18 December

Noll is a man of routine, though it is not because of the discipline it instilled. No; it is because of its convenience: doing the same things every morning means that he could do them automatically while he contemplates on things related to parapsychology. Disrupting his routine would therefore disorient him and undoubtedly start off his day in a terrible mood. But if the alternative is having an unpleasant day rather than just an unpleasant morning, then Noll has no choice but to do it.

So he wakes up one hour early today. It does not turn out as bad as he prepared himself for. Aside from the initial disorientation when he wakes up to the glowing 6:00 AM of his bedside clock, he is able to complete his morning routine of Tu-na, showering, and breakfast and tea without further ado or running into anyone.

By the time the grandfather clock in the living room chimes seven times, Noll is ready to set off for the laboratory. Since Luella wakes up at the same time he normally does, he decides to make a side trip to greet her before leaving.

"Of course I miss you, too!" Mai's voice cuts through the silence just as he enters the kitchen. Beyond the counter she leans against, the water heater is puffing out small wisps of water vapor, and a teacup waits beside it. Mai meanwhile is deep in conversation with someone over her phone. Noll instinctively steps back out, but the movement catches her eye.

"Naru…" She removes the earphone from one ear as she directs her attention at him. "What're you doing here?" she asks but backtracks: "I-I mean, this is your house. Right. But—What?" She turns back to her phone, and he again moves to leave. Immediately. "Naru, wait!" A soft click, and then—

"Oh my god it's Big Boss! —Ah, I'm sorry, John."

"It is all right, Osamu-san. It is so good to see you again, Shibuya-san."

"You guys, move over—I can't see the guy. Hey, Naru-bou! It's been a while!"

"How about you move over, stupid monk!" A yowl. "Oh, there he is. Handsome as always, Naru."

"It has been a while, Naru."

Noll looks back in surprise. Everyone in his former team, save for Lin and Mai, is noisily waving at him from Mai's phone. He regrets not walking away faster.

"Oya? Can't he hear us?" Bou-san asks.

"Nope, he can hear you. He's just ignoring you—all of us, really," Mai replies tartly.

"As someone quite well-known in law school myself, I think I understand. After five years of no contact, Shibuya-san has surely forgotten us." Yasuhara-san joins in. He has an exaggerated look of mock understanding on his face that irritates Noll. "Who are we in his grand life, right? We're nothing but slaves who got him all his data while he took a nap in a restaurant by the sea and sipped his tea."

Bou-san nods. "Mm. You're right, shounen. When you're a world-renowned scientist or a bar top-notcher, those below your level simply don't exist."

Noll's eyes widen. "You topped the bar examination, Yasuhara-san?" Damn it. He has fallen right into their trap.

"That's Yasuhara-sensei to you, Shibuya-san," comes the smug reply, followed by a round of laughter. Noll glares at all of them.

"Well then, Yasuhara-sensei, if you will now excuse me—"

"I won't~ We miss you too much!"

Noll sighs and leaves anyway.

He disrupts his morning routine only to still encounter Mai. His day starts in the worst way he can imagine.

Author's Notes: Please brace yourselves for another chapter very soon (as soon as I finish writing it XD)! I'm delayed enough as it is, but I promise to post a chapter for every day until Christmas. :)

To Futuristic Typewriter and CaitHawke4Ever: We'll see about that~ ;)

To anonymous reviewer Joys: Thanks for your review!

To daughterXofXdarkness: Oh! Sorry for misunderstanding! Sorry as well for the future pain because it will take quite a while for him to realize a thing or two. DX He'll get better in time, though. :D I think.

To Nollypoo: Here you go!

Disclaimer: I don't own Ghost Hunt or any of its characters.