Hi there ! It's been some time since my last update ! The amount of work I had was quit insane ! Plus, I have to tell, I was reflecting on how to go for the next chapter and my idea of it changed two or three times already ! Now that my mind is clear, time to write !
Some mistake may be present. I've read this text again and again and again and I don't see anything anymore _
Rosaji : I'm very happy that you liked the two last chapters ! :D For sure I wasn't soft with Mai and Lin on the cabin's case but they needed Something strong ! :D This chapter, now, I thinked about it a lot ! I had the global idea, but not every piecesof it ! It took me a while ! Hope he will be liked too !
Joys : :D sure the last case played a big part on their actual relashionship ! You will see that on this one !
Nich31 : Thank you very much ! I'm always fearing to go too fast _ ! Let's pray I will not let the story go too fast !
6
21
It was a bad day. Today was her day off. Usually, getting a day off work was a good news… But not this time.
Mai didn't planned on showing it -and to whom would she do that, by the way ?- but it was Jully 3th. It was her birthday, and she was alone. In fact, everything just didn't go the way it should have. The plan was to go eat lunch with Monk and Ayako. Eventually Monk had an urgent work to attend at the last minute and Ayako got an emergency. It happen, it's life, it don't always go as planned. Except that it would have been great if it was any other day than this one. Mai took a sip of her drink while watching people pass by the coffee she stopped to. She looked at people, trying to imagine their life. Which one would be the extremely busy salarymen, whom would be a carefree college student or how many children this woman would have… ?
Well, the young woman was bored.
The office was silent, as always when Mai wasn't here. There was no meeting with a client on the planning so Naru was working on a thesis and Lin was checking a report he had to send to england. Today, making tea was his job and he was just about to do so. Taking the tea box, Lin saw that tey were still pretty full so they would not see Mai today. She would have no excuse to give to be here.
His mind lingered on her some more. Since the cabin's case, he had to admit that the time that, in his mind, had stopped long ago concerning Mai was flowing again. She was no more sixteen for a start. It was like he just opened his eyes, suddenly she was more mature, more dependable. And he should have seen that. In mind and in body she was not the same girl that in his memory. Mai was not a kid anymore. Girls… well, women were scary in that aspect. One time they were clearly young and immature girls and the second after they were full grown women. She would be able to marry if she wanted by now.
Lin's hands were making the tea by themselves as his mind was clearly somewhere else.
She was what…. Twenty ? Wait, wasn't it soon her birthday ? In his mind they celebrated her twenty years old around this time last years…
By the time he confirmed that he forgot the exact date, tea was ready to be delivered.
When Oliver saw Lin enter his office, he was capable to say that something was bothering him. His mind was clearly in clouds. But it was none of his buisness and he didn't have this kind of curiosity. If Lin was having trouble with something and that he had something to do with it, the man would tell him, as always.
He was going back to his work when the tall man asked a strange question.
« Noll, do you remember when is Taniyama-san's birthday ? »
To say that he was surprised was an understatement. Lin never talked about Mai before except for work related matters. So asking about her birthday was far from normal. Oliver didn't knew if the two of them saw it too, but their relashionship since the last case had improved quit a lot. It was small things so the scientist didn't want to say it, but it didn't mean that he was blind. When he hoped, back then, that letting them alone would improve the way they acted toward each other, he was half convinced himself that it would work. In fact, it was currently progressing quit well. For a start, his tall collegue was answering her grettings, hell no, he answered to anything she would ask, now. In return, Mai seemed to feel more at ease being around Lin and to speak her mind out loud. The feeling at work improved greatly.
And now they were wishing birthday ?
« Lin, I don't forget anything. I obviously know that much information »
« … »
« What is strange is you asking me. »
« What is strange about that ? »
« Some month ago you wouldn't even answer her normaly. Now you want to celebrate her birthday ? »
« I don't want to celebrate anything. It just came to mind that it should be soon… »
« Again, some month ago, you wouldn't have given importance to that information »
« Alright if you don't want to tell me Noll. I have work to do »
Lin was turning to go out when Oliver stated.
