At Crown Game Center, a huge arcade in Japan, a girl in long brown hair, done in a ponytail, wearing her white school uniform and long brown skirt, with pink flower earrings, was playing Sailor V: the Arcade Game on one of the machines. She breezed through Level 1, but was killed in the boss battle. She moaned, as she sobbed, "Aw, not again! Okay, one more round!"

She played another round, as Motoki, a boy with blonde hair, a white shirt, and dark blue pants, was walking in. He said, "Hey, Mako. You feeling all right?"

Mako said, "Ohh, yes, Motoki. This game is good, but I'm having such trouble…"

She thought, "Seriously, I come here with my friends, a lot, and just like that, I play a game, based on Minako's life. I wonder why they are not here…"

She was worried, as Motoki asked, "Hey, where are the rest of your friends?"

"They're not coming."

"Why? What happened?"

"Well, you ever heard of Maidens for Hire?"

"Oh, yeah. I heard that Miss Hino, one of Usagi's friends, used to own a Butler for Hire that resembles Usagi's boyfriend, Mamoru."

"Yeah, that's it!" Mako explained, "But… it seems that they are not showing up, as much as possible, at the usual place. Usually, Usagi is the last to show, since she's pretty slow, and Minako is always so scatterbrained."

Motoki said, "Hey, that's swell. Oh, speaking of, I was wondering if I can look at your face, for a minute."

Mako blushed, as she nodded, "Oh, okay…"

He looked into her eyes, as he smiled. She smiled and said, "It could be the moment I was waiting for… I so wanted to date him, since he reminds me of the boy (Nichogi) that broke my heart…"

Meet Makoto Kino, age 16, her nickname is Mako, given by Usagi, when they first met. Mako goes to Juuban Municipal High School in Tokyo, along with Usagi, Ami, and Minako. She is a tall girl and a very strong fighter. Not to mention that she's an excellent chef. The boy with her is Motoki Furuhata. He's the owner of Crown Game Center, which is the girls' hangout, on occasions.

Deep down within herself, Mako Kino is actually Sailor Jupiter, the Guardian of Courage, and one of the five Sailor Guardians. And Motoki doesn't know who she is, in reality. However, this story is about Motoki and Mako, and how Maidens for Hire changed everything… including a Maiden for Hire for a messy boy.

Motoki turned away and said, "Thank you."

Mako asked, "Uh… What was that about?"

Maiden Universe #19

Makoto Kino in:
Mako Maiden of Happiness

Weeks later, Makoto got the call from Motoki to come over and visit him. She arrived at his house, as he opened the door. He said, "Oh, hey, Mako."

"Hey, Motoki. I got the call to come over, and I figured I wanted to see how you're doing." She said.

"Oh, it's great. I got a surprise for you."

"Really?"

He let her in, as they saw a huge box in the middle of the room. Makoto gasped, as she whispered, "Motoki… What did you…?"

Motoki smiled, as he plugged it in. He said, "You're going to love this. This is a wonderful product. I hope you like it."

She asked, "Why? What is it?"

He said that the first time Makoto went to Motoki's, it was a messy place. And a man in long brown hair and a suit appeared to him and offered him a deal. The man gave Motoki a small pass, which was a FREE Online Coupon for a Maiden or Butler for Hire of his choice, for the price of 2,500 Yen a month. It was only valid for custom-made models, and he agreed to it. Motoki even had to picture his ideal Maiden for Hire to help him, around the house. And luckily, he chose Makoto as his model.

"Me? You mean… I'm a Maiden for Hire?" Makoto was blushing, as she was shocked.

He opened the crate and saw Mako's robot double, her own mirror image, except she had long brown reddish hair, with a green and pink-trimmed maid outfit. She also has the same earrings that Mako have on. Makoto was shocked, as she cried, "Oh, my god! She looks just like me!"

She examined her and said, "Amazing… She has my face, my hair, my waistline, my boobs, and even she's the same size as me! Motoki, I don't know how to say it, but that is so awesome!"

