Akemi appeared to have a high fever and rest was the best for Akemi's condition. It amounted to a decision that Akemi would have to stay at the girl's quarter, since the beds were there and are comfortable to rest on, though it took a while for Akemi to convince the others that she'll be alright alone.
A lot of disagreements arose. And only when Akemi suggested to have Ayako place a charm for her along with having Oliver there to keep her company, did they silenced.
But it was only when Naru ordered to have a camera that foresees the whole room and an all-day-on intercom beside her, did they become willing to leave Akemi alone.
So far, the cameras were being fixed with Lin and John's help while Ayako and the other girls came back to the base, wanting to help Ayako prepare whatever Akemi would need.
"As expected, it happened here too." Ohashi muttered under his breath, letting his eyes take in the scrawled pleas all over the room. It inhabited the vacant ones as well, no room in the mansion seemed to have stayed untouched. Though his eyes focused on Akemi's weak figure, fighting himself to ask how she is doing when the heiress sent him a reassuring glance.
"Is this what the spirits in this house are trying to say?" Ayako crosses her arms in a protective way, a shroud of discomfort lain on her shoulders.
Naru held an intercom in his vacant hands, in no time waiting for Lin to test the intercom. He did not even bother to turn and look at Masako as he asked: "Hara-san, do you feel up to performing a seance?"
Masako contemplated, "...I-"
Akemi looks in concern, "Naru... I don't think-"
"Hey, wait a minute! You want to invite a spirit into Masako?" Mai stepped in, a gaping look plastered on her face as she stared in disbelief.
"Mai..." Akemi laying at the sofa in the mean time let out a cough, but Mai persisted.
"We can't do that! She'll go through the same disturbing emotions Akemi-sempai and I went through!"
Naru sighs, "Mai, Hara-san is a professional-"
"Pro or not, no one should have to experience that!" Mai shook her head, her eyes determined to get across. Everything else be damned, "Do you know what it feels like to die, Naru!? Can you imagine the moment you die!? Do you understand how fragile we are?! I REFUSE TO ALLOW MASAKO TO BE PO-"
"Mai, that is enough!" Akemi's voice waved around the room. Her coughs coming up once in a while, but the sternness in them still made Mai pause. "With feelings or not, talking about death isn't something to be taken up lightly-"
"But Akemi-sempai!"
"Akemi-" Naru went to stop Akemi but a look from her made him pause. His eyes softened. "Don't." He utters and the sight of him had Akemi's heart saddened.
With a hesitant voice she affirms. "Are you sure...?"
Naru's deep eyes went unfocused, the way his thoughts caught his attention and could no longer dismiss it. Mai, Masako and Akemi froze at the sight of it. The two mediums feeling it more due to their sensitivity.
"...Naru?" Mai hesitantly calls but the boy only turned away from her and lifts the intercom near his mouth. CLICK.
"Lin," Naru tries and immediately gets a response from their mechanic.
CLICK. "Yes?"
"Will you invoke the spirits?" Naru announces before Lin could ask. "I know there's no guarantee with this method but it can't be helped at this moment." CLICK.
Only seconds passed before Lin answers back. "Let's try it." and Mai once again tries to intervene but Naru beat her to it.
"Lin's method does not require possession. So rest assured." And without waiting any other words from Mai, Naru strides towards Akemi's slumped figure and helped her up.
With the intercom and cameras working and Ayako's charms all set up, Akemi can stay there with enough supervision. "Let's go." With a click of his tongue, Naru took a side glance, peeking at Oliver who was already following behind them.
"Mai, you have your point." Bou's voice getting hoarse, turning back towards Mai as they watched Naru, Oliver and Akemi trudged away. "Even I agree that Masako shouldn't attempt a seance with how dangerous the spirits are... but there are different ways to convey your thoughts... and yelling at them in an uncivilized way isn't going to make your point clear..."
