~~~
ʕ•ﻌ•ʔ MAI AKEMI ʕ•ﻌ•ʔ
"As expected, I just can't forget about it..." Mai slides the door to the base open, letting out a sigh when she steps inside.
After the events yesterday, the group decided to go back home and replenish their strengths after the trying and failing exorcism. Akemi and Bou-san remained by Mai's side to calm down her shivering figure while Naru stood by the side, explaining to the others what had happened that time. Akemi was quiet and reserved after that. If Mai remembers it clearly, Akemi went home along with everyone else due to her jet lag and sudden exorcism.
So seeing Akemi standing by the windows gazing outside, baffles her. They were not suppose to show up until about 30 minutes, so to see Akemi there meant the heiress has already been here a few seconds before.
"Akemi-sempai? What are you doing here so early?"
Hearing Mai's voice, Akemi turns around. Her hair tied into a high messy ponytail using a scarlet ribbon. Wearing a fit long-sleeved white turtle neck sweater, her navy blue rosary beads circles loosely on Akemi's neck twice with the red tassel right on its center. Over her top, a red vintage-retro sleeveless plaid dress reaching just above her knees fitting right on the waist with a belt. Her long slim legs covered by black tights and finishing her look with black leather boots.
"Mai, you're here~!" Akemi's smile seemed forced. "Good morning!"
"...Akemi-sempai, your eyes are red..." Mai points out, Akemi sheepishly smiles, softly tilting her head and plays the tips of her fingers.
"Actually... I've been here since four—"
"Four— four in the morning?!" Mai gapes, stunned on having actual living people willing enough to wake up at four in the morning.
Akemi giggles, seeing Mai's expression loosened her somewhat. "I got a business offer in the middle of the night so I took off with my lawyer to meet them."
Something on Akemi's explanation seems to be missing but Mai appeared oblivious— having a lack of knowledge about the conversation made her dismiss Akemi's words.
Noting the sudden silence, Akemi fidgets in place, her eyes darting over the desk with a shaky breath. It was a first for Mai to see Akemi so meek. "I walked around the school building the moment I came here— I admit it was a bit difficult without Oliver guiding me but when I sensed that you were coming, I went back to the base and made your favorite..." Akemi gestures towards the warm cups of beverages on the desk between them, putting forward Mai's cocoa cup and lifting out a tin of perfectly carved cat shaped cookies. Mai didn't even notice the drinks and gladly sat on a vacant seat in front of Akemi.
"I hope they are to your liking~" Akemi perks her elbow on top of the desk, chin resting on her intertwined fingers. The heiress softly smiles while Mai took a bright bite on one of the cookies.
"Wow! Akemi-sempai these are delicious! Thank you!"
Akemi's smile widens but stiffens at the sight of the two shadowy figures standing beside a dear friend of hers. The sight of them made her back stiffen,
They have been with her throughout yesterday. Even when she walked beside Naru, Akemi would peek and notice them on the corner of the room. Akemi tries so much to ignore the shadowy figures knowing they don't propose any sort of danger but no matter what she does to ignore it, their presence overwhelms her; clogging her mind from being open. "Mai..."
"Hm?" Mai lifts her gaze off the cookies, frowning over the way Akemi's hand constantly shake.
Akemi lowers her intertwined hands on the desk, leaning forward and keeping her eyes connected with Mai's pure browns. "Gomen ne... Mai..."
"Ehh?" Hearing Akemi apologize, Mai pauses mid bite. 'Akemi-sempai... Is apologizing?'
Mai wanted to ask the heiress the reason for her apologies, 'Why are you shaking? Why do you look so heartbroken and scared?... what's going on with you Akemi-sempai?' — dozens of questions popped out her mind yet all Mai could say was call out her name.
"Akemi.... Sempai?" She was so lost.
"....I'm sorry you had to experience such a thing yesterday," Akemi hesitant yet tries her best to smile, not sure if the action suits the situation. The events yesterday flashes on her mind, "You were trembling so hard... Gomen..."
'Eh? Why is she... apologizing for that?'
"Akemi-sempai, what are you talking about? It's fine—" Akemi's forced laugh cut her off. The heiress wrapping her cold fingers around her warm cup of tea. Disgusted at herself.
Akemi moves her gaze towards the warm tea, unable to see the reflection present. She could not help but bit her lip. "I'm the oldest and the one with experience to these kinds of things... and it took you fearing for the worst for me to act... Gomen..."
