Working for SPR had been difficult, to say the least. The long hours on cases, the emotional toll her abilities brought her, and being trapped in a tunnel filling with water when she couldn't swim, were all hazards that came with the job, and Mai had made peace with it.

Her job was hard, but it was also rewarding. She loved helping clients with their troubles, solving a case, and most importantly, Mai loved the relief of knowing that she had a hand in helping spirits pass on and make peace with their regrets.

The sound of Ayako's bell rang through the air and Sasabe Izumi was finally purified.

A tear traveled down Mai's cheek, which she quickly swiped away.

After she woke up, Ko managed to finally say everything she needed to say to Izumi with the help of Masako, and when Izumi was ready to move on, Ayako continued the purification ritual.

Mai knew that she should feel relieved their case was finally over and Izumi had moved on, but she didn't feel like she had done something good.

Ko and Hibiki would face the consequences of something out of their control, Izumi's father would learn his daughter hadn't died in an accident, and Nakamura Fuka would never make peace with her regrets and move on.

"Let's get going—"

"Wait." Mai said, stopping her boss. "I need to do something first."

Naru paused, taking a moment to decipher her expression before nodding. "Don't take long. Lin needs to get to a hospital."

With that, Mai quickly ran towards the tunnel and instead of going inside she travelled along the side of it, pushing through all the overgrown bushes and trees until she reached the other side—the side that had once led into the lost Inunaki Village.

There was no remnant of Inunaki left. The hydro dam had filled the space where the village once stood and Mai couldn't help but chuckle softly, conflicted with how ironic it was.

Pulling out the diary from her pocket, Mai ran her fingers along the edge of the pages softly. "I'm sorry I couldn't help you, Fuka." She whispered and then tossed the diary over the edge of the cliff, watching as it fell into the rushing water below.

As much as they wanted to pack up and leave immediately, SPR had decided to stay in Oguni for one night longer. Lin needed to medical attention due to his concussion, which left him unusually talkative, and everyone needed a warm bath—Yasu especially. He was covered in mud from head to toe, smelling absolutely atrocious. They also had to debrief with Oda and let him know that the tunnel was officially ghost free.

Most importantly, they had to make sure that Ko would follow through with her promise to speak to Izumi's father and tell him the full truth. Mai was certain that Ko would do what was right, and so she found herself falling into a deep slumber.

That last night in Oguni, she was rewarded with a cherished memory.

"I'm scared."

"Don't be scared. You'll have to learn eventually."

Her fingers tightened on the handlebars. "I'm going to fall."

"I won't let you fall." A bright pink helmet was placed on her head and Ko buckled it under her chin. "Okay?"

Izumi nodded. "Okay."

"Is she ready?" Hibiki asked as she approached from behind. Hitomi was there too.

Ko nodded seriously. "She's ready." She turned back to stare at Izumi, one of her hands on the handlebar and the other on the back of her seat. "On the count of three, you start peddling, okay?" Determined, Izumi nodded. "Remember I'm right here if you lose balance. Okay, one... two... and three! Go! Go! Go!"

Izumi started peddling, the handlebars wiggling back and forth as she almost lost control, but Ko was right there to stabilize her. Feeling bold, Izumi pushed her feet faster and then suddenly, she was cruising at a fast pace.

"This isn't so hard—" Izumi looked to the side, only to see that Ko was no longer there.

Behind her, the three girls were running after her, each of them smiling wide.

"You're doing it, Izumi!" Ko laughed, waving her arms. "Keep going!"

Izumi laughed, the sound ringing out in the area around them.

"Mai."

Someone was calling her name.

He was always there after a vision.

She smiled, opening her teary eyes. "Gene."

Naru went still, his hand falling away from her shoulder.

Mai blinked up at him, confused. "Am I... awake?"

"It's time to get up." He said curtly. "We're ready to go."

"Wait—Naru!" Mai pushed herself to sit up in her futon, feeling disorientated. Naru didn't stop, closing the door behind him and leaving her in the bedroom by herself. "Oh no, did I really just do that?" Running her hands through her hair, Mai closed her eyes as she processed what just happened.

Izumi's cherished memory of learning to ride her bike was so fresh in her mind, conflicting with her crushing regret of confusing Naru for his dead twin.

Mai groaned. "Shit, shit, shit!"

Rewards and regrets—that was what life was filled with for Mai while she worked at SPR.

Hello! This chapter is a real short one. Originally the Howling Tunnel case should've wrapped up last chapter but then I got too excited to share with you guys and I posted it prematurely without realizing the ending of this case wouldn't flow well in the same chapter with what I have already written next.