"Bou-san, John, can you please help set up the cameras for Lin?" Naru voices out before he and Akemi left, the two professionals nodding when Naru was no longer in sight.
The air in the room developed into a room of awkwardness. Bou-san sighs while he places a hand over a stiff Mai and leaving with John to set up the camera.
'What was that...? Just then... That look I saw on Naru's face for just a moment... It was like the worst feeling ever.' Mai bit her lip, twiddling her fingers and gazing at the doors where Naru and Akemi left. Bou-san's words lingering in her ears. 'I should apologize after this...'
°•○●●○•°
Akemi and Naru made their way towards the ladies quarters, which is considerably not far, but oddly enough they manage to bump into the tall foreigner that Minami had deemed to be Dr. Oliver Davis.
Naru and Dr. Davis caught each other's stare. Both being civil enough to nod at each other in greeting while Oliver beside him let out a huff. Dr. Davis however, froze at the sight of Akemi's glare. Both owner and pet, fuming at the sight of the tall foreigner.
'He's too old, blond, looks incredibly friendly and approachable to the human eye, and...' Akemi inwardly shivers. 'Soft...'
Seeing the hostility of her eyes, unaware of the list growing in her head by the second, Dr. Davis clears his throat and passed the two.
"Faker." A smooth voice permeated the empty hallway. Her french accent, sticking on her words.
The foreigner flinches. Dr. Davis glances back towards the two, particularly at Akemi— whose back remained facing him. "Excuse me?"
Naru's hold on Akemi tightened but she didn't bother to face it and said: "You should confess who you really are while its still early... the spirits in this house will swallow you whole if you continue sleeping content in the night pretending to be someone else."
Dr. Davis frowned and showed to reprimand Akemi of her words when at that same moment the heiress turns her head to glance back at him.
Shudder.
The sight of her cold smile was so sharp he can feel it slice his throat. "Nobody would even know who you are once you go missing... it would be so easy to get rid of you~" Akemi says, drawling the 'so' as a way to tease and mock the Dr. Davis.
"Akemi." Naru tilts his head at her, his gaze imploring her to quit it.
"Hmph!" Akemi huffs and lets Naru pull her away. Even though she couldn't see his gaze, she sure can tell by the way he held her tightly and his aura.
It wasn't as gloomy compared to when they were at the base after Mai's confrontation.
"You shouldn't have said that."
Akemi grins, muffling a cough. "It is why we are here, aren't we? I knew the moment he introduced himself." Naru keeps quiet. Akemi nods, giving a small cough. "Madoka-chan didn't want you to investigate the case, its one of the perks of it but the main reason is to debunk the fake Oliver Davis– It was all to save your reputation."
Naru huffs at what her words can actually mean. "Who cares about their reputation? It's just a hindrance."
Akemi furrowed her brows, curious. "So you don't mind someone walking around using your name?"
"It's just a name."
Akemi softly smiles at him. "Its your name..."
"Still a name." He remained stoic. "Not worth anything."
"I think the Registry courts says differently." Akemi teases,
"Hn." Naru gives out a smirk though it disappeared when he notices Akemi looking outside with her head tilting to the side. "What is it?"
"It's so peaceful outside... complete opposite of what is happening here..."
"Are you saying that no spirits could go outside?"
Akemi hums, keeping her head tilted. "He can't go outside...kuff! Kuff!"
"Hn." Was Naru's only response before pulling her aside. Better get her to rest.
Akemi laid down on her designated bed at the girl's quarters, tucked in with a wet towel on her forehead when her fever got worse. Her eyes have shut tight with her mouth giving out heated pants.
Beads of sweat constantly fell down her forehead as her body burned up; a complete contrast to the freezing cold she felt. Extreme throbs similarly to her quick heartbeat continue to pound her head and every joint in her body ache as though it had endured days of intense exercise without any rest.
