Helllllloooooo! I appreciate the favorites, follows, and reviews I was given last chapter so much! They made me so happy! Here's chapter 2 for all that lovely feeback (and my weekly update)!

Enjoy! :)

Moonlight (You're My Starlight): Part 2

Seiya didn't see Usagi the rest of the night, but as soon as she was in the car with the rest of her bandmates leaving the festival, she googled Silver Moon, getting a much longer wiki page than she expected.

Her real name was Tsukino Usagi, and she'd been born June 30th. She had gone to Juban Public Middle and High School and had been a member of both softball teams, remaining active in sports all the way up to her graduation. She had three younger siblings as well—Shingo (17), Chibiusa (14), and Chibi Chibi (6). She started singing as a hobby, only starting to take it seriously when she was scouted after a karaoke night with her friends.

She debuted two years ago at 17 with the song "Moonlight Densetsu", a moderate hit. She released a few more singles after that until her star-making hit, "Ai wo Shinjiteru", came out last year, dominating the charts and shooting her up in popularity. After that, she was everywhere—commercials, magazines, and multiple talk shows as a guest.

Seiya mused back to that time, trying to figure out how she had never heard of the girl until tonight. She definitely hadn't been at the Juban Music Festival the year before last, and Seiya wasn't sure about last year. The Three Lights hadn't performed then because they'd been on tour, so she wouldn't know.

To be fair, Seiya wasn't up to speed with newer idols. She wasn't interested in them as so many of them were in it for the money rather than their own passion for music, which irritated her. She didn't often acquaint herself with other idols in general, excluding Sailor V, who had been around since her own debut days. Sailor V was a young girl with so much passion for what she did that you could never deny it was there.

"Hey, guys?"

Yaten and Taiki both looked up at her in question. Well, Taiki had. Yaten continued to look down at her phone but gave a lazy wave of acknowledgement.

"Have you two always known who Silver Moon was?" she asked.

At this, Yaten shot her head up, eyebrows quirked. "What do you mean 'have we'? Everyone knows who Silver Moon is."

Taiki shook her head. "Not Seiya."

"Are you kidding me?!" Yaten blurted. "No wonder you got into a fight with her earlier! You had no idea who she was!"

"Oh, Seiya…" Taiki sounded extremely disappointed.

Seiya rushed to defend herself. "W-Well! You can't expect me to always know all these new idols!"

Yaten gave her a flat look. "Her face is only everywhere, Seiya, and it's been that way for months now. She's hard to miss."

"Her music plays quite often on the radio," Taiki added.

"I… I don't listen to the radio," Seiya mumbled.

"You're fucking hopeless," Yaten told her, slipping her phone in her pocket and crossing her arms under her chest. "I told you that woman was a distraction."

"Yaten," Taiki warned.

Seiya frowned. "She wasn't a distraction."

"She was enough of a distraction that you had no idea who Silver Moon was."

"That has nothing to do with this," Seiya muttered under her breath, having no energy to argue, especially not over something that, frankly, wasn't any of Yaten's business.

"It has everything to do with it actually. If not for her, you'd wouldn't act like you don't like your job—"

"Yaten!" Taiki snapped, cutting the shorter woman off. "Quiet."

"Oh, please. It's true," Yaten grumbled, but she didn't say anything else as she plugged her earphones in, now actively ignoring her companions.

Taiki turned back to Seiya, her gaze steely. Seiya realized that despite Yaten's departure from the discussion, it was far from over.

Taiki stared her down. "Seiya, I'm not saying your feelings aren't valid, but it's been six months. You need to get it together for the rest of us. Please."

Seiya didn't answer, only staring down at her hands in her lap. "I could try…"

The rest of the ride back to their apartment was quiet. When they arrived, Seiya kicked off her shoes upon entry, not bothering to put them away as she headed upstairs to her bedroom. She immediately flopped onto her bed, burying her face in her arm.

