The Inconveniences of: Stalkers
"That's a little weird, Mai. You're in, like, every picture."
Mai looked up from her phone at her friend Keiko's words. "Huh? What are you talking about?"
Michiru pointed to the pictures from the athletic festival posted in the hallway. "Keiko's right. You're in just about every one of them."
"What?" Mai made a disgusted sort of expression as she walked up to the board. She carefully un-tacked a picture of herself and inspected it. The shot was of her in mid-sprint during the relay race for her class: red-faced, sweaty, and over-all gross. "I look horrible! Oh, just look at the face I'm making."
"Mai," Keiko deadpanned, snatching the picture out of the brunette's grasp, "don't you find this a little too much of a coincidence?"
"What?"
"The fact that you're in almost all of the pictures!"
Mai thought about it for a second. "Nope. I just have this talent of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Besides, I'm in the background in most of these! There's nothing…abnormal about that."
Michiru smiled, as if an ingenious thought had suddenly come to her. "Actually, I have proof that this isn't a coincidence at all!"
"Oh really," Mai inquired, skepticism evident in her voice. "What hard evidence do you have to support your statement?"
"Niyama, Keita."
Keiko gasped at name's mention. "Oh my god, Michiru, you're so right!"
Mai looked at her friends in utter confusion. "First of all, I have no clue what you guys are even talking about any more. Who is this Niyama guy and how does he relate to this situation at all?"
They began walking, leaving the board full of pictures behind as they talked about the pressing matter. Keiko released an exasperated breath. "Niyama? Come on, you know him. He's the nerdy guy with glasses in Michiru's class, not to mention the head of the photography club. He was the one taking the pictures at the athletic festival!"
Mai raised an eyebrow, conjuring up his face in her mind, "I think I know who you're talking about. But if it really was intentional and he meant for me to be in all of the pictures…? I just don't understand. It makes absolutely no sense; the two of us have no connection at all!"
"Hello, Mai?" Michiru tapped Mai on the head, truly wondering if she had any brains. "The guy likes you! And you wonder why Shibuya-san thinks you're so dense."
The brunette laughed and quickly pushed thoughts of her handsome boss out of her mind. "Likes me? I don't think I've ever talked to him!" She shook her head, finding the idea of a guy liking her totally absurd (although it brought a huge smile to her face). "Usually you guys are right about stuff like this, but I think you're way off the mark on this one. There's no way he likes me!"
Keiko sighed, "Why do you think it's so weird for someone to like you, Mai?"
"…because no one ever has?" Mai offered with a pathetic laugh.
"That's the only explanation for the way he acts around you!" Michiru decided, despite Mai's disregard.
"I've even come into contact with him?" Mai inquired, shock by her obliviousness. "When?!"
"You lent him your eraser during the entrance exams. Remember? He started freaking out because he forgot his, and then you lent him your eraser." Keiko starred at her friend, ashamed. "I can't believe you."
Mai blushed angrily, branching off from her friends as they reached the school's entrance. "I can't remember everyone I meet! Anyway, I'm going to be late for work if I don't run for it. See you later!"
Keiko and Michiru looked after their friend as she turned the corner and made off into the city. Michiru smirked, looking up at her taller friend. "I think I'll take a hint at whose preoccupying Mai so much that she doesn't have time to think about dating other guys."
Keiko, on the other hand, was far from smiling. "This guy Niyama is worrying me, actually. And Mai's way too oblivious about this, don't you think?"
"Do you think we should…?"
"I think we should give Naru a call."
Naru returned the phone to its receiver with a dark look on his face. He sighed, rubbing his forehead in a worried manner. Mai would be the death of him, wouldn't she?
Through his closed door he could hear Mai coming into the office, slamming the door behind her and throwing her bags onto the ground with a breathless apology and excuse for her tardiness. Ignoring her words, he called out for tea. Silence followed, but he imagined her in the next room over, rolling her eyes before setting to her task. Sure enough, the sound of glassware connecting floated throughout the office only seconds later.
Sighing again, he leaned back in his chair thinking about the conversation he had just had with Mai's friend's Michiru and Keiko.
Five minutes earlier...
Naru was sitting propped back in his chair, tapping his pencil and, for some reason, unable to concentrate on his work. Mai was late again today; nothing too unusual. It was going on ten minutes when the phone rang. He wasn't much of a talking over the phone kind of person, so naturally he had let the answering machine pick up.
