The sound of rain patter outside woke Koemi from an intense sleep. She sat up with confusion. Although the clouds covered the sky, it was bright outside, and she was alone. Oliver was nowhere in sight.
She stood lazily, looking around in a dazed fashion until her eyes fell upon the clock. It was past 10 o'clock on June 20th. There was a note on the refrigerator. You needed the sleep. We'll be at the schoolhouse. Madoka is with the divers. –Noll
Koemi yawned and stroked her hectic hair patiently. She surveyed the room for an umbrella. "My period is late." She realized peevishly. "Damn it. I don't think I have any tampons." She hung her head and slid her shoes on, grabbing one of Naru's spare jackets to cover her head. "Freakin' unreliable body."
The breeze was muggy and uncomfortable as she ran out into the pouring rain. "Eeee!" She squealed, slipping through the mud as she sprinted unsteadily towards the lake. Hopefully the divers could still work in the rain.
"Koemi!" Madoka waved from underneath her umbrella. "What on Earth are you doing?" She extended it to cover the mud-splattered teen.
"I just wanted to check on progress." Koemi replied. "Is everything okay?"
"You're soaking."
Koemi looked up at Oliver's jacket. Surely enough, it dripped water onto her head. "Yes, yes I am.
"Come on," Madoka dragged her back up to Oliver's bungalow. "I'll make us some nice hot tea and we'll wait out the storm."
"Alright," Koemi stumbled back up the steps and slid the door back open. "If I had known you were just going to come here, I wouldn't have come down to the lake."
"Sorry," Madoka giggled, entering the sparse kitchen.
Koemi shrugged. "I'm going to go change into something dry." She threw Naru's jacket in the bathtub and entered his room. With a quick rummage through his bags, she dug out a pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt for sleeping. She snorted. Imagine if he wore that to work!
She stripped her clothes off and replaced them with the significantly drier ones. "So, Madoka, how have you been?"
"It's hard to watch them search for Gene," Madoka admitted solemnly. "It's so sad."
"I know what you mean." Koemi accepted plate of crackers from her.
"What about you, Koemi?"
"I puked yesterday." She confided. "It was completely nasty. Slept in today, and—Oh. Do you have any tampons?"
"Are you on your cycle?" Madoka nibbled on a cracker.
"Not yet, but it's been just over a month so I should start it soon." Koemi shrugged.
"Really? When was it supposed to be?" Madoka inquired.
"Last Sunday. Like, not the one two days ago, but the one before that." Koemi crunched into the crackers hungrily.
Madoka stared at her with her eyebrows raised. "You were sick yesterday, tired today, and your period is late?"
Koemi chewed thoughtfully before answering. "When you put it like that, I don't like it." She stated.
"When's the last time you and Naru…you know…did the deed?"
"Had sex?" Koemi asked with a snort. "God, Madoka. You're like a schoolgirl." She giggled and shoved another cracker in her mouth.
"Yeah." Madoka ignored her comment.
"Hmm. I'd have to say early May. Beltane, I think. We haven't really spent too much time alone lately."
"So, last month." Madoka clarified.
"Last month." Koemi agreed.
"And now you're missing your period."
"I'm not pregnant, if that's what you're hinting at." Koemi said. "There's no way I am."
"It wouldn't hurt to take a test." Madoka said. "We can go get some right after tea, if you want." As if listening, the kettle screamed.
Koemi sighed as Madoka poured the boiling water over an Earl Grey tea bag and handed it to her. "I really don't think I'm pregnant."
"Just take a test." Madoka whined. "Better safe than sorry."
Koemi snorted.
"You and Oliver would have such a cute baby." Madoka said suddenly.
Koemi sipped the hot tea, regretting the decision as her tongue was burned. "You're too much, Madoka. Too much."
"Respect your elders!" She chanted in response.
"Yeah, okay." Koemi laughed. "Old lady."
"Hey!"
"You started it!"
"Did not!" Madoka stuck her tongue out.
"That's mature." Koemi mocked her. She sobered. "What if I did take a test?"
"We can go do get one." Madoka said, leaning over the counter to stare at her. "Do you want to?"
"I guess it's worth a try." Koemi frowned.
Koemi stared at the offensive pink box. Surely Madoka had only chosen it for it's cheery color.
Remove the test stick from the foil wrapper and take off the Overcap.
