I googled how much time passes in the novel and apparently, it's not specified. For the sake of this fanfic we will assume that three years have passed inside the manga and Mai will be graduating school very soon.
Longer Summary: Gene is alive, and he and Naru briefly returned to England before coming right back to Japan. They've been gone for less than three months, in which the SPR was shut down. Now, the story of SPR continues with Gene on the team. But one more Person is coming all the way from England to join the team permanently. How will Gene fit in? A few things changed in the meantime. For example Naru. Well, not completely but he seems to be treating Mai… nicer than before. Wonder why?
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"We'll take it." Naru said as he put the documents he was holding on his desk. "Then I'll contact the client." Mai answered taking the documents and a now empty cup from the desk and making her way to the door. Before leaving she turned around and asked "Do you want some more tea, Naru?" She didn't really wait for an answer as the answer was obvious and decided to ask Lin too.
Standing in the kitchen waiting for the water to boil she couldn't help but think about… well, everything that happened. Naru, Noll, Oliver. Last name Davis. So much happened. Her boss found what he was looking for and left, then came back not even 3 months later. So SPR is back. A place she felt was like her home is still here, all the people she felt were like her family are still here.
To think that the dead twin Naru was looking for was in fact still alive. Mai sighed. She was thinking about the first time she met Gene. Even though she didn't get to spend much time with him Gene instantly became an important brother figure to her.
And this wasn't the only surprise. In the three months Naru was gone she and Masako became best friends. The girl told her in secret that she was over Naru and quite embarrassed about her childish behavior.
What's more? Ayako and Bou-san got together. Apparently, Madoka and Lin got married in England, and…...ugh right...Yasu told her he had a crush on Gene. Whether it was a joke or not….the time will show.
"That's so nice. Everyone's love life…" she sighed again then she heard a cough from behind which made her jump. Mai turned around to see Lin standing in the doorway. "I came to see if the tea was ready. I think the water already boiled." The man said pointing to the kettle.
Mai quickly got to work. Preparing cups. Choosing tea and so on. "I'm sorry Lin, I was daydreaming. How is Madoka by the way? It's been two months since you guys came back. I bet you miss her." Mai said. Lin gave her a faint smile thinking about his wife. "She's fine. I'll be able to see her soon and so will you." He then took his cup and went back to his room.
Shortly after the door to Lin's office closed the door to Naru's office opened. "Mai, where is my tea?" The boy asked. Mai jumped again. "Coming!" She yelled from the kitchen. The brunette grabbed the tea and rushed to the office. To her surprise, Naru was still standing in the doorframe holding the door open. That's also a change. For some reason, Naru became just a little nicer than he was before. Maybe Gene had a good influence on him.
Mai placed the cup on the desk as Naru closed the door and sat in his chair. "Have you called the client yet?" He asked. Mai thought she was being scolded so she answered quickly. "No, not yet but I was going to do it right after making your tea." Naru took a sip of his tea. "That's good. I need you to tell him some things." he said. "I read the documents and I noticed we are not the only ones investigating. There will be more groups so I want you to ask for a separate base. There shall be no problem as we are investigating a hotel. I also need him to arrange the rooms. We'll be moving and sleeping in pairs. The ghost attacks only women so I don't want any of the girls anywhere alone. The last one is access to the kitchen."
"You need your tea, right?" she smiled glad that she wasn't being scolded. "Yes, I need tea." Naru answered. Mai looked at her notebook where she was writing down everything up to this point. "So, who is coming?"
"Everyone."
"E-Every..one?" Mai stuttered.
"Yes"
"Then Yasu, John, Masako, Ayako, Bou-san, Lin, me and you"
"Madoka and Gene are joining us. For good that is. They will be here tomorrow." Naru pointed out. Mai was equally happy and surprised. "Then it's gonna be ten of us. Do we really need so many people, Naru?"
"Since they are going to be a lot of other researchers might as well show off." He smirked.
Mai laughed a bit in response. "Ey, Naru. I've been thinking." Naru raised an eyebrow as Mai started talking. "Is it ok for me to still call you that?" She asked.
"Are you uncomfortable calling me that?" he questioned.
"No."
"Have I told you to stop?"
"N-No."
"Then you can call me whatever you want." He said almost softly.
Mai smiled. "Understood. Then I'll give the client and everyone else a call." She then left the office and proceeded to do so. Naru focused on his computer. A small smile appeared on his face.