Naru smiled as Mai's recorded voicemail apologized for any inconveniences caused by SPR's absence and let them know that they would call back as soon as possible if they left their name and number. After the beep, another familiar voice came over the line. "Naru, I know you're there. It's Michiru and Keiko, Mai's friends. I know you remember us. Anyway, we called because we're concerned about Mai. You see, today at school–"
As soon as the words 'concerned about Mai' came across the line, Naru was reaching for the phone. "What's happened?" he inquires immediately.
Mai was late again today, and whereas this was usually the norm, maybe something had happened at school that he was unaware of. Knowing Mai she could've hurt herself and was still getting treated in the infirmary. But if that were the case they would've contacted him seeing as he's Mai's first emergency contact. Or perhaps it wasn't that bad of an injury–
Michiru sighs into the speaker. "She's fine, it's just…well, we think she might have a stalker."
The answer was unexpected, but worried him nonetheless. "What makes you think that?"
A different voice, Keiko, begins to explain the events leading up to their concern. "So we recently had the sports festival at school and they usually print the pictures taken at the events and sell them in the hallway. The thing is, Mai just happens to be in every single picture. We also happen to believe that the photography club's president, who was also the person responsible for taking all of the pictures during the festival, has the biggest crush on her."
How very troubling.
"We don't have any proof that he's a legit stalker or anything, but it doesn't really feel right to us and we're worried about her. She's too oblivious to her surroundings," Keiko continued.
"Indeed," Naru said darkly.
"Anyway, we were wondering if maybe you could talk to her or something." Michiru says and Naru can practically hear the grin forming on her face.
"I'll do something about it," he assures, promptly hanging up the phone.
Present...
He wondered how he should bring up the subject to Mai. Maybe a simple, 'so how was that sport's festival the other day?' might work. Or what about, 'any guys interested in you right now?'
No, no, no; neither of those would work. Especially since they weren't something he'd normally say.
Naru nearly jumped when Mai entered with his tea, but managed to keep it down to a small jerk. This small motion went unnoticed by his oblivious assistant. "Hey, Naru! I know I'm late, but my last class was a little behind schedule."
Whereas Naru usually would've brought up several reasons as to why her excuse was not legitimate, he just murmured a soft, 'I see,' staring her down with his intense blue eyes.
Sensing his strangeness, Mai blushed. "Are…you okay? You seem out of it today."
"Your friends called my just now."
Mai quickly saw where this conversation was going. "…What did they want to talk to you about?"
"They think you might have a stalker," he said slowly, taking a sip of his tea as he continued to eye her.
"Okay," Mai laughed, "they are definitely blowing this out of proportion! I just happened to be in most of the pictured he took at the sports festival. There's nothing wrong with that!"
"How can you possibly know that when you're so oblivious to everything else?!" Naru inquired, his voice rising dramatically in volume. He set his tea down as he stood behind his desk.
Shocked, Mai stared at him before looking down at her feet, trying to conceal the tears coming to her eyes. "Maybe it's best if I go home early?"
Realizing that he had gone about approaching his brunette assistant in the wrong way, Naru sighed. "Mai, I didn't meant to–"
She was already out of his office door before Naru could finish. He listened in defeat as the door slammed behind her.
Mai continued to wipe her teary eyes as she walked with a brisk pace back to the home that she and Naru shared. Where exactly did he get off, telling her stuff like that? Of course she has her short comings, but then again so did he! Maybe she should pick out all of his faults and sucker-punch him in the face with them, too?!
The cold night air finally managed to cool the brunette's temper. She actually began shivering. Wasn't it almost summer, she thought to herself, thinking about how the weather's mood-swings were much like her own.
She was maybe five blocks away from the next street she was supposed to turn on when she heard the heavy steps behind her. She stopped, her feet becoming still against the sidewalk. She heard the other footsteps disappear as well. Someone was following her.
Mai's heart began to pound harder, but she stopped herself from turning around to see her stalker. She already knew who it was: Keita Niyama.
Soon she began walking again, her brisk pace speeding up dramatically. The man followed closely behind, matching her in every movement.
Quickly making sure there were no cars coming, she crossed the street illegally and hurried inside of the convenience store that lay on the corner of two dimly-lit streets.
