Chapter 37:Reminisce

She had to appease the girls; it's been such a long while that Usagi's existence to her old friends from junior high seemed like a distant memory. If it weren't for Mina's several phone calls and Molly's visit in her house, Usagi' wouldn't have been so moved to come to this girls' date her friends have prepared for her.

So much have happened amongst all of them, there was a lot to catch up on. Tonight then, Mina proposed, you need to go out with us. Us three only, as we always did, back in the days.

Back in the days. Usagi laughed to herself. She makes it sound like we're 40.

Donning a red jacket lined with faux black feathers, she felt herself a little bit daring tonight with a black tank top inside and a pair of skinny jeans. Her recent shopping trip with Mamoru afforded her these pair of brown leather ankle boots that clicked to the pavements as she got out of the cab.

It was at a new club where they were supposed to meet called Eve, and Mina, according to her news, was a frequent customer by now.

Truly Usagi had missed so much within more than the separation of a year that she hadn't noticed nor heard about this new hobby that Mina acquired. A report from Molly told her that she had turned into a 'wild thing', dating one man after another.

"The latest", Molly confided, that afternoon when she visited Usagi at home, "is a working man from Gukion. If married, I am not so sure, but I assure you, Mina has gotten off too wild this time."

"It wouldn't be anything new, Molly." Usagi replied innocently. "It's in her character to begin with. Our playful Mina. As long as the man is not attached, I see no problem there."

"But twice her age?"

Usagi tried to make the atmosphere as calm as possible by not exposing her own doubtful feelings; she poured green tea in Mina's already empty cup and refilled hers just the same.

"If it's a passing thing for her, let's not mind." She smiled, "Perhaps it's a phase."

"I'm still worried."

"I know a lot of girls do that—but for a different purpose, I guess."

For a moment, the two friends looked at each other and their eyes spoke what their lips couldn't.

"No. Mina would never do such a thing." Molly exclaimed.

"Of course not. But it's none of our business if she refuses to explain."

To that, Mina looked away and drank from her cup. She stared at it for a while and said,

"You've been gone far too long..."

With only a short phrase, Usagi understood the magnitude of that seeming responsibility that Molly was posing on her; one that concerned their friendships and Usagi's part in maintaining their equilibrium.

It was strange to be held responsible this way, kwnowing full well they were big girls leading their independent lives.

But as Molly put it that way, maybe a rebuttal to Usagi's last statement, Mina wouldn't have to miss out on explanations had Usagi only been there to nag their friend with her usual 'why's' and constant child-like nagging.

If there was anyone who was always concerned with the rest, it used to be Usagi. She was like both baby and mother in their tiny clique. She made sure the three of them were at ease in all times, and had the best of fun as any group of close girls would be.

They've been together since middle school. They're still together now, despite circumstances.

"Mina invited me to our night out tomorrow." Usagi changed the subject, putting on a vibrant smile. "I'm going to come. You?"

Molly's quiet, sad face turned into something bright and lively that Usagi was surprised herself.

They found themselves in an embrace, and the former notion that Usagi was far too detached from their old friendship died away in that instant of contact.

And so after that meeting in her house, Usagi knew she had to corner Mina one way or another and get something out. She may not have been with her for the past year, but she was still liable to take care of her friend in any way she could possible.

The club was predictably noisy, but a very large one to begin with. It contained two levels, and there were dance floors in both. It was annoyingly dark, as Usagi hated that in clubs, with only beams of techno-lights flashing through every second or another. The infamous DJ waved a steady arm in the air while his other hand held his enormous earphone close to his head. In a second, he scratched a different tune and the crowd went wilder. Body contact was absolutely unavoidable. She had to squeeze herself in that insane mob, almost hauling her to the ground with their slamming and grinding bodies. It was that gruelling part that Usagi hated the most, worse than a mob, because this was one in rapid dancing action. It didn't help that they were either high or drunk or both. All Usagi thought of was to get to that staircase and reach that reservation they have upstairs; upstairs where least civility could be found.

Was it possible that Mina chose this on purpose? Knowing long before that Usagi hated such places and yet Eve was the designated new hip place to have their night-out in.

Usagi brushed away the thought and tried to concentrate when she finally and eventually reached the bottom of that staircase. She couldn't be more relieved. Her jacket was almost torn off from her. It was a miracle the faux feathers were still intact. Great thing that she didn't carry any bag with her. Her necessities where carefully slid in the deepest spot in her front pockets. She would've felt the hands of any snatcher if they tried to rob her of anything. Skinny jeans do have other purposes, she thought.

She climbed all the way and was thankful again when the dancing crowd upstairs was farther situated from the tables. She was actually catching her breath by now, leaning on the iron balustrade for support and looking around the heads of seated customers.

"Usa-chan!" she heard that familiar voice screaming, "Here! Right here! Come on over!"

