Playtime (self-insert #2)

Chapter 8

BONUS STORY: AFTER GHOST STORIES IN THE PARK

I never thought I'd ever see Naru look so grateful to see me when I accosted him and Masako at the foot of the elevator, laptop under my arm. The medium's face soured as I smiled brightly at them. "Going out, are you?" I chirped. "On a date?"

"Of a sort." She said icily. "Why?"

I hefted the laptop. "I just got an email from one of Naru's higher ups. He wants to meet now. Maybe reschedule for another time?"

If looks could kill, I would've been a pile of ash. I matched her glare with a radiant smile.

"Sorry, Hara-san. I could pay the bus fare for you." Naru offered in a rare burst of chivalry.

"No, it's fine." She sniffed, giving me one more dirty look before striding off with an air of dignity.

We watched her go. After a moment, Naru raised an eyebrow at me. "A meeting?"

"I wasn't lying. Sir Dorey wants to talk."

"And how did he get your email, pray tell?"

I shrugged innocently. "I might have gotten his email from Lin." I admitted wryly. "He's been jumping down your throat about a meeting ever since the case at Mai's school. There's no time like the present, eh?"

He snorted.

We chose a small, quiet cafe near the office, and as we took a seat across from the window I caught sight of the team striding the sidewalk. As I watched, Bou-san ruffled Mai's hair like an older brother teasing his sister. Naru, on the other hand, found nothing touching about the scene in front of us and made me hurry and log in. By the time it was up and running, the gang was gone.

"Do you like Mai?" I asked suddenly.

The look Naru gave me would've left nothing behind. I cleared my throat and pulled up Skype.

When I joined the video call, a middle aged white man was beaming at us. "Oliver!' He said, practically gushing. "It's good to hear from you. How is your research going? How is Lin?"

"Both are well, thank you." He put on a polite mask for his superior and his voice took on a posh lilt. He'd switched over to English, I realized, which meant the lilt had to be his accent. "How are things in Cambridge?"

"Very well. Madoka is taking care of everything perfectly." Sir Dorey assured him. "Is the charming young lady next to you Miss Nira Narumi? How lovely!"

I wasn't sure what he found 'lovely', and judging from the short pause Naru was also at a loss. He eventually went on as if he hadn't heard the last part. "She's proven herself valuable countless times, both with her knowledge of what's to come and the assistance she's offered Lin."

Also the way I've been saving him from Masako for weeks. She might've told the others that she's been taking him out, but she never mentioned how I've always found an excuse to pull Naru away.

"Really? Tell me about yourself and the time you come from, m'dear." He smiled expectantly.

I panicked for a split second. I rarely talked about myself. "Um. I'm a Pakistani American who lives in the Chicagoland area, and the year in my universe was 2021. We're currently going through the Coronavirus pandemic, so it feels weird to be going around without a face mask and sanitizer." I laughed awkwardly. "I'm seventeen and the youngest of seven kids. I like reading, writing, eating, um..."

"Interesting, interesting." He leaned forward, steeping his fingers. "Any chance we could get you to come to London for a few experiments?"

The panic returned, but somehow I managed to stay composed. "I'd rather stay here and assist Oliver, if you don't mind. He'll need it."

Next to me, Naru sighed.

"Well, if you think so then I'll trust you." He glanced up as there was a muffled voice in the background. "I'm afraid I have to leave now. We'll talk further soon, yes?"

"Yessir." Without further ado Naru ended the call and sat back with another heavy sigh. "Chicagoland area? I thought you live in a suburb."

"I do. Chicagoland area sounds cooler, doesn't it?"

"Mere words."

I chucked, shutting down the laptop and tucking it into it's sleeve. "Whatever. You going to find Masako and apologize?"

He grimaced. "I apologize to no one." He stated, standing. "Let's go back to the office. Lin is probably wondering where I am."

"And I'm chopped liver?"

"Exactly."

London, I decided as I struggled to keep up with his brisk step, sounded pretty nice right now. Experiments and all.