"Pick a card, any card," Jun murmured, displaying the deck of cards in a spread out flourish.

Makoto pursed her lips, tapping her chin thoughtfully before picking one off to the left, the eight of spades.

"Alright make sure to remember it," he told her, repeating the line that had been told a million times, "Do you remember it?"

She nodded.

"Alright now place it back in the deck," he paused, allowing her time to gentle put the card down, sandwiching it between the two stacks in his hands.

He then began to cut the deck by shuffling stacks before spreading the cards across the table face up. With the last card in his hands he pushed the closet card over face down, creating a domino effect to hide all except the eight of spades, neatly lodged in the center of the row. He carefully drew it out and then presented it to Makoto.

"Is this your card?"

Makoto smiled widely. "That was amazing! How did you know? Have the other girls seen this? I bet they would love it!"

Jun grinned, "You think?"

"Oh yeah," she nodded, "totally. Go show them and then tell me how it goes. I'll bet they'll be amazed."

"Alright I'll be right back."

And with that he went to find the other girls.

"Alright Rei, pick a card, any card," Jun said smiling as he displayed the cards to begin the trick once more. He had hesitated going to her first, but he hoped this might impress her or at least make her laugh. Visions of a cute and amazed Rei popped into his head and his smile widen in response. When she didn't move to choose a card Jun repeated the phrase, thinking she hadn't heard.

"Oh sorry," Rei said, flipping her sheet of black hair over her shoulder, "I heard you the first time. But I have no interest in childish tricks. You should try it on the others though. I'm sure they'll love it."

So Rei hadn't been interested, well that was fine. He was sure someone as sweet as Ami would play along. "Pick a card, any card."

She smiled and picked a card randomly.

"Alright be sure to remember it," he repeated, "do you remember it?"

Ami nodded and then placed it back in the deck, studying his actions as he went through the motion. At last he was at the end and pulled out the only face up card, this time a three of clubs, and asked her if it was her card.

"It is," she admitted while frowning, "but I couldn't see how you did that. I know it either has to be a slight of hand or a counting technique…would you mind doing it again?"

Jun blinked, not having expected this, but performed the trick once more.

"No, no," she grumbled, "I still didn't catch it. One more time please."

Five more tries later he had begged for a rest and took his cards outside to sit on the deck. Who knew Ami would be so difficult to please? Makoto had liked it but with Ami over analyzing it and Rei just out right dismissing him…Minako appeared at the entrance and he felt his spirits lift.

"Minako," he waved.

She turned and spotted him immediately, smiling widely in greeting as she made her way over.

"Hey there! What's up?"

"Do you want to see a magic trick?" Jun asked, lifting his deck a little to show her.

Minako flashed another smile, "sure!"

Jun couldn't help but smile in response and moved to repeat the trick.

"Pick a card, any card."

Going through the motions, more confident every second, he finished with as much fanfare as he could muster.

"Is this your card?" he asked, a cocky grin on his lips.

Minako smiled, nodded and looked to him again, waiting.

"Uh," he swallowed, suddenly feeling unsure, "well that's the trick. Did you like it?"

Minako's face fell, "but where's the trick? Oh," her eyes widened, "was it when you cut the deck upside down and flipped the card? But I thought you weren't suppose to show—"

"Okay, okay, I get it!" he interrupted, "You caught that one. But can you catch this?"

He proceeded to display the cards once more and she selected another. Afterwards he laid them out into groups, having her point to random ones and taking or keeping those cards depending on what she selected.

When he got to the last card he showed it to her triumphantly, "Is this your card?"

Minako frowned, "Yes but that wasn't a trick. You totally counted."

Jun scowled, "I did not."

"You did."

"Did not!"

"Did too!"

"Did—"

"Hey guys what cha doing?" a bubbly blonde pigtailed girl asked as she dropped to the floor next to them.

Minako rolled her eyes, "Jun was trying to show me a magic trick but he's not very good."

"Just because you have eyes like a hawk—"

"Ooooh, magic?" Usagi murmured, her eyes getting wider and sparkly, "Can I see?"

Jun grinned, "sure!"

"Usagi, like I said, it's not very good," Minako warned her only to be waved off.

"That's alright, I still want to see."

Jun smirked and raised a knowing eyebrow at Minako who huffed and stormed away.

"Pick a card, any card."

"That was amaaaazing!" Usagi cried when it was finished, "where did you learn to do that? Do you know other tricks?"

Jun smiled, her enthusiasm was infectious.

"Sure, sure, pick another card." He told her as Makoto walked outside.

"Hey there," she greeted, nodding towards the cards, "so did the girls like it?"

Jun looked at the bubbly blonde before him and back at her with a grin, "yeah, they loved it."


Hey guys, just wanted to say I haven't forgotten about A Scout's Wanderings, I was having a bit of writer's block but I'm really close to getting the next chapter done. However, I woke up this morning and this idea was in my head so I thought I would just get it out so I can continue without other distracting ideas. Hoped you enjoyed it! ;D