« Are you running away from this conversation, Lin ? »
This was really interesting. And it was even more so to see what he would do with the answer.
« Her birthday is indeed soon. She is turning fully adult* today »
The end of the day came so slowly for Mai that it was exasperating her. She received countless of happy birthday messages. From part of the SPR team, from friends, from pasts clients whom she kept contact with (one or two). She didn't hope to receive any from the SPR top combo Naru and Lin and didn't got any. It would have made her laught to receive one from Naru.
The young women was now going back home. She buyed a little cake and some extra food to make a special meal for herself. It's not because she was alone that day that she were'nt able to eat something better than usual.
Her appartment were in sight and the night just fell completly some time ago. She was going to cook something good and look at the TV all the evening. It was what she was thinking but, when she got at her appartment, someone was waiting. In the shadow of the hallway it was hard to see the face, but this straight posture, this tall stature… she knew only one person like that.
« Lin-san ? »
The man looked her way. He was calm as always.
« Taniyama-san. »
He inclined himself, respectful.
« Sorry not to have warned you of my visit. »
« You don't have to apologise for that, Lin-san ! It's great to see someone today ! »
« I'm glad to hear it. I was starting to worry that you got into some trouble when I sawthe night fall »
« Haha, I'm not always in trouble Lin-san ! Do you want to come in ? I will serve you some tea »
« I don't want to disturb you, you must have things to do. Happy birthday, Taniyama-san »
« Thank you ! »
Mai beamed, hearing a « happy birthday » in live.
« You won't disturb me, I was alone ! It will be great to have some company ! »
« It will be a pleasure, then »
Lin followed Mai inside silently. Her appartment was small, without any surprise, but it was also warm. It was inviting, like his owner.
« Please, make yourself confortable ! I'll go make some tea ! »
To make himself confortable was hard to do. Never would he have imagined himself alone in Mai's home. For a long time, she had been a coworker he was not too fond of. At that time, he was wrong, yes, but was it right now, even if the relationship was better, to be alone in her appartment ? He wasn't sure. Or was he afraid ?
He lacked time to really think about it, the woman was already coming back with tea. One who was smelling as good as the one she was drinking at the office. Lin looked Mai for a moment. He didn't know if he was wrong to be here, but she sure was showing him a big smile. She seemed happy.
« I was so surprised to see you waiting before my door, Lin-san ! I mean, I never imagined you would come ! »
« I am truly sorry. In fact, I remembered while working that your birthday should be around now. Simply calling to wish it seemed a bit cold to me. »
« As I said Lin-san, no need to apologised ! I'm really glad you did it ! I was planned to be all day with Monk and Ayako, but the two of them had work to do at the last minute ! »
So she had been alone all day long. She didn't put it this way, it was not her style to do so. She was too optimistic for that.
« The day must have been long for you… »
« Oh, I did find a way to pass the day ! I went shopping a bit, then drunk some coffee at a coffee shop and then buyed delicious food for myself tonight ! »
« I see you took good care of yourself today, it is good »
« If I don't do it for myself, who will ?! »
It was her way to be cheerfull, even if, said like that, it was a little sad. And Mai seemed to take notice of that because she jumpedon another suject faster.
« By the way, Lin-san, I have enought food for two, do you want to stay ? »
Right this instant, there was a fight in Lin's head. Some time ago he was questionning his presence here and now, he was concidering staying longer for a dinner with the two of them only. But just now, hearing her saying that nobody would take care of her except herself was sad and gave him a hard time saying « no ».
Maybe tomorrow, he would regret it.
Well, for now, he didn't mind…
« If if don't bother you, it will be a pleasure to keep you company on your birthday. »
*In Japan the majority is at 21.