I know I've already left a review a while back, but.. I've only read this twice because it is really hard for me to get through... your descriptions of the torture are so vivid that I have a hard time, and yet I can't stop reading it either. I love this story SO much. I remember reading it before really knowing Gene's character (before I read translations of the short stories with him, definitely) and this story colored my perception in a way that I'm always wary of him LOL.I felt so betrayed by him just like Mai the first time, and remembering that during this reread I was able to pick out the clues that you carefully laid since the very beginning. "I'm not a magic eight ball" really struck me... Poor Mai. I understand Lin, but I have to honestly say I am really peeved at him for treating her like that...The subtleties with Noll were so great, and shockingly for a GH fic (I tend to read for the pairing since that's what we mostly have in existing fics) I didn't even really notice his absence for the first half of the story until he showed up. I was so drawn in by your writing! I was literally in the dark reading it instead of sleeping, absolutely scared ****less by your descriptions, but I couldn't put it down! I just can't describe how much of a mark this story left on me. Thank you so much for sharing it with us!

This has been by far the best fanfiction I have read! I couldn't put it down! I really hope you do a sequel showing Naru and Mai's relationship! Perhaps how Naru feels About Gene's actions! Love it!

That was so good "I'm not a prositute mai". lolll

This is like the holy grail of all Ghost Hunt! This is just so amazing- your charactarisations are so beautiful and believable. And I just feel so much for Mai. You Mai’d me cry for her over and over- and I love her unfailing optimism is so inspiring. I have read this ten times over and over and I just can’t get enough of it. I love you characterisation of Naru- I feel he is really hard to get right- but you nailed it! I love the memories of Mai’s Mum and her tea and also love characters like Aoi and captain san. Just thank you so much for writing this, and if you do end up writing something of your own- please do let us know. You’re absolutely brilliant!

wtfffffuuu! where are the others when you need them!? this is chapter is making me so nervous goodness.

OHH GOODNESS GRACIOUS THIS IS MAKING ME ON EDGE! the mysterious Kennel Boy and Blur Face who are they really!? i just wanna punch Kennel Boy to Kingdom Come at what it was doing to Mai .I love how nalanced the horror,mystery,suspenve and jokes to your story so well done!. i remember reading this on only just 5 chapters years ago and now I'm so glad I came back because you finished it! I'M SOOO THANKFUL you kept on writing this.

Ohmygosh. I know that you finished this a long time ago, but I just have to thank you. I have barely stopped reading this par only to work and rarely sleep. This is so amazing. It is so craftily put together. I would never be able to write something so beautiful. Thank you so much for writing this, you are simply amazing. Please keep writing xxx

It's 5 in the morning. I don't even know when I started this. What. The. Eff.

Like, it's masterful. But I haven't had so many almost anxiety attacks reading something in so long.

My head hurts

Where do I even start with this? Where do I even dream to begin? Where do I even dare? I could wax poetic for hours and not even begin to breach the wealth of emotion I hold for this masterpiece. And that's what is is, a masterpiece.
Thank you. A million times over, for sharing this with us. I can guarantee I will return again in the future.

I-... just, wow. That’s all my brain can think to say right now.

I nearly pulled an all-nighter reading this story, because I simply could not put it down. I could no longer keep my eyes open by 9 a.m., but the moment I woke up at 12 I was back to reading this. It has been a very, very long time since a plotline has pulled me in like this, and I have quite missed the feeling. Though, now, I can’t help but feel empty having finished this masterpiece.

Mai’s marathon nightmares are truly terrifying. The way you described things, I could picture it so clearly in my mind that I was actually wary while falling asleep—“Will I dream about this, too?” Luckily I did not, lol.

Thank you for writing this. I will no doubt return to it in the future, when I am craving this feeling again: to be scared but also mesmerized and gripped with emotion.

I hope life is treating you well; you surely deserve good karma after writing something as wonderful as this!

I know this story is long finished, but I wanted to tell you how much I ADORE this story. There is not any one part of the story that I did not like. All of the characters have a depth to them, even the side characters. Your villain(s) have layers and are willing to do everything they can to hurt the ones in their way in order to obtain their objective. This story was gritty, it was not all sunshine and rainbows. I could visualize what Mai was going through and I feel like that is an indicator of an amazing author. Wonderful story!

I haven’t reviewed any Fanfiction in awhile. I hadn’t felt the necessity nor desire to review a Fanfiction. But clearly, as you can see, this fiction of yours left an impression on me.

Firstly, I’m amazed by your writing abilities. Despite so grammatical mistakes and misspellings it didn’t take an ounce away from the content. You, extraordinarily, mastered woving plots together without giving away direction or intention of the story in an cohesive conclusion. How you’ve managed that- pure talent.

I mean three plus separate cases all woven into one massive plot and placed into one vulnerable girl’s dreams is just genius- hell, revolutionary!