'I'm sorry you had to went through such fear of danger before being assured you were actually protected...' Akemi's fingers tightened around her cup. "I'm sorry..."
What Akemi did next stuns Mai. The heiress leaned her head forward, bowing.
"I'm sorry—"
"O—Ojou! What are you doing!?" Mai waves her hand, flustered at the sudden submission. 'Just what is going on?!'
When Mai saw no budging, the high schooler let out a calming breath. Watching her fingers twiddle and fidget, a sad smile on her face. Mai smiles wider when she saw 5 of her favorite marshmallows floating on her hot cocoa. "...I was scared....but knowing I wasn't alone assured me it's gonna be fine." Akemi froze, reminding Akemi of the vision she saw. The last one that presented itself in her dream, "That's why it's fine Akemi-sempai! Besides everything turned out to be just fine!"
"What if it did not turn out fine?"
'What would happen then?'
"Eh?" Mai must have heard wrong when Akemi lifts her head with a soft smile on her lips, no signs of her ever speaking.
"Hm?" Akemi blinks,
"Oh! Nothing, nevermind..." Mai reassures, beaming a bright smile. "Akemi-sempai... it really is just fine, what happened yesterday was nothing! You always come through to the end, you protected us yesterday and saving me twice—that is enough for me. So let go and move on!"
Akemi's soft smile vanished, "What?"
Her body ran cold, stiff and shaking. Even her tea felt freezing to the touch.
Akemi notices the aura around Mai changing into something different yet familiar. A soft smile permeates around Mai's lips, tilting her head lightly to the side with a soft gaze. "None of it was your fault... It's okay to let go and move on, Akemi..."
With a sharp intake of breath everything went back to normal. Mai was frowning in front of her, worried. "Akemi-sempai, are you alright?"
"Huh? Oh! uh.... I'm alright," Akemi clears her throat. "I'm fine." She repeats, letting a genuine smile cross her lips. Her shoulders less tensed than they were earlier when she was alone.
After that the two talked. Any simple conversation— sharing fashion tips, food and school. When Mai mentioned her exams are nearing, Akemi willingly volunteered to tutor the high schooler. Mai couldn't wait,
Feeling how the tense atmosphere from earlier disappear made Akemi relieved. For now, she will avoid glancing at the figures and focus on bonding with Mai.
Akemi and Mai easily moved from next to next topic. They would often laugh on each and at times gossip. Seeing Akemi lift her cup to elegantly drink her tea, Mai's thoughts passed to a certain brooding someone.
"Akemi-sempai, do you have any suitors? boyfriends?" Strike! Mai watched when Akemi lowered her cup, curiously observing Mai's intentions.
"Suitors? Yes, I have." Akemi feels a drop of sweat fall on her shoulders seeing Mai cheer to herself.
"What is it like?" Mai leaned in, her eyes blazing in determination. 'Surely it would be someone as amazing as Akemi-sempai! Mouh~ I wonder what their dates would be like? Imported chocolates? 5 star restaurants? Cruise dinner?!' Mai could not help but internally squeal.
Without a beat, Akemi declares. "Boring."
"Eh— Boring...?"
Akemi nods, chuckling when Mai's face fell out of it's glee. "They are too... common... 1 out of 2 are arrogant— no no... Supercilious?" The heiress lifts her cup to her lips, moving it sideways after to swirl the liquid inside. A nonchalant smile crossing her lips, "Yes, that's the word~ Supercilious."
"Sup— Super what? What does that mean?"
"Having an unusually high opinion of oneself with contempt for others." Akemi's lips twitches, amusement filling her lips as though she didn't degrade the men forcing themselves in her life.
Mai lets out an 'oh!' snapping her fingers. "Like Naru?"
"Pfft—!"
The girls laughed once more, tears teasing the corner of their eyes. It took them a while before they eventually calmed down.
Akemi wiped the tear from the corner of her eye, her movement back to being graceful and smooth. "...My suitors are more money-hungry and pompous, total opposite of Naru."
"Ohh... So their tycoons..." Mai finishes her cup, her chest aching over the idea of Akemi; Paparazzi and fans would kill to sit and have this conversation with Akemi, even drink tea that Akemi prepared by her own hands. A simple strand of her hair already costs thousands— that's how much Akemi is looked at. She's not only famous for her looks but also the successful family she is in and the business on her name both local and international. Not to mention her lady-like manners on social gatherings— Mai saw some of the charity works Akemi does; hospital visits and orphanage donations. One of the news even reported Akemi helping AIDS/HIV and Cancer patients, Mai remembers this because Akemi was so beautiful on the pictures portrayed at the screen.