She wished she could get over it. She really did, but she'd been left with nothing but a broken heart that still hadn't been glued back together no matter how hard she tried to pick up the pieces and put them back where they belonged.

Had she not been good enough?

Was there something wrong with her?

Seiya frowned to herself, deciding that she wouldn't focus on her, the one who had stepped all over her heart.

Instead, her mind drifted back to Silver Moon, a much more pleasant thought.

"Tsukino Usagi…" she mumbled.

Too tired after the day's events to continue thinking, her eyes drifted closed, and soon she'd fallen into a deep sleep.

…..

A few days later, Seiya was back at the Fruit Parlor Café downtown. There were a lot more people around than the last time she had visited, but thankfully, there was hardly anyone in the back, so she could somewhat relax. She had ordered a raspberry ice cream soda again, and thistime she had no priority she was purposely disregarding.

Except for the one where Iron Mouse was back from her trip, blowing up Seiya's phone like a rat on steroids and showing no signs of stopping.

Iron Mouse - Sent 3:30 PM: IF IT WEREN'T FOR THE FACT THAT I WASN'T THERE WHEN IT HAPPENED, I WOULD BEAT YOUR ASS, KOU.

Iron Mouse - Sent 3:31 PM: AND I STILL WILL IF YOU PULL SOME SHIT LIKE THAT AGAIN.

Iron Mouse - Sent 3:32 PM: GOD DIDN'T BLESS YOU WITH A VOICE LIKE THAT FOR YOU TO WASTE IT ON SOBBING.

Iron Mouse - Sent 3:36 PM: take care of yourself btw. you might be the most insufferable of you three, but i still love you and i don't want you messing up your health. 3

A tiny smile made its way up to Seiya's face. She was never sure if she was irritated with or thankful for Iron Mouse.

While sipping her drink, Seiya put an earphone in that was plugged into her phone, having finally listened to Silver Moon's releases from the last two years. While she was listening to "Ai wo Shinjiteru", she vaguely remembered hearing it in a few places, but now that she had heard it herself paying attention, she understood the public's obsession with the song.

It wasn't like she had also searched the chart positions of the song either and learned that it debuted at No. 1…

Either way, Seiya had secretly come to love the singer's songs, enjoying every single one she had heard that matched the exact aura the girl had exuded on and off stage. Even her music videos were just… Her.

Bright. Pink. Colorful.

She looked down at the album cover on her phone screen, showcasing Silver Moon in the outfit she'd had on last night on stage, a peaceful look across her face as pink rose petals blew around her.

Seiya was so deep in her thoughts as she stared at the album cover that she didn't notice the figure that had come up behind her booth.

"You know, it took forever and a half to shoot this cover. It was so annoying."

Seiya jumped, her knees knocking against the table. "Holy shit!"

She turned around to see a blonde girl in a pink hoodie with a hat over her head and pink shades adorning her face. She lowered her shades, offering Seiya a glimpse of those familiar vibrant blue eyes.

One Tsukino Usagi, aka Silver Moon, grinned. "In a better mood now?"

"Silver Moo—"

"Shh!" The blonde teen hushed her quickly, putting a hand over her mouth. She ran around to join Seiya in the booth and shook her head. "It's busy here today. I'd rather people not know it's me."

"You can't creep up on people like that!" Seiya hissed at her. "How long had you been standing there?"

"Only a few seconds! I just got here!" she chirped. She looked at the ice cream soda sitting in front of Seiya. "Are you going to finish that?"

"...No."

"Ooh! Can I have it?"

"...Be my guest."

Usagi squealed in delight as she seized the drink and took a sip from it. "These are so good. I'll order both of us another one."

Seiya let out a slightly annoyed sigh. "You're just going to sit there, drink my beverage, and act like you know me, Dumpling?"

Usagi broke away from the straw. "My name is Usagi." Then she added, "I had hoped to see you after the festival a few days ago, but…"

"We had to leave right after we performed," Seiya said, thankful that they had hit it and quit it on one of the days she couldn't help but think about her.

