with pretending picking the lock so I could remove it discreetly."
Everyone looked shocked, and I knew it was because I tricked them not what I was trying to hide.
"So someone put it there on purpose," said Miko-san. "But…"
Bou-san looked disappointed at me, "Why Jou-chan?"
Kuroda-san clenched her fist then she cried, "She is protecting me! I am sorry!"
I sighed, "I admit… partly it's because I don't want you to attack her back." I returned their eyes unflinchingly, "Not to mention, I am sure everyone know that time all of us were incredibly tense. We're not a team but we're still working on the same case and location… so I selfishly decide it's better to not bring it up back then, rather than risking a conflict before we get anything done."
Naru sighed, "If you forgot, I agree with you to not mention it. Beside… It was probably a prank. Miko-san is the one who start it anyway."
I couldn't stop myself from nodding. "Like I said back then, you can phrase your words more carefully."
At least now she looked guilty, "Then, what about the malfunction?"
I sighed at that, "Promise me you will not blow up." Miko-san shrank at that, "Simple… no one is on the base when you screamed…"
Which mean Kuroda-san sneaked in to erase the evidence when we were distracted.
Kuroda-san stuttered, "I am sorry…" She cried and since she was already sorry for everything she did I patted her back comfortingly.
"It's alright… you know you're wrong, and that's the most important thing…" I whispered to her.
John, befitting of his profession as a priest told her in a comforting tone, "Don't worry about it. Even though it did cause a lot of trouble."
Miko-san angrily crossed her arms. "Now we understand. But now what? We can't just leave like this. The principal called on us to exorcise the ghost."
"We can just say that we exorcised the ghost." That was very free-minded of him, "I plan to tell the principal this: There were many spirits of soldiers in the old school building. We exorcised them so now it's safe to continue the demolition project…" He recited his planned speech.
I smiled at him when he cracked one eye open at me.
"She's already under a lot of pressure. There's no need to add to that, right?" Naru added.
"Very considerate of you…" I agreed.
Bou-san snorted, "I bet you just want to score a point with Mai."
He glared at Monk, the loud mouth and decided. "At first I thought all of us deserve credit for working together, but let's just leave Bou-san out."
"Hey! I am just teasing you a little!"
And with that, the case of old school building was over.
Afterschool, empty hallway. (Naru's POV)
Only this girl had audacity to sigh as rolling her eyes at the sight of my face, and it was annoying and refreshing in the same time. "So, what do you need Naru? I believe you're not my boss any longer."
I cleared my throat, so this was how she wanted to play this game even though I went through trouble to wait for her outside her classroom and endured over twenty schoolgirls fawning over me. "I want to talk…"
"Oh yes… about the camera under insurance I broke by accident." She beamed at me.
Of course she knew, she was not a genius but far from an idiot. "It's not about the camera."
She crossed her arms, "Aah… curiosity is not always a good thing, Naru."
What was she getting at? "I am a researcher… I have to be curious."
She walked pass me and I followed, ready to grab her if she tried to flee. But she just walked to nearest vending machine and bought a bottle of mineral water. Drinking a big gulp until only half of it left. Not very lady like of her. Then she began to write something in kanji on the fogged surface of the cold water bottle.
闇弱
"… Kanji is not my forte."
She laughed at me, "Well… I thought as much, considering how you insist using inches instead of the more common meters in Japan."
…! She…
She tilted her head to the side before tossing the bottle to me. I caught it with ease, wondering what she was getting at. "Are you testing me?"
Mai shook her head, "This is not a test or taunt, I am warning you…" She corrected me, "If you didn't get it, I won't give you any answer." She stated with a tone of finality, then started to walk towards the door. She tilted her head to the side with a smile on her lips. "I didn't forbid you from asking Lin-san to read it for you though…" Then she bid me a farewell, leaving me to mull over my latest defeat.
Which mean, you can ask for help, genius. She just made me unable to ask for Lin's help with telling me the opposite.