"Ha... ha..." Akemi breathed out as her nostrils aren't enough to give her breath. A wave of discomfort passing her expressions as she laid still on the mattress. Ayako wanted to call up her security to at least get Akemi home or a nearby place to keep her comfortable. But who knows when paparazzi would catch a glimpse of this?
It could blow up the media, and that is something Ayako wouldn't want disturbed.
"Watch over her. Please." Naru utters towards Oliver, patting the dog on the head and left before it laid besides his owner.
While Akemi laid on the bed, her pet Oliver guarding her— somewhere in the mansion lies the SPR crew. Who already have cameras rolling, trying to document the event where Lin would summon a spirit.
Particularly Naoko Suzuki-san.
Lin took a deep breath in, before exhaling out. "Let us begin."
°•○●●○•°
"I can't believe it! He murdered people just because he wanted to save himself!" Mai stomps her feet, not liking what she had learned.
Everybody from the crew, all gathered back at their base, pondering over what they have found out. They managed to summon Naoki Suzuki-san successfully— altogether confirming her death without the hope of ever finding her alive. Some of them thought of how they should tell Igarashi-sensei about this information, yet it proved difficult as thoughts of the dangers they are in continues to overthrow it.
Naru places a hand on his chin, walking towards a vacant window— his eyes taking in the view outside.
As it turns out, Urado was not only a pen name that Kaneyuki-shi placed on himself, but an inspiration from Dracula. They have concluded that Kaneyuki-shi must have heard of his tale during his escapades on foreign lands, in hopes to find a cure for his illness. This resulted into inspiration.
Vlad, whose well-known as a vampire— brutally slaughtering people with tales of blood behind his name.
They then learned of the notorious female serial killer as they realized the story must have been well-known and famous at the time. The Blood Countess, Elizabeth Bathory who embodies fame for basking on the bloods of her victims— believing that submerging herself on young blood would make her young forever.
Putting it in perspective, they noticed the dots connect one by one. It all started to make sense,
"Now, do you think Hiroyuki-shi knew about this?" Bou-san asks as they realized they have a serial killer in their case. "What his own father was doing here?"
"Possibly." Naru crosses his arms, leaning back on his chair with a serious look in his eyes. His brows furrowed on the front. "So he constantly retrofitted this building to seal the room in. He hid it deep in the heart of this mansion so the spirits wouldn't escape."
Mai took a deep breath in, placing a hand over her chest. 'The grudges of the people his father murdered...all because he wanted to cure himself?'
Though a thought sparked inside her head. "Hey, Kaneyuki-shi is dead so why are there still young people disappearing?"
And this is what Naru dreaded to think, the moment they found out about the history of Kaneyuki-shi— questions were already laid on the table. "Maybe its possible... He figured out the secret to a longer life and that concerns me."
The others blinked, 'Concern... him...?'
Oblivious to their thoughts, Naru continues. "By killing others, he brings life to himself and as a result he is still here— perhaps, it has nothing to do with the spirits of the people killed here in the disappearances. If the people killed are the spirits living in the house, I can't believe that Kaneyuki-shi— Urado is the only evil spirit."
In short, "Vlad is here, in this house still. From here, he's hunting for sacrifices."
°•○●●○•°
Ayako frowns when she took a peek on the blueprints over Naru's shoulder. The boy exceptionally unmoved on handing it to someone else. "That's strange... This is where the huge chimney should be!"
Since they have finally uncovered the case, Naru and the others have decided on fully investigating further. By breaking down the wall, the very wall that Oliver has also led them when Mai used him to find Suzuki-san.
"Okay, Lin." Naru turns to Lin while Bou-san was already in his get up. A pick axe hanging over his shoulder and a pair of thick gloves for his labor.
"If we're gonna do it, let's do it." Bou-san feels a bead of sweat drop down his head. Shaking it slowly as he cannot imagine he is actually doing this. "I can't believe we're really going to tear down the walls."
