~~~AKEMI NARU~~~
"Ohayou gozaimasu! Shibuya-san! Lin-san!" The silence between (Naru) and Lin broke when a small smooth voice called behind them. The two mentioned turned to face Akemi, the girl holding a huge smile in her lips as she bowed to give her greetings.
"Maruyama-san..." Lin greeted.
"Please, Akemi is fine." Akemi said waving her hand at Lin when she finally stood near them.
"Hai." Lin nodded, but the three of them knew he has no plans of following her words.
Akemi smiles at his notable awkwardness deciding to let him off easy— Akemi extends her hand towards (Naru), holding out a few papers that she took out of her bag. Lin already leaving them both behind to install the cameras inside the old building.
"Here Shibuya-san! I borrowed this from the broadcasting club yesterday... I thought it might be of help." (Naru) stared at the papers in her hand, he also thought of acquiring hard-copies but when he asked the Principal— he was given nothing as he didn't like keeping 'bad news' about his school.
(Naru) scolded himself, he had thought of visiting the clubs instead, but the unexpected meeting with the students yesterday made him lose the opportunity.
Without a word, (Naru) took the articles out of her hand and starting assessing it, turning back to face the van— not bothering to wait for Akemi's response. "-You're early." Naru pointed out, glancing to the side to see that Akemi stood beside him with her usual smiles. Not one bit perturbed at (Naru)'s act.
"It's both a blessing and a curse." Akemi joked, receiving a sigh from (Naru)— instead of getting deflated, Akemi find his reaction all the more entertaining.
"You know Shibuya-san, One kind word can warm three winter months." Akemi said, as she stepped closer to the van. Her eyes bright with excitement as she stares at the open trunk that revealed all kinds of gadgets waiting to be used.
"What did you say?" Akemi glanced to see (Naru)'s visible confusion, as if this was the first time he had heard of it.
Akemi now seriously considered if he was that apathetic to not even consider being kind or that he was actually serious of not knowing such a common phrase.
Akemi took ahold of the articles in his hand and started reading some of them, glancing at (Naru) from time to time while her lips kept quirking up as she watch (Naru) understand what she meant.
Letting out a sigh, Naru concedes. "Thank you for the articles, they are quite helpful." (Naru) said to Akemi avoiding her gaze when her smile widened to the point her eyes almost closed.
Hearing his grateful words, no matter how dry it seemed— Akemi felt happy for it.
"So how can I help?" Akemi brushed her hands together in anticipation, her gaze focused on the cameras and microphones on the van unaware of (Naru) staring at her,
This wasn't the first time he saw a person curious and excited about ghosts but he has also seen a lot of them tuck themselves away in fear and stopped helping in the middle of the investigation because of it.
(Naru) might as well get this over and done with to avoid any unnecessary distractions.
BlAGG—!
Right when (Naru) was about to tell Akemi what she can help with, the racket in the building— stopped him from continuing his orders.
With haste both Akemi and (Naru) ran towards the building.
Akemi hoped that nothing bad happened inside as the two got nearer.
~~~
ʕ•ﻌ•ʔ MAI ʕ•ﻌ•ʔ
'Whoa... I almost freaked out!' Her gaze turning to the very reason why she was in here in the first place, Mai sees the broken camera before her— hearing it whir from the impact of the shoe cubbies before it gave its last light.
'Oh no...' Mai cringed as the camera now laid next to her, dead and broken.
Mai turned to glance behind her when she heard a grunt of pain, 'Who the heck was that?! I almost peed my pants!' Mai yelled to herself but froze as she saw a man on the ground all covered in dust but she was sure that that was not all that happened to him.
"A-are you okay?" Mai asked as she went closer, she heard no response from Lin and started to worry. 'Oh no, Someone please..!'
As if the heavens heard her prayers, someone did came to help.
"What's wrong?"
"Lin-san?"
two voices snapped Mai out of her worry, her head jerking to the direction where she heard the voices.
'That guy from yesterday...' Mai's eyes widened as she remembered the boy before her.