Motoki said, "Well, it was long overdue, since Reika and I have gone our separate ways."

"Oh, I'm so sorry." Makoto said, as she was sad.

She giggled, "Well, what do you say we turn her on? She's so awesome to be with, just to clean around the house! I never saw a Maiden, in action. A Butler, yes, but a Maiden for Hire, never heard of them!"

She whispered, "So cool~…"

Motoki stood her straight and opened her back neck panel. He pressed the red button and closed the small panel. Makoto Maiden's eyes opened, as they were flashing green. Makoto was amazed, as she was in delight, "Oh, my goodness… She is like me. She has the same eyes…"

The Maiden spoke, "Hello, Master. I am Mako Model #L1T1. I am your Maiden for Hire."

Makoto shrieked, "WAAAAAAAAAAAUGH?!"

She panicked, as she whimpered, "Sh-sh-sh-she… She talks like me, too!"

Mako Maiden bowed and said, "Oh? Are you my master, Motoki?"

Mako said, "Oh, no… I'm, uh…"

She thought, "It's like looking through a mirror…"

Motoki said, "Her? Well, she happens to be one of my friends, Makoto Kino."

Makoto nodded and said, "Uh, hi. I'm Mako."

Mako Maiden beeped, as she whirred her head to the side, "Oh? What a sweet name. It's just like mine."

They touched hands, as Mako started to lower her eyes. She whispered, "Pinch me… I must be… dr-."

THUD!
Makoto fainted, after her fingertips touched Mako's synthetic hand. Mako Maiden gasped, "Oh, dear! Is she alright?"

Motoki tried to revive her, but Makoto was still passed out.

Minutes later, Makoto woke up, as the Maiden Mako was sitting beside her. She said, "Hello, Mako. Are you feeling okay?"

Makoto moaned, as she said, "I am sorry. I am certainly in heaven, or maybe hell… being that you are like me…"

Mako Maiden said, "I apologize. But I am not programmed to replace you. You're so beautiful, just like me."

Makoto sat up, as the Maiden giggled, "I may be my master's Maiden for Hire, Model #L1T1, but I am to be given guaranteed service, and to make guests feel like at home."

She agreed, "You are a high school student, right?"

"Yes."

"You are very cute. However, Motoki made sure that my automated duties are family friendly."

"Oh, yeah. Pleasure Mode. He disabled it, right?"

"Yes. As a request, since he wants his home to be clean. He's such a sloppy housekeeper. So…"

She saluted, as a trumpet fanfare was playing, "MAIDENS TO THE RESCUE!"

She laughed in a robotic loop, as Makoto said, "You're very courageous and brave, when it comes to filth and grime."

Mako Maiden said, "Oh, indeed. In fact, it takes me a whole 20 seconds to clean up the place."

She zipped off and went into hyperspeed, cleaning the entire living room. She finished, as Makoto was confused and amazed, "Amazing… This robot is superfast…"

She finished, as she said, "Good. I finished, with time to spare."

She bowed, as she said, "Master should return, soon. He had to step out for some groceries."

"Oh, then can I help make dinner for him?" Makoto asked her, nicely.

Mako Maiden said, as she was sad, "I am sorry. But Motoki only made me to cook and clean for him. We are excellent chefs, and we can make up to 500,000 dishes from around the world. A rather special design we go by."

Makoto was stunned, as Mako Maiden said, "You're welcome to stay for dinner."

Makoto said, "No, it's cool. I think I'll just go home. Tell Motoki that I said thanks for showing me to you."

She left to the door, as her Maiden Double closed the door. Makoto was saddened, as she was heartbroken. She whispered, with tears in her eyes, "I'm being… obsolete… Makoto Kino, no longer an awesome product for cooking…"

She walked slowly away, as she sniffled in sadness, knowing that Motoki bought a Maiden that resembles Makoto, and that she's the only Maiden for the job, in his apartment.

