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~Jealousy in the Office~

Chapter 13

Soon all of the SPR members gathered back together in base after they finished their duties. Much to their boss' annoyance, they were as loud as ever, arguing over everything and anything. The brunette was in between the monk and miko, trying to quite them down before her boss got too irritated with them.

"Guys, are you trying to get us murdered?!" Mai hissed at the couple.

"Relaaaaax." Monk waved it off. "We have a safe net."

The petite girl tilted her head in confusion. "What do you mean we have a safe net?"

"You." Monk and Ayako both grinned before the man continued. "If Naru does come after us, then we'll just put you in front of us and everyone stays safe and unharmed!"

Mai gaped at them. "You wouldn't dare!" Her two so-called friends just shrugged.

"If it meant sparing our lives, it's a rather small sacrifice." Ayako stated with a smirk. Mai's mouth dropped in shock.

"Nice to know you think so little of me!" She scowled.

Masako snickered. "I doubt you need to worry about Naru killing you. You seem to be doing a pretty good job with how clumsy you are without any input." Mai glared at the medium and began grumbling incoherent words.

From his seat, Naru's eyebrow twitched. Why did they have to be so loud? He could hear every single thing they were saying. Not to mention the topic of discussion they just had to choose. What was so interesting about arguing over whether he would murder them for being too loud anyway? They're all idiots. Naru mentally rolled his eyes. From across the room, he noticed his brunette assistant pouting.

"I'm not going to be your shield because you guys are scared!" She informed them, crossing her arms. Really, what was wrong with them?! Thinking she would stand up to Naru just to save them because they were being too loud. They were crazy—she wasn't going to risk suffering Naru's wrath for them. No matter what they say, there's no way he would spare her. It was impossible. Mai mentally sighed. Risking the chance, she glanced over to her narcissistic boss. She blushed when she saw him looking at them, well, more specifically her. Turning away quickly, she briefly wondered why he was looking at her.

Did she...did she have something on her face?!

Moving her hand, she discreetly wiped around her mouth. Finding nothing she sighed in relief. It still didn't explain why he was staring at her though. She also wasn't exactly sure how to feel about it. What could he possibly be thinking about?

"Mai, tea."

Ah...she should've known... The jerk.

Standing up, the brunette glanced around. "Who's coming with me?" She asked. When no one made an effort to move, she frowned. "Anyone?" Mai rolled her eyes at their antics. "Then I guess I'm going to go by myself. Don't worry about me, the ghost only wants my head." She stated sarcastically, moving towards the door.

"Mai." She heard Naru sigh. She turned to him with crossed arms.

"Well, what do you want me to do? No-one wants to come and you want tea!" She huffed. He gave her a small glare before standing up.

"I told you that you aren't to go anywhere without Lin or myself."

Mai pressed her lips together. "Then why did you let me go with Monk to change the tapes?"

Naru glared at her. "Don't ask questions." He snapped, making his way over to the door.

"Ha!" Mai grinned, pointing a finger at him. "That just means you forgot, didn't you?!"

"Not everyone has such a small amount of brain cells as to forget a detail like that." He snapped coldly. Mai couldn't help but giggle through the indirect insult.

"You forgot just face it~!" She continued to tease. The young boss simply brushed her off, making his way out the door. "Heh." Was all she said as she followed her boss out. Inwardly she was jumping up and down in excitement. Take that! Mai: 1 Naru: ... Well who cares. Mai's 'family' couldn't help but laugh at the girl's antics as she left. From the corner of the room where he was looking at the monitors, no-one noticed as Lin smirked knowingly.

"How long you do you think it'll take before those two are together?" Monk asked to no one in particular, his voice laced with amusement. Lin pulled out 1,000 yen.

"I say a day." He bet. John nodded in agreement.

"I would have to say the same." He agreed. Monk raised a brow at the two.

"Those two having been going around each other for a few years now...what's makes you think they're going to get together within a day?" He asked.