"Oh…" Usagi trailed off. "I was hoping we could be friends."

Seiya raised an eyebrow, unamused by the suggestion. Why in the world would Silver Moon want to be friends with her? She wasn't very… Besides her bandmates, she didn't have a lot of friends, not even industry friends, but she preferred it that way. It kept her from getting hurt again.

"You don't have any ulterior motives as a fan?" Seiya knew she didn't, but she still had to ask.

"What?! No!" Usagi shook her head at her. "I actually like making friends, you know. I always have, even before all of this." She gestured with her hands.

"What's—" Seiya repeated the hand gesture. "All this?"

Usagi gave her an unimpressed look. "Before my life as an idol."

"And how many friends do you have?" Seiya asked, genuinely curious.

"Plenty! I have Mamo-chan. He's my manager who I've known since we were children. Then there's Ami and Makoto. I've known them since Middle School, but Ami is in college right now and Makoto comes around once in a while to bring me cakes since she works at a local bakery. There's also Rei, who I met in high school because she was a part of The Three Lights fanclub with Ami and Makoto."

"Wait a minute," Seiya stopped her. "Your friends were a part of our fanclub?"

"Well, yeah. They were fans."

Seiya leaned in, curious. "What about you?"

"M-Me?" Usagi's cheeks turned pink.

"Were you a part of it?"

"N-No. I just became a fan because they always dragged me to fan events and such. I… honestly wasn't that impressed with you guys," she muttered shyly.

A laugh escaped Seiya. "Did you hate us that much?"

"I don't hate anyone! I just never understood the hype until I went to a concert. That's all."

"Same with you, Dumpling."

"That's not even the same! You didn't even know I existed, Seiya!" The offense in her voice was palpable.

Seiya fought back a blush. "I never have paid attention to newer acts, so you're not the only one."

Usagi gave her a half-hearted glare. "Well… You should pay attention to them. There's plenty of good ones that you're missing out on."

"You seem educated for someone who didn't know anything about the idol world until she was scouted," Seiya said under her breath.

Clearly, Usagi heard her and pointed an accusing finger at her. "You've been on my wikipedia page!"

"Obviously. I didn't know who you were until a few nights ago."

"You could have asked me."

"Okay," Seiya said, challenging. "If you know so much, who do you recommend?"

Usagi picked up her phone, briefly scrolling through a music app before stopping at an album. "Ever heard of The Amazoness Quartet? They're amazing."

"I… don't know them."

Usagi sighed. " You're in worse shape than I thought."

For the next forty-five minutes, she showed Seiya the most recent idols, soloists and groups; Witches 5, an all-woman rock band Seiya could vaguely remember hearing about; Phobos and Deimos, a twin sister duo; and Cosmos, a soloist who had debuted a year before Usagi. She was just as, if not more popular than Silver Moon, always topping the charts from the beginning of her official debut. It was said that some idols avoided coming back with new singles or albums just to avoid overlapping with her.

Seiya was slowly starting to understand why these idols were popular amongst the general public, including the girl sitting next to her. As time went by, of course newer idols became welcome among the older ones, and as The Three Lights grew older in age and music, they started to become less active, having already established a foundation to stand on but still active enough to always be remembered by the public. When they first started out, they were always performing at events, doing magazine shoots, commercials, and guest starring on TV shows. The more stable their popularity became, the less they started doing those things despite still being in high demand.

These idols were doing the same thing as them back then. Seiya realized that maybe… Maybe the reason she didn't know any of these idols was that she'd been judging them because of her belief that they weren't as passionate about music as older idols were. It was even the same thing for the girl next to her. Seiya worked herself to the bone but found that her passion for music was the same as Usagi's. The same as so many in their business.

Usagi hummed as they finished listening to a song by Witches 5. She opened her eyes and turned to Seiya, leaning in a little too close for comfort. "So… who did you like the best?"

"Cosmos. Her music is more my thing," Seiya answered. "Lot's of ballads."

"I figured you'd say that," she said before taking a sip of her third ice cream soda in the last almost-hour.