What the hell is an Overcap? Koemi complained inwardly as she struggled to peel the wrapper off the stick. Her question was answered by the cap over the tip.
Holding the test stick by the Thumb Grip with the Absorbent Tip pointing downward and the Result Window facing away from your body, place the Absorbent Tip in your urine stream for 5 seconds only.
Koemi nodded. Seemed pretty basic.
OR
Shit. There's more.
You may also collect your urine in a clean, dry cup and immerse the entire Absorbent Tip in the urine for 5 seconds only.
Oh. I can do that.
With the Absorbent Tip still pointing downward, replace the Overcap and lay the stick on a flat surface with the Result Window facing up. Replacement of the Overcap is not necessary for the proper functioning of the test.
You may soon see a pink color moving across the Result Window to indicate the test is working.
Wait 3 minutes until reading results.
Koemi sighed. I can do this. I can do this. I ca—
"Are you done yet?" Madoka asked through the door.
"Let a woman pee!" She screeched back.
Madoka paced anxiously outside the door, wringing her hands anxiously. "I wonder if you'd have twins or just one."
"Who knows, Madoka. I don't!" Koemi responded wearily.
About a minute later, Koemi emerged. The stick remained on the counter. "I have to wait three minutes." She informed the adult. "That was horrid."
"It couldn't have been too bad," Madoka said.
"I peed on a stick. It's gross and fairly humiliating."
"No one was watching." Madoka reminded her.
"You were listening." Koemi accused her.
"That's not the same." Madoka sang.
"Creepy…"
The time ticked by until three minutes had passed. Madoka marched Koemi back into the bathroom to read the results.
Two pink lines.
"You're pregnant," breathed Madoka. "You really are."
"How do you know? That could mean double no." Koemi shifted uncomfortably.
"Because the box said so! One is no, two is yes!"
Koemi shook her head. "I can't be pregnant. No."
Madoka took her into a hug. "You're okay, Koemi."
"But…but…" Koemi stopped feeling. "No way."
"Are you going to tell Oliver?" Madoka asked.
"Hey, Naru, you're going to be a Pa! Pass the salt." She said bitterly. "No. Not yet."
"Koemi, it's not your fault." Madoka said sternly. "You love the guy, and he loves you. These things happen."
"I'm going to take a nap, wake up, and mama make go away. Make it better." She laid down on her bedroll and stared at the wall, crossing her arms.
"Koemi, you can't just sleep." Madoka snapped. "You're not a child anymore. You have to face your problems."
"I'm tired." Koemi whispered. "So tired…"
The rain was gone when she woke from her comatose state. Judging by the pinpointed warm pressure, she was being held by someone. She figured it must be Naru back from his investigation. Night had fallen outside.
He felt her stir and cracked an eye to look at her. "You've gotten a lot of sleep."
"I think I'm going to go for a walk." Koemi informed him, peeling his arms away from her long enough to stand.
"It's three in the morning." He said.
"So the bugs will be sleeping," she offered.
He rolled onto his stomach and let her go without any more argument, falling asleep quickly.
Koemi slipped out through the door and into the early dawn, rubbing the sleep from her eyes wearily. A baby.
"So you now know," her mother said from behind her. "That life is growing inside you." She approached in her gown of green gossamer. "Merry be, and happy Litha, my daughter."
"You knew?" Koemi gave her a dark look.
"Of course I knew. My sister is the Goddess of Fertility, if you must know."
Koemi sighed sorrowfully. "I don't even know what to do." She admitted quietly. "I don't even know where to start."
"Tell the father," she replied daintily. "His life grows in you."
"Stop it! I'm not a tree! This is not a little leaf! This is a real person, Mother!"
The goddess stopped her and pulled her into a flowery-light hug. "You're my little leafling."
"Mom!" She spun away. "You and I both know that isn't the point! I can barely take care of myself. How can I take care of someone solely dependent on me?" Before she could answer, Koemi continued. "Though I guess you wouldn't know. You abandoned me before I was three." She glared at her.
"You're right to be angry," her mother said. "But anger is a destructive force, and you need to use a creative building force right now."
Koemi threw her hands in the air. "That's great!" She stormed up the steps to the men's bungalow and sat on the bench. "And what do you suggest, huh? I put my baby carrying thing on and tote the damn thing around?"
Slap! Koemi's head swiveled from the force of the blow.
