[video]

[brokethecamera]

[The video is recording from Mai's cellphone at an upward angle. Mai doesn't seem to notice that she is being recorded. Her surroundings are unfamiliar, though she's not in the hospital mentioned in her last post. Instead it looks like an old camp house. Mai looks sad, though not crying. More than anything she looks lost in thought; barely blinking as she looks off into the distance.

After a moment she does blink and realizes her phone is recording. She picks it up, giving a better view of her face. She smiles an empty smile.]

Hey everyone. Guess it wanted me to update you, huh? Naru's out of the hospital. He's better and even discharged himself! [She laughs softly.]

We've made a stop on the way home. I guess Naru has something to do here...

[Her smile drops to a more neutral expression.]

He says he's going to close down the office when we finish here.

[There's a long pause before she smiles again.]

I guess I need to start looking for a new job. I could probably put it off until I graduate, but the extra money helps. [She laughs again before cutting the connection.]

Comments

[defendsearth]

....Where are you?

[brokethecamera]

A campsite. We're staying here until Naru's done.

[defendsearth]

I thought you said the hospital...

[brokethecamera]

No. We were leaving the hospital when we stopped here.

[aquaticrush]

You mean you have to stop? Why?

[brokethecamera]

I don't know. Naru won't tell me why.

[aquaticrush]

Do you think he's scared?

[brokethecamera]

I don't know what he is. I've never been able to understand him when he doesn't want me to.

[makewayforroze]

He's out of the hospital?

[brokethecamera]

He is. He's back to his old self already.

[makewayforroze]

I know you're worried but he may just need some time. It must have been scary for him.

[brokethecamera]

I'm not sure that it has anything to do with being in the hospital.

Something else is going on but he won't tell us.

[ghostshippingly]

Did he say why?

[brokethecamera]

No. I asked him but he refuses to tell me or anyone else.

[ghostshippingly]

Maybe that means it's a personal reason of some sort...

Still, I'm sorry you'll be losing your job.

[brokethecamera]

Still...I'd wish he'd trust us enough to tell us what's going on.

Thanks. I am too.

[poison_puppet]

Good luck!

[brokethecamera]

Ah, thanks. I'll probably need it.

[poison_puppet]

I hope you find your way to the normal, safe world. Its not for me, but if that's what you want, go for it!

[text]

[shadow_spread]

Has he said why?

[text]

[brokethecamera]

No.

I asked him, but he refused to tell me anything.

[text]

[shadow_spread]

Do you have any idea what he's doing there, at least?

late...

[principio]

We'd all still be together, ya know. [not in the same way but... still]

<3

[brokethecamera]

I don't know, John. Everything just seems so final...you know?

<3!!!

[principio]

Even if we don't solve cases together, we could still hang out. Especially since this community is here.

[though john loves them being altogether, sadly, if naru says it's the last case then there's not much else john needs to stick around. even so mai is his friend and it seems like them all being together is important to her]