Seiya couldn't help but ask, curious, "Who's your favorite?"

"Hmm?" Usagi looked over at her, still sipping at her drink.

"Who do you like the most?"

She set down her drink and said simply, "You."

Heat creeped up the back of Seiya's neck, and she had no idea why because she always heard things like this. This wasn't new. "M-Me?"

"You and the rest of The Three Lights. At the beginning, I struggled in the business. It wasn't an environment I was used to, and sometimes I worked so much that I ended up sad, tired, and unmotivated. But I had your music, and it inspired me to want to be like you, especially you. Your work ethic is motivating and more admirable than you know, so…. That's why I said you."

Seiya had no idea what to say to that, having not expected any of those words to come out of the younger singer's mouth. Her heart thumped against her chest.

To be fair, she had been slacking lately… For months now actually. She was always late for scheduled events, she barely showed up for rehearsals for their performances, had come to practices drunk one or two times, and actively ignored Yaten and Taiki when they tried to tell her to do better simply because she had no motivation to do better.

Her heart still hurt too much.

She was a mess.

Yet the girl beside her liked her the most, and it made her feel warm. As if the sun was shining directly on her.

"You're very kind, Usagi," she finally replied, a small smile blossoming on her face.

She chuckled. "I get that a lot. And you said my name."

"Is that an issue?"

"No. I just think it's cuter when you call me 'Dumpling'."

Seiya cleared her throat. "Oh."

"It makes you special." Usagi winked before going back to her drink, and now, Seiya couldn't help the blush that spread across her face.

…..

Usagi stared at her phone as her stylist weaved her hair into her iconic buns, wondering when it had ever been so difficult for her to send a text to someone. Texting someone wasn't new. It was just that she was texting… the Seiya.

It was crazy because she had been the one to give the older singer her phone number so they could keep in contact.

Usagi stopped outside just shy of the steps of the Fruit Crown Parlor, having exited the café with the taller woman by her side after their conversation.

She looked up at Seiya, a determined look on her face. She held out her hand. "Can I see your phone?"

That got her a suspicious look from the other woman. Usagi didn't blame her. She was a singer after all.

"My number," she clarified.

Hesitantly, Seiya handed her her phone.

Usagi took it and went to her contacts, inputting her phone number and then her contact name as "Sliver Moon aka Dumpling" with a pink heart next to it.

"Here!" Usagi handed Seiya back her phone. "I sent a quick text to myself, so now I have your number too!"

Her own phone pinged. She looked down at the square object before opening her phone and changing Seiya's contact profile inscription to her actual name.

Seiya ❤

She showed her the contact. "I'll upload a picture of you later, but now we're officially friends."

A smirk crossed Seiya's face. "Phone numbers make us friends?"

"In a way. I'll text you first."

It had been four days since then.

She was sure Seiya hadn't texted first because she was waiting for Usagi to text first. She didn't want to sound too formal but not toocasual either.

It was Seiya. Three Lights Seiya. She had been so casual at the café, but now she had no idea what to say. Suddenly that boldness from a few days ago was gone the minute she had arrived home and stared at the contact in awe.

"Thinking too hard giving you a headache like usual?"

Usagi glared at the pink-haired girl across from her who was sitting with her books open at the table, a pack of rice balls open next to her and reading glasses perched on her nose.

She refrained from trying to move her head as her stylist finished up her hair. "You don't have anywhere to go with Hotaru or Helios? Why are you even here?"

"One: Hotaru went to go visit her dad in the hospital. Two: Helios had equestrian practice, so our date was canceled. And three: I'm here because I'm free for the weekend and Mama said I could come along."

"Then why are you studying?"

Chibiusa shrugged. "Might as well get it out of the way."

Usagi was very glad she never had to touch any homework in her life ever again.

"It's only a radio interview," Usagi said with a sigh. "They don't get any more interesting than asking me questions and me singing along to my songs when they play them."

