Author's Note: For enhanced experience, please read while listening to Adele's 'Chasing Pavements'.
Chapter 2: Through a song
Standing just outside Shibuya Psychic Research, Noll frowned.
A song with a catchy and repetitive electronic tune permeated through the door's frosted glass. Why was there music playing in an office?
He opened the door.
"'Te wo nobashite mo mou todokanai~!'"
The singers reached a particularly high note that grated on his nerves, forcing him to take refuge in the kitchenette and wait for the song to end.
Perfect star~!
He pinched the bridge of his nose as he half-leaned against the counter. Lin still had some business to attend to in England and wasn't due to fly until the end of the week. That meant that until he and the equipment get here, the most that could be done was take requests for future follow-up.
Perfect star~!
But for some reason, Mai seemed to think that Lin's absence gave her free reign over the office.
Two more reiterations, and the song, to his relief, finally faded out.
Noll quickly composed his reprimand, intending to deliver it during the silence between songs. He walked into the reception area.
"'I've made up my mind…'"
The sight of Mai stopped him in his tracks.
Elbows propped on the open window and hair blown back by a breeze, she was singing out to the mid-morning streets. Her voice, clear though slightly breathy, had an open, honest timbre that made him hang onto her words…
"'But if I tell the world, I'll never say enough 'cause it was not said to you…
"'And that's exactly what I need to do if I'd end up with you.'"
…Was his initial thought. Until she grabbed the mop beside her, singing passionately to it as one would to a microphone. Then she was gesturing wildly. And now she proceeded to mop the floor, singing along all the while.
Noll watched the scene before him, frozen and astounded at the sheer absurdity of it. He couldn't recall doing anything in the recent past to deserve witnessing something so foolish. He felt the urge to do something, but he wasn't sure whether to return to the kitchenette and risk being caught in his escape, to stay in place unseen and save Mai the embarrassment, or to save them both the awkwardness and stop her now. As he decided on what he should do, Mai sang on.
"'I build myself up and fly around in circles, waiting as my heart drops and my back begins to tingle…'"
Still using the mop's handle as a microphone, Mai circled the reception area. She dedicated the lyrics to this bookshelf and gestured to a settee, slid a hand along her desk and mopped the floor again, then walked back to the window. It almost amused Noll how great a time she was obviously having, acting like a songstress among her audience.
If only this wasn't an office. During its business hours.
He sighed. One more week.
The song dipped. Mai dropped all her silly gesturing and acting, catching his attention.
"'Oh would it be a waste, even if I knew my place?
"'Should I leave it there? Should I give up?'"
Noll was struck with the feeling that he was intruding on a personal moment, and he moved to return to the kitchenette.
But Mai turned, her intent gaze instantly finding him and holding him in place, as if she'd been aware of his presence this whole time. She mouthed the lyrics in time with the song.
Oh, would it be a waste, even if I knew my place? Should I leave it there?
Should I give up or should I just keep chasing pavements, even if it leads nowhere?
A gust of wind swept past her, blowing sakura petals into the room. She turned to close the window.
In the silence that ensued he realized that the song was in English, and that Mai had just sung it in perfect diction.
And it finally sank in just how long he'd been gone.
Free to completely immerse himself in his research, his two years had passed by in a blur of investigations, data analyses, and scientific papers. But only now was he learning that the same amount of time hadn't passed by as unchangingly for everyone else in SPR's Japan branch.
Intuitively, he understood that that was the rational, natural course of this world. Time governed all things, dragging them into the future day by day, giving them no choice other than to move forward with it regardless—or in spite of—their past. He understood that under time's rule, nothing stayed unchanged.
But perhaps the familiar way everyone acted and treated him had blinded Noll to the extent of change two years had imposed on them all, leaving him as disoriented as he now was.
Because as he recalled, Mai had always been dismal at English.
And yet she had sung fluently just now.
She had never looked at him that way.
And yet—
Noll headed straight for his office, firmly closing the door behind him before the next song played.
More Author's Notes: Thanks for reading! I'll try to update every 1-1.5 weeks. :) Hope you're all safe and healthy in your homes! Stay strong; even amidst difficulty, this too shall pass.
"'Te wo nobashite mo mou todokanai~!'" = "'Even if my outstretched hands can no longer reach you~!'" (Translation by perfume_city; unfortunately, the site no longer exists, but it had the best translation so I'm still using it.)
To WhistlingSongbird: Thanks so much! I'm updating a little early for you ;)
To Ruby Cider and Life of Mystery: Thank you! I'm relieved to know I've stayed faithful to their character!
To CaitHawke4Ever: I agree! Mai knew that, too, so she took care of everything before Naru even arrived. She's grown up so responsible. TTuTT Thanks for your review!
To loveanimeudou: Thank you! Stay safe and healthy, too! :D
To Cats and Rabbitholes: Thanks! I'm just as excited as you are! *u* This has been a WIP since 2018, and I need motivation to finish it so I'm posting now. :)
Disclaimer: I don't own Ghost Hunt or any of its characters. Nor do I own Perfume's 'Perfect Star Perfect Style' or Adele's 'Chasing Pavements'.