4.7.13 For those starting from the beginning, just know I actually wrote this a few years ago. All the way through Chapter 19 has been published before, but I went back and just did spelling/grammar corrections and a few other little corrections here and there. I'm back to writing and hoping to get the rest of this story out there. Feel free to let me know if you notice any mistakes I missed. Hope you enjoy! ~BC
Chapter 1 (Friday)
"Now, what would cause such a beautiful, little bunny to cry?" asked a low baritone voice, breaking through Usagi's tears.
Usagi's tear-stained face lifted from the secluded park bench she knelt in front of crying. She started, surprised, when her red-rimmed eyes met midnight blue ones. She sniffled, too shocked to do anything else.
With a smile, the handsome stranger took a seat on the open end of the bench. "Are you alright?" he questioned, sitting forward with his elbows on his knees and his head turned towards her.
After a short pause where the 'bunny' continued to stare at the friendly stranger, she slowly dipped her head once in a nod. She sniffled again, reaching up to brush away an errant tear, only to be presented with a handkerchief dangling from her stranger's fingers.
"I'm Mamoru," he told her as he offered her his hand to help her up onto the bench beside him.
"U-Usa-Usagi," she stammered in reply.
"I didn't realize anyone else knew about this place," Mamoru stated, bringing a small smile to Usagi's face.
"Me either. I always come here when I need to get away from everyone," she explained.
"Ready to talk about what made you cry?" he asked. Then, noting the smile leaving her face, he amended, "No, probably not. Would you like to talk about something else then?" At her eager nod, he pondered aloud. "Let's see…how about…where you go to school," he decided, taking stock of the school uniform she was in. "That's a Jubaan High School uniform, right?"
Usagi nodded in reply, happy to have Mamoru there to distract her. "Yep, I'm a sophomore there. Wait! You don't attend Jubaan too, do you?"
"No," he replied with a chuckle. "I'm a university student." Again he chuckled, this time because her month had dropped open in shock.
After a brief lull in the conversation because neither knew what to say, Usagi tentatively asked, "Mamoru?"
"Yes, Usagi?" he replied.
"Can I answer your question now?"
"If you would like, but you don't have to answer at all if you don't want to."
"I want to," Usagi stated. Then, after a pause, she continued. "I…I…my boyfriend broke up with me because he said I wasn't mature enough. It-it was okay though, because he…I realized he was mean and I didn't like him much."
"So, that wasn't what made you cry?" Mamoru clarified, shifting so his arm now lay along the back of the bench and his body angled towards Usagi.
"No. After it happened, I went to meet up with my four friends for lunch since we had a short day at school. I told them what happened. The bad part was when Rei started yelling at me, telling me he was right and all the reasons why."
"She doesn't sound like much of a friend," Mamoru interrupted.
"She means well, really," Usagi countered. "It's just too much for me sometimes; I get upset too easily."
"I still think that if she was a good friend, she'd have a little more concern for your feelings," Mamoru suggested.
"Well, maybe you're right, Mamoru, but she's still my friend."
"Alright, Usagi. I don't want to argue it with you, but I still think you deserve to be treated better."
With a bright blush staining her checks, Usagi dropped her head to look at her hands in her lap. "Thank you, Mamoru."
"You don't need to thank me, Usagi. I wouldn't say it if it wasn't true."
In an attempt to change the subject, Usagi questioned, "So why are you here?"
With a sigh, Mamoru answered. "I was trying to get away from this girl. She's kind of nice and all, but I just don't like her like that. And every time she wants to hang out, she tries to turn it into a date. She got to be a bit too much when we ran into each other today, so I escaped here. Plus, I like to come here to be alone and think." As he finished, Usagi's stomach began to rumble in hunger, making her blush and Mamoru chuckle.
"Sorry," she apologized and explained, "Rei began yelling at me before we could order and I haven't ate since breakfast."
"It's almost four," Mamoru observed. "You much be starving."
"Pretty much," Usagi confirmed, still blushing.
"Well, if you're interested, I know the perfect place to go."
"Are you sure, Mamoru?" Usagi asked, hesitating. "I wouldn't want you to have to be seen with me in public."
"Why wouldn't I want to, Usagi? You're gorgeous."
"Thank you, Mamoru," Usagi said, blushing even more brightly.
With a small smile for Usagi, Mamoru stood and offered her a hand to help her up from the bench. He led her from the park and two blocks down, sharing a companionable silence the whole way.
*M&U* *M&U* *M&U* *M&U*
"Welcome to the Crown Arcade," Mamoru said as he led Usagi through the sliding glass doors.
"Wow! I didn't even know this was here," she told him. "How did you find out about it?"
"My friend, Motoki. His family owes this place and he works here part-time to make some money. He should even be working right now if you'd like to meet him," Mamoru offered.
"Sure," Usagi accepted, eager to meet a friend of Mamoru's. She allowed him to lead her to the counter and sat on the barstool next to him. Almost immediately, a young man seemingly around Mamoru's age with sandy blond hair came over to them.
"Hey, Motoki," Mamoru greeted. "I want you to meet Usagi. Usagi, this is Motoki."
"Hello, Usagi," Motoki greeted. "It's nice to meet you. Can I get you anything?"