I’m amazed that blur face, the academic, kennel boy and even Gene all participated in antagonistic roles. You did a really good job. Wow

Your characterizations were the very thing I have always been searching in Ghost Hunt Fanfiction But could never find. I wanted to see this version of Mai for so long. A girl too naive and too empathetic for own good. They say too much of something is not good and that was repeatedly proven in this. Mai was someone I related to so well and probably many others who don’t value themselves. She’s been through so much in such a short span of time that you question how she can go on. But she does and with such great tenacity and courage. Although we continuously see her struggle to get through an hour of her day it was pleasant to know Mai’s thoughts and that she isn’t this optimistic Mary Sue with the tragic past but human with just as many dark thoughts as her good intentions.

You made me feel for her, relate to her and feel with her. Thank you.

Gene... I’m so disappointed with how things turned out with him but I’m not surprised. I knew from the beginning that Gene’s appearance wasn’t of good intentions for Mai. He didn’t have bad intentions for her either- let me clarify- but he wasn’t there for her. Not once. His clause for the greater good triumphant Mai’s health. It was so disheartening to have Mai care so much to please Gene and rely on him for that support she so lacked to only be betrayed in that horrible way- without an apology or even second glance. Not only to feel those things and not receive an ounce of respect but to hold knowledge that he necessarily didn’t fault her because he withheld information from the beginning (with her knowledge) and not once agreed to be her guardian but allowed her to believe these things by carrying on- it’s fucking twisted. Excuse my profanity but that’s exactly what that is. And sadly I completely understand her feelings of betrayal. I’m just glad she wasn’t in love with him. That would have been much much worse. Again, you are a literary genius. You eloquently showed who Gene’s character is- and I can honestly say it’s believable. If both twins were a balance of the other then Gene is the deceptive of the two.

I was furious with Lin and then I thought- well he was never particularly friendly with Mai to begin with even after their understanding. Mai’s life (raises hand mid way) Lin’s wife and unborn child (raised hand substantially higher). Obviously choice. Plus lack of sleep, high levels of stress and frustration- he’s almost justified. ALMOST.

I LOVED AOI! Favorite OC ever. She’s like your really sassy best friend whom you can’t take out anywhere cause she’s just crazy lol She may not have been intelligent in the text book form but she was perhaps the most brilliant character in this fiction. I’m convinced she’s psychic. Lol

The tea references and the association with love and Mai’s Mother was so so endearing. I want to commend you for taking the time to study different teas and the importance of tea to Mai.

I loved that Mai had her own tea shop. She needed something outside of Naru that didn’t require his expertise nor money. It was humbling and also in good conscience of Mai. Mai definitely needs some space from SPR because what she endured was traumatic.

Your imagery was chilling. Really creative clash marathon dreams that at first seemed to just hold the purpose of exhausting Mai to actually having relevance. Again, good job.

There were only two things I had issues with- they’re minor with the exception of one.

What happened to that student who volunteered at Saint Giles. She sorta just disappeared. I’ve assumed she died.

My biggest issue was with your ending. I couldn’t say I was happy. I worried a great deal for Mai reading this. I felt her pain. I’m not sure if Mai ever realized how valuable she is, how meaningful her life is or really even love herself. I didn’t feel those things. Which could be understandable since that takes time but it also takes action and I don’t feel like Mai really ever got out of that “I’m just trouble”. If the tea shop, turning down Naru’s job offer and him kissing her were those steps towards her happy ending. Didn’t feel enough. But that’s just my opinion.

Besides, Gene’s character clarified something for me. He said, 'I think you're going to have something so wonderful that you could never appreciate it fully if you didn't experience something equally as horrific beforehand.'

That’s what gave me hope for her.

All in all it was a very good story. Definitely a favorite. Thank you again.

Oh my :D this story got me hooked right from the beginning. It was so-so good. It was all so well thought trough and I can only imagine how much time and brain-power it took :D I enjoyed the progress of it from the start of Mai's 'problem' with Kennel Boy and Blur Face, the isolation from other SPR ex-workers and through everything from reuniting Mai with Gene and others until the lovely end with Naru in the tea shop. I liked how it started off with a touch of melancholy and hopelessness and these emotions I could also feel throughout the story but by smaller bits the more the story progressed, although they never really ceased to exist. And the ending was heartwarming and so Naru-like too. All in all I think this is one of the best and most interesting alternatives to how it could have gone after the series ended. Thank you for sharing it with us!
SumCheeze

Ok I realized I wasn't done ranting haha
But GENE OML WHY EUGENE MUST YOU BETRAY MAI LIKE THAT,THAT WAS TOTALLY UNCALLED FOR,AND LIN TOO but kinda understandable so ok but still not ok
IF EUGENE WAS ALIVE I WOULD STRANGLE HIM THOUGH,THIS IS LITERALLY THE GORRIEST,DARKEST,BUT MOST THRILLING STORY I HAVE EVER READ,LITERALLY I am ETERNALLY GRATEFUL FOR THE EXISTENCE OF THIS STORY AND IM SUPER GLAD FOR THAT MAIRU ENDING :))))

Oh my holy nuggets this is so— the ending is so precious and beautiful I can't even
I love this story so much so so much,despite all the hardships everything turned out alright or almost in the end! I will certainly add this story to my personal favorites! :)
I'm so glad to have read this story by a million times!
Until next time~!