After parting with the girls at ramen shop in front of the theme park, Nate, Zac and Junichi were walking home together.
"This was a fun day, wasn't it?" Nate said with a grin as he thought about his sweet time with Makoto.
"Yeah, it was a great trip before I go home. I'm glad I got to see Ami again." Zac said.
Junichi was lost in his thought pondering about what Rei had said to him earlier.
"Are you listening, Junichi?" Nate asked.
"Oh sorry. I was just thinking about something." Junichi apologized.
"You like Rei, don't you? I saw you looking at her several times today." Zac said.
"No, not at all. I was just thinking that I have met her before." Junichi answered.
"Yeah. Now that you mentioned it, I'm feeling like I've met Makoto before. The first time I met her, I thought I almost recognized her. But until today, I still can't figure out where I know her." Nate explained.
"This is all really strange. First it's you guys, now it's Rei. I wonder why." Junichi said.
"Well, it doesn't matter. I'm glad I got to meet you guys and Ami." Zac said.
"I'm glad to have met you too, Zac, except that you will leave in two days." Nate said.
"Like you are any different, Nate. You are leaving in, like what, a month and a half?" Junichi said.
"That was the plan, but now I'm not so sure anymore." Nate said.
"What do you mean? I thought you are going to college in the U.S." Zac asked.
"I thought I was, but now I feel like I should stay here." Nate said.
"Do you like Makoto that much?" Zac asked.
"Not just that. After I met you two, and then her, I felt like there is something that I'm supposed to do here. Call me crazy, but I always trust my intuition because it's usually right." Nate said.
"Anyway, we should have a little farewell party before you leave, Zac. How about I get some pizzas and invite the girls over to my place?" Nate suggested.
"You're just coming up with an excuse to meet Makoto again." Zac said.
"Well, tell me you don't want to meet Ami, and I won't plan the party." Nate asked.
Zac stayed silent.
"I thought so. Then, party it is!" Nate announced.
—
During lunch break, Ami, Makoto and Usagi were eating together in a school garden.
"Ami-chan, tomorrow Nate's throwing a going-away party for Zac at his place. Do you want to come? He invited all of us." Makoto asked.
"You mean Nephrite and Zoicite?" Usagi asked curiously.
Makoto nodded.
"I haven't met them. Can I join you guys?" Usagi asked.
"I'm not saying that I'll go, Usagi." Ami said.
"What? You don't want to go, Ami-chan?" Usagi asked.
"I don't think I should go." Ami said.
"Why?" Makoto asked.
"I think it's better for Zac and I to not see each other again. He's leaving in a few days. Spending time with him knowing that he will soon be away is…painful." Ami said sadly and looked down at the ground.
Makoto and Usagi looked at Ami.
"Don't you think you at least want to say good bye." Makoto asked quietly.
"I've said good bye to him once. I can't do it again." Ami said as she recalled how she had to say good bye to a lifeless body of General Zoicite during the battle between Earth and the Moon Kingdom.
"I understand." Makoto said as she recalled seeing her fellow senshi said good bye to her lover's body during the battle. It was a painful memory.
"Please tell him that I wish him a safe trip back home." Ami said with a said look.
"I will." Mako said to Ami.
—
The next day Makoto, Usagi, and Minako arrived at Nate's apartment around 6 PM. Makoto knocked on the door.
"Hey welcome everyone. So glad you can come tonight." Nate opened the door and let the girls in.
"I don't think you've met Usagi. This is my friend, Usagi. Usagi, this is Nate." Makoto said.
"Nice to meet you, Usagi." Nate said.
"Nice to meet you too, Nate" Usagi said with a big smile.
While Nate was walking ahead to lead the girls to the living room, Usagi whispered to Makoto. "I can see why you can't resist him, Mako-chan. He's so handsome. Just like the old days."
"Usagi, be quiet!" Makoto whispered to Usagi.
"Where's Ami?" Nate asked.
"Oh! Ami can't make it. She has a tutoring school to go to." Mako answered.
"That's too bad. I think Zac is really looking forward to seeing Ami." Nate said.
"Don't exaggerate, Nate. They will get the wrong idea." Zac came out from the kitchen and walked toward the group.
"If anything, I think they'll get the right idea about you two." Nate whispered to himself.
"Nate, I just looked. We run out of soda. I'll go get some from the supermarket." Zac said and hurried out the door.
"How can we run out of soda? The party's just started. And you can't leave your own party, Zac!" Nate shouted.
Zac ran and ran. Out of breath, he stopped in front of a cafe where he met Ami before the chess tournament. He looked inside and saw Ami sitting there by herself. She had a book open in front of her, but her mind seemed to be somewhere else. Zac entered the cafe and walked to Ami.
"I figured you'd be here." Zac said.
Ami recognized Zac's voice and looked at him, surprisingly. "Shouldn't be at your party?"
"I have something I want to give you." Zac said while reaching inside his shirt pocket.
"This is a Knight piece from my personal chess set. I want you to have it." Zac handed the piece to Ami.
"It's so beautiful." Ami carefully received the piece and looked at it.
"It's made from Zoicite." Zac said.
Don't do this to me, Zoicite. This is already too painful. Ami thought.
"I can't take this. If I take it, how would you play with your chess set?" Ami asked.
"I'll be waiting to play it with you." Zac said and smiled.
Zac got up and said "Take good care of it, until we see each other again." Zac smiled, got up and left the cafe.
Ami held the Knight chess piece in her hand and whispered. "Until we see each other again."
