It's been several years, and it's 2021. Crystal Neo Tokyo still isn't a thing, Mamoru and Usagi still bicker and break up every other week, Minako still can't stop playing around, and Rei may take things a bit too seriously still. Ami is still obsessively researching and making innuendos above everyone's paygrade. Haruka is still a 'meme' as the kids say.. and the rest? Well, the rest are just okay
.-.-.
"Ami... You know there's no such thing as perfect right?" Makoto asks as she looks around the small apartment. Ever since the infamous kitchen disaster that was Teaching Usagi how to Deep Fry a Turkey they had to move into a smaller place with not so large a kitchen, and all the two of them have is a small electric skillet and a rice cooker. In spite of that Ami is still insisting she make lunch for everyone coming over, "Seriously. No one is expecting a miracle, and besides, don't you usually like simple meals? What's the occasion... ?"
Ami smirks and her shoulders start to shake... Ever since she got into anime and got out of schooling she had gotten a bit crazier than usual as she pushes her glasses up to her face, "Don't you know Mako-chan... When you have a reputation, you have to live up to it?" The blue-haired genius stated with a smirk before she went back to putting far too much effort into lunch... A potluck for all intents and purposes with too many elements. Cream of asparagus, a package of ramen, broccoli, a single egg, a dollop of mayo... ?
Makoto couldn't help but raise her brow at the random arrangement of ingredients... But she had heard enough about Ami's father and the type of artist he was. Turns out all artists are a bit mad, and a bit crazy. Despite her usual concern over the bluenette's health she seems to be much happier than when they were last around. The tiny room was pretty bare.. After all, they did lose everything in the fire except for the things in the blue-haired woman's office, "Alright.. Fine, fair enough... But if this is about showing we're fine despite the setback, shouldn't I be cooking?"
"Well.. This kitchen is rather small.. If you think you can handle the heat." She retorts with a soft smirk as she wipes the sweat off her brow. In reality all she was doing was stirring the hell out of the contents of the skillet and letting the rice cooker work, but Makoto couldn't help but take her up on the challenge. She was ultimately the chef in this relationship, and the dish the bluenette made was quite savory. So it was only right to set about making something with a bit of spice.
"Fine. So long as you're fine with me using up some of that rice. It'd be a waste to throw it all into the pan." Makoto says with a click of her tongue, and sets about using some of the rice, marshmallows, and a bit of cinnamon in the shape of rabbits, on one side, and uses a bit of wasabi, tuna, and rice to make simple tuna rolls. The entire time the blue-haired genius continued stirring her.. not too bad-smelling abomination of a potluck.
As the two work, they both hum the same song in cadence. Neither of them truly aware that they're doing it as they sway left and right, and move around the kitchen perfectly. It's a small space with barely room for one, but despite that, the two of them work as a team. In spite of all their disfunction, the drama, the "That random man looks like the guy who once broke my heart! He's the one!" Phase the two of them seem to complete the other.
Passion, a love for humanity, a love for knowledge, a desire to help the sick, and a desire to care for those who are looked down upon by society... Who knows where they may end up in the future? The two work in perfect cadence for what feels like forever. In truth, Makoto doesn't have the heart to tell Ami that her dish is long since finished, and does rather enjoy the heat of the kitchen as well as the contact of the Senshi of Ice and Knowledge.
"Alright everyone should be here soon... So.. My little ice cube.. Mind setting the table?" Makoto asks having asked the blonde terror of the outer Senshi for dating advice. Ami simply puts a spoonful of her concoction in her mouth and gives her a wide-eyed stare and nods her head as she pulls out the silverware, "Swing and a miss!" The Amazonian Lightning Senshi hears in her head as she leans up against the wall and cracks open a soda and watches her work. Over time the blue-haired girl has really gained a glow to her.
Maybe it's the fact that she subsists off more than ham sandwiches now, maybe it's the loving home... Maybe it's just the fact that the two of them have faced down every threat faced before them with the greatest nightmare before them now being Usagi and Mamoru's relationship... Makoto can only sigh and relax. Today it was only going to be them, Rei, and Minako.
Usagi was busy with Chibiusa, the fact that after all the time traveler drama that she decided to still name the child after herself because her future self did so baffles Makoto. Then again most things are abnormal with that girl... Like how any time a cute tomboy or a boy that turns into a cute girl gives her moonie eyes she breaks in the head, I'm turning into Minako now as much as Ami is turning into Haruka.
It's only a few minutes after the table is set that there is a knock at the door. However, something causes a chill to run up Makoto's spine, a premonition of disaster. Haruka and Michiru always spoke of ill winds and the ocean being restless, and now Makoto could tell what she means. Just as she was about to tell Ami to not open the door she undid the deadbolt and the door flew open.
"Well I know you were just expecting us, but guess who we ran into at the grocery store!" Minako says in an off-beat sing-song voice as she walks into the room with the outer Senshi in tow. Makoto could feel her soul leave her body as the tiny one-bedroom apartment is now overrun with two blonde-haired disasters of equal but opposing styles of terror.
"Cozy, very.. Love motel aesthetic." Makoto awaits a smack that doesn't come as Michiru just laughs and plops down on the bed.
"Come on, you promised you'd stop teasing the girls when they came out of the closet." Michiru chides as she crosses her arms, "This song and dance was cute when you said it was to get the girls out of their shells, but anything more and I might be jealous."