"You're so cool, Bou-san." Mai light-heartedly cheers beside him. A cat grin plastered on her lips,
Hearing her comment, the monk glances at Mai and pouts. "You know feel free to help any time with the physical labor."
Mai pokes both of her index fingers together, feigning innocence. "No way~ I'm so weak..." Mai even emphasizes using a meek voice. "I can't lift something that heavy~"
Bou-san sighs, looking up with a thought he spoke aloud. "If Akemi were here she would already be swinging..."
Mai, John and Ayako sweat dropped. Imagining a sparkling heiress already in full gear. "Right..."
"This wall is the weakest." Lin states, having put away the equipment beside him that helped determine the walls. "We should be able to break through here."
Bou-san pulls up his sleeves, picking up his axe. "All right."
Both Bou-san and John started swinging, "Heave ho!"
BAM!
BAM!
BAM!
BAM!
BAM!
BAM!
BAM!
Lin beside them started folding his sleeves, walking towards a sweating John. "I'll take your place."
"Thanks," With a hand extended, John hands his axe towards Lin.
Bou-san watched their interaction with envy. He pouts towards Naru who seems to have no desire to replace his position whatsoever. "Weren't you taking my place, Naru-chan?"
Naru was quick to respond, keeping a torch flash the blueprints he has been reading this entire time. "Sorry, my hands are full." A torch on one hand. A blueprint on the other.
"...man..." Bou-san sighs, and went back to finish his labor.
Mai and Ayako tried their best not to suggest holding Naru's things, knowing it would be their end if they did so. So the two opted to just laugh at Bou-san's pain.
BAM!
BAM!
BAM!
CRASH!
The thin walls finally gave in, Lin and bou-san making the hole big enough for them to get inside.
With their job done, Bou-san finally let out a wheeze, his body slumping in exhaustion while Lin beside him, wiped his own sweat. "There...! How's that... you jerk..."
Unaware that Akemi, in her room was having a vision of her own.
°•○●●○•°
In the lady's quarters, Akemi gave out a flinch the same moment, the walls were finally destroyed.
"...door... sealed... burn... bones... no... " The heiress uttered under her breath, just in time for the others to see what she saw.
°•○●●○•°
"Oh man..." Bou-san muttered in disbelief as the men of the crew decided to be the only ones to scope the area.
The door and windows present in the room were sealed off with bricks, with three wooden boxes inside filled to the brim with coal.
Coal meant for the incinerator located in the middle of the room,
The very equipment that has a pile of corpses inside.
Bou-san called over Naru and Lin, as it was John who first discovered the corpses. Bou-san still couldn't believe his eyes. Even when Naru himself made his way towards them to see the same thing the monk, priest and mechanic were seeing.
It sounded a lot like the beginning of a joke— yet knew none of it can ever become one. They knew they have a serial killer in their hands. Still none of them deemed themselves prepared to actually see one of the victims and piles of evidence right in front of their eyes.
°•○●●○•°
The moment after they have found the corpses inside the incinerator, Naru had everyone: The professionals that Ohashi-san called over and Ohashi-san, gathered to the meeting place they all sat at. They were all confused, while Ohashi was more grimmed— already knowing what the meet was for since Naru told him first beforehand.
"We found corpses." The people in the room, specially those who didn't know— froze.
"There are... corpses...?"
Naru remained solemn in his seat, right on the end of the table. "I think they're probably the two who disappeared in February."
"I see.. but..."
"You told Sensei to call the police,"
The female professor, Igarashi let out a hesitant look before opting to ask Naru. "Um... where were they?"
"West of the building."
"Oh my!" Igarashi gasps, her eyes widening as she gazes in Dr. Davis— who remained quiet this whole time— with awe. "Did you hear that? It's amazing! It's just like the Doctor said." Pertaining to the claimed Oliver Davis in the room.
"What do you mean by that, Igarashi-sensei?" Naru frowns when the Professor brightened a bit more, her reaction misplaced and unsuited to the situation.
