Disclaimer: Is there even a purpose for this being here? Sigh, Sailor Moon is still owned by Naoko Takeuchi and Toei Animations, bless their souls...
Messaging part 7
It took longer than expected to get a soccer ball. 30 minutes maybe, but Minako insisted on taking 10 minutes on choosing a ball after checking her phone multiple times. Makoto just went along with it even though they ended up buying the same ball they were originally going to buy. While they were on their way back Minako turned to Makoto.
"You know, I've been noticing Shingo-kun sending some total goo-goo eyes at Ami-chan." She started calmly, noting every emotion the brunette made. "I'm starting to think he likes her."
"Really? I haven't really noticed."
Minako stared at Makoto hard. "All day it's been like that. I bet he insisted on being skins too. Probably trying to take away the spotlight from you." She faked a laugh. "Seems to be working too."
Makoto clutched the bag tightly. "So what? The scores are tied, I'm confident we'll win."
"But aren't you intimidated? Shingo-kun is stealing Ami-chan's attention from you! This is a competition Mako-chan! You can't let him get away with this." Minako grabbed Makoto's shoulders. "You can't! What if Ami-chan actually falls in love with him? Then everything would be ruined! Our plan would fail-Mako-chan you can't let that happen!"
The thoughts Makoto tried desperately to hold back all came flooding in. She panicked, what if that really did happen? Shingo is basically a younger, male version of me!
Minako smiled deviously in her mind. Maybe she should become an actor instead of an idol. Or maybe a musical actor-oh that sounds like something she would excel in.
"Then what? What do you expect me to do?"
"Hmm...oh!" Minako wiped away the drool. She met Makoto's eyes. "I say you make Ami-chan look at you. When it comes to the end as soon as you kick this ball into the goal, rip off your shirt. Proudly show your fit bod!"
Makoto blushed at the thought. She wasn't one to show off, but she did have a pretty nice body. Even Haruka said she was a 9. "That doesn't sound bad-wait no! I'm not doing that!"
"It's the only way! That or you just go and ask out Ami-chan. Oh, do that. In the middle of the game as Shingo-kun is preoccupied, go to her. Get down on one knee. And say the words…" she looked up at the sky, to make her performance more dramatic. "Ami-chan, I am deeply in love with you."
"Then Shingo-kun would win."
"The game, yes. But Ami-chan's heart?"
That blonde was very skilled at sneaking her way into someone's head. But Makoto didn't have to confidence to follow through with her plan, despite being the senshi of courage. She shook her head. "I can't do that."
"Of course you can. You just have to believe in yourself." Minako tossed the ball up in the air, almost not catching it when it fell back down. "You already know Ami-chan likes you back, why not just go for it?"
Makoto took her words into consideration. Should I?
0o0o0
Everyone was prepared. After Setsuna had reassured the others that this plan was working, they were all excited. Haruka especially. She stood proud with rekindled passion. One foot lay above the partially deflated beach ball, the other on the freshly cut green grass. Her right hand on Shingo's shoulder and the left welcoming Makoto and Minako as they approached.
"Here ye, here ye! The brave knight approaches thy yonder way!"
Shingo sweat dropped. Why was he still participating? If the plan was working why did he have to continue provoking her? He's not really even going to get anything out of this. Shingo looked around at everyone. Usagi's friends are weird as hell. His eyes traveled back to Makoto, noting how much taller she was than he. A sudden blush crossed his complexion when their eyes clashed.
The butch girl beside him cleared her throat. "We got a real ball now, have you prepared yourself for utter humiliation?" Haruka asked, taking the ball from Minako.
"I'm only ready for victory." Makoto answered. Making full and direct eye contact with Haruka, ignoring Shingo in the process.
"I'm actually kinda scared of sitting down now." Minako said when she regrouped with the others. "If the ball hits me this time, it's gonna hurt."
"With them playing, I bet it would somehow hurt more with the beach ball." Usagi mumbled, hiding behind Chibi-Usa.