"You are not allowed to speak that way, Koemi." Her mom warned her harshly. "That thing is holy. Just as you are, just as anyone is. It is a human being, just as you said. "Think about that, Koemi." She said. "Don't ever forget it."
Koemi sat with Ayako, Takigawa, Yasuhara, John, Masako, and Mai in the little bungalow at their summonings. Yasuhara had seemed cheerful enough, but it seemed like a game. She didn't like sneaky games. "What do you want?" She demanded irritably. "I'm really, really not in a good mood today."
Yasuhara fluttered his eyelashes innocently. "A question, Koemi-san."
"You better be quick. I need to have a talk with Naru." She hung her head and rubbed her neck sorely.
"That's fine," he said. "We'll be inviting him as well."
"Whatever."
"Your birth name is Ayumu Koemi, is it not?"
"It is." She agreed.
"And you were born in Okinawa." He stated.
"I was."
"And you lived there until you turned twelve, when you moved to London. You moved back to Japan for a few years, and returned when you were fourteen."
"That was surprisingly detailed." Koemi informed him. "And thoroughly creepy."
He smiled. "Thank you. In that time, how was it you said you knew Naru?"
She crossed her arms. "What is this about?" She demanded stubbornly.
The low rumble of manly voices came from outside, and Takigawa and Yasuhara retrieved Naru and Lin.
"Which tea do you prefer, Darjeeling or Earl Grey?" Yasuhara sat back down.
Oliver stood by the door. "I am fine, what did you want to talk about…?"
"Which…one?" He repeated. He smiled with flourish and gestured with his hands. "Would you like it hot or would you like it cold? How strong would you like it to be? Would you like it with milk or lemon? Cambridge tea or Tai?" His voice was dripping with overfriendliness. "Would you like to add apples? Would you like cookies or butter cake? Both? So, it's complicated, right?"
Oliver stared at him with a sense of puzzlement. "I am fine with anything."
Mai and Takigawa applauded him as Yasuhara poured a glass of Earl Grey for him.
Naru knelt beside Koemi, setting the steaming cup aside. Yasuhara spoke first. "What are you going to do after you close the office?"
"Does it have anything to do with you, Yasuhara-san?" Oliver inquired.
"Yeah, it does." He looked surprised. "Jeez, aren't we friends?"
"If you are going to joke like always, you chose the wrong people." Koemi growled at him. "I'm not in the mood, and he sure as hell isn't."
"Did you call me in here to talk about such an insignificant matter?" Oliver stopped her.
Yasuhara looked him sincerely in the eye. "It isn't insignificant. We were just wondering what our beloved Shibuya-san and Lin-san will do from now one."
"You do not have to worry about it." He answered calmly.
"Of course I'll worry about those I care about." Yasuhara protested.
"Then you do not have to care about me."
"It's my free will to like whoever I want." Yasuhara said indignantly.
"It is also my free will to do whatever I want, right?" Oliver challenged.
"That." Mai piped. "You don't have to say it like that, right? Everybody's really worried."
"Why do you think everyone is here?" She continued, raising her voice. "Because you got sick and were hospitalized, and we were worried, right? You're stupid for not accepting other people's goodwill!"
"I never asked for it." He said stonily.
"Of course it's a one-sided goodwill! But you also need to be respectful and treat other people better when they're kind to you! You might want to say farewell as soon as we're done with this. At least be a little more sincere in the end!"
Koemi scowled. "Mai, just because he doesn't speak about it doesn't mean there's no good reasons to close the office. He has his reasons."
"Why are you on his side?" Mai demanded. "He treats you the same as he treats us!"
So, are you willing to explain?" Yasuhara asked.
"I don't think it is necessary." Oliver stated.
"You're so intolerant." Takigawa huffed. "Then, I want to ask some questions. Will you answer them?"
Yasuhara and John joined to stand in front of the door, predicting Oliver's answer. "It's a waste of time."
"Sometimes it's important to waste time." Yasuhara vouched.
"I can get through by force." Oliver glanced at Lin.
Yasuhara disagreed. "It'll be bad if your wounds reopen. But if I call the ambulance and say that Lin-san attacked us, even the police will come. But all the things that Shibuya-san's been trying to hide might be revealed as well…So how about it? Can you cooperate with us?"
"Five minutes." He leaned against the wall by the door and crossed his arms irritably.
"Don't be stingy. I want thirty minutes." Takigawa said.