So the high schooler understood why such men would be arrogant on having an heiress have dinner with them. 'Akemi-sempai is really loved by the media...as if she's a rare attraction...ah!'
Mai realizes the guarded life Akemi leads everyday. Having Kikyo by her side is one of those examples— Mai can't forget that even with Kikyo a few guards still linger around behind them in hopes to catch stalkers or paparazzi. Nobody was allowed to go near Akemi until the heiress deems it to— yet its all for naught since the guards would have already disposed the person before Akemi could find out.
"Hm... is that why you tease him often?" Mai asks, pertaining to Naru— not fully ignorant to Naru and Akemi's constant conversation. 'If you call one sided teasing and pick-up lines a conversation...'
Akemi's eyes sparkles at the thought of the brooding boy. "That... and he is totally my type."
Akemi sips her tea.
"EHH?!" Mai bites the tip of her tongue, 'What did Akemi-sempai say!? Did I heard wrong? Wait! Wait! Maybe— maybe I heard it wrong! Yeah!—'
"What? Is something the matter?" Akemi focuses her eyes on Mai, only seeing a blur figure but it's the thought that counts.
"Nar— Naru is your type?!" Mai coughs, gaping at the heiress who nods without hesitation.
"Yup. 100 percent sure he is my ideal type. Why?" Hearing nothing out of Mai's mouth made the woman frown. "Mai?"
'No.... way....' Mai slumps on her seat. 'The heavens must be making fun of me... Are they seriously telling me to compete with a lady?! and not just any lady— but THE Maruyama Akemi?!'
Mai observes Akemi's worried frown, 'Soft pinkish lips, heart-shaped face with unblemished skin... rare purple eyes and extremely long eyelashes.... luscious long hair— you have got to be kidding me!'
"Akemi-sempai..." The woman in topic deepens her frown over the sound of Mai's sob. "You're so perfect..."
Akemi weakly smiles, confused but Mai continues. Practically begging. "You're really perfect— please don't let me compete with you! I already have Masako to deal with!" Akemi laugh sounded like chirping birds in the morning, Mai felt even more disgruntled.
"Mouh! Akemi-sempai!" Mai whines.
Akemi's chiming laughs increased louder.
~~~
KNOCK—KNOCK!
"Hello?" Mai and Akemi blinks, anticipating whoever was knocking on the door. It slid open to discover a female student that Akemi has yet to know their name.
"Kasai-san!"
Hearing the name from Mai's mouth, Akemi reached the understanding that this person was the famous 'Kasai Panic'.
Kasai pulls a face, learning that Mai was not alone in the base but that soon changed when she recognizes the person in the room. "Who is that with y—!!!"
Overlooking the sudden change in tone, Akemi welcomingly smiles at the new presence in the room. "Ah... you must be Kasai-san! I'm Maruyama Akemi, it is nice to finally meet you." the heiress stood from her seat, bowing a perfect angle to greet the girl.
Going to manner mode, Kasai returned Akemi's gesture. Mai muffles her laugh, understanding it first hand the impact of Akemi's influence. Her lady-like traditional way of greeting others is a huge slap for casually mannered people like Mai. "It's— it's nice to meet you... too..."
Akemi and Kasai sat on their seats, Akemi inspecting her figure. "Ara~ you have such beautiful colors..."
"Be—beautiful colors?" Kasai lifts her arms to cover her chest, aware of Akemi's gaze.
Akemi smiles, softly nodding her head. Oblivious to what Kasai is thinking. " Your aura, they're beautiful— though a little bit distorted... I heard you've been going through a lot," Kasai-san froze. Not really knowing what to do or say to someone everybody admires— knowing Kasai's predicament in school.
"H-hai..." was all Kasai-san could say.
"Well Kasai-san let me tell you that having anything negative inside you would distort your aura," Akemi leans in. "I know it doesn't seem like it now but I know the SPR would do the best they can to solve this— you're innocent. So there is no need to worry." When Akemi finished her words something inside Kasai-san chest warmed up. Finally, someone other than her sensei believes in her innocence. And for it to be someone like Maruyama Akemi, Kasai was filled with even more pride.
