ʕ•ﻌ•ʔ MAI ʕ•ﻌ•ʔ
"Good morning min— eh?" Mai blinked, her brown eyes gazing around the room of the SPR. Somehow the sight of it was off, now that she thought about it, Mai never heard the light bark of Oliver to greet her hello as well as her sempai's chimes of graceful greetings.
It bothered Mai. She even bought Oliver some treats on the way because Akemi-sempai times his meals, so Mai took it upon herself to feed Oliver some small treats behind her back.
So far she learned of Oliver's gaining weight as one of Akemi's concerns.
"Where's Akemi-sempai?" Mai muttered to herself, already missing her presence despite not knowing where the girl could actually be.
Mai pouted even more when Naru wasn't anywhere to be found either.
The high school girl perked, letting a shuddering breath as she remembered a small detail. "...don't tell me the two haven't reconciled?! It's been a week already..."
Mai felt sweat trickle down her forehead at the thought. 'Those two are really something else... maybe I shouldn't get on their bad side...'
Somehow, in a way that Mai could never wrap her head around in— Akemi and Naru fought. Mai didn't know when it started but she did notice some change just after their second case about Minnie doll.
The two people were really quiet about it, Naru remained closed-off and Akemi kept her angelic appearances but even then their differences displayed itself crystal clear when they are together.
And Mai wanted to admit, she tried asking Naru and Akemi about the cold aura around them but her sempai only gave her an innocent smile but her eyes conveyed something different that gave Mai chills.
{Flashback Starts
"-And what gave you that idea, Mai?" Akemi tilts her head to the side. "-nothing is wrong. Everything is completely fine with Naru and I..."
Mai then turned to Naru when she got nothing from her sempai but Naru only spared her a glance. "It's none of your business. Go back to work." Naru said before turning to leave— if it weren't for Mai threatening to step on all his books did Naru gave in.
"—It's about a trivial matter that doesn't concern you and would be over by the end of the week." Naru then left Mai standing alone, gaping at him.
Akemi kept quiet and left Mai to tend other matters, matters that Naru deemed trivial.
"Mai, keep your schedule updated on this week... I might not go to work on a specific date." Akemi waved before turning back to make her tea.
End Of Flashback}
All in all, Mai still didn't know what was going on and it left her not knowing what to do.
Mai let out a deep sigh, her shoulders slumping at the thought of being out of a loop. Her lips puckered into a small pout that not even the sound of the door ringing a bell snap her out of her misery.
Naru frowned at the sight of Mai standing in the middle of the room with her back slumped and caved but he didn't bother to comment and went straight to his office with Lin following behind him, who went instead on his own office right next to Naru's.
Both of them left Mai to her thoughts.
If someone else were there, they wouldn't know whether it was something to be glad about or something to worry about.
Hearing doors close, Mai snapped out of her thoughts.
~~~
"Ha..." solemnly, Mai looked out the window of the SPR building, holding up her cleaning tools for today. "-it's getting chilly..." she muttered before turning to lift the bucket of water she used to clean.
When it came to cleaning, Mai would always find the Office clean the moment she steps foot in it because her sempai manages to get ahead of her every single day. It worried Mai at times— seeing Akemi sitting on her table with a soft smile on her face and a book on her hand while the office practically glittered neatness with Oliver just casually sitting on the side and Mai was sure she caught a glimpse of the body guard Akemi always came with by the corner of the room.
The only thing left for Mai to do was to make hot water while her sempai prepares tea.
"Mai, make me some tea." Naru popped out of his Office, glancing to where Mai stood.
Mai perked up, "-uh, okay sure."
Mai realized how she really does nothing much on the office but listen to customers with their stories. She now internally wishes her sempai was present as Mai once again wipes off the sweat on her forehead, the sight of the office didn't shine as brightly as it would if it were Akemi doing the cleaning but it was good enough to be considered an above average on what a clean should be.
She didn't know it takes a lot out of her to cleaning the main office, so what more would it be if Mai were to start cleaning Lin's and Naru's office as well?
Mai dreaded the thought. Fully planning to drizzle her sempai thousands of gratitude the moment she steps back to the office.
Hearing the kettle boil, Mai prepared Naru's tea. 'I can take a break now.' Mai thought to herself as she first checked on her appearance before knocking on Naru's door.
