Entrance Exam Battle 1— Mako-chan's Depression

"I'm home!" he called out, walking through the door and removing his shoes. "That smells wonderful!"

Makoto stood in the entrance to the kitchen, smiling as she stirred her bowl. "Thank you! Since it's our one year anniversary, I made all kinds of treats!" she said.

The man walked into the kitchen and sniffed. "Is something burning?"

Makoto laughed. "You know I'd never let anything burn!"

"You're being," she mumbled, before she startled awake and screamed. "My meatloaf!" Rushing to the oven, she turned it off and opened the door. Grabbing the tray, she yelped and pulled her hands back.

"Damn it!" She finally grabbed a dishtowel to pull the scorching pan out. "It burned…"

Setting it on another towel, she turned her television on and went to pull her apron off. 'Kino Makoto… you're fifteen, in ninth grade… you love to shop and cook and you can't keep a meatloaf from burning?' she demanded of herself. Tossing the frilled apron into the hamper, she walked back towards the kitchen to open the windows, when the sound of an airplane caught her ears. With a shriek, Makoto hid behind the curtains.

"Fly Japan Air Line to Okinawa today!" the commercial chimed. Makoto gave a nervous laugh and stepped away from the drapery, acting like she was smoothing them out, knocking a picture frame over. 'Okay, so I'm weak around airplanes…' she admitted to herself. As she went to lift the frame back up, the doorbell rang. Leaving it for the moment, she went to answer the door and smiled to see her friends standing out there. Even Bunny had come with Terra, despite the fact neither of them had to study. With the destruction of Mugen, Bunny had returned to being home schooled by Goten-san's older brother, and Terra didn't bother trying to go.

"Maaako-chaaan!" Bunny called, bouncing a little, until Terra put a hand on her head to stop her. Bunny giggled and pulled her shoes off to bound in and plop herself on the sofa.

"Welcome!" Makoto greeted, standing aside to let the others in. Ami went right for the little table and began to set out books for the girls. Bunny was admiring the things in Makoto's house, while Terra sat in an overstuffed chair and leaned back. When a heavy book fell into her lap, it hit the tail she kept wrapped around her waist and she yowled in pain, flinging the book off.

"The hell was that!" she demanded, glaring at Ami as she lifted her shirt off to check. "I have an EXTREMELY sensitive part of my anatomy here!"

Ami looked at her and thrust the book back into her hands. "You should study, too!"

Terra arched her brows and stared at Ami for the longest time. "Are you fucking SERIOUS? Why the HELL should I study?" she demanded, before Bunny picked her book up and smiled.

"Come on, Terra-chan! It'll give us something to do!" Bunny opened it up and Terra, defeated, sat back down and opened hers too, though she was throwing Ami looks that could kill. Ami looked around and frowned to see Rei and Minako gazing at Makoto's trinkets, instead of studying.

"Wow, Mako-chan!" Minako chimed. "You've really spritzed the place up!"

"You mean 'spruced'," Terra commented idly, flipping through the math book with disdain. Makoto walked in, carrying a tray, loaded with cups. She placed a cup in front of each girl.

"Have some tea," she said.

Bunny looked at the little tea cup and smiled. "These are adorable! Look, Terra-chan! Little hearts!"

"Fascinating…" Terra grumbled, sipping at the tea.

"It smells good," Rei said, taking her seat as Minako finally calmed down. "Is it herb tea?"

"It's chamomile tea," Makoto explained. "It makes you relax, and lets you sleep soundly."

Ami spat the liquid out at once and wiped her mouth. Terra was still throwing her dirty looks, but she paid no attention, and slammed her book on the table to catch everyone's attention. "Sleep? That's not what we're here for! Let's start studying!"

As she said that, the group sat down and opened their books to read. Rei and Ami quietly studied, as Minako flipped from page to page. Terra, who didn't seem to really be reading the book at all, was pushing Bunny away as she asked for help on a difficult term. She took a pen to paper while she sat there and did little sketches, keeping it hidden from Ami. A full three hours had passed, before Makoto's eyes drooped and she stood up.