"I highly doubt they would let the ball get any more than 3 feet away from them. You'll both be fine." Michiru reassured. Her complexion sparkling as she spoke.
"Yes, when Mako-chan get's competitive she rarely lets the ball out of her sight." Ami agreed, smiling as she watched Makoto take the ball from Shingo.
"And I'm sure you know a lot about how Makoto-san plays, you've been watching her the whole time." The aqua haired girl chuckled. "If anything you're mostly just making Shingo-kun jealous."
"Yeah! Come on Ami-chan! You have one job, look at everyone but Mako-chan!" Minako chastised
"Easier said than done." She mumbled making Michiru chuckle.
Even after Minako's reminders, Ami continued to watch Makoto. Marveling over her muscles as they flexed with her every movement. Watching her pony-tail glide behind her as she sprinted past the opposing team. Everything about her was just so perfect, so right. The passion she always had, her confidence, everything. Ami felt her heart flutter when they made brief eye-contact.
While Ami continued to float on cloud nine, Shingo was ready to give up and go home. Haruka's threats be damned! The young boy looked at Makoto, feeling a sense of admiration. How was she so talented? He was far from sexist but Makoto shattered all stereotypes. Not to mention she's also very beautiful-hell, almost all of Usagi's friends are attractive. Minus Haruka, the girl looks too much like a dude. He remembered their first encounter clearly. How was he supposed to know the guy was a chick? Even Usagi thought she was a man! Makoto saw the lost expression Shingo had during his inner monologue. Stook advantage of his lack of focus and kicked the ball into the goal. She grinned at him and Haruka straight afterwards. The smaller brunette felt his face go red making him duck his gaze away.
"Alright Shingo-kun, your ball." He quietly thanked her. Trying not to pay attention to her panting. Or her sweat-covered body. Or her...lady parts. He coughed looking down at the ball with little to no concentration on it. Why was he suddenly thinking this now? Of all the times he could fantasize about a girl, it had to be now. He looked at Makoto once more, she sent him a reassuring smile that only began to discombobulate him more.
"Okay." He said to himself. "You can do this Shingo, you got this. It's just a game…" He looked at his surroundings. Rei was closest to him, but she was in on the plan. Makoto was by Haruka. Either he try his best to sprint in between them and pass the ball to Haruka to let her do all the work, or put the ball down and leave. As tempting as the second choice was, Shingo shook his head. "Don't embarrass yourself in front of her." He mumbled, not knowing who her was referring to anymore.
Without another thought, he ran.
Setsuna felt a need to leave. She looked around cautiously at the others. In reality the plan was working. After all, she was the one who knew what the future held and how that would come to be. But for everything to go smoothly she would have to be away from others. To not risk getting put on the spot and forced to answer their questions. Especially Ami's. If there was anything the little bluenette was good at, it was definitely getting an answer out of someone that was not willing. She found her feet and stood quietly, looking at Hotaru.
"What?" She asked seeing Setsuna stand.
She placed a finger on her lips, signaling Hotaru to be quiet. Setsuna pointed to herself then pointed her thumb in the opposite direction of the others.
Before replying, Hotaru made sure the others weren't paying attention. Once the coast was clear she quietly asked, "You're leaving?"
The older woman nodded. "Tell them everything happens for a reason." She began to walk away before turning back. "Also, do not tell them I left until they realize it."
Hotaru watched her surrogate mother leave. What was that supposed to mean?
Unaware to what had transpired behind her, Minako plopped down on the picnic blanket. "This is taking so long! At this point they're just running back and forth. Not to mention Mako-chan isn't even paying attention to Ami-chan!"
Usagi nodded vigorously. "Ami-chan should take off her shirt-oh!" She reached into her bag. "Dump this bottle of gatorade on yourself!"
"It's almost empty." Chibi-Usa commented sticking out her tongue at the blonde.