"Can I get a cheeseburger and French fries with a chocolate milkshake?" Usagi ordered after a quick look at the menu.
"Anything for you, Mamoru?" he asked his friend.
"The same, I suppose, but with a coffee instead, please. Thanks, Motoki."
Motoki moved away to place their orders, but still kept a close eye on the two at the counter. He was surprised by the easy way Mamoru and Usagi talked with one another. Realizing he had little else to do at the moment, Motoki returned to join the discussion and hopefully learn more about this new presence in Mamoru's life; he'd have to get to know this blond beauty.
"So, that's a Jubaan High School uniform, right?" Motoki questioned during a brief pause.
"Yeah, it is," Usagi answered him, a slightly perplexed look on her face.
"My sister recently transferred there from her private, all-girls school," Motoki offered by way of explanation.
"Oh! That's how you knew," she said to Mamoru.
"Yep. You should get to know her; she's a nice girl," Mamoru told her.
"Guess that means you'll have to come again soon so you can meet her," Motoki teased. "She helps out most days after school, like me."
"I'd love to," Usagi told him.
"Great," Motoki said before noticing their orders were finished. "Let me just go grab your food for you." Returning momentarily, he set the meals before them and moved off to help some new customers while they ate and continued to talk.
*M&U* *M&U* *M&U* *M&U*
"I really should head home," Usagi commented as she noted the dimming light outside through the arcade windows. "My mom will start to worry."
"Come on; I'll drop you off," Mamoru told her, dropping some money on the counter. Cutting her off when she tried to protest his paying, he added, "You can pay next time." She nodded in agreement and followed him behind the counter to the parking lot out back. Leading her over to a red sports car, he opened the door for her.
Usagi climbed in as he hurried around the car and got in. She nodded in reply to his question when he asked about her seatbelt and fiddled with the radio once he started the car.
"Where to?" he questioned, allowing her to direct him to a residential area nearby.
"That one," she told him, pointing out a two-story white house with blue shutters.
Pulling up beside the front curb, Mamoru looked over at Usagi. "Are you still feeling okay?"
"Yeah. I had plans with the girls again tomorrow, but I think I'm gonna skip. Maybe try to figure out my Calculus homework due Monday instead."
"Well, if you need any help, Motoki and I will be at The Crown tomorrow all day and we've both already taken Calc," he offered.
"Can I pay you back lunch tomorrow?"
"Sure. Just bring your homework with you. Motoki and I will be working on a project for class when things are slow." Nodding, Usagi moved to exit the car. "Hey, Usagi," Mamoru said, stopping her. "Give me a call if you need to talk some more," he told her, pulling a notebook and pen from the glove compartment. Scribbling down the number, Mamoru tore the page from the book and passed it to her.
"Thanks, Mamoru. See you tomorrow! Is eleven okay?" Usagi called as she backed away from the car.
With a nod and a smile, Mamoru pulled away from the curb. Sighing, Usagi turned to enter the house, her smile quickly disappearing.
"Hi, Sweetheart!" her mother called from the kitchen. "Come tell me about your day!"
Usagi trudged to the kitchen, slumping onto a stool at the island. Crossing her arms on the countertop, she rested her chin on them.
Turning away from the dishes, Ikuko was surprised to see her bubbly daughter looking so upset. "Darling, whatever is wrong?" she questioned, taking the stool by Usagi.
"He broke up with me."
"I thought you were going to break up with him anyway."
"I was, but he blamed it on me being immature and, and when I told the girls, Rei, she yelled at me and agreed with him!"
"Well, first off, darling," Ikuko began, enveloping her daughter in a hug, "we both know he was the immature one. He just wanted to blame you for his problems. As for Rei, sweetheart, I know you were good friends when you were younger, but I certainly don't like how she acts any more. She tries to act so sweet with me and Daddy, but then she says things like that to you and is absolutely horrid to Shingo."
"Mom, I know, but she's still my friend."
"I know, darling, just think about whether or not she's the type of friend you want. But, if this happened earlier today, like I assume, where have you been all afternoon. Because I don't believe you would have stuck around the girls the rest of the day."
"I went to that rose garden at the park."
"And you've been there all afternoon?"
"No, Momma. I ran into this guy there. He was really nice to me and cheered me up. He took me to The Crown Arcade."
"Really? Why, I know the family that owns the arcade. Daddy worked with the owner years ago."
"Really? I met Motoki this afternoon. He's friends with Mamoru."
"And Mamoru is this guy you met?"
"Momma!"
"Don't worry, darling, I won't tell Daddy. Now, did you spend the rest of the day with Mamoru and Motoki?"
"Yes. Mamoru gave me a ride home."
"How sweet of him! Just remember, I know he turned out to be a sweet, nice guy this time, but be very careful about going anywhere with strangers next time."
"Yes, ma'am."
"Now, why don't you run upstairs and let me get these dishes finished. I believe Shingo is waiting on you to get home. He wants to watch a movie, I think. Go and relax, sweetheart, and if you need something else to do tomorrow instead of being with the girls, let me know."
"Momma, I already made plans to go to the arcade. Mamoru said he and Motoki could help me with my Calc homework."
"Alright, dear."
"Night, Momma!" Usagi called, heading upstairs.
Thoughts?