Chapter 11
"If everyone is done visiting, I would like to get down to business." Naru said sighing. We just grinned at him sheepishly. "Lin and I talked to the officers in charge of the case and they admitted to not confirming Ichirou-san's story with the retired janitor. They also told us that they noticed some painted symbols in the old school building that was there at the time before it was demolished."
"Did they get any pictures of them?" Monk asked completely serious now.
"Yes," Lin said pulling them up on his laptop.
"They're the same ones Shichirou had in those papers." I muttered as Lin showed the pictures to everyone.
"That must be where Ichirou-san was doing his stuff before." Masako said frowning.
"So where's he practicing now?" Ayako asked frowning too.
"We're not sure, but the officers said they still have the finger prints and everything on file." Naru said after taking a sip of his tea.
"I also found out some information on Ishida-san." Yasu informed the group. "He's been pretty busy over the last few years. He's spent a lot of money on paint supplies and he's been paying rent on a storage unit that isn't too far from Ichirou-san's home."
"Yes, the officers Lin and I talked to said they learned about that a few weeks ago and have gone to check it out, but they didn't find anything." Naru looked troubled.
"He probably used something to cover it all up if that's where Ichirou-san is practicing." I said frowning.
"Ishida-san has been seen at the library looking into dark rituals and the librarian there told me he checked out a few books on summoning spirits from the other side. She said he took them out in large quantities and wouldn't bring them back until a week after they were supposed to be due."
"How long has he been doing that?" I asked curiously.
"Hm," He said skimming through some papers. "For about two years now. He's had to pay a lot of late fees on books but the librarian said he didn't seem to mind."
"Then Ishida-san must've found out two years ago and has been doing all of this for Ichirou-san for the last two years."
"It seems Ishida-san is the one to talk to. How are we going to approach him?" Masako questioned. Yasu grinned.
"Well, I talked to the school secretary, who happens to have Ishida-san's schedule. Plus, I called his wife and found out what he does on his days off. She said he spends most of his time in his study, but sometimes he'll step out for hours at a time saying he was going to see Ichirou-san at the school."
"I bet he goes to that storage unit to see Ichirou-san," I said grinning too.
"Okay, you mystery otakus, take it easy." Monk said sighing. "Don't forget that we're technically not on the case anymore. So we have no right in snooping around in Ishida-san's home."
"But Monk, Yasu wasn't snooping in Ishida-san's home. He was just talking to Ishida-san's wife on the phone and the storage unit isn't his home either. We may not be able to talk to him at the school, but if we catch him at the storage unit, then maybe we could get our chance to talk to him." I said with determination. I want to help out Shichirou as much as I can.
"What do you think Naru?" Mai asked him. Naru sighed.
"What day is Ishida-san off next?" Yasu and I grinned.
"Next Saturday."
"Alright, let's all meet back here next Saturday at 1 pm."
"Okay!" I said grinning. Monk sighed, shaking his head; although he didn't say anything about it. "So, Monk, since it's the weekend, how about we go and tell ghost stories with Michiru and Keiko?" He chuckled.
"I'm okay with it, if you are John." John smiled.
"That's fine with me."
"Great! Let's meet up at our school around 2:30 in the afternoon tomorrow?" I said looking at the other three.
"That sounds good." Mai said nodding.
"Yeah, that's fine. We'll meet you there." Monk said grinning. I grinned back. This was going to be fun. Later on, Mai and I went to go check out that café that she was talking about.
"May I help you?" A girl with long black hair pulled into a ponytail and was wearing glasses asked me. She was wearing a waitress uniform which consisted of a black lace dress that cut off at the knees and had a red ribbon tied around the waist, white tights, and black flats.
"Um, I'm here to ask about the job opening." She smiled.
"Alright, step this way. What was your name again?"
"Aki Haru." She nodded.
"It's nice to meet you. I'm Hajime Tsuchida." I smiled.
"It's nice to meet you too."
"So have you any experience as a waitress?"
"No, but I'm willing to learn." She nodded.
"It's not hard once you get it down, but I'm sure you'll be okay." She said as we entered the back room. "Just let me get Suzuki-san, our manager." I nodded and waited patiently as she went into the manager's office. The employee area was small, but it was nice.
"You are Aki Haru, yes?" A woman with mid-length red hair that was left down and wearing a uniform like the waitress uniform, only it was red with a black ribbon, and she also had white tights and black flats said walking up to me.
"Yes ma'am." She smiled.
"I'm the manager, Izumi Suzuki. When can you start?"
"Monday after school." She nodded.
"Do you just want to work the weekdays after school?"
"Yes, please." She smiled.
"That's doable. You can start at 4:00 after school on Monday. We just need your size for your uniform." I smiled back.
"Okay!" After measuring me for my uniform, she told me I could pick it up on Sunday at 2 in the afternoon. "Okay, I'll see you Sunday!" Then I went back out to see Mai drinking some tea.
"Did you get the job?" She asked eagerly.
"Yeah!"
"That's great!"
"I know!" I couldn't stop grinning.
"What should we do to celebrate?" She asked thoughtfully as we headed back to the apartment.
"First we should call Michiru and Keiko!" She nodded.
"Let's invite them over for dinner!"
"We're gonna have to go grocery shopping aren't we?" She laughed nervously.
"Yeah, I forgot about that." I laughed.
"Come on, we've got some grocery shopping to do! You call Michiru and Keiko and don't forget to tell them about the time and day we're going to tell ghost stories."
"Leave it to me!" She pulled out her phone and dialed a number. As she talked to those two, I led her to the nearest grocery store and grabbed a cart. Hm... what should we have to eat? "Great, we'll see you there!" Then Mai hung up the phone.
"That was quick." She shrugged.
"As soon as I told them, they said they would be right over." I chuckled.
"So, roommate, what should we get?"
"Well, what do you feel like having?"
"Why do you always answer my questions with another question?"
"I don't do that all the time, do I?" She asked, 'innocently'.
"Ugh!" She laughed. "How about a steam pot?"
"Alright, that sounds good to me!" We got all the ingredients and returned to the apartment where Keiko and Michiru were waiting for us.
"Sorry for making you wait,"
"Congratulations!" Michiru said hugging me and cutting me off. I chuckled and hugged her back.
"Thanks," We ended having a sleepover and it was really fun. I'm glad I met Michiru. If not for that, then I wouldn't have met Mai, Keiko, or Naru and the others. I'm glad that I've met these people who accept me for who I am. Later on that night, Mai got a call from Naru.
"What!?" Mai said loudly. "That janitor's house is on fire!?"
"What?" I asked alarmed.
"Yes, I understand. Aki and I will meet you and the others at the office." Then she hung up the phone.
"What's going on?" I asked her worriedly.
"Do you remember the janitor Yasu told us about? Thirty minutes ago, the police were informed of his house being on fire. Luckily his wife made it, but the janitor himself wasn't so lucky. He's in a burn unit at the hospital right now. Naru and Lin are heading to the office and has asked us to meet them there." I nodded. I looked over at Michiru and Keiko, who looked confused.
"Sorry guys, we really need to go." I said feeling badly. Michiru and Keiko smiled.
"It's okay, we understand. Is it alright if Keiko and I stay here for the night?"
"Yeah it's okay," Mai said smiling at them.
"We'll see you tomorrow, okay?" They nodded and then Mai and I got changed and headed to the office.