Ami's face went red as she tried to ignore the visual Usagi painted in her head.
Michiru welcomed the image but ultimately decided that would not do. "We should just let them finish the game. Setsuna-san has already said the plan is working." She said, turning to only see Hotaru sitting calmly by her lonesome. "...Hotaru...where is Setsuna?"
The young girl suddenly felt pressured. "Bathroom." She covered lamley.
"Well why didn't she say anything?" She asked again.
"She did. She said she was going to the bathroom...just like that." A cold sweat traveled down her back. Was her excuse really that terrible? She was Sailor Saturn, how dare they question her!
"Right...let's just end this. It's gonna end up being a tie anyways." Minako flailed her arms to get Haruka's attention.
It took a moment for her to register what Minako was doing. But when Haruka figured out she was just trying to talk to her, she jogged towards them. "What's the sitch?"
"We're ending this, Setsuna-san totally just ditches us and Mako-chan and Shingo-kun don't look like they're paying any attention to Ami-chan anymore."
"What? All Shingo's been whispering is 'don't embarrass yourself in front of her, don't embarrass yourself in front of her'. He's literally beating himself up over her."
Ami frowned. "That's the one thing I didn't want. Even if this whole...setup is working, we've just been rubbing it in his face." She looked at Haruka. "Can we just end this? It's mean t-"
"Goal!"
Everyone turned to see Shingo grinning at Makoto.
"Alright, I'll give you that one." Makoto relented, smiling at the boy. "But we're tied now. That doesn't mean you're winning."
Shingo merely shrugged. "I just juked you, let me bask in the little glory I got." He said with a now only a minor blush forming.
This did not go unrecognized by Haruka. Michiru, however, spoke before her."It's going to stay that way because the game is done." The marine senshi announced, brushing off her skirt. "But you all did great."
"Thank god! Can we eat now? I'm starving." Rei asked to no one in particular. She snatched a sandwich from Usagi taking a bite while the poor blonde watched in horror.
"Rei-chan! This is the meanest thing you've ever done! Give it back!" She shrieked trying to take back her prized possession. Before she had a chance to attempt a rescue, another wrapped sandwich bounced off her odango.
"Baka Usagi. You're older than me but you still act like a kid." Shingo stuck out his tongue at her. "Not to mention you've been sitting all day unlike Rei-san. She actually deserves Makoto-san's food." He took a large bite of the last chicken sandwich.
Usagi looked at his sandwich, then at Rei's. Tears formed almost at the speed of a snail. Her bright azure eyes trembled, realizing they were eating the only two chicken sandwiches Makoto prepared. She sniffed just before the dam broke. Minako could've sworn she saw an otter swim by as the blonde wailed for another chicken sandwich.
Almost and exactly like a mother, Makoto patted Usagi's head. "Shingo-kun, be nice and give her part of the sandwich."
"What? She's just been sitting here eating half of the others! She doesn't deserve it!" He took another big chunk off the sandwich, waving it in Usagi's face.
The gesture only made the bunny cry louder. She cried so much it made the ground underneath Hotaru and Ami quickly turn into mud. They both evacuated to the other side of the picnic blanket, sacrificing a couple of sodas that sunk into the ground. The two girls were alarmed at the rate the picnic blanket was disappearing.
Makoto gave Rei a stern look that finally made her cave. Taking another small bite she gave the rest of her sandwich to Usagi. "Here. God, you are so damn needy!"
Usagi ignored the ravenette. She viciously attacked the sandwich, finishing it in less than 5 seconds.
Her twin coughed. "Well...I don't think Japan has ever been hit by a hurricane that powerful." Minako half joked. "You know, I was also gonna ask for a chicken sandwich but...I think I'll just settle for a blt."
Haruka chuckled, sitting on the a small portion of dry grass. "I have to say though, the game was intense! Wasn't it Ami-chan?"
