SPR Office Japan

7:50 am

Mai dropped her bag, soaking wet onto her desk. Somehow she had missed the warning message about a monsoon that she walked through to get to work. Her umbrella has worked the first several blocks to avoid the worst of the rain but a wind gust caught it a block away from work, stealing it off into the dark. A bus sped past soaking her and her bag to the bone. Even then, she was pleased that she made it to work on time. She had 10 minutes in which she might be able to get something slightly drier on. Delving into her pack she found the first layer was soaked through and she laid them out on her desk to hopefully dry slightly before she them back in her wet bag. The second layer of clothes were wet around the edges. She mourned the wetness of her warm jeans then pulled out her third layer. Pajamas, warm flannel with duckies, however poetic for a monsoon, it was inappropriate for work. She opened a drawer on her desk, a splurge from a recent paycheck. A pair of Dress pants, white button up shirt and sharply cut black coat.

It had been in her desk for the last three weeks. She had stared at it every morning then felt silly. Why would she want to wear a suit like other full-timers? Today she had little choice and was oddly glad. She liked the suit, it accentuated her femininity in a professional manner. She could be more then just a cute assistant, she looked like a professional. She took the suit and her comb to the bathroom. Hopefully she could manage to look decent. In ten minutes. She looked at the clock eight minutes. Looking into the mirror seeing her drowned self she knew, she was going to be late.

Fifteen minutes later she walked out of the bathroom. Her hair was combed out and although damp it no longer dripped. She had put on the black suit pants and coat over a white dress shirt. She had to compliment her own looks before taking a deep breath as she stepped out into the office.

"You're late," her boss's familiar bellow greeted her. "Make some tea and fill the thermos."

"Hai, Hai." She responded without looking up at him. She crossed the room past him and laid her soaking clothing across the back of her chair. Then she headed straight into the kitchen. Putting the pot on the heat she pulled the thermos from the cupboard rinsing it with hot water before setting it aside to be filled. Carefully, she knowingly measured the leaves and poured the water through them. her hand moved with marked expertise and experience knowing without timer or recipe how exactly the teas would be made. She made a separate cup for Lin adding the Chinese leaves he always thanked her for afterward. After filling the thermos, she set two tea cups on the tray and poured hot water over instant chocolate for herself.

Reentering the lounge she saw others had already gathered. Bou-san and Ayako sat on a couch examining a folder while John examined a few pictures laying across the table. She set the thermos on her own desk then knocked on Naru's door. She opened it, and was unsurprised to be ignored as she placed the cup on the desk.

"Thermos is ready, when are we leaving?"

"Momentarily, We will take the morning to set up hidden equipment. He closed his book and slid it into a bag. Mai stepped back out of the office. he looked up at her as she slid out the door. "And Mai." She paused to look back at him. "Good choice in professional clothing," she smiled, "But the lounge is not a dressing room."

She let out an exasperated sigh and slid out the door. Of course he would say something nice and then complain in the same breath. she saw the piles of clothing across her desk and then saw a shadow staring at her. A fox. She stepped back but it was gone. She wondered if the fox had something to do with the case, but usually she actually dreamed not saw random animals. She picked up her blue jeans and found them warm to the touch and dry.

She dropped them, then scolded herself for being foolish. 'how could they be warm? And how would that hurt her?' She moved forward again and found that it was true. They were warm and more importantly dry. She moved to her turtle neck, and other shirts and found them all dry and slightly warm. She looked at the others in the office. Was there a drier in the building someone had used? All of them seemed occupied with their conversations, so she said a silent thanks and piled them all together. Then picked up her bag happy to find it also warm and dry she repacked all of the items together and set the bag aside. Then remembered her own chocolate and Lin's tea. They both would be cold by now. They sat on the edge of the desk next to the thermos. At least Naru's tea would still be warm. 'Naru,' she realized, 'he mentioned the clothes, maybe he dried them? but how?' she shook her head. Day dreams would not be helpful. She looked at the cups then reached out toward them determined to wash them down the drain before they had to leave.

Picking up the tray she saw Lin emerge from his office. Without a word he picked up a cup from the tray and nodded his thanks. A sip and she saw his shoulders relax as he moved to knock on her boss's door. She looked at her own hot chocolate surprised to find a ribbon of steam drifting lazily above it. She sat back into her chair and shivered. Something, she looked around the room, something was off.

"Pack into the van," Naru's voice called from his door. "Mai don't forget the thermos."

Mai grabbed the thermos and her bag then took one last long drink of chocolate and set the cup back on her desk. Lin met her eyes over a sip of his own tea. Once finished he grabbed her cup along with his own and took them into the kitchen.

Mai stepped out of the van and was thankful for the weather. The sun had pressed through the monsoon and by the time of the wedding reception she was sure everything would be dry. It was a good day for a wedding. Although everyone complained about rain it cleaned the ground and nurtured plants. She always felt it was a good beginning. She turned and quietly helped get equipment from the van.

Equipment set up went smoothly. Lin placed wireless cameras and microphones along the ledges and a few trellises around the room. a spare room was set with monitors receiving the transmissions. Mai helped with decorating and then helped Takigawa and his band sound test the room. Yasuahara and Lin wandered the room testing lighting and taking test photos.

"Mai, Find Matsuzaki-san and get dressed. The wedding should be over soon."

"Naru?"

"Yes Mai." Naru spoke with out looking up from his book.

"Well…" Naru looked up at Mai and glared. "Well, you gave everyone else jobs, I was wondering…" she began to drawl off when his glare hardened. "What am I suppose to do until we dance." A blush crept across Mai's cheeks.

"I thought that would be obvious enough even you would know." Mai gave him a hopelessly confused look. "When the wedding party arrives we will blend, talk, eat etc. On the third free dance, the first group slow dance, we will dance."

"Oh," Mai looked away embarrassed. It did make sense when he said it. "I will find Ayako and change." Mai began to scurry away.

"Oh and Mai?" Mai turned back to look at her boss. "No alcohol, no dancing with anyone but me, and stay professional." She nodded and slowly slunk away.