Chapter Two
-oOo-
Madoka bounced eagerly, her eyes impatiently scanning the crowd in front of them. Lin placed a steadying hand on her arm, and she turned to him, her eyes practically sparkling with eagerness. "I can't wait to see these transfer students… According to Martin, their applications were stellar!"
Lin smiled at her. "I know Madoka, I was there when he told you."
Madoka beamed at him and threw her arms around his waist. "Too bad he didn't tell us the names of the students… he can be so absentminded sometimes." She giggled.
Lin flashed a quick rare smile at her. However, their moment was disturbed by loud shouts and laughter that originated from beyond the gate. Lin's eyes widened. He had heard those sounds before, in Japan. But it couldn't be them. Why would they be…?
"Takigawa Houshou!" a voice screeched with indignant female fury. Madoka and Lin pushed their way through the crowd to the very front, only to witness Ayako crashing her ever-present purse on top of Bou-san's head. Behind her, Yasuhara was leaning on Mai, practically howling in laughter at the scene.
Lin smiled at the nostalgia that suddenly washed over him. Some things would never change, and Ayako and Bou-san's relationship seemed to be one of those things. Beside him, Madoka squealed and shouted, "Hey! Over here, guys!" ignoring the looks that other people were throwing.
Lin could vaguely hear quiet groans of "Crap, my headache's back again…" from the passengers that came from the same plane as the Japanese SPR. He wondered… then realized that Bou-san and Ayako would probably have argued the entire ride and stifled a laugh. He did, however, also wince with pity.
"Madoka-san!" Yasuhara called out cheerfully, dragging Mai along with him. Behind them, Bou-san and Ayako were dragging the luggage, glaring daggers at laughing duo.
"Madoka-san!" Mai cheered before jumping forward to crush the older woman in a giant hug.
"Gah!" Madoka gasped, squirming in her grasp. "Too tight, Mai-chan!"
Yasuhara laughed. "Careful, Mai-chan. You're doing the anaconda hug again."
"Oops… hehehe…" Mai laughed sheepishly. Her eyes lit up, however, when she spotted Lin-san, looking happy but somewhat uncomfortable, standing next to Madoka, his arm curled around her waist protectively. "Lin-san! Are you and Madoka-san dating?" she blurted out gleefully.
Madoka turned a light pink, but thankfully Lin managed to avoid eye contact with the younger girl. Instead, he intoned, "Let's leave the airport; the Professor and others are waiting for us."
And with that, he ushered them all out and into the van before any more questions could be answered.