Chapter 22
The school bell rang signaling that the students were finally free to roam the outside world once more. It was time for Mai to prepare for entrance exams to the colleges she was looking to enter.
'Everything is happening so quickly. My grades are pretty good so I probably won't have to worry about paying very much to go to school anywhere, but do I even want to go to college. I could just continue to work and study under the twins and work with them. I don't know.' She was suddenly brought out of her thoughts by someone calling her name.
"MAI!" Mai turned around to see Michiru and Keiko running up to her.
"Whoa girl, you were dazed all day. Didn't you hear us say to wait up for us after school at lunch? You're such a space ball." Keiko said.
"Oh, my bad!" Mai said remembering now and laughing guiltily.
"Anyway, there's this party tonight that the baseball team is having at the captain's house, and I got us some invites! So you better be there! We'll be at your new place around eight, alright?" Michiru announced excitedly.
'A party, huh? I was hoping to just relax tonight, but how often does that happen?' Mai briefly contemplated before giving her reply.
"Okay, yeah I'll totally go." She said with a smile.
"Yeah, I'll be there too. " Keiko said and her eyes drifted sideways.
Something caught her attention. Or someone.
"Kasai's here so I'll see you two later." Keiko waved the two off, and she ran up to a tall brown-haired boy and hugged and kissed him. With an exchange of some simple greetings, the couple walked off.
"Man, she is head over heels for that boy. We've barely hung out lately because she spends all her time with him." Michiru complained, but she was happy for her friends deep down.
"Really, it seems like just yesterday she was wondering if she should call him or not after she got his number." Mai said jovially.
"Well, it looks like your ride is here too, so I'll catch you later! Don't forget to wear something scandalous, okay!" Michiru called behind her as she continued her walk into the sea of students. She watched her friend go until she could no longer see her. She walked up to Naru's car, threw her bag in the backseat, and sat on the passenger side.
"Good afternoon Naru." Mai greeted and he hummed his response before he pulled away from the curb.
'Should I tell him that I got invited to go to a party tonight? It's unlikely that I could just sneak out all dressed up, and plus Keiko and Michiru will be there to pick me up. It's not like he could tell me no, but I should wait until he's at least had his tea.' Mai contemplated as she tossed a few glances over at her boss.
"Did you get the results from your paper yet?" He inquired not looking at her once, his eyes completely focused on the road.
"Paper…? Oh yeah, my psychology paper! I got a perfect score. My professor even read it in front of the entire class, which was a bit embarrassing, to say the least. Thank you for the help." Mai replied.
It had already been about two and a half weeks since their last case had finished, but the time back to normalcy had done Mai some good. Her routine forced her from getting into an emotional funk. The others, even Naru, were very good at giving her support, but more importantly her space to pull herself back together.
Once they both arrived at the office Naru retreated to his cave without a word, but Mai knew full well he'd be expecting tea in a few minutes. Before she could go and inquire to Lin about whether or not he wanted any tea the office bell sang out, alerting all that there was a visitor.
"Hello, Welcome to Shi- MADOKA!" Mai squealed and ran up to hug her, which the pink haired woman returned in kind.
"Hey Mai. Wow, you've really grown up, huh? And your hair is so much longer now! You are so cute!" She yelled and wrapped the girl in an even tighter hug again while shaking her back and forth.
'Oh, man I can't breathe!' Mai thought to herself as she wondered how this petite looking woman could be such a hell-raiser.
"Madoka, Mai is busy. How may I help you?" Noll spoke up from his doorway where he leaned wearing an irritated scowl.
"Well you haven't called or answered your parents in about a month so I'm here to check in on you!" She spoke cheerily.
"Are Lin's reports not enough to satisfy them? I exchanged emails with father just the other day." Madoka tutted her fingers at the young scientist, which made him narrow his eyes at her.
"That is work Noll, and Lin reports on your physical wellbeing. I am here to ensure the rest of you is doing fine, and I'm not afraid to ask Mai for the truth. Isn't that right dear?" Madoka asked and Mai could feel her face flush a bit.
"I'll go make some tea." She uttered quickly and escaped into the kitchen.
'Man, I don't know anyone at SPR who wants to get in between a fight between those two. That was a close one.' Mai let out a deep breath before putting on the kettle. She figured now that Madoka was here Lin would need a strong cup of tea too. After she finished her preparations, she brought out four cups of tea, and she wasn't too surprised to see that Lin had exited his office and continued his typing in the common area.
"Thank you, Mai." Madoka said shocking her a bit.
"That's something I don't hear every day." She joked but was entirely serious.
"How are things with you Mai?" Madoka asked as Mai took a seat next to Noll, and across from her and Lin.
