Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon.
"I win again!" Rei squeals, delighted at her victory over Usagi once more. She twirls about and sticks her tongue out playfully.
Usagi on the other hand, couldn't focus on the video game to save her life while the object of her affection sat so close in the Arcade yet so far away. She stole a glance every few moments which led to her downfall against Rei. She sighs and rolls her eyes before a grin plasters itself on her face. "Yeah, I lost focus. I suppose I deserve to lose that time."
It was now Sunday evening and Usagi and Rei decided to meet up before classes resume. Ami's mom recruited her to volunteer to read to the children at the local hospital, she couldn't join them. They'd been here hanging out for an hour before Mamoru walked in and sat down at the bar and ordered a coffee before pulling out a book.
The Arcade was one of the girls' favorite spots. The manager, Motoki Furuhata always kept the newest video games to promote interest and raised enough money to put in several tables and turned one of the back rooms into a kitchen. The ingenuity earned Motoki a raise and more responsibility around the place. Motoki also happens to be one Mamoru's best friends and Usagi's. Usagi used to crush on him but that quickly became a thing of the past. Nowadays, he is privy to Usagi's affections for Mamoru and teases her but hasn't spoken a word of it to said man.
Motoki is also in Mamoru's class. He took on additional responsibility because he became the legal guardian of his younger sister about six months ago. Their parents died and while Motoki was the legal age, there was a fuss in court about his ability to hold down a job, manage school, and be a parental figure. So far, there were no further complaints. He's tall, sandy blonde hair, and green eyes. He also sports a tan which odd considering he doesn't stay outside a lot.
Rei stops and gives her a 'yeah I know,' look while placing her hands on her hips. She is quite aware that Mamoru stole Usagi's attention. "It isn't all that fun to beat you when you aren't playing at your best, Usagi."
"It is still a win." Usagi whines beginning to pout and taps her shoe clad foot against the floor.
"You literally stare at him every chance you get." Motoki says in a teasing manner as he walks over to the girls once he has a few spare moments. "You're more like an eye stalker than just a girl with a crush."
Rei giggles as Usagi turns a new shade of red. She didn't understand why they had to tease her. It was a wonder that the man didn't hear them poking fun at her. She couldn't imagine his reaction. It was too embarrassing. She wanted him to like her back and see if there was something there, but she's never had a boyfriend before. She doesn't know how this works. It doesn't help that her father is overprotective.
"You're both so mean." Usagi groans and walks over to the nearest table and chair and sinks into the chair. Rei and Motoki follow her.
"Want me to ask him to join us?" Motoki suggests with a grin. Motoki had caught Usagi looking at Mamoru over the last months with a look he knew too well. At first, he refused to acknowledge it. Little Usagi could not be into the grumpy man. She should be into someone her own age! They watch the color drain from Usagi's face and Motoki chuckles at her antics.
Usagi chance a side glance over to Mamoru who appeared to still be engrossed in the book he pulled out. Heat rose to her face and she shakes her head furiously, "No! Motoki, no."
Grinning and joining Motoki, Rei reaches to pat Usagi's shoulder, "I think you should." Usagi gasps loudly and glares at Rei before turning to Motoki frantic.
Motoki whips around and zeroes in on Mamoru who is still sipping his coffee. Loud enough for everyone to hear he shouts, "Chiba, come over here and join us." Mamoru glances up and sees Motoki sitting down. Before he can move an inch, he realizes who Motoki is sitting with and momentarily pauses.
My life is over. Usagi groans and hangs her head down. Her heart begins pounding against her chest, its so loud she wonders if anyone else hears it. She whispers, "I hate you both." This is not going to be good.
Mamoru closes his book with one hand and picks up his coffee with the other and walks over to the group. It can't hurt, right? Motoki is there to be a buffer, and Rei. He won't argue with Usagi.
"Good evening, everyone." He greets them as he sits. Motoki and Rei smile warmly at him.
"What are you reading?" Rei asks looking at the book. While she likes to tease Usagi and has no interest in Mamoru because she thinks he is a petulant bastard, she wonders if he at least has good taste in books.
...
Anne walks through the Arcade doors with a single goal in mind: Mamoru Chiba. She couldn't understand why her advances weren't attracting him. She's his age, attractive, and intelligent. She heard from a fellow classmate that Mamoru liked hanging around the Crown Arcade most afternoons and weekends with Furahata.
She looks down at her dress and ballet flats before scanning the room for him. "Surely, I did not miss him." She grumbles to herself.
There he is! He is sitting with Motoki. Anne can't see who the other two people sitting with them are, the place is becoming crowded. She smirks and begins to calm her nerves. She would ask him out tonight. Nothing could stop her.
She stops mid step when she realizes he is with two girls. Shit, is he seeing someone? Have I been pining over a spoken for man? Oh wait? Anne moves about also realizing that she's seen the blonde girl before. Some place like school. Anne sneers and clenches her fists as she watches.
...
Wrinkling her nose, Usagi finds her voice and responds, "That book sounds like a bore."
"What would make it better, in your opinion?" Mamoru asks watching her curiously. Usagi holds his gaze. Rei reaches for her soda and sips as she watches the exchange.
"Pictures for starters." She says smiling at him. "Who can stand to read something so dense without pictures."
"Those of us with an imagination." Mamoru quips, not missing a beat.
"I have an imagination." Usagi retorts, narrowing her eyes at him, cheeks turning red.