"Hey!" she said. "Isn't it time for dinner?" With that, she was in the kitchen, and the rattling of dishes was heard. She came back in with a huge tray, and had to go back for two more, because of Bunny and Terra. The trays were set and food was passed out. Terra closed her book and started in. Apparently, the relatively short time as a Saiyan had taken hold.

"This is GREAT!" Bunny squealed, digging in to her tray. "Iz dalicous!" she mumbled through a mouth of food, before swallowing.

"Was this hard to fix?" Minako asked, popping a rice ball into her mouth. Makoto grinned.

"Well, it only took one night," she admitted, handing food to Ami, who frowned at her.

"One entire night!" she moaned. "No more, Mako-chan! This will wreak hazard all over your studies! Don't do this anymore!"

Minako backed off and sat on the remote to the television as Ami ranted. Makoto just laughed a little nervously and, spotting the picture frame again, went to lift it up. "I just wanted to make sure you all ate properly…"

As her hand touched it, the sound of an airplane filled the room and she shrieked, diving behind the curtains again. Terra just stared at her, while Minako went to see if she was okay.

"Mako-chan!"

Makoto saw that airline commercial and laughed, going to 'dust' the curtains again, as if she'd meant to do that. When she saw everyone staring at her as though worried, she coughed into her hand and straightened up.

"It was just that stupid commercial again. Sorry, everyone," she apologized. "I can't stand the sound of airplanes. When I was little, my parents died in a plane crash, and that was when my sensei took me in. With all of you around my cooking, it's like my family is here. It really makes me happy."

She went to sit back down, when her clock chimed eleven. Bunny's eyes went huge. Her father would kill her for being out so late! She'd had a strict curfew of ten-thirty, after the Mugen incident.

"Papa will KILL ME! No, he'll let 'jii-san kill me, then he'll wish me back and kill me himself!" Bunny shrieked, going to the door to throw her shoes on. Terra stood and tossed the book back at Ami, before pulling her cell phone out to call Trunks and explain that they really HAD been studying. Everyone else stood and went to leave. Makoto waved to them.

"Come back for dinner again!" she urged, closing the door, as Ami caught what she'd said.

"Dinner? We came to study! Oh no, I didn't finish HALF my assignments!"

Makoto stood in her spotless, shining kitchen, holding her dust rag. She was covered in dirt from cleaning, but the floors were clean enough to eat off of. She nodded her head and tossed the rag into the hamper.

"Finally got it cleaned!" she said to herself, proud. "It only took… three hours! I need to get to sleep!" she realized. Frantically, she threw off her clothes and went to put her green pajamas on, letting her hair down and pulling her rose earrings off. It was one-thirty before she got into bed. Rolling onto her side, she looked out the window that overlooked the city.

"Study meetings every week until March," she said as her eyes drooped. "This exam will be no problem… with… Ami-chan's help…"

The next week, Friday, came around. Makoto walked out of the junior high, looking at her practice test score. She frowned at the 40 percent she'd received. She felt terrible, she'd done her best to study! What was wrong with her? Ami rounded the corner, talking to Bunny who was holding one of her own exams. It was hand written, an indication of her special home-schooled status. Ami waved to Makoto and went over to her, waving her own exam, which had a perfect 100 written on it.

"Mako-chan!" she greeted. "How did you do?"

Bunny grinned and proudly displayed her 70. She'd done better than last time, and it would surely lighten her father's mood. She was heading for Capsule Corp. to show him and her grandmother. Makoto frowned and sheepishly showed the page. Ami frowned, but tried to sound encouraging.

"We still have plenty of time," she reminded. "Keep studying!"

Makoto dropped her head. "I know, I know…" As Bunny and Ami walked off to meet with Terra, Makoto walked into the gardening club room, where several younger students were sitting around, talking.

"Hey…" she said with a weak wave. One of the boys looked up at her curiously.

"Hey, Mako-chan-senpai, what's wrong?" he asked. "Ninth graders aren't supposed to go to clubs, because of exams."