Mai… how the hell you know me this well? She didn't even know who I was.
I was sure she figured some things like I was a foreigner even though I looked Japanese, and my pride was also my weakness. However she surely didn't know who I really was and yet she knew me so well, almost like Gene and it was…
Scary…
Did I just think scary? Me? I didn't find any paranormal activity scary, but Mai was scary to me?
Mai's POV
I rolled back and forth on my bed, wishing to take back what I said to Naru. "Stupid Mai! Argh!" I groaned, "Even though that is the only thing crossing my mind when he ambushed me, I shouldn't have thrown that word at him!"
That kind of challenge never ended well against someone like Naru.
"But if I didn't make him stay away from me I will be tempted to beg for his help…" I hissed to myself, hugging my pillow tighter in frustration. "No… I am already tempted since I know where his interest lies…"
Onii-chan would be disappointed in me if he knew what I was thinking.
But… if I could help Nii-chan that way…
Growl~
"No wonder I am not on my right mind." With empty stomach I couldn't think straight. "Let's see what I have in my fridge."
It was not hard to figure out what to cook, looking at leafy green, fish, and edamame I stored. "Just what I need…"
It didn't take long to cook the menu I had in mind, I just need to wait some more until the steamed herb fish finish. And in another stove I had edamame boiled perfectly. I glanced to the side and noticed I haven't drop my recyclable waste like old paper and plastic bottle downstairs.
It would take around ten minutes for the fish to finish, if I am hurry it won't take too long. I was about to step out of my apartment when I noticed presence of my neighbor. I recalled someone moved in, but I never met the one who bought the apartment on my right. So I looked to the side, and was about to greet my neighbor before I froze at who I was looking at.
My neighbor looked as surprised and he was freezing in midst of opening his door. "Mai?"
"Naru? You're my neighbor?"
"Apparently." He replied dryly.
I groaned, "I can't deal with you now." And promptly closed my door.
Naru's POV
I glared at the closed door, while I understood it was awkward to see me after what happened this afternoon it was still very rude of her to run away like that the moment she saw my face. Against my better judgement I knocked her door, "Mai! I think we really need to talk now!"
Especially since I had spent the rest of my afternoon looking at dizzying amount of kanji to find that 闇弱 and considering now I knew what it meant I had every right to be pissed at her.
"It read Anjaku." I gritted out, "You called me, ignorant and weak. I think… you really need to explain yourself!"
Then I heard her voice from the other side of the door, it was muffled but clear enough. "Haah… seriously Naru-chan, you're so smart but you can be pretty dumb."
Dumb? Me?
"No one asked you how to spell 闇弱 Naru-chan… you just have to consult kanji dictionary for that." I could imagine she was rolling her eyes by now. "Though… it's amazing you find how to read it less than a day."
"Mai…" I hissed, considering what I observed from her so far. She could read my tone very well.
A sigh, then I heard footsteps back and forth. She was doing something inside and returned to her entranceway. Faster than I could react she opened her door, but only a small gap enough to slip a bento box before she closed it again. She threw it at me no less!
Takigawa was definitely mistaken if he thought Mai was trying to win me through my stomach. "What is this supposed to mean?" I demanded coolly.
"That's your reward for figuring out how to read 闇弱 Naru… I feel bad if your effort is not rewarded." She said, I could imagine she was laughing at me. "But sorry… try again next time to figure it out… after dinner maybe~"
"Mai!" Then I heard her soft footsteps, she was walking away. And I could only stare at her door and the bento box that apparently was dinner she forced on me.
Someone cleared his throat and I turned to my left. Lin looked very uncomfortable, and I had a feeling that was because he saw everything. I couldn't believe I completely forget he was right beside me.
"Uhm… so that's why you study kanji so hard this afternoon?" Lin asked hesitantly.
I didn't answer because for once I had no idea what to say without embarrassing myself.