"The Doctor told me before, when I asked about the missing persons' whereabouts, he said west of here." The claimed Oliver Davis and Minami looked at each other in hidden disbelief. Their reaction hidden from the others but Ayako was quick to notice their exchange and she considerably frowns even more. She has doubted the two at the very beginning.
"It's just as he predicted." Igarashi sighs in awe, her fingertips touching and her hand formed a triangle, having them near her mouth which her lips formed a small smile.
A smile.
Naru, leaned just slightly forward towards the Professor's direction, who was at least a chair away on his right. He tried to gain the Professor's attention when she focused on Dr. Oliver Davis' abilities. "Sensei... did you hear me? Besides the two missing person's who died in February... I don't think there's really much hope for the survival of others."
By then Igarashi paled, "Then... are you saying..." Finally realizing why the reason of meeting. One of the reasons. " Suzuki-san's dead?"
On the mini table, next to the long mahogany dining, Mai's eyes lowered. She remembers how Suzuki-san's spirit didn't even know she was dead until they called upon her.
"Not just Suzuki-san." Naru's voice made Mai flinch. "But probably, Atsugi-san too." Minami froze, the memory of Akemi's drenched figure popping his thoughts.
Minami hid his clenched fists under the table, "B-but the disappearances in February, wasn't that a really long time ago? surely they just lost their way..."
Naru shook his head, his eyes firm. "They couldn't have lost their way into that room. It's completely sealed off from the outside."
"Then that means..." Igarashi shuddered, placing her hands on her face as she processed what it all meant.
The Monk in the room, not Bou-san of course, stood up his face all red in anger. "I'm leaving! I can't put my own life in danger for those missing!"
"Imura-san!" Ohashi called out, watching as the Monk left the room with quick haste.
An assistant to Inami, spoke up. Probably the only two left, "Umm, Mr. President... should we leave too?"
Minami without a second more, answered. "Yes! I agree. So Doctor-"
"Hold it right there!" Mai frowned in distaste, 'Why are they all leaving?' "You're not going to help search for Atsugi-san too?!"
The question very well irked Minami.
Mai flinched when she received a crazed glare from him— looking at her as though she was the crazy one. "If we could find them safe and sound sure! But what if we're only adding ourselves to the victim list?" Minami's thoughts then went to Akemi's condition that time he looked for Atsugi— a shiver ran up his spine and it went into mindless conclusions. "And in no way am I going to stay here with that weird assistant of yours! For all I know she was the one who killed Atsugi!"
At the mention of Akemi, Ayako stood up enraged, but Bou-san was quick to capture her arm to stop her. Ayako was about to give a bark but by the looks of it, all of the SPR crew present are rigid and alert at Minami's figure. Each and everyone, sending their pure protectiveness and warning.
Minami shudders at their gazes, while Mai was oblivious to the reaction behind her— she continued to protect her sempai. "Why you-?! How dare you accuse Ake- Claire! She's the nicest and most kindest woman there ever is! She won't ever hurt an innocent!" Mai snarls. 'Though maybe she'll gladly hurt you!'
"Please stay, Doctor Davis..." Igarashi pleads, gaining Mai's attention. The professor stood up her seat and hastily went close to Davis, holding his sleeve to stop him. "We need your help! Use all your abilities to look for Suzuki-san! I beg you, Dr. Davis!"
"I.." Davis flinches away from her touch. His mind troubled and his expression had no trouble at all in revealing them. "I'm not him! I'm not Davis!"
'What?' The others blanked at the poorly Japanese enunciation, taking a bit of time but they got the idea nonetheless. Though it went downhill from there as the Foreigner used his native tongue,
"My name is Raymond Wall, and I'm not a doctor." The foreigner revealed. "When I said 'West' I was just making it up! Minami just told me, 'Say you're Davis.' !" Minami blushed in frustration, understanding that Raymond was betraying him. While John was quick to interpret. Though it seemed that his help went for nothing when Bou-san remained stiff after Raymond's Japanese revelation.
