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Chapter 12
Altruism: unselfish regard for or devotion to the welfare of others
"Your PK didn't immediately rush to heal your injuries," Ayako notes, eyes flicking over to Mai.
"No," she agrees, then, meeting Ayako's gaze, sharply asks, "Would you please keep your eyes on the road?"
"I am," Ayako responds evenly, her placating tone at odds with her tight grip on the steering wheel.
"I didn't," Mai pauses. "My concussion was minor; it hurt, yes, but it wasn't life-threatening, nor was it extreme enough to cause neurological damage. The knocking was still pounding on the walls and I didn't know if...another shelf would fall or if one of those stairs would break, or…"
"You reserved your PK energy in order to heal us," Ayako says thoughtfully.
"It all happened very fast," Mai murmurs with a shrug, glancing out the window, but Ayako seems to be wrapped up in her own thoughts.
"Of course, I had wondered what would occur when your two impulses were pitted against one another. I can't say I'm surprised, either." Mai, too, finds this occurrence interesting in a detached, medical sort of standpoint. She's one step closer to discovering not only her healing potential but being able to put into words the processes and other aspects of the human anatomy she senses but doesn't completely understand. She doubts she ever will. "Get some rest tonight, Mai," Ayako commands. "Between a head injury, healing, and the huge breakthrough in proving Naru wrong about the case, you need it."
Feeling restless, her thoughts refuse to yield even to her exhaustion. Finally having had enough, Mai mimics the processes of falling asleep: a flood of melatonin, decreased heart rate, though the primary action takes place in the brain. Had anyone asked Mai what, exactly, she did to make herself fall asleep, she wouldn't have been able to answer them. Not completely, anyway. After a indiscernible amount of time, she finally forces the desired response: falling into a deep haze of sleep. Her body, at this point, doesn't require any more encouragement. For once, there are no get-togethers with her tight circle of friends, no work needing to be done, and no nightmares. Mai falls blissfully and deeply into unconsciousness.
Mai smiles softly, filled with a deep sense of peace as she walks toward her school building in the cool morning air. "Good morning!" Mai exclaims in a sing-song voice.
"Good morning, Mai-chan. Cheerful as usual, I see!" an upperclassman greets with a broad grin.
"Of course, Akihiko-senpai," Mai responds, waving goodbye as she passes by and making a beeline for her classroom.
"Mai!" Keiko greets. "How was your weekend?"
"Ayako had a case," Mai responds cheerfully, setting down her bag and plopping down into her seat.
"Anything story worthy?" Michiru asks, resting her head on her folded arms.
"Eh." Mai shrugs. "I did get hit by a bookshelf, which is nothing unusual, actually." Both Michiru and Keiko stare at her in alarm. "I feel the same way each time I have to read Sensei's assigned readings."
"You're joking, right?" Michiru asks, sitting up. "Please tell me you're joking."
"Oh, no. Reading is terrible." Mai heaves a sigh.
"Mai!" the two girls exclaim, drawing the attention of the room. Keiko blushes, glancing out the window while Michiru calls out, "What? Nothing to see here."
"I'm fine," Mai assures them once their classmates resume their previous conversations within their relative cliques. "It was just a little mishap. Nothing I couldn't handle."
"Mai-" Keiko begins.
"Mai Taniyama and Kuroda Naoko," the school's secretary drones over the intercom. "Please come to the principal's office. Mai Taniyama and Kuroda Naoko, please come to the principal's office. Thank you." Mai frowns, puzzled.
"I'll be right back," Mai says, getting to her feet and hurriedly grabbing her things while her two friends share a confused glance. "I dunno, either," she adds, answering their unasked question.
When Mai steps into the office alongside Kuroda, the last thing she expects to see is all of those hired to cleanse the Old Schoolhouse sitting in a half circle inside-well, except Lin-san, though she can't say she isn't surprised. She and Ayako both share mutual glances of confusion. Naru tells them to take a seat and flicks off the light. It takes a moment for Mai's gaze to adjust to the sudden darkness. A pulsing light of is the focus of what Mai assumes is an experiment of some sort-SPR is intended for research, after all.
Naru addresses the room. "Focus on the light. Match your breathing to it." As the light continues to pulsate, Mai feels herself becoming almost dazed. Somewhere far away, Naru adds, "Loosen your shoulders." Then, so lost in her stupor, she almost misses Naru say, "The chair on the second floor of the old school house will move." Wait, what? The lights are flicked on, causing Mai to groan and cover her eyes for a moment. "You're all free to go."
