Previously:

"There is just one more thing..." Mai said, blushing and getting a bit shy. She mustered up her courage. "W-Why did Naru have my brush...?"

"Oh! Don't worry. Naru does worry about this friends, at least," Madoka said. "He's not good at expressing it, but he's not a robot, either."

'I see... his lack of emotion doesn't mean anything in particular,' Mai thought, smiling a little while she tucked her hair behind her ear. 'What is it then?'

"It is cute when he's shy," Hitomi agreed with Madoka.

"Eh!? Shy!? When did you see him like that!?" Mai demanded.

"Ah, so you really think so, Hitomi-chan?" Madoka said brightly. "I'm glad you understand."

"Understand what?" Mai asked, starting to feel chagrined.

"Well! I'm glad that's straightened out," Madoka said, standing up. "Let me take you two out for lunch for all the trouble I've caused you."

"Um, but the office..." Mai said hesitantly.

"Let's go! " Madoka cheered, dragging them both out in a surprising show of strength before they could responsibly protest against abandoning their posts.

Omake 6: The Brush and The Hug

Hitomi braced herself and knocked on the door of Naru's private office.

"Tea," she said, knowing that would get his attention.

"Come in," he called through the door. Hitomi opened it and traded his old teacup for the fresh one in her hand. Naru was going over their notes again for the report on the case.

"Naru, can I talk to you?" she asked tentatively, hoping he wouldn't say 'no' because he hated to be interrupted while he was working. Naru looked up at her and saw the nervous expression on her face.

"What is it?" he asked. Hitomi knew better than this, so it must be something important.

"The reason you had Mai's brush... was so you could try to use psychometry on it, right?" she asked, fidgeting a little.

"..." Naru stared at her. She interrupted him for this? "You know it was."

"Was that the only reason?"

"Of course. Pink isn't exactly my color, is it?" he quipped sarcastically. Hitomi laughed a little at that.

"I don't know... some men look good with cherry blossoms," she replied happily.

"If there isn't anything else..."

"Ah..." Hitomi said, unable to completely suppress her blushing. "Actually, I wanted to ask you about when we hugged during the séance..." Naru actually stopped writing. "Was it just an accident, or did you do it on purpose?"

"... You were scared, weren't you?" he said, avoiding direct eye contact. It was hard to tell, but Hitomi thought he might have been blushing a little.

'H-He's too cute for words... !' she thought excitedly, blushing more while she tried to still her beating heart.

"I see. Thank you, Naru!" she told him warmly, giving him a beautiful smile that could make flowers bloom. Naru looked up at her.

"Hito—"

"Hitomi-sempai!" Mai cried frantically, throwing the door open. "The printer jammed again!"

"... Well," Hitomi said, smiling wryly and rubbing the back of her neck. "I guess I'd better go fix it."

Naru sighed in annoyance.