Splaaaash!!!!
*
Mai woke up from her sleep and massage her temples.
"That dream again..." Mai whispered and get out of her bed.
Her usual dream about the guy who died because of hit and run. Mai is still wondering who that guy was and why is she dreaming how he died. She also tried searching for that place but because of her busy schedule and other cases, she can't find it till now.
Mai look at her clock and it's already 4am. Today is the day of the Cultural Festival. She smiled and get ready for the feast. When it's already 6 am, after taking breakfast, she called the others and invite them as she took a ride to Shibuya.
*SHIBUYA PSYCHIC RESEARCH.
"Naru..."
"Naaaaruuuu!!!!"
"Naru!"
"If you're just gonna make noise in my office, just get out, Mai." Naru glared at her and slammed his black notebook.
"Naru, come on! It's the first Cultural Festival the Student Council and I arranged. You need to attend it!" Mai said and walk towards Naru even closer.
The others are already in the school and Mai is spending her time convincing Naru to join them. Naru sighed at her and continue reading his book.
"Come on!" Mai said and stomped her feet. She grabbed Naru's arm and shake it. Naru got irritated and slammed his book loudly.
"Mai! If I said I won't go, then that's final! Don't make me even angrier!" Naru shout at her and gave her a death glare.
Mai flinched and felt the temperature dropped. She swallowed her lips as she look at the icy face of the guy in front of her. Her lips trembled and her eyes watered.
Now, it's time for Naru to stiffened. This is the first time he saw Mai acting like this..
"Waaaaahhh!!!! "
Her cries echoed all over his office and even Lin who is in the other room stopped as he heard the young girl's cry. Naru made face as he look at the girl slumped on the floor, crying her lungs out.
"Mai, stop it." Naru tried to stop her but she even made her cry louder.
"Mai, stop crying!"
"Waaaaahhh..."
"Okay! I will go! Stop crying already!" Naru said and stood, pulling Mai up. Her eyes are red from crying and her face is wrinkled. Lin who is listening on the other room, turn his head in surprise. Naru agreed? Well, that shocking. Mai and Naru got out of the office. Mai is holding unto Naru's arm in case he ran away. Lin went out of his 'cave' and saw that scene. He was shocked again.
Mai look at him and smile. She pulled Naru and went to Lin's front.
"Lin! There you are! We're going to the Cultural Festival! You must join us! Naru is coming too!" Mai said and cling on Lin's arm.
"Wha.." Lin said but he was cutted off as they walk towards the door. Mai put on her sandals as the two put on their coats.
Lin offered a drive and they got in school just in time for the Principal's opening speech. When the Principal cut the ribbon and declared that the Feast is now starting, the crowd got excited and went loud. Mai found the others quickly and dragged the two guys beside her.
"Whoa! Mai, you got some powers. You actually got Lin and Naru join us." Ayako said with a smirk since she saw Lin and Naru frowning.
"Of course. We're having fun so it's only right to make them join us." Mai said and smiled at the two.
Everyone wore their traditional Japanese robe except the two stoic men. Ayako wore a green one with bamboo design and Masako wore a navy blue one with sakura petals embroidery.
Bou-san and John wore a matching dark green yukata with gold thread adorning their sleeves.
"Guys, you look good on your Yukata! I was intending to make these two geezers wear one but it's enough to make them come. " Mai said and laugh. She put her long hair up in a messy ponytail with a thread cord and took a picture of all of them.
"Mai, why aren't you wearing a Japanese robe?" John asked in curiosity. Mai is wearing a long brown coat but they could tell that she's wearing a dress since they saw her long satin clothes covering her toes.
"Oh. Unfortunately, I wasn't assigned in the Japanese Booth. This Cultural Feast is not just about Japan. Some are about the countries in the whole world. As you can see, everyone here in school wore traditional clothes of other countries. And I'm assigned in the Chinese Department." Mai said as she took off her coat. She's wearing a black and red traditional Chinese robe. It's simple but they could feel a heroic aura from her. She is just like a female warrior.
