A/N: Something I thought desperately needed to be thought about. Naru's looks always mean something more.

Drabble, during and after episode eleven of Ghost Hunt.

"Understood."

How could one word make a single girl so mad? I headed out the door with Masako, inconspicuously watching Mai as I left. Why was she so angry? As her demanding, overbearing, narcissistic boss, as she so gently puts it, she would hate me and gladly be away from me for any amount of time she could… right?

Right.

Hara-san began to talk, still clinging to my arm. I stayed as I always had and would, blank and nodding every few minutes to ensure others my mind wasn't completely somewhere else. And although Hara-san looked pretty as she always did, her porcelain face alit with joy and blue eyes sparkling, I couldn't keep my mind from the expression Mai held on her face when I had accepted Masako's request. What, exactly, was it?

Mai was normally simple to figure out. Cheery, outspoken, and caring never fully disappeared from her actions, no matter how angry I had made her. I had seen her blow up at me plenty of times. Of course, all of those times I knew everything would turn out fine and that worry was nothing to pay mind to. Was this time any different? Hara san was merely an acquaintance, a co-worker… she was treating me out of politeness – she always had been.

Or was it that Masako felt more than just a bond between workers and that I, Shibuya Kazuya, one of the greatest minds ghost hunting has ever seen, have never noticed it?

I pushed that idea quickly out of my mind. That wasn't possible. I don't make mistakes.

Mai's face resurfaced yet again in my mind's eye. Hurt and upset for some reason, I had left her with John, Ayako and Takigawa back at the office. She would be happier with them than she would with me. But why in the world was this bothering me so much?

We walked along the sidewalks of the Shibuya district. It was so pretty at sunset. I looked up at the window of my office to see Mai standing there, staring at the two of us with an unreadable expression on her face. Not unreadable as in blank: Mai always had some sort of odd emotion held so visibly on her face, but I couldn't see her face in the glare of the evening sun. Was she still brooding?

As I thought that, the sun disappeared behind one of the taller buildings and I could see inside my office. Mai and… Takigawa? There was no doubting it. She was hugging him around the middle, laughing. An odd sinking feel grew in the pit of my stomach. What was this now? Mai was merely my assistant and I should be happy for her.

I couldn't help that twang of jealously pulsing in my heart.

No, it couldn't be that she actually liked me… or him. And it couldn't be that I liked her. And as we crossed another street to get to the restaurant Hara-san had made reservations at – it wasn't like she needed them anyways – I saw the four of them walking down the perpendicular street, John and Ayako, Mai and Takigawa arm in arm. Although John looked much less than comfortable with Ayako, Mai was smiling and laughing and joking with Takigawa. I looked away.

I should be happy. I shouldn't worry about something that is out of my reach. I wasn't interested in Mai anyways.

Then why, every time I saw her face in my mind, was I a bit happier? Why, every time she smiled at me, I was a bit more enthused to impress her with my work? Why, every time Mai showed interest in another boy, did envy spark in me?

This is something even I can't solve.

A/N: Please review! This is my first Ghost Hunt fic, just trying out the universe so I can write a chaptered fic to come. Likes, dislikes, and constructive criticism are all welcome. :)