"Naru! The tea's ready." Mai said before turning the knob to open the door, seeing Naru sitting on his chair with paper maps in his hand.
FLIP—
The sound of the paper turning was loud enough for Mai to notice what he was holding as she placed his cup on the table. "...here you go."
"Hn." Naru didn't bother to glance, flipping yet another page to scan the content.
Mai sweat dropped, 'He's handsome and smart, but is also arrogant, obnoxious, and a jerk. I mean that's what I used to think of him but lately I'm changing my mind about that...' Mai dreamily observed, unaware of her long stare.
'Uhm...' Mai nodded internally. 'He is indeed handsome...'
Feeling gazes on him, Naru lift his head. "Can I help you with something?" Naru asked, making Mai give out a light gasp of surprise as she snapped out of her thoughts.
"u-uhmm— do you know why Akemi-sempai isn't here?" Mai stuttered out a reason.
At her question, Naru placed back his eyes on the paper he held. "She is busy at her University, " Flip. "-something you should also prioritize." Naru scanned the maps.
" -She mentioned doing work after so she won't be coming here."
Mai felt an irk appear on her head. "So you mean I should just leave you and Lin-san alone in the SPR?" Mai's brow twitched, seeing Naru glance above his papers to stare at her.
"If it means having you do something productive for once then yes."
Mai left before she could snap at Naru's head. In the end, Naru is someone you shouldn't go against with, being smart is a dangerous weapon.
'He could at least thank me for the tea! He should know I made it with care!' Mai frowned, holding the tray closer to her chest as she stomped away from Naru's office.
~~~
ʕ•ﻌ•ʔ NARU ʕ•ﻌ•ʔ
Naru stopped his hand the moment held the cup of tea near his lips. 'Did Mai used the same container as Akemi did?' Naru thought to himself as the memory of the sugar container remained clear on his head.
It was just the second day of the week when Akemi made his tea. After having her concocted a different kind of tea back on the Doll House case, Naru made her do whatever she would like on the tea she would serve him— as it was a delicacy that he would willingly drink whenever.
That, he could admit.
But on that second day, it was time for his usual tea and Akemi came in his office with her usual tray, a light blue color, patterned with simple flowers.
{Start Of Flashback
Naru could still remember the sight of Akemi walking towards him and placing his cup of tea on the table. "Here's your tea."
And Naru would drink it as usual.
But the moment his lips touched the brim of the cup he froze.
The sweetness he would receive didn't came to satiate his needs.
For once, bitterness filled him.
But none of it compared to the salty taste of the liquid in the cup he held.
However,
However.
With his dark eyes, Naru glanced at Akemi's smiling features. He remained their eye contact as he lift his cup higher, pushing the liquid unto his drinking mouth continuously being poured.
The burn of the tea stinging on his tongue as all it could process was salt and finished it nonetheless— not leaving a single drop.
All the while this happened, Akemi remained still on where she stood, her head lightly tilted, producing angelic innocence.
She remained radiant and Naru remained passive.
Both remained stubborn.
Naru placed his empty tea cup back on the table, "Thank you for the tea." he said, pushing the saucer towards Akemi who took it with sharp eyes.
"You finished your tea rather quickly, would you like another?" Akemi innocently blinked and
"No—" clearing his throat, Naru made sure he wasn't quick enough to speak. "No, thank you... I have to finish a few more paper work."
Akemi hummed, nodding as if she understood. "Hmm~ I see..."
Naru nodded along, as silence filled his office.
He couldn't feel his strongest muscle anymore.
"-Well, I shall be going then," Akemi gave him one last smile before leaving the room.
At the sound of his door closing, Naru leaned back on his chair, a sigh out of lips and a hand on his throat.
'That tea was newly brewed...' Naru internally grimaced as his tongue felt numb from the hot liquid bathing his mouth.
Ever since, Naru took his tea with precaution.
End of Flashback}
Naru frowned at the memory, lifting the cup on his lips and took a light sip.
It took a while before he sipped once more. Trying to taste the tea Mai made as it seemed to taste like an instant, the idea of it made Naru furrow.
Akemi always did her tea, perfectly brewed and manually blended.
'It's nowhere near...' Naru thought as he placed the cup back on his table and continued reading the maps on his hand.
The cup of tea remained untouched for the rest of the day.
Unaware of what his owner would go through the rest of the day.