Seeing the wave of brightness come from Kasai, Akemi lets out an approving hum. "It seems you two have something to talk about, if you'll excuse me— I have to go to the bathroom." Kasai-san lowers her upper body to bow while Mai casually nods.
"Careful on your way, Akemi-sempai!" Mai adds in, without the golden retriever by her side, Akemi might have a difficult time locating the bathroom.
"So... how's your....research going?" Kasai-san asks, after a while.
"Huh?" Mai snaps out of her thoughts, 'uhh— Kasai-san must be concerned that she may have been a trigger for the psychic phenomenon...' "I guess it's going okay... though I haven't really been much help."
Kasai's fingers fidgeted, uncomfortably shy in her seat. " So that other psychic you were talking about was it Maruyama Akemi-san?"
Mai flinches, not sure if it's allowed supposed to go out. "Oh yeah...Akemi-sempai has these special gifts since she was young— but um..." Mai leans forward to whisper. Looking around as though cameras would pop up in seconds. "...Don't tell anyone that... It's not something you would like the paparazzi learning about."
Kasai-san nods, deciding to change the topic. "—Uhh... Kei-sensei asked me to tell you if she can help in any way just let her know. She was impressed when I mentioned to her that Shibuya-san is an Onmyou-ji. I'd like to help too, so just let us know."
Widening her eyes, Mai sparkles at the mention of their help. "Really? Thanks!— Oh, Naru!"
Just as Mai thanked Kasai-san for her offer the door to the base slid open, revealing Naru and Lin. The two still wearing dark colors for clothing though Naru's scarf donned a more neutral purple color.
"...."
"Kasai-san?" Mai glances at the other student,
"Well, I should get back to class now." Kasai-san says, standing up from her seat. She felt all better now after talking to Mai and Akemi.
"Oh, okay, see you later!" Mai waves a friendly hand while Kasai-san abruptly greeted Naru and Lin before leaving. It turns out the two managed to bump into Akemi after her bathroom break, so she stood behind them.
Naru observes Kasai-san with his sight, no words coming out of his mouth. Only finding it appropriate to stop when the door closed and his eyes connected with Akemi's soft orbs.
'The haze in her eyes somewhat thinned.'
"I'll make you some tea~ It is a recipe I learned while I was in Paris!" Akemi places in her usual smile, passing by the two while they remove their overcoats.
"Sure." Naru coolly says while he unwraps his scarf.
But looking at them closer, Mai notices the distinct bloodshot eyes. "You're eyes are red, sheesh! weren't you and Akemi-sempai unable to sleep last night?" Hearing their name, Naru's hand froze in the midst of putting his scarf down.
Sitting down, Naru sneakily glances at Akemi who stood beside him to place down a tin of butter cookies. "Here eat some snacks while you and Lin wait~!"
Naru pauses at Akemi who gives him a closed eye smile. Making sure he wouldn't see it. "-No, that ghost and I were glaring at each other all night."
Mai and Akemi flinches. "...You mean the ghost from yesterday...?"
"Yeah, you guessed right Mai. It showed up in my room last night." Naru spoke, touching the container and a frown crosses his lips; staring at the butter cookies, his hand pushes it away. No longer having an appetite for it. "-I figured it wouldn't be safe to take my eyes off it so I stared at it all night..."
Somehow the room got colder while he spoke his words.
"Then—" Mai didn't see anything wrong but Akemi and Lin was quick to go towards Naru's aloof stature.
With a frown, Lin spoke. "Why didn't you call me?"
"What would you have done if something had happen?!" Akemi added, crosses her arms. A glare directed right on Naru's head.
'Uh...oh...' Even Mai was aware not to be stupid enough to get on this side of Akemi.
But the three people in front of Mai were quiet, particularly Naru and Akemi since Lin seems to have backed off the moment Akemi voiced his thoughts.
Naru rolls his eyes at that, knowing this was amusing to the Tech monitor.
Naru glances at Akemi, observing the girl with a passive expression. Testing the waters. "Well... I was kind of curious to see what would happen— and I also felt bad about waking Lin up in the middle of the night."
Akemi gives out a teasing scoff, though her tone says otherwise. "So it took only one night of a hanging woman to appear for you to have a sense of consideration?"
"..." Naru was quiet, the temperature of the room dropping a bit more.