Days later, Makoto was sitting under a tree, as she was still sad, over Motoki's new Maiden for Hire. A girl with long black hair and a gray school uniform walked by and saw Mako. She bowed and asked, in a slightly deep and polite voice, "Oh, Mako? Hello."

"Hey, Rei." Makoto smiled.

This is Makoto's best friend, Rei Hino. She goes to a different school than her friends, since it's a private school. In reality, she is a Sailor Guardian, known as Sailor Mars. She is also an android, who is created by Maidens for Hire, who currently works as a human, following Rei Hino's service to a Butler for Hire. All her memories are working inside her, as we speak.

Rei said, "You seemed sad, Mako. Is something wrong?"

Makoto said, as she was upset, "Motoki… I don't know about you, but… it feels like I'm being replaced… by machinery."

Rei giggled, "Oh, don't be ridiculous. No one can replace Mako Kino~!"

Makoto barked, "You have no idea… Motoki owns a Maiden for Hire, and there's more to it!"

Rei asked, "How so?"

Makoto told Rei about the Maiden that resembles her, right down to her body, voice, and movements. Rei was astonished, as she asked for her model number. Makoto said, "She's, uh… Oh! L1T1. Wait, why?"

Rei nodded, as she replied, "Oh, no reason."

She beeped quietly, "Data saved… Transferring to Maidens for Hire HQ…"

She asked her, "So, why are you sad about that? It is only a coincidence."

Makoto replied, "It's not. I don't know how, but… I don't even want a Maiden for Hire in my life. I am a good cook, since I was making food for myself, Usagi, and the others. Maidens cook, because they're perfect robots. Me, I'm beyond that."

Rei said, as she processed, "Knowing you, you are somehow equally matched, since you are an all-purpose chef. This Maiden, as she is called, is similar to you. ALL Maidens are excellent chefs, but you are one-of-a-kind. Usagi, on the other hand, she's a bit of a terrible cook. But she does make good rice balls."

Makoto asked, "Are you okay, Rei? It's almost like you're robotic or something."

Rei smiled, "Oh, it's just human nature to compliment on those who experienced a Maiden for Hire, face-to-face. Plus, I did own a Butler for Hire, a while back."

Makoto agreed, as she thought Rei was someone else. She said, "Well, that's swell. But, I don't know… I'm kind of nervous, since he reminds me of-. OH! It's nothing important."

She then sat up and said, "Rei, thanks. I'm starting to feel much better, since I'm thinking I might be replaced."

"No one can replace you, Mako." Rei explained, "Besides, you and I are part of the Sailor Guardians, after all. We're one-of-a-kind."

Rei walked away, as Makoto noticed, "Huh… Rei seemed polite. She'd usually berate at Usagi, and-."

She slapped her face and groaned, "No! I have to focus. She understands me, and Motoki has no right."

She was obviously thinking the wrong idea, being that he owns a Maiden for Hire, who resembles her completely. She then thought, "I don't know… It felt like I know of this, before…"

As she thought, a man in a blue suit was watching on, view Makoto. It was Mr. Sanjiro, one of the employees of Maidens for Hire. He smirked, as he said, "Perfect. Using her body as her likeness was a piece of cake. Though, I am a little perplexed with the boss, as she said it was simply a terrible move."

He watched on, as Mako was still upset, being that she has to live with the fact that Motoki owns a Maiden for Hire that looks exactly like her. But she made a point, stating that she knows of the Maidens for Hire, before. Mr. Sanjiro departed, as Makoto returned home.

That night, Makoto was in her bed, in her green pajamas, asleep in bed. She tossed and turned, as she was trying to feel comfortable. However, she stopped, as she whispered, "Maiden L1T1… Motoki… Guaranteed Service… No… What am I?"

She passed out, after that. As she slept, her memories regained on how she knows Mako Maiden from before. It was because… she helped built her.

To be continued…