Upon hearing that, Makoto frowned. "It's so hard, having exams…"

Terra met with Makoto at the Crown Fruit Parlor, not wanting to listen to an hour of Trunks tell Bunny how she was 'so much smarter' than that, and she could improve her grades if she just tried. It was a damn repeat of listening to Kara's parents. She looked up to see Makoto walk in and collapse into a chair as Unazuki came out with two cups.

"Hey! I heard that you were coming, so I brought some tea for you both!" she chimed, setting the cups down in front of them both. "Tell me what you think!"

Makoto took a long sip, while the careful Terra stuck her little finger into the liquid and stirred it around, before licking the tea off. Makoto spat it back into her cup, as Terra puckered.

"That is some sour shit!" Terra cursed. She shrugged and took a long drink of it. Makoto looked at Unazuki.

"What is it?"

Unazuki winked. "It's hibiscus tea! I always recommend it to anyone who needs to study!" she explained. "If you drink it while you study, you'll stay awake."

"Then even Ami-chan will like it!" Makoto said, suddenly energetic. Terra grabbed Makoto's cup and drank it down. "Where are they selling it?"

Unazuki took her apron and nametag off, before motioning to the door. "It's just down the street!" She led the way. Five shops down, they came to a small store, called Pri-Pri. Makoto looked on in awe as she stared at the sign. Terra was mildly impressed.

"Didn't know they had good shops like this in Juuban," she commented, before Makoto grabbed her hand and pulled her inside. They looked around, as Unazuki went to the clerk.

"Do you have any Hibiscus Tea left?" she asked. The clerk shook his head.

"I'm sorry, it's all sold out. I sold the last box to a boy about five minutes ago." Unazuki frowned and turned to Terra.

"They were supposed to be getting more in. Well, whatever. They won't be out forever, since it's time for exams," she explained. Terra nodded, understanding. Why blame the poor clerk, who couldn't control his clients?

Makoto was dashing through the shop, grabbing things off shelves. "This jewelry box is wonderful! These earrings are to DIE for!" Terra stared at her. "I must HAVE these cushions!"

"Makoto, how the hell do you plan to pay for all of this?" Terra asked. Makoto came to the counter and plopped down all the items she wanted and stared at Terra, who backed off, holding her hands up, making the sign of the cross. "No! No way! Back off, demon child, forget it! I am NOT paying for—" was as far as she got. Makoto must have taken lessons from Bunny in the puppy-dog eyes. With a groan, Terra pulled her wallet out.

"Fine. How much?" she asked. The cashier totaled it up to 4,944 Yen. With a look of defeat, Terra paid as Makoto went to lug her newly acquired items to her apartment. Unazuki helped.

"Drinking tea together, shopping," sighed Makoto. "This is the life. If only I didn't have to study for exams! All I want to do is drink tea with everyone!"

"I have two hyperactive girls to baby-sit, I don't need you, too," Terra grumbled, figuring her balance out as she walked. "Too much caffeine is bad for you."

"Mako-chan!" yelled Unazuki. "When you get into High School, you can do whatever you want! Drink tea, shop, you can even goof off! You will make it, I know you will!"

Makoto straightened out her small living room, ready for the next round of studying. Her new items were set out and it looked beautiful. As she fluffed one of her new cushions, the doorbell rang and she stood up to answer the door. The girls were standing outside.

"Mako-chan, guess what! Papa was proud of my latest test that he finally took away my curfew!" Bunny giggled in excitement. "All I had to do was train extra, extra hard with 'jii-san!"

Makoto laughed at Bunny's enthusiasm and stood aside to let them enter. Terra took her place on the over-stuffed chair, pulling her legs in to it as well. When Ami tossed the heavy book back at her, she caught it in one hand, prepared this time. With a groan, she opened it again and pulled her pen out to resume her doodling in it. When Makoto caught a glimpse, it was a mess of stick figures, and she couldn't make it out before Terra shooed her away. Bunny was back on the sofa, doing her own homework that Gohan-san had assigned. The others took their seats and opened their books to work.

Three hours passed. Terra shoved Bunny away again.

