I finally bring you guys the next chapter on the second case... Man, I feel so terrible... It's well judged terrible-ness and—
Mai: you don't need to worry about them, just continue.
"I feel that I had gone into some sort of hibernation..."
"Says the guy who literally hogged the food at any given occasion."
"H-Hey! The good stuff runs out fast!
"Sure it does,"
"I'm telling the truth!"
"Sure,"
.
.
.
Mai was feeling giddy, sitting at her new desk in the SPR room. She couldn't believe that she had landed a job, and was able to stay in touch with Naru and the rest of the gang. She gave another giggle at the thought of exciting adventures that she would encounter with them together. "And maybe this time we'll be encountering ghosts!"
The very thought sent her squealing. After all this was a paranormal institute, and one without the paranormal activities part would be a slander to the whole ghost stories in the Universe!
She couldn't stop squealing in excitement. "Nii-chan, I wish you were here to live this moment with me!"
The thought of her brother making crummy jokes on anything that concerned her made her smile softly. "Just where did you go, Nii-chan?"
Finally feeling sober enough to complete some work, Mai began organizing the files in a way that she'd be able to immediately understand them. It wasn't much to begin with either, since their only case was the old school building that collapsed.
She soon had nothing to do, and growing bored with her free time, Mai got up and decided to pick a book from the shelf to pass her time. The idea didn't go so well, since the chosen book was in English. The rest of them were also in the same language, as she noticed when placing the book back. She gave a small sigh, making her way back to the desk.
However, before she could complete her trek, the door opened, revealing a young looking woman. "Um, is this where you professional ghost hunters are?"
Mai blinked, and smiled at their next client. "Welcome to Shibuya Psychic Research, please come in, I'll go get the boss!"
Ushering the woman into the room, Mai made sure she was comfortable enough before making her way towards Naru's door. Giving the door a rap, she called out. "Naru-chan! We have a client!"
The door on the adjacent wall opened revealing Lin, the tall Chinese man. He looked down at her and nodded his greeting, making his way into the main office. Mai huffed walking after him. "He could do with an ice breaker!"
After coming here, Lin seemed to have closed his mouth off, and the small conversation she had during the last case seemed like a dream. Not that she could help it... Mai gave a frown, entering the kitchen to brew some tea for the small meeting. "What would Nii-chan do to get someone to talk more?"
The memories that surfaced didn't seem to fit in with making an unsociable person sociable, so she gave up for the time being. Making sure that she had a good grip on the tray, Mai brought the refreshments to the conversing group. She then sat down beside Naru in order to listen.
.
.
.
"Do you think that dolls' are creepy?"
"Yeah, I couldn't stand them when I was younger, and that was a sore spot that Noll took advantage of."
"Ouch, what are you gonna do if the world is taken over by them?"
"Why don't you tell me why we're speaking on such a topic?"
"... To pass time?"
"..."
"What?"
"I'm doubting you..."
"Hey!"
.
.
.
The next day Lin had driven both Mai and Naru to the clients house.
"Wow! The house is really big!" Mai exclaimed, her eyes shining. "I wonder what the inside would be like!"
"Stop your useless chatter and hurry up, we don't have all day." Naru called out, already partway to the front of the house.
Mai grumbled, sticking out her tongue. "Way to ruin the moment, Naru-chan!"
Naru gave no indication that he had heard, as he rang the doorbell. It was a while before the door opened revealing their client; Noriko Morishita. Her somber features brightened at seeing them, ushering them both in. "Oh you're here! Please come in, make yourself at home."
"Sorry for the intrusion," Mai replied.
Two other females appeared, a child with a doll in her hands and another woman of Noriko's age. Noriko took the time to introduce her companions as Lin decided to come in as well. "This is Kana, my sister-in-law,"
"Nice to meet you," The raven haired woman spoke, bowing politely.
"And my eight year old niece, Ayami," Noriko continued, placing her hands onto the child's shoulders. The girl looked on at the newcomers, as Noriko went on. "my brother is overseas on a job, so you can see why I'm so worried with all this bizarre phenomena,"
Mai felt for them, she really did. The way that Noriko had gone about her explanations of household items didn't even compare to her spazzing bookshelf. They lately increased a tad bit.
Kana stepped forward. "Excuse me, may I know who is in charge of your company?"
Naru spoke up, his face indifferent. "My name is Kazuya, Shibuya, President of the company."
The look that Kana gave him made Mai feel for her. There really was no end to the surprise with that statement. However, Kana didn't speak up against it, unlike so many other failed clients who had given her the most excruciating headaches, coming in second after her friends' gang-up moments.
Naru spoke up, facing their client. "Noriko-san, have you gotten a room ready like I asked?"
Noriko brightened, smiling politely. "Yes, if you'll follow me,"
She led both Naru and Lin to the room near the staircase. Mai was about to follow, when a hand was placed on her shoulder. Turning towards the individual, Mai found Kana with a tense look. "Kana-san?"