"Wow, Mai. You look Heroic." Bou-san said and took a picture of her.
"Aw. Thanks. I requested a Chinese Booth and they approved it. I provide them with some information about the country since they knew I am Half-Chinese. They didn't let me do any much work since I was busy organising the whole event and will be tired. So I'm free all day. It's boring alone in such a happy day so I invite you all."
All turn at her when she said she has a blood of a foreigner. Lin and Naru narrowed their eyes and stared at the girl with a proud smile.
"Although, the history is not quite good, I requested a booth of China to participate without any hate and discrimination. I'm glad that it goes well but I think it may be offending to others." Mai said and sighed. She knew Lin have a problem with Japan but forgiveness is all it need. It may take time though. Mai sighed again and smile at them. She look at her friends and saw their dumbfounded expressions.
"Mai, you're a Chinese?" Masako asked first.
"Yeah. My mother is from China. Guys what's up?" Mai asked in confusion.
"Can you speak in Mandarin?" Bou-san asked, filming the event incase Mai may speaking Mandarin.
"Yes. At least I'm fluent at it." Mai said in Mandarin that shocked the others except some people.
"Wow! You're quite good, Mai. I wonder if you ever live in your Mother's homeland? " John asked.
"Yes. I lived in China before coming here in Japan." Mai said to them.
"Before coming here to Japan? You mean, you didn't live here in childhood?" Masako asked.
"No. I only csme here 3 years ago. I was born in England and lived there until my father passed away. Mother decided to leave England when I was five years old and we went to China to live there. 3 years ago, we heard that Mother's Father-in-law, who is living alone, died so we came here. Who would've known that my mother will pass away after a few weeks staying here." Mai continued. The group look at her with pity. Lin and Naru knew that she is an orphan but they didn't expect that her life is like this because they didn't dig out deeper about her. Naru frown at the thought. She's from England? What a coincidence.
"So, you're an orphan? Then who's taking care of you all this time? You're only 13 years old when you're mother died." Bou-san asked with a concerned face.
"Oh. They took me to a center since all of my father's relatives are now gone. My grandparents in my mother side are already dead so I have to take care of my mother's funeral with the help of the servants. I then decided to stay in my Father's homeland here in Japan after my mother's burial."
"Then why are you taking part time jobs? Travelling from one country to another requires money and you said servants a while ago, you must be rich. " Masako asked as Ayako nodded at her.
" It is said in my grandparents' will on both my mother and father's side that before I inherit all their belongings, I have to fend for myself alone for at least 5 years. However, the servants are really worried so they follow me everywhere I go. I got irritated for their clinginess so I ran away from Okinawa and came here. I know that they knew where I went but I strictly forbid them to interfere with my life until I was 18 years old. I'm the only heir of my parent's possession and responsibilities so I have to go back there after two years living here in Japan."
"Wow... Never thought, you'd be an heiress in disguise..." Bou-san said as she hugged the brunette.
"I agree..." John
"Hahaha... Come! I have a lot to show you!" Mai said and lead them.
But the group soon left in pairs and enjoy their day strolling around booths and playing. John and Lin paired up while the two bickering adults went on their own. Mai, Masako and Naru went on their own. Mai is feeling so awkward since Masako is being clingy on Naru. Naru, as usual, revealed his freezing aura but Masako acted like she did not noticed it.
Mai saw masks while walking and went straight to it. Mai bought two masks, one is a white kitsune mask and one was a black kitsune. Mai turned around and saw Naru standing behind her with a small smile. Mai was about to call him and ask where Masako was but she stopped when she noticed the color of his eye.
Naru's eye is dark blue grey eyes while Mr. Guardian has a pair of indigo.
"You're not Naru.. Mr. Guardian!!" Mai said and ran towards him but stopped when she realised something.
"Did you pull me to my dreams?! That would mean, I'm sleeping right now?!" Mai asked as she look around but there are some people walking around and everything seems real.
"Haha. Mai, I didn't. You're in real life. You can see me as a ghost." Mr. Guardian said as he chuckled.