(Naru) knelt beside Lin, helping him sit up. (Naru) saw the wound on Lin noting the few drops of his blood dripping on the dusty floor,
"What happened?" (Naru) asked as he glanced towards Mai, his expression awfully calm, but is he really?
Mai stuttered as she had no idea what to say, everything just happened too fast for her to comprehend at the moment.
"Ahh... well..."
"Shibuya-san, I think questions can be answered later... we need to take Lin-san to the infirmary." Akemi knelt beside Lin, lifting his other arm on her shoulders.
The bold actions made Lin and (Naru) stare at her with unknown gazes but both of their eyes widened quite a bit. Gone was the elegant smile of hers and was replaced by a serious expression.
'There's no time for games when an injured person is involved...' Akemi heard the voice repeating in her head as she lifted Lin up with ease.
Once again Naru and Lin froze at the sudden show of strength.
Mai was just about to comment on how bold the girl is until she finally realized who it was.
"Ojou-sama..!?" Mai spoke unknowingly, getting (Naru)'s attention but all he saw was Mai staring at the girl next to him in both awe and confusion.
"There is an infirmary nearby the school entrance," Akemi spoke as she stood up. "Shibuya-san, may I ask how old are you?"
"16." (Naru) stared at her, not knowing where she was going with this question.
"Looks like we will not be able to take the van, you're too young to drive—" Her words made Lin let out a small laugh, silencing it when he heard (Naru) click his tongue at him.
All the while this happened, Mai kept trying to explain what happened but her words came out as a stutter. "I don't need an explanation." (Naru) turns to her, making Mai stop her rambling at the cold tone of his voice.
Mai nodded and went to help (Naru) support Lin but just as her hand was about to reach for him, Lin slapped it away. "Your help...is unneeded." Lin said, his eyes glaring coldly at her, the amused expression gone.
'Huh?' Mai's eyes widened in surprise, stunned at how cold his glare is until she clenched it with hidden irritation, blanching at Lin. 'Whaat?!'
"We met yesterday. What's your name?" (Naru) asks when he takes over Akemi's lift,
"Taniyama. Mai Taniyama." Mai answered, her voice held something strong in them, narrowing her eyes at (Naru). The intuition of being lied to her and her friends back then still fresh in her mind.
'Just who are these freaks and why is Ojou-sama with them?'
"Well Taniyama-san, let me give you some advice. The school bell already rang a little while ago." (Naru) said, his eyes returning the intense gaze she gave him while Mai froze— her irritation forgotten.
'What?... I'm late?' Mai blinked. Once. Twice.
"Noooo!" at the speed of light, Mai left the building— already thinking of the consequences she'll get once she shows up at class. 'What the heck?! What is wrong with you people? Oh well... It's true! that building is cursed!' Mai thought to herself as she ran.
"Ara... it truly is amazing how fast people go when it comes to being late..." Akemi giggles as she saw how fast Mai ran towards the school doors, gesturing for Lin and Naru to get outside the building while she takes out a phone and dials a number.
Not long after Akemi ended the call that lasted for at least 30 seconds did a black car showed up in front of them.
Akemi twirls to face Naru and Lin who quietly stood behind her, clasping her hands on her back and leaning slightly forward. Her close-eyed smile present on her lips. "Get in."
~~~NARU LIN~~~
"Maruyama, Akemi... There's something about her—"
"What about her?" (Naru) asked, not even bothering to lift his gaze out of the folder articles he was reading. He even turned a page.
FLIPP—!
Akemi managed to drive them to the infirmary without any problems but as soon as she dropped them off a call went towards her phone and left with a promise of having her driver drive them back.
And so (Naru) and Lin stayed in the empty infirmary, waiting for his results before leaving.
"..." (Naru) lifted up his gaze, seeing Lin's furrowed expression. At his silence and total concentration of thought, (Naru) had an idea what his troubles might be.
"Lin what did you see on her?" (Naru) asked, his question made Lin lift his head to look at him.
"..." Lin's lack of speech caught (Naru)'s attention.
closing the folder in his hand, Naru straightens himself up on his seat.
"Explain." with one word, Lin told him everything he saw when he passed by Akemi on her club practice.