Seven years later.
Mai finally graduated from the university majoring in Criminal Psychology and minoring in Foreign Language. Her grades are not really that impressive, she's slightly above average, just enough not to fall from her scholarship.
Mai,
We are already here! Come on! We just got back from the US! We heard you finally graduated, congratulations!
Mai softly smiled at the message from one of her friends.
Okay... I'm on my way...
Mai was reminiscing during her first year in the university as walked at the pavement of her school. How she meet her friends, how she survived the hellish university, How she became the woman that she is now.
Three years ago.
After SPR closed down, she look for another part time job. During high school, working one part time job is enough for her basic needs. She saved enough money during her time with SPR, so she spend it wisely.
But university is different from high school, she needed another part time job to mend her needs plus school projects. Her scholarship only covered the tuition and miscellaneous fees, seminars, and dormitory.
She's reading the news ads in their bulletin board, hoping to find some company who are looking for a part timer.
Are you looking for a part time job that pays well? If you can handle gore and bloody crime scenes, then you are the right one we were looking for! For further inquiry, kindly message this email.
xxxxxx
The announcement caught her attention. Gore and bloody? Mai paled. But it says that pays well. She already seen gore and bloody during her times in SPR. Mai copied the email address to her phone and message them.
To whom it may concern.
Good day sir/ma'am,
My name is Taniyama Mai, a first year student in Criminology Psychology Department. I've read about you, needing a part timer and I am interested to apply. I want to know what the requirements to get in are.
She send the email before going to her class.
Mai diligently listening to the lecture, she slowly touched her chest where her scar was, and sadly smiled. She softly shook her head, trying to forget that thoughts and went back focusing to the lecture.
Mai felt her phone vibrated as the bell rang.
She immediately flipped her phone open.
Good day Miss Taniyama,
We are the Profilers of the Unknown, an underground club in the university who often helps the Ground Zero – a department in the Metropolitan Police Depart who handle unsolved cases due to 'unknown' reasons.
We usually work during night time after classes. And we work full time during holidays. In return, we will help you with your studies.
If you are still willing to proceed, you can meet us in the second floor of Profiler's Cafe at 6PM.
The Profiler's President,
Yomozuki Hakuren
"Profiler's... Cafe...?" Mai tilted her head. "But that's where I work as a cashier... I thought the second floor is off-limits after 6PM?" She mumbled to herself.
Yomozuki Hakuren-san,
Thank you, I will proceed for the part time job. I will meet you at the appointed time.
Taniyama Mai.
She closed her phone and ran to her next class.
An auburn-haired man locked his phone and put it back to his pocket. He crossed his arms and smirked at his three club mates slash friends.
"So? Was that a potential new member?" A raven-haired man asked.
"Yes, and she seemed fearless." Yomozuki Hakuren said.
"Hm. A first year? We only put that notice yesterday." A blond-haired lady with green highlights stated.
A bespectacled man laughed. "Well, first years tend to read the bulletin and announcement boards a lot."
"Did you tell her that we are an underground club?"
Hakuren grinned. "Yup~ I even told her that we are working with the Ground Zero."
"Stuuuupid~" The three chimed.
Their phone gone off simultaneously.
"See you later, I still have class~"
They bid their goodbyes and went out from the library.
Mai's class during Mondays end in 3PM and she will directly go to her part time job in the cafe.
"Excuse me, why is the second floor only until 6?" Mai asked to her co-part timer.
"A group of students made that floor as their meeting place. And they are talking about confidential things, so yeah, they need privacy."
"Oh..."
But shouldn't they use an office instead? Like SPR? Mai wondered.
The cafe usually busy during rush hour, when the clock strikes 6, the door chimed and four students entered and they immediately went upstairs. They hang the chain with a sign 'Off Limits' on the stair's post.
"I'll be going now." Mai bowed after she folded her apron nicely.
She's standing in the stairway, she's about to lift the chain when she hear a voice from above.
"What are you doing? This is off limits." A baritone voice sharply said.
"I am Taniyama Mai. I'm here to meet Yomozuki Hakuren-san."
The man narrowed his eyes on her. "You are Taniyama Mai?"
"Yes." Mai nodded.
"Fine, you may enter."
Mai carefully place the chain back and went upstairs. She saw four people sitting on a one circular table. Mai politely bowed.
"I'm –" Mai gasped when a playing card was pointed on her neck. Her eyes widened.
"Who are you?" Yomozuki Hakuren asked authoritatively. "You are not human."
Mai shook her head. "I am human."
"But you are not alive." The lone woman in the group seconded, preparing a charm on her hand. The same charm that Ayako usually used. "You don't have... a soul."
Mai gulped. "I can explain, please. Let me explain."
"Let's hear her first, Ren." The raven-haired man said. Hakuren reluctantly pull out.
Mai took the vacant seat and starts telling them the truth about her.
BACK TO THE PRESENT TIME
Mai entered the Profiler's cafe and went to the second floor. And there she saw four of them with different kinds of food on the table and drinks.
"Maiii~" The green-haired lady immediately hugged her. "I miss you."