Naru's apartment
Lin for some reason was very quiet when we had dinner, he looked like he was about to say something, hesitated and decided to be quiet. I was irritated but since Mai was just next door I figured I can confront her anytime. I could even do so after dinner like she said.
"I will wash the box." I announced as I went to kitchen sink that thankfully had cleaning supplies I need for the task, even though I never used it. Most likely it was Lin who put it here even though he didn't even live here.
It was a blessing even though he was assigned to watch over me, he gave me privacy to live on my own.
I put the box on dish dryer, another cleaning tools I suspect was Lin's doing. I was waiting the box to dry when I felt my eyes were getting heavy, which was no wonder since I was very tired after pouring over kanji dictionary the whole afternoon. I walked to the sofa of my living room, rubbing my tired eyes. How strange… no matter how tired I was, I shouldn't be this sleepy.
Looking at my state Lin averted his eyes, he was hesitating again. "Lin…" I began tiredly. "Just say what you want to say."
He sighed at me, "I guess… you never really pay attention to nutrition in your food, that's not new…" He was shaking his head, "And you wonder why your brother called you 'idiot scientist' Oliver?"
I groaned, "What are you getting at?" I tried to sound intimidation but in my drowsy state, it didn't work.
He cleared his throat, "Sawada-san seems to be a very good cook if her cooking meet your standard."
I tried to glare but it was hard when you were sleepy. "Don't you dare to tease…" I hissed, "I had enough of that…"
"I am not implying anything of that nature." Lin looked amused now, "What I mean is… since she is a good cook, she know what is inside her cooking very well." Lin corrected me.
My eyes widened at the implication.
"Just now you ate steamed herb fish, broiled spinach and edamame." Lin listed on, "All of those? They're food to induce sleepiness…"
Mai, she… this almost like she drugged me then.
"Legally." Lin added as if reading my thought. "You definitely can't sue her for feeding you those dishes, and you eat it on your own volition."
"…"
"Well… you're definitely in no condition to bother her tonight." Lin concluded, "However… I am sure she didn't prepare them to put you to sleep." Yes, since she definitely wasn't expecting me living next to her. "Either she want to have a good sleep tonight or it was coincidence…" He inclined his head to the side. "But I am sure by now she is also about to sleep very well tonight."
"…She is worse than Madoka." I grumbled.
Lin shrugged, "I don't know about that, but you definitely have find someone who can stand up against you… in many ways…"
Mai, I would pursue you even if it kills me. I swear…
Public Library (One week later, Mai's POV)
Parapsychology was the scientific study of interactions between living organisms and their external environment that seem to transcend the known physical laws of nature. Parapsychology was a component of the broader study of consciousness and the mind. Parapsychologists study 5 broad areas, Telepathy, Clairvoyance or Remote Viewing, Precognition, PK or Psychokinesis
and Survival Studies.
Looking at these five categories… our Hyper Intuition, the power to see through all could be identified as some sort clairvoyance or precognition. I thought as my forefinger ghosted over the two words. Our flame could be categorized as PK in a sense but…
As someone who possessed and used this ability I didn't think my intuition could be 'classified' to any of these in perfect fit. It was more… limited and seemed to be wired to our survival. For example, if asked what was inside the room next to the one I occupied. I most likely could detect living organism's presence next door, but if it was an object it would limited on whether it was dangerous or not to me. And even that would be relative, because I would identify a gun as non-threatening if it just lay on a table and not in human's hands.
Precognition was a better fit in a sense but it only limited to danger, we definitely couldn't see the future. That was someone else's… anyone have survival instinct, so we just noticed danger faster than normal human.
Telepathy was not it either, because I couldn't read mind even though to an extent my brother seemed to be capable of this with his guardian. Though most likely that was because we knew them very well, so our intuition translate their body language to words instead of mere emotion and allegory.
Then again in the first place description of Hyper Intuition as power to 'see through all' as they called it was already from the first generation/outdated and too vague.