"That's great! Mr. Guardian, wanna come with me and enjoy the Cultural Festival? Naru and Masako left me here." Mai said as she smiled at the ghost friend.
"Yeah. But we have to be careful. Masako might see me and cause a ruckus." Mr. Guardian said and walk beside Mai. Mai wore earpiece so she won't be seen as a crazy person talking alone. This make her look like she's talking on the phone.
Mr. Guardian just smiled as Mai she wore the black Kitsune mask. She put the other mask on her bag and enjoy her moment with Mr. Guardian.
"Hey, Mr. Guardian. I can trust you right?" Mai said as she look at the sky, enjoying the sunset.
"Yeah. Is something troubling you?" Mr. Guardian asked
"There's this dream that is bothering me for a year now. It's about a murder.
At first, I saw mountains and I saw a car rushing towards me. It hit me and threw me meters back. I saw the driver got out of her car and screamed in frustration. It was a woman. She returned to her car and run over my bodyending my life. At first, I thought it was how I'll die later on but I experienced that incident in a 3rd person's point of view."
"It was a guy. Although I can't see his face, I can feel that he's familiar. I also can't see that woman's face. She went killed a sheep and put it on the blood puddle on the ground. Making it seem like she hit an animal instead of a man. She dragged his body and put it in her trunk. She drove away and went to a junk shop and wrapped his body on a yellow sheet. A man with a blurred face came."
" That woman called him brother and together with two bodyguards, they threw that body on a lake. I've been searching for that lake for a long time but because I'm busy with my job and school, I can't have a time to search for it. Until now, I can't see that man's face. But he's so familiar, did I meet him before? What do you think, Mr. Guardian?" Mai asked.
"Don't worry. Everything has a time. You'll know soon. Don't worry about it."
Mai stared at him with blank eyes. She can feel that he knows something but her guts tells her not to ask. She just smiled at him and removed her mask.
"Mai. I'm going now. I can't maintain my state any longer. Let's just meet on your dreams okay?" Mr. Guardian said and smiled at her.
"Okay. See you." Mai said and removed her earphones. Mr. Guardian disappeared and Mai look at the sky. Her phone rings and she answered it.
"Mai, where are you? It's getting dark and the fireworks display will be in an hour." Bou-san said .
"I'm at the lake. I'll be waiting for you here. This is the perfect place to watch the fireworks and it's not crowded. Enjoy a bit more." Mai said as she hang up.
Mai leaned on the tree trunk and close her eyes. She needs to rest. She didn't know how long she slept but she woke up hearing loud sounds of the fireworks. She open her eyes and saw lights scattered in the sky.
"You awake?" A cold voice sounded and Mai saw a black clad youth sitting beside her. She was about to call him Mr. Guardian but stopped. He's Naru.
"Yes. Where are the others, Naru?" Mai asked.
"On the other side of the lake." Naru answered as Mai's phone ring.
It was a text from Bou-san asking where is she and if Naru is with her. Mai look at the guy beside her and frown.
"Don't tell me, you ran away and found me here a long time ago?" Mai asked as his boss nod.
"Haha. You're funny. Do you really hate hanging out with Masako that much?"
"Hmm." Naru answered as he read what is written in his black notebook.
Mai replied to Bou-san saying there at the other side of the lake. Mai lean into Naru's shoulder and look at the sky filled with fireworks.
"Naru, it's beautiful..." Mai said raising her hand up. Naru look at the sky and nod.
"How I wish it remain forever. Sometimes beautiful things are really not long lasting." Mai said and let out a bitter laugh.
Naru just look at the girl leaning into him with cold blank eyes. No one knows what is he thinking but Mai just smiled at him.
Lin who is in the other side of the lake, spotted the two and took out his phone to take a photo. He was a bit shocked by their chemistry but soon he recovered.
"Naru...??"
"What?"
"I'm glad we're friends." Mai said and close her eyes. She didn't noticed the gentleness and soft expression the Narcissist have when she said that. With the splash of bright colours in the night sky, the Cultural Festival ended nicely.