Chibiusa smirked. "That's the fun part. The questions. You never tell us anything about your dating life, so what's more fun than hearing what you have to say about it on the radio?"

"It's none of your business!" Usagi insisted with a blush.

"Ah, maybe Mamo-chan knows," she pondered, tapping her pencil against her chin.

"He doesn't."

"You lie. You tell him everything."

Usagi shook her head as she stood up from her seat. She was dressed in skinny jeans and a pink blouse. "I don't."

At that moment, the person being spoken of walked in, his signature sunglasses perched on top of his head. Chibiusa beamed. "Mamoru!"

She ran up to him and gave him a tight hug, which he returned with a laugh. Usagi rolled her eyes.

"I didn't know you were going to be here today, Chibiusa," he said.

"It was a last minute decision because all her friends are unavailable," Usagi explained.

Chibiusa shot her tongue out at her older sister in response. Usagi smiled triumphantly.

"Come on. Your interview starts in five minutes," Mamoru told her. "There's another guest interviewing with you as well."

"Really?"

"Yeah, they booked you all at the same time and decided to do a joint interview."

"Who is it?" Chibiusa asked before Usagi could get the question out herself.

"Seiya from The Three Lights."

Simultaneously, Usagi and Chibiusa exclaimed, "Seiya?!"

It would be awkward sitting next to Seiya in an interview when Usagi hadn't texted her at all like she had promised, but… Sending a quick text before they started wouldn't hurt, would it?

…..

When Usagi entered the room to be seated, Seiya was already sitting down, dressed in jeans with a white button-up tucked into them. Light makeup was on her face and her shades were hanging on her shirt, the first couple of buttons undone.

She didn't look surprised to see her, so Usagi assumed she had already been aware she was her fellow interviewee. She gave her a small smile. Usagi gave her a nod of acknowledgement.

When she sat down across from Seiya at the table, Usagi took out her phone, deciding that it was now or never.

She sent a quick "Hey" with a friendly emoji next to it.

She watched as Seiya noticed her phone vibrate on the table and pick it up. Within a matter of seconds, Usagi's phone buzzed, and she looked down at it to see her text had been answered with a, "Hey, dumpling."

Usagi - Sent 1:57 PM: sorry about not sending you a text like i said :(

Seiya - Sent 1:57 PM: it's not a problem. maybe I should've sent you one instead.

Usagi - Sent 1:57 PM: i just didn't know what to say.

Seiya - Sent 1:58 PM: am i more intimidating through phone?

Usagi rolled her eyes at the mischievous emoji.

Usagi - Sent 1:58 PM: no, i just remembered you're the seiya as soon as I left the cafe.

Seiya - Sent 1:58 PM: then how about me being just seiya?

Usagi - Sent 1:58 PM: just seiya?

Seiya - Sent 1:58 PM: just seiya. no "the." just the seiya you're friends with. ;)

Usagi smiled to herself.

Usagi - Sent 1:59 PM: then… just seiya.

Seiya - Sent 1:59 PM: like that ;)

Right as Usagi turned off her phone, two o'clock on the dot hit, indicating that it was time for the radio show to start. Usagi felt her heart flutter as she looked up at Seiya to see her focused on the host as she sat down and crossed her legs in her swivel chair.

"Welcome to Black Moon Radio! I'm Esmeraude!" the host, a green-haired woman, declared. "And today we have two very special guests! Our first guess is Silver Moon!"

Usagi waved and said, "Hi" into her mic, and the audience burst into applause soon thereafter.

"And our second but last guest is… Seiya from The Three Lights!" Esmeraude squealed.

The applause intensified, and Seiya laughed while saying, "Hey."

"It took a lot to get them here and I'm very glad they could make it! Of course, Seiya-darling is a recurring guest, are you not?" Esmeraude asked her.

"I've been here four times already. This is my second time by myself," Seiya explained.

"Ah, the first time you came alone was during your promotions for your single, "A One-Sided Love Across the Galaxy," is that correct?"

"Right," Seiya agreed.

