Mirror Mirror (self-insert #9)

Chapter 2

"So, what are car rides like when it's just you three?" Mai asked curiously as we pulled away from her apartment building.

"It can be really quiet." I admitted. "Sometimes I'll take a shot at making conversation or I'll harass Naru, but otherwise we just chill. What about you guys?"

"The same, but with less harassment and more conversation."

I nodded slowly. "I should sing."

"Don't you dare." Naru said, his eyes glued to his book.

"What do you mean? I'm an amazing singer."

"No, you're an amazing wailer."

"That's enough." Lin cut in. "Nira, you can sing some other time."

I pouted. "Fine. Mai, let's play shiritori."

We'd managed to play at least ten rounds before we pulled into the Agawa residence's parking lot. Midori opened the door not long after we ran the doorbell, her smile warm and welcoming. "I've been waiting for you guys. Please, come in."

"Pardon the intrusion!" I chirped as I scurried in after Naru, slipping my feet out of my ankle boots and into slippers.

Midori followed after us, but she paused and turned back to the door. "Taniyama-san?"

Mai snapped out of her thoughts, cheeks flushing when she realized that we were watching her closely. "Sorry, I was just kind of out of it. Oh!" She hurriedly bowed to the older woman slowly approaching us. "Hello, sorry for the intrusion."

The older woman—Midori's mother, no doubt—paused before bowing sluggishly. When it became clear that she wasn't about to lift her head any time soon, Midori carefully steered us around her and down the corridor and into a small Japanese style room. "You said you needed a room as a base for the investigation. Will this be alright?"

Naru took it in with a quick glance. "Thank you. What about the electricity for the equipment?"

"I contacted the energy company and had it separated from the house's energy use. The room where you'll rest..."

"Here is fine." Naru cut in abruptly.

Midori's eyes widened. "Eh? But..."

"It's fine." Mai assured her. I watched as Naru circulated the room. "He probably won't sleep much during the investigation anyway. Thank you for letting us stay here for the investigation."

Midori smiled warmly. "Don't worry about it. It's reassuring." She said. "Taniyama-san and Narumi-san, please use my room. I'll move to my mother's room."

It was Mai's turn to be startled. "Eh? But..."

"It's fine. Also, Hirota-san will be using the traditional room on the second floor."

Naru opened a window, revealing a mirror. He examined his reflection, then shut it. "I see, your cousin's become a live-in bodyguard." Mai chattered. "Is he working today?"

"Yes, I think he'll return in the evening."

"Mai. Size." Naru said as he moved to leave. "Nira, come with me."

I trotted after him, leaving Mai and Midori in the base. "What's the game plan?"

"The usual. Setting up, making a blueprint, getting baseline temperature data, then the autosuggestion experiment. We'll see what happens from there." He said shortly, pausing to glance up at the ceiling. When he found nothing there, he turned to call into the base. "Mai! What are you doing, slacking off?"