"I must go... I'm leaving!" Raymond once again butchers the Asian language as he leaves, Minami following behind him, red and fuming.
"Oi! Hey, you! Hold it right there!" "M-Mr. President!"
Only when the doors slammed did Mai got out of her stupor. Shaking her head while she guides a sobbing Igarashi to a chair, "No... oh no..."
"Well, I knew all along." Ayako patted a stiff Bou-san, whose soul was leaving his body. "Pull it together."
While Naru still in his seat, moved as though nothing has happened. "We should pull out too. I think Igarashi-sensei should leave as well— this house is too dangerous for all of us."
Mai gaped, straightening herself to widen her eyes at Naru. "Huh?! No wait— what about the missing people? You're just going to abandon them?!"
"They're dead. I'm not interested in finding dead people." Naru closes his eyes, a distinct frown on his lips. "We searched inside the house, the reality is— I don't think the missing people could have been sealed off in that room. I don't see how Urado could have carried his victims through the walls. People of flesh and blood can't pass through walls and I don't think he could simply distort space." Naru opens his eyes, placing them on Mai. Relaying how serious this case was but Mai didn't understand, and she only did when Naru spoke it into words. "Do you understand what kind of power is needed to do that? There would be no more reason to harbor regret and sorrow in this world. He only wants to survive. That's the reason he hunts his victims. They're no longer just spirits of the departed. They're now monsters— demons— devils— phantoms or whatever you choose to call them."
'The devil's child... Vlad— Urado.. he really is like a devil' Mai felt a cold shiver climb up her spine, chilling her bones at the thought.
"We know how to hunt ghosts but we don't know how to hunt monsters. An exorcism would be ineffective. Is there anyone among us who knows how to hunt them?" Naru asks, though he already knew the answer.
Looking at the three professionals on his crew present, Naru waited for them with a raised brow.
Bou-san sighs, "I can't myself, If a creature has the power to carry people through walls, I couldn't hold it down."
"My qualifications aren't good enough either." Ayako crosses her arms.
"Same here." John sadly nods. "I can't stop someone that doesn't fear the glory of God."
"No way...still..." Mai thought of Akemi. "Then how about Akemi-semp-"
"Akemi's condition worsens the longer she stays here." Naru was quick to cut off. Crossing his arms and returning back to looking at Mai. "Urado must be using her excessive energy to make all of these poltergeist possible— which adds more to the reason why we should leave..." His thoughts went back to Akemi's words. "Though he does have one weakness."
"Weakness?"
"He does?"
"He can't leave the house." Naru says, his words letting Bou-san and the others brightened in understanding.
"That's right... The surroundings of this house are safe and Miss Madoka and Yasuhara are still there."
'Eh?' Mai blinked.
Naru nods, while Bou-san grins. "Urado slaughtered one victim after another in this house during his lifetime. Even now his deeds are confined to this house. Therefore he can't go outside to hunt for humans— even Mai could exorcise it."
"Even me?!" Mai gasps.
Bou-san gave out a smile, lifting a finger to teach Mai an information. "It's easy, you just have to torch the house. He can't escape the house so he burns with it." Bou-san explained, "Even you could do that."
Mai tilts her head, "After the fire, what do you do with what's left?"
Shrugging his shoulders, "Nothing. Because he wouldn't have a place to haunt without the house."
Naru gives out a breath, already taking too much time and was quick to stop the others from thinking they were going to finish all this. "We called the police, who will dismantle the house and discover the missing persons. That's not our job."
Mai stared at him blankly. "Why are we fleeing?"
"This is not fleeing,"
'That's just like Naru-chan' Bou-san snickered.
"Our job is just done."
"Huh?"
