Notes: Episode 12, "I Want a Boyfriend, Too! A Trap on a Luxury Cruise Ship". Or, "The one where Rei wins a cruise and Usagi is not okay with that."


Episode 12

"Hey guys!" Minako skipped into the study group, ignoring the glares at being twenty minutes late. She threw her bag in the general direction of her seat; it was only Makoto's advanced martial arts-honed reflexes that saved her from an algebra book between the eyes. Minako bounced in place a moment before taking a deep breath and presenting the coloured leaflet in her hand proudly to her friends. "Guess what we need to stop everything and go try to win right this second?"

Romantic Cruise! Juuban Shopping District! 5000¥ Per Chance!

"NO," Usagi, Ami and Rei declared in perfect unison.

... ... ...

Makoto looked at Rei with the bitterest disappointment. "You cheated?"

"I didn't CHEAT," Rei said, flustered. "I got very lucky."

Usagi crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes. "Rei-chan, you were glowing."

"I GOT VERY LUCKY."

"I didn't even know your powers could work that way," Minako said, tapping her chin thoughtfully.

Rei looked serene; not quite superior, but close. "The kami are in everything."

"So why don't you do it more?"

She winced. "Just because they're there doesn't mean you should use them."

Minako considered this. "Karma's a bitch?"

"Headaches for a month," Rei muttered.

Usagi felt deeply vindicated.

... ... ...

"It wasn't all bad though," Rei said. "That cruise was when Ami and I really bonded." She smiled fondly at the memory.

Behind Rei, Ami's face became a twisted puzzle of disgust and confusion.

Mako swallowed a laugh. "Oh?"

"We had the best time. Who could forget that banquet, right Ami-chan?"

Ami looked as though she'd done nothing but try.

"I wasn't sure about this whole Senshi thing at first," Rei admitted, "but that trip with Ami? We connected so well, I knew I'd made a friend for life."

Minako nodded earnestly while Ami buried her face in her hands.

... ... ...

Usagi sighed and pressed her chin into her palms. "That captain, though. So handsome."

Rei and Ami shared a look.

"Not Mamo-chan handsome," Usagi amended, "but yeah."

Ami swallowed. "Uhm, Usagi-chan…? You know that was… T-The captain, he…"

Uncomprehending blinks.

"What I mean is—"

"Usagi, that was Jadeite."

"Ha! Good one, Rei."

Rei wasn't laughing. Ami regarded her with pity.

"That was the loser one, right?" Minako stage whispered to Mako. Mako nodded, seeing Usagi in an entirely new and kind of gross light.

"But… But I've thought about… AHHHHHHHH."

And nobody was allowed to ever mention cruises again.