Sensing the cold atmosphere, Lin decided it was enough and should intervene. "All you had to do was knock on the wall—"
Naru cut him off before Lin could finish, lifting his gaze to stare at Lin. "If something really happened, Of course I would have called you." Naru turns his head towards Akemi. "-but nothing happened." his words stressed.
'Hahahaha! Naru is agitated— he rarely acts this way! Pfft!' Mai snickers to herself, until she noticed what Naru has said. "Ahh you said 'knock on the wall' do you guys live together?" Mai asks, warm flames creeping on her cheeks. 'Ara? why am I blushing? Don't tell me, are they...?'
"I guess you could say that," Naru gives out a sigh once Akemi and Lin were out of his case. The heiress going back to blend the tea while Lin sat in front of the monitors. "Something wrong?"
Mai blushes, her thoughts completely going off. "No. Nothing..."
And it seems Akemi got the gist of her thoughts when the heiress spoke up. Her back still turned from them. "Hearing your words, one would think you guys are cohabiting with each other~" Mai stifles a laugh at the sight of Lin's expression. "-But I think it is fine as long as they consent, right~?"
CLINK—!
It took only a few seconds until Naru understands what Akemi was saying, the sound of pouring water loud on everybody's ears. Crossing his arms the boy kept his gaze on the back of Akemi's head. "Only people with tainted minds would ever think of such a thing."
CLINK—!
The heiress placed the fragile cover of the tea cup back on its place after pouring the hot water. Her head slowly— menacingly tilts to glance at Naru, a sense of threatening darkness flowing out of her usual smile. "Oh, my mind is filled with gruesome thoughts at this very moment."
"Then get that checked out," Without a second delay, Naru bites back. Knowing this was a way to snap back at him. "I don't want any reports about evil sightings in the area." A haunting giggle passed the room,
"Don't worry~" Akemi softly drawls, giving Lin his tea first before saving Naru for last. "I'll make sure no one would see you."
"Here you go~" And Akemi was back on her angelic aura, placing the cup of tea in front of Naru.
Mai blushes even more. Knowing that Naru is exactly Akemi's type, the high schooler was already seeing her advances. No matter how dark this one is.
Seeing that Akemi has had her fun, Naru relaxed in his seat.
"By the way, why was Kasai-san here?" Naru lifts his cup of tea, casually takes a simple sip. The scent of fresh roses and juicy cut apples inhabits his nostrils. The taste of black tea with natural rose and sweet honey apple flavors. The simple cup of tea blossoms a warmth on his stomach.
"Oh yeah! She offered to help if we needed her... and Ubusuna-sensei, too." Mai answers, unaware of the garden Naru is currently in. "Kasai-san knows a lot more than I about psychics— I was impressed— Apparently she learned from Ubusuna-sensei, so she must know even more."
"I see." Naru voices out, half-listening until his mind processed the information.
"Hey, you don't really think that Kasai-san is putting curses on people?" Mai wobbles on Kasai's innocence, 'Akemi-sempai says she's innocent so maybe she actually is?'
"Even if she had PK abilities, she wouldn't be able to influence this many people.... Besides all the victims have been seeing evil spirits." was Naru's swift reply.
"I don't think so too..." The heiress chimes in, her lips puckered with her finger on her chin. "The aura I've seen and its scent is highly different compared to actual hauntings of a spirit, it reminds me of the Voodoo and Occult shop we visited in New Orleans. It couldn't have possibly come from only from her words... that would have costed a lot of energy— I would already be in the hospital if I were to do it with power alone. So maybe she used some kind of instrument..."
'That and Kasai-san is definitely innocent to all this.'
"What Akemi-sempai said— Couldn't it be voodoo dolls?"
"No, Voodoo dolls are the ones that you hammer nails into." Naru responds, frowning when Akemi asks him why he won't try the butter cookies after handing Lin three.
"Hmm," Akemi hums, taking a butter cookie for herself. "A doll with your physical attribute— could either be a lock of hair or just a photo taped on the face and it already connects you to the real one... spirits don't appear because of voodoo dolls though... but they would have the same scent and mist that I saw... how about the ones you used on the doll case, Naru? A Hitogata?"
"I doubt that too, Hitogatas—!"
SKRCHH—!
"Ah! What? What?" Akemi and Mai jumped at the sudden stand of Naru, his chair creating a loud sound on the floor.
"Lin..."
"There's a possibility." the Tech assistant nods on the silent conversation the two seemed to have.