"Fifteen minutes." Oliver said.
"Okay, fifteen minutes." Takigawa smirked.
Mai plopped down.
"Oh, wait. I don't know what's going on." Ayako cried out.
"But you're about to explain all the things you've been hiding, right? Then I won't go easy on you."
Takigawa began his speech. "The first thing I want to ask is about the name."
Koemi snorted. Shibuya. What a dumb ass. What if my name was London? No. Just no.
"Name?" Mai repeated.
Takigawa nodded. "Don't you think it's weird that the name of the director of an office at Shibuya is named Shibuya?"
"It's not a coincidence?" Ayako offered.
"Well, there are three possibilities. One: a mere coincidence. Two: he made the office in Shibuya on purpose. Three: it's an alias."
"Alias?!" Mai and Ayako chorused.
"If it was me or the young boy, it would be quite possible. But for Naru, it wasn't. Then the most probable reason is a coincidence, but there is also another thing that bothers me."
"What?" Mai hunched over curiously.
"Do you remember what Naru said to you when we first met you?"
"I remember…but…."
"It was a weird sentence so I remembered it." Takigawa said. "Mai called him by his nickname Naru the Narcissist, but it didn't mean you called him without honorfics, right?"
"Ah—."
"And one more thing. Why does Lin call him that too? Isn't it weird?" He presented.
"Why?"
"Does Lin look the type who will call his boss 'Naru the Narcissist'? If Naru is a nickname that comes from narcissist, then Lin is definitely the only one who would not call him Naru, right? Well, we need to ask them, but I just laid out a theory. Maybe 'Shibuya Kazuya' is an alias, and 'Naru' is your real name?"
Oliver smirked. "Don't imagine it too much."
Takigawa giggled. "Fufufu. The fun hasn't even started yet. If your real name is Naru, then it wouldn't be weird even if Lin were to call you that. When I think about it and remember, I realized I've never seen any proof that Shibuya Kazuya is your real name."
"But…" Mai began.
"Before, Naru had been in the hospital during an investigation, right?"
"The Yuasa High case," Mai agreed.
"Did you remember that there wasn't a name board in Naru's room? The name board in the hospital is written under the name in the insurance card. But why did the board have no name? Furthermore, this last time his name was obviously written as 'Shibuya Kazuya'. During Yuasa, he always rejected if we wanted to drop by. This last time it didn't bother him if we visited everyday. You said that you had to pay the high cost for the hospital bill."
"If it's so…the doctor and nurse should've known his real name. So, we weren't allowed to visit in the case so he wouldn't get revealed."
"Okay," Koemi cut in. "You guys are beginning to confuse me, and I know where this is going. You need to be a lot clearer, or I'm going to leave."
"Alright, onto the next question then." Takigawa said.
"There's more?!" Mai asked.
"Either way I'm not answering," Naru murmured.
"I'm including you too, Koemi-chan." Takigawa said. "So if Naru isn't really 'Shibuya Kazuya'. It makes sense that he doesn't want to give out his address or phone number."
"That's true. I've asked many times, but he doesn't care." Mai nodded at the logic.
"You really love challenges, don't you?" Ayako teased.
"Well…" Mai blushed.
"Obviously Naru wants to hide where he lives. The question is: why does it have to be hidden?"
"Hmm… He worries about fangirls?" Mai asked.
"What kind of an answer is that?" Koemi muttered.
Takigawa shook his head. "Apparently he wants to hide his profile. So, when the place he lives is known, there will be a possibility that the real Naru is automatically revealed. That's why he stays hidden. Am I wrong?"
"Do you wish for the answer?" Naru asked.
"No, of course not." Koemi gave him a glare. "He asked because he was completely uninterested in your response."
"So, Koemi." Bou looked at her.
"Oh dear," she sighed.
"Why don't we know where to call you at? Or where you live?"
"Perhaps I don't want to talk to you all the time," she fluttered her eyelashes. "I do have a cellphone."
"I believe you're in the same situation as Naru, only you aren't hiding your name. It's vice-versa. So, if 'Shibuya' is an alias, he would be troubled if his home is exposed because his real name will be written on the door fence. So it makes sense why he's hiding it. So why does he hide his phone number too?"
"Because we might know the place by the area-code?" Mai tried.
"Because the address can be found in the telephone book?" Ayako added.
"What if Naru doesn't have his own phone? What if it's only a public phone?" Takigawa goaded them on.