I looked up to the boring gypsum ceiling above, averting my eyes from tightly packed word on the book I was reading. I was never a researcher, this supposed to be Hayato's job. He had both brain and meticulousness to pull it off. Then again… knowing him, Hayato most likely had been looking at our 'problem' from this angle too.
Although if he didn't find anything I was not surprised either, because 'Hyper Intuition' and everything else we inherited from our blood was never researched in depth. Knowledge pertaining our inheritance was never recorded on paper, keeping it tightly sealed within closed circle.
Why should we, those with Vongola blood knew everything we need intuitively.
Who would be idiotic enough to write it down and risked our secret?
The biggest downside of this however… our knowledge about our ability become limited to what our ancestor knew plus what we find out ourselves. So it was no wonder in ten generations we just took it for granted without 'fully' understanding our power. It was all their fault to be ignorant of our power, the high and mighty ancestors.
Even Reborn was pretty frustrated with the procedure when training us, because all he could do was throwing us to the most dangerous situations, calculated it with his devious mind that we could survive it and hoped our intuition would do its trick and get us to master all techniques available. Reborn knew what the techniques did and what were they but he didn't know how we got it.
Considering the situation and circumstances of our training, not even I and my brother fully understood the power we held. We didn't have the luxury to stop and think, aside from how to use them to survive our world.
Damn it… after what happened in school I thought there was a way if we see 'our problem' from this angle. In the end we were limited by our intuitive knowledge, because we never 'really understand' ourselves. I felt like a hypocrite… no I was one since I 'threw' that word at Naru when I was no better. There was no excuse could help me to justify myself for my weakness and ignorance.
So this was… my limit? I rested my forehead against my laced finger, eyes closed in deep thought.
"You seems very troubled."
I looked to the side, shocked that someone get this close without alerting me. "Naru?"
Naru pulled the chair beside me, and pulled the book I was reading to his side. "I don't know what you're looking for, but I doubt you will find it in this book." He whispered softly, we were in a library after all. "The most basic of basic."
I looked away, stubbornly trying to hide my anxiety. "I tried." He was insufferable! Did he stalk me all the way here just to tell me what I already know?! After leaving me alone for one week?
I was so absorbed by my own thought I almost didn't notice the sound of rustling paper, and my eyes widened when I realized the notes of my research was gone. I looked to the side and found Naru was already leafing through it. I let out a silent scream and reached out to take it back but he was already standing up, his longer leg worked in his favor as he held the notes up above his head and out of my reach.
"Naru!"
He smirked, and then strode towards the door that lead to the terrace. He was enjoying himself very much, baiting me with my notes. Before I know it we already out of the library to the terrace that was deserted, and we were alone.
"Give it back, you jerk!" I hollered at him, once we're not under restriction to be silence in library.
Naru was still holding the note out of my reach, and he was reading it. "Hm… are you trying to classify your psychic power?"
It was a good thing I just started so I didn't write much only random brainstorming, not to mention I wrote it in Italian to boot.
"You know Italian?"
I glared at him, "Yes… so what?" At his inquiring look I added, "My father is half-Italian, satisfied? You…"I let out a string of curse in Italian for a good measure.
"Your fluency in Italian is noted." He retorted dryly. "Though I don't think your father would be thrilled to know your wide range of curse word."
I didn't know why Naru was so good at baiting me, but it was one of his talent. "Ara… I am sure I am much better than someone who is Japanese by blood but illiterate."
That was right, Naru by Japanese standard was illiterate. Surprise… I should write my secret notes in Kanji next time.
Surprisingly he didn't raise to my bait this time, "You… really know where to hit."
"I still want my notes back." I reminded him. "That's stealing."
He handed me my notes willingly, which was a surprise until he said. "I have eidetic memory, so all I need is online translator." He fished his phone out and began typing.
"Naru, you really…" This time it was my defeat, and it was bitterer than Bianchi's poison cooking.
