Authors Note- Updated and Edited 10-21-19.
Mei walked out of her mother's old doll shop idly wondering what Ayako would think about all the dolls that reside there as she began to walk towards Kouichi's grandparent's house.
'Why did it have to be the ones that I know with my other identity that were hired? I mean seriously out of all the ghost hunters in Japan they choose the ones I know from when I am Mai... At least I know they are not fake, meaning they might actually be able to break the curse forever...' Her thoughts trailed off as she ran into someone who was coming around the bend. She was able to catch herself before she fell over from the impact.
"Sorry fo- Mei?" A familiar male voice said with slight excitement upon seeing the black-haired female.
"Teshigawara." She greeted not coldly but somewhat distant her worry from her previous thought shining in her crimson eye.
"Heading to Sakaki's?" He asked getting a nod from her. "Then since we are both heading there why don't we walk together." He suggested and she once again nodded in agreement as she began to walk once more with him walking at her left side.
"So, you seem worried about something? I mean it could be about being back in town, but I get the feeling that it is not because of that. Is Tokyo bothering you so much that I can pick up on you not acting as well, you?" He asked teasing her lightly, but he was truly concerned for his old classmate.
"Like I told Kouichi, I will be telling everyone what is bothering me once we all arrive, so I do not have to explain everything more than once." She replied calmly not glancing over in his direction.
"Alright then I expect a full explanation at Sakaki's." He said seriously earning a nod from her. Ever since the class trip he had been a lot more serious than he had been before, he did not joke around as much but when he did it usually cheered the four survivors up even the slightest bit, and if it does not help he knows something is seriously wrong.
"You will be getting the full explanation, I promise." She assured as they arrive outside of an older house with two teens already there sitting on the porch of the building. "It seems we were the last to arrive." She spoke as the two stood and came down the stairs as Mei and the light brown-haired teen got to the base of the stairs.
"Hello Mei, Naoya." Yuuya greeted with a small but soft smile towards the two arrivals.
"Hey. It's been a while." Kouichi said smiling to Mei who smiled slightly in return, but it was somewhat strained.
"Yeah. Since I moved to Tokyo." She agreed as the four teens went inside and to the living room where they all sat around the coffee table.
"So, are you going to explain what you are so worried about now?" Naoya asked hopefully wanting to know what is bothering her, so that they could possibly help her.
"Yeah I promised I would." The ravenette said softly looking around at the three guys around her before she looked down at the table. "Well I have told you all before that was going to change my name and how I look while in Tokyo because looking normal and using my real name feels like I am betraying Misaki in some way. Or maybe it just reminds me too much of her..." She trailed off and looked up seeing the boys nod in confirmation of her statement. "Well the name I have been going by is Mai Taniyama... and under that name and look I work at SPR. The group that is coming to help investigate..." Her voice was barely above a whisper but that was not unusual for her, so they all were able to hear her and were all somewhat shocked at the confession, Yuuya was the first one to come speak.
"So, you are worried about them finding out the truth?" Yuuya asked softly looking at the girl who had looked back down at the table, the girl that became close to all of the three males since graduation and he knew that despite the fact that she did not like bonding to others, but she thought of them the same way as well as she had confessed that just before she had left to Tokyo.
"Yeah, I am. Because if they find out they might either make me leave the group permanently or will try and get me to go around with my actual name and looks, but like I said before I don't want to do that because it feels like I am betraying Misaki." She sighed her visible eye looking down at the table as Kouichi, Yuuya, and Naoya all shared similar thoughts along the line of 'This is the most she has said about her life in Tokyo, and she is worried about it. We need to do whatever we can to help her keep her secret.' The three shared a look before they looked back to her.
"Mei they will most likely find out during this however we will do whatever we can to keep your secret just that until they do figure it out." Naoya said determinedly making said girl smile a little bit.
"Thank you." She said softly and with a grateful tone which all three heard making them all smile in return.
Outside of the SPR Office
"So Naru. Why did you call us all here? Normally you don't call us all before we go on a case. And where is Mai?" Ayako asked curiously towards the narcissistic teen.
"We have a case at Yomiyama North Middle School, and it may or may not require all of your abilities. Those who are driving in Monks car will be informed of everything by Yasuhara. As for Mai she is currently on a leave from work to help one of her teachers whom helped her after her mother died." Naru informed the priestess as well as the others who were listening in to the conversation. "Also, this case is a two-hour drive away and I want to make it there by two-thirty. Three at the most."
At Naru's words everyone piled into the cars. Yasu, Monk, Ayako, and John in one car while Lin, Naru, and Masako in the van.
Two and a Half Hours Later
"This doesn't look like the type of place that would have a curse on it." Monk said with a confused tone as he looked at the building. "It just looks like a normal modern public middle school."
"Well you are right about that, but we were told it is only the one class that has a curse on it not the whole building." Yasu said as Aoi walked out of the building followed by a bald man in his mid-forties with deep green eyes.
"Thank you for coming Mr. Shibuya. This is Kaoru Hana the principal of the school." She introduced the man beside her.
"It's a pleasure to meet you. My name is Kazuya Shibuya, and this is my assistant Lin and the people behind us are our associates Hoshou Takigawa, Ayako Matsuzaki, Masako Hara, John Brown, and Yasuhara Osamu." Naru said introducing everyone.
"Nice to meet you all now come along and we will take you to your base room. It is next to where the four students of class three are working if you need them." Kaoru said in a bored tone as he turned and walked down the hallway as the SPR members followed looking around as they walked. They walk for a few minutes before coming to a door to a meeting room. "Here is your requested room. I will take my leave now and if you need anything ask Aoi."
Aoi sighed as the principal left them.
"Miss Tanaka, if it wouldn't be too much trouble is last year's class here by any chance? Because I believe talking to them might bring us some valuable information for the case." Lin asked her as he like the rest of the team was curious about the kids who had supposedly broken the curse once already.
"Yes, they are here now. So, let me go get them for you." She said with a strained smile before leaving the room.
"Yasu showed us the pictures on the way. That girl looks an awful lot like Mai, doesn't she? Except for the hair and eye." Monk asked looking around at the others in the room.
"Yes, she does. And her name isn't too far off from Mai either seeing as her name is Mei. Maybe they are related?" Ayako suggested just as the door opened with Aoi coming in being followed by four teens who looked around at the group.
"Wow this is a diverse group." Naoya said shocked by how different everyone in the room seemed from the others his comment seemed to make the other three relax slightly.
"Naoya be nice." Yuuya said is a slightly scolding tone as he looked over at his friend.
"What I was just saying." The blonde teen said putting his hands up in surrender.
"I agree with Yuuya." Mei stated using the same tone of voice she had used when she first met Kouichi as it was completely opposite from what the group had known from her. Her comment earned a soft laugh from Kouichi, who stood next to Mei in the back of the group with Yuuya and Naoya in front of the two.
"Not you too Mei!" The blonde complained unaware of how much he was entertaining a few of the ghost hunters.
"I don't believe that we are the only diverse group in the room." Monk said amused as he looked at the four in front of them.
Kouichi sighed at the comment. "Yes. I agree with that." He said earning a small smile from Mei, a chuckle from Yuuya, and laughter from Naoya.