"Wouldn't that be a boarding house?" Ayako deadpanned.
"I can't imagine Naru living in such a place…" Mai muttered.
"Wherever it is, someone hiding his profile couldn't risk someone else in the family or house accidentally picking up the phone and not knowing anything about the situation."
"Because they might slip up while talking?" Mai clarified.
"Well…kind of. Even if he found a way to quiet the people around him, he didn't do that. So he didn't tell his phone number because of that."
"My head hurts." Koemi complained. "You know the answer, Monk. Stop playing around!"
Takigawa smirked. "It's not a boarding house, house, apartment or mansion. That means it's a hotel. At a hotel, it would be extremely daring to give out a phone number, since the one who answers would be the receptionist. He has enough difficulties without getting the receptionist to cooperate. So, even though he could have gotten a mobile phone instead, it's not necessary. It would make more sense to hide the number all together."
"But does it have to be a hotel?" Mai asked. "If it's for commute to the office, shouldn't it have been from…"
"Right. Naru isn't from Tokyo." He turned to face the boy. "You said you are looking for your brother, right? He might come to Tokyo for it, so he stays in a hotel. He didn't expect it would take a while, so that's why he didn't find a fixed place to stay. Am I mistaken?"
"I don't feel I have to answer." Naru stared at him emotionlessly.
"Wait!" Ayako said. "Why did he stay in a hotel and settle in Tokyo? Doesn't it make more sense to stay in a house? Didn't he tour around Japan? It would be more reasonable and save more expenses to stay in a house!"
"Indeed, but what if the distance of his house to Hokkaido is much further than the distance of Tokyo to Hokkaido." Takigawa added.
"How could it be? It's not like he lives abroad…" Ayako protested.
"Abroad?" Mai questioned.
"That's it. There's a ton of evidence supporting the theory. For instance, he's not good with proverbs or Kanji. The notes from investigations or the data sorting are mostly written in Romaji. We have seen him read Japanese writing, but I never notice him write in Japanese letters."
"Oh…" Mai said. "When we first met, I asked what grade he was in. He replied 'This year is seventeen'. I thought his answer was kinda weird."
"So if this is linked to the question 'is Shibuya Kazuya a pseudonym', what has to be in place is already in the right place. He's not Japanese."
"But he is…" Mai stuttered.
"Looking and speaking Japanese doesn't make him one. Lin-san is the best example. If we think like that, it makes sense why he doesn't go to school. If he stays in a hotel, he can't process the school removal." The monk explained.
"So he's Chinese… Like Lin-san?"
"I thought so at first too," Takigawa grinned. "But I still don't understand the 'Naru' name. Again, it would be easier just to ask. Where were you born, Naru?"
Naru smiled in response.
"Remaining silent, are you?" Takigawa snickered. "Fine. I won't hesitate. Next!"
"There's more…?" Koemi complained idly.
"Right. One more thing confuses me. How did you manage to get load and loads of equipment? If you think about it, how much should it cost?"
"Well…" Mai began.
"It would cost hundreds of millions of yen." Takigawa stopped her. "Even the son of a wealthy family shouldn't be able to get a number like that at eighteen years old. If I ask this, would you answer?" He asked Naru.
Koemi cut him off. "It would be rare."
"Good answer." Takigawa sighed. "If that's so, is the office really his? Is there any building manager that would willingly accept the owner of an office that is not old enough? In addition, Mai."
"Me?" Mai looked up at him with confusion.
"Why does Mai, who is the assistant, not allowed to sort the telephone calls or mail? Isn't that common work? But the postal things given to Mai have been selected by Lin-san and Koemi before. Right, Mai?"
"Well, yeah."
"It gives the impression that you're hiding calls and mail from others. Why? Because postal things usually contain information that is meant for other people not to know; for instance, the receiver name and shipping address. That's why you hide them from Mai."
Ayako caught on. "That's right! If 'Shibuya Kazuya' is a pseudonym and a letter has his real name, he would be revealed right away!" She considered it. "But it's an office. Wouldn't normal mail not be directed towards 'Shibuya Psychic Research" in Naru's name?"
"What if the 'Shibuya Psychic Research' is also a pseudonym?"
"What?!" Mai asked. "But wouldn't that mean the delivered mail wouldn't arrive?"
