Disclaimer: I have not obtained the rights to Ghost Hunt while I was gone.
This time, I really went on a hiatus. I'm sorry but it started as research then I was distracted. The good news is that I'm nearing introducing a new case although I have yet to decide whether it be based on the actual manga/anime or entirely made by me. You could help me decide by commenting your answers by reviewing. You could also give me ideas for cases or events you would like to happen here! Hope you enjoy this chapter!
It has been three months since the case about the old schoolhouse had been solved and Taniyama Mai had been working for Shibuya Kazuya aka Naru the Narcissist ever since.
For the previous months, the high schooler discovered her boss' affiliation with tea and it amused, at the same time, annoyed her to no end. Being called every so often just for tea was already a burden in itself with the added fact that it was never accompanied by any "please" or "thank you".
In her time working for the said narcissist, she had not been on any case since the boss didn't accept any of the requests. He said they were below his standards or isn't worth his time or some conceited answer he came up with that bulbous head of his.
Some part of her agreed as some of the requests were ridiculous and obviously a ploy to see the hot boss of SPR or that smackalicious ass of his. Some clients even asked him on a date then and there with her and Lin being present. She did a wonderful job of concealing her surprise and irritation, by the way.
Her case doesn't even seem paranormal. Mai thought as she prepared the tea in the tiny kitchen in the office. A girl, approximately 17 or 18 years old had come in to the office asking to see the boss. When she called out to her boss that they had a client, the girl suddenly went from professional and reserved to bold and flirtatious.
"So do you like being a ghost hunter, Kazuya-kun?" Kazuya-kun?! The hell lady! She was silently fuming while she placed the drinks on the coffee table in front of their respective owners.
"State your name, age and case." The narcissist seemed unfazed with the affectionate and coy way that the guest called him but there was a slight tang of impatience.
"My name is Oda Ikari but you could call me Ikari, Kazuya-kun. I'm 18, the captain of the cheerleading squad which means I'm very flexible," the guest said with a wink. What the freaking frack lady! What's Naru supposed to do with that information?!
"Your case." The boss' and his male assistant's face were kept impassive.
"Hmm. About that, how about I tell you over dinner instead?" The 18-year old girl licked her lips then smiled at the black clad teenager. When those words left Oda-san's lips, Mai was in the middle of sipping her tea. Without an ounce of grace, she choked on the beverage and it came out of her nose. She was coughing trying to get the liquid out of her breathing tracks. She was both red from lack of oxygen and embarrassment. Why kami-sama? Why? Land, swallow me. Open up and swallow me. Naru just rolled his eyes at her. "Idiot."
Naru stood up and gave the other girl an icy look, "I would suggest you walk out the door right now because I have low tolerance for people who waste my time. If you feel the need to come back, make sure you have something interesting then." He then went back to the office while the girl sat there stunned. Nobody does rejection like Naru.
The teenage assistant was slightly shocked as well but coming back from it, couldn't hold her giggle. The older girl glared at her and stormed off while Lin was quietly drinking his beverage, face stoic but he wouldn't stay if he didn't find it amusing.
In her short time in SPR, she found out that Lin actually prefers coffee rather than tea. Although he said nothing about it, his body language and other tell-tales showed her. She won't forget the way Lin looked when she gave him coffee rather than tea. She was scared that she almost ran out of the office or peed in her pants, whichever came first. Lin's brow was furrowed and he was giving her a sharp look.
"A-ano, I-I thought y-you'd," she gulped in the middle of the sentence. "L-like co-coffee m-more," she hung her head after that. She was fighting back tears; the man really scared her although he was mostly quiet.
"Thank you, Taniyama-san," she looked up only to see Lin back to work and sipping the coffee she made him with a softer look in his eyes. She smiled at him even though she wasn't looking anymore, "You're welcome, Lin-san. Just call when you want another cup." Then she made her leave from the tall man's office.
"That girl. She really is intuitive," Lin whispered to himself after the other assistant has gone then continued sipping his coffee.
Another interesting event that took place was when Hara-san gave an unexpected visit. It was just days after Keiko and Michiru dropped by to wish her a happy birthday while Naru, of course, told them that the place is for business and not idle chitchat that effectively scared off the teenagers. For payback, Mai brought him slightly cold tea but she was asked to remake them several times which meant it has backfired. She ended up ignoring Naru the rest of the day instead which also didn't work since Naru spends most of his time in his office and only interacts with Mai when he wants tea or needs his daily dose of insulting Mai.