It was almost two hours later and the only one Mai did manage to call was the client. The reason? There was simply no need to call anyone else. Everyone somehow found their way to the office. Right now Mai was passing around tea as the whole crew was chatting. Ayako, Bou-san, and Yasu were sitting on one sofa while John and Masako were on the other. Mai just couldn't help but notice the blond priest blushing every time he glanced at the medium. 'Now that's something new.' she thought
"So when is the case." Ayako asked the young girl as she was about to sit in her own seat beside Masako. "In four days. And you won't believe this but Madoka and Gene are joining us." She added surprising everyone. "Nice. We'll finally have a chance to get to know the other boy." Bou-san said, well, almost yelled. Ayako playfully smacked him on the head. "Keep it down will you." This quickly evolved into yet again another argument between these two. The office again became as loud as it always does when the rest of the team came to visit. Ayako and Bou-san's yelling and everyone else's laughing voices.
The argument was broken by the sound of Naru's door opening. "Mai, come to the office and bring tea." He then walked back into the room. Dealing with people was something he couldn't handle well. Or couldn't be bothered to do.
Thankfully Mai was prepared. She already had the team prepared so she grabbed the cup and followed her boss. As Mai disappeared behind the door the whispers started. "Don't you think Naru is acting weird?" Yasu started.
"Of course he is. Usually, it would be just 'Mai, tea'. He wouldn't even bother to come out." Bou-san stated.
"You didn't think he was coming back to Japan just because of the office, did you?" They all turned their heads to see Lin making his way into the kitchen. He was there to pick up his own teacup that the girl always made when she was making tea for the rest of the group.
Mai placed the tea on the desk. "I'm sorry, Naru. I'll tell them to keep the noise down."
"As you please." He started. "Because there are going to be other researchers working we'll have to watch out for our equipment. And if possible I'll leave arranging the pairs to you." Mai smiled and nodded. "You really are not good with other people." she commented as she turned around and headed for the door.
"There are exceptions you know." He said so quietly it almost couldn't be heard. Mai turned around. "Did you say anything?"
"That's why you are here." He answered not looking up from his computer. Mai looked confused. "Thanks, I guess?" She then left. A loud sigh could be heard in the office.
After leaving her boss's office Mai passed on all the information. "I guess it's time to arrange the pairs. So, I'm guessing Ayako and Bou-san and obviously Lin and Madoka...and…"
"I want to be paired with Gene." Yasu said raising his hand. Mai's eyebrow twitched. "Thank you, Yasu, for choosing a Gene while we are trying to protect all the women." Yasu laughed. "You're welcome."
Mai sighed then looked over to Masako. She decided to play cupid. "Masako, John, is it ok to put you together? Even though you are a priest?" They both blushed.
"Actually." John started. "I'm not a priest anymore. I decided to leave the priesthood some time ago. Uh...but I still can do exorcisms. I'm still working with the church sometimes." The boy said in a rush as if reassuring his usefulness.
"That's news." Mai said as shocked as everyone else. "This leaves me and...ugh...Naru." The brunette sighed. "He won't be happy about it"
When the crew left Mai went to inform her boss of the outcome. "There's no problem." Naru said sipping from his freshly made cup making Mai's mouth fall open. Naru seemed unbothered by anything these days. "Naru, don't you think you've changed since you came back?" the girl laughed awkwardly. She was too curious not to ask.
"Did I?" he said thinking. "Yeah, I probably did."
Mai now was sitting in the chair on the other side of Naru's desk. "Did something happen?" she asked not really expecting an answer. "Well, my mother tried to force me to blind dates when I was in England. It was supposedly Madoka's idea." He said looking at the screen of his computer and from time to time glancing at Mai. Why did he say it? That had nothing to do with his slight change of character.
The girl laughed a bit. "But I guess it's not why you've changed."
"No."
"Did you come back to run away from Madoka's ideas?"
"Not really."
"Then care to tell why?" Mai asked actually enjoying the conversation with her boss.
"No, that would be a waste of fun." He smirked.
Mai sighed still smiling as she noticed the smirk on Naru's face turning into a small smile.
They talked a little more. Mai was mostly asking Naru questions.
"Well, then." Mai started as she got up. "It was fun. Having a conversation with you." She then took the empty cup and headed for the door. "Yeah, it was." Naru answered as he looked at Mai who was smiling at him. Then an idea popped into his head. Nothing he would normally act on but before he could think about it he already called out to Mai. "Mai, then maybe…would you want to chat some more?"
The girl was surprised. "Why, is isolation becoming boring?"
"Not really? Just felt like talking to you some more. But well, I guess your shift ended for today." He said looking at the clock. Mai nodded also turning to read the time. "But I can stay some more." she offered. "As long as I'll get to buy something for dinner before the stores close." She added.
"Then how about coming over for dinner? I'll make the food and you will make the tea?" He would never admit that it was Gene's idea. He remembered clearly laughing at Gene's suggestion before.
Mai smiled. "You almost act like a human now." she commented. "When are we leaving?"
"Go grab your things and we can go."