"Well it's not really like that." The monk scratched his head. "There's 'Shibuya Psychic Research' and there's 'SPR' too. Which one is the official one?"
"I don't get it…" Mai admitted.
"Think about it. To rent an office there must be a registration report. Which name of this office was registered? The mail would eventually be delivered, regardless of the name. That's why if it were registered as 'Tanaka Psychic Research' there would be no way to put 'SPR' on the name board. But if it were registered as 'Shibuya Psychic Research', putting 'SPR' on the name board wouldn't be a problem. So which name is the official one?" He looked at Naru again.
Naru was silent. Koemi stood and stretched, joining her hands behind her back. She was rewarded with several satisfying pops.
"Still not answering… So I'll skip to the conclusion. Isn't 'SPR' the official name? There's nothing in the meaning of 'Shibuya Psychic Research', so it's not a problem to use 'SPR' as an acronym. It has nothing to do with coincidence. Because of the location in Shibuya, the office uses 'Shibuya' as a name. So, how is it?" He asked Naru.
The teen smiled slightly. "If that's true, there's no use to hide it from Mai. Even if the name regarded to 'SPR'."
"That's if the written one is 'SPR'. What if there's another written name? 'SPR' is exactly short for a term. Let's take an example. 'Shimauma Panda Rakko'. What if there's letters that don't list the short name but the official one? Wouldn't Mai find it weird if it regarded to 'Shimauma Panda Rakko'?"
"Yes…" Mai sweat-dropped.
"Well, let's connect all the dots!" Takigawa's smirk grew. "'SPR'—"which has very expensive equipment—mixed with Naru, who is likely not Japanese, will bring us to an answer."
"Finally," Koemi sighed, leaning against a wall.
"Society for Psychical Research is an influential research group that has existed in the UK. 'Shibuya Psychic Research' is a fictional name which was used to avoid the public's attention. Isn't the office actually the Japanese branch of 'Sprits Researchers Organization'? Supposing Naru is the offical researching of 'Spirits Researchers Organization, the equipment would be clear. But Naru himself does not own the 'Spirits Researchers Organization'. This assumption would lead to another answer. If Naru is the member of 'Spirits Researchers Organization, it would be understandable that he uses an alias to hide his true identity."
"But why?!" Mai demanded, still not understanding.
Koemi sighed, knowing this whole act was probably mainly for the girl's benefit.
Takigawa laughed, holding his fist to his mouth. "Fufufu. When you called him Naru, he used the term of 'first name'. Supposing the fact that he's not Japanese, it would explain one more thing."
"W-What is it?" Mai asked.
Takigawa didn't keep her in suspense for long. "The clue is 'SPR'. 'Naru'."
Mai stared at him blankly. "There' no way that's a clue!" She argued.
"As I expected," he sighed. "Okay. Tom could be a guy's name, or a nickname. What name is it from?"
"Why is this suddenly an English test…"
"Just answer," Bou said.
"Ummm...err…Thomas?" She finally decided.
"Correct. How about Mike?"
The brunette became more confident. "Michael."
"Tony?"
"Ugh…" she lost her streak of genius. "Anthony!"
"Okay, this is a little harder. Dick?" Takigawa quizzed.
"Ugh?!" Was her intelligent answer.
Ayako cut in with her eyes closed. "Richard."
"Good," the monk said. "So, how about Naru?"
"Eh?" Mai asked.
"Let's assume that Naru is British. People who use English call each other by their first name. So how about being called by a nickname with someone else to make a closer relationship?"
"That's called a nickname?" Mai asked John.
Takigawa continued. "So, here it is. This is it. Naru was suddenly called by his nickname, which used to be used by a close person. Now it's being used by all of you, so he said 'called by the first name'."
"If that's true… but 'Naru' is…" She began to ask.
"Explain it John." Takigawa sighed.
John's face wasn't as warm as it usually was. "If it's Noll (Naru), it would be… Oliver. That's the nickname for Oliver."
"Oliver?" Mai tilted her head.
"Oliver from 'SPR', who's a person who must hide his true identity." Takigawa urged.
She gasped, everything finally clicking into place. "Professor Davis?"
Koemi leaned her head back. "Time," she mouthed to Naru.
Silence was layered into the room until Mai spoke again. "…Is that true?"
"I don't feel like I have to answer. The fifteen minutes is over." He glanced at Koemi and closed his eyes, striding out.
"Damn…" Takigawa muttered. "He still wants to pretend to be stupid?!"