Her breath faltered away and Usagi found herself grinning at the sight of her old friends together.

In their table, at least the music wasn't so loud after all. Conversation was possible and this satisfied Usagi for now.

"Nice place, eh?" Mina raised a brow, swinging her hips and bopping her head to the music.

"Sure." Usagi nodded, getting a quick glance from Molly who obviously sympathized with her wide quiet eyes and smiling.

Usagi wasn't alone in adding a bit of punch in her outfit; Molly on the other hand may have opted for something less revealing, but it seemed the swooping cut in her back was enough to compensate for that. It was a sleeveless black satin top with a deep cut from behind, matched with a short denim skirt and knee-length black boots. Her hair was gelled in spikes at the end for a change, but it suited her appearance thoughtfully. Mina on the other side, if nothing else about her changed, continued to wear her long blonde hair as is. Minus the giant red bow.

She opted for a stark white mini skirt and a fuchsia tube merely accented by a black leather jacket.

Which was obviously not hers.

"Hey!" He wasn't certainly a middle-aged man, but his demeanour and looks certainly spoke of something worse. He was wearing a gray tank shirt, the apparent owner of that matching leather jacket, and donned a pair of snug jeans, torn in the knees and at other sides possible. His accessory were his piercings; two at his left brow and one on the other. He had another on his nose, like a silver mole and a bigger one right below his lip. Perhaps his greatest accessory yet was his tattoos sprawled across his shoulders unto his wrist. They showed of flames and dragons, displayed in a terrifying illustration of blue, black and red hues. Usagi tried to comprehend the situation and when she looked at Molly, she could only look at her beer. The man who had just joined them at their table wasn't so much older than they were, so clearly the episode with the working man was over.

This was a new one.

"So you're Usa-chan." He beamed, raising his pierced brows and abruptly taking Usagi's hand to kiss the top.

Usagi had to hold back the surprise and horror for the sake of her friends, and when she checked to see Mina's expression, she was simply gagging with mirth and excitement.

"Usagi, this is Hotaru. Hotaru, you know my friends." She smiled, looking at her partner with eyes Usagi never imagined existed.

They were publicly displaying their affection to which Usagi didn't honestly mind, except that **** was uncomfortable, looking away while she drank her beer.

"It's been a while." Mina gently placed her white hand on Usagi's, smiling warmly at her friend. Her partner could care less what they were talking about, his back facing them and his body clearly itching to be back on the dance floor.

"I know." Usagi leaned over. "How's school?"

"Well, y'know." Mina nervously chuckled, looking at Molly who returned a half-smile, "same old, same old. I should be the one asking you 'how's school?'" she laughed. "I still can't believe you left us for Infinity."

"Oh Mina," Usagi started, inwardly irritated to have this conversation in such an unlikely place, "it's a scholarship I couldn't—"

"I know, I know." She hushed her, "I'm just teasing."

Her seeming boyfriend have finally decided to leave them behind to return, as widely predicted by the occupants of the table, to the dance floor and perhaps in whatever's left of his sense to leave them to their feminine 'tete a tete'.

"I thought this night was for girls only." Usagi began, getting her own bottle of beer and pouring it over her glass.

"Hotaru's the possessive type." As if that explained it, "he wants to know wherever I am, whenever." She gulped down clean her beer and almost slammed it back on the table when she was done.

"So we see." Usagi murmured, although aware she was heard at least, despite the short-distant noise.

"And how is Mamoru?" the instant change of subject alerted both Usagi and Molly. Hotaru may not be the best topic after all, though given their display of affection.

"He's abroad. For now." Usagi smiled, eyeing a sandwich she was relieved to see.

"What is this?" she turned to ask Molly.

"Club sandwich." she replied, glancing at Usagi and Mina.

"Predictable." Usagi replied.

"Yes, predictable." Mina nodded, looking at Usagi.

What she meant by that, Usagi could only presume two possibilities, the first due to the damned food, the second to the mockery of her absent and beloved Mamoru.

"Well," Usagi bit off from her share, "he'll be back next week. Business trip with his father." She was talking with her mouth full, not minding it since this was how they usually talked and ate with each other.

The dismissal of her indirect assault probably made Mina feel slightly low and dejected, but was simultaneously relieved that her friend hadn't lost their sense of closeness, evident with Usagi's unembarrassed eating habits.

"Cool." Mina replied, taking a sandwich herself and cordially passing it to Molly, who was a bit surprised by the act but took it nonetheless. Mina took another one, this time for her own, and munched away. "How are the students in Infinity..."

It went on like this, talking and talking, getting back on track with each other at least for an hour where old ties were mended and temporary blues sent away.

For now, this will do, Usagi thought. She would have to invest more time being with her friends, and try to visit them as much as possible. It has been more than a year after all, there so much to catch up on. So far, Mina admitted she had been stepping away from her usual lifestyle, daring her life on things more provocative and 'exciting'. It wasn't spoken that the cause of her change may be the absence of her best friend. Molly could hardly manage cautioning Mina with her expeditions and adventures, only to find herself unheard and alone as well.