Minako and Rei went about sitting at the table as the table was set, "We didn't know you were coming so there might not be enough for you. Minako's sweet tooth has gotten to be about as bad as Usagi's." Makoto says apologetically. She hadn't expected this large of a crowd but she has grown to enjoy the insanity the more she is introduced to it. Setsuna as always mysteriously sits in the background. She always had this aloof energy about her... And oddly enough had taken up cosplaying in her free time. They say it's always the quiet ones you have to watch as she has this cat-like focus in her eyes.
Minako on the other hand has rather unfocused eyes as they dart left and right. Her lips curled up in a barely concealed mischievous coyness as she looks like she's waiting for something. Rei sits across from her, and rather than the usual laser glare of intense seriousness she has a rather laid-back expression. She's truly mellowed out now that she's gotten out of school and stepped away from her shrine duties. Her once long hair now trimmed to be shoulder length, "Thanks for inviting us. You know you two could stand to be more social and get out more..." Rei notes as she crosses her legs and leans back in her chair, "Usagi is starting to actually miss studying, and we hardly hang out unless it's to do with her anymore..."
For some reason, Haruka is in the background with this sly fox-like grin as she plays with her racing glove. Something about this situation is making Makoto increasingly uneasy, but Ami simply sits down at one of the four available chairs with her usual aloof grace before Makoto moves to her seat as well and sighs as she stares at Haruka. Last time she looked this smug it was when she revealed Setsuna was cosplaying as a Christmas Tree for their Christmas party last year, "Spit it out. You look like you're going to pass out trying to hold back the chuckle."
"I mean I was just going to say... You do know I own a mansion... And that Hotaru moved out on her own..." Haruka says as she broaches the forbidden topic again.
"You know why I won't," Makoto says as she crosses her arms and pops one of the tuna rolls in her mouth.
"I don't, why don't you illuminate your issue?" Michiru asks coyly... Makoto used to believe that she was the one who reined in Haruka's behavior but in reality, she's the ring leader of it all. Underneath that princess grace, and that violinist poise lies a criminal mastermind. Ami and Minako both look to Makoto as Rei turns her head and stares at Haruka. Everyone in the room seemingly either out of the loop on something, or intentionally causing a scene.
"Michiru..." Rei says knowingly as she regains a bit of that serious flare and stares her down as Haruka starts laughing openly with Setsuna joining in.
"It was one time, and I didn't know Tirimasu had alcohol in it!" Rei barks out like a dog as she leans forwards in her chair to reach for the lesbian tomboy disaster artist and falls over causing one of the legs to break off. Her ankle hooking underneath the table flipping the contents of it over onto the floor. Ami has been the only one to taste the potluck she made, and Makoto being the only one to eat a tuna roll as everyone was too interested in the drama.
"Every... Time..." Makoto says as she stares down at the blonde terror of Uranus. The entire time Minako is covering her lips letting out a cackle like the Golden Witch of Love that she is, Rei laying flat on the floor with marshmallow treats stuck in her hair, and Ami blinking rapidly as she processes the scene.
"You know... You keep staring at me all intently like that I may take it a bit personally... You have heard of what all the kids are doing lately... Polyamory? Open relationships?" Haruka says as she moves to her feet as Michiru stands up next to her, "And well... You deserve a better kitchen to make dinners in anyways."
"I won't say this is what I had planned. I sincerely wanted to just you know.. Broach the subject again since you destroyed your apartment by teaching the wannabe housewife of a princess to cook, and I know how expensive college is even for a genius. Just swallow your pride. Alright? I got no ulterior motives. If you girls can't keep calm around me that's your business. Alright?" Haruka says as she adopts a rather serious expression. It isn't one that they've seen since they fought on opposing sides, "It was fun playing Princely Princess with you girls, but if you can't get over your crush, and teenage fears of public displays of affection, or flirting that goes nowhere your relationship is either built off zero trust, or you are taking shit way too seriously."
As the so-called disaster speaks Minako actually seems to be listening to her, "So why don't we clean this up, order some junk food, pay the rent on this place for the last time, and you can worry about your pride after you've gotten on your feet." The woman says rather sternly. While she may have had the reputation of not taking anything seriously that was usually when we were teenagers, "Seriously. Pride is something I have in spades, but if you hold on to pride as an ace in your pocket you don't have as much control over your life as you think."
Everyone in the room can feel the collective air being let out of their heads as Haruka decides to finally be the adult for once, the usually quiet observer speaks up, "It has been rather dull without Hotaru around, and the Small Lady has been rather... Distracted as well with college. I for one would welcome a shot in the arm for our house, and this self-imposed separation between us is rather silly and outdated.. Don't you think?"
"Well, I guess if even the loner is insisting..." Makoto speaks up as Ami has a smug look on her face. Did... She plan this or is she bored as well? Makoto feels sweat appear on her forehead as all of them work to clean the room. Despite the number of hands-on deck it doesn't really help much. Minako mostly pushes muck around and makes the mess bigger because she doesn't want to harm her hands with soap. Ami is too busy scrubbing small spots obsessively to the point that she may even be damaging the vinyl flooring, but something about even this catastrophic situation makes Makoto have faith in the future.
You know... If crazy people like us can survive in this day and age... Maybe, just maybe we have a chance.