Chapter 3: A Bet

Mai sat in the library, researching the different paranormal cases Dr. Matsuzaki gave the class for the upcoming project. Kazuya and herself need to choose a case to study by the end of the week. Sure, it's only Monday and they're yet to go to Dr. Matsuzaki's class, but Mai wanted to be prepared. She wanted to know exactly which case she wanted and guarantee getting it before anyone else in the class.

Little did she know that the reading for the cases was quite extensive.

After all, the majority of cases were from BSRP and written by Dr. Martin Davis himself.

"Lucky for me, I know his sons," Mai mumbled to herself as she continued reading the case files. Each one was intriguing, but Mai had yet to find THE ONE, even after sitting in the library reading them for three hours.

Mai reached her hands over her head to stretch and was about to stand when she heard a voice behind her.

"You really should refrain from saying things like that out loud."

Mai turned towards the voice, not surprised that it was Kazuya.

"Saying what?"

He pulled the chair next to Mai out, sat down and began to pull out his laptop. "You wouldn't want to break a promise now, would you?"

Mai looked at the raven haired man next to her. "What would happen if I did? Besides, I only ever remembering promising to keep quiet about it as long as your brother doesn't hurt Michiru."

"Why not decide your punishment now, then?" Kazuya said as he logged into his computer.

"Like what?"

Kazuya's hands paused over the keyboard as an idea entered his mind.

"You will go on a date. With me." His hands resumed their earlier motions as Mai froze.

'Another date? WITH HIM? Is he serious right now?' Her mind ran as she processed what he just said. 'Wait…. That's if I break my promise of not telling anyone about the Davis' being Kazuya and Gene's parents…"

"Alright, Kazuya, you have a deal. If I break my promise of not telling anyone, I agree to go on a date with you. But, if I can go all semester without spilling, YOU have to do something nice for me."

Kazuya chuckled under his breath. "Wouldn't allowing you to go on another date with me be doing something nice for you?"

Mai scoffed. "And I thought those rumors weren't true."

"Rumors?" Kazuya's interest was peaked.

"You haven't heard? Wow…" Mai rolled her eyes and sighed as she continued, "I've heard from a few of your past partners that you are very narcissistic. Some believe you either rival Narcissus or are the reincarnation of him."

"Considering Narcissus is just a greek myth, I highly doubt I could be the reincarnation of him. But," Kazuya paused and looked into the dark monitor of the library computer in front of him, "I could definitely give him a run for his money."

"Obviously," Mai scoffed. "Anyway, if I make it to the end of the semester without telling, you have to do something nice for me. And that does not include going on a date with you."

Mai extended her hand. "Deal?"

Kazuya smirked as he looked at Mai. "Deal," he said as he took her hand and shook it.

"Now, let's get to work shall we?" Kazuya said. "I'd like to have a case chosen by class time."

"You did what?!" Michiru exclaimed as she shot out of her seat at the dinner table. Keiko shot her a look since the sudden motion almost made her spill the drink in her hand all over her shirt.

"I made a bet with Kazuya," Mai said again as she dipped her sushi roll in soy sauce. "If I didn't tell a soul about who his parents are the rest of the semester, he has to do something nice for me. If I accidentally told someone, I have to go on a date with him."

"Why'd you agree to this?" Michiru asked.

"Because I have no reason to tell anyone who his parents are, nor have any intention of telling anyone."

"She's confident she'll win," Keiko chimed in. "Mai wouldn't make this bet if she knew that she had a chance of losing."

Mai smiled at her roommates. "Besides, I have a great opportunity here! I have a chance of impressing Kazuya enough that he could put a good word in for me! This is my chance, Michiru!"

Michiru reached a hand out and placed it on Mai's resting hand. "Just make sure that you don't end up falling for Kazuya."

Mai laughed a little. "Me? Fall in love with that narcissist? I can guarantee you that won't happen."

"You really made a bet with her?" Gene asked.

"You act as if this is surprising for me to do," Kazuya said as he took a bite of his dinner. "Besides, it'll be interesting to see how long Mai will hold out before she tells someone."

"You just love messing with people, don't you…" Gene sighed.

"Only certain people," Kazuya corrected him, "and Mai is quite clever. I'll have to step up my game with her."

Gene stood up with his dinner plate and walked past Kazuya. On his way to the kitchen, he put a hand on the younger twin's shoulder. "Just don't push this too far to where either one of you gets hurt or fall for the other. I know how much you disdain the thought of relationships, but you don't know if Mai has the same mindset or not. Be careful with this one. For both our sakes."

Kazuya simply nodded as he finished his dinner as Gene started cleaning the kitchen. He knew this game he was about to start would be a challenge, but Kazuya welcomed it. But, one thing he could assure himself is that he won't fall in love with Mai.

At least not easily.

A/N: A bit shorter chapter this time around. This is honestly turning a different way than I expected, and I do hope nothing is feeling out of place or awkward for characters. This will be a while when it's done and with school AND work, but I will write whenever I can! So hopefully I can get quite a bit done at work, but we'll see!

Until next chapter! (Which hopefully will be soon!)