"Besides I didn't take either of you for the betting type." Ayako added, nevertheless pulling out 1,000 yen. John shrugged.

"Just a feeling, what about you Lin?" The silent Chinses man gave a nod, giving the priest a knowing look, while trying to hide his smirk. From next to them Masako scoffed.

"You're beginning to sound like Mai."

Monk grinned, putting his hands on the back of his hand. "Well. We'll just have to wait and see if they're right."

Well then, how long do you think it'll take?" John asked curiously.

"By how much they've already progressed during this case..." Monk thought about it for a few moments. "Probably the end of the case."

Ayako sighed. "I'm betting it'll be a day after we finish this case. Those two get awkward when things happen so they'll most likey do something stupid and then figure it out the next day and get together."

"Honestly they should've been together already by now." Lin admitted slightly shaking his head in disappointment. Bou-san sighed dramatically.

"It's because they both seem to have the idea that the other would never like them. I don't even know how they came to that assumption."

"I do know Naru thinks that... He admitted that Mai would never feel that way about him while all of you were out earlier." John sighed, along with Lin. Really, the two teenagers were complete idiots. The priestess rolled her eyes.

"Unlike all of you old people, I still remember going through the same thing at one point." She stated. Monk raised an eyebrow.

"What are you talking about? You are old. Apparently she's going delusional in her old age." The man jabbed. Pulling her purse from who-knows-where, Ayako swiftly landed a hit on his head.

"Who are you calling old, you geezer?!"

"Ow! Sheesh woman—stop hitting me so hard!" The monk whined rubbing his head. Turning away, Ayako simply huffed. Seeing the beginnings of a fight, John naturally decided now would be a perfect time to step in.

"Aha, I think we should all quiet down before Mai and Naru comes back." He said, sweatdropping. The couple looked up at him.

"Why? It's not like we're any different around them." Bou-san pointed out. John hesitated, shifting on his feet slighly.

"Uh, because Kazuya might get mad."

They paused and their eyes went wide. Getting Naru mad wasn't something they were keen on doing. They sank down in their seats and zipped their mouths shut. It was quiet for a few moments before a certain monk groaned.

"This is hopeless!" He exclaimed. "We can't be quiet!"

Masako snickered. "That's because you're all idiots." She claimed. Ayako looked over at the medium and glared.

"We're the idiots?! I seem to remember you clinging to Naru like a complete fool!" She retorted. Masako glared back. John, seeing the tension, tried to calm them.

"Ah, Ayako, that—" He tried to say. Ayako narrowed her eyes at him.

"Don't bother John. It's not like she can say anything to deny it."

"That was a long time ago..." Masako said, avoiding looking at any of them. Bou-san grinned.

"Not that it matters. Mai and Naru are definitely going to get together." He reminded. Lin had to hide a smirk.

"And it shouldn't be long from now." He said.

"What shouldn't be long?" Came a cold voice from the door. Everyone looked towards the doorway to see Naru standing there with Mai, who was blinking owlishly, behind him. They all looked away from them and Monk began to whistle innocently.

"Nothing, absolutely nothing." He stated grinning, sweat dripping off his brow. Naru narrowed his eyes.

"What were you talking about?" He demanded. The monk turned to Lin only to see him turned back to the computer as if nothing had happened.

"Traitor..." Bou-san muttered.

"I'm still waiting. It must have been extremely interesting for you to be sitting around wasting time." Naru spoke icily. The sarcasm wasn't lost on anyone...except maybe the brunette assistant behind him.

"At least we're not the ones who had to stop for a tea break." Ayako quietly scoffed. The young boss turned his glare to her.

"Is there a problem?"

The red-haired woman smile almost bitterly. "Not at all."

"That's what I thought." Walking over to the monitors he sat down in one of the seats. Mai slowly walked into the room with a confused look as she eyed the others.

"So...what were you guys talking about?" She asked curiously. Monk smiled at her.

"Don't worry your pretty little head about it." He told her. Mai pouted.