"Damn it, Odango, I already TOLD you, you CAN'T do your research paper over my self as Terra Nightwind from forty years ago!" she shouted, smacking the princess in the head. "I'm not answering these questions!"

Makoto's eyes began to droop before she stood up. "Hey! How about some tea?" she asked, going towards the kitchen.

Ami grabbed her by the skirt. "Mako-chan," she began "today I brought green tea with me. I'll make the tea, you can keep working." With that, she began to mix it in a portable container. Terra's stomach began to rumble loudly.

"Well, then," Makoto continued on. "It's time for dinner!" She was in the kitchen before Ami could stop her and brought out trays of food again. She gave Bunny one and Terra one, and as they began to eat – well, inhale in Bunny's case, Terra was more civilized – she got another for the others to share. Ami frowned at her.

"Mako-chan…" she began.

"I'm so sorry!" Makoto cried. "I spent another night preparing food!"

Ami frowned at her. "Kino Makoto! Instant Ramen should be MORE than enough!"

"Speak for your own damn self," Terra said in-between bites.

"If you have time to cook, you have time to study!" continued Ami, unfazed by Terra's words.

"That's right, Mako-chan!" chimed Minako, through bites of food. She swallowed. "If you eat like this when you can't participate in clubs, you'll become a fat sailor soldier! Terra-san and Bunny-chan are lucky, 'cause they're Saiyan, but we aren't!"

"A fat sailor senshi?" Makoto whined, falling back.

Meanwhile, Ami had donned a white glove and wiped it across the sparkling clean countertop. "Makoto…" she said. "Your apartment is… unusually clean for a studying ninth grader."

"W- well… it's like this… I spent two nights cleaning…"

Rei looked around as she sipped on her green tea. "You've got more lovely things lying around. More than last time. Have you been loitering on your way home from school?"

"Well, Terra-san went shopping with me and bought them for me…"

Terra swallowed some rice and held her outstretched hand to Bunny. "That reminds me. You owe me 5,000 Yen."

Ami growled at Makoto, disbelieving of her reluctance of studying.

"Maybe I'll drop out of school," Makoto whispered. "I have a trust-fund paying for me, it's not like I have to worry about money. I'm just not up to studying. If you think you have to, it's worth it, but I'm just not high school material. I mean, I got kicked out of my old school because of gang activities… thinking about these exams… it makes me want to drink tea! It makes me want to cook! It makes me want to clean! It makes me want lovely things! I'd be happy if I could just have a life of loving tea, cooking, flowers, and pretty things!"

"We have that life coming to us, you idiot!" Terra shouted, slamming her book down. "But it's another seven YEARS before we reach it! Before Crystal Tokyo! In the meantime, you have school! You can't just drop out, I'll be DAMNED if I let you! So you are going to SIT there, OPEN your book, AND STUDY! If I'm stuck studying with you, YOU WILL STUDY, DO I MAKE MYSELF CLEAR? No more of your escapes! Face reality!"

Terra's sudden harshness caught Makoto off guard. She collapsed in shock. Terra caught her as she fell forward. "God, damn it…"

"No time to faint! We have to study!"

That night, before the sun could rise, a strange figure in a cloak stood before the Pri-Pri store. It giggled in delight and sniffed the air.

"Sweet air, filled with the spirit of sugar. This shop has lots of young, escaping game." She smiled and vanished, before appearing inside the shop itself. "I am the genius loci haunting this land. I've been in China for over four thousand years. I'm Touhiichan. I can use the spirit of this sugar to gather more and more escaping children! Hee!"

Makoto walked down the street, frowning at her latest test score. It was a 50. Bunny waved at her and ran up to her, waving her own test.

"Mako-chan! You raised your score, too! See, I got a whole 71!" Bunny squealed. "Oh, but you raised yours more… wow, I'm so jealous."

Makoto sighed and looked at the paper again, before crumpling it up. "Just a lousy ten points. I still failed." She tossed the paper aside and walked on, leaving Bunny behind to wait on Ami.

"I raised my score, and still failed. I'm not cut out for school," she whined to herself. "I want to stop on the way home and have some tea and look at lovely things. Damn being a ninth grader… I have to go home and study, or Ami-chan and Terra-san will scream again."