Lin stopped them. "Didn't Naru say there's no need to answer?"
Koemi scoffed. "That means that there's nothing left to be answered."
"Well, Koemi. Did you know this?" Yasuhara inquired.
"Of course I did." Koemi said, drawing her knees to her chest. "Don't tell me you didn't solve my case."
He laughed heartily. "Of course we did. It was your information that initially helped us solve this. Ayumu means Walker, and you lived in England. Miss Walker. You must have colonized your name to make it easier on yourself and others."
"Something about Ayumu is impossible for English blokes to announce," she agreed.
"Is he really Davis-hakase?" Mai inquired.
"Oliver Davis is a SPR parapsychologist, and he's one of the youngest, but brightest members of SPR. He rarely appears in society, so his profile is unknown. It's only known that he has very strong PK. We also know that he has a sibling named Eugene Davis, who has strong spiritual powers as well. However, Eugene disappeared in Shimaguni. Davis-hakase has been looking for his brother. If the media finds out, it will be a huge commotion, and I can see it becoming and annoyance. So he hides his identity. If that's true, it makes sense that Naru knew what the place looked like but didn't know the name. Naru used his powers, and he saw his brother come here as Davis but had no other information about it. So he had to go around looking for his brother."
Mai tilted her head. "Is that why he had Masako's hair ornament before? What that also psychometry?"
"Probably to see if Masako was safe or not. He was trying to see if he could feel a death aura coming off it. It was sad for Masako-chan though."
"I already knew that was it…" Masako admitted.
"But…Why did Masako know about Naru?"
"Because I had seen a video about America's 'espers'." She said, not looking at any of them.
"Video?" Takigawa lurched forward. "Perhaps that famous one?"
"Yes."
"Video?" Mai asked.
He steamed with appreciation. "There's a video that shows Davis-hakase's experiment using PK. It's a very secretive experiment…"
"The one where he slammed fifty kilograms of aluminum against the wall?"
"Yep! Yep!"
"Bou-san, your eyes are shining…" She pointed out.
"That video's very important, so if you aren't part of a big psychic research company, you can't have access to it."
"It was quite impressive, so I still remember it." Masako stated. "So when I met Naru for the first time, I knew I had seen him before."
Koemi stood with the grace of a turtle stuck on its shell. "I'm going to go talk to him."
"You said that before. What is it you guys talk about when you're alone?" Takigawa jerked his head to her.
Koemi shrugged. "I don't know. I really like messing with him. We built a relationship on insults and mockery. His brother was my only friend," she laughed.
"He wasn't?"
Koemi shrugged. "More than?"
Takigawa's mouth dropped. "Wait, you mean—."
"Yes, yes I do." She said. She bowed and retreated outside to the lake. Naru stood at the edge, the water lapping at his shoes thirstily. He turned at her entrance and headed towards the woods.
"I have loose ends to tie."
"O-Oh. Bye…" Koemi sat down on a rotting log. I was going to tell you that I'm pregnant, but oh well. Whatever floats your boat.
She peered up as Stolas appeared. "I…just wanted to give this to you. I kind of took it." He handed her a book. Her Book of Shadows. "Bye." He popped away.
"That was random." She stated. "Well, okay." She flipped through the papery pages filled with Hitomi's handwriting before it fell open to resurrection.
She let out a surprised gasp. "This is…" It outlined in detail how to revive the dead. "Gene…" She looked up at the lake with dazed eyes. "I can change it." She read through the instructions quickly and brought the words to life, running across the forest to snatch her bag of candles.
"MADOKA!" She screamed. "MADOKA!"
"What?" Madoka's voice called back from the lake.
Koemi ran back to the lake from the bungalow and held her hands out. "Do you have any matches?"
"I do, actually." She held up a pink pack. "They were so cute! I couldn't leave them!"
Koemi snatched them and took off back to her original seat. Carefully, she lit four candles. This might not work in the middle of the day, but I need to try.
"Osiris, keeper of the gate, master of all fate, hear us!" She hummed. She took her Athame and pricked her finger, drawing a bloody cross across her face. "Before time and after, before knowing and nothing."
She braced herself and made a slice across her arm. The dull blade stung like hell, and the blood dripped almost reluctantly into the lake. She waded into the lake, rinsing the blood from her. "Accept our offering, know our prayer, Osiris, here lies the friend of the people, let him cross over, Osiris, release him, Osiris release him!"
