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There is a flashback sequence.
Usagi turned her head, halfway turning her entire body toward the person who said her name.
Ami Mizuno stands with a tablet in one hand and is pulling her surgical cap off. She still looks the same with the exception being her hair is now shoulder length instead of jaw length. Ami, the girl Usagi knew would become a doctor one day. Happy and quiet, Ami Mizuno. Except this grown up Ami does not look happy to see Usagi. Instead. she is tapping her clogs and glaring holes through her.
Swallowing a massive lump along with major guilt, Usagi apologetically smiles, "Hi Ami. It's...um...it has been awhile." Usagi knew how to handle a pissed off Rei. Rei never stayed mad too long. She doesn't know how to handle an upset Ami Mizuno. Ami had never been mad at her or anyone. She'd been curt and spoke in a clipped tone, but this was more than that. Now, Ami knows how to poison someone and make it look like an overdose, something she's painfully aware of.
Sighing, Ami shakes her head, "I suppose I should take you upstairs to see your father. He's stable for now." She begins walking toward the back hallway and motions for Usagi to follow and she does. They walk in silence which allows Usagi to sink deeper into guilt in her own thoughts. Once they stop at the elevator and Ami presses the button she spins on one foot and scrunches her eyebrows together, "I know you wanted to get away from Mamoru, but did you have to cut the rest of us off?"
"I..erm.."
"Don't bother. I knew you were coming home when your father was admitted earlier today. I already stewed over it."
Usagi shut her mouth, pressing her lips tightly together. It was one thing to hear Rei chew her out for cutting them off but to see the frustration and hurt radiating off Ami was another thing. She could list a million reasons why she cut everyone but her family off. She had been afraid Rei and Ami would pity her after that night. She was afraid they would eventually start trying to set her up with someone else. Further, she felt too damn embarrassed because she believed they had been right along.
The elevator opens and the two women step in and Ami pushes the 'close' button. Usagi looks down at her feet then back to Ami. The silence is killing her, she had to explain herself even if it didn't matter to Ami. She takes a deep breath and looks up at the back of Ami's head, "I didn't want you and Rei to pity me. I was embarrassed because you and her were right to warn me off Mamoru and I didn't listen."
Ami doesn't budge and she can't tell if she is moved by her words or not.
"He was the world to me, Ami. I know they graduated before us but he still came by the Arcade. You said so yourself. I didn't want to give him a chance to explain. I didn't want him to have avenues to reach me. I missed you guys though. It was the hardest decision I ever made."
Usagi closed her textbook and laid her pencil down before stretching her arms overhead and sighing.
It was a Friday night and she skipped the Arcade in favor of finishing homework before Saturday. Rei and Ami rolled their eyes and begged her to come with them but she didn't relent. It was uncharacteristically like her but she needed to make changes. She wanted to be something better than some silly broken hearted girl.
If only I had listened to them. If she had listened then there wouldn't be a void inside her that she needed to heal. She wouldn't feel the need to change something. She wouldn't be avoiding the Arcade. She wouldn't feel broken. She'd be out having fun with her friends at the Arcade.
Ring!
She stops mid step and hurries over to her desk where her phone is setting. She sees it is Ami and immediately answers, "Hello?"
"Did you really do all that homework or did you just avoid coming into the Arcade?"
And so the inquisition begins. Usagi takes her phone and goes to plop down on her bed. "I really did my homework so I'm not fretting Sunday night, Ami. I told you, I have to study. I have to do better in school."
"I'm proud of you for learning to be responsible, but I wish it wasn't because of Mamoru."
Sighing, Usagi rolls her eyes and bites her lip and responds, "Whatever, I'm learning. You and Rei are years ahead of me in that department." It wasn't the only she learned though.
"You just don't like losing in video games to Rei. That's why you're really calling." Usagi bluntly says.
"She did beat me a few times, but that isn't the point - oh!"
Usagi perks up as Ami goes silent. She hears the Arcade doors open and close amongst the other noises. Ami must've been near the doors. Rei can be heard cussing someone then becoming exasperated by their very presence.
"What is going on?"
"Um...I don't know if I should tell you." Ami admits sheepishly.
Furrowing her brow, Usagi asks, "Mamoru walked in, didn't he?" Of course he did. He always goes there for coffee. Why is this Friday any different?
"He did. Rei said a few choice words to him and he left. Motoki is shaking his head at her. Usagi, I have to go, Rei looks ready to shout at Motoki. Or worse."
"Go diffuse that situation, Ami. See you Monday!"
"Bye."
Usagi waits, noticing a shift of Ami's shoulders in the elevator. She bites her lip, thinking that she's coming around or at least understands why she done it.
Ami turns and her cold expression earlier is melted away, she offers a smile and speaks, "You really grew up, Usagi. I understand you had reasons but that doesn't make it hurt any less."
"I know. I'm sorry, Ami."
Once the elevator stops, Ami leads her down the hall quite a way. They talk, catching up with what each other has been doing since graduating high school.
"You're an attorney?!"
"I am. I wish you could have seen the Bar Exam. I hated every second."
"Oh I can imagine. Zoicite's brother took it last year and he called us crying." Ami giggles. That was something Usagi recently learned about Ami. She fell in love with this man named Zoicite and they married six months ago. The glow in Ami's eye and the way her voice sounded when she talked about him, said it all.
"Enough about me. I'm so happy you went to medical school, Ami. You're married too!" Usagi gushes.
"Zoicite helped me study for my boards and he's been my rock of support every step of the way. I really love him, Usagi." Ami's face turns pink. They turn right and walk along another hall before reaching the room, Usagi begins to assume is her father's. Ami stops and mutters something inaudible before turning to Usagi, "Usagi, I should tell you something before we go in." Gone was the Ami she knew, instead the serious doctor had returned.
Usagi tilts her head slightly, confused by her sudden change of demeanor. "Is this my father's room?"
"Yes, and your father is being treated by the best cardiothoracic surgeon here. There is just one issue though."
Usagi crosses her arms and raises and quizzical eyebrow, "What kind of problem is that?"
Just as Ami is opening her mouth to explain, the door behind Usagi squeaks open and a tall figure steps out behind Usagi, who has her back turned toward him. Ami stiffens looking at him and watches as he freezes. She closes her mouth and just blinks.
"What is it Ami?" Usagi asks becoming even more confused. "Is there something else I need to know before going in to see my dad?"
"Odango Atama." he says coolly, knowing full well it is her in the flesh after all these years apart. "You should be careful when you go in. Don't trip over your feet and fall on your dad."
Usagi becomes frozen where she stands. She knows that voice anywhere despite not hearing him in years and that nasty nickname. Only one person has ever dared call her that. Ice creeps into her blood then is immediately thawed by anger. She isn't prepared for this unholy reunion. What is he doing here? Why the hell does he still call me that? Ugh, why in the world is HE here?! She looks to Ami, searching her face for answers but only finds her void of them. Does she turn and look at him? Will he still affect her? His voice alone is affecting her. Then, she realizes Ami said something about another doctor.
Oh no. No no no.
Rolling her eyes and crossing her arms over her chest she shakes her head and frowns before she manages to say, "Baka is treating my father?"