~~~
ʕ•ﻌ•ʔ MAI ʕ•ﻌ•ʔ
"Hello?" Mai lifted her head at the sound of the door opening, the chiming bell indicating that there was somebody there.
And Mai beamed at the sight of a familiar face,
"Masako!" Mai smiled, standing up from her table in hopes to get closer to the psychic. Mai let out a sheepish laugh, like old friends. "-Long time no see— I've been very lonely—"
"-Is Naru here?" Masako cut her off, a mysterious smile lit on her face.
'Is that all you can say?' Mai froze, glaring daggers at Masako's pretty face that practically beamed at her.
With consideration, Mai tried to answer her without any lies. "...Naru is in his office."
'Oh, how much I just wish to tell her to get out!' Mai pouted, triggered that Masako still treated her as somebody low, an enemy of sorts.
What kind of enemy—? Mai is yet to know.
If Masako noticed Mai's displeasure of her presence, the psychic didn't show it and inhabited a grin, lifting her yukata sleeve in a weak way to cover her delight. "Could you please let him know I need to see him?"
"Unfortunately he's busy working right now." Mai was quick to block.
'No way am I gonna let you see him!' Mai yelled at her thoughts, 'Where is Akemi-sempai when you need her? She can handle Masako's attitude much better than I!'
"oh..." Masako feigned shock before fully revealing her own smile by placing down her hand that covered her lips. "Actually I'm here to discuss business."
Hearing this, Mai's interest piqued and hesitantly stepped away from the psychic, but after seeing Naru's Office door, Mai gained up a bit confidence and knocked.
The Wizard was not pleased.
"So what kind of case is this?" Naru asked, avoiding the gazes of two girls in front of him as he sat at the single seat facing Masako, who is sitting next to Mai on a longer sofa.
'Wow he's in a really bad mood.' Mai sweat dropped, keeping quiet as to not get all those anger directed at her.
"Well, your client will actually be a friend of mine from the TV Station." Masako spoke up, getting right into business. " -He was shooting a TV show at a park but due to strange incidents... Or shall I say a strange phenomenon— they haven't been able to continue their shoot."
"A strange phenomenon?" Mai muttered under her breath, her question heard by the two attractive people.
"Yes." Masako nods as she glanced at Mai before squirming a bit in her seat as she gazes back calmly in Naru's interrogating eyes. "-He said that water suddenly pours on them from above."
"It wasn't rain?" Mai once again asked.
"No, according to what he told me the camera crews are always fine, but the main actors always get drenched. Water would pour down on them as if a big water balloon had exploded." Mai felt her eyes widened, "-They looked into this and apparently during the past six months the same phenomenon has happened at this park on other occasions as well."
"And it's not just a prank?" For once, Naru finally spoke.
"The police wondered that as well and they're watching for suspicious activity but not only has no evidence been found—they also haven't found anyone suspicious."
"Suspects may not always be in the immediate vicinity." Naru states as if it was a common fact.
Masako nodded in agreement, leaving Mai confused, her head turning in different angles that she fear it would pop. "I mentioned that to them too but they all insisted to have this looked and get help from my kind of specialty."
And of course without delay, Naru came with a suggestion. "I recommend that they consider relocating the shoot or cancel the show altogether."
But of course, Masako was quick to deny it if it meant working with Naru.
"Apparently that's not an option. The script specifies this location. And they'd like to maintain a good relationship with talent agencies."
"-That's not my problem." Mai internally winced,
'Ouch! I knew he was gonna say that...'
At this point, Mai was fully convinced that this case Masako is proposing is something Naru has no complete interest in, knowing how picky he is.
Other than that, Mai noted how Naru is in an awful mood so chances are, this case would be in the dump.
But Masako remained passive,
It scared how the two could be so similar yet different. It scared Mai.
"This friend has been very good to me and I'd love to help him out if at all possible. Would you please help me with it?" Masako pleaded, giving Naru a smile. "-Of course, he will pay you your research fee. It would be great if you could please do me a favor and help him out."
'No way! Money doesn't motivate Naru, he'd never get involved in a case unless he is interested— and what's with your goo-goo eyes?!' inside Mai was in flames, clearly seeing how Masako tried to cutely deal with the denied situation.
Naru sighs, eliciting a spark in Masako's eyes. "...Where is this park?"
Mai had never turned her head so fast and gaped so wide. 'WHAAAT?!'