Although the spell said to wait longer, she almost immediately felt an icy pain spread across her abdomen. Without even a cry, she fell into the lake.
Madoka sighed. "Honestly, where did that girl get to?" She looked up at Lin as he joined her. "Did you see Koemi?"
"She ran into the bungalow to get some candles." He answered. "She seemed thrilled about something."
Madoka frowned. "She got matches from me. What do you think she's up to?"
"She uses candles for spells." He told the other adult.
"In the middle of the day? I thought she said they're best at night!"
Lin's eyebrows sank. "Where did you see her go?"
"That—."
"HEY!" A diver suddenly shouted. He hurried out of the lake, a limp mass protruding from his arms.
Lin took off. "Koemi!" He shouted. There was no mistaking it. Her hair was dark and heavy with water, and she was completely knocked out.
"Mori-san," Hansuke's voice came from the goggles. "It's Koemi-chan!" He lowered her to the ground.
Lin crouched down by her and put his lips to her ear, searching for her pulse on her neck. Ba….dum…It drummed sluggishly. It was undoubtedly slowing. He couldn't hear the hiss of breath.
"Call an ambulance," he ordered quickly. Almost immediately, Madoka pushed him away and began pumping her chest. "Madoka, she's not breathing." He examined her sliced arm. "Did she try to kill herself?!" He ripped her shirt and tied it against the wound.
"I have no choice, then." Madoka bent over her and puffed air. After the 6th puff, Koemi gave a shuddering cough.
"HEY!" A different diver shouted. "WE FOUND HIM!"
Madoka's head jerked in the direction and she looked back at Koemi. "You stupid girl," she chastised. "What have you done?"
Lin ran away from them and towards the yellow sheet they carried out from the dirty water.
Koemi trembled violently. "I've done a terrible, terrible thing." She whispered hoarsely.
"What do you mean?"
"CALL AN AMBULANCE!" The diver's scream sounded mortified. "CALL AN AMBULANCE NOW!"
Koemi's breath hitched. "It worked," she wrapped her arms around her waist, oblivious to the tears streaking down her cheeks.
"Koemi, what did you do?"
"His name was Mao." She said quietly. "Mother showed him to me. The future. She showed me it all…and it was too late to change my mind. I lived a lifetime." Her voice cracked. "I thought it was real. We named him Mao because he was the center of our universe, and it was close to Mai."
"You don't mean the baby, do you?"
Koemi looked at her with her mouth opened slightly, tears sliding through her lips. "We named him Mao. He was a boy. The most handsome baby," she let out a sob. "I didn't think!" She wailed. "I thought that maybe it would just kill me. I didn't mean to!"
Madoka pulled her into a hug, stroking her hair comfortingly. "Oh, dear Koemi." She felt tears prick her eyes. "Oh, dear, dear Koemi."
"MAO!" she screamed, fisting Madoka's pink jacket tightly. "I'M SO SORRY!"
"I'm fine," a voice said with mild confusion. "I really am."
Koemi's syncopated breathing quickened into hyperventilation.
"That's impossible." Madoka stated.
Koemi's full body quivered as she dared peek above Madoka's shoulder.
"What happened?" He was sopping wet, standing there with wide eyes. His skin was bruised and broken, but he seemed fine. There were no signs of rot or swelling.
Madoka stood, still hugging Koemi. "You really…did it…"
Koemi fell back to her knees as Madoka rushed towards him. Madoka tackle hugged him without regards to injury or water damage.
Naru and Mai appeared behind her, and Lin sprinted past.
"W-What?" Mai gasped.
Oliver looked at Koemi and noticed blood dripping from her arm. "What did you do?"
The Goddess appeared beside her daughter. "Happy Litha, my love. I made sure to personally heal his hurt."
The yellow-sheet clad boy turned his head and stared at the trio with eyes filled with questions, but he most quickly locked onto Koemi's shaking form as she hunched over to hug herself.
Oliver stared at his brother. "Gene…"
Eugene's eyes darted back up to his face. "What did she do?"
Quick noteees! This is not the end yet. I still have another chapter in me, and I'm sort of considering writing another one...but I don't want to overplay the characters. Especially since I don't have a plot yet. ANYYY WHO. Read and reviewww :D it makes me very happy to see reviews. Like, pizza flavored ice cream happy.