"Yeah, yeah, I miss you too." Mai chuckled. "What did you do to your hair, Kannon? Is it appropriate for a miko to dye their hair green?"
Fushimi Kannon giggled. "Well~ I want to be a fashionable miko~"
"She's still rebellious as ever." Aizen handed a glass of champagne.
"You've change too Aizen, you no longer wear your thick and nerdy eyeglasses."
"Because his wedding is fast approaching. He needed to look good so his fiancé won't look for anyone else." Ryuuji chuckled as he stuffed pizza on his mouth.
Hakuren smacked his head. "That's rude, we haven't made a toast yet. This is for Mai."
Ryuuji coughed. "I'm sowwry..."
"It's alright." Mai chuckled.
Yomozuki Hakuren cleared his throat. "I am happy we gathered here today for Mai's graduation, although POTU was disbanded last year when Mai was the only member left. POTU might be gone, but our bond as a group wont. Let's toast for Mai!"
"Yeah! Congratulations!"
They all cheered.
After they graduated from the University, Hakuren went to New York, and became profiler in ASPR, at the same time pursuing Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology in XXXX University.
Sato Aizen, who graduated together with Hakuren, went in Paris to follow his long time French entrepreneur girlfriend, and became INTERPOL's profiler, and now they are getting married.
Kannon, who graduated a year after the other two, stayed in Japan. She was based in Kyoto, she worked as profiler in Osaka Prefectural Police Department.
And Ryuuji, Mai sometimes worked with him when the MPD asked for her help. Ryuuji stayed in Tokyo and helped the Ground Zero as their profiler during his free time. Ryuuji is fictional detective-horror-mystery novel author.
"By the way guuuys~~ I'll be going to England next week~~" Ryuuji announced.
"Really? For vacation?" Kannon asked.
"Nope~ I'll attend BSPR's seminar. I was invited by Oliver Davis' himself~"
"He invited you too?" Hakuren asked.
"Yuuuup~"
Mai's eyebrow twitched.
"What did you say? Who invited you?"
"Hm? Ah, Dr. Oliver Davis."
Mai was silent for a moment before she sighed, and continue eating. The three other members glanced at Ryuuji. Kannon pinched his ears.
"Idiot! Why did you bring that up, stupid!" She hissed.
He gasped at his mistake. "I'm sorry Mai –"
Mai waved her hand. "It's alright. It's alright. I was just surprise hearing his name after such long time."
"Don't mention Mai's name to him, Ryuuji." Hakuren sharply instructed.
The said boy nodded vigorously. "Yes, sir!" He even saluted.
They all jumped when Mai's phone gone off. It was the MPD's rightone, she answered and put it on speaker.
"Hello Inspector Susumu?"
"Ah, Mai-chan... Are you busy?"
"Yes~ we are~ we are celebrating Mai's graduation~~" Kannon chimed.
"Oh, congratulations Mai-chan! It's perfect that everyone is there."
"Is there a problem, Inspector?"
"Yes, I want to meet with you all tomorrow. Will that be okay?"
They glanced at their leader, who nodded.
"Yes sir."
"Yosh, that's the last one." Aizen placed the box on the floor.
"Thank you so much for helping me." Mai bowed. "I can take it from here."
After their graduation party, they helped Mai packing her things. Since she already graduated, she needed to leave the dorm. She already leased a two-bedroom apartment in Shinjuku, since it's only minutes away from Chiyoda, where the MPD headquarter was located. She already planned on working there as a profiler both in Ground Zero and Criminal Investigation Department.
"Now leat's eat~" Ryuuji chirped. Holding boxes of pizza.
"Let me make some tea."
"Ah, Mai~ open my gift first~ it will be useful since you are making a tea~"
Curiously, Mai unwrapped Kannon's gift first, it was quite large and heavy. Her eyes widened when she saw a Japanese tea set.
"Kannon... This is beautiful..." Mai took the porcelain kettle, designed with their chibi funny faces, carefully. "Thank you... I will take care of it..."
"Errr... but why do we have our face on each chawan?" Ryuuji took the bowl with his face on it. "And on the kettle too! Why my face looks funny?!"
"It's personally made~ I asked a Japanese tea sets maker company that I know~" Kannon smiled, then she pinched his nose. "And you can't complain, your face is always funny to me."
The boy grumbled an insults and Kannon punched him. Seeing the two bickering reminded her of Ayako and Bou-san.
Mai giggled. "Then I will use this." She took the box and went to the kitchen to prepare their tea. Leaving them in the living room.
"Is it true that Mai will continue working in MPD?" Hakuren asked Ryuuji.
"Yes, Inspector Susumu wanted her to stay. But this time, she will also helped the CID."
"Will she be okay?" Aizen worriedly asked.
"Kannon, how is she?" Their leader asked.
"She's fine. It's fine. Nothing to worry about." The green-haired miko answered. "But... I can't imagine... Mai will be gone soon..." She sobbed. Ryuuji rushed to her side to comfort her.
"We... can't do anything about it. We are not gods." Aizen mumbled.
"Aizen is right. We can't turn back the time." Hakuren stared at the kitchen.
"Mai is already dead for a long time now."