The bell indicating someone has entered rang. The teenage girl looked up to see a kimono-clad porcelain doll beauty. "Hi, Masako!"
"Hara-san," the TV star corrected. "I need to talk to Shibuya-san. Is he in?" Her stomach slightly twisted.
"Yeah. He's in. Let me just go get-"
"That won't be necessary," the medium already waltzed into the young boss' office. That's famous people for you.
I wonder what they're talking about. Mai wondered and curiosity won her over. She stood up from her desk and made her way in front of her boss' door and pushing her ear into the wooden partition. It must be her imagination but she felt the temperature drop. She furrowed her eyebrows, all she could her were indiscernible muffled sounds. Maybe I could bring them tea and I could get an idea what this private meeting is about. Yosh!
She prepared to boil water for five people. Naru would want another cup sooner or later anyway so it wouldn't hurt to have additional. She hastily but still sensibly made the beverages. Damn perfectionist. First, she brought coffee to Lin so she could hover longer over Naru's office.
She took a deep breath. She didn't know what's waiting on the other side. They could be humping or killing each other for all she knows. She knocked on the door. No answer. She tried again, "Naru, I brought tea." Still nothing. Oh my God! They might be really having sex in there! She leaned on the door again, pressing her ears to recognize the slightest noise while she held the tray that had the beverages sitting on her hip.
She had her weight on the door so when it flew open revealing the two dark-haired beauties. She fell on the floor with a loud thud, head first and tea spewing over her. She looked up to see a very displeased Naru and a mocking Masako. She sat up too fast and got dizzy. Naru just rolled his eyes at her, "Idiot." Her head hurt but it was a good thing that Naru's office was carpeted or she would have had a concussion.
"Mai, what stupidity are you up to?" His voice was harsh. The girl glared at her from the floor and slowly stood up. She surveyed the tea set. Thank Kami-sama, nothing was broken. She continued the glaring contest between her and her boss. It was a good two minutes before they were reminded that there was a third person in the room.
Masako cleared her throat. She was beyond annoyed that she, an international TV personality, personally went to Shibuya to visit SPR's young director then be bumped to the sidelines because of an uncoordinated assistant. The two, on the other hand, redirected their glare on her. She was slightly unnerved but hid it perfectly with the help of her kimono sleeve.
"I'll be going now, Shibuya-san. See you soon," she said to the young boss. He just slightly gritted his teeth. She looked at the soaked assistant and rolled her eyes at her and made her way to the door with the ringing of the bell signaling her departure.
Mai has cooled off and was confused, "What was that about?" She thought she said it in her head. "It's nothing that concerns you. Now, clean this up and stop being a nuisance." That hit home. Not because of what he said, she was used to it but the way he said it. It was like he meant it that time, that it was how he really saw her.
He returned to his seat behind his table while she stood there, motionless. She just feigned anger for hurt. "Don't you dare let out your irritation about Masako on me! I was just bringing you your precious tea." Always on the dot, this one.
She walked out then came back and quickly cleaned up the mess she made then closed the door with a loud bang. He might have gone too far but she was in no place to be angry with him. It was obvious that she was trying to eavesdrop.
He heard the door to his office open and showed Lin. "Naru, control yourself. It's already six degrees cooler." He glared then nodded at the older man. He decided to wash his face so he stood up and made his way to the office bathroom. His hand was on the knob when his ears picked up sniffles from inside. Mai?
"Nuisance. I'll show him who's a nuisance," he heard before the door swung open. They spent a few seconds staring at each other. She gave him a smile which he could tell was nothing else but forced, "Excuse me, Naru. I need to go back to work because my boss is an ass." She bit out the last part. He studied her, she was crying and her eyes, he didn't recognize the emotion they hold but it couldn't be pleasant since her eyes were rimmed with red. She was crying. Did I do that?
She turned her back on him and walked to her desk. He splashed his face with cold water then went back to his office. Nothing was said or done later. He asked for tea once, she didn't wait for any form of gratitude. It was just silent but not the silence any of the occupants are used to.
I realized that my whole story, based on the rate I'm going at, is going to be at least one hundred thousand words. I hope that's okay because I worked out all the juiciest parts! Hihi. Please R & R!