'Should I be honest? Or should I just sugar coat it? Have Lin or Naru told her about what happened to me?" Mai wondered as she blew on her tea.
"I'm choosing which universities to apply to soon, and my exams are coming up as well. Sometimes I wish I could just stay in high school until I figure out what I want to do with the rest of life." Mai vented.
"Such is life my dear, and as they say time waits for no one. When was the last time you did something like a normal teen?" Madoka probed seeing the girl was a bit tense. Mai glanced at Naru from the corner of her eye, who had a book in his lap but hadn't turned the page for some time.
'He's definitely listening. I guess now is a better time than any.' Mai kept let out an incriminating sigh.
"Actually, now that you mention it I was invited to a party tonight." She finally confessed.
"OHHHH A PARTY! WHAT ARE GOING TO WEAR? ARE THERE GOING TO BE CUTE BOYS AT THIS PARTY?!" Madoka clearly excited for the girl.
'I see you Noll, and I know you're listening. 'Madoka thought hoping to get an emotional reaction out of her pupil.
"It'll be at the house of the baseball team's captain. Their celebrating the end of the season. My friend Michiru said that I said wear something scandalous, but I don't know about that." Mai said with a laugh.
"Why am I only hearing about this now?" Naru finally putting his two-sense in.
'Too easy, she's got you.' Lin thought almost feeling sorry for the boy.
"So were you going to sneak out or just leave without saying a word to me?" Naru asked further his tone clearly reflecting anger.
"Relax Krakatoa, no need to explode. I was just asked to go today, and I was going to tell you about it once you had your tea." Mai retorted and successfully got a laugh out of Madoka.
"Mai is a responsible young lady, who is under a lot of pressure at school, okay? Let her have fun tonight." Madoka scolded and winked in Mai's direction.
"Responsible and Mai don't go together in the same sentence." He replied and scoffed.
"Why thank you Madoka." Mai thanked a cast a haughty look her boss's way, completely ignoring his comment. He rolled his eyes and
finished off the rest of his tea.
"I have no desire for spending my time in idle chatter. Mai there are some papers I need for you to fill out, and I'll take another cup of tea in my office." He spoke rising for the common area and retreating to his domain.
"Wait Naru, I just boiled the last of the tea so I'll have to go buy some more." Mai said making her employers stop, and look at her with a scrutinizing gaze.
"Fine, don't take too long, and I expect to have another cup of tea once you arrive back here." He walked over to her and handed her the company card which she took graciously.
"Madoka, you're welcome to come along if you want." Mai said giving her a glance before she grabbed her light jacket.
"No that's alright dear. Lin and I have some catching up to do." She said as she grabbed the Chinese man's face, and kissed it then winked at Mai. Noll rolled his eyes and escaped behind his door while Mai was quick to take the cue and exited the office.
Madoka was in a league all of her own.
There was an all-natural tea store that Naru preferred over the store brand that wasn't too far from the office. He'd even given her a lecture about the difference in flavors and the purity of taste.
'Something about an English man lecturing a Japanese girl about tea is extremely distasteful and tone deaf.' Mai shook the memory from her head.
Mai walked the city streets on a refreshing spring afternoon. Though the wind still held a slight chill it was still preferable to the long winter they were just coming out of.
'Getting out of the office on a tea run seems to be a blessing in disguise. I get to enjoy the fresh air and give Madoka and Lin their much-needed space.' Mai thought to herself as the small store came into view. Mai entered the hole-in-the-wall complex and a small bell alerted the owner of her arrival.
"Well well, if it isn't little Mai. Hello, my dear." An older woman greeted with a smile.
"Hey, Ms. Hashimoto! I'm here for the usual." Mai spoke in return, and she nodded going off into the backroom. Just as she disappeared the bell rang behind Mai again revealing a huge gentleman, wearing a cut off sleeve denim jacket, and tattoos lining both of his arms and neck.
'Wow, who would have guessed a man like this would drink tea.' Mai thought to herself as she greeted the man with a smile and he nodded his head in her direction. The woman returned more promptly than Mai anticipated and handed her two big brown bags worth of tea.
"You usually come back so quickly I thought I'd pack you a larger size this time dear! Oh Nigel, you're here for the Fushi Company delivery, correct? Would you mind dropping little Mai off, I'd hate to see her walk all the way back with those heavy bags." Ms. Hashimoto asked kindly and the giant man just nodded.
'Wait!? WHAT? I'M GETTING A RIDE WITH WHO? I'm not one to judge a book by its cover, but I could believe this guy has put more people in the hospital than the number of girls Yasu has sent running.' Mai thought panicking more than a little in her head.
"N-no no no! You don't have to take me there Mr. Nigel. It's just up the street, it'd be a waste of your time." Mai assured waving her hands quickly hoping to dissuade him.