Naru crosses his legs, already having said a lot compared to the lectures he's had. "I didn't come here to honor Ohashi-san's request. I didn't think I would have taken this case for him alone— even now it doesn't hold my interest."
'At least at first it was gaining my interest until...' Akemi's pale face, trying so hard to smile appeared in his thoughts but Naru shook it off before it escalated. "I did this for Madoka."
"M-mori...san?"
"Right." Naru places a tired hand on his temple. "She thinks that there's an imposter posing as Oliver Davis at Minami Psychic research. She wanted me to do a little more investigation on it. Our job is over now. There's no reason to remain here and risk our safety." Naru stands. "Let's leave."
"Y-you deceitful jerk!" Mai screeches in anger.
"I just maintained strategic secrecy. There are people who can't keep quiet." To further emphasize what he means, Naru made sure to keep eye contact with Mai and the high school student fully understood his bullying.
"Meaning me?!" Mai huffs, "Yeah... yeah that's right! I hate that you deceive people who disagree with you, Naru!" Turning her back and facing Igarashi who was sitting, watching them in confusion.
Bowing a perfect degree, Mai says "I'm so sorry, I've been lying to you. Our president is an imposter-"
"Mai!" Naru hisses but Mai continues.
"Actually," with a pointing hand, Mai points at Naru. "That's Kazuya Shibuya!" Turning to him with an innocent smile, Mai beams at him. "Right?"
It was quiet for a while, Naru glaring at the high school student but in the end, he just sighed.
"Let's prepare to leave. Gather our things."
'Serves you right!' "Yes, Mr. President!" Naru shakes his head and left ahead while Bou-san beside Mai crossed his arms,
"You know... you just proved that you can't keep secrets, right?"
Mai blinks, "Eh?"
"EHHH?!"
°•○●●○•°
"What Naru said is true, right?" Akemi flinched as the door to the guest room opened. Mai's voice explicitly loud on her ears. The voices of the spirits though stopped for whatever reason after she got sick and every sound is now frightfully loud. "We can leave the rest to the police, right? It's okay right?"
Akemi curls to her side in a feeble way as Mai distractedly took out her bag and started packing her things. "It's okay that we're actually leaving."
"It's all right." Ayako said, already having said it a dozen of times on their way to their quarters. Ayako places a comforting hand on Akemi's forehead. Removing the wet towel on her head. "Akemi, Naru says we should leave... I'll go pack your things after I've taken my bath, okay?"
Akemi groans, trying her best to open her eyes. "No... I'll... I'll do it-"
Ayako shakes her head, "Don't even think about it."
Mai turns to Ayako, "You're going to take a shower?!"
"That's right, I'm going to take a shower, so you can take your time." With a slight wave of her hand, the door to the bathroom clicked with Ayako inside.
"Man, hurry up!" Mai places a hand on her waist, glancing to the side also seeing Masako starting to pack.
"Masako-"
Masako turns her head away before Mai could even finish speaking to her. "I do not wish to speak with you."
With a startled blinking, Mai soon frowns and glared at the beautiful medium. "Well, excuse me! Why have you been so mean to me since we got here? Just give me the reason."
"..."
Seeing that Masako remained quiet for a while, Mai let out a huff. Turning her back to continue packing. "Hmph! Well-"
"Why..." Masako's cheeks turned red. "Why are you and Akemi-san the only one Naru addresses without '-san'?!"
"...huh?" Even Akemi gaped at the direction Mai and Masako are at.
Yet Masako was on a run, once she started speaking— she couldn't find a way to stop. Every thought bundled up in her chest, flows out of her mouth. "He calls Matsuzaki-san and me by our family names, why do you deserve special treatment?" 'Even Maruyama-san is being treated so closely!'
"Why...?"
"-You're not just an employee, are you?"
Mai chagrined. "Would you rather he addressed me by my family name?"
Masako blushes, "Yes, I would but..."
