Chapter 1: As a hello
Noll passed through the arrivals gate of Narita. It was just past 2:45 AM on a less busy day, so the airport wasn't as crowded as he'd dreaded. Nonetheless, the passengers who were there turned to stare, and even if he disregarded them he couldn't ignore the growing weariness from the long flight and unwanted attention. He wanted nothing more than to check into his room, take a rest, and get right into work. Without Lin's intuitive assistance, he'd have to do everything on his own for the meantime.
The office was the first issue. He was two years out of contract as a tenant of that office in Dougenzaka; it was unlikely that it would still be for lease. The offices at the top of his prepared list, too, for that matter; he doubted any building in a reasonably strategic and easily accessible location would luckily stay vacant for his convenience.
The staff was a whole other issue. Lin's arrival with the equipment wasn't for another month, which meant that recruitment fell solely upon Noll. New investigators. New receptionist and clerks. Different set of psychics who were experts in their fields for consultation. All of them ideally ready for operation by the end of the month.
His former employees, he'd long decided, were out of the question. He might not understand human nature as well as his brother had, but even he knew better than consider reconnecting with them after years of nothing from him.
Now that he'd made a mental list of his tasks, he couldn't help but feel daunted by the amount of work he needed to accomplish before he could so much as start what he'd come back here to do.
And he began to wonder: Had he underestimated the difficulty of his endeavor?
For the first time since he announced his intention to return to Japan, the doubt he'd been pushing aside finally overcame his resolve, and he stood amidst the rush of the airport, stuck between pushing through and pulling back.
"Naru!"
Noll frowned. It seemed like being back in Japan evoked some memories from his previous stay. He resumed walking, picking up his pace as he approached the exit. He had no time for any semblance of nostalgia.
"Naru! Wait up, you idiot!" The voice cut through the din in the airport, high-pitched, familiar, clear, and very much real. He turned towards its source—and halted.
Two years without contact, yet here she was, two years grown and different but still unmistakably her. Still with that same, bright smile.
He could only stare in surprise and confusion.
"—Mai," he managed to say after a long while.
"Yup, that's me."
"What are you doing here?"
"Well," Mai drawled, tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear. "Someone told me you'd be returning, so I thought I'd catch you off-guard for once." Then she grinned cheekily at him. "So. Were you surprised?"
Noll fought down the amused quirk of his lips before answering, "I'd be more surprised if you'd thought to ask the others—" She laughed, and he narrowed his eyes. "What?"
"Oh, Naru," she said as she caught her breath, "You're in for a shock!"
"You think?" This time, he let a small smile escape him, relieved and thankful and secretly proud of her for thinking ahead. They fell into step, heading for the exit in comfortable silence.
"By the way, Naru?" Mai began after a while. She looked up at him, her gaze soft and—dare he say it?—almost fond. He stared once more as he waited for her next words. "Welcome back."
His weariness faded, as if she had chanted a spell.
Author's Note: Hi! Thanks for reading TWTSILY. Please tell me what you think! ^u^ I'll be posting this on AO3, too, for readers who prefer it over FFN, especially for direct replies to comments. See you on either platform!
Disclaimer: I don't own Ghost Hunt or any of its characters.