"And you, Silver Moon… This is your first time, isn't it, sweetie?" Esmeraude asked, moving away from Seiya.

"Oh, yes! My first time on Black Moon Radio!" Usagi had been on many other radio shows before, but she had never been on Black Moon Radio.

"Wonderful! I hope you enjoy your time here today along with Seiya, darling," she hummed.

"Of course."

For the next twenty minutes, Usagi and Seiya both answered questions about their careers, latest music, their skills in writing music and playing instruments, and how they got started. Seiya answered so smoothly that Usagi was in awe. She still stuttered over some of her words and answers now despite her having been in the industry for almost three years now. Whenever it was her turn to speak, she noticed Seiya's attentive gaze, how her eyes never left Usagi's face as she listened.

It made her blush.

Eventually, they had a five minute commercial break, and during that break, Usagi's phone lit up next to her on the table, signaling that she had a notification.

She picked it up and saw it was a text from Seiya. She glanced up at the woman, but Seiya was looking down at her phone.

Seiya - Sent 2:31 PM: you're doing good.

Usagi - Sent 2:31 PM: i'm doing awfully O_o

Seiya - Sent 2:31 PM: you're not, dumpling. besides, i came to give you a word of advice.

Usagi - Sent 2:32 PM: and what might that be?

Usagi waited a little longer for Seiya to answer this time.

Seiya - Sent 2:33 PM: she eventually asks about your dating life. avoid answering as much as you can.

Usagi was used to dating questions and had nothing to lie about, but it seemed Seiya was implying Esmeraude could be pushy.

Usagi - Sent 2:33 PM: is she invasive?

Seiya - Sent 2:33 PM: she's nosy.

Usagi snorted behind her hand. She didn't miss the tiny smile playing on Seiya's lips when she glanced her way again.

Usagi - Sent: 2:35 PM: so like everyone else?

Seiya - Sent 2:35 PM: just worse.

Usagi - Sent 2:35 PM: uh-oh. :(

At that moment, Esmeraude came back, a bouncy kick in her step that scared Usagi to death.

She had seen a lot of idols over the years avoid dating questions, including her peers. Even Sailor V dodged them with ease despite the rumor that she dated around, although there wasn't much proof of it. She had had her own share of dating questions, but if Esmeraude was half as bad as Seiya was telling her, then she didn't want to know what she was in for.

"Hello, everyone! We're back to Black Moon Radio with our guests, Seiya and Silver Moon!" Esmeraude said, clasping her hands together with a grin.

Seiya gave Usagi an encouraging nod as the host began to speak.

"Now," Esmeraude said, "outside of your life on the stage, we all know that you also have your own private life, so… How's the dating scene been going for you guys? Any lovely guys or gals you've got your eyes on?"

Seiya was the first to answer, beating Usagi, who just wanted to get it over with, to the punch. "Don't you think our private lives should be private?" And while she'd said it jokingly, Usagi knew Seiya was completely serious.

"If they're only private, there's nothing for the fans or paparazzi to get their hands on," Esmeraude quipped, but something told Usagi the woman was serious as well. "Although… I'm sure there was a little lady in your life not so long ago."

Seiya seemed to instantly freeze, hands tightly gripping the arms of her chair. Usagi knitted her eyebrows, concerned.

Seiya cleared her throat. "That was nothing."

"You were together for almost two years, right?" Esmeraude went on. "Everyone knew you two were exclusive, even if there was never an official statement on it, but tell me - what happened to the lady we all knew you to be so in love with and why did she disappear from your life?"

Seiya's mouth opened and closed in repeated, robotic motions.

"She… I'm not exactly—"

If Esmeraude had noticed Seiya's sudden discomfort, she didn't care. "It was a lot more than nothing, sweetie. There were never clear pictures of you, but the tabloids always got what they could. You looked so happy with her. There's no connection between that red-haired beauty and your behaviour as of late?"