"Nonsense Mai, my son is already going in that direction for a delivery so he'd drop you off. You guys are my most valued customers so I won't hear no for an answer, isn't that right Nigel." voiced and Nigel only nodded once.
'Wow, this is her son? I wish he didn't talk so much.' Mai thought to herself and gave Nigel a sheepish glance.
"If you insist." Mai said shakily and handed her the company card which she was quick to swiped and hand over the receipt.
'Might as well take a peek at his aura.' Mai thought as she reached for the back of her neck and released her key charm necklace. Like usual she was hit with the initial overwhelming rush of sensory overload, but it soon dulled.
"Nigel take her bags. I left the Fushi Co. Package in the alleyway." He wordlessly grabbed them with ease and exited the building.
'I feel that he is anxious and nervous. Perhaps because he's shy. He seems to have a sweet nature.' Mai surmised as she quickly placed her necklace back on.
"What happened dear, did it fall off?" The old store owner asked pointing to her necklace.
"Oh no, I was just adjusting it. Anyway, thanks so much. I'll see you soon." Mai exited the shop and was more than surprised to see that Nigel was leaned up against a motorcycle, and a second helmet in hand. Both of Mai's bags were tied up in the back along with a large box.
'He expects me to ride that thing?' Mai thought as she walked over to her chauffeur.
He placed the helmet on her head and buckled it tightly around her chin. Once he was done, he patted her on the head twice before boarding the bike and starting it up. Mai carefully boarded the back and blushed as she loosely held the back of the bike.
"Hold on tight little one." He spoke for the first time as they pulled off of the curb surprising the young psychic in more ways than one.
As soon as Mai left, Monk, Ayako, and Yasuhara all came by. The pink-haired queen of parapsychology surprised them all with her unannounced visit.
"Madoka my sweet sweet dominatrix!" Yasu called upon entering the office and throwing his hands upward. Everyone unfortunately accustomed to the antics of the four-eyed teen just sighed.
"Hello, my submissive pupil. How have you been?" Madoka hugged him and patted him on the head.
"Better now that you're back. This lot doesn't get my sense of humor; it's refreshing to speak with someone more enlightened." Yasu explained and pushing his glasses closer to his face.
"Hey, Houshou and Ayako? How have the two of you been?" Madoka inquired.
"We've been well. Ayako has been promoted at her family's hospital again. My bands about drop another album. We certainly can't complain. Though looking after Mai can be a handful." Monk admitted looking around for the first time and noticing they were short a small brunette.
"Where is Mai?" Ayako asked on the same page as her companion.
"Oh yeah she went on a tea run not too long ago, she'll probably be back in a bit." Madoka replied. Lin seemed to take the cue that they were all done catching up and returned to his office.
"You should probably check up on her. She's probab-" Yasu started as he walked over to the window to look out for his coworker, and was surprised at the sight his eyes caught.
"MAI JOINED A MOTORCYCLE GANG!" Yasu yelled and pretended to be feeling faint. Leaning into the window sill for support. Yasuhara being himself everyone simply ignored him, until Madoka accompanied him at the window.
"Oh my goodness. Monk, Ayako, you guys have to see this!" Madoka said and the two rushed to the window and saw the small brunette getting help off of a large motorcycle accompanied by an even larger man.
"W-what am I seeing right now!? What does she think she's doing?! Riding around with strange men! Monk raved as he barely took his eyes off the scene.
'I can barely find any peace with Madoka here, let alone the rest of these idiots.' Naru thought to himself as he tried to ignore the commotion, but the noise only seemed to get louder.
He rose from his desk with a loud and angry sigh. Swinging his door open, but the entire crowd was loitering by the window. None of them noticed him entering the room. Instead, they were all pressed up against the window speaking unintelligible threats.
Unable to deny his cursed curiosity he approached the lot, and none of them seemed to notice his presence though he was right behind them all.
"Move." He said firmly.
His voice caught them all off guard, and they all jumped backward. The boy genius walked up to the window, and he was thankful his employees were standing behind him so they couldn't see his eyes widen a fraction at the site of Mai with this large man next a motorcycle he could easily deduce she had not long ago been riding since she was currently taking off a helmet and handing it to the man she arrived with.
'Is this a joke?' Was the only thought that passed his mind as silent anger filled his entire being. He saw her try to pick up two bags from off the back of the bike, but the man she was with grabbed them first and began to walk toward the office doors. Naru then walked over to the couch and took a seat, crossing his legs and arms.
"Quick she's coming in. Everyone act natural." Madoka said as they all rushed back to the couch and the door chimed open revealing the team members looking at Mai and Nigel.