Her name seemed to have snapped her out of her pensive state. "Oh, I need to ask you something,"
"Sure, go ahead," Mai smiled encouragingly at her. "I'll answer to the best of my abilities."
A small pause, and Kana spilled her question. "Will you be able to exterminate the ghost?"
Mai blinked. She had expected some slander against Naru, but this was certainly new. She gave another smile. "I can guarantee you won't regret hiring us, Kana-san, we may have only started out, but that doesn't stop us from achieving our goal."
At the older woman's doubting expression, Mai continued. "Plus, Naru-chan is very well versed in his work, that much I can tell you."
With the last tidbit, Kana seemed to have relaxed, a small smile forming. "I see, I'll go ad get some refreshments ready,"
Mai beamed. "Thank you! I'd love to help you too, but I have to bring the equipment in."
"No it's okay," With a few more pleasantries, both Mai and Kana went their separate ways. Naru merely glanced her way, before he let his gaze drop back onto the file he was reading. "You took your time in getting here,"
Mai felt a tic on her head. "Well, sorry for being tardy! Unlike you, I had to calm Kana-san down,"
Naru stayed quiet for a while, then shut the file. "Well go and make yourself useful by bringing in the equipment alongside Lin, then go through the procedure of obtaining the readings from the rooms listed."
Mai took the clipboard, scanning it, and nodded, albeit sarcastically. "Aye, Captain Narcissus, I'll be on my way!"
With a mock salute, Mai left for the van outside.
.
.
.
"Do you think you can get past that weird barrier around the house?"
"I think it's possible,"
"So you think I can walk in on them like nothing's happening?"
"What are you getting at?"
"... Nothing in particular?"
"Lies!"
"Uwah!"
.
.
.
Naru flipped through another file, containing about his brother's whereabouts. The puzzle pieces were too few and far in between, causing him to become even more frustrated with how he was progressing.
Clicking his tongue, Naru shut the file and looked out at the window. His reflection catching his eye. "Really, the only thing that needs to change is the sombre look..."
Gene truly was his twin copy with only facial expressions as their division. He wouldn't be surprised if his reflection decided to betray his own expression... On second thought that would be some serious scare. He was sure that he didn't want to die with some heart attack.
Given that his brother was either dead or alive.
Naru stayed quiet, going through some of his memories of his older brother. A small smile formed making his reflection be more Gene-like. "I promise that I'll find you, no matter what it takes."
"Naru-chan," A knock made him straighten and turn to see who was at the doorway. Turns out it was Mai, and beside her... His posture froze as he set his eyes on the older brunette. The cap obscured his face, but there was no doubt on whose wide grin that was. He ripped his gaze away from the male and focused on Mai as she spoke up to introduce their unexpected guest. "this is Kami-san, he said you were acquaintances and also has something to deliver to you,"
"I see," He gave a terse nod, earning a speculating look from his newly hired manager.
"So how do you two know each other?" Mai asked, her gaze going from one to the other.
"Aw~ Mai-chan's interested in me?" The brunette male hugged Mai tightly. "I'm so touched~"
Mai grew red, eyes wide with her heart beating a mile a minute. She was much too preoccupied to see the expressive frown that Naru was making. The grinning brunette noticed and allowed his grin to grow wider. "How about I sweep you off your pretty little feet, and take you with me, Mai-chan?"
"Uh, I, um..." Mai's thoughts were starting to jumble, resulting in incoherent thought processes.
Naru, however, decided that he had enough, especially with the new case on top of his personal quest. "Mai, have you taken the readings like I've asked you to."
"Oh! The readings!" She pushed herself away from the brunette, and hurried off with her designated clipboard in hand.
This left the two males alone in the room, whereas Lin was off on some sort of technical problem in another room. "Really, can you be any stupider?"
"Aw, you should've seen your face!" The brunette male snickered.
"What my concern is, why the hell are you here?" Naru growled. "For a spirit, you sure have a whole lot of free will in wandering the realm of the living,"
"Cause it gets boring when I'm with your brother all the time," K sniffed, crossing his arms. "I mean, sure it has its perks, but when I also have my spirit on the line, I gotta make some space here,"
The brunette gave a shrug as he received a short tempered glare. "But hey, I'm all warnings when your case comes to hand,"
"And I'm assuming that you're here to give some sort of advice while you're at it?" Naru sighed. Things just never change, not when you had some weird ghost hounding your trail.
"Yeah, now what was it..." K tapped his chin as he supported his arm. He took his sweet time, until he judged that Naru was about to explode on him. He gave a grin. "I got it!"
"Well spit it out!" Naru spat, he really didn't have any time in wasting with a ghost who probably had his brain bashed on the road.
"Geez, the more I get to know you, the more I feel like you were born to be a party pooper," K muttered, but regained his goofy grin. "but did you know that mothers are rather obsessive creatures? In fact, I remember this one time-"
"If that's everything, please leave," Naru cut the other off, making K pout.
