Mai grabbed her clipboard and a pencil from Lin's left. Without hiding her annoyance, she walked out of the study. She was right, earlier. She was definitely in for it today. Usually, she didn't sleep in so late. Her dream had something to do with it. It always did. However, she couldn't remember her dream to save her life. It obviously had something to do with the case. Again, it always did. Mai has come to the conclusion that everything happens for a reason; nothing was just for something. Though, some things she never could understand certain things.

She took her time going down the hallway to take a look at the many, many pictures along the walls. They were mostly pictures of the teens SPR met yesterday - Hisako and Sai. At the end of the hall, she noticed a camera that was aiming towards the wall. Eyebrow raised, Mai turned it, aiming it back towards the other end of the hallway.

She looked at the thermal radar and wrote down the temperature: 10° Celcius (50°F)

"Not too cold," she bemused.

"You're Mai-san, right," Hisako asked. Bashfully, Mai nodded. Hisako continued, "What exactly did my parents tell you?"

"Mm? Just the usual - strange voices, a figure. Also, that you and your brother are acting a bit peculiar." Quickly, Mai added, "Oh, but you guys seem normal, heh," so that she didn't seem rude. "Is there something that I can do for you though?"

She smiled softly, "There's nothing you can do."

Hisako took off outside the house. About to go after her, Mai stopped herself. As much as she wanted to go after the poor girl and ask what was wrong, what she had meant by that, she was a bit more concerned about getting Naru off her back. If he watched her run out, he would swear it was to play, and scorn her for her "childish antics." Sometimes, Mai kept wondering why she even stuck around to deal with his bullying.

Then she remembered all the people they've helped so far.

She didn't want to let them down; she loved helping other people, just loved it.

She also admired the dead. Well, not all of them. Some souls, though, were trapped because they felt obligated to help the living. Some souls were damned and very violent. The obligated souls tried to help those that dared to live in the damneds' way.

In a way, Mai felt that they were helping each other. Aside from half of them living and the other half being dead, they were alike, to be honest.

In the study, Lin typed away, his earphones tightly on his head. Mai wondered exactly what he listened to all day. Was it Chinese music, Rap music? Perhaps, classical music. Maybe even Chinese Pop music? Nah, most definitely authentic Chinese music, Mai thought silently.

Naru demanded she report the temperatures of each room in the home. "Mai - temperatures?"

"Yes, uhm, every room was about normal, b -" she began to answer.

"What does 'about normal' mean?"

Glaring, she said, "I mean they're not all the same, but that they're average temperatures. The hallway, though, was ten degrees Celsius. It was the only actual cold place in the house."

"Hm." He turned towards the monitors. "Lin, rewind monitor nine to about five minutes before Mai arrived in the hall."

Doing as he was told, Lin rewound the ninth monitor's film. The trio watched with Ayako and John Brown behind them. Suddenly, the camera changed direction, swinging to the right. Quickly, Lin paused it to go towards monitor ten, and began rewinding that screen as well. He paused it to be unison as the ninth monitor. First, he resumed the ninth then the tenth so they played together. Ironically enough, the tenth camera caught Sai turning camera nine while the other camera caught Hisako turning camera nine.

"I told them not to touch the cameras," Naru complained stoically. He turned to tell Mai to fetch the two right as Mai began to wobble unsteadily. "Mai, are y -"

Mai cried, "Oh, what are we going to do?"

"I don't know, Mai, but we'll figure something out, I promise. They'll never let us be together, not like this."

"B-But Gene, why can't we?! They'll understand, I'm know they will. They have no reason not to."

"No, Mai, once they find out about us, once your cousin tells, we're going to be in big trouble. We have to stay away from each other."

Mai looked at him with sadness. "W-What? You don't want me anymore?"

"Of course I do!" He kissed her quickly. "You know I love you. It'll only be for a little while. Just so that they don't suspect your cousin's telling the truth. If we act normal and we don't spend as much time alone anymore, then they'll forget all about it. Then we can be together again."

