The Story Continued (Ghost Hunt)

Chapter 19

"I'll first introduce you to all of the family members." He said. Well, Mai already knew that but..yeah..Naru had her files. "Starting from my right." He pointed at an empty seat." Here would seat my wife but she went to make some tea. Then we have my eldest daughter Manami, her husband Hisao, and their twins Tadashi and Tatsuo. Then my second daughter Momoe and her daughter Akane. Akane's seat was empty. Excuse the poor girl she is not feeling well." Well, it was obvious. Being the target of a vicious spirit isn't the best experience ever. "On my left side, my eldest son Makoto with his wife Eri and his children Naoki, Noriko and Nozomi. Next to them is my second son Minoru and his fiancée M..a..r..y."

Oh, come on. That name is not even that hard. Mai was almost sure he stuttered on purpose. What the hell was his problem?

"And my third daughter Minako with her husband Shin."

(I purposely didn't describe any of them in detail. I think is better for the reader to have their own image of the person. It's like a fun part of reading. It's surely not because I suck at describing characters.)

Just as he ended Ryoko reentered the room holding a tray of tea. It was her second round. She already came back once while her husband was speaking. It was after all impossible to get all 27 teas in one go. Mai was surprised she managed to do it in two rounds only. The woman then started to go around giving each person a cup of tea.

Just then Mai truly noticed how many people were in the room. "Well, maybe now, you can introduce yourselves?" Iwao asked. Mai turned to Naru. The boy sighed. "I'm Oliver Davis, the boss." Naru then quickly introduced the team. It seemed like the clients liked to waste his time lately. Why can't he just arrive, get everything set up, and do his job like always?

"Well, I am counting on you." Iwao said as he got up and left the room. As soon as he left the atmosphere changed drastically. It looked like everyone came back to life. Up until now they were all just drinking their tea, not making a move or any eye contact. "Geez, that old prick. Always so tense." Makoto sighed. Ryoko then approached the group. "Please excuse my husband. He is quite strict." She smiled. "Now you are free to start your work. I'll try to help as much as I can." She then also left the room. Some of the family members stayed to meet the SPR some left to do their business. "Drink your tea. We have work to do. We need to get the equipment." Naru ordered. He could finally start.

"What equipment?" A voice appeared behind him. The group turned to see a boy. Mai noticed it was one of the twins. "Our cameras." She answered. "You're gonna shoot a movie?" Another voice appeared. This time on the other side of the table. Next to Gene. "No, not really." Gene stated as he looked at the other twin. "You look the same. Just like us!" They said at the same time while pointing to Gene and Naru. "And you have a cat!" They yelled, again at the same time. Just then Mai noticed Yoru walking all around the table like it was some kind of fashion show. The cat stopped next to her. "So whose is the cat?" Tatsuo asked. "Mine." Gene answered quickly which made Takigawa raise an eyebrow. "Really? Cause to me it looks like he likes Mai and Naru better. You can't blame him. One is responsible and logical and the other is kind and caring." Gene tried to protest. "I'm responsible and caring too."

"I heard you left Yoru at the office the day you found him and went out with Yasu." Ayako added. Gene was about to protest yet again but Naru decided it was time to work now. Mai waved at the two boys as she followed her team out of the room. They made it to the van. "Where are we even going to put the cameras? There is almost no activity." Takigawa asked as he pulled a few boxes out of the car. "In Akane's room for sure. And a few other spots just to have everything under control. This time the interview is more important." Naru told him as he himself started to empty the car. "How about you guys take care of the equipment and we make the schedule for the interview? There are a lot of people to interview after all." Mai suggested. Naru looked at her. He nodded.

The girls headed back inside smiling. "Everything but labor." Mai said as the four of them reached their base for the time being. This place was so big Mai was sure she was going to get lost at one point or another. "I'll go look for some people to interview." she said as she left the base, coming back barely five minutes later. "Look who I found." She stepped back letting Manami, Hisao and the twins in. Minoru and Mary followed. "That's a lot of people" Masako commented.

In the end, however, they learned nothing new. Ayako and Madoka left to get more of the family members which left Masako and Mai alone in the base. "Feeling anything, Masako?" Mai asked. She knew Masako was the best in her field. "It's weird but no." she answered. Mai was surprised. Masako noticed the look on her friend's face. "Cut it, Mai. I might be wrong. I'm just a human you know." Mai smiled. "Sorry. It's hard to imagine you being wrong."

"What are you talking about? I was wrong about you at the beginning, remember?"

"Well, it's in the past. It was all Naru's fa-"

Mai was cut off as the door to the base opened. Naru walked in with three boxes stacked up in his hands. Mai instinctively rushed over and took a box from him. "I thought you were supposed to work." He said. "We are. Madoka and Ayako went to fetch more people." Naru started to unpack the monitors. Mai followed. "So? Found out anything?" He asked. "Nope. Not yet."