"But I was getting to the good part~" His grin returned, giving the dark haired teen a thumbs up. "But hey, if you're going to make a move on Mai, I wish you luck~ oh, and say hi to Lin for me~"
Before Naru could throw a retort at the other, K disappeared, leaving the room to regain its lost warmth. Mai chose that moment to enter the base, looking around for their unexpected guest. "Where did Kami-san go to?"
"He left," Naru stated brusquely. Taking the clipboard from her, he deliberately turned his back on her. "go call Houshou and Ayako, Mai,"
"Alright," Mai sighed, turning to leave.
"Oh, and Mai," The female manager looked back curiously at her boss. "tea."
"Ok," She nodded, leaving Naru in the room alone.
He gave a sigh, lightly smacking his forehead with the clipboard. He needed to have some space, and most certainly not be around Mai.
.
.
.
"Why the hell did you waltz in like it was of no problem!"
"Why, I need to brush up on my acting skills from time to time~"
"That doesn't make any sense!"
"Hah? You're not making sense!"
"You could have been exterminated!"
"Relax, none of the exorcists were present, plus I'm fine, can't you see?"
"Ugh..."
"Haha, and I feel alive!"
"..."
"Mai's breasts are developing quite nicely too~"
"... What kind of brother are you..."
"An overprotective one, maybe,"
"..."
"Oh, if that were the case then I have to keep an eye out for any passes Noll makes onto Mai..."
"..."
"Heh, this is going to be fun~"
"I seriously don't get you anymore..."
"I'll take that as a compliment!"
"..."
.
.
.
The first night at the Morishita household was packed. Both Ayako and Houshou appeared, Mai making a jab at trying to seem smart with supernatural phenomena, only for Naru to shoot her down completely. Mai getting to know more about the Morishitas as she has some bonding time with Noriko and Ayami. And the autosuggestion that Naru had conducted sometime later, which also turned out to be a success. After that, the poltergeist happened in two separate rooms.
It was hard for everyone to sleep in, majorly indicating to both Lin and Naru who were awake the entire time.
Mai on the other hand jolted awake. A headache that swam in her head made her groan, rubbing her forehead didn't seem to ease it so she got up to look around. It seemed that even Naru and Lin had gone to bed, resulting in Mai on rethinking her statement about the two workaholics. Another nausea wave hit her, making her decide a breath of fresh air would help her.
Mai didn't waste her time in heading outside, quietly opening the door, and silently thanking whatever that was up there for the well oiled hinges.
However, instead of the cool breeze flowing in, Mai found herself in a very familiar house.
"Mai! You're here!" She looked down at her pulled hand and found that she was looking into her older brother's de-aged face.
"Nii-chan?" She blinked in order to make sure she was seeing correctly. She must be dreaming, since there was no way her older brother would de-age.
The tug on her hand became harder as the young brunette tried to pull Mai towards himself. "Come on, Mai! We don't have all day!"
She allowed herself to step forward, crossing the doorway to the familiar looking house. The young brunette, happy that he had the other with him, dragged Mai through the house. It was quiet for most of the way until Mai spoke up. "Where are we going, Nii-chan?"
The younger brunette giggled. "It's a secret~"
"Secret?" Mai looked down at her brother's figure. Maybe it was a memory that resurfaced? But would a memory feel this real?
The young boy giggled, turning to look at her, his eyes shining. "Yup! So you have to stay quiet until I tell you so!"
Mai didn't know whether this was a semi-reality, or care for that matter, so she decided to play along. It wasn't long until the young boy stopped at a shelf in one of the many lobbies. He let her hand go in order to rummage through the shelf, giving a satisfied cheer when he had taken out a box.
But before he opened it, he gave a surprisingly tough shove, resulting in Mai falling backwards. The surprise didn't end, and it broadened when she didn't feel solid ground break her fall.
.
.
.
"I'm hungry~"
"You're a spirit."
"But I'm still hungry~"
"Spirits don't eat."
"That doesn't satisfy my hunger~"
"Why would you need to eat?"
"So I can feel full, obviously, why else would I whine to you all the time,"
"..."
"Oh, and before you doubt me, it's not because I really, really, really, want to seriously annoy you,"
"..."
"..."
"..."
"I said too much, didn't I?"
"Die you good for nothing hog!"
"Wah, hey watch where you point that sword!"
.
.
.
Mai woke with a jolt, experiencing a swimming headache with a groan. "That is some bizarre dream..."
Ayako gave a stir beside her, alerting Mai that she wasn't alone this time. Settling back into her bed, Mai closed her eyes, mumbling softly to herself. "I wonder if Nii-chan will come back..."
It didn't take long for her to fall asleep again, this time without another dream.
.
.
.
"Gah! I'm being choked! Choked I tell you!"
"Shut up and die, fool!"
"Nooooo! I still have a lot to live foooor~"
"Enough with you drama-fetish!"
"Ow! Did you have to hit so hard?"
"You deserved it,"
"Guh... The love I feel... is it really love?"
"..."