"Thank you, Mr. Nigel you can just drop them off right there on my desk." Mai said and turned to see a bundle of SPR employees looking at her all offering her different looks. None of them more disturbing than Naru's which was terrifyingly blank.
'Why do I get the feeling I'm in trouble.' Mai whined in her mind.
"Just Nigel." Was all he said looking down at her small frame at wagging his finger once.
"Right, sorry Nigel. Oh, these are my coworkers, guys this is Nigel. His mom is where I get our tea from." Mai introduced and Nigel only nodded in their general direction before turning back to Mai.
"See you later little one. Next time call and I will drop off the tea for you." He said and patted her on the head twice before leaving without another word. The office remained extremely silent; these few seconds were an eternity to Mai.
"What a surprise to see you all here. Let me make everyone something to drink." Mai said hurriedly as she attempted to grab the bags and rush into the kitchen but one voice cut through her like a knife stopping her in her tracks.
"Mai." Naru said. Mai dropped the bags on the floor in front of her.
"Uh… yes." She replied.
"Why were you riding with that man on a motorcycle?" He asked but to everyone else it sounded more a like a demand than a question.
'He sure didn't waste any time getting to the point.' Ayako thought as she watched the scene unfold before her.
"W-well you see Mrs. Hashimoto is not one to be told no… and there…so much tea….and I took off my key…..and I held on…..there was a helmet….I-I-I.." Mai's brain had clearly fried from having to look her boss in the eye for so long to which he merely sighed.
'She's so cute when she's nervous!' Madoka thought feeling bad for the girl.
"Mai. Explain it clearly." Naru said again his tone even more serious than before.
'Okay Mai, you're fine just tell it like it is.' Mai coached herself.
"Ms. Hashimoto had a large order of tea for us this time, so she had her son Nigel help me bring it back to the office." Mai explained better than she thought capable.
"Young lady you are not to get on the back of strange vehicles with men you don't know! The world is too dangerous for you to be so trusting! Do you hear me?!" Monk finally blew and stood up.
"It wasn't a strange vehicle it was a motorcycle, and I couldn't tell the lady no to her own son because of some stupid bike. And I'm not naïve! I made sure to read his aura before I went anywhere with him, okay?" Mai said getting a bit tired of being reprimanded.
"He has a point Mai, you made us all a bit nervous. You shouldn't be taking off your protective charm in the middle of downtown Shibuya. That many people could easily overwhelm your sixth sense. You need more training before you can be sure of an aura with so
many other people around. "Ayako input causing Mai to scoff.
"Nigel is a nice guy, okay, and we just rode up the street from the tea shop. I promise we aren't planning to elope or anything. Besides, I train nearly every day, and I'm getting better at reading people. Now, I'm going to go make some tea." Mai said clearly annoyed and retreated to the kitchen with the two big bags in tow. The clanking of dishes and the movement of cabinets could be heard in the background.
"Do you think we laid it on a bit too thick? Mai is a growing girl, and we can't see her as that small clumsy sixteen-year-old anymore. She'll be graduating and going off to college soon." Ayako spoke quietly enough so that everyone except a certain brunette would be able to hear. Monk sighed and ran a thoughtful hand through his hair.
"Maybe, but we still have to look after her. She knows it's only because we care about her, even though she may not like our delivery, she knows we mean well." Monk commented.
"Well speaking as a reckless teenager, I think that this is typical of a 'teen- parent' argument. Nothing out of the ordinary." Yasu responded with a shrug.
"I agree. Besides Lin and I still speak to Noll here that way when he messes up. Isn't that right?" Madoka said to her student who just rolled his eyes.
Kasai skinned his nose at the stench of the man in front of him who was covered in tattered clothes and reeked of urine and alcohol. He was sleeping and snoring loudly unaware of Kasai looking down at him with disgust.
'Drunken waist of space.' He thought as he kicked him.
"Wake up old man." Kasai called callously and the homeless man woke with a start and looked up at his attacker.
"Oh, Kasai it's you. You gave me quite the fright boy. What brings you to see your old man?" He asked with a harsh smile filled with rotting teeth, but his words were soft and genuine.
"Remember that day I said I'd be willing to forgive you if did you me a favor?" Kasai replied and he nodded.
"Of course, my boy. I've been waiting for that day patiently. It's the only reason I still live on." His father replied.
"Well, I have a job for you, a big one. It's time to pay what you own old man." He said his expression cold and ruthless enough to chill his own father.
Hey what's up readers, My bad about the language in this chapter, but it's only going to more gritty so I'm thinking about changing the rating of this story for a couple scenes I've planned for the next two chapters. So make sure to stay tuned and R&R. I love the comments kind or critical, and I do listen to your advice so say what's on your mind. Also Thank you all for helping me reach 200+ reviews, I was really excited about that, so thank you so much.