Mai finds a boy of five hanging around by the foot of the stairs. She figures he might be Sentaro Nohara's son. The boy seems scared at first, then says, "Are you the ghost hunters?"
"Yes. I am Mai and this is Lin-san. Are you Hitoshi?" Mai asks, all smiles. Hitoshi relaxes as he nods. She says, "Can you help us find this places?" She turns to Lin, who hands her the list. Hitoshi smiles and gestures them to follow him.
Lin is lost in thoughts as he follows Mai and Hitoshi Nohara. He is thinking about what Naru said earlier. He did wonder if Mai still liked Naru because he felt that since two years had gone by, there was no way she could still feel the same. She has grown in more ways than one. He smiles, for instance she showed no signs of strain when they were carrying the heavier equipment. She seems mature and far more centered than the last time he saw her. She has grown older, yet the world had not completely inured her. All in all, it is kind of appealing. He is getting along well with this new Mai. But what did Naru mean? Was it some guy in her college? If so, then how would Naru know? Did he miss something when they were at Mai's college?
Then he halts in his tracks. Why is he thinking of such things in the first place? He looks at the girl in front of him. She might have grown a couple inches. Her hair was longer. He watches the way her ponytail swings with every step she takes. The fabric of her capris hugs her form in a very appealing way. He shakes his head as he looks out of the sliding doors that led to a small garden and chastises himself, Kuojo Lin, what the hell, you are ten years older than her. She is Mai Taniyama, and it is a crazy idea to think of her like that. His shikis find his frustration funny.
Mai suddenly realises Lin is no longer walking. She turns around and sighs. The sun was setting and the bright orange light fell on Lin. He had shorter hair now. She thinks if it is possible he was getting more handsome as he grew older. That thought strikes her a little. Age. And that is why he will never see her as a woman, but always as a girl of sixteen who waltzed into his life unwarranted and unneeded. It makes her a little sad. She clears her throat, "Lin-san?"
Lin starts a little. He fixes his attention on her. Her huge brown eyes transfixed on him. He thinks they looked a little sad. He says, "Yes, coming."
Later, when they had put cameras in all the rooms on Naru's list, and they were at the last room—the burnt storeroom at the rear of the restaurant—when Kenji Kawaguchi appeared.
Mai stares at the tall, heavy-set man. He looks stressed. Kenji stares at the strangers, wondering. Then he sees the camera. His face gets twisted. He scowls, "You, Sakura brought you here, didn't she?"
Hitoshi jumps in front of Mai. He throws his hands, as if to shield her and says, with as much braveness as a five year old could muster, "Uncle, they want to help!"
That only enrages Kenji more. He shouts, "Help! Ghosts don't exist!"
"No they do! I saw grandma! And this other lady too!"
This surprises Lin and Mai. Kenji gets agitated more. Mai can see the veins on his neck popping. He shouts, "You insolent brat!" He raises his hand, and is about to hit Hitoshi when Mai grabs it mid-air. Kenji gasps as her grip gets stronger. Her eyes are basically shooting fire. She shouts, "How dare you hit a child!"
Kenji says roughly, "Don't you—OUCH!" Mai puts some more pressure. Hitoshi clutches her sweater and she can feel the child shivering. That just fuels her anger more. The fingers on her other hand curls into a ball. His aura is mad, but she can see the stress he is under. However, that doesn't condone hitting a child.
Lin, who had been seeing the entire situation, first with concern about Mai's safety and then with quiet amusement, finally speaks, his voice deadly calm, "Kawaguchi-san, she is a kickboxer, if I were you, I would not make her mad."
Right then another man enters. He is leaner, and taller, with hair that was greying at the temple even though he did not look any older than Lin or Kenji. He takes one look at the situation and instantly he looks alarmed. "Kenji-kun!"
Kenji lowers his hand after Mai finally releases him from her iron grip. He looks defeated. He turns around and walks off like a wounded animal. Hitoshi runs to the man and hugs his knees. He ruffles his hair and says, "I am Sentaro Nohara. I am Hitoshi's father."
Mai exhales and puts back on her pleasant smile. She says, "This is Kuojo Lin and I am Mai Taniyama."
Sentaro makes a choking noise. Hitoshi smiles up at his dad, "Like mama."
Mai looks bemused. She glances at Lin who looks confused. Sentaro scratches his head and explains, "Uh, my wife is, sorry, was named Mai too."
Mai relaxes again. Lin says, "That is why Hitoshi found himself comfortable around her."
"Yeah. She died two years ago. Pulmonary hypertension. She was also around your height," he apologetically smiles at her. Lin bristles a little. What is with that comely smile directed at her?
Mai cannot help but smile back. Nohara-san had a pleasant face. Lin bristles some more. If he was a porcupine, he'd be shooting spikes at Sentaro by now. He grumbles, "We should head back to base now."
Sentaro says, "I suppose you are here because of Sakura-chan?"
ai says, "So, do you believe her?"
He scratches his head again, "I don't know. I am willing to keep an open mind."
"Unlike Kenji-san."
I don't blame him. He lost his brother and now Kaito lies comatose. I think he wants to believe but…"
"It is okay. I understand. I am sorry," Mai gives him her most brilliant smile.
Lin goes, "Ahem." Mai's behaviour was annoying him now.
"Oh yes. We need to go. Nice meeting you Nohara-san!"
"Same here Taniyama-san!" Sentaro says and then taking Hitoshi's hand leave.
Mai whispers, "Poor boy."
Lin looks at her and in the descending twilight he is surprised by her eyes shining with unshed tears. The frown melts when he remembers that Mai too lost a parent at that age. Since he doesn't have the right words, he takes her hand in his own. He laces their fingers and gently squeezes. She looks up, eyes shining, cheeks tinged a faded red.
Mai was lost in her memories when she feels Lin entwining their hands. The contact jolts her and sets her heart racing. She turns her head, to look at him. Her lungs forget to work when the evenings' shadows wrap around them and gives the soft look in his eyes a more mysterious tinge. Her little trip down flashback lane gets interrupted when the attraction she felt for him comes surging back. No, she cannot give in. She ignores how perfectly her hands fit in his. So she squeezes back and releases her hand from his grip, and mumbles, "Thank you Lin-san."
Lin was wondering what she was thinking when she looked at him all funny. He couldn't look away so he held her gaze, anxious to see what she would do. Then when she takes back her hand from him, he is surprised to see how disappointed he feels. At her departure he shakes his head and looks down at his own hand. Is it him, or things are getting stranger?