Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon. My next project has arrived.
Her big blue eyes look around the lunchroom, same as every other day for the past year and a half. She twirls her fork in her lunch and continues to scan the room. She pushes her long blonde pigtail behind her shoulder and looks down at her food disappointed. She becomes oblivious to everything else around her, including her friends who are chatting away.
"Is she listening to us?"
"No, she's looking for him again. Earth to Usagi!"
Usagi Tsukino looks up, cheeks burning upon realizing she had been caught once again. She's been infatuated, no quite impossibly in love with this man since the day they bumped into each other a year and a half ago. She crumpled up exam results that were unfavorable and tossed them over her shoulder. Unfortunately, that piece of paper hit this oh so special man. Tall, cobalt eyes, black hair that brushed over his eyebrows, his nose was perfectly straight, and a strong jaw line. So far the only fault she found with him was that terrible pea green jacket and his hasty insults over that test score.
Odango Atama. That's what he referred to her as, the nerve of him. His voice hadn't been enough to override the emotions that boiled in her when he said it. The cap wasn't enough to prevent the soda from spewing. How could such loathsome words slip out of such a handsome man? She favored a particular nickname for him as well, Baka.
"Stop looking for Chiba," Rei hisses glaring at her friend, "There are more important things to worry about." Rei Hino switched from a private academy last year, she didn't have many friends once her parents pulled her from the private academy. Usagi welcomed her into her circle of growing friends. They shared the same classes and same age. They both really love manga.
"Yes! We get our results back on our algebra exams today." Ami reminds them, much to their chagrin. Ami Mizuno has been Usagi's friend since middle school. Ami is at the top of their class, putting a lot of study hours into her classes. By the time they reach their third year of high school, she will be eligible to enter a few college courses early as part of a program several local universities have begun. Usagi often asks Ami to help her study to avoid failing. Ami's always happy to help in hopes Usagi will begin to take interest in learning without her.
"I don't think I failed. I studied all week." Usagi responds scratching her head while trying to casually look around. "I don't really know who you mean, Rei."
"Oh what some shit now." Rei grumbles as she dabs her napkin at her bottom lip after finishing her lunch. She leans forward, elbows on the table and smirks at Usagi, "I mean Mamoru Chiba, Usagi. We know you're quite smitten with your father's protégé."
"Ack!"
Oh yes, Mamoru Chiba, fourth year high school student was also interning with Usagi's father for several more weeks after being awarded a business administration scholarship for an essay contest. The young man made no secret he wanted to work for himself and before he got there, he knew he had to study and learn from local business owners how to build and manage his own business. Unfortunately, Usagi's father took him in, showing him the ropes by allowing him to attend board meetings and observe as well as follow Corporate counsel around for a few days. He was getting the royal treatment if it had to be described.
This hadn't exactly gone over well with Usagi who practically nose bled over her father's office on the second floor when she saw him walking toward them. This was after the exchange insults.
"Oh let Usagi daydream about him, Rei." Ami muses watching the blonde sweatdrop as she searched for words. "We all remember your crush on Chad last year. You did more than daydream about that boy."
Huffing at the blunette's words, Rei rolls her eyes playfully and tells her, "Yes, and we saw what a douche magooch Chad turned out to be. Besides Mamoru isn't Chad. Despite his cool demeanor he is eighteen and we're only sixteen. Even if he notices Usagi, she isn't ready for that kind of relationship."
Nostrils flair and her cheeks heat up as she eyes Rei haughtily, "What makes you an expert on what kind of relationship I'm ready for?" Usagi crosses her arms over her chest and waits for Rei to respond but seeing that she's silent and chiding her with her eyes, Usagi continues, "You don't get to make that decision for me, Rei. I'm not a child. I know what sex is. It doesn't mean I'm going to spread my legs for anyone until I'm ready."
"So if Chiba asks, you aren't going to go along with it?" Rei presses her, raising a questioning eyebrow and flips her long black hair behind her shoulder.
"Not if he doesn't love me back, no." Usagi defends herself proudly, "I have standards. Oh! Since it is Friday, do you all want to go to the Arcade after school?"
"That's very mature, Usagi. I'm proud of you. I can, but I have to help mom after. I won't be staying long." Ami says smiling at her. Rei nods, hoping quietly that Usagi isn't just telling them a tale.
"I'm in too." Rei says.