Makoto walked along the sidewalk, groaning to herself over her life when a smell came to her nose. She stopped in mid-stride and turned towards it, following the smell down the street. 'It smells so good…' she thought to herself, not bothering to stop herself until she came to the doors of the Pri-Pri shop. There was a large sign in the window displaying a sale.

"Welcome!" greeted Touhiichan. "Thank you for your patronage! Pri-Pri is under new management!"

Makoto dropped her bag and looked around, smiling as she flitted from one display to the next. "A sale! A sale!"

Touhiichan giggled into her sleeve. "Lucky, lucky, you're so lucky! Everything is on sale! Here, this is a special herb tea! I have Chinese scones, and brownies. Buy now, buy now and they're 100 yen for a set!"

Makoto squealed in delight. "You had me at 'sale'!"

Touhiichan giggled. "Thank you very much."

"Ami-chaann…" Bunny whined "you're way too strict! Goten-oji, tell her I don't have to study today!"

Goten looked down at Bunny as though she were crazy. "Yeah, and while we're at it, let's tell Gohan the real reason why his face wound up pink that day, I'm sure your father would love for him to know as well. Ami's scary in study mode."

"Goten-oji!"

Ami paid no attention to their words as she read from her study guide. "As Shakespeare said 'Knowledge the wing wherewith we fly to heaven'! We must not fear learning! We will all attend the same high school, so we must keep studying!"

Terra just rubbed the bridge of her nose. "And according to Bacon 'To spend too much time in studies is sloth'. So I guess that makes studying a sin. Can I LEAVE now?" she demanded. Bunny kept tugging on Goten's arm, begging him to get her out of studying, when Rei's eyes went wide and she turned around, pointing at a building.

"An evil spirit!" she cried. "There's an evil energy coming from that shop!"

Terra blinked and looked over, crossing her arms. "That's the damn shop Makoto goes to. Hey, maybe I can get my fifty bucks back," she said with a grin, heading for it.

"What did you say?" Bunny asked.

"Eh, in American terms, that's about how much I paid in there."

The group stormed in to see Makoto sitting at a little table, eating all the food she had just bought.

"Makoto!" Goten shouted.

"Ahh…" she sighed. "This is the life. Cake and tea… I'm fine. Even if I become a fat sailor senshi, even if I don't get into high school…" she said as she wobbled. Bunny rushed over to her.

"Mako-chan!" Makoto collapsed into her. A strange smoke filled the room.

"The spirit!" Rei warned.

"I am the genius loci, Touhiichan," she giggled into her sleeve. "I have filled, filled, filled her body up with my sugar spirit!"

Bunny shook Makoto. "You can't die, Mako-chan! We're all gonna study and you're gonna go high school together! We're gonna take Papa's credit card to Shibuya to celebrate, play on the way home, have parties, and get boyfriends! You're all gonna be high schoolers, Mako-chan!"

Makoto's eyes snapped open as she stood up. "Yeah, that's right! Jupiter Planet Power! Make UP!"

Jupiter stood there, electricity sparking at her hands. "I can't die until I get to high school! I'm going to study and get in, so I can goof off going home and have tea with my friends!" she shouted to the evil spirit.

"Jupiter Coconut Cyclone!"

In a wave of lightning, the spirit was destroyed. Bunny squealed and clapped in happiness.

"You did it, Jupiter-chan!" Jupiter grinned and stood tall.

"Of course!" she boasted. "No one can beat me!"

Taking that as a challenge, Terra 'gently' tapped Jupiter on the tiara, causing her to fall back, her eyes spinning.

"Jupiter?!"

"Since I've beaten the enemy, my exam is complete…" she mumbled.

"JUPITER!" Ami cried out. "Even if you beat an enemy, you STILL have your studies!"

"Honey, I want a rose ring to celebrate my getting into high school…"

NOTE! Eh, nothing special about it, really. I always liked the Entrance Exam Battles, so I added them before the Dream Arc. Sets it up a little