Part 3: What are you so afraid of?

There was a day before her class started, when she realized she left her flash drive on her table at the office. She needed the drive for a presentation on her last class, but she also needed her break time before said class to assist at the library.

In the end, she had texted Naru and her boss told her that Masako offered to bring it to her.

"Wow, they were not kidding when they said you looked like a mess," Masako said.

Mai looked up from her stack of book cards and faced the TV star in her carefully pressed kimono, she also noticed that students who spotted Masako have started whispering about her and from the way Masako stood perfectly poised, she knew people were watching her. She was choosing to ignore them.

So Mai did the same, "I don't look that bad."

Masako placed her flash drive on her hand and a box wrapped in expensive-looking silk furoshiki on the other.

"Thank you," Mai said, "What's this?"

"One of the sponsors gave it to me to eat, unfortunately I cannot eat all of them by myself."

Just as Masako said that, her stomach had rumbled reminding her to eat. Mai led Masako to the closest place they could eat and the medium unboxed the layers of their lunch.

"I don't say this enough," Mai said, "But I'm so glad you're my friend."

At that, Masako commented, "That's awfully materialistic and offensive, but I'm letting you go because you are, in fact, a real mess."

They ate the meal silently because Mai knew that, like Naru, Masako did not care for small conversation during meals. It was after their meal when Masako initiated the conversation.

"What are you afraid of, Mai?" Masako asked her sincerely.

"I— what?" She stuttered as she was taken aback by the question.

"We, for lack of better terms, hunt ghosts and observe paranormal activities. We are put in danger with our job and more often than not, we get hurt by spirits and demons." Masako said, "You constantly put up with that and face against them with courage, but with Yuuto… he's a human, he should be the least of your worries."

"It's because he's human that I'm most afraid of him, Masako." Mai said, "I don't know, it was easier when we were just friends."

Masako packed the boxes back, "I know nothing about love, but I think you can take my word for it when I say what you both are right now… it's not 'love'."

Mai thanked Masako again before the medium left.