Saturday:
Mai:
The next day, Maiko and I show up wearing casual clothes. It's the weekend after all. "Hey Naru!" I greeted warmly. "Where is your brother? Aren't we suppose to be working together?" Maiko asked. "Wait. What did you just say? Did you just call me Naru?" He asked stopping what he was working on in the back of the van. "Well, you're such a narcissist that we decided to call you Naru the Narcissist, or Naru for short." Maiko said bluntly. "Anyway, you didn't answer my question."
Naru stared at us for a few minutes then sighed and went back to what he was working on in the van. Which, upon closer inspection, turned out to be a computer. "He went to visit Lin in the hospital." Naru explained plainly." "Don't think you can slack off just because my brother isn't here." "I wasn't even thinking about it." Maiko says with just as much bluntness as Naru.
"Anyway, what's up?" I ask quickly changing the subject. "Checking yesterday's data. So far everything seems to be in the right." Naru says. Soon after our little "discussion" (If you can call it that) the principle walked up to us with three people in tow. "Everyone I'd like you to meet Ayako Matzusaki, Houshou Takigawa, and John Brown. They will help with the investigation."
The principle left saying he had other business. As soon as the principal left, Gene arrived and joined us facing the new comers. Ayako was the first to speak. "That's some fancy equipment you got there. Seems a little too high-tech for a few children to be playing with." "You're Ayako right? What do you do then?" I said. "I'm a shrine maiden." Ayako said proudly. "That's hard to believe. Shrine maidens are suppose to be innocent virgins. You look a little old to be calling yourself a virgin." Naru said matter-of-factually. Everyone, except naru, Maiko, and John, started giggling.
Ayako had a vein pop out on her forehead. "Right. Very funny you smartass." Ayako said under her breath. Although, everyone could hear it. "And what about you. You two seem too intelligent to be the shrine maidens' assistants." Maiko says with a blank face. 'Is she attempting to compliment someone?' I thought to myself. Or so I thought. 'Mai I can read your mind you know.' *Oops.* Maiko smirked when she saw me flinch. I gave her a weak glare.
"I'm Houshou Takegawa, a monk from Mt. Kiyota." "Monks aren't supposed to have hair. Are you a prostate monk?" Ayako said. Poking a reaction from the Monk. "I'm just on a little Hiatus okay. Anyway playtimes over kids. You might have gotten this job because your office is nearby, but the principle himself said it's a scam for kids to be running the operation." "Did he now." Naru said still typing away on his computer.
"The principle is wasting his money. There's no need to have all of us here." Ayako said. Monk retorted "Yeah. He only needed me." Ayako retorted back "Yeah. Right."
"And what about you? You're John right?" I say. "Well that's obvious Mai." Naru says. "What is that supposed to mean?!" I say glaring at him. Even though I can't see his face standing behind him I know he's smirking at my reaction. I was interrupted by John introducing himself. "You're right. My names John Brown and I come from the great outbacks of Australia. I can't express how excited I am to meet you all." everyone was failing at holding back their laughs at John's Australian accent. Except Naru and Maiko, of course. "No. Let me guess you're looking for a playground right?" Ayako said giggling.
Maiko blushed. She has always had a weakness for Australian boys. John is a blonde hair, blue eyed guy. He had an adorable child-like face. Despite his young appearance, he is tall and has a little muscle on him. At least that is what Maiko is telling me. 'He is so hot!' Maiko says. I have to hold back a giggle at her slightly flushed face. It was really funny how she went from glaring to blushing.
Naru's POV:
I could feel Gene pouting in jealously over Maiko blushing at John. I looked over at John he was smiling. I followed his gaze to Maiko. 'Gene, quit pouting. We have work to do. I hear Gene scoff. 'Says the guy who already has a picture of HIS assistants butt!' I turn away from the others as I feel my face flush. 'Shut up, Gene.' I end the mind-link and compose myself. That's when I here something interesting.