"Okay, I'll tell Naru that." Mai shrugs, but that didn't deter Masako at all. Especially when Akemi remained silent and didn't give any promises.
"-You two bicker like you were very intimate before- and Maruyama-san has got it even worse!"
"Huh?! Where did you get that idea?" Mai frowns, while Akemi felt a bead of sweat fall down her head at Mai's obliviousness.
"By any chance..." Akemi drawls, her voice incredibly hoarse but she was too weak to continue and so went back to rest. 'I have to change once Ayako-chan is finished...'
Good thing Mai finally had a realization. "Masako are you jealous?" Masako blushes even more.
"Pfft! Masako, you're so cute!"
"Don't be so rude." The medium barks,
"So you're jealous?"
"You..."
"Well, there's no reason to be jealous of me. The only special treatment I get is the bad kind." Mai laughs, having a hand scratch the back of her neck. "If anything, it's Akemi-sempai we should be jealous of!" The two girls turned and glared at the sick person laying on the bed beside them. Oblivious.
"I don't get why she is even treated so special by him." Masako huffs.
Mai sweat dropped, "Well, it could be what they call pretty privilege? She's a model and an ambassador of a lot of clothing lines, she has a lot of commercials and endorsements every single day, Akemi-sempai also has quite an inheritance, she has a business of her own that is doing quite well, she's also very popular with everyone," The more Mai listed Akemi's perks, the more the two girls slumped.
"...She— She can cook too... and is very smart, best of all she is very kind...". Their cheery disposition was quickly being drained.
"But the one thing that would get Naru's attention..." The two girls muttered,
"Is her paranormal abilities..." They felt like such a loser.
Masako stood up with pure fire in her eyes, murder written all over it. "Eh- eh Masako! She's sick! sick! don't! DON'T!" Mai pulled Masako away, having the girl sit beside her before the medium could hurt the heiress.
It took quite a strength, despite how frail Masako looked— it turns out that as long it is for a hearty passion, all weaknesses are out the window.
Speaking of weaknesses. "Ne~ What is his weakness? Naru, I mean." Mai sat beside the medium, constantly moving her feet. "What is it? Why won't you tell me?"
"It's nothing unusual." Masako turns to her with a sad gaze. "If I told you, he would hate me even more..."
'Huh?'
"It's because I know Naru's weakness that Naru hates me."
Mai looked st Masako in confusion. "What do you mean?"
"Naru has much pride. He can't tolerate the thought of someone knowing his weakness." Masako sighs, explaining. "So he hates me. If I tell people, he will hate me even more."
"But isn't hate such a big word?" Mai comforts, yet making sure she remains honest. "I don't think he hates you in particular because of that."
Masako stands, "Masako? Where are you going? No way you're going out alone, I'm coming too!"
"I want to step out for some fresh air. I'll just be in the corridor so don't come."
"But..."
"Mai... its because I hate you." Masako continues her step and left the room with a thud. Just in time for Ayako to come out of the bathroom, fully cleaned and fresh.
'Special treatment huh?... pfft! Masako sure is cute!' Mai giggles to herself.
Ayako looked around the room with a slight frown on her lips. "Where's Masako?"
"Hm? Oh she went out for some fresh air."
Ayako blinked in surprise, "Fresh air?"
And mai nods, not noticing the problem before g;ancing to the bed where Akemi should be laying. "Akemi-sempai?" Mai calls out seeing the empty side of her role model. Her heart freaking out, "Where's Akemi-sempai?"
Ayako pats her hair, blinking in question. "Hm? She's in the bathroom, changing."
"But... I don't hear anyone..." Mai's eyes turn to the closed bathroom door. When did Akemi-sempai go there?
It scared her even more to see Oliver outside the bathroom door, scratching his paws in hopes to get in. It wasn't until he started barking wildly did they panic.
"Akemi!"
"Akemi-sempai!" Mai then froze, finally realizing the problem.
"Where's Masako?!"