Usagi felt infuriated. As a fan herself, she'd been aware of the rumors that Seiya was dating a mysterious woman, but since it was never officially confirmed, everyone, besides a few extremely entitled fans, just silently accepted they were a couple. The behind-the-scenes happenings, she didn't know, but Seiya was clearly uncomfortable at the moment, and Usagi couldn't believe how—it wasn't even nosy. Esmeraude was straight up being invasive.

"I…" Seiya trailed off, anger slowly setting onto her face in place of anxiety.

"Was it cheating?" Esmeraude prodded. "A bad misunderstanding? Or… did she break your heart?"

Seiya's jaw clenched, her knuckles turning a ghostly color. It was then that Usagi knew Seiya saw red and that she needed to intervene before the woman managed to ruin her career.

"What about you?" Usagi quickly jumped in, deliberately loud. Esmeraude looked at her, a perfectly arched eyebrow raised in confusion.

"Excuse me, darling?"

Even Seiya had turned to her in surprise.

"Who are you dating?" Usagi demanded. "I haven't dated anyone since my second year of high-school, so there's nothing interesting about me, but what about you?"

Esmeraude giggled, as if what Usagi was saying was so outrageous. "I'm married, darling."

"Just because you're married doesn't mean you don't date," Usagi said innocently, knowing that Mamoru was without a doubt going to chew her out after this, but she didn't care. Her friend was being humiliated in front of millions of people. "Some people go behind the backs of their spouses. Would you know anything about that? I can't say I do."

Esmeraude shifted her seat—squirmed, even. It was telling, and Usagi bit her tongue to refrain from smiling.

She pouted. "That's awful, isn't it?"

"Yes," Esmeraude agreed between gritted teeth. "That is very awful, but shall we move on?"

Usagi nodded vigorously. "Of course!"

As Esmeraude was collecting herself, she checked to see if Seiya was okay, only to find the singer was still staring at her in surprise, blue eyes wide, though Usagi was happy to see that Seiya's pigmentation had returned to normal.

Usagi gave her a smile, and, though faintly, Seiya smiled back.

…..

The interview ended fifteen minutes later, thankfully without any more trouble. Seiya stayed quiet for the rest of it except for a question here and there (Usagi did all the talking). When it was over and she'd successfully resisted the urge to jump Esmeraude, Seiya asked Usagi if she could talk to her privately.

Usagi agreed but excused herself to go talk to her manager, Mamoru, or as she liked to call him, "Mamo-chan", first. Then she'd left the room, Seiya, enthusiastic to get away from Esmeraude, trailing after her.

Off stage, a black-haired man was waiting for them—for Usagi, that was. Seiya hung back as Usagi approached her manager.

Disapproval was all but written across his face in ink, and next to him was a young pink-haired girl that looked just like Usagi, her hairstyle even being similar. She somehow managed to look simultaneously disapproving and proud. That must have been her younger sister, Chibiusa.

Not even a minute later, Usagi was walking back up to Seiya with a sheepish smile. "Mamo-chan isn't happy with me right now, but he'll get over it. He always does. Now you said you wanted to talk to me in private?"

Seiya nodded, then led Usagi to one of the unoccupied rooms down the hall. When they were both inside, she locked the door for privacy.

She stuffed her hands in her pocket, awkward as she mumbled, "I wanted to thank you for earlier."

"You mean with Esmeraude?" Usagi asked.

"Yes. I… I just froze up and I didn't know what to say and…" She gulped, hating the fact that she'd let someone make her feel so uncomfortable in her own skin. "You saved me. I don't know if anyone else would have done that for me."

"Of course!" Usagi aggressively shook her head, blonde pigtails flying. "No one deserves to be interrogated like that about their private lives. Whatever happened in your relationship is none of our business."

Seiya looked at the ground, averting her gaze to the floor, and there it was; that menacing pounding in her heart. Not the good kind. But the kind where it felt like her heart was being snatched out of her chest. She'd vowed not to ever experience that again.

And it was all because of Esmeraude.

"Seiya, I'm sorry if Esmeraude brought any painful memories back."