"Welcome," the clerk said with a smile, obviously having nothing better to do at this time of the day. The sun had already set and it was getting very dark out. There were only two other people in the convenience store that Mai could see.
The brunette nodded breathlessly, trying to put a smile on her face although she was still too freaked out to do so. She ducked behind a magazine rack and waited, seeing if Niyama would follow her into the convenience store.
After five minutes, Niyma still hadn't entered. Maybe he had decided to leave her alone? Mai peeked over the magazine rack and out of the window to see him waiting patiently across the street. She continued hide, sitting on the floor with her knees to her chest.
What was she supposed to do now? Call Naru? Well, that would be the best option…
The store clerk, who could still see her, looked over her with confusion and asked, "Are you alright ma'am? Can I help you with something?"
Realizing how sketchy she was being, Mai offered him a nervous laugh and picked up one of the magazines she saw. "N-No, I'm fine! Just reading the latest!"
The clerk nodded suspiciously, finally looking away from her and minding his own business. Mai sighed with relief, pulling out her phone from her bag and dialing Naru's number. With the understanding that Naru had been right about everything, fresh tears were brought to her eyes.
Why did he always have to prove her wrong?
"–ai? Hello? Mai, are you okay? Answer me!"
Mai jumped, not realizing he had picked up. "Naru," she managed to say, her voice wavering as tears spilled down her cheeks, "you were right! Michiru and Keiko were right. He was following me! I'm so scared; I don't know what to do!"
Connecting the dots, Naru nearly broke the door as he slammed it behind him on his way out of the office. "Where are you right now?!"
"I'm hiding behind the magazine rack in the convenience store a couple of blocks away from the apartment," Mai sniffed, wiping her eyes. "Naru, I'm scared…"
"Don't worry, I'm coming. How long have you been hiding there?"
"About ten minutes. He's still out there, waiting across the street for me to come out."
"Mai, stay on the phone with me okay? Everything is going to be okay," His voice came out his heavy puffs. He was running.
"I will," Mai said, finally calming down. "Naru, you were right. I should've known…I'm sorry I didn't listen to you. I'm really, really sorry."
"It's okay, Mai. I'm almost there, only a block away."
"Thank you. I'm sorry, I–"
The call dropped and the door to the convenience store opened simultaneously. An out of breath Naru entered the dingy convenience store. Ignoring the clerk's greeting, he whipped his head around until he found Mai cowering alone behind the magazine rack she had talked about over the phone.
"Naru!" she cried, standing up and embracing her employer. "I'm so sorry!"
He held her tightly (with a smile on his face), until he finally remembered the situation they were in. He looked over at the clerk, who was astonished by the pair, "Sorry for the inconvenience."
He wrapped a possessive arm around his assistant's waist and exited the convenience store to face Niyama. "N-Naru, what are you–"
"M-Mai?" Niyama stuttered to the brunette across the street, disappointed to see another man's arms around her. He shot her a look of betrayal, reaching out for her. "Say it isn't so!"
Mai looked down, embarrassed to be in this situation. Having a guy, whom she didn't even know, pining over her, only to have her boss, whom she's sure has no feeling for her, fend him off.
The most unfortunate part, however, was that Naru only saw her as a co-worker. The big hand that rested on her hip, pulling her closer to his side; the possessive nature he held. It was all an act.
"She is mine," Naru growled possessively, leaning over to capture her mouth with his own.
And, boy, was Naru a good actor.
Her eyes fluttered closed as Naru deepened the kiss.
Mai was overwhelmed. It was her first time being dipped back and kissed so…meaningfully. She melted at his touch, becoming completely weak in his arms.
Naru's eyes, which had been open the whole time, shot Niyama a deathly glare that very clearly sent the message, 'back off, unless you want an early death'.
Niyama quickly scurried down the dim street and, as much as he wanted to prolong it, Naru broke their kiss.
"I don't think that guy will be bothering you again."
Mai's mind was reeling so fast, she couldn't reply with anything more than a shaky nod.
Hiding his disappointment at not being able to kiss her any longer, Naru settled for putting his hand on the small of her back and leading the way to the apartment.
"Now, what's for dinner?"
Sorry for the late update! I hope not everyone has given up on this story! Anyway, I'm glad I didn't post what this chapter was going to be about because I had a really tough time writing my original idea, so I changed it to this!
I hope you guys like it!
Next time: The Inconveniences of Amusement Parks!