"This is why we thought you two are cohabiting..." Akemi whispers under her breath, Mai blushing and stuttering a 'We?!'
"Why didn't I realize this sooner?" Naru ignored Akemi's comment with a glare.
"What?" Mai asks, Akemi tilting her head. Both girls curious and confused.
~~~
ʕ•ﻌ•ʔ AKEMI AND OTHERS ʕ•ﻌ•ʔ
"A Zuso?!" The crew now complete and all inside the temporary base. Naru stayed seated in front of the desk, facing the others. While Ayako, Mai, Akemi and Bou-san stood across from him, Masako and John occupying the other available seats which are on the both ends of the desk.
Lin continues his work by the monitors.
"Someone has been using spells to put curses on other people here." Naru says, his back straightened on his seat and legs crossed. "-That's what's causing all the psychic phenomena."
"Spells... is that really possible?!" Mai asks, curious on knowing spells actually exist.
"Are you saying that someone's been hammering nails into voodoo dolls?" Bou-san pops in, his brown gaze shocked and suspicious.
Easily replying the only question Naru finds more needing. "Close but not quite." Pertaining to Bou-san's question.
"What does a Zuso have to do with spirits?" Ayako chimes in, sending Akemi a lingering gaze. Without Kikyo by her side, Ayako felt like an older sister to the heiress.
"Spells caused by hammering nails into a doll originally came from the way of the Onmyou." Naru gives breath, leaning back on his sit. "—I'll explain for Mai."
Said girl glared at Naru's passive expression, annoyed. 'Tsk! this narcissist!'
'It seems like Mai's the shield today...' Akemi wryly chuckles in her head. Knowing that even the heiress did not know what a Zuso is. 'If this is one of the ways Naru would explain then I am willing to listen.'
As though on cue, Naru starts explaining.
His enunciation sharp and clear. "In the way of the Onmyou there's an Enmi, which is one of the spells used to put a curse on someone. One must use a doll or a belonging from the person you want to cast the spell on— Actually 'Hammering nails on voodoo dolls' is one of the enmi spells. Normally when you think of a Voodoo doll it's assumed that the grudge of the person hammering nails gets passed onto the other person, and that's how they get hurt." The others listened intently. Secretly the heiress could not help but be giddy. She has always loved hearing Naru's voice— and to hear it speak so intelligently has done wonders to her chest. "—The person who is casting the spell, or a Jusha will hammer nails into a doll or hitogata and pray to the spirits for them to curse the person. The spirits then accept the request and will begin to torment or even kill that person— Basically, by using Enmi, a Jusha calls for spirit or psychic energy and they eventually end up manipulating the evil spirits."
Mai shivers, 'Then all the incidents here were all acts of evil spirits...?'
"I'm confident that the psychic phenomena happened at this school are caused by the Enmi. Someone's been putting curses on the school faculty and students by using enmi and even though the spirits don't have the capacity to kill someone in one day, they still torment their victim little by little until they gradually drive them to death." Naru remains neutral, his words coming off like it was second nature. "-This is still just my theory, though."
Akemi elegantly smiles next to him, as if he did not spoke of such a dark 'theory'.
"As a result of these psychic events and hearing the 'Ghost rumors' most of the people in this school have now become paranoid. Rumors like these can easily influence emotionally sensitive people— making them concerned that something may happen next to them." Naru continues when none of the others questions his words, 'Good they're learning.' "The student who was supposedly possessed by a fox spirit is a good example of that. After all, it has become school-wide news."
"...Then who would do such..." Bou-san mutters under his breath, pondering through lists of students and faculties who visited the base.
Masako lifts a sleeve over her chin, her dark eyes staring only at Naru. "That answer is obvious— it must be Kasai-san."
"What?!" Mai turns to the people around her with wide shocked eyes.
"Let me see..." Ayako chimes in which made Akemi turn to the woman with almost a blank gaze.
'So they all think Kasai-san did it?'
Ayako continue her thoughts, unaware of Akemi's gaze. "-Not only would the people here not believe she had psychic power but they also punished her for it. Also they're still punishing the teacher who tried to support her and she threatened to kill someone with a spell, right?"
"She's performing Zuso to put a curse on others." Masako clears up. Fully believing her words,
"Ka-Kasai-san is innocent!" Mai fought back, her words a bit hesitant but her eyes portrayed leaning belief.
"How do you know that?" Hearing the challenging voice, Akemi was quick to stop them from overwhelming Mai.