"Then why are you complaining about the book? That doesn't make any sense, Odango. If you have an imagination, this book shouldn't be a problem." He knows which buttons to press when it comes to Usagi Tsukino. He watches as she begins to fume, how her nostrils flare and her forehead wrinkles. He grins knowing he got her good.
Just as Usagi begins to respond with her own insult, they're interrupted.
"Mamoru!"
Every head whips around upon hearing a high raspy voice call out for Mamoru. Mamoru cringes and mutters some cusswords before plastering on a fake smile. Anne walks over to the table and smiles at them all.
"Good evening, Anne."
"Like oh my god, I saw you when I walked in and just wanted to see what you were up to." Anne does her best to be oblivious to everyone but Mamoru. Motoki frowns and rolls his eyes. Rei bites her bottom lip and glowers at her. Usagi quietly fumes at Mamoru.
"I was enjoying my coffee and Motoki invited me to sit with them." Mamoru says dryly. He hopes she goes away soon because this is becoming awkward. "We were discussing this book." He holds up the book to show her.
"Do you mind if I join?" Anne asks him beginning to pull a chair up beside Mamoru opposite of the rest of them. She doesn't wait to be invited. It doesn't go unnoticed by Rei and Motoki who are both looking between them and Usagi. "I read that months ago. It is a good book."
"It doesn't have pictures." Usagi says inviting herself into the conversation. Two can play that game. Mamoru opens his mouth but closes it again. Anne frowns and finally acknowledges her, with a look. Usagi smiles sweetly and tells her, "I'm Usagi Tsukino."
"Anne. Why do pictures matter, Usagi?" She asks monotonously and makes a point not to share her last name. She doesn't care what Usagi has to say. She doesn't want to miss out on the opportunity to be around Mamoru.
I hope I never become like Anne or Mamoru. Jesus. "It isn't about a person's imagination. If you told a story about a prince and princess, everyone is going to imagine they look differently. You say brown hair and they see chocolate brown or chestnut brown. Visuals take out that guess work." Usagi explains to them all. She looks at Mamoru and smirks, "Baka."
"I'm sorry, do you Mamoru Chiba personally Ms. Tsukino?" Anne scoffs placing a hand on Mamoru's shoulder. Usagi frowns at the gesture and so does Rei. Inside, she's hoping the younger girl is no threat to her plans of dating Mamoru. She also missed their conversation in which Mamoru insulted her first. Needless to say, Anne is not fond of Usagi. "You don't just insult someone."
Rei rolls her eyes and intervenes, "You missed the entire conversation, Anne. Mamoru insulted her and told her she had no imagination. This is playful banter between them. Relax."
"Nobody asked you for your opinion." Anne snaps.
Mamoru looks at Anne and then at Motoki and groans. Politely he removes Anne's hand and she doesn't even notice. He is going to be leaving, that is the only way this insanity will ever stop. He knows she is into him.
"Why are a bunch of preteens sitting with fourth year high school students anyway?"
"Nobody invited you to sit with us anyway." Rei snaps, having enough of Anne. Mamoru slowly stands and grabs his book. Anne still doesn't even notice he is leaving. She's become to sucked into the arguing. Usagi's eyes find Mamoru's and he nods, hoping she understands. When he sees the corners of her lips turn upward, he walks toward the door a bit faster.
Motoki giggles under his breath and watches as Mamoru sneaks away.
"Oh look, you scared Mamoru off." Rei says interrupting Anne before she can respond. They watch as realization that Mamoru is no longer at the table, hits her and she turns red and looks for him.
"You scared him off! He doesn't even want to be around you two." Anne stands up, still oblivious.
"Right, and my mom is Mary, Queen of Scots." Usagi snorts much to Rei's surprise.
"Do you know who she is?"
"Historical figure? I remember her from History class."
"About time something sticks in that brain of yours."
"Stop being so mean!" Usagi says poking Rei's shoulder. Anne rolls her eyes and walks off without so much as a goodbye.
"Stop it you two." Motoki says shaking his head. He decides it is time to reveal why Anne invited herself to join them. "Anne is into Mamoru. She follows him everywhere."
Usagi sighs and Rei groans exasperatedly, "Why does everyone want Mamoru Chiba? I don't get it."
"Mamoru doesn't want her. She's pushy and annoying. So relax Usagi, you still have a chance." Motoki teases her.
"Stop it!" Usagi whines, "So she is a complication. So what? You said it yourself, he doesn't want her."
"Yeah, but that doesn't mean he wants you." Rei says, stating the obvious. "At least we don't know."
"He has only every said he isn't into Anne. That's what I know." Motoki admits shrugging before excusing himself to go back to tending the Arcade and taking food orders.
The encounter with Anne leaves Usagi with a bitter taste. She knows she'll have to stop arguing with him and have a real conversation if she wants anything to blossom between them. She cannot give Anne any opportunity to have her way with Mamoru. Still, she has no idea how to get him to even notice her without arguing with him.
She pulls a $5.00 out for her basket of fries and soda and leaves with Rei, still lost in her own thoughts. Rei gabs about other things, hoping to take Usagi's mind off Anne, but to no avail. When they reach the front gates to Usagi's house, Rei pulls her friend in for a hug.
"Don't worry about her. She's a horse face with beady eyes. You'll get Mamoru."
"Tch. I thought you weren't a fan?"
"I'll maim him if he goes out with anyone but you."
"But...you're not even friends."
"I'll sneak in his apartment. He won't see it coming."
"I hope you have a good lawyer."
"I won't get caught."
"Okay, goodnight Rei." Usagi giggles as she opens the gate and walks in her house.