He frowned, "While not accurate I can perceive your short research bear no fruit and you can't get you psychic ability to fit any classic category… you also repeat word 'limited' and 'danger' a lot."
Well, to those who didn't know Hyper Intuition my notes wouldn't make any sense. "You wouldn't understand…" I hissed, "It's none of your business."
"Perhaps not." He said to me, "However… it baffles me why you didn't ask for help when you obviously need one. Not to mention judging from your choice of reading material it's related to my field of expertise…"
In short this was his roundabout way of asking why I didn't ask for his help.
"Or perhaps you think I will violate your privacy? Didn't I leave you alone for one week?" He asked coolly, "In my short time knowing you… I believe you deserve respect for your wit and work ethic at least and I am myself is never comfortable with disrespect of privacy."
"Yet here you are… I am sure I can already sue you for stalking." I said pointedly, and he gave me a look that reminded me eerily of certain cloud who took too much advantage of our intuition because he was not a fan of verbal communication. "Contrary to what you think, I can't read mind."
"You're contradicting yourself, you don't know what I'm thinking… where did you get I thought you can read my mind?"
Fishing out for clues, now? "I don't have to deal with this." I grumbled as I strode towards elevator, not caring he followed me inside.
"No you don't." He concurred as he pressed the button for ground floor and as soon as the door opened again I was tempted to bolt but I was too proud to run away again from this guy. "However… I find it very reckless of you to think you can tread to unknown territory from meager research while I have spent years both in field and research faculty to do so."
That stopped me on my track, did Naru just repeat himself on why didn't I ask for his help? Wait… did he also just imply that…
He crossed his arms, "And I figure out what you mean with 'Anjaku' you threw at my face."
I swallowed heavily, "You did?"
"I did." He confirmed, "I figure out you mean something along the line curiosity kill the cat, in which the cat is ignorant to respect the unknown and fail to see the danger."
"Then…" I trailed off, "Why you're still chasing me?"
He snorted, "The same reason I didn't run away from my job."
Then Mai recalled their conversation, when she asked why he become a Ghost Hunter. It was a dangerous job when most often than not he was dealing with the unknown.
Because people needed it to be done
"Haaah…"
I kept thinking he reminded me a lot of Reborn but now… he reminded me of my brother instead. He did what he had to do because people needed him. Then perhaps…
"Then let's make a deal." I proposed to him instead.
"A deal?" He echoed.
I inhaled softly, "I don't know whether I can trust you yet."
"I didn't expect you to."
"Glad to know that, but I still need time to decide so… for the time being." I swallowed heavily, "Will you teach me about Parapsychology?" I blurted out with difficulty, flailing my hands quickly. "Of course… it didn't mean I want to impose! Can you like… lend me some research note and answer some question once in a while?"
"…"
For a good measure then I added, "In exchange… I will cook you homemade meal everyday…" That was so lame… but as I was, I had nothing else to offer.
"I don't need you to cook for me." He told me flatly.
I scoffed, "This coming from the guy who on the first day I work with him almost forgot to eat and drink? And when I remind you, you just go grabbing something from nearest bakery instead of eating proper meal!"
"…not good enough, try again…"
I groaned, "Alright, just tell me what you need from me that's not spilling my secret!"
He looked thoughtful for a moment before he asked, "Does your school prohibit its students from working?"
I tried to recall my school's regulation in regards to that, and answered. "Nope."
"...Then you can work for me, as an assistant."
My eyes widened, "Working in your office?"
"It would be a sufficient exchange." He supplied. "I don't have enough office workers. A while earlier, someone quit."
I couldn't help but laugh, this guy was so sly. "If that's what you want… I would love to work for you."
"Alright…" He handed me his name card. "Here is the address of my office."
I cocked my head at the address, his office was located in Shibuya. Now I was almost sure his name was an alias. "I am sure I can find your office easily, at any rate I need to buy groceries for my dinner, so I will go ahead first."
