Chapter Text
Mai sighed as she trudged into the base. She wasn't sure why she had been dismissed from the dining room, but she wasn't going to complain. She sat heavily on one of the armchairs in their enclosed area.
"Wow, you look beat, Mai," Monk commented.
Mai groaned in response as she curled up in the chair.
"That bad, huh?"
"I don't want to ever do that many interviews again," Mai grumbled.
"Talking with a lot of people like that can be draining," John commiserated.
"How did it go for you?" Mai asked them.
Monk sighed and John shrugged.
"Masako didn't feel any changes. It probably didn't do anything," Monk said.
"That's correct," Masako said as she stepped into the room. "It doesn't seem to have had any effect. I just know it feels like a woman."
"Look what else we found," Ayako said. Yasu followed her in looking as tired as Mai felt.
"Starting a novel, Shounen?" Monk asked when he saw the large stack of papers he was carrying.
"They certainly had a lot to talk about," Yasu said. "I think I heard about every family member they knew about. I don't know what will be useful yet. I have to go through it all again."
Mai took note of the top paper, covered in his handwriting. "That's just your notes?" she asked in surprise.
"I'm still not convinced my hand hasn't fallen off," he answered with a nod.
Naru, Lin, and Zoe came back as well. Naru immediately posted an updated blueprint of the building with notations.
"According to the activity reported in the interviews, these are the places that seem to most often be prone to activity. Aside from the guest rooms, we already have everything covered with cameras," Naru said.
"Are those rooms occupied?" John asked.
"Not at the moment. Lin and myself will be occupying one of them."
"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Ayako asked.
Mai probably should have expected Naru would do that. She grimaced anyway.
"We are aware of the possibilities," Naru said. "If necessary, we will set up a camera there as well."
"What about the rest of us?" Monk asked.
"Due to the increase in activity, there are plenty of rooms available. I don't expect anyone else to sleep in an active room," Naru said. He pointedly looked at Mai.
She rolled her eyes and looked away.
"I want everyone up early tomorrow," Naru dismissed them.
Mai didn't get up right away. Monk, John, Masako, and Ayako all got up to head upstairs. She watched as Zoe was about to follow them, but looked back to see Yasu hadn't gotten up from his spot at the table. He was just staring at the daunting stack.
She watched as Zoe crossed the room and took some of the papers off the pile.
"Hey!" Yasu protested.
"Either you're going to bed now and I'll help you in the morning or I'm gonna help you now so you're not up all night," Zoe said. Yasu opened his mouth to reply, but closed it again. "Come on. Fresh eyes will be better," she insisted.
"Mai," Naru called, bringing her attention to him. "Are you willing to try projecting right now?"
"You're giving me a choice?" Mai asked in mock incredulousness.
Naru gave her an unamused look. "I'm serious."
She bit her tongue to keep in any other smart remarks. Instead, she shrugged. "I suppose it wouldn't hurt."
Naru quirked an eyebrow at her.
"Yes, let's do it," she amended.
"Are you comfortable there?"
Mai nodded. Naru pulled a chair over so he could sit down as well. He held out a hand to her. She accepted it as she felt embarrassment heat up her face. She wasn't sure she could get used to it.
Still, she did her best to push it aside so she could relax until she reached the familiar landscape of the Astral Plane.
She allowed herself to wander for a bit. Nothing immediately jumped out at her. There certainly weren't any memories to see just yet.
Mai felt drawn to a room on the third floor. It was all the way at the end.
"Isn't this the room Naru said he and Lin would stay in?" Mai asked herself.
The room materialized a little around her. It was set up as any other guest room. She walked up to the window. A flash flew down.
Mai rushed to the window to try to see what it was.
A moment later, she was staring at Naru again.
"What the?"
"Mai? What happened?"
"I...don't know?" She paused. Naru waited for her to continue. "I was on the Astral Plane and I went up to the top floor. Something drew me to the room you and Lin will be in. And I saw something fly past the window. When I looked to see what it was, I ended up back here."
Naru looked over his shoulder at Lin who nodded and turned to a laptop.
"I'm gonna try again," Mai said, determination fueling her.
"Wait, Mai!"
Naru tried to stop her, but she already closed her eyes and relaxed.
"Okay, now what? I can try again or maybe there's something else around here," Mai said to herself.
Mai wound her way through the dining room and the kitchen until she found a back door.
She was about to step outside, but something made her stop.
"No! How could she!"
Mai whipped around.
She swayed where she sat.
Mai made a sound of frustration and scratched her head.
"What the hell?!"
"Mai, that's enough," Naru said.
"Just one more time! I heard something!"
Naru held her by her shoulders and forced her to look right at him.
"No, Mai. Twice is enough. You looked ready to fall over this time. You're not going again. We're not risking it."
Mai deflated slightly. Of course she knew the potential dangers. They had been ingrained in her head for a while, but she also didn't like something stopping her like that. Naru let go of her when he felt sure she wouldn't try anything rash.
"We'll try again tomorrow. Whatever is blocking you may let you in then. Or we will find something that can help you," Naru continued.
"What did you hear?" Lin asked.
"It was a woman. She said "No! How could she!" But I didn't see anyone. I was alone," Mai answered.
"Come on, Mai. It's late," Naru said. He reached out and lightly tugged her arm as a hint to get up. She cooperated with him and stood up.
The climb up to their rooms was silent.
"Hara-san chose the room across the hall for you two," Naru said as they stopped outside the doors. "I don't want you projecting while you sleep, intentionally or not."
Mai nodded.
"Please, Mai. No projecting."
She looked at him with wide eyes at that. "Okay, I won't," she assured him. She saw some tension leave his shoulders. It was replaced with her own as she looked at the door just behind him. "You be careful too."
Naru looked back at the door. "It's fine. I have Lin."
"I'm also serious, Naru."
"I know. Go to bed, Mai."
Mai reluctantly turned away and went into her and Masako's room. She briefly thought about projecting anyway, but then she remembered Naru would know. He always seemed to know.