Ghost of a Chance

Evil Spirits All Over!? (Part 3)

Lin glanced at Naru out the corner of his eye as he flipped to the next article in the binder of newspaper clippings on the old school building that Hitomi had fortunately had enough foresight to snag from their club room before ditching class to meet up with them earlier that morning. Good thing, too, because it seems they weren't going to release Lin from the hospital for at least a day or two. They had to keep his foot elevated because of how badly he sprained it. Although Naru had very reluctantly let Hitomi take charge of getting them to the hospital and helping him fill out the kanji-riddled paperwork while Lin was being seen by a doctor, it was obvious the genius narcissist was still quietly fuming over Hitomi's little 'leave it to Onee-san' speech. Since he had a higher IQ than most adults, it was only natural that someone as proud as Naru hated being talked down to or treated like a child.

"If you've got something to say, then say it," Naru stated crisply, pausing his own note taking to look up at his assistant when he felt his stare.

"I was just thinking... Do you know who she reminds me of...?" Lin asked calmly, unfazed by the younger boy's dark mood.

"Don't say it," Naru said sternly, furrowing his brow in irritation, as he avoided the older man's gaze. He didn't want to think about how much Hitomi reminded him of...

"Pardon the intrusion~" Hitomi sang softly as she slid the door open and rejoined them, having finally finished turning in all the forms and paperwork for Lin. "Ara? Am I interrupting something...?" she asked, tilting her head slightly in confusion, when she detected the tension in the room. Was it her imagination, or was Shibuya-san in a bad mood?

"No," Naru said with a very definite finality, slamming the door shut on that particular conversation before it could even begin.

'Well, that answers that question...' she thought, sweat-dropping. He was definitely in a bad mood... "Did I do something to upset you, Shibuya-san?" she asked, furrowing her brow slightly. There was something about the look in his eyes that made her feel concerned for him. It was barely there, almost as intangible as a ghost, but she could sense there was something... almost sorrowful(?) about the moody teen.

"It's nothing. I simply do not appreciate being treated like a child," Naru replied coolly.

Hitomi blinked. Really? That's what he was upset about? That 'Onee-san' thing had happened hours ago. There had to be more to it than that, but since Naru was exuding such an intense 'don't ask' aura, she decided to file any other questions on the matter away for later, like when he was in a better mood to talk, if that ever happened.

"Shibuya-san..." Hitomi said, sighing, as she shook her head. "I was just trying to add some levity to the situation, but... FYI, you are a kid—so am I, for that matter," she added quickly when he opened his mouth to protest. She was only a year older than him, after all. "There's nothing wrong with asking for help when you need it. No one can do everything all by themselves. That's why the kanji for 'person' is two brush strokes supporting each other... or, at least, that's what my grandpa says..." she continued, trailing off when she realized she was starting to ramble and enter lecture mode. "... Yeah, I'll just shut up now," Hitomi said, avoiding his gaze, as she glanced around the room, sweat-dropping. She could feel him silently judging her, but she didn't have to worry about that for very long, because suddenly her watch started to beep.

BE-BEEP. BE-BEEP. BE-BEEP. BE—

Hitomi silenced the annoying alarm and looked at the time. Her eyes widened in shock.

"Oh, crap! Sorry, guys, but I've gotta go!" she said as she quickly gathered up her things. "I can't believe I almost forgot that I have to go take the Todai exam today—!!" she rambled anxiously as she flew out the door. It had taken awhile before the doctors finally patched poor Lin up and settled him into a room, but until now Hitomi hadn't quite realized just how long it actually was!