He nodded, "And also… I forgot to thank you for helping the case in your school. You were a big help. Thank you very much."
"You're welcome…" I smiled at him as slowly skipped away, inwardly I thought he deserved one little surprise. So when I was a good distance away of him I called him, "By the way… Naru-chan! I didn't lie about I can't read mind but…" I know my 'but' caught his attention, he was really an idiot scientist. "That's very cute of you to make up about 'someone quit' and you don't have enough people!"
He looked shocked, even more when the old school building was shaken by poltergeist. "Mai, you…"
I grinned cockily, "Bye bye~ Naru-chan, dinner tonight is Spanish mackerel!" I announced as I dashed towards nearest supermarket, giggling merrily as I did so.
I knew I was a little mean, but hey… I was entitled to some fun before he hired me and he didn't even realize I had offered to feed him from now on. I was a Vongola, I needed to take care of people.
OMAKE : So this is how our meeting goes~
They were young and the head of the most prestigious mafia family in the world. It didn't sound as great as reality in Vongola. They had riches that would last for generations, but because of their commoner background they didn't even know what was the point of splurging on tight fit suits when obviously it won't last long because of their growth spurt. Prestigious name? Nice, but in the world where survival of the fittest was the goal, the name would just be a fine addition to your tombstone in cursive. Became the idol of their world? The fame was not worth the trouble especially because of fangirls and fanboys they had.
They dealt with everything as they were told by their home tutor and while life was not perfect, they dealt with it. But still...
"Kufufufu~"
"I will bite you to death!"
"Oi! Listen to Boss and Hime! You bastard!"
"Extreme fight! Hibari! Mukuro! Let me join you!"
"Turf Top! Don't encourage them! Come back here!"
"Hayato! You need calcium, here! Don't get angry like that! You will get bald!"
"What did you say?"
"Aaaah... Lambo is bored! Can Lambo play? Where is my candy?"
Mai glanced at her brother who was smiling as watching his guardians wrecking havoc in their meeting room. "Everyone is so energetic today, ne... Mai?"
His younger twin sighed, "Always, even with our intuition I can't even tell if they're less energetic yesterday." She muttered sarcastically. "Beside... Onii-chan."
"Hm?"
"The meeting should have started ten minutes ago! And it also has been delayed for three days because of that!" Mai pointed at Hibari, "Has someone to bite and he can't delay it! I can't believe you... put biting someone over attending a meeting with your Boss!"
"Hn."
"Maa..." Tsuna trailed off, "What can we do to stop them anyway?"
Mai groaned, "Onii-chan... you are the strongest Vongola boss in history after Primo, please don't say you can do nothing to stop your own guardian."
"Violence is not an answer." Tsuna replied with an angelic smile on his face, "Beside Mai-chan... my guardians are like this, they are a rowdy bunch I love."
Mai nodded sagely, "I see... very profound dear brother." She clapped her hand, "But."
CHINK!
"What the..."
"Hime! What did you stuck us on ice from our neck down?" Hayato asked frantically.
"Woman! Let us go now!"
"Waaaa"
Tsuna watched his guardians that had became ice statue from their neck down, "But Mai-chan..."
"As Reborn told us." Mai recited, "It's the most effective to get people to listen to you when they can't move." Then she added, "And yes, sometimes violence is an answer."
Her twin sighed at that, "Oh well... so since Mai took trouble to freeze you guys, let's finish our meeting now~"
"Like this?"
"You'd rather we strip you off of your top and set four machine guns on you?" Tsuna asked curiously.
"...no Boss..."
"Sounds interesting."
"Extreeeme! Do it!"
"Die!"
Uploaded this so I AM done with this arc... yeah Mai live next to Naru by coincidence (by me) Will add more AN tomorrow...
BTW, I am mixing novel and manga for next arc to get something original AND more KHR element.
And also... I am bringing in one more KHR chara to SPR team, I have someone in mind already but I wonder if anyone have a more interesting suggestion?
