edelweiss - &team

3

Once Yixiang had dressed and sent a quick email to a client, they left. As they strolled along the street, cool wind brushing their skin, Euijoo said, "If he's in a lecture we might have to wait a couple hours."

Yuma made a face, "We should just kidnap him, then. Save him the trouble of explaining why he has to disappear for...maybe a month or two."

"I forgot about that part," Euijoo ran his hand through his hair, sighing, "Man, my clients..."

They were all silent for a moment, before Yuma said, "Isn't that funny. We're all so human now."

Euijoo paused and Yixiang frowned, about to say something, then Yuma laughed, "What? That was a joke." But there was an unreadable expression on his face.

They continued their journey wordlessly, then came to a stop before a prestigious-looking university with a lavish, sprawling campus. Clean, well-maintained buildings were surrounded by neat gardens filled with activity and energy.

"I can't believe he chose this of all fronts," Yuma remarked, arching an eyebrow as he observed the students trudging out of the doors, sleep-deprived and exhausted.

"He's always been such a good, righteous person," Yixiang sighed, before following Euijoo through the front doors.

At the reception, a lady with a sleek dark bob hardly tore her focused gaze off her monitor screen as she said, "How can I help you? Do you have an appointment?"

Yuma flashed his charming snaggle-tooth grin, "Yes. We're here to see Professor Fuma."

The receptionist flicked her eyes up to look at Yuma, taking a moment to consider, before her mouse clicked furiously. "Professor Murata has no appointments today. He has made it clear he wished to receive no visitors for the time being. If you wish, I could..." The woman rattled off a list of suggestions, Yuma pretended to listen politely while Yixiang mockingly mouthed "Professor Murata".

"Well, then," Yuma announced after the woman finally finished, "We'll take our leave. May we have a walk around the campus?" He locked eyes with her, a silver sheen coating his pupils as he directed the question to her.

Dazed, the woman blinked rapidly, before hastily muttering, "Of course."

Yuma beamed and thanked her, with that, they took off down the hallways. Students streamed past them, some bleary-eyed girls stunned when they saw the three older men, who clearly aren't the university's students, saunter down the halls. Yuma only glanced at them with his dazzling smile still plastered on his face and that was enough to send them on their way.

"You should have started with that," Yixiang complained, "In that time we probably could have raided Fuma- oh wait sorry, Professor Murata's office by now."

His sickly sweet smile still bright, Yuma shot back, "You know I don't like doing that to humans."

"Wow, you are such a lovely-"

"Here we are," Euijoo interrupted Yixiang, stopping before a clean white door. A brass plaque embedded on the surface neatly engraved "Professor Murata Fuma". Below the plaque was a sign of torn-out notebook paper, stuck with tape, which wrote in flawless penmanship: Professor Murata is working on his research. Please do not approach me unless your thesis is on fire. Thank you.

"What an ass-" As Yixiang received a little rap on the forehead, Euijoo delicately twisted the handle, then tore the door open and walked in.

"Please read the sign before coming in-"

"Goodness Fuma, is that how you greet old friends?"

Fuma was bent over a desk, a clean white lab coat falling gracefully around him, a row of test tubes neatly lined in a holder. His room was spacious and bright with light streaming in from the windows. Clean simple shelves were choked with papers, files, books, awards and more. His table, too, was flooded with papers, containers, an old laptop and a chunky fax machine. In his hands were two flasks, holding bright bubbly liquids.

As he paused to take in the newcomers, his chemicals started to overflow. Quickly, Yuma jerked his hand and the two flasks rose into the air, just in time to miss splattering on Fuma.

The tired professor managed a light laugh, "Thank you, Yuma, but you know I can't be hurt by them."

Yuma shrugged, "I'm just too good a person."

As Fuma retrieved the two hovering flasks, he brushed a finger over the mouths of the flasks and the chemicals simmered back down to their original volume. "What brings you here all of a sudden?" He asked as he carefully set down the flasks, balanced precariously on an uneven stack of folders.

"Yudai emailed us, we have to go to Japan," Yixiang quickly summarised.

"Did Harua contact him?" Fuma asked with a frown, yanking his glasses off as he rubbed his weary eyes.

"He didn't elaborate," Euijoo replied, crossing his arms tightly, "It was just two sentences."

"Not even a 'have you been well?'," Yuma complained jokingly.

Fuma grimaced at the news, "Man. I still have to do my research, my paper's due in two months!"

"Please, surely it's ninety percent complete now." When greeted with Fuma's bashful look, Yixiang chortled, "So you have time to leave! We'll definitely be back before two months pass, you can just sign your name and your papers will be complete."

The professor exhaled heavily, tapping a finger against his messy desk, before lifting his head to meet their expectant gazes, then he grumbled, "Fine. I'll lock the door and pretend I'm just cooped up working."

"That's the spirit!" Euijoo clapped excitedly, "Now if you excuse me, I have to arrange a flight for four animals."

"You're bringing your animals," Yuma asked with a deadpan expression. "Of course I am," Euijoo retorted, his doe-eyes shining with anticipation.

"I hate planes," Yixiang announced, "I can't believe it's been so many years and humans have yet to invent a better way of travel."

"You go do that then."

Yixiang shot Euijoo a sharp look and the other playfully hid behind Yuma. "Oh, Fuma, can you book the tickets with Euijoo?" Yuma suddenly said.

"...why should I?"

"Because you two are the ones with the most stable income and hence the fattest bank account," Yuma replied with a wink, Yixiang nodding along contentedly.

Fuma sighed, and Euijoo mirrored his exasperation.