Disclaimer: All characters in Ghost Hunt are the creation of the Goddess Ono Fuyumi-sama.
"Lin-san, I'm bored," Mai whined.
Lin sighed gently, but didn't respond.
"What do mean it's not your problem?" Mai questioned. "At least give me some work!"
"Wait until Naru gets back," Lin sighed. "He told you to stay in the base."
Mai could hear the words he left unsaid, "You're a trouble magnet."
"That's rude," Mai mumbled. "I'm not a trouble magnet."
Lin turned to her, raising his eyebrows as if to say, "Really, Taniyama-san? Really?"
"Okay," Mai admitted, "I'm a bit of a trouble magnet. But only since I met you. I'm still not convinced that shoe shelf wasn't meant for you from the beginning."
Without responding, Lin turned back to the computer and resumed typing.
Clearly, to Mai at least, his unspoken words were, "If you're going to bring that up again, I won't talk to you."
"I'm sorry!" Mai apologized, bowing slightly. "Don't be upset."
"Mai," Naru called, entering the room, "stop bothering Lin while he's working."
"Naru," Mai began, frowning, "Lin-san says he's not so incompetent that he can't have a conversation and still do his work."
"Mai, stop playing games," Naru commanded before pausing as he watched Lin.
Lin had slowly raised his hand to his mouth as if he was deep in thought. Mai could tell he was trying not to laugh.
"Lin, did something happen?" Naru questioned, unable to see his expression.
Lin cleared his throat. "No, I just had a sudden thought."
"What is it?" Naru pestered.
"I'd rather not say," Lin confessed, his back still to Naru.
"Why not?" Naru questioned again, refusing to give up.
"It involves Taniyama-san," Lin quietly remarked.
"Mai…" Naru sighed.
"What?" Mai asked innocently.
"You're corrupting Lin's work ethic," Naru accused.
Mai looked at Naru doubtfully.
"That doesn't seem like a likely scenario," she reasoned, completely serious now. "Anyway, did you find what you were looking for?"
"Yes," Naru answered, a little less irritated. "We'll be able to exorcise the spirits now."
"Is there any chance of helping them move on?" Mai questioned earnestly.
"If the two of you are willing to work something out," Naru offered, "I'm not against letting you try."
"I'm willing if Lin-san is," Mai said. "How about it, Lin-san?"
Lin turned to Mai, his face a mask of indifference.
"Do you really have to ask?" he deadpanned.
Mai smiled brightly.