"I am worrying about it! If you were all talking about it, why won't you tell me?" She whined. The others said nothing just glanced at each other. Mai fell onto the seat next to Bou-san still pouting, her head scrunched up in concentration. "Pwease Monk?" She asked childishly, giving her puppy dog eyes. He turned his head away knowing that if he looked at her he'd break. Mai's eyes went wide and tears filled them. "I-is it because you were s-saying b-bad things about me?" She asked quietly. Everyone's eyes widened in panic—aside from Naru's, whose narrowed instead.

"Of course it wasn't anything bad! Why would you think that?!" Monk blurted before he knew what he was saying.

"How can I know that? There's no other reason why you wouldn't tell me anything!" The brunette cried. Monk started to panic even more. Why did Mai crying always have to be a weak spot for him—for anyone of them?

From where Naru sat he was getting more and more annoyed. Couldn't they just tell her what they were talking about? What's the big deal about it? They even went as far as to make her cry. If those tears spill out, someone was going to get hurt... He couldn't help but have flashbacks from at the office when she broke down. He subconsiously tightened his fists. If that were to happen again, he didn't know what he would do. If it was in his ability to do so and in his control, he'd make sure nothing would ever make her cry. And yet here he was, sitting down and watching as tears filled her eyes. His jaw clenched. He had to do something.

"Mai." He called. Mai sniffed slightly and looked at her boss.

"What?" She asked. Naru sighed.

"Calm down, do you really think that those idiots could even think of saying anything bad about you?"

"I don't know..." Mai lowered her gaze. Her young boss pinched the tip of his nose. Damn this girl. Then why was she crying if she didn't know?!

"Mai, if you don't know then how can you be so sure?" He asked. The brunette sniffed.

"I can't." She mumbled quietly. She glanced at the others. "But they said they were talking about me." She pointed out, rubbing away some of the tears from her eyes.

"So? Have you ever thought it was something good?" He asked. Mai shook her head slowly. "There you go, Mai."

The brunette sighed, still looking down. "I'm sorry..." She muttered to the others. Bou-san let out a sigh of relief. At least she hadn't asked what they were talking about. "But if it wasn't something bad then why wouldn't they tell me?" She continued to ask Naru.

"Because they're idiots." He deadpanned bluntly.

"Hey! I resent that!" Monk shouted, jumping up from his seat. Naru glared at him.

"Oh, in that case would you care to share the real reason as to why you're being so secretive?" He asked coldly. Monk opened his mouth all set and ready to speak but he immediately shut it; his shoulders slumped. "That's what I thought."

Lin only smirked from his place on the monitors. Mai and Naru wouldn't suspect him. He was off the hook, unlike the others. While they were busy bickering, he had managed to get an update on Mai and Naru's relationship to Madoka. She was absolutely delighted to hear the news. If he had let her, she would have been on the first plane to Japan to interfere with their relationship and "speed things up". It took a lot of convincing for her not to come.

Noll should be grateful.

Especially when he had to make Madoka not to mention of any this to Noll's mother yet. It was like trying to convince Mai not to do something reckless. It was almost impossible if you didn't use the right tactics. Luckily he knew the right ones though. That's not to say he didn't want those two to get together already... But they shouldn't have anyone pushing them further together. They were quite capable of doing that themselves. Even if it is taking them forever.

Truth be told, if it weren't for his strict discipline, he probably would have yelled at them to get together long ago. Unlike everyone else he had to deal with the clueless teens almost every day. It was torture to say the least. He let out a silent sigh. He could only hope that this feeling would come true by tomorrow...if not he'd also be losing some money. And that was definitely not something he planned on doing. If they don't get together by tomorrow, so help him...

He was pretty sure he'd go insane.

Naruisawesome: Lol Mai was acting so childish!

MzShellSan: Yes, but she had to grow up too fast anyways. Leave her alone and let Naru fix it!

Naruisawesome: *sigh* Fine, fine!

MzShellSan: Please leave a review!