"Ayako, please withhold from pressuring Mai." Akemi lightly pleaded before turning to Mai with a more softer gaze, more open to the idea unlike the others who seem to have their sides.
"Then who else would it be?" Ayako asks, stepping back when Akemi pleaded her to— but when Akemi didn't answer her question, it just sent the others back to their opinion.
"Ah... I don't... I don't really know but..." Mai stutters, 'Huh? What was that feeling I just had?'
Naru sighs, no point on seeing dilly-dallying. Akemi was quiet, waiting until the others have spoken their turn, so he might as well hurry things up. "Our primary suspect would be Kasai-san. One of the victims, Yoshino-sensei was the very person who punished her in front of everyone at a morning assembly."
"But Kasai-san didn't do it..." Mai continued to defend,
"Can you prove to us that it's not her?" Naru lifts his gaze, staring directly at Mai. "If we don't do anything to stop her, there may be someone who would really die from this. Do you understand that?"
'I can't prove it... there's no way I can prove her innocence but if I don't do anything about it... Kasai-san is innocent. That's right, Kasai-san san is innocent.' Mai bit her lip, trying to find in herself any evidence that Kasai is innocent but the only thing she could do was glance at Akemi softly gazing at Mai. Waiting.
Mai's hands clenched her sleeves tightly. 'I can't prove it but I feel it, somehow I know it— even Akemi-sempai said Kasai-san is innocent and I trust her instincts.'
"Kasai-san is innocent, definitely! I believe in her innocence! Akemi-sempai and I believe in her innocence!"
"What nonsense," Ayako sighs almost stunned when Mai included Akemi on her vote.
"Do you know that for sure?" Naru kinks his head, observing Akemi and Mai with his usual unreadable expression."
"Yes I do."
"Hai~" The two answered,
"Is this your intuition again?"
"Yes it is!" Akemi proudly smiles at hearing Mai sound so sure, observing the fire-like passion aura of the high schooler.
"Hai~" Akemi repeats.
Seeing that the two would not change their decisions— especially with their senses involved, Naru gave them a chance. "Fine I'll give you the benefit of the doubt this time."
"Really?!" Mai brightens while Akemi's smile widens at the win.
"I don't want to be responsible if anyone dies, do you understand?" Masako speaks up, her brows furrowed with her sleeve covering her frown.
"I do." Naru says, knowing fully well he would be responsible if they got this wrong but so far, Akemi's intuition hasn't failed her yet and Naru hopes it won't now. "I have to stop the Zuso. We'll look for the Jusha. I need you guys to try and find the Hitogata."
Bou-san slumped, his face gaping. "What now....?"
"-There are only two ways to break the Enmi." Naru speaks up, ignoring the comment from the monk. "-One is to return the Zuso to the Jusha, the other is to burn the hitogata that was used for this curse."
"The Hitogata has to be near the Jusha, so if the Jusha somehow is associated with this school, it's likely that the hitogata is buried somewhere nearby."
"Hey—"
"At least the Hitogata that'll be shaped like me would have been buried in the last few days. For that one you should be able to see the area that's freshly dug in." Naru once again continues without pause but it seems Bou-san wants his voice heard and cuts him off.
"Hey hey hey! give me a break!" Bou-san speaks up. "Do you have any idea how big the school grounds are?! Do you expect us to search this entire area?— and it's ridiculously big if we include the area that's under construction for the new student hall!" just thinking about the school grounds made almost all of them tired. "-Atleast give us Akemi to look around!" with her help, it would be easier to find the Hitogatas and they would finish the task in a flash if they consider her intuitions in the mix.
"I feel loved..." Akemi teases, Bou-san sends her an embarrassed smile. The two smiling at each other, knowing the heiress was not actually provoked by his words.
"Akemi would be looking for the Hitogatas by herself." The others flinched at the harsh tone. "-I want to see the capability of her senses and intuition."
"Eh?" Naru hands a camera, towards Akemi. The red light turned on— signaling its live recording.
"Video record everything and use your ESP the whole look out."
"Roger~" Akemi weakly smiles while lifting the camera. 'Is— is this another test?'
After he finished dealing with Akemi, Naru glares at Bou-san, "Do you want to do this or would you rather go home?"
"Of— of course I want to do it..."
"Hey, are you losing the battle again?!" Ayako hissed next to him, annoyed that Naru actually let Akemi work by herself with her condition.
~~~