She barely concealed a squeak when all eyes landed on her. All except Shingo and Makoto's. "Oh...well yes, I don't really watch sports but yes it was a very close call." Haruka mouthed Shingo's name. Ami racked up a believable sentence in her head. "I also remember someone saying it was Shingo-kun's first game. You did very well against Mako-chan andRei-chan."
"Did I even do anything?" Rei mumbled stuffing her face with another sandwich to conceal her blush.
Beside the priestess, Minako and Haruka both shared a giddy look, nodding in unison.
"I agree!"
"He looked awesome!"
Shingo sighed, he poked the remainder of his sandwich. "Not good enough to win." He said under his breath.
Makoto was trying her hardest to not look or listen to the others. After Minako's encouragement she only became more nervous. Even if she was the senshi of courage how was she going to tell Ami? If she were to suddenly tell her it would feel fake. Almost scripted, and that's NOT how love works. All Makoto needed was to get her mind off the whole situation. And talking to Shingo was a good distraction. A quick smile formed on her face when she lightly punched his shoulder. "It's just you're first game, kid. Ya did a great job." She agreed. It was true. He played against Makoto and Rei AND almost won, (even though Rei didn't do much) that's one hell of a feat.
Shingo smiled,"Thanks." Being called kid by Makoto didn't bother him for some reason, in fact he kind of liked it. She didn't say it a mocking way like Haruka. Her compliments weren't forced like Ami's. She was just being nice to him, like a normal girl, that had no idea she was in the middle of an experiment. I can definitely see why Ami likes her now. "But next time, I'll win."
The brunette's chuckle came naturally. "I like your confidence." She instinctively ruffled his hair, then turned to look at Haruka. "You know, we should do this again sometime. This was fun."
"I agree."
"Yup, it was awesome."
Came the unenthusiastic responses. Makoto shrugged it off. She watched Haruka and Minako excuse themselves from the group. Frantically whispering about something when they passed Makoto.
"Hey, wait a minute." Usagi looked sharply at Makoto and Shingo, pointing at both of them with her eyes squinted. "Where did Setsuna-san go?"
0o0o0
IAmWind has requested a private chat
IAmWind has entered the chatroom
Goddess_of_All: Haruka were literally right next to eachothsejdfrghtdcyxsezn
IAmWind: Do not question me!
IAmWind: This way if someone followed us they won't know what we're talking about!
IAmWind: Also it's more exciting
Goddess_of_All: Couldn't you have just said that instead of smacking my phone out of my hands?
IAmWInd: We have more important issues than your iphone!
IAmWind: Shingo totally just fell for Makoto AND is taking away her attention from Ami!
IAmWind: DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT THIS MEANS!?
Goddess_of_All: Well yeah. I have a pretty goksnjodf bl
IAmWind: This is like a kick to the balls!
Goddess_of_All: OKAY BUT DID YOU HAVE TO SMACK MY PHONE AGAIN!?
IAmWind: We cannot let this happen!
IAmWind: We will have a meeting this afternoon at the bar near the crown.
Goddess_of_All: The bar…?
IAmWind: Yes the bar
IAmWInd: I have a feeling someones gonna want a drink.
Goddess_of_All: Yup, but not Usagi. If that girl gets more liquids inside her Japan is going to sink the next time she cries.
Goddess_of_All: Also she gets crazy wasted so fast
IAmWind: Agreed. It seems plan, "Make Mako so jelly she's gonna want Ami to be the peanut butter" was a fail. I have another plan brewing up in my sexy brain
IAmWind: And it involves Urawa
A/N: So it might've taken a month to update but it happened! Conveniently, on Makoto's birthday! This can be considered a small lil present, but I have a much bigger and hopefully more exciting one. The reason why I've been neglecting my sweet little fics is because I'm working on a much bigger and ACTUALLY scripted fanfiction! I am planning everything out and am on the second chapter. Hopefully it turns out good and hopefully you'll all enjoy it when and if it comes out. And hopefully I can expand my vocabulary by then.