If Osamu were to rely on anybody's rationality, it had got to be on Takigawa-san's. Takigawa-san was the smartest one in the group after Big Boss, after all. He was always the one who caught on to the SPR president's theories and was the one who uncovered Big Boss's true identity and exposed it before everyone. And he was just the person Osamu needed at this point.

He had just resolved to convince the monk to discuss this case openly and directly when the man himself entered the office.

"Oh, shounen, you're here. Good."

Osamu beamed. "Very good, indeed."

Takigawa-san checked his watch. "You free? Let's get lunch, my treat."

"My, Takigawa-san~"

"I'm having none of that today, you hear me, shounen?" The monk replied wearily.

They headed for the door.

o o o

After ordering their meals, Osamu crossed his forearms on the table and leaned forward. "I've been meaning to talk to you, Takigawa-san."

"Me, too. But I'm afraid I'll be the one doing most of the talking here. So you have to listen carefully, shounen." The monk's face was serious. The young man waited for him to continue. "You've been trying to find out what happened between Mai and Naru-chan yourself, haven't you? What've you learned so far?"

"Well, not much… I've only spoken with Hara-san on the matter." Osamu shook his head. "But I didn't really get anything out of her other than she dislikes me more now."

Takigawa-san studied him. Osamu smiled wryly; it seemed that he was being studied quite often in the last few days. "I heard about it. But I don't think what she told you was completely unhelpful in your investigation."

"What do you mean?"

"Exactly what I said. Look, shounen. You're looking at this whole thing from the wrong angle. No—I'm pretty sure you'd already gotten a grasp of what all this is about, just that when you realized where it was going you may have automatically and subconsciously dismissed it as impossible. So you resorted to thinking from the wrong but more comfortable perspective." Takigawa-san gave the young man a look full of meaning, but silent incomprehension was the only response. The older man sighed. "As I thought. You're not aware of it at all. Let's try this again. I want you to recall Mai's graduation day."

"That idiotic, mad scientist!" Mai stomped her foot on the ground. She was wearing her full high school uniform for the last time. "To choose this day of all days to return to England!" She sighed as she sat on a bench.

"Now, now, Mai. I'm sure he was forcibly summoned. He would never miss his assistant's graduation now, would he? Don't be so upset." Osamu rummaged through his bag until he found a piece of treat. "Here, have some Mahou Shoujo candy." Mai pinked like the early blooming cherry blossoms.

"Two things, Yasu: one, I'm not a Mahou Shoujo—argh!" She groaned as he winked playfully. "And two, I'm not that upset, just… a bit pooped. Besides, why would I ruin everyone's mood when you all made time to attend my graduation? Those who chose to be here with me are more important than those who didn't." She beamed at everyone. They all returned smiles just as bright and lined with pride.

"Aww, c'mere, jou-chan!" Takigawa-san burst in fatherly happiness and wrapped an arm around Mai's neck; the other arm he used to ruffle her hair. The captive girl complained insincerely as Matsuzaki-san scolded the monk for his childishness.

"Mai." Hara-san, clad in her trademark kimono, called. Mai, still wrapped in fatherly love, turned to her. "Since I attended your graduation, I... expect you to attend mine." She covered her face with the edge of her sleeve. Everyone realized the implication of this gesture, and the merry mood continued as they made their way to the restaurant they reserved.

"Mai-san, I don't believe ya've told us which university ya're going to." Brown-san commented.

"Yeah, Mai. What, was it supposed to be a secret until you're officially admitted? Are you going to wait until you realize you're not fully prepared yet and you need us to rescue you before you tell us, huh?" Matsuzaki-san pointed a long-nailed finger at the subject of her worry and target of her nagging. "Huh?"

Mai shrank from everyone's expectant stare but kept her lips pursed.

"Jou-chan…" The monk's eyebrows approached each other.

"Mai." The psychic medium's voice was dry and icy.

"Mai-san?" The priest asked worriedly.

"Taniyama-san." To everyone's surprise, even the Chinese sorcerer spoke.

Mai stood frozen in a spotlight, and Osamu shuddered for her. But as always, he had a quick get-away tactic to save her.

"Now, now, everyone, surely Mai just didn't want to tell us before it becomes official. She didn't want to jinx—"

"It's Todai." The now red-faced girl surrendered. "I'm studying Psychology."

All the SPR subordinates cried in pleasant surprise and admiration—all but Osamu. It was his turn to freeze.

"Did you do it?"

Osamu nodded thoughtfully. "What about Mai's graduation?"

"I noticed some very strange reactions from you and Mai that day."

"Strange?"

"Hey, I'm doing the talking today, remember?" Takigawa-san said in slight impatience; Osamu smiled sheepishly in apology. "The first was after her graduation rites, when we told her Naru was called back to England that same day. Shounen, what's with Mai being a Mahou Shoujo?"

The younger man laughed lightheartedly. "It was an inside joke, Takigawa-san, nothing else."

"Inside joke, huh…" A waiter arrived with the food they had ordered. "When she finally told us which uni she was going to, I distinctly remember how you froze for almost thirty seconds."

"To remember what I did that day so clearly… You must really like me, Takigawa-san."

"Shounen…" the long-haired monk grunted but persisted, "You should've been excited that she was going to the same uni you attend. Instead you were awfully shocked. Awfully."

"Why, I was just surprised. When I was tutoring her for the admission tests, I used reviewers for the Todai entrance exams. So when she said she got into Todai, I thought it was a good decision to have done so."

"Was that really all?"

"Yes. Was there supposed to be something else?"

"Was there nothing else?"

"…None?"

Takigawa-san sighed again and leaned back. "I really wish I could just tell you everything outright, but I want you to realize everything yourself, shounen. It doesn't seem to be enough, but this is all I can do to help right now. Talk to Ayako. She might knock some sense into you."

After a contemplative pause, the younger man replied slowly, "You mean her purse will."

Takigawa-san guffawed.

o o o

On the way back to the office, Osamu walked in silent meditation. The conversation did not go in the direction Osamu intended for it to go. After all, he, the investigator, ended up being the one questioned. Furthermore, the monk mentioned help. What was he helping with? And why did he think the younger man needed help? Osamu had always been the one on the helping end, so the idea of being helped, especially in something unknown to him, caused a slight discomfort.

Author's Notes: Finally, some Bou-san screen time!

To Agwen: I just had to include that part! I think Yasu is too much of a smooth operator to pass up the chance for a pick-up line. XD I just read "Making It Easy". I loved it! If I hadn't known it was Yasu/Mai, I would've been torn between cheering for Yasu or hoping for Naru to change. But in the end, after everything she had to put up with (because of grumpy Naru), Mai deserved to be happy, and I'm very happy with the ending. :)

To anonymous reviewer Nix: Thanks for reviewing! I hope you'll like the next chapters, too. :D

Disclaimer: I don't own Ghost Hunt or any of its characters.