Mina had always been the obnoxious girl in school. Many of their schoolmates hated her character for being so loud and pushy. Molly on the other hand was so modest, she would hardly get her way amongst intimidating personas, such that as Mina. But her quietness was understood by Mina, that Usagi was sure of, and at least the two could still find solace from each other when the occasion arose. The original group was always balanced, at equilibrium as everyone would think, because Usagi was there to mediate their personalities and she spoke determined whenever Mina stepped beyond her limits. She was more than hard-headed than Mina, more daring and in fact pushier, but she did these things with certain purposes according to circumstances and would retrieve to her childish neutrality once her goal was accomplished.

Being pushy for Usagi before meant inspiring Mina to study when even she herself hated the task. Being stubborn for Usagi meant arguing with Mina to do what was morally right whenever Mina plotted on something abominable (such that time when she intended to seduce an alleged paedophile of a teacher to increase her grades) and of course Usagi eventually won the issue (not to mention successfully kicked the teacher out of school with her investigatory evidences sent to the principal when one day after school she managed to video a few female students and this teacher left in a corner classroom).

More heroic scenes from Usagi were proven to be countless for the sake of her friends' safety and good conduct. Of course neither Mina nor Molly knew anything about the heroic ploys of their friend, but they knew enough that she did what she could to persuade them to be better.

Everyone also knew that Usagi had the talent to go beyond.

Molly, her modesty aside, had told the clique time and again how she wanted to enter fashion school and be the best designer of Japan. Usagi shared her dream in the music industry, flying abroad to Europe to sing with the best of best.

Mina on the other hand was stuck with no dream at all. She had a penchant for music as well, although not in the classical category as Usagi was. For she loved her best friend dearly, she didn't dare pursue her own singing from fear of shadowing a similar talent. It wasn't anything out of pride or confidence of her own voice, Mina simply didn't like practicing the same talent Usagi was good in, too.

Even that given, Usagi and Molly were well aware of Mina's self-sacrifice. Usagi have always thought of Mina's logic as senseless and dismissed it frequently by urging Mina to participate in the school singing contests. She was a pop singer after all. Japan loves pop! Was Mina insane? She had a voice that could rival international singers, and yet she chooses to hide it.

It was unthinkable and Usagi wouldn't allow it. By the time she left junior high, perhaps Usagi thought, this would also do Mina good, since her opportunity to share her talent wouldn't be so overshadowed by her mere presence.

Nobody thought that Usagi's predicted effect would backfire. Instead of seeing Mina in better spirits with an elevated perception for her future, she chose to finally overstep her boundaries and have become the wild one she is now.

Seeing her, talking to her, it feels as if Usagi have never left. Like the three of them were back in their old selves, laughing and talking about anything under the sun.

But as soon as that Hotaru found his way back into their table again, laughing and sweating from all his dancing, their private world collapsed and was once again exposed to all varying threats.

"Babe, we gotta go." He grabbed Mina by the waist, grinning at Usagi and Molly.

"Where are we going now?" Mina's voice almost sounded pleading to stay. Usagi fought the urge to pull Mina down.

"There's a race at Fukowa district in half an hour. My boss wants me to be there, y'know."

Whatever 'y'know' was, Usagi could only use her imagination. But the sound of a race and the thrill involved in that once familiar game revived something so old, so far from Usagi that she was astonished to feel her heart thump at the idea of that person.

"A race?" Usagi confirmed, cutting Mina off.

Her sudden interest surprised Hotaru, who now looked at Usagi as if she was fresh meat of some sort.

"Yeah...you like that stuff? Have you seen one before?"

His inquisition and abrupt turn to a sultry voice didn't scare Usagi off. She held a passive face but an interested tone of voice nevertheless. It was good enough for Hotaru to see through her unreadable pretty little face.

It was apparent to Molly, that Mina was more worried for Usagi than Usagi was for herself. In the girls' minds, Usagi was at it again. Half of Mina felt overwhelmed at the realization that her old friend has finally come back, the rest of her feared that Usagi might be daring her heroism a bit too far. Hotaru was different from all the other assholes and oldies she'd dated. He was Yakuza after all.

Everybody knew that.

But nobody knew there was a different reason for Usagi's interest. Perhaps she did mix up the feeling of heroism for her beloved friend, but Usagi couldn't deny to herself that the domineering interest sprung forth from a past she hardly forgot.

Something she had yet to put a closure to.

"You have enough room in your car?" Usagi replied to him, challenging.

Molly gripped her purse. Mina drank from another bottle of beer. Hoatru simply eyed the new blondie before him, curious and seemingly interested.

A broad devious smile crept up to his lips.

"Back seats' vacant."