"You won't be with anyone else?"

"No, I swear. Neither will you?"

She smiled sadly, "I only love you, Gene."

"Mai, wake up this instance," Naru's voice filled her petite ears. When she came to, Takigawa helped her sit up against the arm of the couch. "Why do you always choose the worst opportune time to faint?"

"I didn't faint." Mai thought for a moment. "Did I?"

"Yes," Masako deadpanned.

"Did you dream something or something," Takigawa asked.

Naru rolled his eyes. "Of course she did. It's the only time that she does dream is when she faints like a damsel in distress." He thought for a split second. "Correction: she faints because she's always the damsel in distress."

"Shut up, Naru," Mai snapped. "I did have a dream though, just F-Y-I."

"And?" Truth be told, he was unusually surprised when she snapped at him. Normally, she just took what he said and dealt with it. Lately, she's been just as hostile as he is. He waited for her to answer him.

"I'm not exactly sure. You see, it's a girl and boy that are in love, but they can't be together because someone won't approve. I'm confused every time I dream it."

His eyes narrowed. He hated it when she kept dreams as a secret(s). It could help with the case every time, but she just can't seem to understand the fact that the more she keeps hidden, the longer they're there; and the less they know what they're dealing with in the case. As he explained it to her once more, she rolled her eyes. He barked for her to stop disrespecting him and learn to understand correct Japanese. He earned a hot glare of daggers flying his way.

Naru let his annoyed expression disappear. "I'm serious Mai. The nature of your dream can always help our cases."

"I can't help it if I can't remember a dream, Professor."

"You know what? I'm extremely close to firing you over your smart mouth. Go make yourself of use and make some tea, why don't you?" He turned around to look at the monitors again before she could object.

His work was starting to get harder and harder when it came to that girl. Buried anger, he understood. Of course she would after he refused her. However, she will never understand how hard it is to actually hurt someone that claims they love you. Just because he wasn't going to play substitute. Mai had to understand one day or another that Gene is the one for her. Unfortunately, Gene died.

Way before she even met him, at that. It's easier to direct your feelings towards someone who looks exactly like the person you love.

One day, he'll regret being such an ass to me, Mai thought hotly.

John Brown sat at the table watching her as she made tea. He offered to help, but she refused it. She turned around, asking him if she was in the wrong. As usual, he refused to get in the middle of her and Naru. That will never be a good idea. He suggested the two try to keep their mean comments to their selves.

"That will never happen. He lives to make my day horrible. I can honestly can't help it if I forget about my dreams. Sometimes, they slip my mind or, or I can't grasp the memory of it. It's almost as if I didn't have one, but I know I did. I don't know how to remember them. On purpose, that is."

"Well, why not ask Hara-san for help?"

She gave him the look he hated seeing. "Never gonna happen. I suppose I could ask Lin-san. He probably won't, just because Naru wouldn't let him." Her eyes caught the figure behind him. "Hi, Sai-san!"

"H-Hi," he stuttered. "Mai-san, right? Yeah, uhm, how are you guys going with the investigation?"

"Coming up short," John admitted. "We can't seem to find anything pertaining to the case at all."

He chuckled. "That's because there's nothing to find. My parents are pretty paranoid. Almost like a hypochondriacs. Honestly, you're on a wild goose chase."

"What about your dad falling down the stairs so many times?"

"Accident prone."

She raised a brow, "Your mom heard voices."

"Classic sign of schizophrenia."

"You have an answer for everything, Sai-san, but the main reason your parents wanted us here was because of you and Hisako-san. They think you guys are acting different. They're worried about you. Really worried about you."

He stood straight. "I'm perfectly fine. Hisako-chan is fine too. You should just leave."

Mai stood watching him walk off. When she turned to John, he simply shrugged his shoulders. Maybe Naru's right. Perhaps this is all just puberty; these are the two most hormonal teenagers she's ever met.