While Mamoru Chiba is well liked around the community, there are certain kinds of rumors that get around school. All three girls weren't deaf, they heard them. Ami paid no mind as her head was stuck in a textbook most of the time. Rei scrunches her nose at the rumors. Usagi was the wildcard, unsure whether to believe the rumors or not. She hoped deep down despite his nasty nickname for her, that he wasn't really like that. Rei and Ami often worried about her like a younger sister do to her kind nature and willingness to give anyone the benefit of the doubt.
While Ami began talking about the latest reading assignment in their Literature class, Usagi began slouching over and began scanning the lunchroom once more. There wasn't much time left to grab food and eat, but just as she began to give up and tune back into her friends, he appeared. Her chest tightens at the sight of him and she begins chewing her bottom lip.
"Oh great." Rei mutters turning herself halfway in her seat to see Mamoru Chiba walk into the lunchroom. "You might as well stop talking, Ami. Usagi is tuned out." Ami purses her lips and turns to see the man walk in as well.
Mamoru has every female sneaking peeks at him as he walks in. His walk is nothing like special. Despite knowing how attracted every female is toward him, he doesn't let it go to his head. He also doesn't make eye contact with any of them for fear of giving them ideas. Besides, he was starved considering how long it took him to return two books in the library. The bane of his existence kept trying to chat him up and rubbed herself against him while the Librarian scolded her for it. He saw no peace.
"That damn pea green jacket is hideous." Rei states flatly. "How can you even be serious, Usagi?"
"It's one jacket!" She defends herself once more. True, she didn't like the pea green either and she wished he would lose it but it didn't detract from his good looks. She didn't stop staring at him as he walked closer to the table the girls occupied, knowing he would realize it. He did realize it, their eyes locked and she swore she saw the corners of his lips curve upward and he rerouted himself toward them.
Shit, Usagi. Why did you have to stare?! She feels the heat rushing back to her cheeks and suddenly looks anywhere but him. Rei and Ami groan simultaneously as they mentally prepare themselves for the duo's inevitable argument. He stops at their table and the smirk grows tenfold.
"Well Odango, what is for lunch? Burgers and fries or the slice of pepperoni pizza?" He asks planting his palms on the table's surface and leaning down. The look on his face said it all. He planned to rile her up.
"I opted for the grilled chicken salad, Baka." She responds with equal sauciness. Ami begins gathering her backpack in a vain attempt to avoid what she knew was about to happen.
"Wow, I didn't know you liked healthy foods because you're always devouring greasy foods." He says with mock surprise. Usagi's face turned red as a tomato at his words. She didn't always eat greasy foods. She opens her mouth to spit something equally venomous out but Rei beats her to it.
Rei snorts and begins collecting her backpack and lunch tray, "Usagi, lets go to class early. Don't give him the time of day."
True, she could be the bigger person and not say anything. Unfortunately, their squabbles were the only time she conversed with him. What would she say otherwise? They didn't share the same circle of friends or interests. Why can't he just be nice to me instead of this silliness? Swallowing her pride, Usagi stands and grabs her things as well and with a last stoic look at Mamoru, she walks off with her friends.
He straightens up, for sure thinking he had earned at least a scowl. Anything other than this. He would just have to try harder. He knew there was no way she didn't eat healthy, she wouldn't be so petite if she only ate greasy foods.
"Mamoru!"
He winces hearing that shrill voice approaching him. It was too late to walk off, she was too close. If he hadn't stopped to pester Usagi, Anne wouldn't have caught up with him from the Library. Woe is him.
Anne is only a year younger than he, but somehow they're in the same class. She transferred in last year from a private academy across the country. She's third in their class. Her hair is chestnut and barely touches her shoulders and she has dark brown eyes. Despite being rather book smart, Mamoru noticed she doesn't know how to take the hint that he isn't interested. Not once has he ever welcomed any romantic gesture from her but she persists.
"Hi Anne." He says through a forced smile.
She beams at him and he can't help but cringe more. She isn't ugly by any standard but she isn't his type, per se. "Want to eat lunch together?"
"Actually Anne, I was going to get something to go. You held me up in the Library." He replies seriously, plastering a mask of stoicism on his face and walking to the line of people still attempting to grab something to eat.
Anne pouts as he walks off but that pout soon turns back into a smile and she follows him. "That's okay! I'm going to just get a fruit cup, can I walk with you to our next class."
He doesn't bother responding, just walks faster.