"No. It's something I should probably talk about. I haven't talked about… about Kakyuu since… since." The name rolling off her tongue made her cringe. She hadn't said it in months. "Since that time."

She hadn't even talked about it with her bandmates. She came home the night of the breakup with wet clothes, stained mascara, and a tear-dried face and locked herself in her room for a week.

"We broke up. That's it," she said finally, too drained to come up with something less vague.

"You shouldn't be forced to talk about it if you don't want to," Usagi assured her softly, placing a hand on her arm.

"I loved her a lot, you know?" Seiya whispered, more to herself than to Usagi.

"We all have someone we love the most. She was yours, wasn't she?"

"She was…"

Seiya found herself whispering the last part so softly she wasn't even sure if she had said it.

"And she broke my heart."

"Oh, Seiya."

She felt the short girl engulf her into a hug, resting her cheek against her chest. Though taken aback, Seiya was glad for the silence, glad for the hug, and glad that she hadn't poured out a bunch of sorry's out of pity. She was glad—and a little shocked—that this girl she'd been official friends with barely 24 hours cared.

And she was glad that Usagi hadn't asked further about what had happened between her and Kakyuu. Yaten had warned her not to get involved with the woman, but she didn't listen, too wrapped up in the glamor and allure of something she'd thought was real.

She didn't cry, though it was what she wanted most in the world to do, but the warmth of the young woman with her arms wrapped around her made her feel more at ease than she had even a day ago.

Eventually, Usagi pulled away, and though her hands still rested on her waist, Seiya felt cold again. That feeling of her heart being snatched out her chest lingered.

"You know," Usagi smiled up at her, blue eyes looking directly into Seiya's, "I don't really think Esmeraude is married and cheating. I'm not the brightest, but I had to back her into some kind of corner."

At that, Seiya guffawed, the icy feeling in her chest lessening some. "You don't know the half of it, Dumpling."

"Huh?" Her smile turned down slightly.

"Esmeraude is on her third husband and everyone knows why."

At that, Usagi made a sound between a groan and a whine. "Oh… I'm in trouble, aren't I?"

"If your manager's face was anything to go by, I'd say—"

"SEIYA!"

The two idols jumped apart, Usagi tripping over her feet and toppling to the ground as the door flung open and a short woman with silver hair burst in.

She didn't so much as acknowledge Usagi as she bounded up to Seiya, her phone crushed into her palm. "Seiya, are you okay!? I heard what happened! I knew that bitch Esmeraude was no good! I've been saying it for years now and no one listened to me!"

"Wait, Chuu—" Seiya tried to say, but the woman kept going.

"You should have punched her! I would've gotten you out an assault case if she sued, but OOOOOOH! The psycho bitch isn't going to Heaven! Hell, Satan wouldn't want her!" She grabbed Seiya's arm, yanking on it. "Come on. Let's get you out of here. That's the last time I book you on Black Moon Radio!"

She left the room in a fiery breeze, and Seiya looked on in bewilderment.

"Is that your manager?" she heard Usagi groan behind her.

Seiya turned to face the girl, who was now on her knees, and smiled apologetically. "She just really hates her job. What about you though? Feeling okay? It's become very clear to me how light on your feet you are."

Usagi's face turned red. "Save it!"

Seiya smirked as she helped Usagi stand. "If that's what you want."

Usagi sighed. "I have to go, but I'll definitely text you later. We could meet up at the Fruit Crown Parlor again sometime too, if you want."

"Of course," Seiya said, mentally kicking herself for how overly eager she sounded. "I'd like that."

Usagi grinned. "I know."

She then stood on her toes and placed a kiss on the side of Seiya's cheek. "Goodbye, Seiya!"

It wasn't until she was sure Usagi was gone that Seiya allowed herself to blush.

The thumping in her heart was back, but this time around, it was the good kind.

This was my favorite chapter to write actually! I also love writing Seiya and Usagi's interactions!

Reviews and feedback are very much appreciated!